Quote:
Originally Posted by duncan_idaho
Duffy is a question mark, no doubt. But the strides he was making before TJ were definitely encouraging. He's guaranteed to be back in 2014. Not so sure with Paulino. I'd guess the rotation looks like this to start the year:
Shields
Guthrie
Davis
Paulino
Duffy
with Mendoza in long relief, waiting to slide in because of injury or ineffectiveness.
Rotation won't be as good at the No. 2 spot in that case. The key will be getting production from Nos. 4 and 5 to balance it out. Davis, Paulino and Duffy all have the raw ability to fill the No. 2 role, but don't have the track record.
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I'm just a big Paulino guy. He had some back luck in 11 that brought his numbers down a bit and in 2012 he was lights out in 7 starts with a 1.7 ERA or something sick like that. Obviously he wasn't going to keep up that rate, but for a pitcher to have 7 starts like that in a row shows some real tremendous ability.
I like Duffy's upside as well. I wonder if he struggles as a starter if he wouldn't make a pretty good closer. He'll have a place on this team somewhere.