Back in 2002, during my fantasy team minor league draft, I drafted a college kid named Jeremy Guthrie. Guthrie was a successful Stanford pitcher, and was subsequently drafted in the first round by the Cleveland Indians. He had a great college career, and did well with the Indians minor league teams. Two years later, I was thrilled to see Guthrie promoted to the Indians...until the unthinkable happened. The Indians turned him into a middle reliever. Guthrie struggled with the move to the bullpen, and after three years, the Indians gave up on him (as did I). He went to the Orioles who had the insight (yes the Orioles actually had insight) to return Guthrie to a starters role. Guthrie has impressed ever since.

The Indians clearly botched this one. They gave up on a promising pitcher because he was unable to adjust to life in the bullpen. But the move to the bullpen was the first mistake the Indians made. You have to wonder why teams take a live and aspiring prospect, and turn them into a reliever. A promising young arm is just too valuable to be put in the bullpen. The Yankees were in a similar situation with Joba Chamberlain this year. Of course, a team's season often dictates whether a young pitcher contributes in the bullpen or in the rotation upon his promotion, but once the season is over for the young pitcher, his success in the bullpen should not result in him becoming a permanent part of the bullpen. Lively young arms are just too valuable not to be in a team's rotation. Chamerlain came up last year, and his services were needed in the bullpen. This year, he was deemed too valuable in the bullpen, so the Yankees began the season with Joba in the bullpen. Luckily, the owner stepped in and demanded Chamberlain be returned to the rotation, where he had most of his minor league success. The move has paid off so far.

Fortunately for young pitchers, many teams are starting to realize the importance of keeping a talented young arm in the rotation, even if it means that an aging veteran loses his job. With the bonuses being paid to potential stars, teams have more at stake with those youngsters, than they do with an aging veteran pitcher whose contract is nearing an end.

Last season, the Twins almost made a serious mistake by using Glen Perkins in a relief role. It's one thing to use a young pitcher in the bullpen if the team has a bullpen need, but with Perkins, it just seemed as if he were squeezed out of the rotation based on numbers, salaries, etc... Then, the Twins proceded to start this season with Perkins in the bullpen despite his potential. An injury opened the door for Perkins to start a few games, and now the left-hander is 7-2 and looking every bit like a long term major league pitcher. Although, it looks like the Twins may not have learned their lesson, as there is talk of them moving Francisco Liriano back to the bullpen when he returns from AAA. How ridiculous would that decision be?

Now it appears as though some teams are realizing how important a young pitcher, and in some cases, an experienced pitcher is to a team's rotation. The Cardinals turned long time reliever Braden Looper into a starter, and surprisingly, he has done well. Justin Duchscherer is 10-6 with a 1.87 ERA. That is dominant. Prior to this season, he was an important part of the bullpen, but he's even more important now as he inherits the role of team ace. Ryan Dempster is 11-4 for the Cubs as a starter. He hasn't been a full time starter since 2003. And last season, the Giants used Jonathan Sanchez out of the bullpen where he was erratic. As a starter, he's 8-5 with a bad Giants team.

The bullpen should be a place for those pitchers who have less talent, or those who can no longer withstand the rigorous schedule of a starting pitcher. Pitchers such as Kerry Wood and John Smoltz have moved to the bullpen to avoid taxing their pitching arms. That is understandable, but there are still teams that are dangerously taking a chance on destroying the careers and confidence of young pitchers. The Diamondbacks have began moving Max Scherzer back and forth between the bullpen and starting rotation. The Red Sox had a good thing with Justin Masterson, but have begun converting him into a middle reliever. How in the world is he more valuable in that role than that of a starting pitcher? The Mets have refused to allow Aaron Heilman to start, though it is his desire. In 2005 as a starter, Heilman was 7-5 with a 3.17 ERA. Carlos Marmol has been lights out for most of his young career, but as a minor leaguer, he was a dominant starting pitcher. He is valuable to the Cubs in a set up role, but you can't help but wonder how he'd have fared as a starter. Despite experiencing success at closer filling in for J.J. Putz, Brandon Morrow hopes to become a starter. With all of Seattle's pitching woes, he should be considered for the rotation next season, despite his recent success in the bullpen.

In fact, you can't help but wonder how the careers of pitchers such as Matt Lindstrom, Joel Zumaya, or Jared Burton would have turned out had they been starters. Of course, there are some pitchers who take matters into their own hands and determine where they'll be pitching. You remember the last pitcher who decided he wanted to remain in the starting rotation rather than go to the bullpen, don't you? At least he got his wish....Shawn Chacon is no longer in the Astros bullpen. It only took a headlock to his GM to get it done.



Court Adjourned!