JVB Demoted Following Loss

Here is Chavez's AAA stats: http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Jesse%20Chavez&pos=P&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=445926

And here is Salas': http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Marino%20Salas&pos=P&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=434978

I hate how CBS makes their own hyperlinks after I specifically made it those two links to begin with.

However, I would take Craig Wilson over Adam LaRoche........in April....

I like the way NH is operating things right now.  He is not afraid to make moves to improve the team on the field.

I agree with jalcorn427, JVB should be moved to middle relief. I think they should not move him down though. This should be a last ditch effort to see how effective he can be in the BIGS. If this doesn't work out then they should cut him loose by the end of the season.

Its to bad MLB salaries are not more like the NFLs. Players can go to an arbitrator if they play well, but when they stink the team has to bite the bullet. That bullet makes Laroche the choice over Wilson, otherwise I'd definetly go with Wilson.

.500 sounds great at this point.! Go Bucs!!!

J:  Hard to say without seeing it, but are you saying he tips his pitches or that there is little or no imagination in the game calling?  If you have enough the first time through, then you have enough the other 2 or 3 times through the lineup - it's just a matter of hitting your spots and keeping the other team from sitting on one pitch or another.  Did JVB get a little tentative?  I think if you check my posts at the conclusion of ST I was advocating JVB for the RH long relief role, so I agree that is where he needs to be. 

I think his problem is that 5 inch or 6 inch space between his ears, and I cannot see any problem with pulling him after 2 or 3 innings, and possibly feeding that ego just a little bit and maybe proving to him that he can be an effective pitcher.  I fear that none of this is the case though, because this coaching staff has shown great patience with guys like Meek, and sending JVB back after the bad outing seems to be more like a punishment for not manning up against the opposing batters.  All good coaches know that some you pat on the butt and put your arm around, and others you kick their butts and challenge their manhood!  This was an action for effect - let's see how JVB responds.  If it was me and my career was on the line, I do not think I would let anyone get dug into the box on me without wearing the stitches of the ball on the next pitch!!      

It looks like it is Marino Salas.  He is one of the guys we got from the Brewers for Salamon Torres.  Lets see if he can excel in the bigs.  I remember when we traded for him, they said he had a legit chance to stick with the bucs this year.  He was not on the 40 man roster so he will be added which gives them with one more opening. 

He has a 0.77 ERA and has given up 17 hits and seven walks in 23 1/3 innings while striking out 20.

Those are nice AAA stats.  I guess time will tell.

GO BUCS!!

Emj, I don't think it is a case of tipping pitches at all. I think it is a case where his stuff just doesn't fool anyone after they have seen it more than once. He doesn't have a good enough pitch selection to keep hitters off balance for more than one at bat. This is a common problem for young pitchers trying to get established. Most seem to struggle the second and third time through the lineup when hitters are more comfortable with what they are throwing. Its also the same thing that management had said about Dumatrait this spring, although he seems to be alright so far, knock on wood.