This whole starting pitching thing is just frickin' retarded. OK, Buchholz is "better as a reliever." Yeah, and so far he has been, but only in the way that the ordinary reliever posts better numbers than the ordinary starter. Hey, the data show that relieving is just plain "easier" to the tune of about .80 runs per game, and guess what? That's about how much better Buchholz has been as a reliever so far in his career.
So instead of simply slipping Buchholz into the rotation, you pick up Ramon Ortiz -- a reliever this year, almost exclusively -- and plan on having him start.
Ortiz 2007 DERA: 5.10
Buchholz: 4.78
I guess I fail to see why the obvious move -- take the guy who's being used as th 12th man on the staff, who has experience starting, who's performed better than Ortiz -- and make him the 5th starter, then acquire a run of the mill reliever to fill Buchholz's role.
What's with all this overthinking of the situation? I like the Dessens acquisition, and wouldn't he be able to slide into the Buchholz role like right away, with Buchholz probably ready to give the Rox at least 80 pitches as a starter? Instead, you've got Dessens (who may last 4-5 innings if he manages to keep his pitch count down) starting tomorrow. And then Ortiz probably starting next week.
Meanwhile, O'Dowd has been able to satisfy all his inexplicable mancrushes in one week. Elmer Dessens: lusted after him the last 2 offseasons. Ramon Ortiz: object of Danno's desire last winter.
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