In a normal year, we see pitchers leave Spring Training and get babied once the regular season starts. There are two thoughts behind this – 1) There arms haven’t build up the necessary stamina. 2) The weather is usually cold and not conducive to long outings. It could have been different for Tim Leary if not for that April start.
So that brings us to the 2020 season, which will hopefully start in late July. Weather should be pretty warm. Plus starters went thru Spring Training once, presumably kept up their conditioning during the shut down and will get another three weeks to gear up for the start of the season.
Should the automatic default be that starters need to be handled with kid gloves their first few outings?
What does Seth Lugo want to do? Does he like being a relief pitcher, or does he want to be a starter? I think he has earned an opportunity to be a starter if that is what he wants.
Would we rather have Lugo in the rotation and knock out one of Wacha or Porcello or do we want to keep him in the bullpen?
Betances is making good progress and looks like he will be ready for the start of the season.
I definitely think starters (all players) need to be careful. Game speed is so much different than ST or training.