06-10-2018, 01:08 PM
(06-08-2018, 10:38 PM)fredtoast Wrote: I'd try almost anyone at this point. Reds starters are dead last in all of MLB in both ERA and WHIP.
Out of 92 MLB pitchers with enough innings to qualify our top three starters rank 60th, 87th, and 91st in ERA.
After the All-Star break, I'd roll with the following rotation:
Castillo
Mahle
Disco
Harvey
Garrett
I'd get Finnegan into the pen, as he has a reliever's build (i.e. small). Trade Iglesias and possibly Hughes. If injury or abject failure strikes one of the 5 starters mentioned, Lorenzen would be the first one I'd slot for another starting role, then probably Stephenson on a last-ditch effort to see if he can catch on as a starter.
This season was a loss before it started. If they can have 3 pitchers that look like they can go into 2019 as solid pieces (obviously not aces or even TOR locks), then it's probably a victory for the organization. I think Mahle fits that role. I also think Castillo has a chance to figure it out before all is said and done. He has the stuff, he just need to settle down and gain a bit more experience. He was called up from AA last year much earlier than anyone expected and he's still very much a work in progress.
I'd hope than either Garrett catches on as a starter or Disco regains his pre-injury form by then end of 2018. If you get these things to click, then you do what actual MLB front offices do and sign some proven talent to fill out the staff in the offseason. If they don't want to go that route, then I'd probably expect rebuild number 2 to begin with Votto, Gennett, and whoever else they can move sold off to infuse more talent into the farm. Possible contending date gets pushed back to 2022. The new potential contending core becomes Suarez, Senzel, Winker, Greene,Trammell, and India. That would be a sad situation.
