GatewaySnayke wrote:cardfaninfla wrote:I have to wonder how it can be a terrible idea before we see what the outcome is. Oh I know, you already KNOW that LaRussa is planning on starting him over any other candidates despite what happens in spring training. This is almost as good a the old SaintLouisSportsFan's our season is over thread.
It's the complete opposite of SLSF. SLSF was dismissing a team that had five very capable pitchers plus one of the best offenses in the league.
I'm dismissing a 32 year old career reliever that hasn't started since he was pitching in A ball and hasn't thrown more than three innings at any time during his major league career. Plus his best pitch is a 93-mph fastball with zero movement and a slider that gets routinely crushed by lefthanded hitters.
And I don't KNOW that La Russa is planning to start him despite his ST training results, so drop the condescension. I will say that he has an 85-90 percent chance of winning it though.
Now, I believe I've come up with a multitude of reasons why I don't think Looper can be a starter. You've yet to make an argument FOR Looper, only AGAINST Thompson. Would you care to take a stab?
I think Looper might be able to start for a few reasons.
1.)I think he has the stuff for it. I think part of Loopers problem is that he's always tried to use his stuff to get past hitters instead of pitching to them. He has a good fastball but, like you said, it has no movement. Working multiple innings will force him to change his approach to pitching (He hasn't had to in the past because he HAS been a successful reliever). Now he's going to have to locate his pitches, moving his fastball up down, in and out, to keep hitters off balance. If he's added a splitter like I hear then that means he has 3-4 pitches (I want to say he'd have his fastball, the slider, splitter, change) that he can routinely use to get hitters out.
2.) Duncan believes in him. I don't know much about pitching or how it works. But I know Duncan does. So i'm taking his word for it until Looper proves me wrong. It could very well be that Looper is more suited for the approach that starters take to get hitters out.
3.) Looper is 32, he doesn't have to be babied when it comes to his stamina. He has the body type to be able to stretch out quickly. He might not be pretty looking, but he is athletic. He's another season removed from shoulder surgery, which should also help his health.
4.) Looper's expectations aren't very high. If he goes out there and puts up a 4.50 ERA then I think most of us will be happy. I always heard that you add about 1.50 ERA from a reliever to his ability to start. That would have made him a 5.06 ERA (or the same as Reyes gave us) pitcher last season. That would have been better than two of our starters and is perfectly fine for a #5 starter fill-in that we expect to pitch till Mulder is healthy.
5.) It's a challenge. I'm a firm believer in emotional effects on performance. This has given Looper soemthing to work for, to drive. He wants to success and I think that detirmination will help him.
6.) His K rate wasn't that good last season, but for his career if he can manage 6-7k/9 then that should be more than enough to compensate for his lack of starter command. Really, if you think about it most #5 starters don't have Looper's stuff.
I think Loopers biggest challange is going to be throwing 100+ pitches without his mechanics deteriorating. It seems like he's going to be a location pitcher and he doesn't have impeccable command so i'm betting we're going to see him get a higher pitch count earlier than some of our other starters. If he can stay under 100 pitches for the first 5 innings he should be fine. If he can stay effective after his first 60 pitches I think he will be a success.