Wacha send down in favor of Lyons

[Fat Strat]

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball ... 582b8.html

Prized righthanded rookie Michael Wacha was optioned to Memphis this afternoon to make room for Cardinals righthander Jake Westbrook’s exit from the disabled list to pitch tonight against the Miami Marlins.

Wacha, the club’s No. 1 draft pick last year, was 1-0 with a 4.58 earned run average in three starts. He gained his first win Tuesday in New York, working six innings and giving up two runs.

The Cardinals opted to send down Wacha instead of fellow rookie starter Tyler Lyons, a lefty who will pitch Sunday's game here against the Marlins, or rookie reliever Keith Butler.

The club wants Wacha to work on improving his breaking ball as he returns to the Triple-A rotation.

[Freed Roger]

First world problem.

[jim]

I thought once he was up he was up, but after watching him and hearing some comments here I started coming around to the idea of sending him back to get some work. What is Super-2, and how does this decision help on that front (I think fat mentioned that earlier).

[Fat Strat]

Who would win in a fight? A lion who can't spell or a big fuzzy animal bear puppet?

We now know the answer.

[Fat Strat]

I thought once he was up he was up, but after watching him and hearing some comments here I started coming around to the idea of sending him back to get some work. What is Super-2, and how does this decision help on that front (I think fat mentioned that earlier).

Super-2 means that you get an extra year of arbitration. So, one of those league minimum years becomes an arb-3 level year. It's real money, but talent should trump money.

This will almost certainly mean that Wacha will not be a Super-2.

Personally, I would love to see them send Butler back down now and bring Martinez back to the pen. Do you really need both Martinez and Wacha in Memphis at this point as starters? I don't. And I think both of them have probably spent enough time down to avoid Super-2. Maybe a few more weeks for Martinez. I can't remember when he was first called up.

[heyzeus]

It's a bit counterintuitive on some levels, but it makes sense in general, that Wacha gets sent down because he's better. There's more for him to work on, and more potential to tap into. Lyons is fine as a #5 innings eater. That's probably what he'll be long term, so keeping him up here won't prevent his development.

[cardsfantx]

Cool, right call

[sighyoung]

What is Super-2

You'll like this, jim--it's the biggest dump you will ever take in your life.

[StL]

Definitely the right call seeing as Lyons has been better so far.

[jim]

What is Super-2

You'll like this, jim--it's the biggest dump you will ever take in your life.

Hah! I'm going to remember that.