Blooper (ha!) to start against Mets

[Bo Hart]

Not to say I trust Braden Looper as far as I can throw him.. but I'm gonna be the optimistic one here.. but Looper hasn't really shown that he's a bad player, has he? No, he's never started a game in the Majors(regular season) before. Yes, it's a tough transistion. But look at his spring stats(not a good measure, I know, but just look):

1st Start(MAR 02, 2007): 3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K(vs Mets)
2nd Start(MAR 07, 2007): 3.1 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K(vs Dodgers)
3rd Start(MAR 12, 2007): 4.2(longest) IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K(vs Braves)
4th Start(MAR 17, 2007): 3.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 HR, 2 BB, 1 K(vs Braves)

And his NP/S in those 4 starts: 83 pitches. 70 strikes.
And his GO/AO in those 4 starts: 20 groundouts, 16 air outs.

He's got a decent ERA, the 2nd Atlanta game being the only blemish. In his longest outing, he was lights out(true, no where close to 7 IP with that line). So why not give him a shot to prove himself? He's been masterful in the spring. Let's say he gives up one run in that last Atlanta game, goes one more inning. That's a 1.20 ERA. How can you argue with that? If he goes 5 innings, 1.12. Carpenter has been worse this Spring. No doubts about him.

I know nothing is for sure until April 1st, 2007. But let's at least have some optimism.

Yep, I agree... there are some things to be optimistic about.

But at the same time, it's a ridiculously small sample size; it's so small that it's hard to draw any conclusions from it whatsoever.

[TimeForGuinness]

Not to say I trust Braden Looper as far as I can throw him.. but I'm gonna be the optimistic one here.. but Looper hasn't really shown that he's a bad player, has he? No, he's never started a game in the Majors(regular season) before. Yes, it's a tough transistion. But look at his spring stats(not a good measure, I know, but just look):

1st Start(MAR 02, 2007): 3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K(vs Mets)
2nd Start(MAR 07, 2007): 3.1 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K(vs Dodgers)
3rd Start(MAR 12, 2007): 4.2(longest) IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K(vs Braves)
4th Start(MAR 17, 2007): 3.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 HR, 2 BB, 1 K(vs Braves)

And his NP/S in those 4 starts: 83 pitches. 70 strikes.
And his GO/AO in those 4 starts: 20 groundouts, 16 air outs.

He's got a decent ERA, the 2nd Atlanta game being the only blemish. In his longest outing, he was lights out(true, no where close to 7 IP with that line). So why not give him a shot to prove himself? He's been masterful in the spring. Let's say he gives up one run in that last Atlanta game, goes one more inning. That's a 1.20 ERA. How can you argue with that? If he goes 5 innings, 1.12. Carpenter has been worse this Spring. No doubts about him.

I know nothing is for sure until April 1st, 2007. But let's at least have some optimism.

Yep, I agree... there are some things to be optimistic about.

But at the same time, it's a ridiculously small sample size; it's so small that it's hard to draw any conclusions from it whatsoever.

Yeah, but he's had a better spring than anyone thought (except the deacon).

I think he'll give a better return this year than Marquis would.

[jagtrader]

I know far less about pitching than Duncan, who believes Looper can start. I think he's earned the benefit of the doubt on this one.

[cardfaninfla]

Gateway, I am willing to lay down 100 bucks on the under for your home runs given up in the first inning, can you cover that?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

So the plan is to skip Looper as much as possible AND get Carpenter as much rest as they can? How is that possible?

[thrill]

So the plan is to skip Looper as much as possible AND get Carpenter as much rest as they can? How is that possible?

They are saying that skipping Looper is more of a priority than resting Carpenter but that they would try to get Carp as much rest within that framework.

[JL21]

I know far less about pitching than Duncan, who believes Looper can start. I think he's earned the benefit of the doubt on this one.

My thoughts exactly. There's a reason Dave Duncan is the pitching coach for the St. Louis Cardinals and we are anonymous posters on the internet.

[jim]

So the plan is to skip Looper as much as possible AND get Carpenter as much rest as they can? How is that possible?

That's not what the article said. It said nobody would be regularly skipped. And I believe the plan is to have Carpenter pitch every 5th day, with the other pitchers working around that schedule.

[Popeye_Card]

I know far less about pitching than Duncan, who believes Looper can start. I think he's earned the benefit of the doubt on this one.

My thoughts exactly. There's a reason Dave Duncan is the pitching coach for the St. Louis Cardinals and we are anonymous posters on the internet.

It's obvious that it's reverse-nepotism to keep Chris happy.

--P--

[greenback44]

I know far less about pitching than Duncan, who believes Looper can start. I think he's earned the benefit of the doubt on this one.

My thoughts exactly. There's a reason Dave Duncan is the pitching coach for the St. Louis Cardinals and we are anonymous posters on the internet.

I remember hearing/reading the same things about Walt Jocketty at the time of the Mulder trade.