Arizona Diamondbacks Fill Out Starting Rotation
By Thomas Lynch
Chase Anderson locked up one of the final two spots in the D’backs’ rotation. Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
With less than a week before Opening Day, the Arizona Diamondbacks have made their five man rotation official. Josh Collmenter will take the ball on Opening Day and it appears Rubby De La Rosa will start game two, followed by Jeremy Hellickson. The final two spots were locked up by Trevor Cahill and one of least season’s bright spots, Chase Anderson.
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I can’t say it’s a shock that these were the five names chosen. Collmenter was the team’s best pitcher last year and the logical choice to begin the season. It would have been hard to envision Hellickson and De La Rosa not be in the rotation as they were prime trade acquisitions for the new regime of Tony LaRussa and Dave Stewart. There were 12 million reasons to return Cahill to the rotation. I know money is supposedly not a factor but if Cahill couldn’t crack the rotation, there would be no room for him in the bullpen. There is no way the club eats all of that money. Anderson and his 1.84 ERA in 14 2/3 innings of Cactus League work solidified his standing as a solid, if not unspectacular young Snakes’ hurler.
What about top prospect Archie Bradley? I have no problem with him not making the rotation. He needed to have pitched almost perfectly and although his control seems to be a lot better (only 3 walks in 16 1/3 innings), there is nothing wrong with him spending more time at Triple A. He will be seen in Arizona sooner rather than later. I have a better chance of being struck by lightning indoors than the D’backs (or most teams for that matter), using only these five starting pitchers for the entire 2015 season.
The only surprise (and it was a small one) was that Vidal Nuno was ruled out of the mix fairly early. I know his nine runs given up in ten innings are terrible but he pitched very well for the D’backs after being acquired by the Yankees. Robbie Ray did himself no favors with 13 walks in 14 innings of work and should be only be in a long relief role or be sent down to Reno work on his control. Allen Webster has some work to do at Triple A after allowing 23 base runners in only 11 innings. The guys I would like to see get a shot first if a man goes down is one of the B and B boys, Braden Shipley or Aaron Blair. If the D’backs are out of the race by the All-Star break, those are the ones I want to help me get through the season.
What are your thoughts? Did the D’backs make the right call with the rotation?