Not so sure about Scherzer to the 'pen

Max Scherzer is up with the Diamondbacks this week. Scherzer is headed for the bullpen. Given his successes in the minor leagues, this year included, it would appear he's far too talented for middle relief. All this kid's done in Triple-A this April is K 38 batters in 23 innings, posting a 1.17 ERA. While Arizona's 'pen might be tired (which is why the D'backs are keeping him out of the rotation after his call-up), Scherzer might be good enough as as starter for them not to need one.
With an off-day late this week, the D'backs can skip Micah Owings' (ankle) start this week and might not miss a beat with Owings' next scheduled outing. That means Scherzer, whom Arizona never pegged for a specific role once he was ready to leave Triple-A, might stay in the bullpen for longer than fantasy owners would like.

With Doug Davis out battling thyroid cancer the D'backs have Edgar Gonzalez filling in as the 5th starter. Gonzalez would appear much better suited for a relief role (half of his appearances in the Majors have come from the bullpen) while Scherzer's electric stuff would seem perfect for a starring role in an already dominant Arizona rotation. If both Gonzalez and then Davis (upon his return in a few weeks) prove ineffective as starters, how prepared can Scherzer be in a starting capacity after shortened performances out of the 'pen? Changing his repetoire from starting every 5th day to middle relief and back to starter again is tough on a young arm and takes time. It's the very reason the Yankees didn't move Joba Chamberlain from his setup role to the rotation when Ian Kennedy and Phil Hughes struggled out of the gate. Either Scherzer is headed to the pen for the long haul, or the D'backs will wisen up quickly and get him in the rotation soon. A pitcher as dominant as Scherzer needs an opportunity to contribue as many innings as possible. His value maxes out as a starter.

AL Rookie of the Year - Front Runners

1. Greg Smith, SP (OAK) - Locking down rotation spot
2. Jacoby Ellsbury, OF (BOS) - Mixing in more good days than bad
3. Evan Longoria, 3B (TB) - Needs to raise average
4. Armando Galarraga, SP (DET) - Career minor-leaguer undefeated
5. Joba Chamberlain, RP (NYY) - Suffered loss Thursday at CHW

NL Rookie of the Year - Front Runners

1. Geovany Soto, C (CHC) - Currently best catcher in MLB
2. Kosuke Fukudome, OF (CHC) - Cooled off to .338 avg.
3. Jair Jurrjens, SP (ATL) - Settling in as No. 3 starter
4. Joey Votto, 1B (CIN) - Outplaying Hatteberg at first
5. Johnny Cueto, SP (CIN) - pitching well through adversity

Ian Stewart - Stewing in Triple-A awhile?

The buzz around the Colorado Rockies this spring centered around 2nd base, where the Rockies tried currently red-hot farmhand Ian Stewart for a spell. Apparently they didn't like what they saw. Not enough, anyway, to give Stewart the job out of camp.

Instead, Colorado dropped Stewart back into Triple-A, released journeyman Marcus Giles and handed over the position to Jayson Nix. The Nix experiment (.111 avg., 12 K in 45 AB) has now been officially nixed, leaving Clint Barmes (remember his groceries, er, deer meat accident that derailed a supurb rookie season?) as the Rockies best effort at 2nd.

Barmes has done well (.305 avg. through Saturday, 4/26), but most fantasy baseball writers/experts believe Stewart would play 2nd at Triple-A in order to learn the position well enough defensively to take over sometime this season at Coors. Given the shaky situation with Nix and Barmes (a lifetime .256 hitter) the pivot looked like Stewart's to take.

This, however, does to look to be the case. Through 20 games with the Colorado Springs Sky Sox Stewart has yet to play a single inning at 2nd base. It would appear the 2nd base experiment is over, or perhaps it never really got started. One recent Denver Post Rockies Mailbag discussion didn't even mention the possibility of Stewart moving from the hot corner (his current position), which leaves Spitting Seeds to believe he's mired behind all-star candidate Garrett Atkins for the foreseeable future.

If Stewart truly has holes in his swing (18 K in 76 AB at Colorado Springs), it hasn't stopped his run production (2o R, 21 RBI). He's still stuck behind Atkins until the Rockies either fall out of the race (Atkins gets traded? Walks after the year?) or make another postseason run (Stewart becomes trade fodder for pitching? A real-life 2nd baseman?). Only time will tell, and that means it could be until late July before Stewart gets his shot at the big leagues, whether at Coors or some other major league ballpark. We hear Brian Roberts might be available.

Pitchman's NL - Soon to be called up

1. Clayton Kershaw, SP (LAD) – Dodgers’ 1^st pick in ’06 (7^th overall) tearing up the Southern League (31.2 IP, 19 H, 39 K, 1.13 ERA). Prolonged struggles by Hiroki Kurodo and Hong-Chih Kuo could pave the way for Kershaw’s debut.

2. Jay Bruce, OF (CIN) – Baseball America’s ’07 Minor Leaguer of the Year picking up where he left off in Triple-A (20 G, 4 HR, 13 RBI, 6 SB, .928 OPS), but still strikes out too much (2.8 K/BB). When Dusty Baker realizes a Patterson/Freel/Hopper platoon won’t cut it in center, Bruce could get a shot.

3. Max Scherzer, SP (ARI) – Nobody can touch Arizona’s ’06 first rounder (14.9 K/9 is best in the minors). His 1.17 ERA in 23 IP will quickly put to rest those durability concerns. Could be the first call-up if Edgar Gonzalez struggles.

4. Homer Bailey, SP (CIN) – Once thought to be the best pitching prospect in baseball – now overshadowed by Johnny Cueto and Edinson Volquez. Even after Bailey’s first flawed start of the year (4 ER in 6 IP on Fri.), he still sports a miniscule 1.95 ERA. Still only 21 years old he could steal a rotation spot from either Josh Fogg or Matt Belisle.

5. Colby Rasmus, OF (STL) – Highly-rated prospect not forcing GM John Mozeliak’s hand (.213 avg, 1.3 K/BB after hitting .275 last year). Still only 21 years old, will be a 20/20 player when he arrives in the bigs. When he straightens himself out, the Cards could use his bat.

Contributed by Pitchman