Sanchez Should Be Starting
The debate about who should be fifth starter is still the loudest one of the spring.
I'm in the Sanchez for the rotation camp. He's pitched incredibly well this spring and has the biggest upside of any of the starters not named Stroman. I'm not in a lather about it. Gavin Floyd has also been great, so the decision isn't a simple one.
Stoeten argues that Sanchez, though fantastic, hasn't faced enough legitimate left handed hitting this spring, which was his bane last season.
No, not good.
But there needs to be some acknowledgement of the work Sanchez has put in the off season and for the change in his pitching this spring.
Also:
Thanks, Dad. I'll decide what temperature my jets need to be.
Are we not allowed to yell about bullshit anymore? Because Sanchez in the 'pen doesn't pass the smell test. It just doesn't.
Sanchez has had issues with harnessing his changeup for strikes this spring, but that is not an impossible task. His curveball and fastball are certainly on point. Given how close Sanchez is, it's not the right move to stash him in the 'pen.
Worst case scenario is Sanchez is in the 'pen. The best case scenario is Sanchez in the big league rotation.
The middle ground, which I think the Jays should take if they think he's not ready for the big league rotation, is the have Sanchez start in AAA and get his work in. Throw the secondary stuff for strikes because command secondary pitches is the reason the lefthanders were an issue for him, not because David Ortiz and Chris Davis are his kryptonite.
Gavin Floyd has pitched brilliantly this spring and would likely be a great piece of the rotation. Maybe Estrada isn't healthy or J.A. Happ is scary in the Rogers Centre. Hearing him complain about being in the bullpen might be a nice distraction from the Bautista/Encarnacion contract discussion that is sure to get stupid.
More food for thought:
Nos autem multi sumus legionis
The Tampa Bay Rays played the Cuban national team in Havana this week in front of President Obama and family and the top brass from MLB.
No idea how this dude was able to play baseball after that.
Chris Archer remains my favourite non-Blue Jay.
I recommend scrolling through all this stuff on Twitter. It was a pretty amazing day.
I'm never getting tired of that one.