Full disclosure: I have blatantly stolen both the title and the idea for this post from Dejan Kovacevic's PBC Blog from this morning's PG+, because it is just too good to pass up.
In case you missed it, Brad Lincoln pitched six more shut out innings for Indianapolis last night, raising his record to 6-2 and lowering his ERA to 3.16. And I am sure that you have not missed the fact that Stephen Strasburg makes his much anticipated MLB debut for the Nats this coming Tuesday against the Pirates.
So, the question is, why not bring Lincoln up to make HIS much anticipated debut (at least among Pirates fans) against Strasburg? There is nothing in Lincoln's make-up to indicate that he will shrivel up and die from anticipation of such a start. In fact, just the opposite appears to be the case. So, again, why not? The whole baseball world is fully expecting the Pirates to play Red Klotz to Strasburg's Meadowlark Lemon on Tuesday, so why not put YOUR big hot shot prospect against THEIR big hot shot prospect? At this point, what is to be gained (other than the all important service time issues) by giving Lincoln another start or two in Indy?
I am sure that GM Neal will trot out a raft of arcane statistics that will show why Brian Burres or Dane Eveland would be the better choice to go against Strasburg. I can't wait to hear it.
While we are on this topic, I wonder what the mood of the Pirates is knowing that it was no accident that THEY were selected to be the team to face Strasburg in his initial outing? Of course, I know that their immediate concerns are the games that they are playing currently, not five days from now, but shouldn't it rankle them to know that the entire baseball world is viewing them as MLB's version of the Washington Generals? (see Red Klotz reference above) I am certain that the Skipper is playing upon this and will be making motivational speech after motivational speech to whip the team into a frenzy as they head to the Nation's Capital intent on spoiling Strasburg's first game. Oh, wait. John Russell is the Skipper.
Never mind.
(Again, thanks to Dejan Kovacevic for inspiring this post.)
Calling up Brad Lincoln to make his debut in this game vs. Strasburg in D.C. would be a cool thing. And just think..... the media could have a field day with the headline possibilities......
ReplyDelete"Mr. Lincoln goes to Washington."