Arms Race no race at all?

This article about Brett Tomko scares me to death. In case you don't feel like clicking it(it might make you sick), here's the quotes that got me the most:

The line shows Tomko went 4 1/3 innings, giving up six runs (four earned) on eight hits and a walk.

"Great outing," Hillman said. "The line was bad, but with what he did, it was very good. He took the bullpen session right into the game."

Maybe if it's a young pitcher, or someone like Hideo Nomo who's coming back after a two year hiatus I could understand this thinking. But Tomko went 4-12 last year...with a 5.55 ERA...in the weak National League. Moral victories shouldn't be enough for an 11 year veteran who stunk so completely last season. But that wasn't all...

His take on being the Royals' No. 4 starter at this point?

"If that's what they want, I'm down with it," Tomko said. "I felt like I threw the ball well today and I don't feel I've been horrible since I've been here. The Cubs game, yeah, here and there. Other than that, I feel like I'm progressing the way I need to."

He doesn't feel like he's been terrible? Tomko's had 3 starts, here are his stats:
10.2 innings, 10.13 ERA, 21 hits, 15 runs(12 earned), 3 walks, 7 strikeouts

That is as terrible as you can be, Brett....atrocious in fact.

I was really concerned by this whole thing until I read the Star today. This article, while still justifying Tomko's terrible day gave me hope because of this quote from Trey:

“Nothing is solidified with those final two spots,” Hillman declared. “We’ve got too much time left.”

Granted, Tomko still probably has the inside track, but at least they haven't given to him. They have to make him have at least a couple of decent outings, right? I've heard a lot of people speculate that Tomko will make the team no matter what because of his approximately $3 million dollar contract. If that's fact, let's at least start him out in a long relief role and make him show something before we start him. Better to throw away $3 million dollars than 10 games in the standings, especially if you're the Royals.

So, if not Tomko, who? I've tried hard to find alternatives to John Bale as our token lefty, but there isn't one at this point. Maroth will probably have to start in AAA because of an injury scare and De La Rosa has been as wild and ineffective as anticipated. So, my new alternative is no lefty at all...really. I like Bale in the bullpen as a long relief guy...maybe even a swing starter...but I don't trust him in the rotation.

As of right now I like Luke Hochevar and Nomo to fill the 4 and 5 spots. I know everyone says that Nomo is too old, and Hochevar too inexperienced...but they're the most talented guys we have and that's what we have to go with. Yeah, it's similar to the Gathright argument, and it's my philosophy I guess. This team can't win by playing it safe...with guys like Brett Tomko, John Bale and Ross Gload...we need talent and potential and we have to take chances. I know Hochevar and Nomo are both considered big risks, but as of right now that's who I'd take.

Besides, the age isn't that big of a deal. Nomo won't turn 40 until August, a ton of pitchers have had reasonable (we're only asking him to be a #4) success after 40. Hochever, meanwhile, is almost a month older than Zack Greinke...no one thinks Greinke is too young. Here's hoping Hillman (and Dayton) show some guts and start with out 5 most talented pitchers in the rotation to start the year.

I'm lost

It's going to take me at least another 24 hours to figure out the Big 12 race after the last week...it's ridiculous. Between that and the fact that it's Spring Play season at the Elementary school means the Big 12 Report won't be up until tomorrow...also pushing back my next Royals blog to week 2. How about Hochevar going 6 up 6 down yesterday though?

Not so fast

The Kool Aid Drinker was ready for a quick write up on what should be the most stable part of the Royals in 2008, the bullpen. Read that again "What should be the most stable part of the Royals in 2008, the bullpen." Yeah, and I meant it. Joakim "The Warria" Soria closing out games, being set up by the import Yasuhiko "Smooth Like" Yabuta, "The First Joel" Peralta and Himmy Hobble. Sure, we'd fill in a couple places, Ron Mahay would be another lefty, maybe John Bale would too...Luke Hudson and Leo Nunez my fill out the bullpen...and then this article...Luke Hochevar in the bullpen? Brilliant! Okay, maybe not that brilliant, but this quote from Trey Hillman was:
"What we want to do for our Major League club now is provide it with the best 12 pitchers that we can -- period. It's as simple as that -- period."

That's exactly what we need to do, in fact I'd say it should just be the plan to put Hochevar in the bullpen, at least until the All Star Break. For one thing it keeps his innings down, something that's always a concern with young arms. For another, it keeps him getting exposed too early. It's much harder for teams to develop a book on a young reliever who's throwing roughly 1/3rd as many innings as he would be as a starter. Yes, I love the Hochevar to the pen idea. That being said, if he earns it we're left with 6 spots in the pen...

- Soria will be our closer barring catastrophe
- Yabuta and Mahay are probably as guaranteed as anyone in the discussion
- Hard to see Peralta and Gobble not breaking camp with the team

That's leaves one spot for a ridiculous amount of candidates....
Ryan Braun, Bale, Hudson, Nunez, no to mention guys like Jorge De La Rosa, Brian Lawrence, Hideo Nomo that are vying for the rotation but expected (by the Kool Aid Drinker at least) to fall short. My vote goes to Nunez as long as he stays healthy, it's hard to imagine he will with that frame. No matter who wins the spot you have to praise Dayton Moore for the job he's done putting together this stable of arms. We've never had a competition like this with so many seasoned veterans and young arms vying for so few spots. It's hard to imagine that Trey Hillman wouldn't put together one of the best bullpens in all of baseball with many choices...now read that again.