So I'm watching the game and I hear Campbell and Tabler are talking about next month's All Star Game.
Campbell seemed to find it inconceivable that anyone besides Roy Halladay could be named the AL starter. It is, indeed, an honour long overdue - Doc was going to start the 2005 game, according to Terry Francona, but Kevin Mench's bat had other ideas. Tabler did note that Zack Greinke has to be taken into consideration - like, DUH - and that the AL starter will probably end up being determined by which man is actually available to pitch (i.e., which one doesn't work the Sunday game before the break.)
So let's have a quick peek at how the Blue Jays and Royals rotations shake up from here until the break. First, let's assume that both teams continue to roll over their five starters:
This obviously leaves Halladay well positioned to make the start for the AL - on three days rest, he can certainly give you a couple of innings. How about the Royals?
Even better for Greinke - he would be the next man up in the KC rotation.
Of course, it seems highly unlikely that either team's rotations will unfold this way. The Blue Jays have three off days between now and the break - the Royals have two. Cito Gaston has already skipped Scott Richmond once in order to keep sending Halladay out there every five days, and has stated that it's his intention to carry on in the same fashion (just as John Gibbons did before him.) And it certainly seems unlikely that the Royals will allow their rotation to unfold so that Greinke starts on Wed July 8 and doesn't pitch for them again until Fri July 17 (the Royals and the Jays are both off on the Thursday after the All Star Game.)
What might they do?
Let's try this instead. After Toronto's off day on June 15, they come back with Ricky Romero the nexty day, as scheduled. But for the 17th, Scott Richmond is passed over. Halladay, Janssen, Tallet all work on normal rest, Richmond makes the start on June 20, and Romero on June 21.
At which point, the Jays have another off day. It's Halladay's turn - Gaston's choice will be to bring him back on short rest before the off day, or leave things alone and him have the extra day. Given those choices, I'd let him have the extra day and I expect Gaston will as well. So on June 23 Halladay would kick off a stretch of nine games in nine days before the next off day (July 2). It would be Ricky Romero's turn the next day, followed by Halladay on the 4th of July - it's a simple enough matter to flip the two starters. You keep Doc on his five day cycle, and give the youngster an extra day (and the Jays do need to be paying attention to Romero's innings pitched this season.) There being 10 games in 10 days before the break, the Jays cycle through their five starters - the sequence, by this point, is Halladay-Romero-Janssen-Tallet-Richmond - and Halladay will arrive at the break having last pitched on Wednesday July 8. Primed and ready for the NL.
It would unfold like this:
The only way to get Halladay a seventh start before the break would require him pitching on three days rest - twice. Like this:
The Royals only have two off days to play with. But with one simple tweak, they get an extra start out of Greinke before the break, while keeping him on his regular rest. All they have to do is flip Greinke and Meche after their off day on June 14. Getting an extra start out of Greinke before the break, especially when it doesn't require him working on short rest, seems well worth doing. It means, of course, that he'd have to start the ROyals last game before the break. Like so:
(If they like, they can flip him and Bannister when they cycle through the rotation after their other off day, but there seems little profit in that.
Campbell seemed to find it inconceivable that anyone besides Roy Halladay could be named the AL starter. It is, indeed, an honour long overdue - Doc was going to start the 2005 game, according to Terry Francona, but Kevin Mench's bat had other ideas. Tabler did note that Zack Greinke has to be taken into consideration - like, DUH - and that the AL starter will probably end up being determined by which man is actually available to pitch (i.e., which one doesn't work the Sunday game before the break.)
So let's have a quick peek at how the Blue Jays and Royals rotations shake up from here until the break. First, let's assume that both teams continue to roll over their five starters:
Mon, Jun 8 @ Texas Janssen
Tue, Jun 9 @ Texas Tallet
Wed, Jun 10 @ Texas Romero
Thu, Jun 11 @ Texas Richmond
Fri, Jun 12 Florida Halladay
Sat, Jun 13 Florida Janssen
Sun, Jun 14 Florida Tallet
Mon, Jun 15 OFF DAY
Tue, Jun 16 @ Philadelphia Romero
Wed, Jun 17 @ Philadelphia Richmond
Thu, Jun 18 @ Philadelphia Halladay
Fri, Jun 19 @ Washington Janssen
Sat, Jun 20 @ Washington Tallet
Sun, Jun 21 @ Washington Romero
Mon, Jun 22 OFF DAY
Tue, Jun 23 Cincinnati Richmond
Wed, Jun 24 Cincinnati Halladay
Thu, Jun 25 Cincinnati Janssen
Fri, Jun 26 Philadelphia Tallet
Sat, Jun 27 Philadelphia Romero
Sun, Jun 28 Philadelphia Richmond
Mon, Jun 29 Tampa Bay Halladay
Tue, Jun 30 Tampa Bay Janssen
Wed, Jul 1 Tampa Bay Tallet
Tue, Jul 2 OFF DAY
Fri, Jul 3 @ NY Yankees Romero
Sat, Jul 4 @ NY Yankees Richmond
Sun, Jul 5 @ NY Yankees Halladay
Mon, Jul 6 @ NY Yankees Janssen
Tue, Jul 7 @ Tampa Bay Tallet
Wed, Jul 8 @ Tampa Bay Romero
Thu, Jul 9 @ Tampa Bay Richmond
Fri, Jul 10 @ Baltimore Halladay
Sat, Jul 11 @ Baltimore Janssen
Sun, Jul 12 @ Baltimore Tallet
This obviously leaves Halladay well positioned to make the start for the AL - on three days rest, he can certainly give you a couple of innings. How about the Royals?
Tue, Jun 9 @ Cleveland Bannister
Wed, Jun 10 @ Cleveland Meche
Thu, Jun 11 @ Cleveland Greinke
Fri, Jun 12 Cincinnati Hochevar
Sat, Jun 13 Cincinnati Davies
Sun, Jun 14 Cincinnati Bannister
OFF DAY
Tue, Jun 16 Arizona Meche
Wed, Jun 17 Arizona Greinke
Thu, Jun 18 Arizona Hochevar
Fri, Jun 19 St. Louis Davies
Sat, Jun 20 St. Louis Bannister
Sun, Jun 21 St. Louis Meche
OFF DAY
Tue, Jun 23 @ Houston Greinke
Wed, Jun 24 @ Houston Hochevar
Thu, Jun 25 @ Houston Davies
Fri, Jun 26 @ Pittsburgh Bannister
Sat, Jun 27 @ Pittsburgh Meche
Sun, Jun 28 @ Pittsburgh Greinke
Mon, Jun 29 Minnesota Hochevar
Tue, Jun 30 Minnesota Davies
Wed, Jul 1 Minnesota Bannister
Thu, Jul 2 White Sox Meche
Fri, Jul 3 White Sox Greinke
Sat, Jul 4 White Sox Hochevar
Sun, Jul 5 White Sox Davies
Mon, Jul 6 @ Detroit Bannister
Tue, Jul 7 @ Detroit Meche
Wed, Jul 8 @ Detroit Greinke
Thu, Jul 9 @ Boston Hochevar
Fri, Jul 10 @ Boston Davies
Sat, Jul 11 @ Boston Bannister
Sun, Jul 12 @ Boston Meche
Even better for Greinke - he would be the next man up in the KC rotation.
Of course, it seems highly unlikely that either team's rotations will unfold this way. The Blue Jays have three off days between now and the break - the Royals have two. Cito Gaston has already skipped Scott Richmond once in order to keep sending Halladay out there every five days, and has stated that it's his intention to carry on in the same fashion (just as John Gibbons did before him.) And it certainly seems unlikely that the Royals will allow their rotation to unfold so that Greinke starts on Wed July 8 and doesn't pitch for them again until Fri July 17 (the Royals and the Jays are both off on the Thursday after the All Star Game.)
What might they do?
Let's try this instead. After Toronto's off day on June 15, they come back with Ricky Romero the nexty day, as scheduled. But for the 17th, Scott Richmond is passed over. Halladay, Janssen, Tallet all work on normal rest, Richmond makes the start on June 20, and Romero on June 21.
At which point, the Jays have another off day. It's Halladay's turn - Gaston's choice will be to bring him back on short rest before the off day, or leave things alone and him have the extra day. Given those choices, I'd let him have the extra day and I expect Gaston will as well. So on June 23 Halladay would kick off a stretch of nine games in nine days before the next off day (July 2). It would be Ricky Romero's turn the next day, followed by Halladay on the 4th of July - it's a simple enough matter to flip the two starters. You keep Doc on his five day cycle, and give the youngster an extra day (and the Jays do need to be paying attention to Romero's innings pitched this season.) There being 10 games in 10 days before the break, the Jays cycle through their five starters - the sequence, by this point, is Halladay-Romero-Janssen-Tallet-Richmond - and Halladay will arrive at the break having last pitched on Wednesday July 8. Primed and ready for the NL.
It would unfold like this:
Having worked all this out - what is the point? If Gaston simply rolls over his five starters without taking off days into account, Halladay makes six more starts before the break. If he uses the off days to bump someone else temporarily and keep Halladay on normal rest - Doc makes six more starts before the break. The only change in the opposition would be see him facing Philadelphia rather than Tampa Bay - doesn't seem like a priority.
Mon, Jun 8 @ Texas Janssen (1-2)
Tue, Jun 9 @ Texas Tallet (3-3)
Wed, Jun 10 @ Texas Romero (3-2)
Thu, Jun 11 @ Texas Richmond (4-3)
Fri, Jun 12 Florida Halladay (10-1)
Sat, Jun 13 Florida Janssen (1-2)
Sun, Jun 14 Florida Tallet (3-3)
Mon, Jun 15 OFF DAY
Tue, Jun 16 @ Philadelphia Romero (3-2)
Wed, Jun 17 @ Philadelphia Halladay (10-1)
Thu, Jun 18 @ Philadelphia Janssen (1-2)
Fri, Jun 19 @ Washington Tallet (3-3)
Sat, Jun 20 @ Washington Richmond (4-3)
Sun, Jun 21 @ Washington Romero (3-2)
Mon, Jun 22 OFF DAY
Tue, Jun 23 Cincinnati Halladay (10-1)
Wed, Jun 24 Cincinnati Janssen (1-2)
Thu, Jun 25 Cincinnati Tallet (3-3)
Fri, Jun 26 Philadelphia Richmond (4-3)
Sat, Jun 27 Philadelphia Romero (3-2)
Sun, Jun 28 Philadelphia Halladay (10-1)
Mon, Jun 29 Tampa Bay Janssen (1-2)
Tue, Jun 30 Tampa Bay Tallet (3-3)
Wed, Jul 1 Tampa Bay Richmond (4-3)
Tue, Jul 2 OFF DAY
Fri, Jul 3 @ NY Yankees Halladay (10-1)
Sat, Jul 4 @ NY Yankees Romero (3-2)
Sun, Jul 5 @ NY Yankees Janssen (1-2)
Mon, Jul 6 @ NY Yankees Tallet (3-3)
Tue, Jul 7 @ Tampa Bay Richmond (4-3)
Wed, Jul 8 @ Tampa Bay Halladay (10-1)
Thu, Jul 9 @ Tampa Bay Romero (3-2)
Fri, Jul 10 @ Baltimore Janssen (1-2)
Sat, Jul 11 @ Baltimore Tallet (3-3)
Sun, Jul 12 @ Baltimore Richmond (4-3)
The only way to get Halladay a seventh start before the break would require him pitching on three days rest - twice. Like this:
Mon, Jun 8 @ Texas JanssenIt doesn't seem worth doing, not to me.
Tue, Jun 9 @ Texas Tallet
Wed, Jun 10 @ Texas Romero
Thu, Jun 11 @ Texas Richmond
Fri, Jun 12 Florida Halladay
Sat, Jun 13 Florida Janssen
Sun, Jun 14 Florida Tallet
Mon, Jun 15 OFF DAY
Tue, Jun 16 @ Philadelphia Romero
Wed, Jun 17 @ Philadelphia Halladay
Thu, Jun 18 @ Philadelphia Janssen
Fri, Jun 19 @ Washington Tallet
Sat, Jun 20 @ Washington Richmond
Sun, Jun 21 @ Washington Halladay
Mon, Jun 22 OFF DAY
Tue, Jun 23 Cincinnati Romero
Wed, Jun 24 Cincinnati Janssen
Thu, Jun 25 Cincinnati Tallet
Fri, Jun 26 Philadelphia Richmond
Sat, Jun 27 Philadelphia Halladay
Sun, Jun 28 Philadelphia Romero
Mon, Jun 29 Tampa Bay Janssen
Tue, Jun 30 Tampa Bay Tallet
Wed, Jul 1 Tampa Bay Halladay
Tue, Jul 2 OFF DAY
Fri, Jul 3 @ NY Yankees Romero
Sat, Jul 4 @ NY Yankees Janssen
Sun, Jul 5 @ NY Yankees Tallet
Mon, Jul 6 @ NY Yankees Halladay
Tue, Jul 7 @ Tampa Bay Richmond
Wed, Jul 8 @ Tampa Bay Romero
Thu, Jul 9 @ Tampa Bay Janssen
Fri, Jul 10 @ Baltimore Tallet
Sat, Jul 11 @ Baltimore Halladay
Sun, Jul 12 @ Baltimore Richmond
The Royals only have two off days to play with. But with one simple tweak, they get an extra start out of Greinke before the break, while keeping him on his regular rest. All they have to do is flip Greinke and Meche after their off day on June 14. Getting an extra start out of Greinke before the break, especially when it doesn't require him working on short rest, seems well worth doing. It means, of course, that he'd have to start the ROyals last game before the break. Like so:
Tue, Jun 9 @ Cleveland Bannister
Wed, Jun 10 @ Cleveland Meche
Thu, Jun 11 @ Cleveland Greinke
Fri, Jun 12 Cincinnati Hochevar
Sat, Jun 13 Cincinnati Davies
Sun, Jun 14 Cincinnati Bannister
OFF DAY
Tue, Jun 16 Arizona Greinke
Wed, Jun 17 Arizona Meche
Thu, Jun 18 Arizona Hochevar
Fri, Jun 19 St. Louis Davies
Sat, Jun 20 St. Louis Bannister
Sun, Jun 21 St. Louis Greinke
OFF DAY
Tue, Jun 23 @ Houston Meche
Wed, Jun 24 @ Houston Hochevar
Thu, Jun 25 @ Houston Davies
Fri, Jun 26 @ Pittsburgh Bannister
Sat, Jun 27 @ Pittsburgh Greinke
Sun, Jun 28 @ Pittsburgh Meche
Mon, Jun 29 Minnesota Hochevar
Tue, Jun 30 Minnesota Davies
Wed, Jul 1 Minnesota Bannister
Thu, Jul 2 White Sox Greinke
Fri, Jul 3 White Sox Meche
Sat, Jul 4 White Sox Hochevar
Sun, Jul 5 White Sox Davies
Mon, Jul 6 @ Detroit Bannister
Tue, Jul 7 @ Detroit Greinke
Wed, Jul 8 @ Detroit Meche
Thu, Jul 9 @ Boston Hochevar
Fri, Jul 10 @ Boston Davies
Sat, Jul 11 @ Boston Bannister
Sun, Jul 12 @ Boston Greinke
(If they like, they can flip him and Bannister when they cycle through the rotation after their other off day, but there seems little profit in that.
