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Zack Burdi... Starter?


Boopa1219
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While the Sox are rebuilding does anyone think that they should try to convert Burdi as a starter? I think that they should bring him up as a reliever (I think he will be up a lot sooner rather than later), let him get his feet wet and try to convert him next offseason as you build up his innings. You know that you have a guy who could be an elite reliever if he fails.

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I'm just keep thinking back to his last outting in the College World Series last year in which he gave up the walk-off grand slam to UCSB. He started the inning absolutely cruising and embarrassing batters but got a little wild and his pitch count increased. Got into trouble, pitch count was up, and he was totally gassed - after one inning. Ended up tossing up a cookie that landed in the bleachers.

 

I understand the concept of stretching him out is to get him to cool it on the "max effort, all the time" thing, but he just seems tailor made to be a high velocity one-inning guy to me.

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I was for converting before I saw something about him wanting to be a reliever. Hard to go thru the growing pains if the player isn't on board. He still should be sent down for clock purposes as well as he needs to work on command and secondaries.

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QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Mar 29, 2017 -> 10:32 AM)
This. I think you're just asking for an injury if you try to convert him now.

 

Between Louisville and the minors, he pitched around 45 innings in 2016. He pitched 29 in 2015. 10 in 2014.

 

He has reliever written all over him, which the Sox certainly knew when we drafted him.

 

 

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QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Mar 29, 2017 -> 01:26 PM)
I think the only reason I'd use Burdi as a starter would be to get him innings, similar to Nate Jones. They can do that otherwise anyways, letting him throw 2 or 3 innings at a time.

Anyone have any idea what the Sox might be thinking as far as innings for Burdi this year ? My guess is somewhere in the 50-60 innings range.

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QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Mar 31, 2017 -> 01:42 PM)
I find it interesting that the idea of making Burdi a starter surfaced. Usually we see posts of wanting our young pitchers to all be relievers. Based on the fact Burdick's success has been in relief I would ask what brought this up?

 

That was part of the hype around Burdi when he was drafted.

 

"U of L coach Dan McDonnell said Wednesday that he could envision a major league team trying to convert Burdi to a starter because he has an array of pitches."

 

http://www.courier-journal.com/story/sport...afted/85672124/

 

"One thing that might differentiate the younger Burdi – and make him far more attractive to the Twins – is that some believe he has a chance to start games at the next level. "

 

http://twinsdaily.com/_/minnesota-twins-ne...ack-burdi-r4760

 

"In addition to an upper-90s fastball, he delivers what Baseball America calls a plus change and a slider that has shown promise. BA rated him 21st among draft-eligible prospects, based in part on the idea that he could potentially be developed as a starter."

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/06/whit...zack-burdi.html

 

And Hostetler mentioned the possibility of starting him this year when he was drafted:

http://m.braves.mlb.com/cws/video/topic/96...-fared-on-day-1

 

 

So it didn't materialize out of thin air. Its the fact that he has three MLB quality pitches that makes it an intriguing option. A lot of times guys get moved to the bullpen because they cannot develop that third pitch, since he already has one, it makes the opposite transition an opportunity.

 

I wouldn't mind seeing the Sox use him as a tandem starter this year to build up some innings and leave open the possibility of him being a better weapon out of the bullpen in the future in the way that Miller and Chapman were used in the World Series last season. I think with the depth in starting pitching makes Burdi to the bullpen a lot easier decision.

 

 

 

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QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Mar 31, 2017 -> 07:19 PM)
That was part of the hype around Burdi when he was drafted.

 

"U of L coach Dan McDonnell said Wednesday that he could envision a major league team trying to convert Burdi to a starter because he has an array of pitches."

 

http://www.courier-journal.com/story/sport...afted/85672124/

 

"One thing that might differentiate the younger Burdi – and make him far more attractive to the Twins – is that some believe he has a chance to start games at the next level. "

 

http://twinsdaily.com/_/minnesota-twins-ne...ack-burdi-r4760

 

"In addition to an upper-90s fastball, he delivers what Baseball America calls a plus change and a slider that has shown promise. BA rated him 21st among draft-eligible prospects, based in part on the idea that he could potentially be developed as a starter."

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/06/whit...zack-burdi.html

 

And Hostetler mentioned the possibility of starting him this year when he was drafted:

http://m.braves.mlb.com/cws/video/topic/96...-fared-on-day-1

 

 

So it didn't materialize out of thin air. Its the fact that he has three MLB quality pitches that makes it an intriguing option. A lot of times guys get moved to the bullpen because they cannot develop that third pitch, since he already has one, it makes the opposite transition an opportunity.

 

I wouldn't mind seeing the Sox use him as a tandem starter this year to build up some innings and leave open the possibility of him being a better weapon out of the bullpen in the future in the way that Miller and Chapman were used in the World Series last season. I think with the depth in starting pitching makes Burdi to the bullpen a lot easier decision.

 

That's good information right there. I can see now why that makes an interesting option, but isn't it true that the Sox and Burdi seem happy with the present course of action?

 

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QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Apr 1, 2017 -> 05:36 PM)
That's good information right there. I can see now why that makes an interesting option, but isn't it true that the Sox and Burdi seem happy with the present course of action?

 

 

He's not starting. He will be the closer in Charlotte

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