Had an interesting discussion about him with a scout who's seen him in the Arizona Fall League.

 

At a sturdy 6-8, and armed with a mid-90s fastball, West is viewed as a key future part of the Marlins' rotation. He has made four starts so far in Arizona, going 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA in 12 innings.

 

He has allowed 21 baserunners (way too many) and struck out 10 batters.

 

But what if the Marlins chose to pop him into the back of their bullpen at some point next year? How dangerous would a Lindstrom-West combination be?

 

"He is a legitimate starter," the scout said, "but I don't know why he couldn't close or be that eighth-inning guy for them. He impressed the heck out of me at the Rising Stars game. I know strikes have been a problem for him in the past, and his delivery can be problematic, but his stuff is pretty nasty."

 

The scout's reasoning for thinking bullpen long-term with West has more to do with his awkward delivery than anything else.

 

"He has a short stride for such a big man and a stiff front side," the scout said. "To me that says there's always going to be a lot of stress on his arm. I like him as a bullpen arm."

 

What about those comparisons to Randy Johnson?

 

"The problem with the Randy Johnson comparisons is Randy eventually found a good delivery," the scout said. "The last 10-15 years of his career he's had a good delivery. West doesn't have that yet."

 

That's not to say the scout doesn't see big things down the road for the 2005 compensation-round draft pick.

 

"The guy is 6-8, and the power fastball and power breaking ball are pretty nasty," he said. "He's intriguing. I just don't see how lefties would hit that guy. That's why he'd be so good in the bullpen. I know he was just in A-ball last year, but you can rush him to the big leagues and work him in that way. He looks like a two-pitch pitcher at this point, and they love that kind of guy in the bullpen."

 

Fellow lefty Aaron Thompson, by the way, who is working exclusively out of the 'pen in Arizona, has a 1.29 ERA in five outings covering seven innings. Thompson only has an average fastball, but from talking with Jim Fleming it sounds like he will get every opportunity to break in as a reliever next spring.

 

http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_baseb.../sean-west.html

We have no need to rush him. Full year in Jacksonville. Stop walking people and work on the offspeed pitches.

Rushing him will only downgrade one of our top SP prospect.

Rushing him up and putting him in the bullpen would be a mistake. Like Lou said, give him a full year in Jacksonville.

Rushing him will only downgrade one of our top SP prospect.

 

Didn't you just suggest it?

Rushing him will only downgrade one of our top SP prospect.

 

Didn't you just suggest it?

no he didnt, the scout said that

Rushing him will only downgrade one of our top SP prospect.

 

Didn't you just suggest it?

 

No, the first post was the article, the link is below

Rushing him will only downgrade one of our top SP prospect.

 

Didn't you just suggest it?

 

No, the first post was the article, the link is below

 

 

My bad. You should've put a quote or something.

 

When it said "But what if the Marlins chose to pop him into the back of their bullpen at some point next year? How dangerous would a Lindstrom-West combination be?"

 

...I thought that was coming from you.

Rushing him will only downgrade one of our top SP prospect.

 

Didn't you just suggest it?

 

No, the first post was the article, the link is below

 

 

My bad. You should've put a quote or something.

 

When it said "But what if the Marlins chose to pop him into the back of their bullpen at some point next year? How dangerous would a Lindstrom-West combination be?"

 

...I thought that was coming from you.

 

Yeah, i forgot to quote it. Just wanted to show you guys how dumb can the media be.

Why rush West? We have a full staff here and tis bullpen can be filled by FA signings. West is a gem, he will be a future 2-3 starter, if not better.

Sean West has plenty of time to work on his mechanics. Right now he needs to find the strike zone consistentlyI feel next season will be a major step in what he will be for the Marlins

If we have learned anything, its that starting pitching depth can erode very quickly. We may need some spot starters at some point and for that reason I don't think that we should convert all of our starters to relievers

I don't want to lead him into the bullpen either. This is a guy with big-time rotation upside if he develops.