Posted March 17, 201015 yr I believe this dude deserves his own thread and his own grassroots campaign to call for him to make the starting rotation. How I haven't heard anything from Fredi or the press on this guy baffles me. Today he has gone 4.1 innings, giving up only 2 hits and striking out 2. Statistically he's the best pitcher we have in ST. I'm fully aware he's not the best talent...but he's still probably the 4th best starting pitcher we have left in big league camp (topping Volstad, Miller, RVH, Penn). In 2006, with San Diego, his only season with over 9 starts in the bigs he had a 3.71 ERA and 1.34 WHIP. His K/BB was 1.76 and he only walked a batter every 2.5 innings. This was all over 187 innings and seems perfectly reasonable for #4 or #5 starter in the NL. Who cares that he doesn't K a lot of batters. He gets them out enough to be a back end of the rotation guy. I feel that he should make the team as the 4th starter after JJ, Nolasco and Sanchez. Keep RVH and Penn as long relief. Send Volstad and Miller to the minors. When we need a full time 5th starter...hopefully Volstad will be ready. If not, hopefully RVH or Penn are pitching well enough to be inserted in the rotation. But seriously. Given our options. This guy needs to come out of camp as a starter. Who's with me?!
March 17, 201015 yr He could possibly work in the bullpen, but he hasn't been effective in the Majors since 2006
March 17, 201015 yr Author He could possibly work in the bullpen, but he hasn't been effective in the Majors since 2006 and ST 2010 :mischief Maybe it's just ST. But the point is he's the fourth best in camp right now. Who do you start over him? If he fails in the regular season then so be it. But he's earning his chance.
March 17, 201015 yr What I found interesting was a) how effortlessly he he appeared to throw, b) how many groundouts he had and c) how few pitches he threw. I found myself chuckling at the announcers' conversations with Gonzalez and others that were cut short because Hensley was inducing so many first or second pitch groundballs the innings were seemingly over before they began. I do agree with the general notion he is in line for a starting role if he continues to perform like this through the rest of spring training but with the caveat you keep him on a short leash, ride him as long as he performs and be ready to make a change if and when the magic disappears. We've all seen this before, the older guy who has finally put it together and is smart enough to pitch around his shortcomings - for a while until the league catches on - and I'm happy for him. If he keeps this up it's a good object lesson for some of the kids with way more talent that hard work and making the most out of what you have can get you to the show, especially when they're reheating the same pot of gumbo for the fourth day straight in Nawlins.
March 17, 201015 yr There hasn't been a better starting pitcher for the 4th and 5th spot, so that means he's in it and might be a lock after today's performance.
March 17, 201015 yr There hasn't been a better starting pitcher for the 4th and 5th spot, so that means he's in it and might be a lock after today's performance. Not so fast. I highly doubt the Marlins put BOTH Hensley and Penn in the starting rotation. Which means if one of those 2 guys make it...it will be one. If it turns into a battle between Hensley and Penn for 5th starter, Hensley is going to get screwed. Penn has pitched well this Spring, the Marlins do like him, and I believe Hayden Penn is out of options (could be wrong). If he's out of options, Penn might just make the team, based on that (and the fact he's pitched well, too, of course).
March 17, 201015 yr I believe Hayden Penn is out of options (could be wrong). If he's out of options, Penn might just make the team, based on that (and the fact he's pitched well, too, of course). Yes, he is out of options.
March 17, 201015 yr Still a few weeks left of ST to see how things develop with all the rotation options but if the season started tomorrow, despite not knowing much about him, Hensley would definately be in my rotation. He has at least earned the right to be named as a rotation candidate by the team, which I don't think he has been yet.
March 17, 201015 yr He has at least earned the right to be named as a rotation candidate by the team, which I don't think he has been yet. Randy St. Claire stated Hensley is indeed in the mix for one of the rotation spots in an interview on FS Florida today.
March 17, 201015 yr He has at least earned the right to be named as a rotation candidate by the team, which I don't think he has been yet. Randy St. Claire stated Hensley is indeed in the mix for one of the rotation spots in an interview on FS Florida today. Vanden Hurk, Volstad, Miller, Hensley, AND PENN all seem to be candidates for the 4 & 5 spots. Based on the interview with Fredi Gonzalez today, it seems like Anibal Sanchez is pretty much our 3rd starter, so that's one less question that needs to be answered.
March 17, 201015 yr both hensley and penn have done very well......have to wait and see how it plays out but i do not think hensley will be chosen over penn as we can still send hensley down. vandenhurk was doing well yesterday besides that blow up inning but im sure hell bounce back.
March 17, 201015 yr Regarding Penn's options... Why can't it be plausible that he makes the team and goes into the bullpen? The Marlins don't have to give him a spot in the rotation in order to keep him. It seems that most of Beinfest's reclamation bullpen arms aren't amounting to much (McClung, MacDoughal, Turnbow, etc.). At this point I'd rather see Penn in the bullpen over most of the guys pitching this spring. If any of the starters begin to suck, Penn could just move in.
March 17, 201015 yr Regarding Penn's options... Why can't it be plausible that he makes the team and goes into the bullpen? The Marlins don't have to give him a spot in the rotation in order to keep him. It seems that most of Beinfest's reclamation bullpen arms aren't amounting to much (McClung, MacDoughal, Turnbow, etc.). At this point I'd rather see Penn in the bullpen over most of the guys pitching this spring. If any of the starters begin to suck, Penn could just move in. It's certainly a possibility. Also, whoever wins the 5th starter spot is going to the bullpen for the first week or two of games, anyway. Pretty sure we're starting with a 4 man rotation, so that might work out well, in the beginning, having Badenhop and maybe a couple more guys capable of giving lots of innings out of the pen.
March 17, 201015 yr I believe this dude deserves his own thread and his own grassroots campaign to call for him to make the starting rotation. How I haven't heard anything from Fredi or the press on this guy baffles me. Today he has gone 4.1 innings, giving up only 2 hits and striking out 2. Statistically he's the best pitcher we have in ST. I'm fully aware he's not the best talent...but he's still probably the 4th best starting pitcher we have left in big league camp (topping Volstad, Miller, RVH, Penn). In 2006, with San Diego, his only season with over 9 starts in the bigs he had a 3.71 ERA and 1.34 WHIP. His K/BB was 1.76 and he only walked a batter every 2.5 innings. This was all over 187 innings and seems perfectly reasonable for #4 or #5 starter in the NL. Who cares that he doesn't K a lot of batters. He gets them out enough to be a back end of the rotation guy. I feel that he should make the team as the 4th starter after JJ, Nolasco and Sanchez. Keep RVH and Penn as long relief. Send Volstad and Miller to the minors. When we need a full time 5th starter...hopefully Volstad will be ready. If not, hopefully RVH or Penn are pitching well enough to be inserted in the rotation. But seriously. Given our options. This guy needs to come out of camp as a starter. Who's with me?!
March 17, 201015 yr Regarding Penn's options... Why can't it be plausible that he makes the team and goes into the bullpen? The Marlins don't have to give him a spot in the rotation in order to keep him. It seems that most of Beinfest's reclamation bullpen arms aren't amounting to much (McClung, MacDoughal, Turnbow, etc.). At this point I'd rather see Penn in the bullpen over most of the guys pitching this spring. If any of the starters begin to suck, Penn could just move in. Can't find the quote, but I saw somewhere Fredi said Penn could make the pen and they are just working all of them as starters to get innings for evaluation. I think he and Hensley are locking up spots, and this team only needs 3 "5th SP" spots in April so it doesn't really matter who gets those starts as they are really just spots. I see the pitching as becoming relatively locked. Johnson, Nolasco, Anibal, Volstad, Hensley/Penn Nunez, Sanches, Meyer, Pinto, Badenhop, McClung, Hensley/Penn I can see Volstad being bumped if RVH comes on hard, but I still think Volstad turns it around and I'm "hopeful" he's just working out the kinks with this new pitch.
March 17, 201015 yr I have a hard time believing Volstad gets the 4th spot on the rotation if he continues to pitch this way. You can't ignore results.
March 17, 201015 yr Regarding Penn's options... Why can't it be plausible that he makes the team and goes into the bullpen? The Marlins don't have to give him a spot in the rotation in order to keep him. It seems that most of Beinfest's reclamation bullpen arms aren't amounting to much (McClung, MacDoughal, Turnbow, etc.). At this point I'd rather see Penn in the bullpen over most of the guys pitching this spring. If any of the starters begin to suck, Penn could just move in. Can't find the quote, but I saw somewhere Fredi said Penn could make the pen and they are just working all of them as starters to get innings for evaluation. I think he and Hensley are locking up spots, and this team only needs 3 "5th SP" spots in April so it doesn't really matter who gets those starts as they are really just spots. I see the pitching as becoming relatively locked. Johnson, Nolasco, Anibal, Volstad, Hensley/Penn Nunez, Sanches, Meyer, Pinto, Badenhop, McClung, Hensley/Penn I can see Volstad being bumped if RVH comes on hard, but I still think Volstad turns it around and I'm "hopeful" he's just working out the kinks with this new pitch. I still think RVH and MacDougal have a legit chance to make the team. And Veras has a "slim to none" type chance.
March 17, 201015 yr I have a hard time believing Volstad gets the 4th spot on the rotation if he continues to pitch this way. You can't ignore results. Sure. I suspect based on the list above, that Volstad beats out RVH for that last spot. Miller's just got to go to AAA with those walks.
March 17, 201015 yr I have a hard time believing Volstad gets the 4th spot on the rotation if he continues to pitch this way. You can't ignore results. Sure. I suspect based on the list above, that Volstad beats out RVH for that last spot. Miller's just got to go to AAA with those walks. Why is McClung a "lock" to you? More versatile than MacDougal, I guess? By versatile, I mean he's capable of giving more innings...
March 17, 201015 yr Regarding Penn's options... Why can't it be plausible that he makes the team and goes into the bullpen? The Marlins don't have to give him a spot in the rotation in order to keep him. It seems that most of Beinfest's reclamation bullpen arms aren't amounting to much (McClung, MacDoughal, Turnbow, etc.). At this point I'd rather see Penn in the bullpen over most of the guys pitching this spring. If any of the starters begin to suck, Penn could just move in. Can't find the quote, but I saw somewhere Fredi said Penn could make the pen and they are just working all of them as starters to get innings for evaluation. I think he and Hensley are locking up spots, and this team only needs 3 "5th SP" spots in April so it doesn't really matter who gets those starts as they are really just spots. I see the pitching as becoming relatively locked. Johnson, Nolasco, Anibal, Volstad, Hensley/Penn Nunez, Sanches, Meyer, Pinto, Badenhop, McClung, Hensley/Penn I can see Volstad being bumped if RVH comes on hard, but I still think Volstad turns it around and I'm "hopeful" he's just working out the kinks with this new pitch. And where does VandenHurk play in to this? You think that he only makes the roster if Volstad doesn't? Is McClung a lock to make the team?
March 17, 201015 yr Regarding Penn's options... Why can't it be plausible that he makes the team and goes into the bullpen? The Marlins don't have to give him a spot in the rotation in order to keep him. It seems that most of Beinfest's reclamation bullpen arms aren't amounting to much (McClung, MacDoughal, Turnbow, etc.). At this point I'd rather see Penn in the bullpen over most of the guys pitching this spring. If any of the starters begin to suck, Penn could just move in. Can't find the quote, but I saw somewhere Fredi said Penn could make the pen and they are just working all of them as starters to get innings for evaluation. I think he and Hensley are locking up spots, and this team only needs 3 "5th SP" spots in April so it doesn't really matter who gets those starts as they are really just spots. I see the pitching as becoming relatively locked. Johnson, Nolasco, Anibal, Volstad, Hensley/Penn Nunez, Sanches, Meyer, Pinto, Badenhop, McClung, Hensley/Penn I can see Volstad being bumped if RVH comes on hard, but I still think Volstad turns it around and I'm "hopeful" he's just working out the kinks with this new pitch. And where does VandenHurk play in to this? Is McClung a lock to make the team? No, I don't think so...
March 17, 201015 yr I certainly hope not. I thought he was terrible when the Marlins got him and he certainly hasn't proved me wrong this spring.
March 18, 201015 yr I certainly hope not. I thought he was terrible when the Marlins got him and he certainly hasn't proved me wrong this spring. If you just look at his overall stat line this spring, I can see why you'd say that. But those numbers are deceiving. He has pitched in four games this spring, one in which he got bombed after pitching less than an inning and three where he has been more or less lights out. If you take out the one game he tanked, you are left with these three appearances: 3/4 — 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K 3/14—1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K (he got the W for this game also) 3/17—1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K Which would come out to a line of 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, and 5 K for the spring. Not bad at all.
March 18, 201015 yr I certainly hope not. I thought he was terrible when the Marlins got him and he certainly hasn't proved me wrong this spring. If you just look at his overall stat line this spring, I can see why you'd say that. But those numbers are deceiving. He has pitched in four games this spring, one in which he got bombed after pitching less than an inning and three where he has been more or less lights out. If you take out the one game he tanked, you are left with these three appearances: 3/4 — 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K 3/14—1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K (he got the W for this game also) 3/17—1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K Which would come out to a line of 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, and 5 K for the spring. Not bad at all. Yeah, I was going to say the same thing. With that said, I still don't think he should be considered a "lock" to make the team.
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