Quote:
Originally Posted by One Red Seat
Why does that matter? He's shown he didn't need to pitch there. Had he pitched there, it would have just been a waste of time.
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I see the point. But IMO, the extra levels create roadblocks which allow a pitcher to build up arm strength. You use the argument that Buch hasnt been a pitcher for all that long. That means that he will need more time to build up the arm strength than it would for a pitcher who has a long history of being a pitcher. Skipping A+ ball essentially decreased his wait time by a yr IMO, but it also may have cost him a season of 150-180 innings, which is what he desperately needs prior to making the big jump to a huge workload.
I have made no bones about it with Hughes, I had hoped he would stay in the minors all yr and log 180IP. Therefore, he'd be more ready for the bigs at 200+ next yr. Injuries, need and his injury have derailed that for the time being. I think Buch could really use this season at about 150-160IP and next season start the first month or so on a limited PC in AAA until a callup in May/June. Therefore he could get up to 190-200 for the yr and be a finished product in terms of arm strength.