I was reading this morning that Pedro Beato might be converted to a starter. Dan Warthen when asked about the chances of this happening said they were “Fifty-50″. Warthen said, “Right now he’s a reliever and we’ll see what happens if he doesn’t make the major league club”.
My question is if this is a good idea? Last year Beato said fatigue was to blame on his diminished velocity in September. This coming after pitching 65 innings in 2011.
Beato last pitched as a starter in 2009 in the minors mostly in High A ball and a few starts in AA before being converted to the pen the following year. Warthen says the things that would make Beato a good starter are “You love his size… You love his power. And he has four quality pitches.”
My concern is I can’t help to think if his arm can handle the innings. What do you think? Do you like the idea of converting Beato to a starter?
5 comments
Stick
2/21/2012-1:13pm at 1:13 pm (UTC -4)
If one of the reasons they want to switch him back is because of his size, why would you be worried about his arm handling it?
And 65 innings for a RP translates to a hell of a lot more as a SP (from the wear on the body) with all the warming up, back to back days, etc.
I don’t have any problems with giving it a try, since he can always just go back to the pen.
trs86
2/21/2012-1:21pm at 1:21 pm (UTC -4)
I like the idea if he is not needed in the pen, you might as well have him as depth in the minors. Worst thing is that he is stretched out then placed back in the pen.
MetsFan4Decades
2/21/2012-1:41pm at 1:41 pm (UTC -4)
No argument from me on this – and what stick and trs said.
I thought the problem with him being a starter originally was his limited repertoire or ineffectiveness of a couple of those pitches. If that’s not really the case, why not try him as a starter.
I’ll give it less than 50/50 odds this experiment is successful but what better year than this one to give it a try?
Paul
2/21/2012-6:13pm at 6:13 pm (UTC -4)
Middle relievers aren’t very valuable, and the Mets have frighteningly little starting rotation depth.
I have no problem with trying to stretch Pedro Beato out. If he shows something in the Buffalo rotation, now you’ve got someone else you can turn to if a major league starter gets hurt. You’ve also increased Beato’s potential trade value.
If it doesn’t work out, what have your really lost?
Joe Gomez
2/22/2012-10:18am at 10:18 am (UTC -4)
Beato has 4 different pitches and a power arm so keeping him in the BP when the Mets need starters is a waste of talent. He can be kept at AAA as part of the rotation and if needed because either Santana is not ready or Pelfrey can’t stop licking himself be ready to come in.
As I said, the Mets need starters and I can’t see the downside of having a greater number of options who are MLB ready. I would be nice to know that if a starter or two are needed, we have options between Beato, Mejia and later on maybe even Familia or Harvey.