Making a case for an early promotion of Corbin Burnes

[Jenkins5]

Brewers have already said he can help now by pitching in pen this year but he will be starter moving forward. Hader there were concerns & debate about prior. I have never seen a report of anyone thinking Burnes future is in the pen. Highly doubt it’s anything to be worried about. It limits innings & gets him MLB experience.

[buckybrewer232]

I don't think there's any reason to freak out, the Brewers have already addressed it. He could help the big league team this year out of the bullpen but still viewed as a starter long term.

 

They want to keep his innings down but they also know he is probably ready and able to contribute at the big league level now. However, they don't necessarily need another starter in the rotation right now, and if you plugged him in anyways he would undoubtedly hit his innings limits by August. Plus there's the possibility that trotting him out in CO Springs every week could do more harm than good at this point.

 

I like the idea. Getting him some exposure facing big league hitters will just help prepare him to start next season in the big league rotation.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

I don't think there's any reason to freak out, the Brewers have already addressed it. He could help the big league team this year out of the bullpen but still viewed as a starter long term.

 

They want to keep his innings down but they also know he is probably ready and able to contribute at the big league level now. However, they don't necessarily need another starter in the rotation right now, and if you plugged him in anyways he would undoubtedly hit his innings limits by August. Plus there's the possibility that trotting him out in CO Springs every week could do more harm than good at this point.

 

I like the idea. Getting him some exposure facing big league hitters will just help prepare him to start next season in the big league rotation.

 

Counsell was quoted recently saying that with Logan being DFA'd, they would likely call up another reliever soon. The DFA opens a spot on the 40-man as well. I wonder if Burnes to Milwaukee is imminent?

[adambr2]

I don't think there's any reason to freak out, the Brewers have already addressed it. He could help the big league team this year out of the bullpen but still viewed as a starter long term.

 

They want to keep his innings down but they also know he is probably ready and able to contribute at the big league level now. However, they don't necessarily need another starter in the rotation right now, and if you plugged him in anyways he would undoubtedly hit his innings limits by August. Plus there's the possibility that trotting him out in CO Springs every week could do more harm than good at this point.

 

I like the idea. Getting him some exposure facing big league hitters will just help prepare him to start next season in the big league rotation.

 

Counsell was quoted recently saying that with Logan being DFA'd, they would likely call up another reliever soon. The DFA opens a spot on the 40-man as well. I wonder if Burnes to Milwaukee is imminent?

 

Makes logical sense. Miley and Nelson are too far away from coming off the 60 for them to just leave that spot open for that long.

[paul253]

It absolutely drives me nuts how the Brewers jerk around their top pitching prospects. It’d be one thing if they called up Burnes and had him pitch out of the bullpen the rest of the season. But history tells me they’ll have him come up for a little bit, pitch a game or two, move him back down to CS and have him start, then bring him back up to pitch out of the pen, then send him back to CS to start. They’ve been doing that with Woodruff. They did it with Peralta awhile ago and it seemed like it set him back. They did it with Thornburg and he ended up getting hurt. Why can’t they just let their starters start? Are there really so few bullpen options that there isn’t a better choice than Burnes?

[rickh150]

Cardinals moved pitchers around from starter to bullpen for years with good results....

 

I think we are very set at starter for years to come, unless we start trading off guys left and right. Ask yourself what the rotation might look like in 2019 and 2020. Anderson, Nelson, Davies, Chacin, Guerra, Davies, Peralta, Woodruff....there is eight without much thinking. Maybe a FA or trade line pick up would be included in that group. All but Chacin are here through at least 2020, many for a 2 or 3 years after that.

 

Is Bunes a given to be in the rotation? Maybe a probable, but he ( like many) is not doing well at Col Springs. He very well could be a help in the second half in a shortened role. If he is throwing 95-97, a jump to Milwaukee in a mop up role might be the better move for him than just to keep accruing innings in a hitter haven or demoting him to AA or the pen in the minors.

[FVBrewerFan]

It absolutely drives me nuts how the Brewers jerk around their top pitching prospects. It’d be one thing if they called up Burnes and had him pitch out of the bullpen the rest of the season. But history tells me they’ll have him come up for a little bit, pitch a game or two, move him back down to CS and have him start, then bring him back up to pitch out of the pen, then send him back to CS to start. They’ve been doing that with Woodruff. They did it with Peralta awhile ago and it seemed like it set him back. They did it with Thornburg and he ended up getting hurt. Why can’t they just let their starters start? Are there really so few bullpen options that there isn’t a better choice than Burnes?

 

How does pitching in Milwaukee vs Colorado Springs affect a pitcher's arm?

[OnaBadger58]

It absolutely drives me nuts how the Brewers jerk around their top pitching prospects. It’d be one thing if they called up Burnes and had him pitch out of the bullpen the rest of the season. But history tells me they’ll have him come up for a little bit, pitch a game or two, move him back down to CS and have him start, then bring him back up to pitch out of the pen, then send him back to CS to start. They’ve been doing that with Woodruff. They did it with Peralta awhile ago and it seemed like it set him back. They did it with Thornburg and he ended up getting hurt. Why can’t they just let their starters start? Are there really so few bullpen options that there isn’t a better choice than Burnes?

 

Sort of understand what your saying, but keep in mind our best SP and RP did exactly this (Guerra and Hader). And like Rick said the Cardinals do it all the time, and many other teams do as well. This will also keep pitchers pitching longer in the year because it limits their innings pitched. I do wish the would keep Woodruff at SP, but if you have a reliever like Drake and no clear SP opening, Woodruff needs to be up in the bigs.

[cmow]

It absolutely drives me nuts how the Brewers jerk around their top pitching prospects. It’d be one thing if they called up Burnes and had him pitch out of the bullpen the rest of the season. But history tells me they’ll have him come up for a little bit, pitch a game or two, move him back down to CS and have him start, then bring him back up to pitch out of the pen, then send him back to CS to start. They’ve been doing that with Woodruff. They did it with Peralta awhile ago and it seemed like it set him back. They did it with Thornburg and he ended up getting hurt. Why can’t they just let their starters start? Are there really so few bullpen options that there isn’t a better choice than Burnes?

 

If I'm Burnes, I think I am thinking -- 'Wow, this is cool. What an opportunity!? How great is it that my bosses recognize my talent even though I'm having a tough year in this Hell-for-Pitchers that they call Colorado Springs?' not 'Wow, they are jerking me around'

 

Why do you say it seemed to set Peralta back?

 

There are plenty of bullpen options, but Burnes is talented and they want to put the best players on the field.

[Jenkins5]

I just don’t see any type of issue here.

 

1) Major League experience whether starting or relieving is never a bad thing. Either way you are adjusting and learning to get out MLB hitters

 

2) Helps limit his innings

 

3) He has chance to help out in BP now & not in the rotation

 

4) There has never anyone to think his future is in pen & Brewers have confirmed that he is a starter going forward. He simply has chance to help now.

 

5) Gets him out of CS.... is that ever a bad thing

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

The only downside I can see is that adding him is going to likely mean one more prospect down the pecking order is going to be available in the Rule 5 Draft next year. Hopefully the team can trade a few of those guys so they don't risk losing them.

[tmwiese55]

It absolutely drives me nuts how the Brewers jerk around their top pitching prospects. It’d be one thing if they called up Burnes and had him pitch out of the bullpen the rest of the season. But history tells me they’ll have him come up for a little bit, pitch a game or two, move him back down to CS and have him start, then bring him back up to pitch out of the pen, then send him back to CS to start. They’ve been doing that with Woodruff. They did it with Peralta awhile ago and it seemed like it set him back. They did it with Thornburg and he ended up getting hurt. Why can’t they just let their starters start? Are there really so few bullpen options that there isn’t a better choice than Burnes?

 

If I'm Burnes, I think I am thinking -- 'Wow, this is cool. What an opportunity!? How great is it that my bosses recognize my talent even though I'm having a tough year in this Hell-for-Pitchers that they call Colorado Springs?' not 'Wow, they are jerking me around'

 

Why do you say it seemed to set Peralta back?

 

There are plenty of bullpen options, but Burnes is talented and they want to put the best players on the field.

 

And don't forget the money from being on the big league roster. That's probably huge for guys at his point who've been making nothing so far.

[paul253]

How does pitching in Milwaukee vs Colorado Springs affect a pitcher's arm?

 

I don’t know. How?

 

My point was not going from Milwaukee to CS and back. My point was going from starter to reliever back to starter back to reliever.

 

Is Bunes a given to be in the rotation? Maybe a probable, but he ( like many) is not doing well at Col Springs. He very well could be a help in the second half in a shortened role. If he is throwing 95-97, a jump to Milwaukee in a mop up role might be the better move for him than just to keep accruing innings in a hitter haven or demoting him to AA or the pen in the minors

 

As I said, it’s one thing to bring up a starter and throw him in the bullpen and keep him there. It’s another to constantly shuffle him between the rotation and the bullpen. People keep bringing up the Cardinals. I don’t follow the Cardinals. I don’t know if they constantly shuffle their young guys between the rotation and the bullpen or if they simply bring up starters and put them in the pen for awhile. But as I said this was done to both Thornburg and (Wily) Peralta, two our better starting pitching prospects in the last decade, and it seemed to affect them both negatively. Peraltas numbers got significantly worse that year and Thornburg ended up getting hurt. I don’t know if was just a coincidence but what’s the point of risking it?

 

Corbin Burnes is far and away one of our two best starting pitching prospects. He’s viewed as a starter down the road. As I said I just don’t see point of doing this right now. Do we have no better relief options? (Nick Ramirez anyone)? If you want to simply get his feet wet because he’s pitching so well in CS (he’s not really) and have no better options, then fine bring him up. But keep him in the bullpen and let him get used to going shorter stints for more games. Dont keep flipping him back and forth. How does that help his development?

[tmwiese55]

Because it will limit his innings this year, which has to happen anyway. And he'd get out of CS and up to the big leagues under the coaching of what seems to a heck of a pitching coach. Plus, gaining major league experience (both in game but also just how everything works) so he's more comfortable next year.

[paul253]

Because it will limit his innings this year, which has to happen anyway. And he'd get out of CS and up to the big leagues under the coaching of what seems to a heck of a pitching coach. Plus, gaining major league experience (both in game but also just how everything works) so he's more comfortable next year.

 

I’m obviously not making my point clearly enough.

 

I don’t care if they bring him up and stick him in bullpen if it’s a long term move (long term being at least 6-7 weeks). I disagree that we need to start limiting his innings in June but whatever. I also disagree that this move has anything to do with getting him major league coaching but again whatever. And finally given that we are currently in a tight battle for first place now isn’t the time to worry about getting our prospects “experience”. That’s what September is for.

 

My issue stems from (admittedly an assumption) the fact that if this does indeed happen he will likely spend a short time in Milwaukee’s bullpen and then go back to the rotation in CS. And it wouldn’t surprise me in the least bit if they then bring him back to Milwaukee’s bullpen if he pitches ok only to send him back down to the CS rotation. It’s what they do. I don’t like it. Others can disagree but I don’t think doing that it is in the best interest of the player. I think you either a) keep him in CS until/unless we need someone to start a game or b) bring him up and put him in the bullpen with the understanding that that’s where he’ll be for the remainder or the majority or the remainder of the year.

[FVBrewerFan]

Others can disagree but I don’t think doing that it is in the best interest of the player. I think you either a) keep him in CS until/unless we need someone to start a game or b) bring him up and put him in the bullpen with the understanding that that’s where he’ll be for the remainder or the majority or the remainder of the year.

 

Yes, I will disagree. There is no evidence, none, that would indicate bouncing a player back and forth from starter to BP would increase chances of injury. There is also no evidence that that bouncing a player from the BP in Milwaukee back to a starter in CS hurts a pitcher's development.

 

There is no room in the rotation at the moment, possibly all year for Burnes. But he may be able to help them in the pen at some point. I'm not sure where the problem is there? Burnes gets some MLB experience, and the Brewers get another effective arm in the pen. Sorry, I just don't see any down-side.

[tmwiese55]

Because it will limit his innings this year, which has to happen anyway. And he'd get out of CS and up to the big leagues under the coaching of what seems to a heck of a pitching coach. Plus, gaining major league experience (both in game but also just how everything works) so he's more comfortable next year.

 

I’m obviously not making my point clearly enough.

 

I don’t care if they bring him up and stick him in bullpen if it’s a long term move (long term being at least 6-7 weeks). I disagree that we need to start limiting his innings in June but whatever. I also disagree that this move has anything to do with getting him major league coaching but again whatever. And finally given that we are currently in a tight battle for first place now isn’t the time to worry about getting our prospects “experience”. That’s what September is for.

 

My issue stems from (admittedly an assumption) the fact that if this does indeed happen he will likely spend a short time in Milwaukee’s bullpen and then go back to the rotation in CS. And it wouldn’t surprise me in the least bit if they then bring him back to Milwaukee’s bullpen if he pitches ok only to send him back down to the CS rotation. It’s what they do. I don’t like it. Others can disagree but I don’t think doing that it is in the best interest of the player. I think you either a) keep him in CS until/unless we need someone to start a game or b) bring him up and put him in the bullpen with the understanding that that’s where he’ll be for the remainder or the majority or the remainder of the year.

 

You're making a lot of leaps though. The things you're talking about might happen but we don't know yet. I'm just saying wait and see instead of rushing towards a negative view before it happens. You're talking about September, that could exactly be what they're doing here. They know he's ahead on innings, so a bit of a break doing this right now while giving some relief experience, all so that he has innings available come September. Or it could be including him in the up and down rotation they're doing with the Housers, Woodruff, Peralta, etc. We don't know, so really nothing to get worked up about either way.

 

And you asked about how's it good for development, I said why pitching in the bigs is good for it including the coach and you just dismissed it.

[adambr2]

It just seems a little unnecessary right now. You've got Nick Ramirez continuing to dominate AAA batters, or if you prefer, Torres-Costa would need to be added to the 40 after this year and might be worth a look now. There are other ways to limit innings for Burnes this year while still keeping him on a starter schedule. There's no rush to put him on the 40.

 

It's not that huge of a deal to me but I would probably give one of the two previously mentioned a shot first.