JORDANS BLOG ON THE ATLANTA BRAVES!

MEDLEN VS MINOR


I Know Braves fans are crying for the change in rotation- put in Medlen and take out  Minor. I disagree. I posted a blog in spring training of 2011 stating that I felt Medlen was huge loss during 2010 -he is proving me 100% correct in that standpoint. I have always liked Medlen and what he can do. I know he can be a starter in the majors and am sure he would contribute well to the  Braves rotation. That being said I think he is more valuable right now as a reliever. It may be tempting to  bump him into the rotation with Jurrjens being sent down, Minor struggling and Delgago still showing rookie problems but he is best where is is right now- in the bullpen

Mike Minor has given up 12 home runs and has straight up looked lost and overmatched. I personally have never been a fan of him. I felt the braves should have traded him at the deadline last year. Iam not suprised at all of his struggles. he was 2-3 with a 7.09 era before he got hit up hard tonight. Medlen on the other hand  has been great with a 1-0 record. 22 innings giving up 18 hits with a 2.38 era. what makes him great where he is in the bullpen is he is a guy that can get out BOTH rightys AND leftys. Not many managers can say that out of a guy from there pen. Medlen is so valuable to our pen for that very reason. If you moved him into the rotation who would replace him in the bullpen? Livan Hernadez? No. hes done good in his spot. You move Medlen into a starters role and that bullpen is alot more sketchy. Medlen can pitch multiple innings and  get out any batter he faces from any side. The Braves need that- its worked out great so far. I know Medlen would prefer to start because he knows he can. But right now he realizes his role is so valuable coming out of the pen.  A

 Another fixture is Minor is our lone lefty in the rotation you replace him with Medlen then our entire rotation is right handed.. that is not a good look.. Also people need to remember Medlen returned at the end of the season last year form Tommy John surgery. so if Braves moved him into rotation you would have to monitor closely his innings pitched. You dont want Medlen to pitch more then 200 innings his first year coming off major elbow surgery- after that you would have to shut him down as a starter. As a reliever you know hes not going to throw 200 innings therefore you dont have worry about shutting him down at anypoint this season. and that lies another major reason why hes more effective this year coming out of the bullpen. It sounds great and easy to move Medlen to the rotation but it would benefit Medlen and the bullpen and team overall to leave him right where he is.