Have we discussed Morrow's admission on the radio the other day?

by Rudy4three on May 22, 2009 4:10 PM PDT

I saw Churchill over at Prospect Insider refer to it. I think he even linked the interview, but I couldn't get it to work. Saw then I see Keith Law references it in his chat today that Morrow admitted that he asked to be put in the bullpen because he didn't want to start the year in the minors.

How god damn ridiculous. Not only that he requests that, but that we agreed.

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That's why pencils have erasers.

Send him to the minors now. Stretch him out, make him a starter. In the long run, we could wind up being grateful that Morrow blew all those saves.

by Rollo Tomasi on May 22, 2009 4:22 PM PDT reply actions

Link to podcast

here. Listen from the 5:56 mark; he’s asked a question about the diabetes and lets it slip.

by oreotree on May 22, 2009 4:31 PM PDT reply actions

Wow, just ridiculous

by Rudy4three on May 22, 2009 5:56 PM PDT up reply actions

Indeed

"Get up you crazy black man, I'm gonna make you drink my piss!" - Will Ferrell.

by gregrabble on May 22, 2009 7:11 PM PDT up reply actions

He also says that pitching as a starter every week in college was easier than pitching every 5 days in the ML.

In that case I would ask for Morrow to pitch every 6 days.

You got slurved!

Free Tommy Hanson! Free Jeff Clement! Free Michael Saunders!

by Slurvey on May 22, 2009 4:36 PM PDT reply actions

6 Man rotation!

by Fin on May 22, 2009 5:23 PM PDT up reply actions

Player development, statistical dept., ultimately this is/was Zdurienciks responsibility. The kid doesn't know how to pitch yet.

In and of itself, the Morrow situation is unsettling. Doesn’t fit with my image of the new FO.

by Kermit. on May 22, 2009 4:49 PM PDT reply actions

This annoys me. Why on earth would Z listen to him?

by .Taylor on May 22, 2009 5:01 PM PDT reply actions

It's his body

He can’t handle it.

by Jeff Sullivan on May 22, 2009 5:35 PM PDT reply actions

Then he needs to call

by Fin on May 22, 2009 5:37 PM PDT up reply actions

That's what I thought...until I listened to the podcast.

Morrow didn’t make a verbal misstep, or even try to backtrack. He very clearly said — multiple times!! — that he moved to the bullpen so he could make the team out of spring training. They asked him explicitly about his diabetes, and he said it played no significant role in the decision.

Maybe he’s just trying to play it cool, but it sure sounded like the entire motivation was staying up with the big team.

by FWombat on May 22, 2009 5:45 PM PDT up reply actions

I don't know what to tell you.

I know with 100% certainty that he felt exceptional discomfort after starts last year. Well more than a starting pitcher should feel. I don’t know if the diabetes had anything to do with that, but he quite simply doesn’t have the body for the role.

by Jeff Sullivan on May 22, 2009 9:39 PM PDT up reply actions

His first start was amazing

then he got worse and worse. That says something.

"Even the stupidest of men, by some instinct of nature, is convinced on his own that with more observations his risk of failure is diminished."
-Jacques Bernoulli Ars conjectandi 1713

by Bearskin Rugburn on May 23, 2009 10:32 AM PDT up reply actions

Or if he had been properly stretched out before being called up

I still think it’s awfully premature to say his body can’t handle it when his arm was not being managed very well at all from a preventing injuries standpoint.

by OlSalty on May 23, 2009 1:00 PM PDT up reply actions

I will use the Chris Rock analogy.

“I wouldn’t do it, but I understand”

Basically, Morrow has not only tasted the majors, but has had more or less 2 years of major league service. Not only does the big leagues pay more, but imagine all the other incentives that come along with it. First class air travel between cities. First class hotel service, first class dining, first class parties, first hand locker room amenities. Not to mention having a bat boy serve you hand and foot. And you get to hang out other major leaguers in between games.

Now compare that to even triple A, where he would have to play in worn down minor league stadiums, travel in charter buses, dine at fine places like IHOP, do a lot of his own clean up. Not to mention they probably stay at places like motel 6 or days inn for road trips. And he would have to toil around in dingy Tacoma instead of a happening place Seattle.

I am sure Morrow doesn’t see that him being a starter would help him stay in the majors longer, and being paid more longer, I am sure he is just thinking about his comfort at the moment. And I am sure there is quite a difference between AAA and MLs. So I wouldn’t make that choice, but I understand.

by Fin on May 22, 2009 5:35 PM PDT reply actions

He should have very little say in the matter. Unless he has a physical ailment that

makes him uncomfortable starting, I don’t really care about his preference.

I’m more angered with the outright lying from the front office. It was evident at the time and it’s evident now that the organization was scared shitless with the bullpen breaking camp, and as much as our new GM can say “we’re building to the future”.. he’s a 60 yr old lifelong baseball guy, who finally has a shot to run a team, and in my opinion he’s trying to do whatever he can to put up W’s (outside of going Bavasi and making terrible, short-sighted deals) and show the ownership that they made the right choice.

It’s was a crock of bullshit that Morrow can’t handle starting due to diabetes. Just listen to the interview, the guy says diabetes isn’t a factor and he just wanted to help the team at the big league level and not have to go to the minors.

After watching Morrow last night in an extended role, throwing all his pitches, and not having to worry about every pitch being in a high leverage spot, I can’t believe everyone isn’t more disgusted and aggravated by this recent revelation.

by Rudy4three on May 22, 2009 6:11 PM PDT up reply actions