Wednesday, February 13, 2013

ESPN Predicts Harang Will Edge Lilly, Capuano For Fifth Slot

So says Baseball Prospectus' Ben Lindbergh, in an insider-only link run on ESPN.com which predicts the winner of the Dodgers' fifth starter:

Team: Los Angeles Dodgers

Position: No. 5 starter

Battlers: Chris Capuano, Aaron Harang, Ted Lilly

Signing Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu gave Los Angeles a surplus of starters. With Chad Billingsley's health status uncertain, the Dodgers have thus far refrained from trading any of their extra arms, although they might still deal one during spring training.

Who should win? Harang. Capuano is the only one of the trio who's had an extended stay in the bullpen in the past decade, and with Scott Elbert unlikely to be back from offseason elbow surgery by Opening Day, the Dodgers could lessen the logjam by using him in long relief. In light of his age and shaky shoulder, Lilly too would be better deployed in short bursts, at least until he's proved that he's intact enough to attract interest from other teams.

Interesting that they didn't mention Clayton Kershaw. I hope he gets a chance to start, too.

1 comments:

Steve Sax said...

fifth slot, baybee