Prospect Tracker Aug. 16th, 2010: Jay Jackson, Pitcher, Chicago Cubs

[JustinTCB]

The Cubs did this same bullpen stuff with Carlos Zambrano back in the day.

Carlos started the 2000 campaign in the starting rotation for the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx. He pitched well, and well beyond his years, going 3-1 with a 1.34 ERA in nine starts. The decision was made to promote him to the Class-AAA Iowa Cubs, but there he would work the rest of the year out of the bullpen. The big club was desperate to develop a closer from within the organization, and Carlos appeared to be the best option they had. He made 34 appearances at that level, saved six games, and was simply unhittable at times.

Carlos was invited to the Cubs’ major league camp in the spring of 2001. He wowed everyone with his repertoire, and wasn't awed by major-league batters in exhibition action. In an inning of work against the Padres, he allowed a single to Tony Gwynn, but also struck out veterans Ryan Klesko, Phil Nevin and Damian Jackson. There was some brief talk of giving Carlos the final spot in the Chicago bullpen, but he returned to Triple-A for the ‘01 season. With Iowa, the organization reconverted him into a starter. The Cubs' brass felt his stuff was too explosive to be a consistent reliever, but ideal for a starting role. At 6-5 and 225 pounds, they suspected he would have the stamina to take the ball every fifth day without a problem.

Luckily, the Cubs woke up and made him a starter again. Obviously the odds of Cashner and/or Jackson being Zambrano are very slim, but still. You max out the value of your prospects by developing them as starters in the minors. You don't put them through a "bullpen test" in the middle of June.

 

[Captain Obvious]

Probably not, just Jim Hendry.

I don't mind if Cashner ends up being a reliever, it happens. My problem is if they make him a reliever without ever giving him a chance to start in the majors.

He dominated as a starter all season, then the stupid desperate Cubs made him go to the bullpen to try and salvage a lost season. He needs another chance as a starter before he's banished to the bullpen for good.

Why should we fire Jim Hendry? Because he is a top 5 GM in trades?