Adenhart's time has come
We don't run the Angels obviously, but we like to pretend we do at times. So if this was our team, it would be time to let Nick Adenhart, the 21-year-old pitching-stud-to-be, to get a crack at life in the major leagues. With John Lackey expected to miss 3-4 weeks with a strained right triceps, and even more time than that as he gets into pitching shape, there is a spot to be had in the Angels rotation. Dustin Moseley would be a fine option, but remember, he is coming off surgery to repair his right ulnar nerve.
Assuming Adenhart doesn't fall apart during the remainder of Cactus League play, it would be the perfect time to give him his first real major-league test. He has a 4.26 ERA in four spring training starts which isn't brilliant but we can only assume he will get better once the season starts and he has more innings under his belt. Hey, he's going to have to get a chance sometime. That sometime should be now.
"Personally, I understand what that means,” Adenhart said today. "It opens up a spot. From the beginning of camp I felt like I was coming in to compete for a job and that was still my mind-set going out there today.”
Adenhart pitched four innings Saturday against Arizona, giving up three runs on four hits with four strikeouts. In other words, he knew how big his start was and he still kept his team in the game. Let the Adenhart era begin.
I have to agree. Moseley did okay last year but he was really just a five inning starter. Everyone knows starters need to be able to at least get to the 7th. If they don't you'll end up wearing out your bullpen. And I just checked the stats on the Angels' site. Adenhart has pitched a lot of innings so far this spring. According to the site Moseley has only pitched three innings. Can he even get stretched out in time to start? Not very likely. And if you push him too fast he'll end up on the DL too. He'd be much better in middle relief.