A nice short piece from Bleacher Report (no, really) about Lincoln's predicament coming into spring training. Has some interesting information about his post-draft handling by the Pirates, in case you need another reason to hate Dave Littlefield.
Sorry I took this off the front page — I just didn’t want us to get slammed if something from this turns out to be thoroughly wrong or something. I did look at it, and it is fairly well written, but I can’t trust anything from Bleacher Report.
Some information, but Lincoln is probably not “on the hot seat”. I am pretty sure that if he is not in the top 5, he will go to AAA and start, ready to step in if Bedard (OK, not going to say it) or if Correia is good (trade bait) or bad.
Got to hope Lincoln turns it around, but at least he is a better option than Burris.
Agree. I read it as hot seat in terms of how the rest of his career will go. If he wins the battle for #5, he might just have a future. In turn, if he gets sent to the pen, we may as well write him off.
I do like the fact that the writer is one of the first “mainstream” writers to realize KC is on the bubble.
Although I can’t see them moving Lincoln to a bullpen role in any situation to begin the year. He’ll either be starting in Morton’s spot until he’s no longer needed, or he’ll be starting in AAA. I see no reason to move him to the major league bullpen when we have 79 other right handed relievers. Especially considering there isn’t exactly a log jam of quality starters right now in Indy…
citing his career MLB ERA is stupid. Why not talk about his 4.03 xFIP last year in ~50 innings coupled with the fact that he was used in bullpen and as starter which wasnt good for him.
I don’t want to see Brad Lincoln out of the bullpen at all. Last year his AAA numbers were impressive and so were his MLB numbers. 3.03 FIP in 110 Innings at AAA and then the xfip and fip in mlb were solid too.
Let him start at AAA so he gets regular work but i see him as already better than Jeff Karstens and Kevin Correia. You basically have to let Jeff Karstens start in the rotation to begin the year but i could easily see his luck running out.
Right now i think Brad Lincoln is a 1-2 WAR pitcher in the MLB with a ceiling of 2-4 WAR. He’s definitely worth keeping around
as the Pirates take advantage of his final option.
He has mid 2012-2013 so show anything. If J-Mac and Morton continue to shine then by the time Cole and Taillon make their PNC debuts it will be adios for Lincoln.
Sorry I took this off the front page — I just didn’t want us to get slammed if something from this turns out to be thoroughly wrong or something. I did look at it, and it is fairly well written, but I can’t trust anything from Bleacher Report.
Charlie Wilmoth - February 21, 2012
fair enough
WHYG Zane Smith - February 21, 2012
Some information, but Lincoln is probably not “on the hot seat”. I am pretty sure that if he is not in the top 5, he will go to AAA and start, ready to step in if Bedard (OK, not going to say it) or if Correia is good (trade bait) or bad.
Got to hope Lincoln turns it around, but at least he is a better option than Burris.
NHpiratefan - February 21, 2012
Seems like they’re saying Lincoln is on the roster bubble and at a bit of a crossroads in his career, which seems fair to me.
WHYG Zane Smith - February 21, 2012
Agree. I read it as hot seat in terms of how the rest of his career will go. If he wins the battle for #5, he might just have a future. In turn, if he gets sent to the pen, we may as well write him off.
I do like the fact that the writer is one of the first “mainstream” writers to realize KC is on the bubble.
pskell02 - February 21, 2012
Basically agree.
Although I can’t see them moving Lincoln to a bullpen role in any situation to begin the year. He’ll either be starting in Morton’s spot until he’s no longer needed, or he’ll be starting in AAA. I see no reason to move him to the major league bullpen when we have 79 other right handed relievers. Especially considering there isn’t exactly a log jam of quality starters right now in Indy…
bosten7 - February 22, 2012
Without reading the link,
which I am confident you all have summed up just fine, I agree. Lincoln is a starter. Whether that’s in PGH or IND is all that remains to be seen.
Personally, I hope it’s Indy. I am not impressed, nor am I confident he’ll ever effectively get MLB batters out on a consistent basis.
cocktailsfor2 - February 22, 2012
meh
citing his career MLB ERA is stupid. Why not talk about his 4.03 xFIP last year in ~50 innings coupled with the fact that he was used in bullpen and as starter which wasnt good for him.
I don’t want to see Brad Lincoln out of the bullpen at all. Last year his AAA numbers were impressive and so were his MLB numbers. 3.03 FIP in 110 Innings at AAA and then the xfip and fip in mlb were solid too.
Let him start at AAA so he gets regular work but i see him as already better than Jeff Karstens and Kevin Correia. You basically have to let Jeff Karstens start in the rotation to begin the year but i could easily see his luck running out.
Right now i think Brad Lincoln is a 1-2 WAR pitcher in the MLB with a ceiling of 2-4 WAR. He’s definitely worth keeping around
Mingy - February 22, 2012
Lincoln will be going to Indy this season
as the Pirates take advantage of his final option.
He has mid 2012-2013 so show anything. If J-Mac and Morton continue to shine then by the time Cole and Taillon make their PNC debuts it will be adios for Lincoln.
BadAndy - February 23, 2012
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