Thoughts on moving Cozart to starter?

[HornPharmD12]

Cozart did well in his mid week starter role, and has been filthy from the bullpen. I think this gives us the best chance to win a post-season game (besides Volantis.) Trade him with either Ruger or Luke and have one of them come out of the pen or be starter #4 for the post season. 
 

Thoughts? 

Edited 19 hours ago by HornPharmD12

[Taylorgang3]

I doubt they’ll do that. But I do agree that we have to find more opportunities for him. Having him only pitching 1 time a series and it’s in game 3 when we’re already up 6 is not using him to his full potential. Downfall of him only being in the closer role.

[CJ Vogel]

I like the flexibility of Cozart coming in for multiple games in a row for multiple innings in a row. 

It’s the same conversation as Volantis a year ago. If you can secure a lead, strong chance you’ll hold onto it over the final 2-3 innings thanks to the efforts of Cozart. 

Will need the ability to throw a lockdown arm late in games multiple times in a row during the postseason. Cozart’s the best Texas has. 

[Realist Horn]

12 hours ago, CJ Vogel said:

I like the flexibility of Cozart coming in for multiple games in a row for multiple innings in a row. 

It’s the same conversation as Volantis a year ago. If you can secure a lead, strong chance you’ll hold onto it over the final 2-3 innings thanks to the efforts of Cozart. 

Will need the ability to throw a lockdown arm late in games multiple times in a row during the postseason. Cozart’s the best Texas has. 

But next year is a different story. 

[Glass Joe]

A few weeks ago, Schloss let Cozart throw 65 pitches (3 innings) against Vandy on a Sunday to preserve the win.  It was yet another Luke Harrison start where Texas was down early and Harrison was pulled early leaving the game to the bullpen.

Cozart was still bringing elite stuff on the final pitches, which signaled he COULD throw 65+ pitches against  an SEC line-up and make bats miss balls the entire time.  Noteworthy.

At this point, Luke Harrison is little more than a BP pitcher against elite SEC line-ups.  We will need a reliable 3rd starter as we move into post-season play, due to the format (double elimination) and the competition being better and better the further we advance.  Harrison can’t be a 3rd starter against better competition.

So, the decision is whether you put Cozart in the starters role and hope that the last 2-3 innings of a game can be handled by the trio of Crossland, Burns, and Laffew.  Or, you keep Cozart exclusively as a closer in the bullpen and burn 6-7 innings of bullpen arms for every game Harrison starts in the post-season (and hope this lineup can overcome a large deficit Harrison creates).

For me, this is simple…any Closer only has value if there is a win to be closed, and very little value if your team is behind by multiple runs in the late innings (which, in the case of Harrison starting, means Texas is down big by the 3rd or 4th inning).  So, you get as many innings / pitches as possible from your best pitchers in the post-season, irrespective of where you get them in a game.  

[.45s]

3 hours ago, Glass Joe said:

A few weeks ago, Schloss let Cozart throw 65 pitches (3 innings) against Vandy on a Sunday to preserve the win.  It was yet another Luke Harrison start where Texas was down early and Harrison was pulled early leaving the game to the bullpen.

Cozart was still bringing elite stuff on the final pitches, which signaled he COULD throw 65+ pitches against  an SEC line-up and make bats miss balls the entire time.  Noteworthy.

At this point, Luke Harrison is little more than a BP pitcher against elite SEC line-ups.  We will need a reliable 3rd starter as we move into post-season play, due to the format (double elimination) and the competition being better and better the further we advance.  Harrison can’t be a 3rd starter against better competition.

So, the decision is whether you put Cozart in the starters role and hope that the last 2-3 innings of a game can be handled by the trio of Crossland, Burns, and Laffew.  Or, you keep Cozart exclusively as a closer in the bullpen and burn 6-7 innings of bullpen arms for every game Harrison starts in the post-season (and hope this lineup can overcome a large deficit Harrison creates).

For me, this is simple…any Closer only has value if there is a win to be closed, and very little value if your team is behind by multiple runs in the late innings (which, in the case of Harrison starting, means Texas is down big by the 3rd or 4th inning).  So, you get as many innings / pitches as possible from your best pitchers in the post-season, irrespective of where you get them in a game.  

 

Interesting take.  However, if Cozart does become a starter that takes him out of that role for any of the three weekend games that are close in the late going.  Can those three you suggested handle 3 games over the weekend?  Tough decision even if he can handle being a starter.  Also, none of our starters appear to be able to throw a complete game against good competition and that is what is remaining.  I have not been very happy with Riojas or Harrison for a while either and no doubt Schlossnagle and Wiener feel the same way.  I assume they have been trying to use some of these other pitchers too to get a better idea of when and how they could make some changes.  They definitely do it with the lineup in the field and the batting order.  Maybe you're right and it is time to take Cozart out of the bullpen.  I would probably put him in Riojas' spot if I did it.