March 30, 2015

News/views: Pirates choose … Locke?

by Dejan Kovacevic • News/views • Pirates

BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC

News: The Pirates will open the season with Jeff Locke in the rotation and Vance Worley in the bullpen, Clint Hurdle just told reporters in Bradenton, Fla. Locke will be fifth on the depth chart.

Views: OK, and … why?

Neither was all that strong in Grapefruit League exhibitions, each charged with 10 earned runs, Locke’s over 13 2/3 innings, Worley’s over 17. But there hadn’t been any debate, including internally, that Worley was generally pitching with more poise and more command. So it couldn’t have been spring performance.

Worley also has been better than Locke in the career context, albeit not by a ton.

Jeff Locke allowed opponents to bat .339 off him in four Grapefruit League appearances. — GETTY

One possibility, and that’s all it is: Neal Huntington would have everything to gain by branding Locke the winner of the starting duel in advance of the usual heavy trading that happens just before opening-day rosters are set. If he demotes Locke right before that, he devalues him.

I’ll repeat: That’s just a thought. I’ve not heard of efforts to trade Locke.

Either that, or they genuinely feel this is the best way to go. One concern Clint Hurdle had expressed while I was in Bradenton was that the Pirates would have two similar righties in A.J. Burnett and Charlie Morton. Worley isn’t all that similar to those two, but having another lefty in the mix — in addition to Francisco Liriano — does offer more variety, for however much that’s worth.

Our John Perrotto will file his report from Florida around 6 p.m.

47 Comments Newest to oldest

MASH

3-30-2015, 4:44 pm

I'll take quality over variety any day

WildcatRay

3-31-2015, 7:02 am

Keep in mind that you also need to build your team around your home ball park. PNC has a short right field fence which means that left-handed pitchers should have a natural advantage by forcing the opponent to put more right-handed batters in the lineup as well as making it harder for left-handed batters to take advantage of the short distance to the right field fence.

That being said, I do see and agree with DK's point that demoting Locke would lower is value in the trade market.

One more point. If Locke stays with the team, his relationship with A.J. will continue. That may help Locke regain is form from 2 years ago.

scotty1212

3-30-2015, 4:44 pm

Really was pulling for Worley. Pitched great last year. Locke had another failing season.

JAL

3-30-2015, 4:46 pm

It would be interesting to get insight into the thought process behind the decision

aglebagel

3-30-2015, 4:46 pm

Huh. Here's another thought:

Maybe, for some reason, the Pirates felt like Worley would only be a marginally better starter than Locke but a much better reliever than Locke.

Dave

3-30-2015, 6:44 pm

My thoughts exactly.

tim

3-30-2015, 4:46 pm

thinking that the season is very long and that Worley will see plenty of innings or they feel Worley is better suited to come out of the pen right now either way it is a pretty good problem to have for a franchise 2 yrs removed from 21 straight losing seasons no?

Dale A. Biesecker

3-30-2015, 4:46 pm

Can't really make sense of this one, but someone will be injured soon enough and it will shake out.

Clive Jameson

3-30-2015, 5:28 pm

Exactly. Injury or someone will come out flat.

Steve Stone

3-30-2015, 4:48 pm

I agree with DK on the point that this gives them lefty/righty balance. I don't think Morton will last...so Vance will be in the rotation before long. Strong rotation, not as strong as we thought coming in to ST.

Alex

3-30-2015, 4:48 pm

I had 3 thoughts for why Locke over Worley. First of which was the trade value reason. Second being that he is a lefty and what manager wouldn't want another lefty in the rotation. Third, but ridiculous, being that he somehow earned it based on more time in a Pirates uniform.

Let's just hope this works out one way or another. And if it doesn't, let's hope Hurdle makes the switch early.

gbrant

3-30-2015, 4:49 pm

Picking a 5 is not a huge issue. We used to have to find a 1.

Eddie

3-30-2015, 5:53 pm

Ah yes, Ron Villone pitched an Opening Day #NeverForget

Jon Hartman

3-31-2015, 1:09 am

Remember Jimmy anderson? Haha!

HKSteelerfan

3-31-2015, 1:36 am

No I don't remember. Haha!

JosABank

3-30-2015, 4:49 pm

I'm guessing it's for a little of both factors that you cite and an additional one. Locke allows Hurdle to go R L R L R with his rotation and keeps Locke's trade value in place for GMNH to possibly dangle before or early in the season. Worely also is a better bullpen fit I believe and can give you long relief or piggy back on Locke starts in case it's one of those days where Jeff just doesn't have it.
Going to need 7-8 starters in any event. Worley will be in the rotation at some point.

Steve Stone

3-30-2015, 4:51 pm

So many teams are in need of starters...NH shouldn't have an issue trading if he wants to. Although our AAA option aren't as strong as they have been in the past. AA is where the power arms are for now.

Andrew Shaw

3-30-2015, 4:52 pm

It's not like Worley won't get to start. Injuries/ineffectiveness mean he'll get more than his share, and probably soon. If it's June and Locke is still in there struggling, that's a different thing.
We all freaked out about Locke making the rotation before and he had a strong first half.

cmat0829

3-30-2015, 4:54 pm

My two cents: The FIRST HALF Locke, the past 2 years, has been GREAT. So maybe that's the deciding factor in a close race. But as long as Worley is kept ready to jump into the rotation, I"m fine with this.

Randy Steele

3-30-2015, 4:57 pm

I only know what I read, so this decision is a surprise, to say the least. However, it's silly to get your shorts in a bunch about the number 5 guy in the rotation, so let's just see how all of this plays out.

Milo Hamilton

3-30-2015, 4:58 pm

I'd rather have neither. Locke for Navarro.

Christopher Rossetti

3-30-2015, 5:00 pm

Even as the Pirates have gotten better and better they are still prone to having to make "small" market decisions. Bet the bottom dollar the Dodgers don't make a decision like this. Or even the the Cardinals. But the Pirates still worry about how keeping both of them fits into the plans and most likely think that Vance is better suited for the bullpen than Locke. Locke either had to be in the rotation or not on the team. This way both are on the team.But that is definitely a move that is made because of the "small" market thinking. And I use "small" in quotes because as Dejan has pointed out that isn't really the case but some of the decisions are definitely made like it is the case

dmkruth1

3-30-2015, 8:06 pm

Why couldn't Locke have been put in the bullpen just like Worley was? I must be missing something.

bpn8pitt

3-30-2015, 5:02 pm

In the immediate short term, Locke has fared better at Miller Park than Worley.

Safe to say it could be revisited within a week or two.

Milo Hamilton

3-30-2015, 5:10 pm

Maybe they're going to use my hairbrained scheme of starting the one that makes the most sense against each particular opponent. 5th starter by 2 man committee.

bpn8pitt

3-30-2015, 5:18 pm

I'm thinking this is strictly throwing a LHP at Milwaukee. Worley gave up 12 hits there in his last start. Ten days into the season they could go back to Worley if Locke "stinks".

NMR

3-30-2015, 5:31 pm

The actual difference between Locke when he isn't lighting himself on fire and what Worley is likely to bring just isn't that great when it comes down to it. The sub-3 ERA guy from last year isn't likely showing up anytime soon.

Hurdle made mention last week that he wouldn't think a starter in the pen can go more than a month or so and still be ready to come back into the rotation. I believe Worley *does* have more experience with this transition than Locke, and I wonder if this was the deciding factor.

Gonna have to use both eventually, and unfortunately for Worley, he's the Swiss Army knife.

bpn8pitt

3-30-2015, 5:37 pm

I think Lockes career splits in the 1st half factored in a little bit. He gets off to a good start, you enhance his trade value. Then you can add that to whatever prospects and possibly chase a bigger piece in June or July...Honestly, in August and Sept they will need something better than both these guys. In the meantime I hope they pitch well.

NMR

3-30-2015, 5:48 pm

Boy do I agree with you and Milo on that one.

keithc

3-30-2015, 10:16 pm

bph. If the Pirates are aware that Locke has bad 2nd halves, so are other teams. So having a good 1st half might not enhance his value as much as you would think. I don't like the move.

bpn8pitt

3-31-2015, 6:26 am

Everybody needs pitching. LHP has always been a premium. Everybody thinks they can "fix" guys too.

I don't think its worth racking our brains over too much. When it comes down to it, Worley, Locke and Morton are pretty pedestrian and they'll need better come end of July.Via trade or Indy.

cooljerdoc

3-30-2015, 5:04 pm

Don't like it

Radio wave

3-30-2015, 5:11 pm

What!

sean epstein

3-30-2015, 5:14 pm

My 2 cents worth is that they believe Worley can be more effective out of the pen than Locke. I don't think it devalues Locke to send him down. He is a known commodity at this point and any team that would be interested in trading for him would have already scouted his Grapefruit League starts.

NMR

3-30-2015, 5:21 pm

AJ Burnett. Clearly.

A. Lane

3-30-2015, 5:36 pm

Probably was in his contract, thus the discount.

Clive Jameson

3-30-2015, 5:23 pm

One thing that Huntington has done well the last few years is maintain depth for the rotation. There are questions throughout the rotation. I would be shocked if by April we haven't lost one or two of the starters in the rotation due to injury or performance.

2013 still amazes me: Opening Day Rotation of A.J. Burnett, Wandy Rodriguez, James McDonald, Jonathan Sanchez, Jeff Locke;

2014 was much more stable which was wonderful, but you don't know what to expect this time around.

thebaldtruth

3-30-2015, 5:36 pm

I do think it's a matter of Vanimal being the one more likely to thrive out of the pen. I also don't have a tremendous amount of faith in Ground Chuck's ability to stay off the DL. The likelihood is strong that, either through a Locke trade or a Chuck injury, Vanimal will get quite a few starts this season.

joeditch

3-30-2015, 5:49 pm

AJ is sooo happy. That's important. Crosby has his Kunitz, Burnett has his Locke.

unipress_54ffd4e09ddd0

3-30-2015, 5:52 pm

He will be out of the rotation by May

unipress_54ffd4e09ddd0

3-30-2015, 5:57 pm

Locke reminds me of Zach Duke. Great beginning but below avg thereafter.

bill_antonoplos

3-30-2015, 6:17 pm

When will Taillon be available to start?

ledtotheflood

3-30-2015, 7:11 pm

Worley's "reward" for that arbitration win is becoming 2015's Jeanmar Gomez.

DormontyDawson

3-30-2015, 7:21 pm

If it's a close call, go with the lefty. That's the way I see it.

jimmy streich

3-30-2015, 9:26 pm

wonder if Burnett had any input in the decision

jimmy streich

3-30-2015, 9:26 pm

wonder if Burnett had any input in the decision

Robert

3-30-2015, 9:38 pm

Some guys are mentally and physically more capable of pitching out of the pen. Worley would be that over Locke.

News/views: Pirates choose … Locke?

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