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How to Handle Kopech in 2020


ChiSox59

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On 7/24/2019 at 3:46 PM, ptatc said:

I think he is to the point that he needs to learn to get MLB hitters out not AAA hitters. He would benefit more from doing this at the MLB level than AAA.

In addition he needs to build up his endurance and strength and frequently skipping starts isn't conducive to that. The best plan is to either start him out on a regular schedule and shut him down early or start him on the IL and make his first start in June. However, either way they are without a member of the rotation for a couple of months.

Would it hurt him to move to the bullpen once he reaches around 120 innings for the remainder of the season? End up around 140ish

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On 7/23/2019 at 11:25 AM, ChiSox59 said:

So basically shut down potentially your best pitcher in August because he's hit his workload for the year?  Hard pass on that scenario.  IMO, they need to do something to limit his workload in the early part of the season so if they're actually in contention they don't just lose his services for the season down the closing stretch of the season.  

And sure, let him go every 5th day down in AAA if that is the medically correct thing to do, but you can still control his workload in the early going by only letting him go a few innings per start and working up from there.  Much easier to do that in AAA than in the big leagues.  

Why not just start him in the bullpen at AAA an inning at a time first and then stretch him out to start by August?

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On ‎7‎/‎24‎/‎2019 at 12:32 PM, ptatc said:

Pitching in AAA doesn't decrease his workload. The phantom IL time allows him to not pitch and decrease his overall innings. No matter which way they do it, they need to find a way to keep his overall innings, regardless if it's MLB or MiLB, to about 170-180 absolute max, maybe even 160-170 due to the injury.

That's what I'm wondering, a pitch is a pitch whether it's in AAA or MLB.  Seems like they can manage his workload just as well at the MLB level, under the supervision of their major league coaches/trainers.  I do like the delayed spring training start though.  Heck, they could even use him as an "opener" early in the year to manage his innings.    

Edited by bighurt574
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Just now, bighurt574 said:

Can we get a year back or is the clock already ticking?  

Clock is ticking this year.  Full year of control lost this season while he was on the IL.

However, they can get back the 45-50 days or whatever he spent on the MLB roster in 2018 if he spends at least that many days in AAA (assuming he's not on MLB IL) in 2020.  Therefore, they would extend their control 1 season.  

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