Orange County Register: Angels Notes: Garrett Richards' progress, Cory Rasmus' role

[AngelsWin.com]

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Garrett Richards, who is trying to rehab from left knee surgery, is scheduled for his third bullpen session on Monday.Richards threw 30 pitches his last time out, on Friday, so he will extend that this time, pitching coach Mike...

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[ScottT]

Almost everyone is sleeping on Rasmus.  I think his success last year was legit and he will be valuable in the pen or the rotation.  His main problem in the minors was allowing too many walks... control. That wasn't a problem at all last year.  I just hope they don't make him a one inning "setup man".   I don't think they will.  Last year, the Angels proved they are more than capable of moving beyond such nonsense... by how they handled the staff after Richards went down.  

[Jeff Fletcher]

Almost everyone is sleeping on Rasmus. I think his success last year was legit and he will be valuable in the pen or the rotation. His main problem in the minors was allowing too many walks... control. That wasn't a problem at all last year. I just hope they don't make him a one inning "setup man". I don't think they will. Last year, the Angels proved they are more than capable of moving beyond such nonsense... by how they handled the staff after Richards went down.

They have lots of one-inning guys so I assume if Rasmus is in the bullpen he would be the long man. If you can have a 3-inning guy in your pen who isn't just some retread innings eater, that's a nice luxury.

[ScottT]

Before the acquisitions of Tropeano and Heaney, I wanted Rasmus in the rotation. Now, I'm fine with him being a reliever.  Not a typical long man that is saved for when a starter can't get past the 2nd or 3rd inning, but more like they did Francisco Rodriguez in the 2002 playoffs.  If Santiago is done after five and the game is close, put Rasmus in.  

[ELEVEN]

They have lots of one-inning guys so I assume if Rasmus is in the bullpen he would be the long man. If you can have a 3-inning guy in your pen who isn't just some retread innings eater, that's a nice luxury.

Gonna be key having a specialist to finish most of Wilson's starts.

[Butcher'd]

He had a pretty incredible year last season. I'd like to see 70 innings out of him this year. We have plenty of pitchers who struggle to get out of the 5th inning, so he'll be needed

[Angel Oracle]

Agreed that he is a good talent for the 7th inning, but also a good talent as a 6th to 7th inning guy pitching multiple innings. 

With Nibs and his lower innings total, the chance is there that he will be coming out after 5 innings often enough that Rasmus becomes a real asset by pitching the following 2 innings.

How many innings per week can he handle though? 

[Second Base]

Both Rasmus and Santiago may end up logging a lot if innings without being in the rotation. Richards figure to miss 2-3 starts, Heaney's arm was dead at the end of last year from all the innings so the Angels will likely hold him to 5-6 innings in which case there will need to be a couple innings eaten weekly there. Tropeano hasn't thrown that many either. CJ Wilson looks like even if he's effective, 6 innings could be his max.

Both of them still may creep up toward 100 innings working out if relief.

BTW, I love having that much depth in the rotation and bullpen.

[Mark68]

Before the acquisitions of Tropeano and Heaney, I wanted Rasmus in the rotation. Now, I'm fine with him being a reliever.  Not a typical long man that is saved for when a starter can't get past the 2nd or 3rd inning, but more like they did Francisco Rodriguez in the 2002 playoffs.  If Santiago is done after five and the game is close, put Rasmus in.  

Or if Wilson is gone after, say, two outs...