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| Rather than include useful relievers like Kyle McClellan or Eduardo Sanchez, the St. Louis Cardinals have decided to include Jake Westbrook on the NLDS roster even though he is unlikely to start a game. - Photo courtesy of Getty Images |
The St. Louis Cardinals announced their playoff roster for their first round match-up against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Missing from the playoff roster were a couple of notable players.
Mainstay Kyle McClellan was left off the roster as the organization pointed to symptoms of "dead arm" for his omission.
Electric reliever Eduardo Sanchez was also left at home. Sanchez is coming off a shoulder injury that made him miss an extended period of time, but he was able to make an appearance in the series finale pitching one and a third innings of perfect baseball.
Instead of including useful, young, and exuberant relievers that deepen a bullpen, the Cardinals chose to keep Jake Westbrook on the roster.
My question is, why? What purpose does he serve if he is not going to start? Why does Westbrook deserve a spot on the roster?
Westbrook figures not to get a start against the Phillies as Kyle Lohse pitches Game 1, Chris Carpenter in Game 2, and a combination of Edwin Jackson and Jamie Garcia in Games 3 and 4. Westbrook does not deserve to start either. He is just 12-9 on the season with a 4.66 ERA and 1.53 WHIP.
So why is Westbrook on the roster if he is unlikely and undeserving of a start?
Do not tell me it is to be the long reliever. McClellan could have filled that role easily as well as Mitchell Boggs. Plus, long relievers are primarily used in situations where the team trails, something the Cardinals can not obviously afford in short series against Philadelphia.
It is unlikely Westbrook would be used in a one inning stint either. Westbrook has trouble throwing strikes and leads the team with 73 regular season walks, hardly reliable in a late inning, pressure situation.
So why is Westbrook on this roster? What purpose does he serve? I'm sure manager Tony La Russa has his reasons but I'd rather see McClellan or Sanchez than a roster spot wasted by including an ineffective pitcher like Jake Westbrook.
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