Moving Lance Lynn to rotation is a mistake

One day after letting everyone know that a backup plan would be formulated with internal candidates to replace Chris Carpenter if he is not ready for the start of the regular season, the St. Louis Cardinals let their intentions be known.

Manager Mike Matheny told reporters that Lance Lynn would be the guy to be "stretched out" and replace Carpenter in the rotation if the ace is not able to start throwing.

Lynn certainly deserves a chance at starting and certainly has the ability get the job done.  But moving Lance Lynn out of the bullpen and into the rotation is a mistake and here are three reasons why.

1. Lance Lynn was absolutely dominant as a reliever last season. After coming up and starting a couple of games, Lynn found himself in the bullpen and started throwing absolute gas.  Lynn was constantly mid nineties with his fastball and was able to control a power curve ball to keep hitters off balance.

As a reliever, Lynn posted a 2.22 ERA in 16 appearances.  Opponents hit just .176 off of him and Lynn had a WHIP of 0.945.  Lynn also struck out 32 hitters while allowing just eight walks, a four to one ratio.

Compare that to his career in the minors as a starter where Lynn had a 3.69 ERA, a WHIP of 1.33, and a strikeout to walk ratio of just 2.38.

Lynn clearly showed in 2011 that he is a better reliever than a starter.

2. Why weaken a team strength to plug a short term problem?  The bullpen of the Cardinals in 2012 has the potential to be one of the best in baseball.  As slated now, Jason Motte would be the closer, Eduardo Sanchez the set-up man, Fernando Salas would be the guy to get out of jams, and Lance Lynn would be the guy to get the ball in the sixth or seventh inning to protect a lead.

If Lynn moves to the rotation, that role shifts to Kyle McClellan or Mitchell Boggs, two pitchers who clearly are not as good as Lynn showed he was in 2011.

3. Roy Oswalt is still available. If the Cardinals are willing to rearrange their entire bullpen because they are that uncertain of Carpenter's healthy, why not go out and buy the best insurance policy available in Roy Oswalt?  

Obtaining Oswalt would give the Cardinals a veteran pitcher who knows how to win, just like Carpenter, while leaving the bullpen intact and the strength of the team.

Lance Lynn could do very well as a starting pitcher in the Major Leagues.  But moving him to the rotation now is a mistake.

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