Chris Volstad: Major League Baseball Player. No, Seriously.

[Bobbob1313]

That's fine. I don't either. Especially not with Hand, Koehler, and Sanabia looking like they can do what he does.

I just don't really care about criticizing Volstad unless mibs is being ridiculous.

[Miamarlin21]

Trade him for Chris Seddon.

Problem solved.

[HUGG]

Taking mibs out of the equation, I think it's the Hermida thing with Volstad. He was (over) hyped and so everyone hates him.

If, as fm just said, it was Chris Seddon doing the same thing, it wouldn't be as big a deal.

Volstad wasn't supposed to be a 5 inning, 5 ERA pitcher. Not an ace, but not this bad either.

[Bobbob1313]

I've never been down for that, but I know I'm in the minority.

[dim]

We've only lost 1 game in which Volstad has started this year.

/greatestpitcherever

[Party]

Don't fan the flames!

[Flum]

Hermida was justifiably overhyped though. Volstad was just overhyped.

[emkayseven]

what makes Hermierda's hype justifiable but not Volstad? Volstad was a stud in HS and was a first rounder. They were both overhyped, they're both replacement-level players.

[nny]

Hermida actually performed in the minors (Albeit only exceptionally in one year). Volstad's numbers aren't far off what you'd except from his minor league numbers

[lou]

what makes Hermierda's hype justifiable but not Volstad? Volstad was a stud in HS and was a first rounder. They were both overhyped, they're both replacement-level players.

I think they mean degree of hype. Hermida was ranked what, the # 4 overall prospect in baseball and came out of a AA year with more walks than strikeouts with power? Huge difference in pure hype. He was supposed to be a superstar. Brian Giles in his prime, low end Will Clark, level bat. For Volstad, we all were expecting a poor mans Derek Lowe, to just chug a low 4 era and 200 solid innings. Be a 3/4 starter. But he's a 5 instead. Neither panned, but their expectations clearly different which is what I think was meant. There is just a lot more reason to be dissapointed with Hermida than Volstad. A lot.

---

As to the merits, agree with Bob I'm not so sure he's our worst starter, and I expect he will "settle" as a high 4 era. I don't think he makes/breaks the season, I think he gets to much crap even if he's not very good right now, and I don't think we will pay him arbitration based on his performance going forward. We need him, as I don't know if we can say Sanabia, whatever is left of West, Koehler, or a fresh out of AA Hand are the answer. I'm hopeful he rebounds. He always seems to be 1-2 batters away from a good start so hopefully he can figure out how to get out of the jam instead of letting Berkman launch one 450 feet.

[Ice]

We're 14-4 when Volstad starts in his last 18 games.

Cool.

[Ramp]

That's a dumb stat. You're better than that.

[Ice]

I should have added something that made it more obvious that I Was being sarcastic.

[Erick]

At this point, comparing him to other #5 starters is kinda dumb, considering he's not our #5.

He's our bad #4.
And Vazquez is one of the worst pitchers in baseball, if not the worst, right now.

He's at a -0.3 WAR (not even qualifying yet) with no real signs of getting any better.

With Volstad, mostly everything about him sucks; with Vazquez, everything just sucks.

It's actually amazing that we're 18-9, all things considered.

[HUGG]

There's no question Vazquez is worse than him.