That's true. For several years I'd hear about how help was coming from Ueck and others. But nobody that got called up ever did anything worth mentioning. Or worse, the prospect wouldn't even make it to the Show.
I remember guys like de la Rosa, Capellan, Vizcaino, Durocher, Ford, and of course Sheets. I also remember a guy that was pretty good Leskanic or something that had a bit of bad luck.
For the most part I like Melvin's decision making. However, all these soft tossers are clearly not going to be the answer for the franchise. Also, I am not confident that Macha can handle a pitching staff. Most of his success was when he had 3 established starting pitchers that could go deep in games. Surprising how a lot of (bullpen) issues disappear if a starter can get through 7 or 8 full innings consistently.
So what is the fastest way to fix this problem? Since I started watching baseball again after the strike (about 2000) the Crew have been awful at evaluating pitching prospects.
How in the world did the Brewers go from a pitching staff of hard hurlers with injury concerns to a bunch of soft tossers that have control problems? It took less than 5 years to overhaul the pitching staff. I wish at least one of those flame throwers would have panned out.
I would like to see a kid with a flame thrower get an opportunity to be the 9th inning man. If Hoffman is going to stay as a setup guy that seems like the way to go. It reminds me a bit of Turbow's big year. Have a soft tossing Wise in the 8th and then trot Gomer out there to blow everybody away in the 9th with 98 mph gas. Hoffman setting up Coffey or Axford sounds like a good plan.