Making a very strong bid for a rotation job- really seems committed to pounding the zone, which is very good. Nibbling around the periphery was his biggest problem last season.

If Harrison, Kirkman, and Holland continue to show they are worthy of making the team does that mean that Tommy Hunter may not be worthy of being in the 3 slot? Also, is it possible Ogando or Hurley could be better options than Hunter. I love Tommy Hunter but has he really already made the team as JD seemed to indicate on Ben and Skin. Has anyone heard from Wash about whether Hunter has made the team?

Making the team and making the rotation are 2 different issues. I could easily see Harrison/Holland/Kirkman/Ogando being ahead of him, but that still likely leaves Hunter in Long Relief.

Pedro Strop was filthy in relief of Harrison.

JD said on Ben and Skin that Hunter is likely your number three guy.

As far as I know Wash has not said this.

Has anyone heard whether Hunter has been locked in as our number three? Has Wash announced this?

I've heard a lot of media guys talking about the final two spots in the rotation and they are assuming, I assume based on what JD said on Ben and Skin, that Hunter is locked in for the number three starter.

I personally am not thrilled about that. I like Tommy and he might be a good option for the rotation but he has to win his spot with guys like Harrison, Hurley, Holland, Kirkman, and Ogando pitching so well.

I would definitely be open to Hunter as our long man with Holland, Harrison, and Kirkman as your bottom three or Holland, Harrison or Kirkman, and Ogando or Hurley.

Is there a baseball law against having 4 lefties in your rotation? Or three?

Hunter has been every bit as good as those other guys this spring.

Nothing wrong with three lefties in the rotation or even four. Through the course of the year, being very lefthanded in the rotation will give slight advantages and disadvantages as you go team to team, series to series.

In a postseason series, you might have some concern about throwing all lefties, but if they are your best 3 or 4 starters so be it. Not worth replacing your 3rd best starter with your 5th or 6th best.

Stoll think it's early to pencil Harrison in as a rotation starter. Let's face it, if he had this same approach and mentality last year, he'd likely have kept his spot in the rotation. But, he has kinda burned himself and the team one too many times that they have had faith in him.

Hunter has played as advertised when he has been given the opportunity. Sure he was exposed in the postseason, but he did perform well during the regular season, much better than Harrison in either of his two tries. I think the spot should be Hunter's to lose at this point.

It would be good to have a power lefty in the pen anyway. We are kinda righty loaded out there in the power department.

He still needs to read another book or two..... for AAA.
He still drives every pitch from his legs ....... it is silly for me to even to argue about this..... he will not make it a couple of months in the rotation.
The problem is that he don't know the difference between a good pitch and a bad pitch.
He is a waste of time....... I know this sounds mean and harsh, but I am tired of people thinking that Harrison can actually make it other than long relief on the shelf.

Steve: care to explain about driving from his legs? Im relatively certain that that is how a pitcher is supposed to generate the most power and also help keep his arm healthy. Do you want him to throw with all arm or something?

Hunter really struggles today, getting lit up by the Giants. He allow 9 hits, 7 runs, 4 er. He simply does not have the stuff to miss bats or even worse force hitters to make weak contact with the ball. I really wish he has a cutter or sinkerball.

I've never been impressed with Hunter's stuff or his command, but he has put together some good stints in the big time. I would rather give another one of our young guys a chance. We just have too many young guys who have great stuff: Harrison, Kirkman, Holland, Hurley, Ogando.

I remain perplexed as to why JD came out saying Hunter will likely be in the rotation to start the year.

I have not heard Wash saying any such thing yet the media seems to have run with the idea that Hunter is the unannounced consensus candidate for the #3 starter spot.

Lets say Feliz closes, Hunter doesn't make the team and starts at AAA (if he continues to struggle), Webb starts at AAA to get stronger for a month or two, and Bush doesn't make the team. Lets say also that Kirkman, Holland, and Harrison emerge as our best rotation options with Hurley and Ogando coming in a close second. Hurley could be the long man and Ogando the setup man with the three lefties filling out the bottom three spots in the rotation. That would be wild, but right now it looks plausible. Would two of those lefties and Ogando be any more shocking? Maybe I am forgetting someone?

I've accounted for Lewis (#2), Wilson (#1), Feliz (close), Webb (AAA), Hunter (AAA), Hurley (long), Ogando (setup), Kirkman (start), Harrison (start), Holland (start), Bush (AAA or another team), and Feldman (injured). I think thats it except for Mclung and Tobin who aren't viable options for the rotation.

Hunter & Holland... not so impressive. The door is open for Harry.
As they say: "Seize the Moment". My gawd, there's 3 slots available!