And One Foot Out the Door?

Yesterday, White Sox GM Chris Getz announced that Michael Kopech will start the season in the bullpen. Kopech says he’s disappointed. Me, I’m more curious. What makes Getz think Kopech will do any better out of the pen? For his career, Kopech is 12-22 with a 4.26 ERA starting and 3-3 with a 4.66 ERA relieving. Moreover, he has a 5.40 ERA in the first inning. Wouldn’t that also hold for him coming into the game in the seventh or later? Two things stand out here, starting with the fact Getz was the one announcing the move. Where was manager Mickey Mouse? Probably deferring to the boss. Expect Mouse to do that all the way up until the day he gets fired. Second, I think Getz is letting Kopech know he has to produce, now. A career 12-22 mark with a 4.26 ERA as a starter doesn’t exactly help the righty’s case that he should continue in the rotation. His career stats in relief pretty much tell me the same thing. We’ll see.