Bumgarner Debuts

Five and 1/3 innings, five hits and two runs allowed (both earned). Not a bad start.

I could see this kid finding his way into the starting rotation next year. He doesn't have to be at the top of the rotation, maybe fifth starter so the IP total is kept down over the course of the season. He's only twenty years old, so even next year you wouldn't want to put more than 200 innings of mileage on his arm.

Bumgarner was called into action after Tim Lincecum was scratched (yikes) due to back issues. Probably from carrying the team all season. Hopefully, this injury doesn't cost him his Cy Young chances, but if the back problem is at all serious, the Giants need to shut him down. Find out what you have with some of the minor league starters like Pucetas so you can plan better for next year.

More details on Bumgarner's start from ESPN:

As for Bumgarner, who became the youngest active player in the big leagues, he acquitted himself well in a no-decision, allowing two runs in 5 1/3 innings, walking one, striking out four, and exiting after throwing 76 pitches. He posted a 1.85 ERA in the minors this year between high Class A and Double-A, but his velocity took a dip at the end of July. Instead of working in the 92-94 mph range and touching 95 as he had earlier in the year, he dropped down to the 90 mph range, presumably just because of the grind of the season. I doubt the Giants would have kept running him out there if they suspected anything else was the cause, or thought anything might be wrong. Bumgarner hit 90 mph twice in his big league debut, but mostly sat at 87-89 mph after throwing 131 1/3 innings in the minors this year.

The club had planned to call him up for situational and long relief help for the balance of September, but the injury changed their plans....