Hochevar Optioned to AAA

Are you freaking kidding me?

The Royals have elected to keep Sidney Ponson, Brian Bannister and Horacio Ramirez over Luke Hochevar who has today been optioned to AAA.

Are you freaking kidding me?

Hochevar is now 25.  In 2008, he threw 129.0 innings for the Royals with an ERA of 5.21, struck out 72, and had a 1.59 WHIP.  In 16.1 IP this spring, his ERA stands at 3.86 with a 1.29 WHIP.

Bannister is now 28.  In 2008, he threw 182.2 innings with an ERA of 5.76, struck out 113, and had a WHIP of 1.49.  In 12.2 IP, his spring ERA stands at 8.53 with a 1.66 WHIP.

Horacio Ramirez is 29.  His last season as a starting pitcher was 2007 when he started 20 games for the Seattle Mariners.  In 98.0 IP that year, he had a 7.16 ERA, 40 SO, and a 1.85 WHIP.  In 19.0 IP, his spring ERA stands at 9.00 with a 2.05 WHIP.

Sidney Ponson is 32.  Last year in his 9 starts with the Rangers he threw 55.2 innings, recorded 25 SO, and had a 1.56 WHIP.  He was dismissed from the team and wound up with the Yankees.  Once in New York he pitched 80.0 innings, recorded 33 SO, and a 1.64 WHIP.  In his single spring outing he lasted 5.1 innings, has a 6.75 ERA, and a 1.76 WHIP.  With Ponson we also can’t forget the guy has been a total meathead everywhere he has gone in his career.

Are you freaking kidding me?

Hochevar is at least 3 years younger than all of them.  Last year was his 1st ML season as a starter and he still put up better numbers than all 3 of the other candidates.  This spring he has put up better numbers than anyone in the rotation not named Kyle Davies.  Further Hochevar is the only member of these four that has upside and figures to be a member of the Royals long term rotation plans.

Let’s see now, we have 3 guys that at best are all mediocre.  Then we have this “other” guy that had better numbers last season, has had a better spring training, is younger than all the others and has more upside.  Solution for Moore and Hillman, simple, send the “other” guy down to AAA.

This is the same thinking that kept Pena Jr. in the lineup as long as it did in 2008.  It is the same thinking that has kept TPJ on the roster this spring while taking at bats from other players.  It is the same thinking that kept Ross Gload starting at 1B while Ka’aihue was watching from the dugout.  It is this same thinking that is why the Royals will not compete for the division this season.  Simply put, they are not trying to put the best team out on the field in 2009.  In fact you could argue that by robbing Hochevar of ML innings in 2009, they are also not trying to put their best team out on the field in 2010.

Are you freaking kidding me?