I don't understand what they are thinking about Mark DiFelice

Written by Jaymes Langrehr on .

During Thursday evening's FSWisconsin broadcast, announcer Bill Schroeder was commenting that the move of Seth McClung to the starting rotation left the bullpen depleted of "long" relievers--those that could go more than two innings.  This puzzled me, as Mark DiFelice used to be a starter...in fact, if McClung continues to have bad starts like last night, DiFelice should be, I think, given a chance to start with the Brewers.  But no one in the organization seems to be thinking of DiFelice as a starter candidate.

First, he must have major league stuff, as he's been on the 25-man roster the entire season, posting a 4-0, 1.72 mark over 31.3 IP in 31 games to date (not to mention a 2.84 ERA in '08 over 19 IP).  This year, DiFelice has pitched 2 innings on two occasions, and over an inning in five other games.

So, then, they must feel that his stuff drops off after two innings.  DiFelice went 4 full innings in the World Baseball Classic against Venezuela, throwing 45 pitchers, with 33 of them for strikes, resulting in just 3 hits and 0 ER's.  DiFelice was a starter at Nashville last season as well.

At the very least, DiFelice should be the "go-to" guy whenever a starter starts getting around in the 3rd or 4th inning...and if McClung or Suppan continue to have rough starts, I'd like to see DiFelice get a shot at starting before trading Alcides Escobar for a Jarrod Washburn.

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