Duke, Duke, Duke

Two great articles out there about Zach Duke's performance against the Phillies. Paul Meyer writes one for the PG and Joe Rutter for the Tribune-Review.

Meyer talked to Brian Graham:

"He's done everything we expected him to do," minor-league director Brian Graham said. "He could absolutely pitch in the big leagues right now. From a development standpoint, it would be better for him to pitch in Class AAA to gain experience, to learn how to command the baseball a little better.

"But, at the same time, he throws the curveball for a strike, the changeup for a strike and he commands his fastball to a certain degree where he will be successful in the big leagues. If he gets more experience, he'll be more successful in the big leagues."

Curveball, changeup, fastball, everything in the zone.

Meyer also works in the obligatory nod to Zach's parents.

Both writers had the presence of mind to listen to Bobby Abreu. Here is Rutter:

The game was a rematch from last Sunday when Duke pitched three innings of relief against the Phillies and gave up one run and four hits. Bobby Abreu hit a solo homer off Duke in that game, but Duke got the upper hand last night when he struck out the All-Star right fielder twice.

"Revenge is always nice," Duke said. "I was able to execute my pitches a little bit better."

Abreu took notice.

"I can say he's going to be good," Abreu said. "He has a nice arm and nice command."

Duke's other strikeout victims were Jim Thome, Placido Polanco and Jimmy Rollins, the first time the Phillies shortstop had struck out all spring.

"I don't know how he is mentally, but he's got really good stuff," Polanco said.

Right now, if I'm management, I keep my mouth shut, make no promises, and be skeptical. Kinda like this:

Did the start raise Duke's stock?

"It didn't lower it," manager Lloyd McClendon said.

In the end, you go with results. Even if it's plain to see that he could improve here or there, if he's getting results, I ride into Pittsburgh with him in the rotation. If all goes well, he won't need to make more than two starts in the first month. And almost anything could happen in those starts without forever destroying his poise.

He'll get a month to soak up the big leagues. He can get working on his Excel spreadsheet with notes about the NL Central hitters. Josa Mesa can teach him the mysteries of long toss. He's sure to be in the rotation at some point this season, so if he's getting results, let him stay.

The hidden cost of this is finding something to do with Ryan Vogelsong. I'd make him a swingman and let him pitch mop-up. Albie Lopez is on a minor-league contract so he can start at AAA and come up when needed. I believe Dave Williams has an option left. I'd send him down there to and let him take regular turns. That way if the Bucs lose a starter in April, they can promote Williams or Lopez or someone throwing regularly into the number four spot.

If, that is, they aren't big on the idea of seeing Duke again. I'm not a fan of moving young guys back and forth mid-season. Whenever he comes up, he should come up and stay up, regardless of the results in the first handful of starts.