Welp, it's that time again...time to pick a starter, since I've now lost three of them to injury/steroids and my stupid Henry Owens pick continues to follow me around like an albatross around the neck of a Seattle Mariner. (it's possible I have interpreted that poem incorrectly).
The starters left are a mixture of blarg and horg, guys in their thirties who are projected for ERAs near five with no upside and a guarantee of below average production. I don't think I'm quite ready for that, instead I'll take good old friend
Franklin Morales, SP5.
The last time we saw dear, dear Franklin, he was doing the walk of shame back to the dugout after nearly blowing game six of the ALCS. Had things gone differently after that, his appearance could have made him a goat in Boston forever. Instead, it was one of the few times a break didn't go Boston's way during that magical October. Thing is, Morales has always been kind of miscast as a reliever, and especially as a LOOGY. For the short amount of time Morales was starting in Boston, he was quite good - things just kept getting derailed due to injury and the fact that a lefty in the 'pen was simply more valuable to Boston than a weird conversion experiment during his tenure here.
Well, he's back with Colorado this year and he'll be in their rotation. He's finished spring training with an ERA under 3, a bunch of Ks, and he looks ready to contribute. He's a lefty, he's under 30, and there's still a chance for him to have a fine career as a starting pitcher. The Burbank Bombers will give him that chance.
Also what the hell is up with that baseball card?? I found it on Google images and it is TERRIFYING.