I think it's unlikely that Looper, Wellemeyer, and Thompson all succeed. I'd guess that Reyes gets a start or two while they wait for Mulder and co.

be confident that we are right about the limitations of some of those starters ahead of Reyes, correct? So if we are confident that we will be proven correct, we can all lower our blood pressure a little and wait for reality to cast asunder the best-laid plans of our pitching coach and manager.

That the team tells Looper that he's hurt some time in the next 2 weeks?

in the bullpen. Add a couple MPH to the fastball knowing he doesn't have to try to go 6ip+ and then drop in his change. I'd like to see him banish the slurve (though i haven't yet seen the 2008 version; maybe it's improved).

I'd still rather see him starting.

I hope he can get the non-belief out of duncan and get him off his back. Whats the old guys beef anyways? has he always been down on him?

Call me foolish, call me a dreamer, but I like this idea. There a chance that Reyes will fail utterly as a reliever, but, if I were him, I'd rather be on the club, than back down in Memphis.

In one sense, we're hedging our bets. If Wally or Wonderbrad don't cut it, we've got our next best (arguably a better) alternative waiting out beyond the outfield.

While I think this clearly is a ploy to give other teams more of a look at Reyes, I really don't think more time in the minors is what Reyes needs.

it gives another young starter at AAA the opportunity to start instead of having someone taking up that spot in the rotation. This will help give some people a better idea of what's available on the farm, and add some experience to a young player.

We've been hearing for 3 years now that Reyes is not suited for relief. This is why he's never been tried there. Perhaps it's true but isn't it time we try and see what, if anything, we can get out of Anthony? What is there to lose? Tony isn't going to start him, though he should b/c god knows he's better than Thompson and Wellemeyer, but it makes absolutely no sense to send him back to Memphis to start again. He's dominated AAA and there's nothing left for him to prove.

What's the point in returning him to Memphis? He would just end up blocking one of the other starters we have coming up through the system. I realize that no one, as yet, has stated he might make a pretty good reliever though no one has stated why that's the case either. It may turn out to be true but, if we're not going to put him in the rotation, it's in our interest to at least find out if he might be able to make himself into a decent reliever. Again, what do we have to lose by trying it? God knows he'll be better than Jimenez!

Didn't the club use Reyes as a reliever at times late last season? Or am I mis-remembering? Although it seems like his exposure as a reliever was somewhat limited, doesn't it at least give us some indication of what he might be able to do in that role?

in that this marks the second time that LaRussa and Duncan have disagreed with each other over using a pitcher (well, in a important matter that is).

The previous is the Dan Haren situation, which is well documented. When you now think about how Duncan wanted Mulder instead of Haren and then look at how much time Duncan has spent in 'remolding' Mulder's mechanics, putting his fingerprints all over his career, you have to wonder if it is an ego thing.

Which brings us to Reyes. Duncan wanted Reyes to buy into his philosophy of 'pitch to contact down in the zone'. What this neglects is Duncan's other two philosophies which are good physical training (ARey with SWAT in the offseason) and challenging hitters with YOUR pitch (Reyes throwing 4 seamer up in zone). Duncan 'rebuilt' Todd Wellemeyer, believing he had fixed his control and stamina problems. He will ride that horse until it's 3 days dead. Again, you have to wonder if it's ego.

There have only been 3 other young pitchers come out of the Cardinals system the last 4 years: Adam Wainwright, Brad Thompson and Jason Marquis. Jason Marquis has become a headcase. Was he that way when he got here? Did Duncan's constant tinkering drive him that way? Wainwright attributes his success to two men: Chris Carpenter and Jason Isringhausen. Not his pitching coach. Not his pitching coaches philosophies. These two veteran pitchers teaching him what to do a) in difficult situations and b) to prepare himself to start.

Finally, we come to the other starter: Brad Thompson. Thompson does everything Duncan wants. He throws his sinker religiously. He keeps the ball down. He stays in the rotation.

It appears Mo put his foot down today and LaRussa was inclined to follow because he probably was leaning towards Reyes anyways. Duncan's ego, such as it is, may be a serious issue here.