Arizona Diamondbacks: Is Josh Collmenter over Trevor Bauer Worth the Risk?

In 2011, Arizona Diamondbacks rookie starting pitcher Josh Collmenter set the league on fire with his pitching performance. He finished the regular season with a very good 3.38 ERA while winning 10 games. He struck out 100 batters and walked only 28.

Collmenter came from out of nowhere to dominate entire batting orders in the first month after he was called up from AAA Reno in mid-April. He replaced relief pitcher Aaron Heilman, who was put on the disabled list.

In seven appearances out of the bullpen beginning April 17 and ending May 6, Collmenter tallied a miniscule 1.20 ERA with 11 Ks and only one walk. The right-hander then took over the vacated spot in the rotation when Barry Enright was sent to Reno on May 5 and never looked back.

He struggled at times with command of his fastball, while other times he needed to use his curveball more often. That led to an inflated ERA in June, July and September. But for the most part he boggled hitters with his over-the-top throwing motion.

This spring, however, he has struggled in nearly every outing; nothing has come easy for him. He has started five games so far, giving up more runs than innings pitched in all but one start, a five-inning, two-earned-run performance on March 25 against the lowly San Diego Padres.

His ERA this spring is an astounding 11.81, yet he has been given a spot in the rotation.

D’backs manager Kirk Gibson has already set the starting rotation for the start of the 2012 season, and he lists Collmenter as the No. 3 starter behind Ian Kennedy and Daniel Hudson and in front of newcomer Trevor Cahill and veteran Joe Saunders.

Collmenter’s last outing—against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim—was his worst of the spring. He surrendered eight runs—all earned—in four innings, while giving up two home runs. In fact, Collmenter gave up a team cycle and four earned runs before there were two outs in the first inning.

To say he’s been pitching like the No. 3 starter in the rotation is to say that nothing needs to be earned anymore.

His problem has been his command—or lack thereof—of the fastball, which is how he lives and breathes. When he’s good, the fastball and corresponding changeup are down in the zone and on both corners. When he struggles, as has been the case all spring, his fastball stays letter-high and routinely gets belted.

Arizona’s top pick in last year’s draft, Trevor Bauer, pitched well during his time with the big club this spring. In four games (three starts), Bauer totaled a 3.60 ERA while striking out nine and walking just one. Yet he has already been optioned to AA Mobile while Collmenter continues to fool no one.

I can understand trying to give a young struggling pitcher confidence going into his first full season as a major league pitcher. But to end a pitching competition three weeks before the competition ends is flat-out daft.

Before sending Bauer to Mobile, Gibson had this to say of the promising righty:

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“He’s very unique. He’s got great velocity. He’s got great endurance. It’s a unique program (referring to Bauer’s pregame warm-up), and we’ll continue to try and keep him within his comfort zone. At the same time, he was late the other day; he’s got to clean that kind of stuff up.”

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Bauer was late to the field for his March 20 start against San Francisco, forcing him to rush his warm-up. He went the first three innings, giving up six hits and two earned runs while striking out two and walking none.

Could being late and being forced to rush his unorthodox pregame warm-up have contributed to the demotion? The decision came down just three days later, after all.

D’backs closer J.J. Putz spoke highly of the 21-year-old as well:

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“He keeps going out there with stuff like this and doing the things he’s doing, I don’t think anyone is going to have a problem with him. He carries himself well, and he’s very respectful to everybody. I think he understands his place in the game right now, that he’s a young kid coming up, and he’s not afraid to ask questions, which is another good sign. I’m just very impressed.”

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While the reasons for sending Bauer down are irrelevant right now, what is relevant is that Collmenter is struggling.

What will it take for a move to be made? Will Collmenter have to start 3-4 with a 5.91 ERA midway through May (see Armando Galarraga) before Bauer gets a shot?

We all assume he’s going to be great and is a future ace of the franchise. So why hold him back? It’s not as if the talent in AA will help prepare him for Buster Posey, Troy Tulowitzki, Carlos Quentin or Matt Kemp.

Bauer himself is exceptionally humble and keeps himself in in check with a “not done” mentality:

“I’m not sure if I’m ready for the major leagues. I’m just trying to learn and execute better every time I go out.”

Note: Collmenter will start the season-opening series finale Sunday against the San Francisco Giants. He will be opposed by Matt Cain, who on Monday signed a five-year, $112.5 million extension to remain in the Bay Area.

Good luck, buddy—you’ll need it.