Should the Brewers Shut Down Yovani Gallardo?

Reports out of Milwaukee have it that the Brewers are considering shutting down Yovani Gallardo for the rest of 2009, mainly because he is only 23 this year, and has thrown an awful lot of pitches already (he’s currently sixth in the NL in total pitches thrown).

Frankly, such a move makes sense to me.  The Brewers are 13.5 games behind the Cardinals in the NL Central, and 11.5 back of the wildcard leader behind five other teams with 16 games remaining.  In other words, their chances of making the post-season are less than 1%, I’d reckon.

Gallardo is essential to the Brewers chances in 2010 through 2012.  There is almost no down-side to shutting him down, as far as I can see.  The only thing I can think of is that giving him one more start, so that he can record 200 Ks this year, and finish the year with a winning record (he’s currently 12-12).

So maybe the Brewers give him one last start (number 30 on the season), and then they take a look at some of their minor league pitchers to see what they can do against the big boys.  24 year old Josh Butler and 25 year old Chris Cody look like two young pitchers, not currently on the major league roster, whom the Brewers might consider for a late call-up to make a start or two in the final sixteen games, so the Brewers can take a gander and give them a reward for strong minor league seasons.