I've been going along with the idea that Marc Rzepczynski will be our 5th starter, barring some accident in spring training or Jesse Litsch showing really well.
Marc had a great time in the Arizona Fall League going 4-0 with a 1.16 ERA in 6 starts. 27 k, 9 walks and 24 hits in 31.0 innings.
Last year he was up and down from the Jays to our Triple-A team in Vegas. In Toronto he wasn't wholly successful:
But then it wasn't that bad for a 24 year old in the AL East. He struck out 8.06 and walked 4.24 per 9 innings. His FIP was 4.57 and xFIP was 4.29. Fangraphs credited him with a 0.5 WAR.
I'll admit he is a favorite of mine, I like guys that can strike people out. I think that as he gains experience he'll walk fewer batters, in the minors he walked 3.5/9 over his career.
Bill James is fairly optimistic about his 2011 season, figuring him to go 5-7, with a 4.50 ERA in 110 innings over 20 starts.
I'd like to see him be given the 5th starter job and allowed to run with it. I think players do better if they aren't worried they will be sent to the minors if they have a bad start. If that happens, I can see him going 9-8 with a 4.30 ERA over 25 starts and 155 innings, with something like 150 k and 65 walks.
What say you?