Sixto Must Start

[Slacker Mills]

Puk and Weathers are pegged as rotation guys right now (we are guessing). However, neither has shown the ability to provide effective starts at the major league level. If you are going to build Sixto up as a starter, that can't be accomplished by tossing a couple innings in relief every week. Call him an opener if you like, but let nature take its course. Let him go two or three innings and then let Puk or Weathers take over. Those guys are used to coming out of the pen. By May, Sixto might be giving you five or six inning starts.

As asides, you've gotta love Sixto's mound presence ... total confidence. He works as quickly as any pitcher I have ever seen. His fast ball gets the publicity, but his slider and change are the knockout punches. Let him rock and roll.

[Ely Sussman]

After what he's been through, how can you have any confidence in him being able to physically handle a starter's workload? That is the main reason for my continued skepticism. Even when he's performing well, how long will it last until his shoulder barks again?

His most recent game does help legitimize the notion of him having enough stuff and command to get outs in real competition. I'd still insist on tempering expectations.

[Slacker Mills]

Sixto himself doesn't seem to have any concern at all - and he's the one whose future is at stake.