Pitchers & Catcher to Report

Feb 17 - The Griz complete their pitching staff with the selection of Jason Marquis. Wayne Jocketty said that we have completed our staff and it is now time to call the troops to spring training where they can get start ready for the coming season. The starting staff is composed of RH Ben Sheets, LH Mark Buehrle, RH Jon Garland, and our 2 draft picks RH Brian Bannister and RH Jason Marquis. Jocketty does not forsee drafting another starter although the bears could use one - instead Jocketty points to swingman Zack Greinke to fill any needed starts. This is not to say we won't draft anothr starter, but our next pick is 2 rounds away - can't imagine we will find anyone that can beat Greinke or any of the other starters out. Jocketty admits he has not counted total starts by staff, but innings are pretty close.

The relief corps recieved a boost Saturday with the selections of Peter Moylan and CJ Wilson. They along with supplemental draft picks RHers Scott Shields and Bob Howry have bulked up relief innings and we await our autodraft pick sunday morning to complete the staff that once was made up of only former closer Chris Ray.

Jocketty was questioned why he did not fill the other teams need earlier in the draft and especially why did he skip over Delmon Young (twice). Jocketty stated that "OF and Pitching are our primary needs and we learned an ugly lesson waiting on taking the pitching late. Jamie Moyer and Vicente Padilla last year late Griz choices were sent packing as soon as cuts were allowed. As for Delmon - we really wanted the man - he is unbelievable and would have been a better choice than Bannister, who may not even make next years roster - but we felt we needed to address the pitching staff, especially now that we have an infield that can play catch and throw. We can always get an OFer we like and even if we don't we can wait until next years class of rookies which should have some pretty good OFers."

CA Russell Martin does not have an associate yet, but since he provides so many ABs we will wait and fill in our catching AB needs late in the draft (probably). We may take another reliever and if a decent starter is available at our next pick - we may take him and push Greinke into the long role in the bullpen. We are trying to be smarter this year, but we realize we are probably not taking many keepers with the early picks as we have in the past. We do hope to ROAR this season.