After last night’s game, Rocco talked of Ober’s next outing coming after “more than just an extra day or two.” I think he also used language of “three or four innings.”
To me, that sounds like…
1. A limiting of innings. Not surprising.
2. That he will keep pitching, not just an IL stint.
3. Since he last pitched on Sunday, and Rocco mentions “more than just a day,” I’m guessing he doesn’t throw again until at least Tuesday, Sept. 5.
4. When Rocco talks about three or four innings, it sounds like they are keeping him stretched out long enough to be able to start, but also that they don’t wish to have him start.
5. That also points to him not being in the playoff rotation. So, moving down to St. Paul does allow them the opportunity to start grooming him for bullpen usage.
If this is indeed the plan, I like it a lot. First round will be Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. That’s after an off day on Monday. Don’t use him over the weekend and he would be fresh. Let Lopez, Gray, Maeda air it out and play with a short hook, knowing that if you need to the bullpen, you can get three or more innings from Ober.