Despite solid audition, knuckler Ramos’s future unknown for 2044.(43.40)

[niles08]

If one hadn’t known any better, I would have thought the Cyclones were in the playoff hunt late in September as Leonardo Ramos took the mound. Ramos, the knuckle ball pitcher than had fans going crazy on social media all through last season while he was in AAA, and then national media while he was in the BBA, was simply one of a kind for the Cyclones.

The numbers from a saber metric side look awful. He pitched 25 innings in 4 starts, allowed 20 runs, walked 17, and gave up 5 home runs. His ERA of 3.91 is what most fans look towards as only 11 of those 20 runs were earned runs. His K/9 and BB/9 are backwards, but his BABIP of .225 is so shiny thanks in part to that knuckle ball.

Let’s not forget his 10 inning complete game against Nashville where he allowed 0 earned runs over the course of those 10 innings. It only took him 163 pitches to complete that game, which without looking it up must be an all-time new record for pitches in a game by the notoriously relaxed Omaha front office when it comes to pitch counts.

Now that the “new toy” feeling has worn off, what is Omaha going to do with Ramos in 2044? Is he a member of the rotation? He likely won’t be suitable in the bullpen with his lack of control. Is he going to be shipped back to AAA? Ramos is only 21 so another year in AAA might not be the end of the world, but with his AAA numbers much better many will question whether he will need any more seasoning. In 2043, he had climbed through both AA and AAA, with ERA’s in the low 3’s and FIP’s in the low 4’s.

Watch for Cyclone fans to petition for Ramos to get another shot in the BBA rotation in 2044. Much of that decision likely will have to do with what the club does with Stephen Clulow's team option, along with how ready top pitching prospects Juan Ruiz and Carlos Silva are after spending 2043 in AAA.

[RonCo]

There is no way Ramos should have managed to get done what he got done. But, who the heck knows, right?

[recte44]

Uncertainty is fun

[RonCo]

It certainly beat the certainty of October baseball in Ohio.