I’ve never really seen it go the other way (ace reliever into top of rotation starter) in the modern era (with the exception of guys like Eckersley or Smoltz who were quality starters to begin with)

EC — Not to be too nitpicky here, but Charlie Hough (albeit a knuckleballer) and Derek Lowe also both come to mind in that handful of guys who were able to make a successful transition from a set-up/closer role to starter.

You’re right, though, there weren’t as many guys going in that direction…though I’ve wondered once or twice myself if “The Goose” (who threw 200+ innings out of the rotation in 1976) might not have gotten a second look in that role had he not been such a hard-luck starter on a mediocre Chisox team.

Go look at the salaries for the following players:

Gil Meche
Jarrod Washburn
Carlos Silva
Mariano Rivera

It’s pretty obvious that Rivera is miles above those other guys as a pitcher- I think you can make a case that Mariano Rivera is the best stopper ever, given his incredible consistency through his career- but he’s sure not PAID like it.

Now, granted, the market for mediocre starting pitching is adjusting a bit from a few years ago, but then the other side of the coin is that Mariano Rivera is something like the 99.99% projection for Brandon Morrow- the more typical career for a good-but-not-HOF closer is someone like, say, Troy Percival (who, BTW, has never made more than 8 million per year). The fact of the matter is that relief aces who throw 80 IP in late inning situations are more fungible than starters who throw 200 IP- since you can convert a failed starter with a good fastball + one offspeed pitch to relief ace, but I’ve never really seen it go the other way (ace reliever into top of rotation starter) in the modern era (with the exception of guys like Eckersley or Smoltz who were quality starters to begin with). In fact, Goose Gossage and Rollie Fingers, HOF relief aces of recent vintage, didn’t do much as starting pitchers.

I understand the sentiment in defending him, but I don’t know what you’re reacting so strongly to.

At the time, Morrow was a good pick. Maybe not the best pick, but calling taking him over Lincecum “epic fail” like someone did earlier in the comments here is pretty silly.

Let’s say it was you with his condition. You have to work long hours and wear down easily. Constantly wearing an insulin pump and pricking your finger several times a day, just to be sure your blood sugars are correct. You go to your boss and tell him/her that the workload is too hard on you. And, his reply is, “I don’t care, do what I tell you or get out.”

That’s exactly what some of you expect. Grow up and get over the “wahhhh, I want Morrow to the a starter” montra. He’s doing what he feels is best for himself and the organization. Respect his decision.

Really, shame on some of you. This isn’t some game to him. This is his life. Imagine had the Red Sox told Jon Lester to worry about his cancer, when it’s more suited to the clubs needs.

They saw him as a starter who could move to relief if starting didn’t work out. They did not draft him to be a reliever.