Allen Webster Gets the Call

Well, this was a bit unexpected. Allen Webster, who has not exactly had what one would term a positive season in Reno, has been called up to make this afternoon's start against the Giants in place of Josh Collmenter. The word is that Collmenter has been moved to the bullpen to work as a long man; a role many of us feel he is more suited to.

Given Webster's track record, it seems likely that Collmenter will be getting in a number of innings today, even if he isn't starting. In 11 starts for Boston in 2014, Webster averaged only 5.4 innings per start, failing in three of those games to even get out of the fourth. Since being acquired by the Diamondbacks and being demoted to AAA Reno, things have not improved. In five starts for Reno, Webster only has 23 total innings pitched. 

Webster got slapped around pretty severely in spring training and was an early dismissal from the rotation competition. Once in Reno, he pitched two games where he was roughed up fairly badly before being put on the DL with fatigue issues in his throwing shoulder. After coming off the DL, Webster had two decent outings, but then his last start, less than a week ago, wound up being a total mess. In five innings of work, Webster allowed six runs on nine hits and three walks while striking out only four. 

Though moving Collmenter to the bullpen clears room for Webster in the rotation, room still needs to be made on the 25-man roster. That move has yet to be announced. Given Collmenter's very strong track record of success in AT&T Park, the timing of this move is a curious one, as is the fact that the corresponding move has not yet been announced. Is there a trade in the works, or is this just the beginning of a new phase for the rotation as the team tries to assess what sort of pieces it has moving forward?