Duke in Bradenton

[FLORIDAPIRATE]

In most cases MLB jobs aren't won or lost in spring training. And Neal Huntington is pretty much naming Gorzelanny, Snell, Maholm, Morris, and Duke as his five starting pitchers for Opening Day.

I think Gorzelanny, Snell, and Maholm are in no matter how they pitch in Bradenton. Same with Morris due to his monster contract.

But how about Duke? It has been forever since he has been a quality pitcher. Last season he was little more than a batting practice pitcher. Man, the guy got hammered over and over again.

What if Zach gets consistently rocked in spring training? And what if Burnett, JVB, Bullington, or maybe even Jared Wright pitches lights out in Florida?

In my opinion, if Duke doesn't show some improvement he has at least a chance of starting 2008 in Indianapolis.

[onepghkid]

I think a lot of what ailed Duke was the tinkering done.  Not physically but mentally.  I think it messed up his head and that had a lot to do with him being hammered. 

I fully expect him to start the season off in the rotation.  However, if he has five bad starts look for him to get pulled.

[Max Power]

Duke was screwed by the previous coaching staff.  He was totally set back and almost broken by them.  However Duke is a young guy.  He knows what he did to get here.  The new staff can work with him to get back to his former self.  It shouldn't be a real tough task.  Not at all.  I'm sure they can pin point it on film exactly what the difference is - and Duke himself can say what he was told to change.  Between that information and what's on film, he should be good to go.  He's there and he's schooling. Duke will be the Guy of old, the one the Blew away the competition.

[Novelist]

The new pitching coarch, his old one at AAA Indy, should know what Duke was doing right back then. I have high hopes for a turnabout with Duke.

[Maz]

This is it for Duke with the Pirates. He has to show that he can still get hitters out. If he can return even close to what he was 2 years ago, the Pirates might surprise some people. Even with his return to form, the Pirates are a long way from being contenders.