[Mick]

What I like about the Jordan Hicks deal:

1) He can throw 105 and is throwing more four seam fastballs.
2) He really, really, really wants to start.
3) His two key pitches are a sinker and a slider, both around 99 mph.
4) He has added a curve, which he only throws 6% of the time, and late last season added a sweeper. After adding the curve and the sweeper, his ERA dropped from 3.93 to 2.48.
5) He's only 27.
6) He was fully healthy all of last year.
7) The MLB reliever-to-starter transition is not all that rare and includes pitchers like Seth Lugo, Michael Lorenzen, Zack Wheeler, Jeffrey Springs, Derek Lowe, Chris Sale, Jeff Samardzija, Johan Santana, Adam Wainwright and C.J. Wilson.

I'm very optimistic about it. Couple that with the fact that Webb, Beck and Harrison are considered to be in the Top 30 in MLB rankings, and they'll have Cobb in June and Ray in July, plus potential from Whisenhunt and Winn...the Giants should have pitching if nothing else. Oh yeah, and Ross Stripling...

https://www.mlb.com/giants/news/jordan-h...nd-answers
https://www.mlb.com/news/jordan-hicks-is...t-reliever

I think you need to rethink No.7. It is rare.  And several you listed - Wheeler, Sale Wainwright for example were not relievers turned into starters after several MLB years,  They may have done some bullpen work - Wainwright certainly did his rookie year.  But they were ticketed as starters.

I feel a wager coming on centered on whether or not he becomes a reasonably effective starter? I'll take 15 or more starts, you take...10 or fewer? Middle ground, no harm no foul?

We may have different definitions of “reasonably effective “! :) 

How bout this 15 or more Starts and 85 or more innings as a starter you win

10 or less starts and 60 or less innings as a starter I win.   

Innings pitched in relief do not count.  Must win both.  In middle we go Dutch!  Bet is lunch in SJ.

Sounds great! Your terms are acceptable and I look forward to lunch in SJ. 

85 innings might be a bit of a tall order...he hasn't pitched over 85 innings since high A ball, but he did go 8-3 as a starter that year in 19 starts. And he has electric stuff, and I'm curious to see how his four-pitch mix (five if you count four-seam and two-seam fastballs as two different pitches) works as a starter. Hopefully, at 27 and past one surgery he has the stamina.

[Mick]

What I like about the Jordan Hicks deal:

1) He can throw 105 and is throwing more four seam fastballs.
2) He really, really, really wants to start.
3) His two key pitches are a sinker and a slider, both around 99 mph.
4) He has added a curve, which he only throws 6% of the time, and late last season added a sweeper. After adding the curve and the sweeper, his ERA dropped from 3.93 to 2.48.
5) He's only 27.
6) He was fully healthy all of last year.
7) The MLB reliever-to-starter transition is not all that rare and includes pitchers like Seth Lugo, Michael Lorenzen, Zack Wheeler, Jeffrey Springs, Derek Lowe, Chris Sale, Jeff Samardzija, Johan Santana, Adam Wainwright and C.J. Wilson.

I'm very optimistic about it. Couple that with the fact that Webb, Beck and Harrison are considered to be in the Top 30 in MLB rankings, and they'll have Cobb in June and Ray in July, plus potential from Whisenhunt and Winn...the Giants should have pitching if nothing else. Oh yeah, and Ross Stripling...

https://www.mlb.com/giants/news/jordan-h...nd-answers
https://www.mlb.com/news/jordan-hicks-is...t-reliever

I think you need to rethink No.7. It is rare.  And several you listed - Wheeler, Sale Wainwright for example were not relievers turned into starters after several MLB years,  They may have done some bullpen work - Wainwright certainly did his rookie year.  But they were ticketed as starters.

I feel a wager coming on centered on whether or not he becomes a reasonably effective starter? I'll take 15 or more starts, you take...10 or fewer? Middle ground, no harm no foul?

We may have different definitions of “reasonably effective “! :) 

How bout this 15 or more Starts and 85 or more innings as a starter you win

10 or less starts and 60 or less innings as a starter I win.   

Innings pitched in relief do not count.  Must win both.  In middle we go Dutch!  Bet is lunch in SJ.

Sounds great! Your terms are acceptable and I look forward to lunch in SJ. 

85 innings might be a bit of a tall order...he hasn't pitched over 85 innings since high A ball, but he did go 8-3 as a starter that year in 19 starts. And he has electric stuff, and I'm curious to see how his four-pitch mix (five if you count four-seam and two-seam fastballs as two different pitches) works as a starter. Hopefully, at 27 and past one surgery he has the stamina.