From Lancaster:
Earlier in the post he said the official rotation should be announced today and said he'd be shocked if it wasn't: Shields - Garza - Jackson - Hammel - Sonnanstine, to which I have two replies. First, Jeff Niemann pack your bags, you'll be needed very soon when Jackson and/or Hammel get firebombed a few times. Secondly, UGH. Remember that rant about me hating the bullpen? Yeah, well the rotation takes all of my ire now. Jackson AND Hammel? This whole waiting-for-some-kind-of-miracle-light-bulb-clicking-and-not-blowing-up-and-burning-their-faces-off business was cute when we sucked, but aren't we supposed to be contending for a third place spot? Ignoring how pathetic the idea that a third place finish in our division is competing to us, I'd just rather have Niemann than either of them. I guess we'll see him in a similar situation to Longoria.
As for the pen, Dohmann's going to win the spot based on Balfour's contract which allows him to be optioned to Durham. I'm guessing the pen breaks camp as:
Percival - Reyes - Wheeler - Miller - Glover - Dohmann - Howell
As opposed to last year:
Reyes - Camp - Lugo - Stokes - Salas - Glover - Ryu
Improved, and with a chance of being above average. Now if Glover can just miss the team meetings for the next few days...
And now Niemann has been optioned to Durham. Great.
The order: Shields/Garza/Sonnanstine/Jackson&Hammel fill out, not sure in which slot.