With no minor league options left, this is A.J. Cole's make-or-break year with the Washington Nationals.
His first outing of the year did him no favors.
In just 3.2 innings on Tuesday night, he was shelled for 10 hits and 10 earned runs. It is yet another abysmal performance against the Atlanta Braves, against whom he has pitched 7.2 innings in three games (two starts) with an ugly 22 runs allowed, 17 of them earned (21.25 ERA).
Before the game, Nats skipper Dave Martinez stood behind his pitcher, keeping the target small.
"For me, it's worry about today and I tell him that," Martinex told reporters. "Hey, strike one today. Let's concentrate on strike one and let's go from there. I think he'll be fine. He's got good stuff.
"A little confidence goes a long way and right now he's feeling pretty good."
What a difference four hours can make.
The Nationals have invested a lot in Cole after taking him in the fourth round of the 2010 draft and giving him a then-record $2 million signing bonus. Because of his upside, he was included in the package sent to the Athletics for Gio Gonzalez in 2011. In 2013, he was re-acquired by the Nationals and brought slowly through the farm system and was added to the 40-man roster after 2014.
On Tuesday night, he crossed the 100-inning threshold in the Major Leagues, much to the chagrin of D.C. sports pundits.
Enough of AJ Cole.
— Pete Medhurst (@PeteMedhurst) April 4, 2018AJ Cole pic.twitter.com/nMB8DBwvd3
— danny rouhier (@funnydanny) April 4, 2018AJ Cole eclipsed the 100 inning plateau in his career tonight. That's enough innings for me to come to this conclusion.No.
— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) April 4, 2018This is the first real test for Martinez, who let Cole pitch into the fourth inning despite getting tagged for runs in every inning.
If Martinez and the Nats brass have seen enough of Cole, the Nats have options, but the timing could be problematic.
Jeremy Hellickson was signed late in Spring Training and likely still needs time to build his endurance in Florida. Erick Fedde impressed Martinez in Spring Training, but is coming off of an injury that cost him the end of 2017. The Nats have been understandably cautious with his trajectory this season.
"I like him, I really do," Martinez said of Fedde. "He's got electric stuff and he's going to be a good one. I know he's coming off an injury last year, so we're trying to take care of him, make sure he's healthy and good to go for the beginning of the season."
If the Nationals want to demote Cole, they will have to pass him through waivers, which is always risky. Moving him to the bullpen at this point in the season seems unlikely, as the staff there is healthy and productive.
The best case scenario, if another fifth starter can be identified, might be to place him on the disabled list, work on his mechanics or mindset, and hope for the best.
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