Cory Luebke -any Friar fans?

[dmattingly23]

Does anybody have any clue what the Padres plans are for this guy?

I at first thought the move to the pen was to limit his innings and then have him join the rotation late May/early June and the throw around 150 innings.

Also maybe they needed a lefty in the pen until Thatcher gets back.

But now I'm starting to think I gave them too much credit, and they think they are going with their 5 best pitchers and are just trying to win now with no thoughts about their future.

I've been holding him for awhile now, but thinking of making the switch to either Dice-k or Webb. Anybody have any further insight into this situation.

[MasterX1918]

I'd ask why he's not in the rotation, but with the way everyone in that staff sans Latos is pitching there's just no room for him. I'm really not sure what their plans are with him, maybe they want to make him into a LOOGY? It seems like a waste of a good starting pitching prospect.

[Padsin05]

his upside imo is lower then Clayton Richard fwiw. Hes a thumber

[wrveres]

he's slated for long relief this year.

[Nerfherders]

They don't even have enough room for LeBlanc who pitched pretty well last year and went 8IP against the Phillies yesterday. He was called up for that game and immediately sent back down. So apparently SD has a dearth of starting pitching.

[Guaranteed Loser]

Too bad we can't hit.

[lane_anasazi2]

6) Corey Luebke, LHP, Grade B-: A strike-throwing starter, should be a number four guy for a long while.

Also, in a post about rookie predictions for 2011:

Cory Luebke, LHP, San Diego Padres: Luebke opens the year in the Padres bullpen and pitches well due to sharp control, leading to some spot starts and an eventual look in the rotation in August. He finishes with 87 innings pitched, an ERA+ of 107, a 65/17 K/BB ratio, and a "pay close attention to this guy" rating as he heads into 2012 as a starter.

[MasterX1918]

Too bad we can't hit.

True, I really don't understand why the Pads don't package together some pitching prospects and go after some offense. Guys like Luebke, Frieri, Kelly, Castro, Gregerson, Adams, Bell, Richard, LeBlanc etc. packaged together have to be able to get you a big bat.

[dmattingly23]

Wow, really surprised that the Padre fans aren't that high on this guy. Everything I ever saw about this guy would seem to predict that he should be a solid 2 for them behind Latos for a long time. Would be a 3 away from Petco.

I think it shows how high they are on him to keep him with the big league club and not sending him down, and this is just about capping his innings.

I think he'll be in the rotation by mid June and be they're 2nd best pitcher the rest of the way. Maybe they're best if Latos doesn't figure it out.

[wrveres]

Too bad we can't hit.

True, I really don't understand why the Pads don't package together some pitching prospects and go after some offense. Guys like Luebke, Frieri, Kelly, Castro, Gregerson, Adams, Bell, Richard, LeBlanc etc. packaged together have to be able to get you a big bat.

They gave up four arms for Bartlett. They'll get a nice haul for Heath Bell this summer, if the team keeps playing like they are playing right now. They are a financially strapped team, and you don't spend heavily on a closer, when you have three other guys that could do the job just as well ... if not better ... for half the price.

I just hope its a bat. I really want a hunter pence. i want one bad. ive wanted one for a long time.