RRS as a SP

Jason over at Prospect Insider has had an article up over there about Ryan Rowland-Smith (WI '02, '03) for a while. Finally getting around to putting up a link to it.

Rowland-Smith Makes Case as Starter

Yeah, sure, it’s the Venezuelan Winter Leagues and he’s pitching against Double-A level lineups, but Seattle Mariners left-hander Ryan Rowland-Smith has never been accused of being short on stuff. He can get big leaguers out with regularity as he proved this past season in a relief role.

The question has always been whether the Australian native do it for six-plus innings at a time, or is he going to be relegated to the bullpen.

In his third start for the Lara Cardenales, Rowland-Smith went six shutout innings and allowed just six baserunners - three singles a double and two walks - and struck out three in 7-0 Lara victory over Magallenes.

The 24-year-old has improved his outings all three times out, and in 14 1/3 innings has fanned 12 and walked six, surrendering four runs on 11 hits. In his first appearance Rowland-Smith went 3 2/3 innings and gave up two earned runs on three hits and whiffed six batters against two walks, and went 4 2/3 innings allowing another two earned runs in his previous start.

“He look a little rusty the first two times out,” said one former big-league manager who is now serving his National League Central club in a scouting role. “And while he was better today, he still wasn’t as sharp as I saw him in August in Seattle. But he has pretty good stuff.”

The article points out that Rowland-Smith could be a better option than Jeff Weaver or Horacio Ramirez in the Seattle starting rotation in 2008.