Ryan Dempster was a reliever through age 30, went into the rotation at 31.
Fassero's transition year was age 30 ... 41 games out of the pen, 15 starts, and the next year he at 31 was a Grade A starter.
CJ Wilson relieved through age 28, "tried" in the rotation at 29.
Samardzija was a reliever for 4 years in the majors, put in the rotation at 27.
Duscherer moved to the rotation at 30.
Derek Lowe was a pure reliever through age 28, tried in the rotation at age 29 and won 21 games his first year. Odd, in fact, how many of these guys had their best years in their first seasons as starters.
Dave Stewart, as mentioned.
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An amigo brought up Earl Weaver and as he did, it occurred that it's a perfectly NATURAL process for pitchers to start in the minors, pitch fringe in the majors for years, and then evolve to where they're ready to star in the rotation.
Sometimes the difference between SP and RP is a little overstated. :- ) It's four balls, three strikes and a guy with a stick in his hand. A pitcher can throw 100 pitches, or he can't...
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