Sanchez claimed off waivers, Lyons promoted over Wacha

St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Eduardo Sanchez has been claimed off waivers by the Chicago Cubs. This comes as Tyler Lyons is set to be called up this week. Lyons is 2-1 this season with a 4.47 ERA.
Feb 19, 2013; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals player Michael Wacha (74) poses for a picture during photo day at Roger Dean Stadium. Image Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
In order to call up Lyons, Sanchez was taken off of the 40-man roster. Jaime Garcia is being placed on the DL but he’s not being transferred to the 60 Day DL quite yet. Had he been transferred to the 60 Day DL, there would have been no need to have taken Sanchez off of the 40-man roster.

This brings us to another question. Why has Michael Wacha not been promoted yet? Other pitchers from Memphis have been promoted. Heck, Carlos Martinez bypassed Memphis this season and went straight from Springfield.

General manager John Mozeliak answers the burning question.

"“Everybody is focused on the Wacha ‘clock,’” Mozeliak said, using the nickname for big-league service time. “The clock is something that is well-documented and it’s something that we think about.“We also want to make sure that we don’t put him into a situation where all of a sudden we are truly having to worry about his innings and his pitch count to the degree (of) young pitchers coming up in the past. Where he’s pitching and what’s he’s learning is most important. At some point if we feel we need to go down there and tap into that to remain competitive here or to add strength at a place we feel compromised, then we’ll think about it.”"

Wacha has been amazing at Memphis to say the least. In 8 starts this season, the 2009 draft pick is 4-0 with a 1.89 ERA just under 48 innings pitched.

I expect Wacha will be in a Cardinals uniform by the end of the season. For him, it isn’t a matter of if but when.

Bernie wonders what is going on with Carlos Martinez.

Ryan Franklin will represent the Cardinals at this summer’s draft.

Will Leitch has an article up on former Cardinals manager Tony La Russa’s managing style and influence on the game.