So here's the thing. Once upon a time, I liked Scott Olsen. I was thrilled when we got him from the Fish, he seemed like a young pitcher with a ton of potential, a ton of upside, and a personality that made him a fierce competitor while seeming like he might be a cool guy. Man, either I was wrong or he's just let the money go to his head and become a total jerk. From MLBTRs:
It came as news to Scott Olsen that Pirates GM Neal Huntington listed him as as a bullpen candidate if he doesn't make the rotation, reports Colin Dunlap of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “They didn’t bring me in here to be a bullpen guy,” Olsen said. “They want to do that, we are going to have to have a conversation about it, and we haven’t had one about it.” Olsen's contract with Pittsburgh includes $3MM in incentives based on the number of starts that Olsen makes, so obviously Olsen has a stated interest in staying out of the bullpen.
What a jackass. So if you don't make the rotation, what do you want then? You're too good to pitch in the bullpen if you don't make the rotation? You're that much better, worth that much more, than every other guy pitching out of the bullpen? How about being happy being in the Majors, because if you don't make the rotation due to lack of skill/five better pitchers, I've got a solution that matches your criteria: go back to AAA and ride on a bus, pay for your own meals, etc.
When he made these comments, did he really think there was any way he didn't come off as an egotistical, arrogant jackass? Something seems like it snapped in him last season with us. When he was injured, then went out of the bullpen, I guess he decided he really, really, really doesn't like it. But I don't know how he thinks making these comments helps him, or what incentive at all it gives them to put him in the rotation. I'd throw him in the bullpen now out or spite. Or better yet, throw him in the AAA team's bullpen. Get over yourself, Scott.
