We told him that we support him but it's time to step it up. We're starting to make decisions. He seemed to embrace that. We'll see how his next outing goes.
He is a youthful starting pitcher with an excellent track record that includes an All-Star selection, and will bolster our starting rotation.
He's doing very well. That was a calculated risk ... not putting him on the roster, but he's starting to pitch well. He has a big fastball and one of the best breaking balls in the system. It wouldn't surprise me if we have a need, he could help us this year.
We have a strong level of confidence in R.A., with what he's done in the past and the improvements he has made with his knuckleball. I'm very comfortable starting the year this way.
I like the idea that on any given day, we could have somebody who should be starting instead sitting on the bench.