The wheels in my head are turning

So, this Saturday Triston McKenzie makes his major league debut.   Hmmmm!?!

There are lots of ways the Indians could have filled this space in the rotation including the obvious: Logan Allen as the opener, bring up a guy or two from the minors to give you length.    

There are some obvious reasons, all of which were well delineated by Carl Willis, for McKenzie to be the choice.

Don't get me wrong.   I am tickled that this is the choice.  I am a prospect-first guy.  I think the buzz has been that McKenzie is on point with his stuff right now.

I do have to ask (cue conspiracy theory-supporting music) is there more to this than meets the eye?

With the trading deadline approaching and the Indians likely seeing themselves as buyers of bats and maybe a bullpen arm AND the alternate site being somewhat of a black hole as far as scouting information goes, what better way to increase the value of your prospects then to give them a non-Super 2-invoking cup of coffee in the bright sunlight (or night-time stadium light) to up their value.   This wouldn't nearly be the first time this has been done close to the trading deadline.

Or, maybe the Indians are hoping to catch lightning in a bottle with McKenzie, making their (potentially) non-repentant youngsters (or grown-ass men, if you wish) expendable.  Trading a young, controllable starting pitcher with major league experience (and recent success) who teams have had a good chance to see this year would net you more in return than trading McKenzie, with his injury and inexperience baggage.

Or maybe it is to show Clevinger and Plesac that, no, we don't need them because their replacement has shown up and, as a result, shock some reality back into these guys IF, and I repeat, IF, they are still singing the tune of 'We didn't do anything wrong and I don't know why people are being mean to us"

It's hard to tell what the reason is but I doubt that it is because they just think McKenzie gives them the best chance of winning.  

So, excited as heck to see McKenzie tomorrow night....and waiting for the other shoe to drop..