What's makes this year interesting is that the Twins have had lightning strike with 3 pitchers, Pineda, Perez and Odorizzi.

As of right now, does the new FO see the arms in the minor league system to replace the above pitchers?

If not, does the FO see anything that indicates the success of these pitchers is sustainable?

Though, in thinking things through a bit further, I can see 1 or 2 accidents, but, with the emergence of Cron, Perez, Pineda and Odorizzi, I have to think the FO has a darn good idea of what they're doing.

What's makes this year interesting is that the Twins have had lightning strike with 3 pitchers, Pineda, Perez and Odorizzi.

 

As of right now, does the new FO see the arms in the minor league system to replace the above pitchers?

 

If not, does the FO see anything that indicates the success of these pitchers is sustainable?

 

Though, in thinking things through a bit further, I can see 1 or 2 accidents, but, with the emergence of Cron, Perez, Pineda and Odorizzi, I have to think the FO has a darn good idea of what they're doing.

Love your comment and agree 100% Blake.

What I find so fascinating about ML SP is the debate about #1 SP and who and what an ACE is. Loving and following BB for over 45yrs now, I have seen TOP prospects fizzle, and more than a few guys who liiked like an ACE very early and then through injury or whatnot, taper off to being very good. Of course, there have been those special pitchers, thinking Clemens as an example, who were good from day one and maintained it. But those guys are RARE. Maybe I'm wrong, and someone could make a lengthy and impressive list to counter me, but it has been my experience over the years that truly top of tbe roation SP usually hit their stride in their late 20's and seem to maintain that status through their early 30's and even maintain until about 34/35. There are exceptions of longer and shorter, of course.

There are arguments that Berrios is not an ACE. But he keeps getting better and better. I think an arguement could be made that his last 3 starts, all no-decision or loss, has been some of the best games he has thrown. Odorizzi was a top prospect who turned out to be solid but not great. Now, late 20's, with a new team and coaches, we are perhaps seeing the best of him and his potential. Despite his numbers and success, he's not often a 7 IP tbe way Berrios often is. That may hold back any discussion as to being a true ACE. And can he sustain what he is now doing for another 2-4 years? Time will tell. But I sure wouldn't dismiss the possibility.

I argued before the season began that Pineda would be solid, and get better, as long as he was healthy and his IP were monitored. I stated that Gibson and Pineda may be the 2 guys we tried to bring back. Not saying I was wrong, but I may have been short-sighted in regard to Odorizzi.

I was wrong about bringing Perez onboard. Then can't believe it, but I was actually defending him when he slumped. But I felt he was victim to a couple bad plays, mistake pitches, and was still showing some very good moments. Then he goes out and pitches a great rebound game in that disappointing 18 inning marathon.

I don't have answers to the future but like you, I think this FO and staff is pretty smart. Cost and years will be the deciding factor, of course. But right now, I think this team has a budding ACE. I would love to see both Gibson and Odorizzi brought back. History and age would tell me Gibson will not break the bank. But I do wonder about the cost for Odorizzi. Perhaps comjng in to his own in his late 20's, does a depressed market make him affordable even after a career year? Or does past career numbers and a career year prove to be an outlier and nobody will offer the big 4-5yr deal at $20M and make him more easily extendable/re-signed by the Twins?

I think Odorizzi wants to come back. He has said so, if I remember correctly. This coaching staff has led him to his best year ever. He might like the idea of more of that. Gibson is just one of those good guys who is loyal to an organization. But the organization has forced him into arbitration when it normally tries to settle with players.  

Perez and Big Mike, I am not so sure. Maybe Pineda will feel some love for a team that paid him to recover from an arm injury. Perez is the one I think will move on to greener pastures. But he has to get back what he had in the beginning of the year to create a demand.  

I think Odorizzi wants to come back. He has said so, if I remember correctly. This coaching staff has led him to his best year ever. He might like the idea of more of that. Gibson is just one of those good guys who is loyal to an organization. But the organization has forced him into arbitration when it normally tries to settle with players.  

 

Perez and Big Mike, I am not so sure. Maybe Pineda will feel some love for a team that paid him to recover from an arm injury. Perez is the one I think will move on to greener pastures. But he has to get back what he had in the beginning of the year to create a demand.  

Perez has a team option at $7.5MM, which even at the lesser version of himself, is great value.

I'd extend Odo and think about offering Gibson. Pineda moves on.

Bring back Perez and Odorizzi, move on from Gibby and Pineda.

All depends on money, but if expensive the Twins will be better served looking elsewhere, sadly, on all three. Happily they will have an opportunity to get more looks at Stewart and Smeltzer and Thorpe and hopefully Gonsalves.

If the Twins are going to spend money on, they can do better in the off-season. Too abd they are in contention and none of these guys tradable. They could get 20 prospects for them from pennant contenders!

It should be noted how much he has cooled off.

Last 30 days

6.29 ERA, 5.51 FIP, 5.19xFIP

Teams faced: Royals x2 (23rd in runs scored), Tigers (30th), Rays (19th), Athletics (10th)

Baseball is such a long season and other than the Verlanders and Scherzers, it is normally a roller coaster of ups and downs. It has already been that way for Odorizzi and Perez. I was skeptical but hopeful when they dominated, but in baseball stats tend to revert to career averages and that is what is happening with these two "serviceable but mostly mediocre" pitchers. Their ERA's are approaching their career averages--3.88 for Odorizzi and 4.58 for Perez--and likely will end the season around those figures. Kyle Gibson has not been hot and cold like those two but is in the same boat with a career ERA of 4.44.

Pineda gets a longer look before passing judgment as to what we have with his TJ surgery, but let's face it we have Berrios and then no clue as to what to expect with our other starters. With the success of the Twins this year I don't follow the daily minor league box scores as I did in past years, but I don't see any starters there to step up with eye popping stats or stuff so I am hoping for a trade from our surplus of young talent to land a #2 or #3 starter. I have total confidence in our front office that they will make smart moves to improve the team for today without mortgaging our future. I'm afraid Cleveland is pushing them to make those moves sooner than they would like to.

Great trade for the Twins: Odorizzi has become an All-Star. Unfortunately for TB, Palacios's offense has gone MIA for the last two seasons.

Though, in thinking things through a bit further, I can see 1 or 2 accidents, but, with the emergence of Cron, Perez, Pineda and Odorizzi, I have to think the FO has a darn good idea of what they're doing.

I agree, except Cron is an exception as they got him through dumb luck. It's bizarre that he was on waivers in the first place.

I also think the Marwin pickup was huge for this team, and might be more luck in the sense that his market never developed this year.

But now that they have a track record, I think free agency will be ever better in the future. Players should start wanting to come here instead of settling to come here.