The problem still is SHORT STARTS. The rotation arms have to get to six innings. Winder did it (Yes). Now can we get that from the vets?

The Twins also DON'T HAVE A REAL CLOSER. Would you trust Duran yet? I would sure give him the chance.

Otherwise, it is musical chairs. Duffey, Thielbar, Pagan, Coulombe. Are we happy that Stashak is back? Is JAX the real thing (hey, maybe he is the closer). 

But now we have 7 starters, if you count Sands. When Ober comes back.....

Minaya got roughed up. Cano and Smeltzer are pitchiung real well. Moran is coming back well. Do you trust guys like Petricka, Mason, Megill, Bashlor, Sanchez, Pinto more than we really have?

3 minutes ago, Rosterman said:

The problem still is SHORT STARTS. The rotation arms have to get to six innings. Winder did it (Yes). Now can we get that from the vets?

 

The Twins also DON'T HAVE A REAL CLOSER. Would you trust Duran yet? I would sure give him the chance.

 

Otherwise, it is musical chairs. Duffey, Thielbar, Pagan, Coulombe. Are we happy that Stashak is back? Is JAX the real thing (hey, maybe he is the closer). 

 

But now we have 7 starters, if you count Sands. When Ober comes back.....

 

Minaya got roughed up. Cano and Smeltzer are pitchiung real well. Moran is coming back well. Do you trust guys like Petricka, Mason, Megill, Bashlor, Sanchez, Pinto more than we really have?

TBH, no I don't trust any of them more than what the Twins have. I think the Twins should think about trading a prospect for a proven relief arm, ideally a lefty. This would be particularly true if Alcala comes back healthy and effective and Duran continues to wow everyone while staying healthy.

Remember the last pitcher that threw over 100 in 2019 as a reliever , the FO traded for a starting pitcher the next off season  ....

Sure hope they aren't show casings him and follow a pattern this off season and trade him cause he has been  fun to watch in the bullpen  and should be given the opportunity  to close  ...

Rookie or not , closer role is his to lose and I don't think we would be sitting on the edge our seats as he closes   ,

unlike with the other options  we have .....

Alot of clubs like hard throwers and have given many rookies a closer role and found success  ....

We need to take a chance if we are competitors FO .... 

I don't need to name any of the players written above , you should all know who I am talking about  , 

Now only if the FO and manager would read twins daily 

A valid concern.

I am looking forward to see how Winder and Sands do going forward. If Winder succeeds I would consider moving Archer to the pen where his two-pitch mix likely plays better anyway. 

Like Archer, Sands also seems to rely mainly on two pitches. If he looks good in relief, why not just keep him there?

Certainly not something you should bank on, but positive outcomes here would go a long way to help the Twins' bullpen, I think.

Smith has been fantastic but I wouldn't pitch him 2 days in a row, Coulumbe has been pretty good and I'd like to give Duran a chance at closing. The rest I don't really put a lot of trust in. Yet Baldelli relys so much on these guys! He really needs to rely more on long relief but now that Winder is pitching in the rotation we really don't have anyone to go long. That's why they should have brought up Smeltzer.

On paper Archer does look like a good candidate to be a good BP pitcher but actually Archer has 5 pitches, FB, slider, CU, curve and cutter (which PIT forced him to use but has since dropped). His FB looks pretty good, his slider has been his best pitch and seems like he's still working on to get it back, maybe after he gets done with his slider he'll start working on his CU and curve.

Along with that Archer has a starter mentality. For so many years  he has had it and the few times that he had been used in that compacity of reliever he hasn't fared as well. With some patience Archer will be much needed when post season comes around as a starter.

They  used Duran in the closer role in 2 to 1 victory  over Baltimore  ...

Outstanding  1 , 2 , 3 inning , no edge of your seat performance ,   he was poised  and looked like he was relishing in that role ....

He's got the right stuff for closer ...

I guess someone in front office might read twins daily 

17 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

On paper Archer does look like a good candidate to be a good BP pitcher but actually Archer has 5 pitches, FB, slider, CU, curve and cutter (which PIT forced him to use but has since dropped). His FB looks pretty good, his slider has been his best pitch and seems like he's still working on to get it back, maybe after he gets done with his slider he'll start working on his CU and curve.

Along with that Archer has a starter mentality. For so many years  he has had it and the few times that he had been used in that compacity of reliever he hasn't fared as well. With some patience Archer will be much needed when post season comes around as a starter.

Isn't Archer's contract innings and incentive-laden too? He might be upset if the Twins appear to be financially motivated and move him to the pen. That said, I'd be surprised if Archer starts any postseason games since you really only use 3 starters. I assume that will be Ryan, Gray, and whoever is pitching better/healthy between Paddack and Bundy. I don't think Archer is going to throw more than 100 innings this year. 

49 minutes ago, Blyleven2011 said:

They  used Duran in the closer role in 2 to 1 victory  over Baltimore  ...

Outstanding  1 , 2 , 3 inning , no edge of your seat performance ,   he was poised  and looked like he was relishing in that role ....

He's got the right stuff for closer ...

I guess someone in front office might read twins daily 

No question that Duran has great stuff. Can he go back-to-back? Will his arm hold out? Do the Twins want to put him in the bullpen permanently? Will they consider using him for two-inning saves? 

1 hour ago, stringer bell said:

No question that Duran has great stuff. Can he go back-to-back? Will his arm hold out? Do the Twins want to put him in the bullpen permanently? Will they consider using him for two-inning saves? 

All good questions  ,  

I don't think they would use him back to back days because of the lack of innings pitched since 2019 ....

2 inning saves would be alright if they don't use him back to back .....

If he holds out with no injury as the closer  , and produces quality results  , the front office would be smart to stick with him as closer ....

Bullpens are what wins most games ( yes there are some stud starters )  and Duran solidifies almost a qauranteed victory in the ninth inning  ....

I know I'm getting ahead of myself a bit but that was a very impressive save last night  ,,, best in many years as a twin 

12 hours ago, dex8425 said:

Isn't Archer's contract innings and incentive-laden too? He might be upset if the Twins appear to be financially motivated and move him to the pen. That said, I'd be surprised if Archer starts any postseason games since you really only use 3 starters. I assume that will be Ryan, Gray, and whoever is pitching better/healthy between Paddack and Bundy. I don't think Archer is going to throw more than 100 innings this year. 

Good point Dex, legally I think the Twins can't force in the BP and I don't think he would want to . Archer is used to pitching in big games. Once he's ramped up he should be awsome but coming off surgery, there's some doubt wether he'll comes back as a work horse where he was before.