Pelfrey to the bullpen?

[tobi0040]

If Meyer was as ready as Trout and would have even close to the same impact then he should be up. If the Twins were acting like a legitimate contender this offseason then they should have signed Ervin Santana and Drew which would likely have had a bigger impact than an extra 5 starts from Meyer.

 

An extra 5 starts from a rookie pitcher are not going to be the difference maker. There's no guarantee that he doesn't get lit up since he hasn't even been that sharp in AAA so far. The frustrating part is that he's likely to spend more than half a season in AAA as the Twins throw spaghetti at the wall and see what sticks.

 

Meyer had one bad start, 3.2 IP, 5 ER. Here are the other 3:

 

5 IP, 2 ER, 6 K

5.1 IP, 1 ER, 5 K

6.2 IP, 0 ER, 11 K

 

We can change "not sharp" to "not sharp in one start"

[jokin]

Meyer had one bad start, 3.2 IP, 5 ER. Here are the other 3:

 

5 IP, 2 ER, 6 K

5.1 IP, 1 ER, 5 K

6.2 IP, 0 ER, 11 K

 

We can change "not sharp" to "not sharp in one start"

 

Oh yeah, I'll take 3 out of 4 of this "not sharp-ness" every day of the week and twice on Sundays. Especially when you consider who Meyer would be replacing. But Kab's essentially right....the Twins needed to make a harder run at one more high-ceiling pitcher like Santana over Pelfrey, AND a premier bat, along with Alex Meyer coming in at his 2014 ZiPS projection numbers in order to make this team contender-worthy.

[Shane Wahl]

My great dislike for keeping Pelfrey around seems to have been "rewarded" with this terrible performance. The problem is that they kept him for two years!

[Mike Sixel]

Except now they are over .500 a month into the season....this isn't the beginning of the year anymore. Now, they need to decide if they are going to try to win this year, or wait for a future that never comes*. This isn't just Meyer.....it is contributions from unexpected people, and Dozier showing he could be legit, not a one hit wonder. Agreed, they should have signed Santana and not Pelfrey (but they don't understand a concept taught in business school since the 70s), but they didn't. The question is, what should they do now?

 

*copyright Santana/Hunter

[TheLeviathan]

Meyer had one bad start, 3.2 IP, 5 ER. Here are the other 3:

 

5 IP, 2 ER, 6 K

5.1 IP, 1 ER, 5 K

6.2 IP, 0 ER, 11 K

 

We can change "not sharp" to "not sharp in one start"

 

This is true, but if they hold Meyer to the same standard as Gibson you could see how this might not be enough to force their hand. Just going by recent tendencies.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Something doesn't seem to be right with Pelfrey. Previous to 2014, his career low in average fastball speed was 92.0 and sat at 92.4 last season.

 

This season? It's 91.0.

 

He's also throwing that slower fastball a whopping 79.3% of the time, compared to 72.6% last season.

 

Age or injury, I have no idea... But he has lost a considerable amount of velocity and, for some reason, is relying more on that not-so-fastball.

[ashbury]

Kenny What's-his-AA-Name

 

That would be "Wilson". Don't you be typing about my Adopt-A-Prospect in that tone of voice.

[nicksaviking]

agent: Scott Boras

 

 

It's unlikely that Meyer has a contract before he reaches arbitration but the important deadline (opening day) has passed. I have always contended that too much focus has been on the Super 2 deadline and not giving the player an extra year of arb. Teams certainly do it but that's just being cheap and taking advantage of the system. If a player is playing like an all star then pay them 5M in arb. The important thing is that his FA has been delayed by a year by not being on the opening day roster. I will trade 5+ starts this season for 30+ as a potential star in 6 years.

 

Yup, the Twins have a finite amount of time with Meyer. If he is a stud, he will not be here past his rookie contract unless he drops Boras as his agent. Boras almost certainly won't let the team buy out free agent years and the Twins almost certainly won't offer a pitcher a contract past four years once he becomes a free agent. We need to enjoy Meyer while we can and hope the front office puts the pieces to compete for a WS in that 6 year window.

[tobi0040]

Something doesn't seem to be right with Pelfrey. Previous to 2014, his career low in average fastball speed was 92.0 and sat at 92.4 last season.

 

This season? It's 91.0.

 

He's also throwing that slower fastball a whopping 79.3% of the time, compared to 72.6% last season.

 

Age or injury, I have no idea... But he has lost a considerable amount of velocity and, for some reason, is relying more on that not-so-fastball.

 

Maybe he came back too early? I am not going to waste a ton of time trying to figure it out. He has had two good years out of 8. Time to get someone with talent up here.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Maybe he came back too early? I am not going to waste a ton of time trying to figure it out. He has had two good years out of 8. Time to get someone with talent up here.

 

I'd give him two more starts and then decide whether he should be in the bullpen or added to the DL.

 

Either way, neither he nor Correia should have much of a leash, not with the Twins sitting at 12-11 and the rotation being in shambles.

[tobi0040]

I'd give him two more starts and then decide whether he should be in the bullpen or added to the DL.

 

Either way, neither he nor Correia should have much of a leash, not with the Twins sitting at 12-11 and the rotation being in shambles.

 

And with better options. Deduno is an instant replacement. We have about four starters in AAA I like more than Pelfrey and 3-4 relievers as well.

[Brock Beauchamp]

And with better options. Deduno is an instant replacement. We have about four starters in AAA I like more than Pelfrey and 3-4 relievers as well.

 

Yep, which is why I think Deduno gets first shot at the next rotation opening. It's too tempting to just flip roles with whomever he replaces in the rotation.

 

Still, I'd give Pelfrey and Kevin two more starts apiece. See if warmer weather will help right the ship at all. If not, send one to the bullpen and be done with it. The Twins are riding high right now and can't afford to put themselves in the position of repeating 2013's May because the pitching staff continues to be terrible.

[cmathewson]

Maybe he came back too early? I am not going to waste a ton of time trying to figure it out. He has had two good years out of 8. Time to get someone with talent up here.

 

My theory is he came back too early on the elbow, and that put a lot of stress on the shoulder, which he damaged late last year. Now he doesn't have the velo he needs to be effective with his marginal secondary offerings.

[ashbury]

It's too tempting

 

Tempting? It seems baked right into the plan for the start of the season.

[Mike Sixel]

Yep, which is why I think Deduno gets first shot at the next rotation opening. It's too tempting to just flip roles with whomever he replaces in the rotation.

 

Still, I'd give Pelfrey and Kevin two more starts apiece. See if warmer weather will help right the ship at all. If not, send one to the bullpen and be done with it. The Twins are riding high right now and can't afford to put themselves in the position of repeating 2013's May because the pitching staff continues to be terrible.

 

 

what is this warmer weather you speak of? You do know winter is coming....

[tobi0040]

My theory is he came back too early on the elbow, and that put a lot of stress on the shoulder, which he damaged late last year. Now he doesn't have the velo he needs to be effective with his marginal secondary offerings.

 

Could be, but to your point the startping point is a not a very good pitcher.

 

I think the next two months will be our tyipcal Twins process of half scholarship because of the contract and half "denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance". I think the fans skipped denial the second the contract was signed, we jumped right to anger and we are currently in acceptance. The Twins are in stage 1 or 2. Bargaining is either a DL stint or putting him in the bullpen. Either way I think we have 20-30 more innings at a 6.00-7.00 ERA before we hit acceptance and the realization that we have 7-9 relievers and 7-9 starters who can do a better job.

 

See one Nick Blackburn for the full five stages.

[Brock Beauchamp]

If Pelfrey is throwing hard, he's a good option as a reliever. He can probably wick it up into the 93-94 mph range and rely heavily on his fastball for an inning or two. Never face the same batter twice and then hit the showers.

 

But if he's sitting at 91 mph, ugh. Not so much.

[twinsnorth49]

If Pelfrey is throwing hard, he's a good option as a reliever. He can probably wick it up into the 93-94 mph range and rely heavily on his fastball for an inning or two. Never face the same batter twice and then hit the showers.

 

But if he's sitting at 91 mph, ugh. Not so much.

 

This is the crux of the issue right here, if Pelfrey can't ratchet it up to 94-95 for an inning or possibly 2 it's a big problem. If there is the slightest chance he has a shoulder issue the best bet is to DL him.

 

2 years.......ugh!

[TheLeviathan]

what is this warmer weather you speak of? You do know winter is coming....

 

To steal another line from that series...I have a feeling that regardless of whether it's Johnson or Deduno or whatever else...."Different roads sometimes lead to the same castle"

[Linus]

I definitely swap deduno and pelf right now. If pelf gets it together there will be a chance to start again after Correa is traded. Until then we need starts from someone that gives us a chance. Meyer will be up eventually but I think the twins will rightfully careful protecting his shoulder. That means he will likely get some starts mid summer and then be shutdown after 150 innings or so.

[Halsey Hall]

Something doesn't seem to be right with Pelfrey. Previous to 2014, his career low in average fastball speed was 92.0 and sat at 92.4 last season.

 

This season? It's 91.0.

 

He's also throwing that slower fastball a whopping 79.3% of the time, compared to 72.6% last season.

 

Age or injury, I have no idea... But he has lost a considerable amount of velocity and, for some reason, is relying more on that not-so-fastball.

 

I agree, somethings just not right with him. I really expected Pelf to be a strong part of the rotation.

[Halsey Hall]

what is this warmer weather you speak of? You do know winter is coming....

 

Winter is still here, I should of stayed in Ft Myers. Now I can't get into my driveway and am going to just wait til it melts.

[jokin]

I agree, somethings just not right with him. I really expected Pelf to be a strong part of the rotation.

 

60 Day DL might be in the best interests of all concerned.

[kab21]

Except now they are over .500 a month into the season....this isn't the beginning of the year anymore. Now, they need to decide if they are going to try to win this year, or wait for a future that never comes*. This isn't just Meyer.....it is contributions from unexpected people, and Dozier showing he could be legit, not a one hit wonder. Agreed, they should have signed Santana and not Pelfrey (but they don't understand a concept taught in business school since the 70s), but they didn't. The question is, what should they do now?

 

*copyright Santana/Hunter

 

At this point it's fine to call up Meyer since they have guaranteed an additional year of a possible top of the rotation starter near his prime. Of course they will cycle through anybody and everybody to see if they are anything decent.