May 15, 201511 yr It will be interesting to see how he does. I'm sorry I don't know how to embed tweets. User Actions FollowKevin OklobzijaVerified account@kevinoDandCAnd with Chih-Wei Hu coming up from Fort Myers for a Tuesday spot start with the #ROCRedWings, let the Hu's on the mound jokes begin.
May 16, 201511 yr I've always been impressed with how unflappable Hu has been. Nothing seems to rattle him. If there's a guy I would expect to handle this kind of 2-level jump for a spot start well, it's him. Best of luck to him!
May 16, 201511 yr I just about fell off my bicycle when I read this. It's apparently only a doubleheader spot start, but still potentially meaningful, especially if he pitches well. I love it. A move like this potentially destroys many old canards we like to make against the Twins, that they don't promote fast, that veterans who struggle like Nolasco have job security no matter what, that the Twins don't know what to do about Meyer (this might light a fire under him!), that the Twins have no fresh ideas in general, and so on. Maybe I am making too big a deal of it, but I hope not. It sure seems like a very untraditional, un-Twins like move.
May 16, 201511 yr It's going to be fun to see how he does. I don't think it speaks to the Twins changing their philosophy when it comes to promotions. I think the timing was right (Berrios is scheduled to pitch Monday or else he would have been called up) and they were short on options. Still, it shows the Twins have taken notice of Hu's performance so far. If was struggling there's no way he gets the call. Every interview someone mentions how he competes and how poised he is on the mound. Hopefully those traits come in handy Tuesday. Exciting!!!
May 16, 201511 yr I am a huge Hu fan, but I expect this to be the dreaded "learning experience" for him. Batters with more experience will react differently to his off-speed pitches than he is used to, and his fastball isn't by itself enough (true of most good pitchers). Win or lose, he'll go back to Ft Myers with some things to work on, and perhaps renewed appreciation for the things his coach has been telling him. Now watch him make a liar out of me and pitch a 7 inning no-no.
May 16, 201511 yr More likely if Hu pitches well, he goes back to Chatanooga to continue working on pitching. That is what I expect, he has little to show at Ft. Myers.
May 16, 201511 yr I would love to see him not necessarily shut the opposition down, but pitch well. If so, I assume it's the last he's seen below AA. Very important move by the Twins. Clearly not forecasting, because each move up, particularly, I suppose, at this level is much bigger than the last move. But if he can pitch anything like he has at A, he moves up with Berrios as 1 of the top 2 pitching prospects. I would guess that this will be a huge event in Taiwan. Seeing the way the Japanese and Korean press react to golfers in the U S, it will be very interesting to see if the Taiwan press reacts similarly to this. Could be major pressure on our Mr. Hu, beyond anything a 21 year old American might face. Good luck Hu!
May 16, 201511 yr I would love to see him not necessarily shut the opposition down, but pitch well. If so, I assume it's the last he's seen below AA. Very important move by the Twins.Clearly not forecasting, because each move up, particularly, I suppose, at this level is much bigger than the last move. But if he can pitch anything like he has at A, he moves up with Berrios as 1 of the top 2 pitching prospects.I would guess that this will be a huge event in Taiwan. Seeing the way the Japanese and Korean press react to golfers in the U S, it will be very interesting to see if the Taiwan press reacts similarly to this.Could be major pressure on our Mr. Hu, beyond anything a 21 year old American might face. Good luck Hu!Minor leagues is minor leagues. I doubt anyone in Taiwan will know about it. I doubt anyone in Taiwan knows about Hu yet. Pretty exciting for me.
May 16, 201511 yr I just about fell off my bicycle when I read this. It's apparently only a doubleheader spot start, but still potentially meaningful, especially if he pitches well. I love it.A move like this potentially destroys many old canards we like to make against the Twins, that they don't promote fast, that veterans who struggle like Nolasco have job security no matter what, that the Twins don't know what to do about Meyer (this might light a fire under him!), that the Twins have no fresh ideas in general, and so on.Maybe I am making too big a deal of it, but I hope not. It sure seems like a very untraditional, un-Twins like move. Josmil Pinto might take exception to your second paragraph?
May 16, 201511 yr This has nothing to do with a change in Twins philosophy. Remember our shortstop call up last year. Polanco was convenient and could fill, but it was not a changing of the guard.
May 16, 201511 yr Hu will make the start on Tuesday and then he'll take a flight back to Ft. Myers on Wednesday morning to rejoin the Miracle. This is kind of a nice vote of confidence from the likes of Brad Steil and Eric Rasmussen to do this, but it is about Rochester needing a starter. No matter how well he pitches, he will head back to Ft. Myers. That said, he could move up to Chattanooga in the not-too-distant future. I would think maybe right after the Florida State League All Star game. I wonder if he'll get an opportunity to pitch in the Futures Game. He's certainly a candidate.
May 16, 201511 yr A move like this potentially destroys many old canards we like to make against the Twins, that they don't promote fast, that veterans who struggle like Nolasco have job security no matter what, that the Twins don't know what to do about Meyer (this might light a fire under him!), that the Twins have no fresh ideas in general, and so on.Maybe I am making too big a deal of it, but I hope not. It sure seems like a very untraditional, un-Twins like move.I think it was just a matter of needing someone, and his schedule working out. We got a bit excited about Polanco's MLB call up last year. Not only was it short lived, he still hasn't been promoted to AAA despite much to complain about.
May 16, 201511 yr Sweet! No matter how it goes, this is just plain old neat and fun. Very much akin to a rookie coming up to make that very first start for the Twins. Definitely becoming a big Hu fan. The band? No. The guy taking the hill in Rochester. Someone took a hill in Rochester? No not yet, but he will. Who? That's right, Hu. I don't know. I'm asking you. Hu. The guy taking the hill! I'm telling you, Hu. Then tell me already. Hu. The guy taking the hill! I'm telling you it's Hu. You're not telling me anything. I don't know what you're talking about. No, I'm talking about Hu. Watt doesn't play baseball. He's not even in Minnesota, or Rochester. I'm outta here! (sorry)
May 16, 201511 yr I think you are right, but I hope the Twins are privately planning to cancel that flight back to Ft Myers if Hu pitches well. This can't be only about "needing someone." They play every day AAA too so pitching shortages aren't unheard of. Or Stauffer might have made the start. (Assuming 3 weeks is long enough for an intercostal strain.) I could be wrong. Now watch him not get out of the second... Anyway, Hu is putting up unreal numbers. Why label a guy so young or assume there's a ceiling on what he might do?
May 17, 201511 yr Sweet! No matter how it goes, this is just plain old neat and fun. Very much akin to a rookie coming up to make that very first start for the Twins.Definitely becoming a big Hu fan.The band?No. The guy taking the hill in Rochester.Someone took a hill in Rochester?No not yet, but he will.Who?That's right, Hu.I don't know. I'm asking you.Hu.The guy taking the hill!I'm telling you, Hu.Then tell me already.Hu.The guy taking the hill!I'm telling you it's Hu.You're not telling me anything. I don't know what you're talking about.No, I'm talking about Hu. Watt doesn't play baseball. He's not even in Minnesota, or Rochester.I'm outta here!(sorry)Just wish he was a first baseman...
May 17, 201511 yr Just wish he was a first baseman... Well, at some point I assume Hu will be covering 1st at some point in the game. So Hu will be on first. Haha Edited May 17, 201511 yr by Puckett34
May 17, 201511 yr Ya, there is no evidence, and with Polanco in AA pointing the opposite, that the Twins have changed anything in their philosophy. We should really expect any promotions of first time guys until June at the earliest......earliest. That part aside, I am a Hu believer, and expect him in AA in about 2-3 weeks. Edited May 17, 201511 yr by mike wants wins
May 18, 201511 yr If he is very surgical in his dissection of the Durham Bulls tomorrow night, can we also begin with the "Dr. Hu" jokes?
May 18, 201511 yr Anyway to get this game on TV or the Internet? I believe it's broadcast locally in Rochester and definitely available online at MiLB.tv, which you need a subscription for.
May 19, 201511 yr OK This is way too much fun Chih-Wei Hu is starting for Rochester tomorrow. Who is the opposing pitcher? If you guessed..Scott Diamond,you would be correct.
May 19, 201511 yr OK This is way too much fun Chih-Wei Hu is starting for Rochester tomorrow. Who is the opposing pitcher? If you guessed..Scott Diamond,you would be correct. I just hope that he paid close attention to Tommy Milone this evening, and made him his temporary mentor. Tommy, once again tonight, 9 IP, 13 Ks 0 BB 0 ER 85 strikes 30 balls, clearly, he must be the new King of AAAA starters.
May 19, 201511 yr OK This is way too much fun Chih-Wei Hu is starting for Rochester tomorrow. Who is the opposing pitcher? If you guessed..Scott Diamond,you would be correct.Hu is the opposing pitcher???? I thought he pitched for us????
May 19, 201511 yr Hu is the opposing pitcher???? I thought he pitched for us???? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBpwIDgJGCs&feature=youtu.be
May 19, 201511 yr You recon his stomach was churning last night? Hope they didn't make him ride the bus up I-95 to Durham. LOL
May 19, 201511 yr Well, at some point I assume Hu will be covering 1st at some point in the game. So Hu will be on first. Haha http://www.totalprosports.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Hus-on-first.jpg
May 19, 201511 yr Today's games are listed as a "day/night doubleheader" I know most double-headers in the minors are 7 innings, but does the day/night aspect of this mean they are going to be 9 inning games?
May 19, 201511 yr Three groundouts and a walk to Alexi Casilla in the first for Hu! Hu is dealing. 2 IP 1 K S/B 18/7
May 19, 201511 yr Who's watching Hu? What's he throwing? I'm going to watch the game later, but I'm just following the gamecast for now.
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