Article: Twins' Best Kept Secret

[Ted Schwerzler]

As of May 20, the Minnesota Twins have played 39 games and have compiled a 22-17 record. After being picked by many to finish last in the AL Central, and even lose 90 games for a 5th straight year by some, Minnesota has done nothing but surpass expectations. Sitting third in the AL Central, the Twins offense has once again been one of the best in the big leagues (currently sixth in runs scored). While starting pitching has been better than in recent years, it is one man in the bullpen who may be one of the team's best weapons.Signed as a free agent after a decent year in San Diego, Blaine Boyer has come into the Twins pen and been nothing short of lights out. His story has been well documented, and his journey has taken him on the path less traveled. After being out of baseball for the 2012 and 2013 seasons, he resurfaced a year ago. Recommitted to the game, and with his family in tow, Boyer appeared poise to give the game whatever he had left.

 

Pitching in Petco Park a season ago to the tune of a 3.57 ERA last season, it was somewhat uncertain what he would provide the Twins in the American League, despite pitcher-friendly Target Field. Terry Ryan decided to hand out low-risk deals to both Boyer and former teammate Tim Stauffer. While neither looked good from the get go, it has been Boyer who has excelled as the season has worn on.

Casey Fien, the Twins setup man, hit the disabled list during April and the Twins needed someone to step up. The first-year manager put all of his chips behind Boyer, and neither has looked back. Since April 17, Boyer has pitched 17.2 scoreless innings. He's struck out just eight batters, but he's given up only nine hits and three walks. Boyer has held opposing hitters to a .161/.200/.232 slash line and he's generated a 69% strike rate. On the season, Boyer's 2.18 ERA is amongst the Twins brightest relief marks, and he's become an incredible asset in the bullpen.

 

Earlier in the season, I kicked around the idea that Ryan brought in both Stauffer and Boyer with the idea of dealing them to a contender somewhere during the middle of the season: if he could get both players to show value, the Twins might benefit from the return of a mid-level prospect from a club looking for bullpen help. Obviously at this point, Stauffer is closer to being sent off the roster than he is to being added to another team's. Boyer however, has proven to be an solid asset and the Twins have turned themselves into a legitimate contender.

 

Coming off four straight 90-loss seasons, there're plenty of reasons to be cautiously optimistic for the Twins' prospects going forward. After all, in 2014 Minnesota looked in good position in June, and even made a free agent signing in the person of Kendrys Morales. This team however seems to be cut from different cloth, and the trajectory appears to be stable and trending upward more than it isn't. As long as things continue on their current trends, Boyer should expect to be pitching for a contender in 2015, but it will be the team that signed him in the offseason, not the one he is dealt to.

 

No doubt there have been some misses that Terry Ryan is responsible for when it comes to pitching, considering Blaine Boyer one of them is out of the question. Boyer has been absolutely terrific for the Twins, and the man of faith, with his family by his side, does not appear to be letting off the throttle any time soon.

 

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[Blackjack]

Timing, timing, Boyer gets praise for his scoreless streak - and then gives up a run last night.

 

With all the badmouthing of Boyer by TD faithful it will be interesting to read the comments...

[Shane Wahl]

I certainly didn't think it would last, but--and I know I am about to refer to spring training as meaning something--I remember a game in particular where Boyer stood out in ST, in a game with Burdi and others pitching. He was hitting the corners at 95.

 

His current performance shows a couple things. One, dedication is mental just as much as it is physical. Boyer seems like he really has his "head in the game" right now. Two, it shows that there is *something* to the strategy of trying to find the right guys here and there to fill out a roster.

[Vanimal46]

Seems like relief pitchers in general are so variable year in and year out. I'm glad we found Boyer on a good year. Not sure if he's a consistent sub 3 ERA guy year in and year out, but for the 2015 season he's a good asset to have in our bullpen.

[Kavan]

He's striking out fewer than 4 per 9 innings and his ground ball rate is a pedestrian 44%. He's had great results but I'm not optimistic about the sustainability.

[twinsnorth49]

I'm enjoying it for the time being, I mean what's not to enjoy? I'm not expecting it to last however and if, or more accurately when the cracks begin to show, I hope the Twins don't wait too long for them to widen.

[biscuit]

Well written piece.   And of course last night Boyer gives up a dinger.  I'll give him a pass on this one.  After all, it was McCutcheon. Tee Hee.

[MileHighTwinsFan]

With Casey Fien out - Boyer has come up big.   The great news is that he doesn't have to carry the bullpen on his back.  Fien's return to the roster and the continued success of Aaron Thompson provides a solid - if not remarkable back end of the bullpen.

 

In another month, I would suspect the Twins will go out and find themselves a high quality bull pen arm that will bolster things.    

 

Boyer, Fien, Thompson, Tonkin and Perkins provide a sound foundation - now the Twins need that big arm to get to the next level.  

[terencemann]

He's certainly seems like a nice guy but a sub-4 K/9 against 2 walks per 9 innings isn't going to work for long.

[nicksaviking]

Good story, but it's smoke and mirrors.  When he starts to get hit, it's going to be very bad.

 

But to be fair, we have seen a smoke and mirror acts last for an entire season before.  I wouldn't count on it, but I guess it could happen.

Edited May 21, 2015 by nicksaviking

[Ted Schwerzler]

His BABIP in this stretch has really helped him, and obviously there's going to be some regression there. the nice thing though is Fien can come back and slide into the 8th inning role again. Boyer in the 7th sees less high leverage, and becomes an even better asset.

 

The Twins took fliers on both Stauffer and Boyer, and while one worked out, that's all they needed. There's plenty of pen arms on the farm if regression hits too hard, and that's also a good thing.

[HitInAPinch]

Boyer had been a very nice placeholder and is driving up his value! 

[Mike Sixel]

 

His BABIP in this stretch has really helped him, and obviously there's going to be some regression there. the nice thing though is Fien can come back and slide into the 8th inning role again. Boyer in the 7th sees less high leverage, and becomes an even better asset.

 

The Twins took fliers on both Stauffer and Boyer, and while one worked out, that's all they needed. There's plenty of pen arms on the farm if regression hits too hard, and that's also a good thing.

 

I agree, if one works out, that's a good ratio (as long as they cut the other before waiting too long).

[nicksaviking]

 

His BABIP in this stretch has really helped him, and obviously there's going to be some regression there. the nice thing though is Fien can come back and slide into the 8th inning role again. Boyer in the 7th sees less high leverage, and becomes an even better asset.

 

The Twins took fliers on both Stauffer and Boyer, and while one worked out, that's all they needed. There's plenty of pen arms on the farm if regression hits too hard, and that's also a good thing.

 

I'd much rather see if Oliveros could work out better.  He actually profiles as a back of the rotation guy.  These guys both profile to be mop-up duty, kind of guys.

[h2oface]

No mention of inherited runners and inherited runners scored, which is, to me, the ultimate stat for a reliever. It shows if they really relieved or just did well for themselves, and not necessarily the team. Trouble is, I can't seem to find stats for inherited runners scored anywhere except in the daily boxes. Can anyone help me with a source?

[jimbo92107]

Boyer has had some balls hit hard on him, but right at people. He's got good command at the moment, but I don't see anything really amazing about his stuff.

 

With few strikeouts, Boyer's success will depend on more bad contact, not line drives right to an outfielder.

 

Does anybody know how his game is different this year? Mechanics? More change ups?

[Willihammer]

No mention of inherited runners and inherited runners scored, which is, to me, the ultimate stat for a reliever. It shows if they really relieved or just did well for themselves, and not necessarily the team. Trouble is, I can't seem to find stats for inherited runners scored anywhere except in the daily boxes. Can anyone help me with a source?

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/boyerbl01-pitch.shtml

More stats > Reliever Pitching*> IS%

[Ted Schwerzler]

 

I'd much rather see if Oliveros could work out better.  He actually profiles as a back of the rotation guy.  These guys both profile to be mop-up duty, kind of guys.

 

Lester Oliveros for Stauffer...sure, even Achter. I'm not sure you could make the argument Boyer doesn't have a place right now though. One thing to remember on Oliveros. He owns an ERA over 5.00 in 29.1 MLB innings. Not a huge sample size, but also indicative that AAA success doesn't necessarily prove anything.

[goulik]

When a player like Boyer is signed we here lots of "What was Terry Thinking",

He does well and people put them on their lists of long term solutions and want us to dump other players, then They regress to the mean and people say "Terry should have traded him when his value was high"

 

Were building for next year still...were in the final stages of the rebuild but that is still what this is.

Let me be on the record of saying "Sell High"

 

PS. This applies to Pelfrey also...