I think when a guy like Boyer gets on a nice run, as Twins fans we overestimate that guys value. We also overstate the likelihood of Ryan making a splashy trade with important players, where a Boyer or Pelfrey would be a throw-in. I'm pretty confident a couple of these guys will be DFA'd before the All Star break.

 

Unless Graham is the new Stauffer and Stauffer is the new Graham.

 

If that's the case, I think the Twins should try to return Stauffer to the Braves. Maybe the Braves will be too polite to call the Twins back and tell them that they received the wrong reliever.

That's actually not beyond the realm of possibility.   You could offer the Braves something other than Graham in exchange for them relinquishing their ability to claim him if you wanted to send him down.  They're playing .500 ball and lurking 3.5 games off the pace in their division.  A middle reliever with a National League track record might entice them to make such a move.  Then you could send Graham down and open up two spots in your bullpen for the likes of Oliveros, Meyer, Berrios or Hu.

 

Yeah, might have been a little bit harsh on Graham.  That 5 or 6 run outing might have swayed my thinking.

 

Still, the Twins seem to be hiding him a bit over the last 3 weeks. Let's see if last night's outing changes that.

That happens with Rule 5 guys.  Check out Johan Santana in 2000.  Graham's actually on pace to appear in more games than Santana did that year with an ERA of almost 3 runs per game lower than Santana in 2000.

 

That happens with Rule 5 guys.  Check out Johan Santana in 2000.  Graham's actually on pace to appear in more games than Santana did that year with an ERA of almost 3 runs per game lower than Santana in 2000.

 

Graham better get out of the bullpen quick. Johan won 2 Cy Youngs.  He won't win 3 or more unless he starts.

 

That's actually not beyond the realm of possibility.   You could offer the Braves something other than Graham in exchange for them relinquishing their ability to claim him if you wanted to send him down.  They're playing .500 ball and lurking 3.5 games off the pace in their division.  A middle reliever with a National League track record might entice them to make such a move.  Then you could send Graham down and open up two spots in your bullpen for the likes of Oliveros, Meyer, Berrios or Hu.

Now, i actually like the job Graham has done and he is not really a worry of mine as relievers go, if you take out his ONE bad outing his he would have an ERA of 1.50, with a BAA of approx .182, over 12 IP......and he can strike people out too.

 

It never seizes to amaze me the leash a guaranteed deal north of $2M will get you on this team.  $2.2M is not a lot of money.  We have better pitchers (plural) in AAA. 

 

Stauffer MLB      9.2 IP, 8.38 ERA, 2.27 WHIP, 16 H.  2 K
Stauffer AAA      5.0 IP, 5.40 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, 2 K

Oliveros  AAA   19.1 IP, 1.86 ERA, .98 WHIP, 30 K
Achter   AAA      19 IP, 2.37 ERA, .63 WHIP, 16 K

 

 

100% agree.   The Stats speak for themselves.

Graham better get out of the bullpen quick. Johan won 2 Cy Youngs. He won't win 3 or more unless he starts.

Johan won three Cy awards, some writers were just too dumb to realize it.

 

Graham better get out of the bullpen quick. Johan won 2 Cy Youngs.  He won't win 3 or more unless he starts.

65% of Johan's appearances over his first 4 seasons in a Twins uniform came out of the bullpen so I think we're OK.  We MAY be a little overly optimistic if we're expecting Graham to follow Johan's career track.

 

 

Johan won three Cy awards, some writers were just too dumb to realize it.

Moar wins = Cy Young