The Twins have been playing with fire in the Bullpen all year long.  The only guy anyone should be completely comfortable with in Perkins.  After last night when they failed to keep the game within 1 run I think it is time to move Aaron Thompson for Alex Meyer and give him a taste of the big leagues. 

Yes, 19K's in 16 1/3rd, with 1 earned run. Give him the ball.

Pretty sure he won't be worse than what they have going on right now. Plus he'll bring the velocity and K potential that they severely lack. It's a no-brainer to me at this point.

Does anyone know what it would take to in trade to get Graham and be able to move him to AAA?  He isn't used in any high leverage situations and seems to be blocking more ML ready arms at this point.  If the Twins were willing to trade and move him down to AAA it would give him opportunities to improve in game situations and give the Twins some more reliable arms in the Major League Pen. 

Does anyone know what it would take to in trade to get Graham and be able to move him to AAA? He isn't used in any high leverage situations and seems to be blocking more ML ready arms at this point. If the Twins were willing to trade and move him down to AAA it would give him opportunities to improve in game situations and give the Twins some more reliable arms in the Major League Pen.

Somebody + Duensing.

Yes.

I think the last hurdle Meyer might need to pass is the pitching on consecutive days test. As soon as that happens look for him up pretty quickly, I think

Yes.

Concur.

It was a couple weeks ago.

I wouldn't mind seeing Meyer in the minors for another week or two to rebuild his confidence completely. I think you bring him up right after the all star break.

 

Pretty sure he won't be worse than what they have going on right now. Plus he'll bring the velocity and K potential that they severely lack. It's a no-brainer to me at this point.

 

It's apparently not to Terry Ryan.

 

I think the last hurdle Meyer might need to pass is the pitching on consecutive days test. As soon as that happens look for him up pretty quickly, I think

I'm pretty sure Rochester has had multiple games to give him this opportunity.  What's the holdup? 

 

It's apparently not to Terry Ryan.

I'm all about getting our prospects to the show, but it's hard to fault Ryan for not throwing Meyer up in the big leagues so quickly. As little as a few weeks ago Meyer was a complete disaster on the mound. I understand why he wants to see more than 16 innings to convince him he is ready.

 

I'm all about getting our prospects to the show, but it's hard to fault Ryan for not throwing Meyer up in the big leagues so quickly. As little as a few weeks ago Meyer was a complete disaster on the mound. I understand why he wants to see more than 16 innings to convince him he is ready.

 

I concur, but I don't agree. But I can see why he might be waiting for this decision......other decisions, not so much.

 

I concur, but I don't agree. But I can see why he might be waiting for this decision......other decisions, not so much.

I mean I hate to admit it, but the RHP out of the pen hasn't been that bad, Fien and Boyer at least are getting somewhat decent results.

The LHP is a disaster though (sans Perkins)

 

They need to figure out how to stash Graham in AAA (Just trade a scrub to Atlanta), cut Duensing and figure out how to find a LOOGY ASAP.

Also, Meyer is the type of talent still who if he figures it out can be a top of the rotation type guy, I wonder if the Twins want to try to start him again in a little while if he gets his "stuff" back while in the pen. I wouldn't fault them for trying one last time to turn him into a starter.

He's going to have to make adjustments to get major league hitters out, why waste more of Meyer's time? He's already 25 years old...

One other factor possible, if only slightly, preventing Meyer from being called up is that he is not on the 40 man roster.  They do have an open spot, but E. Santana needs to be added to the 40 man as well when he is activated.

 

One other factor possible, if only slightly, preventing Meyer from being called up is that he is not on the 40 man roster.  They do have an open spot, but E. Santana needs to be added to the 40 man as well when he is activated.

 

good point....but there is plenty of chafe that can be cut.....imo. But good point.

 

One other factor possible, if only slightly, preventing Meyer from being called up is that he is not on the 40 man roster.  They do have an open spot, but E. Santana needs to be added to the 40 man as well when he is activated.

Looks like he's on the 40-man to me.

 

http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/team/roster_40man.jsp?c_id=min

 

One other factor possible, if only slightly, preventing Meyer from being called up is that he is not on the 40 man roster.  They do have an open spot, but E. Santana needs to be added to the 40 man as well when he is activated.

I believe that he was added to the 40-man roster last winter, or he would have been eligible for the Rule 5 draft.

 

I really think that Meyer's move to the bullpen was just to let him build confidence and the Twins have every intention to move him back to the rotation.  I could see them calling Meyer up in July and letting him work out of the bullpen for the rest of the season, only to option him to AAA next year to stretch him out.  That is, he really has a good spring and shows he's ready to start.

 

This is complete speculation on my part, but it seems like a path that he could take.  If he shows he can't be a starter, there is always a chance that he moves to the pen later, but I can't see the Twins giving up on him being a starter yet.  

 

I believe that he was added to the 40-man roster last winter, or he would have been eligible for the Rule 5 draft.

 

I really think that Meyer's move to the bullpen was just to let him build confidence and the Twins have every intention to move him back to the rotation.  I could see them calling Meyer up in July and letting him work out of the bullpen for the rest of the season, only to option him to AAA next year to stretch him out.  That is, he really has a good spring and shows he's ready to start.

 

This is complete speculation on my part, but it seems like a path that he could take.  If he shows he can't be a starter, there is always a chance that he moves to the pen later, but I can't see the Twins giving up on him being a starter yet.  

 

I agree with that approach....pen this year in the majors in a few weeks, then back to starting next year. If that doesn't work after 2-3 months, to the pen forever.

 

Also, Meyer is the type of talent still who if he figures it out can be a top of the rotation type guy, I wonder if the Twins want to try to start him again in a little while if he gets his "stuff" back while in the pen. I wouldn't fault them for trying one last time to turn him into a starter.

This has always been managements plan for Meyer.  Rob Antony said Meyer was putting to much pressure on himself. 

 

Now, that doesn't necessarily mean they wouldn't follow the same path as St. Louis:   bring him up to get his feet wet coming out of the bullpen and next spring training, stretch him out again for the rotation.  I'm not really sure I see that happening with Meyer, but still possible.

I'm pretty sure Rochester has had multiple games to give him this opportunity.  What's the holdup?

 

Going off of Meyer's stat line, it almost looks like they are trying to stretch him out again already. Two of his last three outings went 3 innings.

 

Not saying I agree with that, but it would be a good explanation for why he hasn't pitched on consecutive days.

Weird, but after looking over the lefty reliever situation, the nutty national pundits might just be right. Taylor Jay might actually be the best option for a dominant lefty in the pen. Other guys in the system either aren't that talented or haven't refined their game enough to survive against mlb hitters. Jay is already completely accustomed to a reliever's role, and he has great stuff, so he could basically just walk in and do what he's already been doing for the last couple years.

 

Otherwise, I'd still wait a week or two before bringing Alex Meyers up. Let the guy get a few more appearances in, get used to the pace of the role.

 

First thing I'd do is DFA Thompson and bring up Kaleb Thielbar. At this point Thielbar is better than Thompson or Duensing.

Uh....Rogers looks like the best option to me.

 

It's apparently not to Terry Ryan.

Me either. Meyer crapped the bed not even 30 days ago, I don't see what the big hurry is. I mean we're talking 16 innings. The goal with top prospects, is to bring them up and keep them up. The Show was never meant to be a finishing school, particularly when you're in the hunt. The beginning of August we will know a lot more.

 

I'm all about getting our prospects to the show, but it's hard to fault Ryan for not throwing Meyer up in the big leagues so quickly. As little as a few weeks ago Meyer was a complete disaster on the mound. I understand why he wants to see more than 16 innings to convince him he is ready.

 

Here's where I disagree: Pitchers only have so many bullets in their arm- especially arms that have so much of their value tied up in velocity. He's demonstrated that he can be a successful reliever in AAA and he'll need to learn to get out major league hitters eventually. So why waste those bullets in meaningless AAA games, when instead he can be cutting his teeth in the majors while providing some value for those bullets he's firing?

 

Also, Meyer is the type of talent still who if he figures it out can be a top of the rotation type guy, I wonder if the Twins want to try to start him again in a little while if he gets his "stuff" back while in the pen. I wouldn't fault them for trying one last time to turn him into a starter.

 

He probably should get one more shot at being a starter. The Twins don't have anybody that can miss bats like him in the org, plus they have a lot of value tied up in trading Span away for him. They need to show that they got some value out of not having a above replacement level CF'er the last 3 years. But there is no reason he can't pitch out of the pen up at the majors for the rest of the year and then go back to starting in spring training next year?

Edited June 24, 201511 yr by d-mac

 

Me either. 

 

Because Pope Terry Ryan is infallible when he sits on the throne of St. Pohland, right?

 

The goal with top prospects, is to bring them up and keep them up. The Show was never meant to be a finishing school, particularly when you're in the hunt. The beginning of August we will know a lot more.

 

Unfortunately, that's not how it works. Just look at the recent history of the Twins, or look when their core in 2002 came up. Many of them took a few years of going back and forth to establish themselves. 

 

I have no idea what that last bit means.

 

I'm all about getting our prospects to the show, but it's hard to fault Ryan for not throwing Meyer up in the big leagues so quickly. As little as a few weeks ago Meyer was a complete disaster on the mound. I understand why he wants to see more than 16 innings to convince him he is ready.

 

And just as recently as last year he was going to be called up already. Then his shoulder flared up.

 

He's seen plenty more than 16 innings.