Blackie optioned to AAA; Casey Fien promoted

[SwainZag]

As per Joe C on twitter.

 

https://twitter.com/JoeCStrib/status/220591904562229248

 

What's the word on Fien? Blackburn had to go.

[IdahoPilgrim]

Not a big surprise. Gardy hinted last night after the game that something would happen, and this makes sense. Fien is needed to shore up a bullpen that has been overused. It does mean they need a starter for Sunday - will Walters be ready, or will they call up French or Deduno?

[Highabove]

Deduno will eventually be up here if he can keep his walks down.

[stringer bell]

I liked Fien in spring training. He's worked a lot at Rochester, and got knocked around a few times, but generally has done very well. He is a BP guy, throws hard enough, doesn't walk many, but he's 28, so I doubt he's considered much of a prospect. He pitched for the Tigers and just about everybody has claimed him and then let him go. Best of luck Casey.

[PseudoSABR]

Does Blackburn actually have options?

[Jeremy Nygaard]

All you need to know about Casey Fien:

 

Right-handed, strictly relief pitcher. Has 52 days of major league service time (all with Tigers in 2009 and 2010). I looked back through years of transactions and found he's been optioned in 2009 and 2010, so it appears he has an option left.

 

Has decent strikeout numbers over his minor league career.

 

As was mentioned above, it appears the Twins will have to call on a starter eventually, but with the ASG break coming up, and Swarzak in the bullpen, the Twins might be able to get through the rest of the week without making anymore moves. P.J. Walters will probably be ready to be activated by the time the Twins have a need after the break.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Praise Jesus, for we have been delivered from evil.

[John Bonnes]

Does Blackburn actually have options?

Yes, he does.

 

So who is pitching Sunday?

[DPJ]

 

So who is pitching Sunday?

Good time for a bullpen game.

 

Start with Burnett for 1-2 innings and figure it out from there.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

Does Blackburn actually have options?

Blackburn, technically, had two options remaining. He was closing in on 5 years of service time (he's currently at 4.106) at which point he could refuse an assignment. But at anytime between yesterday and 67 days from now, the Twins can do it without his permission.

 

I've mentioned it before, but I will again: There are 94 calendar days left this year, if he spends 28 days in the minor leagues, his option year will be an arbitration year and not a free agent year. I don't think it really matters, since he's proving he's not a major league caliber pitcher, but it is interesting.

[darin617]

Just DFA his sorry azz and lets move on and never bring up the name of Nick Blackburn again.

[SweetOne69]

My Guess is that Swarzak is going to start on Sunday, with Walters returning to the rotation after the AS Break.

[greengoblinrulz]

2-5 w/9sv 4.30 ERA in 33 gms...46IP .228BAve 42k 14bb.....5.29ERA ERA since April 23.....5.55ERA in AAA last yr

been pretty average at best this year. This is the perfect arguement of why this team is what it is. Call up a bullpen guy who truly doesnt deserve to be in majors & earned nothing.

Caleb Thielbar, Esmeril Vasquez & Bobby Lanigan were all better options & have pitched better with Deolis Guerra having to grow up sometime before next season sitting there also.

[greengoblinrulz]

Yes, he does.

 

So who is pitching Sunday?

Duensing, pitching tonite, will be on 3 days rest.....could get the start & just go 3-5 IP with Swarzak for backup.

[Guest USAFChief]

Color me surprised and impressed the org had the nads to send him down.

[IdahoPilgrim]

2-5 w/9sv 4.30 ERA in 33 gms...46IP .228BAve 42k 14bb.....5.29ERA ERA since April 23.....5.55ERA in AAA last yr

been pretty average at best this year. This is the perfect arguement of why this team is what it is. Call up a bullpen guy who truly doesnt deserve to be in majors & earned nothing.

Caleb Thielbar, Esmeril Vasquez & Bobby Lanigan were all better options & have pitched better with Deolis Guerra having to grow up sometime before next season sitting there also.

With respect, those numbers don't seem that bad to me. He has a lower WHIP and a higher K/BB ratio than any of those you listed. Thielbar was just recently promoted and needs time to see whether he can handle even this level, and Lanigan probably belongs in AA. Vasquez and Guerra are two other options, but Guerra has struggled recently and his numbers are getting worse, not better. There was no clear cut choice here, and Fien is as good as anything.

[drjim]

Makes me think they will go a bullpen game on Sunday. After the all star break they can reevaluate if Walters is ready and where/if Blackburn and Hendriks might fit back in after a couple of starts in AAA.

[SwainZag]

2-5 w/9sv 4.30 ERA in 33 gms...46IP .228BAve 42k 14bb.....5.29ERA ERA since April 23.....5.55ERA in AAA last yr

been pretty average at best this year. This is the perfect arguement of why this team is what it is. Call up a bullpen guy who truly doesnt deserve to be in majors & earned nothing.

Caleb Thielbar, Esmeril Vasquez & Bobby Lanigan were all better options & have pitched better with Deolis Guerra having to grow up sometime before next season sitting there also.

Lanigan has thrown 8.1 innings of baseball above AA to the tune of 6.48 ERA with 2 K and 4 BB in that timespan, I don't see how that is pitching better than anyone.

[asmus_ndsu]

I wonder what the record is for most pitchers sent up and down in a season is

[Jeremy Nygaard]

Blackie was the Twins #1 Prospect coming into the 2008 season according to BA. I found the following quote to be extremely interesting.

 

He started to get healthier toward the end of 2006, regaining some velocity, and came to camp in the best shape of his career last spring. What followed was a revelation. Blackburn regained his amateur velocity, his secondary stuff improved and his career took off. With less weight to carry, he got stronger and was able to lengthen his stride, get better extension out front and improve the quality of his stuff.

The "weight" that he's listed at in the report was 205. (He was once 260.) His weight now is 240. I get part of that addition of weight has to do with filling out and becoming a man... but what if he lost 15-20 pounds?

[IdahoPilgrim]

The "weight" that he's listed at in the report was 205. (He was once 260.) His weight now is 240. I get part of that addition of weight has to do with filling out and becoming a man... but what if he lost 15-20 pounds?

What was his weight in 2008 and 2009, when he pitched fairly well?

[stringer bell]

Fien's last two outings: 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K

 

I can only access his last 10 appearances, but it seems usually he's been very good, but when he has been less than good, the numbers are awful. In his last 10, he was scored on in 4 games, 2 runs each game, including one appearance of .2 and another of .1.

[greengoblinrulz]

Lanigan gave up 6er in his first appearance & since...6 appearances 6.1 IP 4h 0r

3.86ERA in AA..but 9 of his 13er in AA came in 2 appearances....1.30 ERA in other 20gms in New Brit....they all count I know but he's had 3 bad games in 29 appearances. 1.06ERA in other 26gms

I am VERY much a believer in rewarding your own players (draft picks) over the retreads....MN thinks otherwise over the yrs.

[Mike Sixel]

Good step. Now they need to copy the Wild and sign players in their prime to add players, not just fill holes of guys leaving...

[greengoblinrulz]

Fien's last two outings: 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K

 

I can only access his last 10 appearances, but it seems usually he's been very good, but when he has been less than good, the numbers are awful. In his last 10, he was scored on in 4 games, 2 runs each game, including one appearance of .2 and another of .1.

Fangraphs allows you to access the yearly game logs (not as good as MILB but...u can look over past yrs/multi levels too)

[greengoblinrulz]

Blackie was the Twins #1 Prospect coming into the 2008 season according to BA. I found the following quote to be extremely interesting.

 

 

 

The "weight" that he's listed at in the report was 205. (He was once 260.) His weight now is 240. I get part of that addition of weight has to do with filling out and becoming a man... but what if he lost 15-20 pounds?

Most are pretty filled out by 25/26yrs old. the extra 35lbs have more to do with a 14m contract & livin the life

[Jeremy Nygaard]

What was his weight in 2008 and 2009, when he pitched fairly well?

According to the 2009 Record and Information Guide - so I would assume the end of 2008 - he weighed 227. This year's lists him at 238. So he's a little heavier than when he was good. Could that be an issue? Who knows...

[ashbury]

Yes, he does.

Too bad. Crushes my fantasy of some team claiming him off waivers and we're rid of the contract.

[Dilligaf69]

Good time for a bullpen game.

 

Start with Burnett for 1-2 innings and figure it out from there.

What??? I would'nt even use 1 of our most effective relivers unless it's a close game late innings...More likely start Swarzak for 3-4 then Go Gray/Fien. Robertson?Waldrop or a starter who has a bullpen day if you get desperate. Depends on what happens the next few days, it's entirely possible the starters could get knocked around in Texas and we'll need Deduno or French cuz the pen is gassed yet again.

[greengoblinrulz]

Worry about the start on Sunday on that date. Can still make a move if needed. With 4 days off for break & then wont need another starter till 5th game, so just 1 of next 10 gms is affected. This is actually one of the more astute moves the team has made IMO, as it takes strategy into effect.