Article: Let's Stop Discounting Tommy Milone

[Kwak]

 

So, let's hear it.  Who's to blame?

The question isn't "whose to blame"?--because prospects fail frequently.  The discussion is really about preconceived notion of what a starting pitcher should look like and throw like.  The tall, lanky, flamethrower fits the "poster model" of a pitcher while the (roughly) average-sized finesse-style pitcher does not.  When Meyer (and later) May were acquired they were anointed as future rotation saviors--and the type of pitcher that the Twins should have been acquiring all through the years.  When those two struggled for consistent, good results as starting pitchers, that  became a slap-in-the-face to the model.  Since there wasn't success--there must be someone to blame.  If there is any blame it is on the naive poster who believed that all who fit the poster model  will/should succeed, despite the overwhelming evidence that most guys disappoint if not outright fail.

 

Edited December 27, 2015 by Kwak

[DaveW]

Is it wrong that I was hoping that Nolascos name would show up on that Al Jazerra investigation? A well timed suspension or a "phantom injury" would be the best thing to happen to this rotatio. (As it would force the twins to give a spot to Duffey or may instead of Nolasco)

[tobi0040]

 

Is it wrong that I was hoping that Nolascos name would show up on that Al Jazerra investigation? A well timed suspension or a "phantom injury" would be the best thing to happen to this rotatio. (As it would force the twins to give a spot to Duffey or may instead of Nolasco)

 

That is funny.  Because it is true.

[laloesch]

 

I want to know why we are having these discussions without considering Alex Meyer for the rotation. The Twins are RUINING Meyer. His numbers were solid as a starter in the minors, and he had upside. So what do the Twins do? Move him to the bullpen, where his numbers were horrendous as a reliever. Now, he's an afterthought?

 

"Twins are RUINING Meyer"

 

Please provide proof of this statement.  Alex Meyer has ALWAYS been wildly inconsistent in his minor league career with the Twins and Washington.  Blanket statements like this are factually inaccurate.

 

That said, his flameout last season shouldn't be a surprise to anyone given he was walking 4+ guys a game on a fairly consistent basis.  It does not bode well for him that he has taken a big step backwards with his control and part of the reason he's fallen so far off the radar for the Twins. 

 

2016 is a HUGE year for Alex.  If he doesn't make a big turnaround this season he will have very little chance of ever being a starter with this franchise given he's 26 and counting.  I think that there might be promise for him as a power reliever but that would be a big disappointment given how highly he was touted in the past.  

 

As of right now he shouldn't even be in the conversation for a major league rotation spot this year over Berrios, Duffey and May.  

 

I don't think the Twins had anything to do with that.  Alex has to bear some responsibil

[jorgenswest]

I do agree this is a big year for Meyer. I don't think last year was a flame out. At the time he was removed from the rotation his FIP was essentially the same as it was in 2014. It ended much better than 2014 at 3.28. The difference in the two seasons early on was an insanely high BABIP that was far out of line with his career. I don't think the Twins handled it well as they tried to have him make adjustments that may not have been necessary. I expect he will be a valuable part of the staff by midseason.

[Kwak]

Exactly what were these adjustments  that you claim to have been made?  When did the Twins admit to changing Meyer's form?  I don't recall any statement to said "changing".  Where does this "somebody 'fouled-up' Meyer" excuse come from?--rather than the more likely PHL  "soured" on Meyer and sought a trade partner (sucker) to unload Meyer for someone "useful"?

[Mike Sixel]

They need to make a decision on some point on Meyer, before he's 30......will they trust him to be a wild starter, or make him a RP? Will they live with the balls, in exchange for more SOs, or not?

 

My prediction is that someone will have success with Alex Meyer, I just don't know if it will be the Twins or not.

[Brock Beauchamp]

If the Twins "ruined" Meyer, they sure did a roundabout job of it.

 

When the team acquired Meyer, he was ranked #83 by BP.

 

Before the 2015 season, he was ranked #14 by BP. Other lists had similar jumps, though BA stayed consistent with him (#59 in 2013, #62 in 2015).

 

So in essence, people are arguing the Twins first helped the guy before destroying him.

 

This argument is... highly illogical.

[tobi0040]

 

They need to make a decision on some point on Meyer, before he's 30......will they trust him to be a wild starter, or make him a RP? Will they live with the balls, in exchange for more SOs, or not?

 

My prediction is that someone will have success with Alex Meyer, I just don't know if it will be the Twins or not.

 

I agree with you for the most part.  But last year, I don't think any team would have put him in the MLB rotation.  He had no idea where his fastball was going and his wicked slider rarely is thrown for a strike . So the game plan was let him throw two balls and either sit on the fastball down the middle or take a walk.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

I agree with you for the most part.  But last year, I don't think any team would have put him in the MLB rotation.  He had no idea where his fastball was going and his wicked slider rarely is thrown for a strike . So the game plan was let him throw two balls and either sit on the fastball down the middle or take a walk.

The Twins need to make a decision with Meyer but last year, they had no good options. They couldn't even keep the guy in the AAA rotation because he was a disaster. They certainly couldn't put him in the MLB rotation.

 

At that point, the only (crappy) option remaining is to let him try to sort things out in the bullpen.

 

We can only hope last year was an aberration for Meyer.