Article: Trevor May Headed To The Bullpen

[Otto von Ballpark]

except there's no guarantee that's what will happen. an article on MLB has Ryan hints he'd like to see him do something else,'"We are going to put him in the bullpen," Ryan said. "I don't know how they'll use him. If he throws two innings, three innings, I don't care. I kind of like those multi-inning relievers."'

 

Interesting, thanks. I was suspecting that might be the direction they go -- last year they needed a setup man in August, but they might figure they have that addressed by others now (return of Perkins moving Jepsen back to setup, a healthy Fien and Pressly, probably Abad and possibly Kintzler.

 

If Nolasco makes the rotation and Duffey goes to AAA, May might be the only reliever seen as capable of pitching multiple innings. Might be seen as a way to avoid the back issues he had after moving to the pen last year too...

[Rosterman]

Well, they can have him in the pen this season, hopefully keep him stretched out so he could make emergency starts and pitch 120+ innings like Swarzak in the past. If he remains in the pen into 2017, it will hurt HIS arbitration salaries the next couple of seasons, if he hangs in that long, and when he finally gets a chance to maybe start for the Twins he will be 30 and a free agent and would probably get something better elsewhere.

 

But right now, he is a solid arm, hopefully, in the pen. The Twins have four solid guys, but still need a lefty beyond Perkins, and another long guy might be nice (lefty). And who knows where Nolasco and Milone fit in...I mean Duffey COULD start at Rochester for all that management might care. Combined with a could of aging vets on the bench, we can just wonder why the Twins continue to hold back the future.

 

[Rezzy]

Some people are in love with the concept of "a power arm"--to the point of overlooking the other elements of pitching.

[Rezzy]

Milone

[Otto von Ballpark]

The only one hurt by this is May, instead of making starter wages when he hits free agency he'll make reliever wages of half half that, Boo hoo, cry me a river.

.

Actually that would be a factor for May as early as his arbitration seasons. Getting only $1.3 mil in his first big payday (like Fien & Jepsen) rather than $2.7 mil (like Milone) kind of sucks for the player. Especially when he could get hurt at any time and that could be his peak earnings.

[Dantes929]

 

I have never understood the bullish belief that a) May is a better starter than reliever, and b ) May is a good starter.  

 

May was a disaster as a starter two years ago, rookie jitters, etc. I get it.

 

Last year's results were decidedly mixed.  He had good stretches and bad ones.  His fans assumed he was getting unlucky based on his peripheral stats, but refused to consider whether his relatively strong peripherals were aided by luck.  When he was a starter, he gave up a minuscule number of HR/ball hit in the air, and his walk rate was a mile below his career average.  As such, his average to poor traditional stats mixed with good peripherals likely aided by luck made his season impossible to analyze from a standpoint of being definitively clear about anything regarding May as a starter.  The same peripherals told us Nolasco is probably not nearly as bad as we think either, so I don't get the irrational love for May as a starter when it really can't be argued that he's not a flat out better pitcher out of the pen.  I actually expect some regression from him this year there as well.  

     Are you gong to say Hughes has a walk rate miles below his career average or do you just say he now has excellent command?  its the same with May.   His walk rate in the minors in 2014 very good.   Yes, I completely disregard his major league stint as jitters.   His command was excellent the whole season before that and its been great since then.    I look at him as a front line guy because he doesn't walk guys and has at least three very good pitches.     I think he can be a very good starter.   6 of his last 9 starts were quality and I think we would have seen good progression as he went along.     Very good stuff with great command = a strong likelihood of being a front line starter.

[bluechipper]

 

This also means the #5 spot is between Nolasco and Milone, with Milone the odds on favorite because he's a better pitcher. So Nolasco will wind up in the pen, where he will stew and mutter to himself.

I think the #5 spot is between Duffey and Nolasco. Milone is almost a sure bet to be in the rotation.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

 

I think the #5 spot is between Duffey and Nolasco. Milone is almost a sure bet to be in the rotation.

At this point, I'm afraid I agree.

 

Though I don't really mind Milone. Also, he is putting together a really nice spring, which isn't hurting his case. 

[Dantes929]

 

I think he has the talent to be a #2-#3 type.

I don't think people here know what that is.    I have read for 15 years how the Twins have had Santana and for a short time Liriano as aces of the staff and every single other pitcher has been a #4/5 type.    I think for a short while Radke was considered a #3.      How they won division titles or competed last year with all back of the rotation guys is beyond me.   Ok, yeah that was snarky but for example I have read often of Milone being considered a AAA guy or a #5 guy but at least based on ERA his last year and career he would be considered solidly in the #3 spot.   I think we have a rotation full of solid #3 guys and May had potential to be more and maybe Duffey and Berrios do as well.

[bluechipper]

 

At this point, I'm afraid I agree.

 

Though I don't really mind Milone. Also, he is putting together a really nice spring, which isn't hurting his case. 

Ryan seemed very impressed by his spring performance, plus he kind of emphasized how he would like to have a left hander in the rotation during the telecast tonight.

[tobi0040]

Some people are in love with the concept of "a power arm"--to the point of overlooking the other elements of pitching.

What is interesting to me is the varying views regarding May and Gibson. Both of these guys had a terrible ERA their first 50 innings. The next year they put up an ERA in the mid 4's starting (May with better k numbers).

 

Then May goes to the pen. Gibson the next year has a 3.84 ERA. Still not great peripherals and a majority of the folks on another thread want to extend Gibson 4-5 years.

[blairpaul715]

 

I don't think people here know what that is.    I have read for 15 years how the Twins have had Santana and for a short time Liriano as aces of the staff and every single other pitcher has been a #4/5 type.    I think for a short while Radke was considered a #3.      How they won division titles or competed last year with all back of the rotation guys is beyond me.   Ok, yeah that was snarky but for example I have read often of Milone being considered a AAA guy or a #5 guy but at least based on ERA his last year and career he would be considered solidly in the #3 spot.   I think we have a rotation full of solid #3 guys and May had potential to be more and maybe Duffey and Berrios do as well.

IMO that is rose colored glasses..........Teams dont trade #3 pitchers for 5th OF or AAAA  guys like the A's did with the Twins..........Milone is a 4 at best, and I like him, I also like May, but think he is a 4 also, IMO Nolasco is a 4 or possibly 3 as he pitched in the past, Hughes is a 3-4 guy, and Santana and Gibson are solid 3's.......that is a pretty good rotation IMO...........IMO Berrios is a 3 with an upside of MAYBE a 2.

[h2oface]

Here's to May becoming the Twins' "Wade Davis". At least they aren't jerking him around anymore, which is what they were doing. When the team is constructed with out of position players asked to do something that they were not groomed to do, one can only hope for surprises and that things go better than expected.

Edited March 17, 2016 by h2oface

[h2oface]

 

IMO that is rose colored glasses..........Teams dont trade #3 pitchers for 5th OF or AAAA  guys like the A's did with the Twins..........Milone is a 4 at best, and I like him, I also like May, but think he is a 4 also, IMO Nolasco is a 4 or possibly 3 as he pitched in the past, Hughes is a 3-4 guy, and Santana and Gibson are solid 3's.......that is a pretty good rotation IMO...........IMO Berrios is a 3 with an upside of MAYBE a 2.

A rotation made up of self rated 3-5's, and that is a pretty good rotation? I am sure glad my standards and hopes have not been converted by endless mediocrity into talking myself into thinking that a rotation of 3-5s is a pretty good rotation.

Edited March 17, 2016 by h2oface

[nicksaviking]

This news wouldn't be half as disappointing if Ryan also had said that Nolasco too is out of consideration.

[Wizard11]

It certainly would have been more forthright to just tell Trevor May at the beginning of camp what his role would be.  Whether or not one agrees with this deployment of his skills, most could agree that it was pretty shabby to perpetrate the fiction that he was ever in consideration for a starting role.  Anyone who has had the experience of being deceived by their bosses knows it is not a great way to win loyalty or build morale.  Not sure what it accomplished as they were going to have to tell May what his real role was eventually anyway.

Edited March 17, 2016 by Wizard11

[The Wise One]

Being in the bullpen will not hurt May's contract . If he becomes a great reliever he will make more money than being a mediocre starter.  Nothing says he will be great as a reliever, then again nothing saying he would be great as a starter

[AlwaysinModeration]

From the article, quoting Terry Ryan: "I don't know why he can't be a starter in the major leagues."

 

I do. The Twins aren't letting him. That quote makes it seem as though it isn't a specific decision they are making, that they have no recourse in the matter.

 

May appears to me to be one of the five best starting options on the team and was last year as well. This decision, both last year and this year, has hurt the team's overall ability to win games.

 

So it is disappointing, although, as many have said, not at all surprising. Aim for mediocrity, and you might succeed.

[Riverbrian]

 

 

Last night during the game Terry Ryan said that he thinks May will be a 7th/8th inning guy.

 

My opinion ... May was Beautiful in the pen last year.

 

He was OK as a starter last year but he was beautiful in the pen.

 

I do agree that the Twins should have done more to strengthen the bullpen this year but... If they would have picked up Drew Pomeranz and Drew Storen for this year... I still would have put May in the pen and he'd be my top set up guy... Over Jepsen, Pomeranz and Storen.

[Blackjack]

 

Actually that would be a factor for May as early as his arbitration seasons. Getting only $1.3 mil in his first big payday (like Fien & Jepsen) rather than $2.7 mil (like Milone) kind of sucks for the player. Especially when he could get hurt at any time and that could be his peak earnings.

"only 1.3 million" -- How many of us will make 1.3 million in our lifetime? May was a very average starter when he had the chance, now having him in the pen makes the Twins a better team, thats all I care about.

[Boom Boom]

Two problems with this.

 

1. If the need arises for a starter some time during the season it will not be May because he won't be stretched out.

 

2. May might make the bullpen better, but so would Ervin Santana and Tyler Duffey if they were put there.

[Boom Boom]

From the article, quoting Terry Ryan: "I don't know why he can't be a starter in the major leagues."

 

I do. The Twins aren't letting him. That quote makes it seem as though it isn't a specific decision they are making, that they have no recourse in the matter.

 

May appears to me to be one of the five best starting options on the team and was last year as well. This decision, both last year and this year, has hurt the team's overall ability to win games.

 

So it is disappointing, although, as many have said, not at all surprising. Aim for mediocrity, and you might succeed.

Yup... the Twins had made up their minds that May was a reliever long before spring training. It's a large part of the reason that they did not acquire relief help.

 

If I was May I would feel jerked around that the Twins said he was in the mix to start. That was never the case.

[mikecgrimes]

He has a chance to be great in the bullpen and very good as a starter. Both are great options. If a situation emerges where we might need him as a starter and because he's been in the pen it doesn't work oh well. If we go into the season with May as a starter it's an if. With him in the bullpen it's not. Add to that this makes berrios that much closer to getting the call when ready and it seems like an brainer to me. As for May's potential future pay the bullpen pay is trending way up by the time he becomes a free agent I expect $10 million to be his low end.

Edited March 17, 2016 by mikecgrimes

[Platoon]

He took it with the respect for the manager and the pitching coach that this is the way we're going to go. I don't know that he was pleased." Something tells me this won't be the quote if they have the "resolve" to send Ricky to the BP!

[markos]

 

 

Ryan indicated that he still sees May as a good starter but understand that for this team right now, it is best that May go to the bullpen.

"I envision him being a future starter. I don't know why he can't be a starter in the major leagues," He continued, "He's got the pitches. He's got the strength. He's shown he can do it. Right now, for this ball club, it seems to be a better fit coming out of the bullpen."

There is a decent chance that moving May to the bullpen - especially in a one-inning, high-leverage role - will permanently end his chances of being an effective starter. Some pitchers have been able to bounce back and forth effectively, but others (ex. Joba Chamberlain, Neftali Feliz, Alexi Ogando) were never able to get go back to starting. I don't expect Ryan to admit that publicly, but I do wonder if they understand that risk internally.

[Platoon]

Short of a couple injuries this was a forgone conclusion. Some other teams would have packaged Milone and another MiLB player for a trade, ate Nolascos salary, moved May back to the rotation, and used a combo of in house younger relievers, with one good acquisition. I know that's expensive, and proactive. But it could have been done. The Twins will let this play out for the first half of the year. It's a well known fact that games lost in April and May don't count in the standings! I don't disagree that May is an excellent late inning reliever. That said, the Twins aren't exactly sitting on a SP gold mine either!

[TheLeviathan]

 

There is a decent chance that moving May to the bullpen - especially in a one-inning, high-leverage role - will permanently end his chances of being an effective starter. Some pitchers have been able to bounce back and forth effectively, but others (ex. Joba Chamberlain, Neftali Feliz, Alexi Ogando) were never able to get go back to starting. I don't expect Ryan to admit that publicly, but I do wonder if they understand that risk internally.

 

I think this is an important point for any holding hope that May can return to the rotation in the future.  It's just so uncommon for guys to flip back and forth successfully that we can pretty much mourn May's potential as a starter today.  

 

I hope he turns into a brilliant reliever, but I can't help thinking the team made a mistake here.

[HitInAPinch]

Listening to the game yesterday, I like what TR did:  he was straight forward and showed respect for May and his potential to be a starter.

May took it like a man; he showed respect for the team and those making the decision.

Honestly, I don't think there was any super-secret plan involved here to keep May in the BP.  He was a victim of his success last year. 

 

It is not all that uncommon for a pitcher to come up in MiLB as a starter and begin his MLB career in BP.  Chris Sale is one [for 2 years], Adam Wainwright another.  May is 26, which makes it a little strange.  But that seems like "The Twins Way" when handling MiLB starters.

[alarp33]

 

Two problems with this.

1. If the need arises for a starter some time during the season it will not be May because he won't be stretched out.

2. May might make the bullpen better, but so would Ervin Santana and Tyler Duffey if they were put there.

 

Phil Hughes has actually been a very good reliever at one point.  If they wouldn't have stupidly extended him with 2 years already left on his deal, he would be the one headed out there.

[lukeduke1980]

Isn't this good because it might mean Berrios will be one of the next rotation options when someone is needed?