According to Mike Berardino, Alex Meyer will start the season in the Rochester rotation.  I'm somewhat surprised by this move, but it is easier to move someone from the rotation to the bullpen than vice-versa.  Also, of note in the Beradino's article was Alex Meyer's preference to pitch relief.  I was not aware of that preference.

 

http://www.twincities.com/2016/03/21/minnesota-twins-alex-meyer/

Maybe he should work on perfecting the 2 pitches he has, and not on a 3rd pitch........

 

Also, of note in the Beradino's article was Alex Meyer's preference to pitch relief.  I was not aware of that preference.

 

 

To be fair, some if not most of Meyer's "preference" for pitching relief may be that he sees that as his clearest and fastest path onto the MLB roster.  Which is undoubtedly true.

 

To be fair, some if not most of Meyer's "preference" for pitching relief may be that he sees that as his clearest and fastest path onto the MLB roster.  Which is undoubtedly true.

Completely agree.  So now if you include the original 8 people competing for 5 starting spots, we now how 9.  #math

 

Seems like it would take a disaster in Minnesota or complete domination in Rochester for him have a shot at starting in MN.

Let's all hope this kid is a late bloomer. Something seems missing in his attitude. 

I like the move. I'd keep trying him as a starter until he's out of options, then try to wedge him into relief. It's not like he's going to learn any less being a starter than he would a reliever, he's going to AAA regardless. His path may be easier as a reliever, but the Twins already have multiple bullpen guys who can do what he does and meet his potential, they can't say the same for the rotation.

 

If he flops as a starter at Rochester, I'm sure it will be a short experiment anyway. And sorry Red Wing fans, I would fail a polygraph if I were asked if I cared more about the AAA team's record than I did about the player development.

 

 

 

https://twitter.com/SethTweets/status/711961950805045249 

 

Let's all hope this kid is a late bloomer. Something seems missing in his attitude. 

If I remember correctly he was very close to his Grandpa who died right before ST last year.  I think he was a mentor and helped Alex and his parents a lot.  So maybe that attitude last year was more of him never really have a chance to grieve since he basically went straight to trying to make a major league roster which didn't end up well.  Hopefully now he has had a chance to have a few months of family time and take care of personal things so he can be right mentally.

Edited March 21, 201610 yr by Loosey

I endorse this move 100%. If he couldn't make the MLB bullpen, he needed to get back in the rotation in AAA. First things first, someone needs to fix this guy. Doesn't matter if he's starting or in the pen if he doesn't know where his pitches are going to end up. 

Yup, the more innings the better for fixing what's wrong and for building up strength. Nothing to lose here, except maybe a few games in the AAA standings.

I should note I like the move.  I was just surprised the Twins made it.  I thought for sure he was heading to the bullpen especially with all of the starting options on this team.  Good on the Twins to give him the opportunity, I hope he comes back around to be a top line prospect.

 

To be fair, some if not most of Meyer's "preference" for pitching relief may be that he sees that as his clearest and fastest path onto the MLB roster.  Which is undoubtedly true.

 

A $40k paycheck versus a $500k paycheck. 

 

You have to really wonder about the MLB numbers.

 

Ervin, Hughes, and Gibson are locks.  Milone likely is too.  Duffey is going to get a shot.  Berrios is going to bump someone if he has good numbers in a month or two.  We say May can move back.  We send Meyer to AAA. 

 

I would not be surprised if Milone is moved in the next 1-2 months.

Edited March 21, 201610 yr by tobi0040

 

I endorse this move 100%. If he couldn't make the MLB bullpen, he needed to get back in the rotation in AAA. First things first, someone needs to fix this guy. Doesn't matter if he's starting or in the pen if he doesn't know where his pitches are going to end up. 

They have had him three years!  Either they "can't fix him"--or he "wasn't broken" in the first place and the Twins decided he "needed fix'in".  It seems that Meyer should soon qualify to be a minor league free agent.

It doesn't look like Meyer's been the same since his shoulder injury/Rick Anderson leaving the organization.  The last part was mostly a joke, not trying to start a holy war, Harris.  I'm all for having him repeat his motion at 90% 90 times vs. 25 times at 110%.  His stuff seems much more suited to starting than relieving now.  His days of throwing 98 mph and rolling sliders off of table tops may be done, but a 94 mph fastball and a slider with average bite is good enough if you can hit corners and mix in a change.  Difficult task to reinvent his style, but might be his last best shot not involving a knuckleball.  I wish him the very best of luck.

 

They have had him three years!  Either they "can't fix him"--or he "wasn't broken" in the first place and the Twins decided he "needed fix'in".  It seems that Meyer should soon qualify to be a minor league free agent.

Can't argue with you there. I don't know enough about the situation to know what is the case. For a brief period in time things were clicking for Meyer which warranted the high prospect ranking. Last year was a complete train wreck for him, and this spring so far shows not much has changed. 

We could be looking back 2-3 years from now and remember him as a highly ranked prospect that flamed out in the minors. 

 

If I remember correctly he was very close to his Grandpa who died right before ST last year.  I think he was a mentor and helped Alex and his parents a lot.  So maybe that attitude last year was more of him never really have a chance to grieve since he basically went straight to trying to make a major league roster which didn't end up well.  Hopefully now he has had a chance to have a few months of family time and take care of personal things so he can be right mentally.

His dog died too, right around the same time. I think it was a hyper-emotional spring last year, and it took a toll. 

It's going to be a tougher road to get on the Twins roster as a starter. But who knows, maybe some competition will fuel Meyer to pitch better. Also, not that he is as good as Randy Johnson, but being so tall could make him a late bloomer just like Johnson. With the pitching depth in the minors as good as it is, if Meyer makes it that is a plus for the Twins, if he doesn't we have some starting pitching prospects down the line who will have their shot as well.

 

His dog died too, right around the same time. I think it was a hyper-emotional spring last year, and it took a toll. 

I think you're kidding about the dog, right? Did his kitty kat die too? I mean come on, you're kidding, right?

 

I think you're kidding about the dog, right? Did his kitty kat die too? I mean come on, you're kidding, right?

Ouch man. He had a puppy and it died. Speaking from experience, my own two-year old dog died on me a while back and it was one of the most traumatic experiences of my life. So, no, not kidding. Good question though. 

Anyway, point is, he's been through a lot, and it's probably tough to raise your arm angle when you can't lift your head up. 

 

I think he's still got it in him to be real good. I'm pulling for him. 

This was the move I was hoping for.  Seems like there's plenty of BP - type guys in a pretty deep pipeline.

He's got a lot of arm and legs to get under control. 

Well, hopefully, this works out.  He still has the stuff to be a big time starter but his control went haywire.  In a perfect world, it all works out for him.  

 

Anyway, point is, he's been through a lot, and it's probably tough to raise your arm angle when you can't lift your head up. 

 

I think he's still got it in him to be real good. I'm pulling for him. 

Yes, me too. Of course.

If the guy was going to be a big time starter, he'd be one by now.  Yes, there have been some rare, HOF players like Big Unit who bloomed late but those guys are rare and even Unit had a full season of starts under him at 25 and was an All Star at 26.

 

Meyer is 26 and is still working on his pitches and being shuffled between being a reliever and a starter in the minors. Maybe one of these days he'll be a serviceable reliever.

 

He's in our organization so I'm rooting for him, but so far, it's been ugly.

Edited March 21, 201610 yr by jimmer

Perhaps Meyer prefers to relieve because of the shoulder problems that plague him year after year? Around late July/early August?

 

If the guy was going to be a big time starter, he'd be one by now.  Yes, there have been some rare, HOF players like Big Unit who bloomed late but those guys are rare and even Unit had a full season of starts under him at 25 and was an All Star at 26.

 

Meyer is 26 and is still working on his pitches and being shuffled between being a reliever and a starter in the minors. Maybe one of these days he'll be a serviceable reliever.

 

He's in our organization so I'm rooting for him, but so far, it's been ugly.

I don't think anyone is asking him to become a HOF pitcher.  If he can become a good starting pitcher that makes the waiting worth it.  That being said, I think this is make or break time for him at least as a starter.  If he can't start then move him back to the pen and hope he catches on well there.  If that doesn't work out unfortunately he may become one of the many high-end prospects that just didn't pan out.  But I am hoping for good starting pitcher and think he has the stuff do it,

The Twins have exactly one pitcher with ace potential.  Makes zero sense to want to pitch him in relief.

He's almost 26.....at what point do you just have him get good at 2 pitches, and get value out of that arm/body, vs continuing to try to get him to be a starter?

 

He's almost 26.....at what point do you just have him get good at 2 pitches, and get value out of that arm/body, vs continuing to try to get him to be a starter?

I don't think there's as much conflict there as you do.  If he's starting, he's going to get to throw more pitches and innings.  Obviously, control is a big issue for him which he can work on more as a starter.  I think it makes sense to make him start at AAA if he isn't going to be in the MLB bullpen.  

 

I don't think there's as much conflict there as you do.  If he's starting, he's going to get to throw more pitches and innings.  Obviously, control is a big issue for him which he can work on more as a starter.  I think it makes sense to make him start at AAA if he isn't going to be in the MLB bullpen.  

 

I think you are right.  They just want him to throw more pitches.  Are they holding out a little hope for another year like 2014?  Maybe, but it is just so much easier to move from rotation to pen than the other way around.  Especially since a next step from AAA would likely be as a long reliever.