Trevor May...what would you do?

[tobi0040]

yeah, I really cannot criticize the Span trade. We needed pitching, and got a highly respected one. I htink it's a bit revisionist to go back and say we got fleeced. Any trade involves risks, especially when trading a known commodity for an unkown. That's where upside replaces said risk. Meyer may fail, the trade wasn't bad.

I remember comments at the time that teams are generally not as willing to trade Pitchers in AA or AAA because they are so close.

 

If the choice is between a number three or four upside starter in AA or AAA or Meyer in A ball, I am taking Meyer every time. That has been my frustration with the Twins drafting a lower ceiling guy like Wimmers in the first round.

 

I think we tend to forget how imperfect this science is. Many sure things weren't. The Twins were idiots for taking Mauer over Prior. In this case, Meyer has basically had three consecutive years Of shoulder issues.

 

And pitchers are generally hurt more than outfielders. But you need pitching to win. So that is the risk you take.

[King]

He needs to be moved back to the rotation.

[Mike Sixel]

It would appear. alas, that he's a RP this year. I don't get it.

[Rosterman]

Yeah, I would've stretched him out, at least with the thought for long relief (going 3-4 innings). And kept him at Rochester thru the All-Star break...leaving Boshers in the majors.

 

I'm not sure what the organizational discussion is, though. If he is to remain in the bullpen, make him the closer...but can he pitch 3 or so straight days. Or does he need timeoff between innings (which puts him in long relief or situationals). Or you make him a starter.

 

He got pushed to the bullpen last season because of too many guys in the mix (notably Pelfrey and then Milone). Somehow, same this season -- with too much stock put into playing the contracts and pushing May behind Berrios and Duffy in the scheme of things. Not to mention Milone. So they kept him in the pen.

 

I'm not seeing any plan forming, from line-up construction, to going after a perfect bullpen (long, short, ground balls, flyouts, K's), to eliminating the logjams at shortstop and DH/1B, and not realizing that you ALWAYS play your best players, You don't play players JUST BECAUSE they are making a ton of money that you mistakenly gave them.

 

[tobi0040]

I'm not seeing any plan forming, from line-up construction, to going after a perfect bullpen (long, short, ground balls, flyouts, K's), to eliminating the logjams at shortstop and DH/1B, and not realizing that you ALWAYS play your best players, You don't play players JUST BECAUSE they are making a ton of money that you mistakenly gave them.

The rebuild is just starting, the plan will be forming soon. Stay tuned.

[laloesch]

Stay tuned.  This isn't over yet. 

 

I know this isn't Ryan's forte but I have a sneaking suspicion that several starters might be moved, DFA'd or released before the trade deadline (Nolasco, Milone and or Santana).  If that happens Berrios is back in the rotation first thing.  Then May is the next in line depending on how many guys get moved.

 

[tobi0040]

Stay tuned.  This isn't over yet. 

 

I know this isn't Ryan's forte but I have a sneaking suspicion that several starters might be moved, DFA'd or released before the trade deadline (Nolasco, Milone and or Santana).  If that happens Berrios is back in the rotation first thing.  Then May is the next in line depending on how many guys get moved.

I would be pleasantly surprised if Nolasco and Milone are DFA'd. But I see no chance we cut or trade three starters.

 

I think they have May ticketed to close, which is a terrible move. He was just down in Rochester pitching multiple days in a row on rehab. If he was going to be moved to the rotation that just doesn't make any sense.

[nytwinsfan]

IF we trade E. Santana, they need to send May down to Rochester to stretch him out and then have him start during the second half of August and September.  Get him ready for 2017.  If they only trade Nolasco, I'd still probably do that, but I doubt Terry Ryan would.  May has an option left right? Can they send him down to stretch him out?

[Dantes929]

Especially with guys finally stepping up in the pen the rotation of Santana, Gibson, Duffey, Berrios and May would make me very happy.    If they totally blew you would not hear a peep from me.

[laloesch]

 

IF we trade E. Santana, they need to send May down to Rochester to stretch him out and then have him start during the second half of August and September.  Get him ready for 2017.  If they only trade Nolasco, I'd still probably do that, but I doubt Terry Ryan would.  May has an option left right? Can they send him down to stretch him out?

 

That's a good point.  I don't know how many options he has left.  If they are trying to conserve those options they probably won't send him down now for the rest of the season.  I don't buy the closer argument either.  If that was the case they would have started working him into that role by now.  Simply isn't the case.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

The rebuild is just starting, the plan will be forming soon. Stay tuned.

nothing keeps a fan base like a 12 year rebuild

[Richie the Rally Goat]

I would be pleasantly surprised if Nolasco and Milone are DFA'd. But I see no chance we cut or trade three starters.

 

I think they have May ticketed to close, which is a terrible move. He was just down in Rochester pitching multiple days in a row on rehab. If he was going to be moved to the rotation that just doesn't make any sense.

i think you are right, no chance they change over 3/5 of the rotation mid season. At most they trade Santana and DFA Milone (probably not Nolasco because contract/innings eaten). Most likely only one of those moves happen.

 

I also agree (I assume) in TRs mind May is ticketed for closer. While May should start, he won't cuz he's a reliever now, but they still need to limit the number of days in a row and number of pitches. closer is a good way to do it; and it maximize his value.

 

They have painted themselves into a corner. Can't rely on Perkins, they aren't going to rely on Tonkin, Kintzler, Abad, Presley. We all know TR isn't going to repeat the Ramos/Capps deal, and sure as heck won't spend closer money in FA.

 

If TR logic stands... May has to be the closer

[h2oface]

May is proving he sucks as a relief pitcher. ERA now 6.06. No movement on the fastball. I don't get what you guys see in him as a starter either. The Twins don't need another 4-5 ERA pitcher, period. Japan or Korea. AAAA.

[Danchat]

 

May is proving he sucks as a relief pitcher. ERA now 6.06. No movement on the fastball. I don't get what you guys see in him as a starter either. The Twins don't need another 4-5 ERA pitcher, period. Japan or Korea. AAAA.

We see the half-season as a starter in 2015. He may have had a 4.37 ERA when he was benched, but his FIP (can't locate the exact stat, but it was somewhere in the 3s) indicated he was better than his ERA and his 71/18 K/BB ratio was fantastic. Not only was he striking out batters, but he finally wasn't walking them anymore. He continued looking good even after he was sent to the bullpen.

 

I don't know what's up with May right now, especially with his lackluster fastball. I'm guessing he's still hurt or something like that, but I don't think this is what May is going to look like for the rest of his career. The Twins need to figure him out before he joins the long list of failed prospects.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I for one hope that there's some roster cleared out this offseason and May is given a shot to start. I want him to have a legit shot to start in what will likely be at best a season of pretending. 200 IP of a 3 starter in baseball is still better than 60 elite innings in the pen in my opinion.  I think May's floor as a starter is 200 IP of a 3 starter, and I want to give him a real opportunity to see if he can achieve that.

[Jham]

 

I for one hope that there's some roster cleared out this offseason and May is given a shot to start. I want him to have a legit shot to start in what will likely be at best a season of pretending. 200 IP of a 3 starter in baseball is still better than 60 elite innings in the pen in my opinion.  I think May's floor as a starter is 200 IP of a 3 starter, and I want to give him a real opportunity to see if he can achieve that.

That's his floor?  Count me in then but consider me a HUGE skeptic on both levels.  He blames his back injury on over-striding (trying to throw too hard) and others speculate short turn arounds.  Last I checked, you're supposed to keep your stride the same regardless of pen or starter.  I have zero confidence that he can stay healthy as a starter if he is breaking down in the pen.  Zero.  I have never even heard of the argument that starting is less strenuous and less likely to lead to injuries.  On top of that his wildness has returned to normal.  He leads all relievers in wild pitches despite time on the DL and in Rochester.  He struggled with pitch counts even when an effective starter.  200 IP is a virtual impossibility in my mind as of next year.

 

I love your optimism, but your floor is my ceiling for the guy.  I'd still like to see him start and have a chance at that ceiling (I don't see him as a closer either) because even a functional starter is more valuable.  I just wouldn't count on May to make 35 starts next year and jettison someone for nothing in order to pave the way.
 

[toosweet64]

 

May is proving he sucks as a relief pitcher. ERA now 6.06. No movement on the fastball. I don't get what you guys see in him as a starter either. The Twins don't need another 4-5 ERA pitcher, period. Japan or Korea. AAAA.

Agree 100% on this. May fell off prospect lists very quickly due to poor control and hasn't shown that he can get anybody out as a starter. And now, he can't get anybody out as a reliever either. I've said for the longest time that he's Swarzak 2.0 and he's finally proving it. Long relief guy AT BEST.  Just stop with the starter stuff. #3 starter? Please....

[Han Joelo]

May was one of those mid-tiered guys I thought would/should/needed to take it to the next level this season.  I thought he had a leadership mentality.  As the bullpen was imploding, I really hoped he would have stepped up and seized the closer job.

 

Some guys, like a Smoltz for instance, are good in whatever role you give them.  Not sure what to think of May at this point.  I'm not opposed to giving him a chance to start again, but I have no more confidence in him being any kind of difference maker at this point than I do Meyer will.  Maybe less.  

 

There may have been some mismanagement here, but then again, maybe he is who they thought he was.

[OldTimeTwinkie]

Is May not Pelfry 2.0

[DocBauer]

Going back a page or two, I'm going to disagree with Stringer on being OK with May's move to the pen last year. It should have been Pelfrey. May was far younger, was exhibiting improvement, has better stuff, and should be part of the future. Pelfrey had a couple decent starts and management fell in live with him. He would have been a much better choice.

 

I also don't understand misgivings about May physically. Unless I've forgotten something, he was a horse in his milb days. Sometimes guys just get hurt.

 

For a team that has had such a hard time finding and developing quality young starters, him being stuck in the pen is almost unforgivable. Get him back to starting. If the improvement he showed last season doesn't follow through, he can always be turned to the pen again.

[TheLeviathan]

I wish, for Trevor May, that we could hit the ol' reset button with a much better GM calling the shots for this season.  

 

We sometimes lose sight of the injustice May has been on the receiving end of by focusing on the myriad of other head slapping decisions.

[twins_89]

Looking at the starting pitching options for the rest of this year and the beginning of next year I'm not seeing 5 guys I'd rather have in the rotation over May. Gibson seems like about the only relatively safe bet to be in the rotation to start next year. Hopefully none of the Nolasco/Milone/Dean group we've seen this year will be in the rotation. Santana might be traded and who knows when or if Hughes will be worth starting again. Duffey hasn't looked very good but is still worth a longer look. That leaves Berrios and May as legitimate options to fill out the rotation. I'd really like to see May get 10-12 starts this year so that the club can have a better idea if he is one of the teams 5 best options to start next year.

[jimmer]

If Gibson is being considered a relatively safe bet, and our only one to boot, we are truly screwed.