In his hometown newspaper, the Worcester Telegram, there is a very nice article on Twins LH RP Ryan O'Rourke.

 

It starts by talking about his DFA early in the 2016 season and how that is often a very bad thing for players in-season. But O'Rourke went about his business and came back to the Twins in August. 

 

He also talked a little about the atmosphere in the clubhouse in 2016 compared to 2015 as well as his time in Venezuelan League.

 

http://www.telegram.com/sports/20161210/worcesters-ryan-orourke-pitches-way-back-to-majors-with-twins

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"Last year we'd end a game and it was, like, we're one game closer to the playoffs," he said. "This year, it was, we're one game closer to the end of the year, because you knew we were not going to make the playoffs. It was tough, it was not the same, I can tell you that."

 

Worrisome. O'Rourke doesn't have the breadth of experience to make this quote a searing indictment. On its face, it hardly qualifies as more than "duh, what do you expect?" But it's a data point.

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Fixed, now?

Yes, Thanks. 

Maybe some good will come of this for O'Rourke. 

For the Twins, there never can be a enough pitching competition.

In what hopefully and surely will be a somewhat re-worked pen next season...I still advocate a bounceback closer signing to possibly flip...there is clearly room for a second LA. Based on his overall mlb track record and flashes he's shown with the Twins, I wouldn't rule out O'Rourke as a helpful piece if used properly. When healthy, Boshers was also solid.

 

As to any comments O'Rourke made, they just seem rather obvious to me from a team frustrated and losing a lot. I wouldn't be too down on him for saying what he said.

These are the important numbers as far as O'Rourke goes:

 

31 PA, 2 H, 3 BB, 11 K, .071/.167/.192

 

pretty much lights out against LHB.  He should not be facing a single right handed batter. Period.  Unfortunately the manager had him face 70.  Hopefully this will not be repeated next season.

Edited December 11, 20169 yr by Thrylos

Yeah, honestly I don't get how someone can take an obvious LOOGY and try to turn them into a guy who can pitch against anyone, especially in 2016/2017!

It's one thing if the Twins are losing by 3-4 runs and you don't want to destroy the pen, but under no circumstances should O'Rourke be facing righties if it's a 1-2 run game (either way)

O'Rourke has the opp to be one of the elite LOOGY's in baseball, at worst he can net us a decent haul if we trade him and at best he can be a key cog in a contending Twins team bullpen

 

O'Rourke has the opp to be one of the elite LOOGY's in baseball, at worst he can net us a decent haul if we trade him and at best he can be a key cog in a contending Twins team bullpen

 

Yeah.  Consider O'Rourke the new Duensing.

First, it's not realistic that he face zero right-handed batters and only lefties. 

 

Second, he's added some pitches and 2016 was the right time to work on them against lefties and righties.

 

2016.... pitching wasn't good... they needed guys to sometimes pitch in roles they wouldn't when things are going well. 

 

In 2017 hopefully they have SP who will go 6-7 innings more often and relievers can fit into roles that are better for them and the team.

It's very realistic to only face lefties in the scenario I provided above. Or at least 95% of the time when it's a close game.

First, it's not realistic that he face zero right-handed batters and only lefties.

 

Second, he's added some pitches and 2016 was the right time to work on them against lefties and righties.

 

2016.... pitching wasn't good... they needed guys to sometimes pitch in roles they wouldn't when things are going well.

 

In 2017 hopefully they have SP who will go 6-7 innings more often and relievers can fit into roles that are better for them and the team.

if it was a punt, then why was he DFA'd? Agreed it's not feasible to be a strict loogy when your starting rotation is pitching 4-1/3 every night, but 70 righties/30 lefties? C'mon give the guy a chance

Edited December 13, 20169 yr by Sconnie

 

2016.... pitching wasn't good... they needed guys to sometimes pitch in roles they wouldn't when things are going well. 

 

In 2017 hopefully they have SP who will go 6-7 innings more often and relievers can fit into roles that are better for them and the team.

 

Agreed with both.  Maybe the problem was that the manager had too quick a hook for his starters.  If the pitching is not good, there is no reason to take the starter out before he pitches as long and he can, no matter the score.  

 

Manager's choice to give quick hooks.  Let them in for 5-6 or 100 pitches.  Who cares about the score?