I really hope the failure to add a good bullpen arm or two doesn't burn them. They were sitting right there on the free agent market waiting to get snatched up.

 

Most of the models have them in the 75-77 range, which really is not that far away from being in the playoff hunt. Doubly so if the rotation stabilizes a little better than expected. 

If they end up with 75-77 wins that means they likely are in the wild card hunt until late August if not later. What is the average #2 Wild Card's record?  87-90 wins?  -  Also off subject, 2015 NL Wild Card Teams had 98 (Pirates) and 97 (Cubs) Wins.  The NL Central was really good that year. . . .

 

Anyways, back to my earlier thing. If the Twins end up with 77 or so wins I doubt there is a big sell-off but perhaps Falvey and Levine will be smart and use what will likely be a well performing rotation to get back some nice pieces for a 2018 and on.  

 

Has any team intentionally turned over 80% of its rotation in 1 year? I have no idea, but it seems unlikely to me.

 

Well unintentionally is an option also.

 

Well unintentionally is an option also.

 

really? Huh.

 

snark aside, we are talking about their plan for the year, right? People keep saying I should "expect" 3-4 different starters, as they trade off players and just cut some. I'm asking if any team has really planned to basically do that, as opposed to occasionally replace injured players for 3-7 starts. 

 

really? Huh.

 

snark aside, we are talking about their plan for the year, right? People keep saying I should "expect" 3-4 different starters, as they trade off players and just cut some. I'm asking if any team has really planned to basically do that, as opposed to occasionally replace injured players for 3-7 starts. 

 

Judging by the rhetoric regarding the front office's preference for veterans, yeah, I'd agree that's almost certainly not the plan.

 

I'd say hope for "unintentionally" but that probably involves at least and injury or two and I'd not actually hope for that.

If one is "optomistic" (sic) about this rotation, perhaps one needs to see an optometrist.

Judging by the rhetoric regarding the front office's preference for veterans, yeah, I'd agree that's almost certainly not the plan.

 

I'd say hope for "unintentionally" but that probably involves at least and injury or two and I'd not actually hope for that.

A couple days ago there was great lament concerning Vogelsong being the 5th SP and virtually locked in to a spot. We know how that turned out. The Twins are clearly looking at Duffey...who I still like and has looked good again...and Mejia and Berrios. There is no question someone else will be needed at some point, for whatever reason (s), so all 3 could see significant action this season for various reasons and degrees.

 

Was it Nick or Brock...I can't remember now...that caught so much flack a couple months ago about not giving up on the 2017 season before it even began? Regardless, this team is/has been in rebuild mode, without publicly stating such. But there is a difference between rebuilding and giving up on a season, vs rebuilding and still trying to put the best team on the field.

 

Daley and Levine, in their limited time on the job, appear to be taking the latter approach. And I can't find myself disagreeing with it. They improved the catching. The OF, left side if the infield, at least one SP are all very young.

 

And believe me, I'd absolutely love to see Berrios AND Mejia in the rotation, as well as Duffey there or the bullpen and maybe a couple September call ups or 2. But the reality is that invites speed bumps and possible losing. The FO wants to rebuild and get better, but not just concede anything. I actually like that.

 

NOT going to drag this on longer, but Gibson IS a big comeback option. Santana IS still good. You ARE paying Hughes no matter what, he was injured, he IS talented, there IS a real possibility of rebound. Great article here on TD about Santiago and possibilities there.

 

Crazy, blinded optimist or not, I think there is something here to work with and hope for. And I don't believe the new FO is necessarily committed to anyone in particular or reluctant to make change. That may be the most important item of all.

I'm optimistic about Santana and Gibson. Not so much Hughes and Santiago. Berrios and/or Mejia have a lot and some upside, respectively.  Hope one of them gets the call for the fifth spot and Duffey starts in the pen.

Edited March 25, 20179 yr by nytwinsfan

 

Can he make the other teams' bats disappear!?

 

Unfortunately, the pitchers would still have to throw strikes.

 

I'm optimistic about Santana and Gibson. Not so much Hughes and Santiago. Berrios and/or Mejia have a lot and some upside, respectively.  Hope one of them gets the call for the fifth spot and Duffey starts in the pen.

 

I'm actually very optimistic about Gibson and Santana.  Santiago is what he is.  If he does anything close to his career norms, I'll be pretty happy. I'm also optimistic that one of Berrios/Mejia steps it up and holds their own this year.  That rotation won't be top of the baseball, but it could be much better than the bottom third.

I want to be optimistic about the rotation, but when it appears Jose Berrios won't possibly join the team until July that doesn't give me much optimism. Why do I feel this way? Well, both Duffey and Mejia have moved ahead of Berrios in the battle for the #5 spot in the rotation and with Berrios' time in the WBC being a real detriment to his development this year it will be a while before he is seen as "MLB" ready.