I still think closers have to strike people out. Kintzler doesn't do that at all. 

funny, that's precisely what he did to get the last out in the 8th yesterday. I agree he's not a K machine, but I'd rather the K machine guys go out in the 7th or 8th with runners on and a small lead then save them to the 9th after the game is already won or lost.

 

While I agree, Molitor said the decision was made because he didn't want Santana going over 100 pitches in his second start.

 

He would sound a lot smarter if he said he didn't want him to go over 96 pitches. 

 

Yeah, it was a good interview and did shed some light, but still had the sense of egg shells and kid gloves. No matter how hard some push, baseball is still stuck in Stone Age quite often. Dynamics and responsibilties should change.

 

baseball is a lot like trading stock or gambling in this aspect... lots of gut feels that get rewarded enough that you don't look at the numbers and make consistently intelligent decisions.  Not sure if that was the purpose of a guy like Pickler, but if you combine Molitor's baseball IQ with a coach smart enough to harness it, I think the end combo can be very good...

 

I still think that there will be a day when people recognize that managers are much like players in that they too can add WAR over a season.  Consistently put your team in a place to win, and they will win more games.

I'm a fan of rolling Kintzler out there for the ninth every time in a save situation. He profiles as the type of guy who can hold his own in a bases empty, three outs, hold a lead situation.

 

I'd prefer to save the better relievers for higher pressure situations with guys on base, when you need a pitcher who can miss bats.

 

A mediocre reliever can hold a two run lead for an inning 80+% of the time. That's all the team needs from Kintzler.

seems like Duffey could be the guy to trot out there when you absolutely gotta get the heart of the lineup out, regardless of inning. He's stretched out, and Moli needs a long man too. Tonkin shouldn't be the long man. Neither Tonkin nor Haley are trusted in the least, so if your starter is gassed after 2.1 but you're not out of it cuz Buck is shagging all those gappers, who do you trust?

 

Where 13 pitchers is really a 23 man roster...

 

Mejia and Hughes look like they'll guarantee Duffey is the long man until he's a starter.

 

I thought a gave a pretty good reason, backfills the other relievers into other roles (including roles you just advocated) and strengthens the bullpen as a whole.

 

There were 3-4 of them. Holland, Casilla, Feliz...

 

None of those are interesting enough for me to even move on from guys in the current bullpen. At least not in light of how much they're getting or in terms of multiple years.

 

funny, that's precisely what he did to get the last out in the 8th yesterday. I agree he's not a K machine, but I'd rather the K machine guys go out in the 7th or 8th with runners on and a small lead then save them to the 9th after the game is already won or lost.

 

The usage of Kintzler didn't make any sense to me. Bring him in with one out because he's a groundball guy and you need two outs. With two outs, bring in someone who can strike him out. In that case, that's Duffey.

 

funny, that's precisely what he did to get the last out in the 8th yesterday. I agree he's not a K machine, but I'd rather the K machine guys go out in the 7th or 8th with runners on and a small lead then save them to the 9th after the game is already won or lost.

 

Not before he hit a guy. 

 

I agree with this usage of Kintzler, but I wouldn't put Duffey as the closer. He has value as a multi-inning guy.

In my mind, this is why signing Belisle instead of a closer was a mistake. Everyone would have fit so well around a new closer, really maximized roles.

 

Duffey has value as a multi-inning guy for sure, I won't dispute that, but in a spot where you only need to get an out, that shouldn't preclude you from using him there, either. 

None of those are interesting enough for me to even move on from guys in the current bullpen. At least not in light of how much they're getting or in terms of multiple years.

So Duffey as closer?

 

Otherwise there's really not another option other than Kintzler, and Duffey as closer strikes me as even a worse use of his skillset.

Feliz last year:

 

3.52 ERA, 4.53 (!!) FIP

 

He's fool's gold.

 

85.4 percent strand rate

1.7 HR/9 (insane)

.240 BABIP

 

Opposing batters hit .207/.287/.409 against him last year. Normalized with any sort of a BABIP, he'd have gotten smoked. I don't think he made any sense for the Twins  

 

So Duffey as closer?

Otherwise there's really not another option other than Kintzler, and Duffey as closer strikes me as even a worse use of his skillset.

 

I think I'd use him there. By looking at Feliz's numbers from last year, I'm getting a distinct Michael Tonkin vibe. 

I think I'd use him there. By looking at Feliz's numbers from last year, I'm getting a distinct Michael Tonkin vibe.

Feliz would have been my last option of those mentioned. But the other options weren't great, unless Holland is actually legitimately back.

 

Feliz would have been my last option of those mentioned. But the other options weren't great, unless Holland is actually legitimately back.

 

Even if he is, that was a pretty big gamble. I don't have any interest in paying him $15 million next year -- good or not.

Even if he is, that was a pretty big gamble. I don't have any interest in paying him $15 million next year -- good or not.

Holland's $15 mil is an option, and it doesn't vest unless he's healthy and closing for most of 2017. If he's doing that, he's probably back and flippable at that price.

 

Holland's $15 mil is an option, and it doesn't vest unless he's healthy and closing for most of 2017. If he's doing that, he's probably back and flippable at that price.

 

I know it's an option vesting based on performance. I just wouldn't want to pay him $15 million for any reason. I don't believe any closer is worth that, really.

I know it's an option vesting based on performance. I just wouldn't want to pay him $15 million for any reason. I don't believe any closer is worth that, really.

The market obviously disagrees with you.

 

Averaged over 2 years, Holland's deal would only be $10.5 mil per year too.

 

I know it's an option vesting based on performance. I just wouldn't want to pay him $15 million for any reason. I don't believe any closer is worth that, really.

Who cares what the cost is?  Why is that even a factor?

 

Winning baseball games is the deciding factor.  

 

The market obviously disagrees with you.

Averaged over 2 years, Holland's deal would only be $10.5 mil per year too.

 

He signed late and with the Rockies, who had a bad offseason in terms of spending. Maybe the market disagrees with me, but I don't really care either way. There are way better ways to improve the Twins for $10.5 million per year than on a closer.

 

Who cares what the cost is?  Why is that even a factor?

 

Winning baseball games is the deciding factor.  

 

Does a closer with iffy health help a team win a lot of games? I'll hang up and listen. 

 

He signed late and with the Rockies, who had a bad offseason in terms of spending. Maybe the market disagrees with me, but I don't really care either way. There are way better ways to improve the Twins for $10.5 million per year than on a closer.

 

Like what? Not C, not 3B, not 1B, not 2B, not LF, CF, RF, not RP, apparently. I'd not sign a SS, as I think Gordon is there next year. 

 

10.5MM doesn't buy you 2/3 of a starting pitcher.

 

Does a closer with iffy health help a team win a lot of games? I'll hang up and listen. 

 

Aroldis Chapman and Kenley Jansen helping teams win a lot of games.... Your thoughts?

 

Does a closer with iffy health help a team win a lot of games? I'll hang up and listen. 

That's a different question, isn't it? 

 

Back to the money:  Does the money staying in the Pohlad's pockets help a team win a lot of games?

I would spend that money on Holland on a heartbeat if it meant that kind of performance based on the option being activated.

 

That's a different question, isn't it? 

 

Back to the money:  Does the money staying in the Pohlad's pockets help a team win a lot of games?

 

This is the part I never understand. If you are not tanking, you should be spending your budget. At least from a fan's perspective. The Pohlads being even more wealthy does nothing to make me happy at all.

 

I still think closers have to strike people out. Kintzler doesn't do that at all. 

 

I disagree with this (admittedly, I kind of hate the closer role). A closer comes in with the lead and nobody on base 95% of the time. Ks don't really matter unless he he also has a high WHIP.

 

 

Aroldis Chapman and Kenley Jansen helping teams win a lot of games.... Your thoughts?

 

Greg Holland isn't close to as good as they are. But frankly, the difference between them and him -- when healthy -- is what, a win per season?

Greg Holland isn't close to as good as they are. But frankly, the difference between them and him -- when healthy -- is what, a win per season?

So what are you saying, the difference between Holland and your closer of choice, Tyler Duffey, is even less?

 

If the best of the best bullpen arms are only negligible difference makers, then there really is no reason to worry about the pen at all?

Actually I take it back, not impressed at all:

grossman DH

Santana OF

giminez 1B

 

2nd week of season AFTER an off day?

 

I don't care if Sandy Freaking Koufax is on the mound, that lineup is a joke.

 

Same old Molitor, playing the scrubs like Danny santana waaaaayyyyyy too much.

SSS. I'm going to wait a bit before jumping to conclusions. But I'll say this, if Buxton flames out here and then predictably resurrects his career elsewhere... I'm laying a good deal of the blame on the manager. As good as the rest of the team has looked, Buxton has been the opposite, regressing if anything from last spring/summer, if that is even possible. 

 

So what are you saying, the difference between Holland and your closer of choice, Tyler Duffey, is even less?

If the best of the best bullpen arms are only negligible difference makers, then there really is no reason to worry about the pen at all?

 

That's not really what I'm saying. You can alter the leverage in which you put other pitchers in. The ninth inning isn't quite the same. Nevertheless, I'm saying all things considered, I'd rather not spend $15 million on a closer if it's my money. That's all.