Article: Finding A Jolt For The Bullpen

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Breslow has never been a long guy. He's far more likely to be flipped to a different team that will use him as a loogy. That really is all he is. He is getting lefties out better than the last couple yesrs, but he has also walked 3 of the 20 or so he has seen. That isn't helpful IMO.

I thought that would be the plan with Breslow too, but his usage so far doesn't really support it.  Pretty hard to "flip" a mop-up reliever.

 

That said, Breslow doesn't have a strong "LOOGY" history -- he usually averaged an inning per appearance in his career.  He even got the Red Sox to give him a couple starts at the end of 2015 season.  Could be reinventing himself a bit late in his career?  Not sure it would be a particularly valuable re-invention for player or team, but there you go...

[Brandon]

The good news is we have options. We could probably get Neshek in trade too. I just hope the front office takes some positive action soon and stops dickering around with retreads. If were contenders then Haley, Wilk need to go and we need bbetter results from Pressley too. Id have to check but i think most of Belisle crap is from a few really bad outings. He may need to go soon too. We can easily remake the pen and results matter.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

What I don't understand is how we cannot find one reliever that can be optioned/DFAd to allow for a rotation of some of our AAA/AA RP prospects.  I get Molitor not trusting them, but I've got to think there's enough talent in the minors to do the "see what sticks" methodology... Between Burdi, Melotakis, Bard, and Hildenberger, there are plenty of guys who can get a two to four week extended look who you can keep up if they are doing well.  I get that some are 40 man adds, and so preference would go to the guys already on the 40 for now, but this is something I'd have to think they can do.

Agreed!

 

I can buy an argument for a particular pitcher to stay at his current level, working on something specific with the coach there, etc.

 

But the Twins aren't promoting anyone worthwhile for the pen, anywhere.  The only mildly interesting bullpen guy to switch levels so far this season is Nik Turley, from AA to AAA, and he's almost 28 years old.

 

Meanwhile, stuck in AA, we have Melotakis and Rosario, both on 40-man, in their second option years.  Plus Burdi, Bard, Van Steensel, and Curtiss, all of whom would need 40-man protection after the season.  Same for Hildenberger at AAA.

 

All while Rucinski, Tepesch, and Wilk have been added to the 40-man and given MLB innings.

[yarnivek1972]

Agreed!

 

I can buy an argument for a particular pitcher to stay at his current level, working on something specific with the coach there, etc.

 

But the Twins aren't promoting anyone worthwhile for the pen, anywhere. The only mildly interesting bullpen guy to switch levels so far this season is Nik Turley, from AA to AAA, and he's almost 28 years old.

 

Meanwhile, stuck in AA, we have Melotakis and Rosario, both on 40-man, in their second option years. Plus Burdi, Bard, Van Steensel, and Curtiss, all of whom would need 40-man protection after the season. Same for Hildenberger at AAA.

 

All while Rucinski, Tepesch, and Wilk have been added to the 40-man and given MLB innings.

And they just sent Turley BACK to AA. I'm sorry, But I see zero justification for that action. If there are too many pitchers at AAA, get rid of some of them. Wimmers can go. Rucinski can go. Wilk was never needed. I'm not sure Chapman will prove worthy of a spot either, but am willing to give him a look. There is certainly nothing special about Tepesch, Slegers, Wheeler or Hurlbut. I'm certainly not suggesting letting them all go, but it's Falvey's job to evaluate these guys and construct the rosters accordingly. IMO there is too much flotsam at AAA standing in the way of the development of pieces that could potentially help at the MLB level. It's not just roster spots, it's opportunities to pitch that are being missed because the manager has to try to juggle 15 pitchers. Maybe Falvey will promote pitchers from AA. The Twins certainly don't have recent history of doing so. Did the Indians under Falvey? I honestly do not know.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

And they just sent Turley BACK to AA

Wow, I missed that about Turley going back to AA.  Yes, that is completely inexcusable.

[mikelink45]

I found this quote - "Double-A: The entrance to the “upper minors,” the jump to Double-A tends to be the most difficult for prospects, and tells us the most about them.

The Double-A level is where hitters and pitchers begin to have a plan. This is where pitchers can’t get by without a decent off-speed pitch and the hitters who can’t hit them are exposed. The competition is good, as evidenced by the fact that we see players jump from Double-A to the majors with relative frequency. Each organization has its own philosophy on doing so, but it does happen often because of the advanced level of competition. There aren’t as many players in Double-A with major league experience as there are in Triple-A, but one could argue that the pure talent level is actually higher because players are heading in an upward direction as opposed to the stagnation that tends to take place with some Triple-A players." http://www.hardballtimes.com/understanding-minor-league-levels/

 

I believe that the really good players do not have to spend time in AAA.  Remember how Kelly talked about AA back in his years.  This was his real proving ground and AAA was what filled out the roster. 

 

For me, the relief pitchers do not need AAA, they need to move to the majors.  Unlike starters, they only need two pitches and if they have them we should use the live arms in MLB. 

[yarnivek1972]

As I have said before, I am of the school of thought that believes there is some value in making a stop at AAA, even if it's a short one.  I certainly accept and acknowledge that there are those who disagree.  

 

But what is relevant is the school of thought of the guy in charge.  We just don't know yet.  Unless someone really wants to go through the Indians' pitching prospects over the last few years and see how many, if any, skipped AAA on the way up.  Current Indians closer Cody Allen did not.  He threw less than 20 innings in high A and AA combined, but more than 30 at AAA.  Perhaps that is an indication of his school of thought - because it took place right as Falvey took over, especially for high power college arms.

 

What we DO know is that the TWINS have NOT done so.  Not recently anyway.  Not with pitchers.  Seth mentioned Jose Mijares.  But Mijares did have a brief stint in AAA before being sent back down.  Only after getting hurt and then healthy was he a September call up direct from the end of the AA season. And as much as it was to help, I think it was about getting him more innings.

 

No one has mentioned anyone else and I can't think of any off the top of my head since Eric Milton, almost 20 years ago.

 

My point is that I don't see the Twins calling up Burdi (or any other pitcher) from AA.   All the more reason to jettison some of the flotsam at AAA to make room for Burdi, et al.

[Don't Feed the Greed Guy]

A recent update on Mason Melotakis. He's given up the lead in his last three appearances for Chattanooga. http://twinsdaily.com/topic/25687-mason-melotakis-2017/

[yarnivek1972]

 

A recent update on Mason Melotakis. He's given up the lead in his last three appearances for Chattanooga. http://twinsdaily.com/topic/25687-mason-melotakis-2017/

 

Two homeruns allowed today, including a grand slam to the first guy he faced.  The second HR was to a left handed hitter, that's a stunner.  That's the first HR he's allowed to a LHB since he's been at AA - which would be since 2014.  Yoiks and away.  

[Mike Sixel]

Bummer.

[drjim]

His k/9 rate has been low all season, perhaps a sign of diminished stuff. Not always easy to rebound from serious injury.

[yarnivek1972]

 

His k/9 rate has been low all season, perhaps a sign of diminished stuff. Not always easy to rebound from serious injury.

It hasn't been though.  It's been inconsistent.

 

check the game logs

 

After 5 outings, his K per 9 was 10.8.  Then he went 6 IP over 5 games without any K.  Since then, 7 K in 4 1/3 IP, but that stretch also has seen him give up 5 of the 10 hits he's allowed this season, 4 of the 5 walks and both HR.

 

So, you say you wanna be a scout?  Analyze that.

 

So, will the real Mason Melotakis, please stand up?

 

Who knows, maybe inconsistent is just what he is now.

[caninatl04]

This is very much a "Devil's Advocate" argument. Its April 1, and one is forecasting the Twins in 2017. If one "guessed" what the record would be by May 17th, I doubt anyone would reasonable guess much above .400, which would put them 2 games behind KC and a predictable 6.5 games out of first.

 

Under this scenario, why would one want to invest $10 million in relief pitchers that might increase one's win loss by maybe 2 irrelevant games? Write off the season and allow those power arms to further distinguish themselves.

 

Now two unforeseen things have happened. One is that the Twins are winning (a lot) more games than expected and, more surprisingly, the Cleveland Baseball team is losing more than expected.

 

These are both surprising outcomes, and, had a crystal ball had told Falvey they would have been in this situation at this time, I am guessing they would have made different decisions.

 

Attack the post, not the poster.

[Mike Sixel]

 

This is very much a "Devil's Advocate" argument. Its April 1, and one is forecasting the Twins in 2017. If one "guessed" what the record would be by May 17th, I doubt anyone would reasonable guess much above .400, which would put them 2 games behind KC and a predictable 6.5 games out of first.

Under this scenario, why would one want to invest $10 million in relief pitchers that might increase one's win loss by maybe 2 irrelevant games? Write off the season and allow those power arms to further distinguish themselves.

Now two unforeseen things have happened. One is that the Twins are winning (a lot) more games than expected and, more surprisingly, the Cleveland Baseball team is losing more than expected.

These are both surprising outcomes, and, had a crystal ball had told Falvey they would have been in this situation at this time, I am guessing they would have made different decisions.

Attack the post, not the poster.

 

1. You might be good.

2. You might be able to trade them for good prospects, if you aren't good.

3. Well, they signed some bad ones, the only real delta at this point is money. I'd rather they had signed good ones, and not just saved money.

[Rosterman]

I ttoally agree that we have to find a couple of spots to at least rotate up and down some of our promising future arms.

 

Right now, answer this question: Who do you bring in for a ground ball (I guess, our closer). Who do you bring in for a fly ball. Who can possibly strikeout a batter. Who can give us 2+ innings of ball (or once thru the order). Do we have left/right options at any or all of those positions right now.

 

Command may still be an issue with some of the youngsters being groomed, but putting the ball into play seems to be the commodity of the current bullpen.

 

Of course, our starters have to consistently get towards the 7th inning to make any of this work. We have four that we are holding onto right now, one that isn't consistently getting into the sixth (so far). And we are a total sham with the fifth starter, and his name shouldn't be Haley or Duffey, sorry. I would rather see a Wheeler get a promotion than going after the Wilks and Tepesch's, at least at this point.

 

Happily the Twins have been lucky with some first-rate rotation stuff. But of even greater concern is the batting lineup...is there a lineup or is it darts on who bats where and what. Sure, they have hit dingers in x-amount of straight games, but overall...it is an average lineup that is full of a bunch of 1 for 4 hitters, or so it seems more often than not.

[yarnivek1972]

They certainly don't have any lhp that can go through an order fully. No lefty reliever they have (and that actually includes Boshers and Melotakis) that has established ability to retire right hand hitters.