Figured I would beat Dave to this... 

He should have been sent down weeks ago. Something is broken with him this year. Keep him in Rochester for 15+ appearances until they can figure out what's wrong with him. 

 

The sound you hear off the bat of an Astro  is a "Monster THWACK" sound, off a Pressly pitch. Either he has a physical problem or there is something royally mentally awry. If he doesn't go on the DL I would be shocked.

 

Once the game ends in 2-3 more hours of Astro hitting, I'd bet that happens.

 

Though, they'd have to promote someone, and not sure if there is anyone left that hasn't been promoted yet, other than an actual prospect.

I think it's pretty clear that he's a guy that has talent, can be a really good bullpen piece...but has issues with command that are magnified when he's overused and/or used in outings of more than an inning.

 

I'm of the opinion you have to keep him, but use him properly. Be careful with back to back outings, and do not bring him back out for another inning after he finishes an inning.

 

I think it's pretty clear that he's a guy that has talent, can be a really good bullpen piece...but has issues with command that are magnified when he's overused and/or used in outings of more than an inning.

I'm of the opinion you have to keep him, but use him properly. Be careful with back to back outings, and do not bring him back out for another inning after he finishes an inning.

 

At this point he's hurting the team more than helping... And isn't that his job as the middle reliever? To have ~60-70 appearances, pitch 70+ innings, with a reasonable (3-4) ERA? 

Tonkin is still down in AAA.  Yohan Pino just got bumped up to AAA.  Although, I believe he is slated to start tonight.

 

If the Twins don't want to bring up Hildenberger or Busenitz, there are "veteran" choices.

He needs time in AAA to figure things out. The Twins have given him enough chances in the majors - it's time to try some other solutions.

 

Figured I would beat Dave to this... 

He should have been sent down weeks ago. Something is broken with him this year. Keep him in Rochester for 15+ appearances until they can figure out what's wrong with him. 

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result.  At what point does Molitor be deemed clinically insane?  It's bad enough that I almost feel sorry for Pressly that he continues to get thrown into the fire and that has nothing to do with the ensuing results.  Send him down already and let him work some things out in AAA.  What's happening isn't helping anyone.

Edited May 31, 20179 yr by wsnydes

I think that Pressly's issues are the same issues that Berrios had last season:  He is thinking too much.  Just needs to let it go.  Hope he can learn that in AAA. 

Clearly the Twins' pitching coach cannot help him.

 

At this point he's hurting the team more than helping... And isn't that his job as the middle reliever? To have ~60-70 appearances, pitch 70+ innings, with a reasonable (3-4) ERA? 

I don't know, after Molitor's press conference a couple of days ago, along with Pressly getting whacked around by Houston on day 1, I'm not sure it was wise to bring Pressly in to face Houston again in the same series. Some people want to get back on the horse that just threw them. Others need some time. 

 

Which leads me to wonder just how well Molitor really knows his people?

I don't get why Molitor keeps using him in serious game situations instead of waiting for mop-up time to rebuild confidence. But...Molitor and bullpen usage is another thread...

 

At this point he's hurting the team more than helping... And isn't that his job as the middle reliever? To have ~60-70 appearances, pitch 70+ innings, with a reasonable (3-4) ERA? 

 

Between 2014-2016 (3 years) only 7 relief pitchers have thrown 210 innings (this averages to 70 per year).  There is a tendency amount many teams to overuse their bullpen.  I am not sure if overuse is the is the issue with Pressly.  He threw 75 innings last year (in 72 games).  All data is from fangraphs.

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=rel&lg=all&qual=210&type=0&season=2016&month=0&season1=2014&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=14,58&filter=&players=0

 

In 2014, the number of relief pitchers throwing 70 innings was 26.  In 2015 it was 20 and in 2016 there were 33 RP pitchers throwing 70 or more innings.  I don't what a reasonable number of innings are for relief pitchers to maintain effectiveness, but the data suggests that 70 is too many.

 

 

 

 

 

That fork just got an extra base hit off of Pressly.

Pressly is a complete mystery to me. He has a big fastball and a good breaking pitch, yet he can't seem to find any consistency. I really hope a stint in Rochester gets his confidence back and fixes whatever the problem is because he should be a much better pitcher than we've seen.

It is not about Molitors use of Pressly, it is about the bullpen he has to work with.  Why we do not bring up the minor league arms is a puzzle to me.  What are we gaining?  What is the benefit of our Boshers, Rucinski, Pressly, Haley merry-go-round?  The young arms are there.  The minor leagues are the back up for the majors - call them up.  We have young relievers and they bring up a starter (Wheeler and make him a reliever - are you kidding?)  The new FO is not shining at the moment.

It was time to demote him. I hope he can figure things out, because he is one of very few in the Twins bullpen mix who has a power arm.