Article: Kintzler Has Been Twins Bullpen's Unlikely Hero

[Brock Beauchamp]

If you're not going to miss bats, Kintzler profiles as an acceptable closer: he has decent stuff, he keeps the ball on the ground, he doesn't issue free passes, and he doesn't give up home runs.

 

If a guy is entering a clean inning with >1 run lead over half the time, a pitcher with that profile is going to have success in racking up saves. He's even safe most of the time with a one run lead, as it's going to require the opposing team to string together at least two hits to score a single run.

[Dantes929]

   I don't know if is true but Roy Smalley said by this time last year the Twins staff had already blown double digit saves and I am pretty sure they lost all of them.     Kintzler blew 3 of them so far and I think we still won two meaning he gave up the tying run but still kept us in the game.    The psychological deficit by struggling to get any offense at all and having few save opportunities only to have those blown anyway must have been tremendous last year.    Momentum has a life of its own and I think it is a powerful thing for players to think that if they can get the lead into the late innings there is a very good chance of winning.     Kudos not just to Kintzler but to Duffey, and Rogers also.     Its probably happenstance but it seems like even the bullpen guys who are giving up lots of runs when coming in with a deficit are keeping it together when coming in with the lead.

[h2oface]

 

Because inducing weak contact, not giving up walks and executing pitches doesn't work in the playoffs?   I am guessing you would have said that about Jeff Reardon back in the day.   I thought it was more waving the white flag when we put Nathan in there to face the Yankees in the post season and he was the #2 reliever in the game.    If we get to the playoffs I am way more concerned with getting to Kintzler than I am with what happens once we get there.

 

The Yankees were Nathan's - and Pedro's - "daddy", for sure. Jepsen was fine, too? Well he was for a while.... just long enough to get fans to accept the good fortune, and write all off season about how good he was. He was until he wasn't. I don't get that feeling about Kintzler, and my spidey sense says that the hard reality and fall is coming real soon now. I hope you are right and I am wrong, because I also don't see a move made to get better in the future. 

Edited June 26, 2017 by h2oface

[BenB]

Best closer with the most saves on the Twins' 25 man roster, and they sure as hell shouldn't trade for another one during the season. I also doubt they could talk Molitor into using someone else within the current system.

[Mr. Brooks]

The Yankees were Nathan's - and Pedro's - "daddy", for sure. Jepsen was fine, too? Well he was for a while.... just long enough to get fans to accept the good fortune, and write all off season about how good he was. He was until he wasn't. I don't get that feeling about Kintzler, and my spidey sense says that the hard reality and fall is coming real soon now. I hope you are right and I am wrong, because I also don't see a move made to get better in the future.

Pedro's career numbers vs the Yankees are pretty much right in line with his overall career numbers.

3.20 ERA (2.93 overall)

1.075 WHIP (1.054 overall)

10.8 k/9 (10.0 overall)

4.2 k:bb (4.15 overall)

[jimmer]

 

Pedro's career numbers vs the Yankees are pretty much right in line with his overall career numbers.
3.20 ERA (2.93 overall)
1.075 WHIP (1.054 overall)
10.8 k/9 (10.0 overall)
4.2 k:bb (4.15 overall)

Which is incredible in and of itself because the lineup the Yankees ran out during his time was awesome.  

[h2oface]

 

Pedro's career numbers vs the Yankees are pretty much right in line with his overall career numbers.
3.20 ERA (2.93 overall)
1.075 WHIP (1.054 overall)
10.8 k/9 (10.0 overall)
4.2 k:bb (4.15 overall)

 

Stat me all you want. Pedro even said so himself, and he was talking about the post season.  After all, it is the postseason that defines the greatness. I don't need career stats to remember what happened, and neither does he, although it is interesting and welcome info.

[h2oface]

 

Best closer with the most saves on the Twins' 25 man roster, and they sure as hell shouldn't trade for another one during the season. I also doubt they could talk Molitor into using someone else within the current system.

 

It is not unusual that the one allowed the most save opportunities.... is the one that ends up with the most saves.

 

Edited June 27, 2017 by h2oface

[BenB]

 

It is not unusual that the one allowed the most save opportunities.... is the one that ends up with the most saves.

I guess I was mostly stating he is the one Molitor has used and most likely will continue to choose to use, so I guess I'm satisfied so far with what he's doing with the opportunities.

[Dantes929]

 

The Yankees were Nathan's - and Pedro's - "daddy", for sure. Jepsen was fine, too? Well he was for a while.... just long enough to get fans to accept the good fortune, and write all off season about how good he was. He was until he wasn't. I don't get that feeling about Kintzler, and my spidey sense says that the hard reality and fall is coming real soon now. I hope you are right and I am wrong, because I also don't see a move made to get better in the future. 

Perkins went from being the main guy to keep us in the playoff hunt in 2015 to being a big reason for us not making the playoffs.    Yeah, relievers give up runs and blow games and I expect it will happen more with Kintzler as well.    If he loses it he will be replaced, but I don't believe his success has been just luck.      if he gives up 3 ground ball singles for a run or two I hope people will recognize that there is a difference between pitching poorly and the other side simply earning runs.    I like Kintzler because he seems to have the mentality.   I recognize his limitations but strikeouts are not the be all with me.   He will blow a couple saves, just like the Twins will get swept again.    The key is coming back from it.   So far, the Twins, and Kintzler, have been resilient.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Best closer with the most saves on the Twins' 25 man roster, and they sure as hell shouldn't trade for another one during the season. I also doubt they could talk Molitor into using someone else within the current system.

Nor should they. Kintzler is doing a fine job of closing games, the Twins simply need to do a better job of getting to Kintzler.

 

This is a textbook example of why I believe a team's "closer" should be their third-best relief pitcher. Getting through innings 6-8 is what kills the Twins, not the ninth inning. I don't even believe Kintzler is the team's best reliever and it's still a problem.

[wsnydes]

He may not be flashy, but he's been solid.  I've got no complaints with the job he's done.  He's been a stabilizing force at the end of that pen, it's getting him that is the issue.

 

This kind of reminds me of the Rauch/Capps argument.  Their numbers were very similar, but went about getting them two different ways.  I don't know that either was more or less effective than the other but since Capps had more velocity he was somehow deemed better closer material.  It never made sense to me.

[puckstopper1]

 

Nor should they. Kintzler is doing a fine job of closing games, the Twins simply need to do a better job of getting to Kintzler.

 

This is a textbook example of why I believe a team's "closer" should be their third-best relief pitcher. Getting through innings 6-8 is what kills the Twins, not the ninth inning. I don't even believe Kintzler is the team's best reliever and it's still a problem.

Actually getting to the bullpen at all with a lead has been tough given the issues with the majority of the starting pitching.

[yarnivek1972]

 

Nor should they. Kintzler is doing a fine job of closing games, the Twins simply need to do a better job of getting to Kintzler.

 

This is a textbook example of why I believe a team's "closer" should be their third-best relief pitcher. Getting through innings 6-8 is what kills the Twins, not the ninth inning. I don't even believe Kintzler is the team's best reliever and it's still a problem.

 

 

There is something of a mental capacity needed to be The Guy in the 9th.  The finality of the situation I suppose.  LaTroy Hawkins had substantially better stuff than Eddie Guardado.  Hawkins flopped in the closer role but flourished in the 8th inning.  Not everyone has it.  Some guys develop it.  Some don't.

[Otto von Ballpark]

There is something of a mental capacity needed to be The Guy in the 9th. The finality of the situation I suppose. LaTroy Hawkins had substantially better stuff than Eddie Guardado. Hawkins flopped in the closer role but flourished in the 8th inning. Not everyone has it. Some guys develop it. Some don't.

Of course, Hawkins started out great in the closer's role too. Converted his first 23 save opportunities, a MLB record (at least at the time).