Article: Twins Minor League Report (7/16): Romero Strong in Short Start, Rooker Homers Again

[Mike Sixel]

 

Santana, Liriano and Perkins did not get their first taste in the majors in their first full season back after Tommy John surgery.  

 

If it wasn't for the Tommy John I would agree with you.  But in this case, why risk it?  

 

because babying pitchers doesn't work either, and I say get them up and see what they can do. Get them some acclimation to the majors. Get some nerves out of the way. Prepare for the future, and maybe get lucky this year also.

[clutchhittin18]

 

Rooker also got his 20th K. There are several hitters in the Appalachian League hitting better than he is and his K rate suggests that he might be selling out for homers. He has nowhere to go in the Twins system, with Diaz and Minier at Cedar Rapids and none of the three ready for the Florida State League. Unless he demonstrates better bat control in the Rookie League before he gets promoted, history shows that he'll get eaten alive.

I'd also like to add, looking at his statistics, Rooker has about a 22% K rate at Elizabethton right now; which while not fantastic, is also really not that far off from what he did at Mississippi St. this past year when he had 19% K rate for the season.  This is what Rooker is.  I'd also add, that again a 20% K rate is not great, It's not in the realm of former Twin, Adam Brett Walker, who had a 31% K rate in Elizabethton and continued that trend through the system.

[Tom Froemming]

 

Santana, Liriano and Perkins did not get their first taste in the majors in their first full season back after Tommy John surgery.  

 

If it wasn't for the Tommy John I would agree with you.  But in this case, why risk it?  

I agree with this. I'm not a doctor, I have no evidence that suggests it is risky to let Romero continue to pitch, but the longer he's throwing the more and more nervous I get. The team is clearly concerned about overusing him, limiting his pitches/innings, so why continue to push it?

 

I have already reached out to the Empire to see if I can borrow that thing they froze Han Solo in. Gonna ship it Chattanooga. We'll melt Romero out of the carbonite around spring training. 

[Taildragger8791]

 

I'd also like to add, looking at his statistics, Rooker has about a 22% K rate at Elizabethton right now; which while not fantastic, is also really not that far off from what he did at Mississippi St. this past year when he had 19% K rate for the season.  This is what Rooker is.  I'd also add, that again a 20% K rate is not great, It's not in the realm of former Twin, Adam Brett Walker, who had a 31% K rate in Elizabethton and continued that trend through the system.

 

The comparison isn't quite that even. ABW's K rate in college was also about 19.6% his last year and he was only 20 years old in Elizabethton, not 22 like Rooker. I'm not making any assessment about what this means, just pointing out that their situations weren't as equivalent as you suggest.

[Bob Sacamento]

Rare Monday Backfield notes today, (I took the morning off from my bday partying the night before) Brusdar Graterol started the GCL game but only made it two batters in before the game was delayed an hour due to lightning strikes in the area.  An hour later, the umps came out and called the game due to lightning and impending weather although the Miracles game across the street continued on throughout without any delay.  Port Charlotte's coach was not too happy.

 

Graterol only threw a few pitches but his fastball was 97-99 mph, I also got to meet his girlfriend and his agent today.  His slated opponent was to be rehabber and talk of TD forums all winter RHP Jose De Leon.  In the lineup today for the GCL Twins was rehabber Daniel Palka.  On the bench, OF Lean Marrero is slated for surgery on his hamate bone and will be out until Instructional ball.  

[DocBauer]

Not sure if Romero could or should pitch in the pen for the Twins this year. (If there is any concern, then no, protect the arm). Buy can't he be pitching his 5 innings for Rochester going forward? He is clearly ready for the promotion.

[drjim]

 

Santana, Liriano and Perkins did not get their first taste in the majors in their first full season back after Tommy John surgery.  

 

If it wasn't for the Tommy John I would agree with you.  But in this case, why risk it?  

 

I've been pretty pro getting Romero in the mlb pen at the end of the year, but this is a pretty compelling counterpoint.

 

There certainly is wisdom keeping him on the same routine, limiting innings and having him finish the year, rather than trying to stretch him at the end in an unfamiliar role when he is fatigued and more susceptible to injury coming off his previous injuries.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Normally I would agree. But he is coming off UCL issues and his arm /routine is based around being a starting pitcher. He has already pitched more innings than he ever has so don't put him in a situation whre he has pitch in the 8th inning and he goes out and tries to throw 100 mph.

 

He is young, and a potential #1 or #2 starter. Why screw with that?

The Twins employed some of the same excuses for the perfectly healthy Berrios a couple years ago...

[Otto von Ballpark]

Santana, Liriano and Perkins did not get their first taste in the majors in their first full season back after Tommy John surgery.

 

If it wasn't for the Tommy John I would agree with you. But in this case, why risk it?

I don't know if technically this should be called his first full season back after TJ. He had the surgery way back in June 2014. They already slow paced his recovery and conservatively held him back in 2016 (probably his real "first full season back"). At some point you can't lean on that excuse anymore.

 

Manage his innings and expectations and I think you can do whatever you want with him this season.

[howieramone2]

 

The Twins employed some of the same excuses for the perfectly healthy Berrios a couple years ago...

They weren't excuses though they were facts. Besides Duffey beat him out. Maybe the board can start a campaign to have Gonsalves pitch game 163.

[Bob Sacamento]

 

I don't know if technically this should be called his first full season back after TJ. He had the surgery way back in June 2014. They already slow paced his recovery and conservatively held him back in 2016 (probably his real "first full season back"). At some point you can't lean on that excuse anymore.

Manage his innings and expectations and I think you can do whatever you want with him this season.

Romero had knee surgery as well after his Tommy John, so that pushed him back even further.  To start 2016, Romero was throwing at the end of spring training/beginning  of extended spring training ball but no more than 20-30 pitches per outing for a long period before joining up with Cedar Rapids at the end of May.  He was hitting 98 mph back then but was on a strict pitch count much as he has been since then.  The goal is still building back up arm strength, El Toro has logged 100 pitches once this year (and once since coming back from TJ), although he does have 8 starts of 90 or more pitches.  

Edited July 18, 2017 by Bob Sacamento

[drjim]

The Twins employed some of the same excuses for the perfectly healthy Berrios a couple years ago...

And they were right.

[Otto von Ballpark]

And they were right.

Well, who knows how Berrios would have done in a pen role at the end of 2015. Does Duffey's 2016 mean the Twins were wrong to promote him in 2015? Wouldn't have cost them anything to find out, really.

 

And the point was, they said the same thing about not messing with his starting routine, etc. Doesn't seem to matter that he never had surgery.

[sploorp]

I can't help but think they are limiting Romero's innings so they can bring him up later this season.  Probably September.