Perkins Activated

[Linus]

Per ESPN Perk has been activated. They list the corresponding move as Enns going.on the DL. Didn't think he was on the 25 man roster.

[Mike Sixel]

Good luck to him in his return. For his own good, I hope he doesn't permanently hurt himself....

[Seth Stohs]

I just think Perkins should be celebrated more for coming back. Do people not realize how bad his shoulder was? Just feels like it isn't getting talked about enough. Maybe I'm wrong.

[Shaitan]

Congrats to Perk.

 

Curious why they didn't wait a day, since they'll likely need bullpen arms tomorrow and he can't pitch back to back games.

[wsnydes]

In all honesty, this doesn't thrill me one bit.  

 

That being said, I credit him for fighting his way back.  I have to admire that, he could have just said "hell with it" and retired.  And now that he is back, good luck!

[h2oface]

I will talk about his rehab a bit......

 

He has pitched at three different levels in rehab, posted a 6.14 ERA across 7.1 IP. He had 10 strikeouts ...... but five walks. His velocity has been in the high 80's, with a very few low 90's recorded. His 96 mph fastball of the 2013 season was already at 92.1 last year.

 

"It's not I've made three All-Star Games and have all these saves, I need to pitch here. I'm not entitled to anything," Perkins said. "My goal is to help wherever I can. To think otherwise would be incredibly selfish on my part. I checked my ego when I had surgery."

 

MLB baseball with a playoff possibility on the line is not an exercise in nostalgia. That performance in the Minors is not a rehab that is rehab-ready for the show! That is not a rehab that has EARNED a spot on a MLB team. Seriously, we all wish it were different, but as long as the Twins are in it, Perkins needs to do what is best for the team. Hey! Maybe we should sign Joe Nathan, too, and throw him out there. Now is NOT the time for a Glen Perkins return to the mound for the Twins. 

[USAFChief]

 

I just think Perkins should be celebrated more for coming back. Do people not realize how bad his shoulder was? Just feels like it isn't getting talked about enough. Maybe I'm wrong.

This will sound mean, but here goes anyway.

 

IMO, working to overcome injury is part and parcel of the privilege of getting paid to play major league baseball.  You get no extra credit from me for that.

 

I'll celebrate a veteran coming back from losing his leg to an IUD to return to active duty.  A person battling cancer, and winning.  A single mom, through sheer determination, overcoming her disadvantages to make a home for her kids.

 

I want the Twins to operate like a ruthless machine.  This is professional baseball, it's a zero sum game.  Wins...or losses.  No participation trophies.

 

A player should be on the Twins because he's the best they have, and should always be subject to replacement if the teams gets a better player.  I wish no ill will toward Perkins, but he has no business being on this team right now.  He hasn't earned it.

[Mike Sixel]

 

This will sound mean, but here goes anyway.

 

IMO, working to overcome injury is part and parcel of the privilege of getting paid to play major league baseball.  You get no extra credit from me for that.

 

I'll celebrate a veteran coming back from losing his leg to an IUD to return to active duty.  A person battling cancer, and winning.  A single mom, through sheer determination, overcoming her disadvantages to make a home for her kids.

 

I want the Twins to operate like a ruthless machine.  This is professional baseball, it's a zero sum game.  Wins...or losses.  No participation trophies.

 

A player should be on the Twins because he's the best they have, and should always be subject to replacement if the teams gets a better player.  I wish no ill will toward Perkins, but he has no business being on this team right now.  He hasn't earned it.

 

all of this.

[Mr. Brooks]

This will sound mean, but here goes anyway.

 

IMO, working to overcome injury is part and parcel of the privilege of getting paid to play major league baseball. You get no extra credit from me for that.

 

I'll celebrate a veteran coming back from losing his leg to an IUD to return to active duty. A person battling cancer, and winning. A single mom, through sheer determination, overcoming her disadvantages to make a home for her kids.

 

I want the Twins to operate like a ruthless machine. This is professional baseball, it's a zero sum game. Wins...or losses. No participation trophies.

 

A player should be on the Twins because he's the best they have, and should always be subject to replacement if the teams gets a better player. I wish no ill will toward Perkins, but he has no business being on this team right now. He hasn't earned it.

Agree 100%.

I'm sure in Perkins world, this is a big step and important to HIM.

But the world of a multi millionaire pro athlete is miles apart from most people's worlds, so it's not super noteworthy or important to me, other than that I'm happy any time a decent person (which Perkins seems to be) meets their goals.

[drjim]

I don't mind giving him a couple low leverage games to see if he has anything, but the leash has to be really short. He didn't exactly buy himself much leeway today.

[mikelink45]

Enns caught that magic DL injury that goes around whenever we need a roster shift.  Amazing how it works.  But I a really more interested in who starts.  Yes Slegers - can we please see Gonsalves too.

[Rosterman]

Well, ate up two roster spots in a day. So no to Gonsalves, unless the Twins do cut bait with someone..

 

Yes, I am glad Perkins has battled back. Be interesting to see his role. Considering the shambles of a starting rotation that is two deep and no one can go more than 5 innings anymore. Sheesh. And we don't have a fifth starter. But I really don't see the need for Colon and the need to schlep Gibson out there, either.

 

Would rather see the future at this point, be it Romero, Jorge, Slegers, even Melville get a couple of shots. 

aThe bullpen ahs to say goodbye to Boshers and Pressly. Seriously. Reed, Cutiss, Melotakis all come up bet least we have a long man in Gee.

 

Can't wait to see where the Twins are come September 1 and how the roster starts to...change.

 

Bad afternoon for Perkins. See where he goes from there.

[Kwak]

 

This will sound mean, but here goes anyway.

 

IMO, working to overcome injury is part and parcel of the privilege of getting paid to play major league baseball.  You get no extra credit from me for that.

 

I'll celebrate a veteran coming back from losing his leg to an IUD to return to active duty.  A person battling cancer, and winning.  A single mom, through sheer determination, overcoming her disadvantages to make a home for her kids.

 

I want the Twins to operate like a ruthless machine.  This is professional baseball, it's a zero sum game.  Wins...or losses.  No participation trophies.

 

A player should be on the Twins because he's the best they have, and should always be subject to replacement if the teams gets a better player.  I wish no ill will toward Perkins, but he has no business being on this team right now.  He hasn't earned it.

Perkins addition to the Active Roster--and actually pitching!--smacks of 2006 when the Twins were turning themselves inside-out to try to (and did!) win the division.  Radke, who had difficulty raising his arms over his head, had nothing resembling a major league fastball, not only started a game in the lat weekend series--he actually started game 3 in the playoffs!.  It's past time for that kind of nonsense.  DFA him and assign him to Rochester.

[glunn]

I don't understand why they did not keep him on rehab for longer, and would guess that there is some limit under the collective bargaining agreement.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I don't understand why they did not keep him on rehab for longer, and would guess that there is some limit under the collective bargaining agreement.

30 days, although it can be reset if necessary. (For example, the Twins won't be forced to activate Santiago soon.) A pitcher's velocity still not recovering would probably be a valid reason.

 

I guess it is better than August/September 2015, when Perkins didn't even go on the DL or a rehab assignment...

[prouster]

This will sound mean, but here goes anyway.

 

IMO, working to overcome injury is part and parcel of the privilege of getting paid to play major league baseball. You get no extra credit from me for that.

 

I'll celebrate a veteran coming back from losing his leg to an IUD to return to active duty. A person battling cancer, and winning. A single mom, through sheer determination, overcoming her disadvantages to make a home for her kids.

 

I want the Twins to operate like a ruthless machine. This is professional baseball, it's a zero sum game. Wins...or losses. No participation trophies.

 

A player should be on the Twins because he's the best they have, and should always be subject to replacement if the teams gets a better player. I wish no ill will toward Perkins, but he has no business being on this team right now. He hasn't earned it.

I think you're being unnecessarily and unrealistically harsh. Perkins worked extremely hard to get back to the big leagues. Kudos to him for pushing through what was certainly a very difficult period.

 

As for your "it's part of the job" sentiment, should we not feel happy for youngsters making it to the Majors for the first time? After all, it comes with the territory.

[Vanimal46]

 

I think you're being unnecessarily and unrealistically harsh. Perkins worked extremely hard to get back to the big leagues. Kudos to him for pushing through what was certainly a very difficult period.

As for your "it's part of the job" sentiment, should we not feel happy for youngsters making it to the Majors for the first time? After all, it comes with the territory.

 

Nobody here is denying that Perkins worked really hard to make it this far. Some of us are concerned/confused as to why he was handed a job in the bullpen when he wasn't performing well during his rehab stint.

[Mike Sixel]

 

I think you're being unnecessarily and unrealistically harsh. Perkins worked extremely hard to get back to the big leagues. Kudos to him for pushing through what was certainly a very difficult period.

As for your "it's part of the job" sentiment, should we not feel happy for youngsters making it to the Majors for the first time? After all, it comes with the territory.

 

I think chief's point is that players should be on teh roster if they are better than other options, not because they are from MN, or worked hard, or whatever other reason there may be. Does anyone think Perkins is one of the best 8 RPs available right now?

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

"It's not I've made three All-Star Games and have all these saves, I need to pitch here. I'm not entitled to anything," Perkins said. "My goal is to help wherever I can. To think otherwise would be incredibly selfish on my part. I checked my ego when I had surgery."

I'm guessing Perkins is referring to his closer's job here, not his place on the roster.  Remember 2015 when he was struggling late in the year but was still upset about relinquishing his closer's job?

 

Glad he's come to terms with that now, but we're kind of beyond the closer vs setup guy debate here...

[prouster]

 

Nobody here is denying that Perkins worked really hard to make it this far. Some of us are concerned/confused as to why he was handed a job in the bullpen when he wasn't performing well during his rehab stint.

 

 

I think chief's point is that players should be on teh roster if they are better than other options, not because they are from MN, or worked hard, or whatever other reason there may be. Does anyone think Perkins is one of the best 8 RPs available right now?

 

There isn't any single way to interpret his rehab stint. It's far too small of a sample. Some of his numbers weren't good, but some of his peripherals were encouraging. There were reports of diminished velocity, but there were also reports of him cranking it up now and again. For all we know, he was treating it like spring training, testing out feel/working on hitting spots/etc.

 

Ultimately, these are people playing the game. The team can appear as a "ruthless machine," but no matter how we wish to perceive it as such, it isn't one. I'm not saying that Perkins is owed anything, but that it just seems dismissive (maybe even a little cruel) to start blasting him the day of his return. Now, someone should tell that to Cleveland's lineup . . .

[drjim]

There isn't any single way to interpret his rehab stint. It's far too small of a sample. Some of his numbers weren't good, but some of his peripherals were encouraging. There were reports of diminished velocity, but there were also reports of him cranking it up now and again. For all we know, he was treating it like spring training, testing out feel/working on hitting spots/etc.

 

Ultimately, these are people playing the game. The team can appear as a "ruthless machine," but no matter how we wish to perceive it as such, it isn't one. I'm not saying that Perkins is owed anything, but that it just seems dismissive (maybe even a little cruel) to start blasting him the day of his return. Now, someone should tell that to Cleveland's lineup . . .

That first paragraph is a really important point. Strictly looking at stats in a rehab is even worse than looking at spring training stats. There is much going on in a rehab, especially after that long of a layoff.

 

They can give him a couple of low leverage outings to see what he has. He doesn't deserve any specific spot, but he's also not blocking a clear upgrade either. There is a chance, however small, that he can capture something for the rest of the season.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

They can give him a couple of low leverage outings to see what he has. He doesn't deserve any specific spot, but he's also not blocking a clear upgrade either. There is a chance, however small, that he can capture something for the rest of the season.

 

For a manager concerned about stretching his bullpen, there does seem to be a cost to this right now:

 

http://m.twins.mlb.com/news/article/249004196/twins-glen-perkins-returns-from-disabled-list/

 

 

 

Minnesota manager Paul Molitor admitted the team will have to be careful in the usage of Perkins, particularly with seven games over the next five days. Perkins likely won't pitch more than an inning in an appearance and will be held to around 20-25 pitches.
"It's not a perfect scenario, in terms of how long or how often he can pitch," Molitor said. "But we are close to September, and over the next 10 days, we will use him wherever we see fit. I got three lefties for now, and that's a good thing."

 

[Mike Sixel]

 

There isn't any single way to interpret his rehab stint. It's far too small of a sample. Some of his numbers weren't good, but some of his peripherals were encouraging. There were reports of diminished velocity, but there were also reports of him cranking it up now and again. For all we know, he was treating it like spring training, testing out feel/working on hitting spots/etc.

 

Ultimately, these are people playing the game. The team can appear as a "ruthless machine," but no matter how we wish to perceive it as such, it isn't one. I'm not saying that Perkins is owed anything, but that it just seems dismissive (maybe even a little cruel) to start blasting him the day of his return. Now, someone should tell that to Cleveland's lineup . . .

 

When else should we have talked about him? No one is "blasting him". Sigh. We are discussing on a discussion board if he's good enough to be on the roster right now.

 

And yes, baseball is a business, just like any other. Treating people with respect includes not putting them in position to fail, and not passing over other people for less qualified people. We don't know with any certainty who is most qualified, but there is no evidence Perkins is ready right now, so it seems like a reasonable discussion to me.

[prouster]

 

When else should we have talked about him? No one is "blasting him". Sigh. We are discussing on a discussion board if he's good enough to be on the roster right now.

 

And yes, baseball is a business, just like any other. Treating people with respect includes not putting them in position to fail, and not passing over other people for less qualified people. We don't know with any certainty who is most qualified, but there is no evidence Perkins is ready right now, so it seems like a reasonable discussion to me.

 

Fine. Maybe "blasting him" isn't the right way to phrase it. Maybe it should be "blasting his presence on the roster/the motives of those who have assembled that roster":

 

"MLB baseball with a playoff possibility on the line is not an exercise in nostalgia. That performance in the Minors is not a rehab that is rehab-ready for the show! That is not a rehab that has EARNED a spot on a MLB team. Seriously, we all wish it were different, but as long as the Twins are in it, Perkins needs to do what is best for the team. Hey! Maybe we should sign Joe Nathan, too, and throw him out there. Now is NOT the time for a Glen Perkins return to the mound for the Twins."

 

"I'll celebrate a veteran coming back from losing his leg to an IUD to return to active duty. A person battling cancer, and winning. A single mom, through sheer determination, overcoming her disadvantages to make a home for her kids . . . No participation trophies."

 

Hyperbole and false equivalencies galore. Basically, I don't think we actually know if he's good enough to be on the roster right now. Maybe he is. If he's not, they can replace him. As others have pointed out, there aren't currently a whole lot of appealing options in the high minors. Maybe John Curtiss. Other than him, though, it's a bunch of guys who have either been here (or somewhere else) and failed or who probably aren't going to amount to much. But what do I know? Someone may surprise us. In any case, rosters expand in two weeks. I'm not sure one relief spot is going to make or break the team's post-season chances, especially given the size of the pitching staff, and especially with how the Cleveland series went.

 

Overall, my point is that I think the human effort behind 1) being a MLB calibre player and 2) rehabbing from a catastrophic injury in order to remake oneself into a MLB calibre player are being grossly under-appreciated by some people. This isn't your or my sales job.

[Champuckett]

This will sound mean, but here goes anyway.

 

IMO, working to overcome injury is part and parcel of the privilege of getting paid to play major league baseball.  You get no extra credit from me for that.

 

I'll celebrate a veteran coming back from losing his leg to an IUD to return to active duty.  A person battling cancer, and winning.  A single mom, through sheer determination, overcoming her disadvantages to make a home for her kids.

 

I want the Twins to operate like a ruthless machine.  This is professional baseball, it's a zero sum game.  Wins...or losses.  No participation trophies.

 

A player should be on the Twins because he's the best they have, and should always be subject to replacement if the teams gets a better player.  I wish no ill will toward Perkins, but he has no business being on this team right now.  He hasn't earned it.

This doesn't sound mean in the slightest. This sounds right on the money. Glad you said this. We haven't had this mentality on this team for decades and it is desperately needed. Nothing should come for free and doing the "nice" thing is not a recipe for winning. He may have worked hard, harder than anyone else on the team this year to rehab his injury, but he still is likely not as good as any of the other options we have as bad as they may be. Bringing him back does not instill a sense of confidence in the decision makers.

[drjim]

For a manager concerned about stretching his bullpen, there does seem to be a cost to this right now:

 

http://m.twins.mlb.com/news/article/249004196/twins-glen-perkins-returns-from-disabled-list/

I do think they brought him up too quick, but he's here now. Don't think dumping him now would be a good idea for actual competitive reasons for the rest of the year.

 

Does hamper them the next week, absolutely.

[nicksaviking]

 

 

Overall, my point is that I think the human effort behind 1) being a MLB calibre player and 2) rehabbing from a catastrophic injury in order to remake oneself into a MLB calibre player are being grossly under-appreciated by some people. This isn't your or my sales job.

 

It might be under-appreciated, but that is kind of the point. I think we can all recognize that some fans focus in baseball is on winning games, some are going to be more focused on the human interest stories and most will draw at least a little bit from both.

 

But there are plenty of people if not most who's balance of these ideas leans much, much heavier on the idea of winning. For us, the appreciation of Perkins' recovery is going to take a backseat to chasing a playoff spot.

[Doomtints]

I would imagine they want to evaluate Perkins to see if he will be viable next year, and that's why they called him up sooner rather than later.

 

I would not expect him to pitch in any games that the Twins think they can win.

[Mike Sixel]

If they aren't going to use him in games that matter, why can't they have a full bench? It isn't just about blocking other pitchers....

[Linus]

One thing to consider here. Perkins was an elite relief pitcher and pitched at a level that anybody in our current bullpen could only dream about. While he will never be that good again 75% of what he was would make him very useful in this pen.