Well I'm definitely in the minority, but I'm assuming they see/saw something correctable with Kinley when they selected him. And, I'm pretty excited to see what they can do with his electric stuff.

The Busenitz/Kinley decision seems simple to me.  One has options to head to AAA, one does not.  One you can send to Rochester, one you would have to send back to Miami.  I really think it's that simple.  If Kinley fails, they can easily send him back later and call up Busenitz.  But why not take a shot on the guy and see what you have.

 

This. Pretty easy call there.

 

I'd much rather have Kinley struggle in April and send him back to Miami then and have the fallback of Busenitz versus Busenitz struggling in April and not having a ML ready power arm waiting to replace him.

Every arm in a bullpen matters. Every arm in a pen will find themselves in multiple games that have yet to be decided over the course of a season.

 

The "last man" will be in fewer than the first several, for sure, but close games happen all the time in MLB and you can't just have an arm that you only use in blowouts. He'll be needed.

and how many games can a bad last man in the pen let the opposing team back in a game? That causes additional wear on the first arms in the pen that should t have been in the game at all...

 

I don't know why it can't be both. I don't think the answer to whether this team will compete this year rests on who is the 25th man vs the 26th man on a 40 man roster, nor do I think the correct choice is as black and white as it's being made out to be. 

 

It's quite possible that there is no wrong choice.

 

Or that there is no right choice.

I'm not directing this specifically to your comment here, nick, but,

 

is there not perhaps the tiniest chance that they like their chances better with Kinley right now? Please. They are NOT auditioning anyone. They disagree with you if you favor Busenitz over Kinley right now, and they have their reasons.

 

I just wish I knew what they were...

Edited March 23, 20188 yr by birdwatcher

I like the moves and the depth this year. I think both Duffey and Busenitz have some upside that a stay in AAA might help them realize. It would be harder to do that at the back end of the bullpen. I expect at least one of them will return and be a sold contributor.

 

Every arm in a bullpen matters.  Every arm in a pen will find themselves in multiple games that have yet to be decided over the course of a season.

 

The "last man" will be in fewer than the first several, for sure, but close games happen all the time in MLB and you can't just have an arm that you only use in blowouts.  He'll be needed.

But remember that games lost in April don't count as much in the standings.

I'm not directing this specifically to your comment here, nick, but,

 

is there not perhaps the tiniest chance that they like their chances better with Kinley right now? Please. They are NOT auditioning anyone. They disagree with you if you favor Busenitz over Kinley right now, and they have their reasons.

 

I just wish I knew what they were...

I agree, it's possible they do actually like Kinley over Busenitz. I'd think Busenitz is a better pitcher, but I'm removed from the situation, like any of us know how they really feel. It could also be that despite it being 2018 and everyone and their mom strikes out a batter an inning, the Twins bullpen nearly to a man still struggle in that department. Maybe they don't think Kinley is the better overall pitcher, but they want someone who can miss a bat when there's one out and a man on 3rd.

 

I think the discussion about who should be the 25th man is always a fun, even if a pointlessly heated debate.

 

I think the claim that the team isn't trying to win if one's preferred option isn't the choice is complete hogwash.

This. Pretty easy call there. I'd much rather have Kinley struggle in April and send him back to Miami then and have the fallback of Busenitz versus Busenitz struggling in April and not having a ML ready power arm waiting to replace him.

There are other options. If not, the team is in trouble.

People acting as if the beginning of the season doesn't matter as much as the end, like it's some sort of preseason, is so strange to me. All game are equally weighted, whether in September or May. Teams finish a game out of the postseason every year.

 

I'm not even arguing that he doesn't deserve a shot. Frankly, I don't know enough about the guy to form an opinion. I'm calling the sentiment that a contender would knowingly risk a game or two, in what will certainly be a tight playoff race, because they're worried about sending back a rule 5, absurd.

 

He was rule 5'd off of one of the worst teams in baseball. Don't you think they could work out a deal to keep him for peanuts if isn't he truly wasn't ready, but they wanted him that badly?

 

If, for whatever insane reason, they actually believe Duffey and/or Busenitz are better relievers at this moment in time, but would rather chase an unproven guy solely because he can throw 99 (which isn't near as rare as it once was even just a years ago)....they're incompetent.

 

He better be getting the shot because they think he's going to help the team more than Buzenitz or Duffey immediately. If not, what the hell are they thinking? What are you hanging into him for? Do you think he'll go to bed one night one night being sub-Busenitz, and wake up the next morning as K-Rod in his prime? Why worry about keeping that guy?

Edited March 23, 20188 yr by Darius

Buzenitz put up flashy window stats last year. He had some nice moments. But, the peripherals will tell you why theyre not handing him the closer role right now.

 

FIP of 4.20, 6.5 K/9. He relies very heavily on that fastball, which is OK, but doesn't have any spectacular secondary offerings. Basically a two-pitch guy with a mediocre breaking ball. Considering those factors along with an unsustainable BABIP near the Mendoza line, and it's likely a matter of time before the things get a little shaky.

Edited March 23, 20188 yr by Darius

 

While I like Busenitz, the other young guys in the system and I still have my fingers crossed about getting Bard back, they don't have guys hitting 99 MPH. I'd say that alone demonstrates considerable upside.

 

Busenitz hasn't been lighting it up in spring training either. Why do you think it's wasting a 25-man spot? Kinley hasn't shown he's incapable this spring and whomever gets the job is almost certainly not going to find themselves in a position to cost the team any games; this is the mop up guy.

 

Busenitz was hardly the mop-up guy at the end of the year. Like Hildenberger, he was trusted more and more. I am betting Rodney will be gone by the end of May. I fear, with the hankering to hold on to Hughes and Rodney, that April and May will be less than hoped for. Those that get the shaft to start the season should be ready and warmed up when the washed up vet experiment is over.

Kinley had  better be good, we lost Bard over him and Bard at the last I looked was probably going to make the Angels.  Whether or not Kinley is better the Busenitz, we still have Curtiss down in Rochester also.  Twins have arms, just a question of control of their pitches and how many have a very good to great second pitch.  

I am just worried how many games this pen will blow in April and May before things are figured out (also the 5th starter), and how big a hole the Twins will dig themselves because of it.  

 

Kinley had  better be good, we lost Bard over him and Bard at the last I looked was probably going to make the Angels.  Whether or not Kinley is better the Busenitz, we still have Curtiss down in Rochester also.  Twins have arms, just a question of control of their pitches and how many have a very good to great second pitch.  

I am just worried how many games this pen will blow in April and May before things are figured out (also the 5th starter), and how big a hole the Twins will dig themselves because of it.  

 

I really want Bard back and I didn't like that he was unprotected, but Kinley had nothing to do with losing Bard. The Twins went into the Rule V draft with four open roster spots. 

 

No player needs to be blamed for losing Bard but if someone wants to point fingers, they should probably be at Rodney, Reed and Duke.

 

 

Depends how things work out. I will reserve judgement until then.

Just was concerned these where not the new front offices guys, so where looked at differently.

There are other options. If not, the team is in trouble.

Busenitz was hardly the mop-up guy at the end of the year. Like Hildenberger, he was trusted more and more. I am betting Rodney will be gone by the end of May. I fear, with the hankering to hold on to Hughes and Rodney, that April and May will be less than hoped for. Those that get the shaft to start the season should be ready and warmed up when the washed up vet experiment is over.

If Rodney pitches poorly enough to be gone by the end of May, that would likely mean the Twins are buried in the standings. He’s only likely to pitch in games that are close. If he blows/loses enough to be released intwo months, that can’t be good for the Twins.