Article: Week in Review: Moving Forward

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Fair enough, although Rooker has a 25% K rate since the start of June and the Southern League average is 23% so I'm not sure I'd really deem that "contact issues" for a power hitter. Given that his approach has developed so rapidly and he already turns 24 in November I'm fine with pushing him and challenging him. I dunno how much value he'll get out of spending time in AAA.

25-27% K rate isn't bad for a power hitter in MLB. But if it's below league average at AA, that suggests there could be further trouble up the line. He's not Adam Brett Walker but it's a concern, especially for a guy whose only value is going to have to come through his bat. (And Rooker's jump in walk rate since June 1st suggests he could be getting pitched around as his bat has warmed up, which might be contributing to his lower K rate in that time?)

 

In any case, I don't see him as a good Plan A for MLB opening day 2019, and he's not Rule 5 eligible, so it seems like bad roster management to add him to the 40-man right now. If you want to challenge him a little yet this season, move him to Rochester just to see how he adapts to a different league again -- that's been a bit of an issue for him too.

[jorgenswest]

I assume I am wrong about Duffey as most of my thoughts are stats and peripheral based but I think he can be an effective reliever. He was an effective reliever early last year and was used frequently.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

 

Similarly, Nick Anderson and Kohl Stewart can be controlled beyond this season even without a 40-man roster spot, as long as no one selects them in Rule 5.

 

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I'd say that there's a good chance that both of these guys will be selected if left unprotected. 

[ashbury]

I assume I am wrong about Duffey as most of my thoughts are stats and peripheral based but I think he can be an effective reliever. He was an effective reliever early last year and was used frequently.

Duffey by now is a one-pitch pitcher - his fastball is a "for show" pitch only, anymore. That's no way to go through life.

[jorgenswest]

Duffey by now is a one-pitch pitcher - his fastball is a "for show" pitch only, anymore. That's no way to go through life.

I don’t disagree.

 

I still have to wonder a little though thinking back to the Astro relievers last year tossing curve ball after curve ball in the playoffs. Could the Astros take his curve ball and develop that pitch into a plus major league pitch?

[KirbyDaisy]

I'm not in a position to interview Falvey or Levine, but some of you on Twins Daily are.  Why not ask them all the questions popping up on this site.  Why is Belisle still here?  Why isn't Gonsalves up?  Why do we keep adding has beens to the team?  Why aren't we bringing up certain relievers instead?  Some of you are in a position to get these answers for the rest of us.  If we had the answers to these questions our subsequent questions would carry more weight.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I'd say that there's a good chance that both of these guys will be selected if left unprotected.

Well, Stewart went unselected last year, has much changed this year? He wasn't exactly an under the radar type.

 

Anderson seems like a classic older marginal type. I think if anyone selects him, they will regret it (like Bard, Kinley, Jones, etc.).

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Fair enough, although Rooker has a 25% K rate since the start of June and the Southern League average is 23% so I'm not sure I'd really deem that "contact issues" for a power hitter. Given that his approach has developed so rapidly and he already turns 24 in November I'm fine with pushing him and challenging him. I dunno how much value he'll get out of spending time in AAA.

 

 

 

Seems the rumblings on him is that he's having problems with quality breaking pitches... he should see some better ones in AAA I would think. I like that his K rate continues to decline as the season is going on. He's obviously adjusting/learning. AAA wouldn't be a terrible bump.  Though I'm of the opinion that we won't see Rooker until at least middle of next year. 

[yarnivek1972]

Seems the rumblings on him is that he's having problems with quality breaking pitches... he should see some better ones in AAA I would think. I like that his K rate continues to decline as the season is going on. He's obviously adjusting/learning. AAA wouldn't be a terrible bump. Though I'm of the opinion that we won't see Rooker until at least middle of next year.

 

Most hitters do. It’s the hangers that most hitters wallop.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Well, Stewart went unselected last year, has much changed this year? He wasn't exactly an under the radar type.

Anderson seems like a classic older marginal type. I think if anyone selects him, they will regret it (like Bard, Kinley, Jones, etc.).

 

Well, both were first round picks. Anderson has reinvented himself as a reliever and is knocking on the door. That's an easy selection for a bullpen weak team to see if he can stick. 

 

Stewart has increased his K rate by about 25% and dropped his walk rate to go with it. Considering his biggest knock was his K rate (which is very respectable in AAA this season), someone might. You may be right that these guys are marginal 40 man adds. We don't see them either, so who knows. I'd think both are risks to go personally. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

Well, both were first round picks. Anderson has reinvented himself as a reliever and is knocking on the door. That's an easy selection for a bullpen weak team to see if he can stick.

 

Stewart has increased his K rate by about 25% and dropped his walk rate to go with it. Considering his biggest knock was his K rate (which is very respectable in AAA this season), someone might. You may be right that these guys are marginal 40 man adds. We don't see them either, so who knows. I'd think both are risks to go personally.

Anderson wasn't a first round pick. Maybe you are thinking of Tyler Jay? He will be eligible for Rule 5 this winter too.

 

Anderson was a 32nd round pick from Brainerd who initially had to go to indy ball.

 

Stewart, his K rate increased in his 3rd year at AA, but just a tick above league average. It is back down to well below average at AAA. He's giving up more hits than ever, although he is still getting grounders. Seems like he would most likely be selected for conversion to relief duty, and in that case, I am not sure he is in all that different of a position from last year.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Anderson wasn't a first round pick. Maybe you are thinking of Tyler Jay? He will be eligible for Rule 5 this winter too.

Anderson was a 32nd round pick from Brainerd who initially had to go to indy ball.
 

I'm apparently confusing him with someone else... not sure who. 

[ashbury]

I'm apparently confusing him with someone else... not sure who. 

Adam Johnson?

[Mike Sixel]

 

Adam Johnson?

 

thanks

[Riverbrian]

 

Rogers has (by far) the most appearances for MN over the past three years of anyone on the roster, and currently owns a 2.62 FIP as well as career bests in WHIP, HR rate and K rate. He'll be fairly cheap in 2019. He's a core building block in this bullpen and a total lock.

 

You may be right on Moya, but I'd sure like to think he'll be in. The guy can pitch and has nothing else to prove in the minors.

 

 

I think we're getting a little impatient on Austin. He's been in the org for like a week and it's not like he's been outrageously dominant in Triple-A.

 

While I know everyone's disenchanted with Morrison, the Twins do have a reasonable option on him for 2019. Are you saying even if he turns it on with a monster final two months, you'd be totally opposed to exploring that route? He does have 5 HR in his last 16 games... 

 

Treating Austin as some sort of guaranteed upgrade strikes me as symptomatic of a "grass is always greener" mentality.

 

I'll raise my hand and say I'm opposed to picking up the option on Morrison. 

 

I'll also recognize the possibility that he might turn it around and OPS .900 next year after we don't. 

[mazeville]

I'm pretty late to this party but I think it would be a terrible idea to just shut Buxton down for the whole year.

 

Give his wrist plenty of time to heal - couple weeks, a month, whatever. When he's ready to come back, put him in Rochester until the AAA season is over and then bring him up in September and give him a month against major league pitching. 

 

The Twins' contention timeline depends an awful lot on Byron Buxton, and it would be nice to at least get him some reps against major league breaking balls. The Twins' contention timeline is a LOT shorter if Byron Buxton is playing to his full potential.