While some Twins fans think that the Twins' bullpen this year has been fairly good, we have just been lucky with the back-half of our bullpen being as solid as it has been. Here is a list of players who have thrown at least one inning of relief this year, with the italicized players in the Minors, underlined injured and bolded no longer with the Twins:

 

Butera, Fien, Burton, Perkins, Waldrop, Burnett, Capps, Perdomo, De Vries, Swarzak, Duensing, Liriano, Oliveros, Robertson, Gray, Manship, Maloney

Out of the list that isn't bolded or italicized, Butera, Liriano, and De Vries spent more time as starting pitchers/catchers than relieving.

 

That leaves from the original list Fien, Burton, Perkins, Waldrop, Burnett, Capps, Perdomo, Swarzak, Duensing, and Robertson still with the Twins and having spent more time as a reliever than a starter. Here are the stats for them, and they aren't always great:

 

Fien: 32 games, 2-1, 1.62 ERA, 33.1 IP, WHIP of .96, BAA .190, 1 HR given up, 30 K's, and 9 BB's.

Burton: 61 games, 2-1, 1.97 ERA, 59.1 IP, WHIP of .89, BAA .180, 4 HR given up, 51 K's, and 15 BB's.

Perkins: 67 games, 3-1, 2.54 ERA, 67.1 IP, WHIP of 1.07, BAA .227, 7 HR given up, 73 K's, and 16 BB's.

Waldrop: 16 games, 0-1, 2.79 ERA, 19.1 IP, WHIP of 1.60, BAA .329, 2 HR given up, 7 K's, and 5 BB's.

Burnett: 64 games, 4-4, 3.29 ERA, 68.1 IP, WHIP of 1.36, BAA .259, 4 HR given up, 30 K's, and 25 BB's.

Duensing: 42 games, 2-3, 3.46 ERA, 54.2 IP, WHIP of 1.15, BAA .236, 1 HR given up, 34 K's, and 15 BB's.

 

Then the list and numbers kinda starts to drop off with the next guys:

Capps: 30 games, 1-4, 3.68 ERA, 29.1 IP, WHIP of 1.09, BAA .241 , 5 HR given up, 18 K's, and 4 BB's.

Perdomo: 12 games, 0-0, 3.77 ERA, 14.1 IP, WHIP of 1.74, BAA .259, 0 HR given up, 7 K's, and 11 BB's.

Swarzak: 39 games, 3-1, 4.05 ERA, 73.1 IP, WHIP of 1.30, BAA .259, 9 HR given up, 50 K's, and 24 BB's.

Robertson: 38 games, 2-2, 5.40 ERA, 25 IP, WHIP of 1.36, BAA .217, 4 HR given up, 26 K's, and 14 BB's.

 

I would say that Fien, Burton, Perkins, Duensing, and, I suppose, Capps aren't doing that badly, but I would really take a long look at the performances of Waldrop, Burnett, Perdomo, Swarzak, and Robertson before I would say that they deserve a spot on next year's roster (not that I think that Capps deserves a spot, either). With these possible openings in the relief corp, it seems that if Slama gives a good showing in ST and doesn't get hurt, he has a really good chance of breaking camp with the team next year. I don't know many relievers down in AAA, but hopefully the Twins can have a few in-camp options ready for ST in 2013.

 

I also wouldn't have a problem with the Twins, if they do find a good SP or two on the FA market this year (more likely if they find two), let Swarzak go, and have a P.J. Walters/Cole De Vries type take over his spot as one of the long relief/spot start guys, because I think at least De Vries has earned a cup of coffee in the Majors next year, and I am hoping that a) he does and hopefully not in the rotation because we will have replaced him with someone better and he can settle into a bullpen role.

CL: Perkins

SU:Burton

LOOGY:Duensing

MRP:Fien

 

 

Other than that I think its wide open heading into next year. Guys like Swarzak, Burnett and co don't excite me to muc. A healthy Capps on a 1/1mil deal would be a nice addition to the middle of the pen.

A few notes:

 

While some Twins fans think that the Twins' bullpen this year has been fairly good, we have just been lucky with the back-half of our bullpen being as solid as it has been. Here is a list of players who have thrown at least one inning of relief this year, with the italicized players in the Minors, underlined injured and bolded no longer with the Twins:more time as starting pitchers/catchers than relieving.

 

Fien: 32 games, 2-1, 1.62 ERA, 33.1 IP, WHIP of .96, BAA .190, 1 HR given up, 30 K's, and 9 BB's.

Burton: 61 games, 2-1, 1.97 ERA, 59.1 IP, WHIP of .89, BAA .180, 4 HR given up, 51 K's, and 15 BB's.

Perkins: 67 games, 3-1, 2.54 ERA, 67.1 IP, WHIP of 1.07, BAA .227, 7 HR given up, 73 K's, and 16 BB's.

Waldrop: 16 games, 0-1, 2.79 ERA, 19.1 IP, WHIP of 1.60, BAA .329, 2 HR given up, 7 K's, and 5 BB's.

Burnett: 64 games, 4-4, 3.29 ERA, 68.1 IP, WHIP of 1.36, BAA .259, 4 HR given up, 30 K's, and 25 BB's.

Duensing: 42 games, 2-3, 3.46 ERA, 54.2 IP, WHIP of 1.15, BAA .236, 1 HR given up, 34 K's, and 15 BB's.

 

Then the list and numbers kinda starts to drop off with the next guys:

Capps: 30 games, 1-4, 3.68 ERA, 29.1 IP, WHIP of 1.09, BAA .241 , 5 HR given up, 18 K's, and 4 BB's.

Perdomo: 12 games, 0-0, 3.77 ERA, 14.1 IP, WHIP of 1.74, BAA .259, 0 HR given up, 7 K's, and 11 BB's.

Swarzak: 39 games, 3-1, 4.05 ERA, 73.1 IP, WHIP of 1.30, BAA .259, 9 HR given up, 50 K's, and 24 BB's.

Robertson: 38 games, 2-2, 5.40 ERA, 25 IP, WHIP of 1.36, BAA .217, 4 HR given up, 26 K's, and 14 BB's.

 

I would say that Fien, Burton, Perkins, Duensing, and, I suppose, Capps aren't doing that badly, but I would really take a long look at the performances of Waldrop, Burnett, Perdomo, Swarzak, and Robertson before I would say that they deserve a spot on next year's roster (not that I think that Capps deserves a spot, either). With these possible openings in the relief corp, it seems that if Slama gives a good showing in ST and doesn't get hurt, he has a really good chance of breaking camp with the team next year. I don't know many relievers down in AAA, but hopefully the Twins can have a few in-camp options ready for ST in 2013.

 

I also wouldn't have a problem with the Twins, if they do find a good SP or two on the FA market this year (more likely if they find two), let Swarzak go, and have a P.J. Walters/Cole De Vries type take over his spot as one of the long relief/spot start guys, because I think at least De Vries has earned a cup of coffee in the Majors next year, and I am hoping that a) he does and hopefully not in the rotation because we will have replaced him with someone better and he can settle into a bullpen role.

 

Robertson is second in the team in K/9 and only Fien and Burton are less hittable. So he belongs in Group A, and I think that we will see him next season.

Look at those WHIPs

Capps was ok for a 7th inning type guy but not for the IPs and as a closer. So he will go.

 

 

Perkins, Burton, Fien, Robertson, Duensing, Swarzak, and one more will be it next season barring trades, injuries and ST phenom appearances

It does not take a lot of Money to improve a MLB. Bullpen, but it does take great scouting. (see Tampa Rays)

It will be disappointing if the Twins do not attempt to upgrade the Bullpen. The Twins Bullpen ranks in the middle of the League. Is this good enough? Has Swarzak earned another Scholarship for next year?

Edited September 29, 201214 yr by Highabove

Robertson is a lock IMO next yr as he has handled lefties very well & Gardy loves those types of southpaws.

The only real battle will be for the 7th guy/long man between out of option types of Guerra/Swarzak/Vasquez and possibly Deduno or DeVries.

Good overall. 2 things though: I wouldn't say slama has a reasonable chance to open the season on the roster. While he certainly deserves it, the twins decision making towards him isnt likely to change. Two, if the twins had better options for the pen down on the farm, they would probably be on the big league club already. So while they will certainly give guys a chance to fight for a job during spring training, don't get your hopes up about how good those guys will be.

Remember Guerra - the last of the Santana trade is out of options next year.