Long man role might be needed tonight with Gibby the Nibbler on the hill

The Twins have been without a long man most of the season. That’s why they’ve needed to roster 8 relievers. A long man, particularly when he is shuffled after use, takes the spot of two.

But I’m glad the chaff has been sorted from the grain in the bullpen

Usually in that metaphor, "grain" is a plural/collective noun. With this bullpen, however, it's pretty much down to a singular grain.

 

Usually in that metaphor, "grain" is a plural/collective noun. With this bullpen, however, it's pretty much down to a singular grain.

I liked this...but it made my head hurt

I liked this...but it made my head hurt

Gave you a miGRAINe?

If this is directed at me, I know that.

 

But with Astudillo unavailable, if Castro or Garver get hurt at all, they will need to be ready to immediately add another catcher, requiring a 40-man spot. (Perhaps I should have said "fourth catcher")

 

I suppose they could 60-day DL Astudillo if they need another catcher and they don't expect/need Astudillo to return until the end of August.

You can't transfer an injured player to the 60 day IL unless your 40 man roster is full.

You can't transfer an injured player to the 60 day IL unless your 40 man roster is full.

Good catch! I should have remembered that.

 

I suppose they could add Allen, Stashak, and 2 guys by trade in the near future, to be back to 40. Then the 60-day DL could be back in play.

Good catch! I should have remembered that.

 

I suppose they could add Allen, Stashak, and 2 guys by trade in the near future, to be back to 40. Then the 60-day DL could be back in play.

The only reason to put Astudillo or anyone else on the 60 day is to open up the roster spot. Obviously, that isn’t a concern right now.

The only reason to put Astudillo or anyone else on the 60 day is to open up the roster spot. Obviously, that isn’t a concern right now.

Yes, I know. My point was they could leave a spot open on the 40-man for a potential 4th catcher in the near future, but even if they don't (and the 40-man fills back up), they would have the ability to 60-day DL Astudillo to get a 4th catcher on the roster. That would make Astudillo eligible to return in late August.

 

So the forty man is now at 36. Something (trade) must be going to change that soon?

 

Any move to DFA etc. can be made simultaneously with a trade or call up or purchase of a contract etc. I don't understand the benefit to not ever have the 40 man full. Is there one?

Edited July 18, 20197 yr by h2oface

 

Long man role might be needed tonight with Gibby the Nibbler on the hill

 

I can hear Gibson all the way out here in LA saying "bite me!"

Any move to DFA etc. can be made simultaneously with a trade or call up or purchase of a contract etc. I don't understand the benefit to not ever have the 40 man full. Is there one?

What’s the benefit of adding someone to the 40 man that doesn’t need to be if you don’t want to add him to the 25 man? It keeps your options open, no pun intended.

I don't understand the benefit to not ever have the 40 man full. Is there one?

 

What’s the benefit of adding someone to the 40 man that doesn’t need to be if you don’t want to add him to the 25 man? It keeps your options open, no pun intended.

Moreover we've now witnessed, two times in quick succession with Morin and Magill, the reason to open a 40-man spot without necessarily filling it. It's already been stated that to remove a guy from the active (25-man) roster, if he has no minor league options remaining, then he has to be removed from the 40. That is independent of a decision to add someone else to the 40 - because it's not a step that is easily reversed later on. If the guy you want to bring up to the majors to replace him is already on the 40, it's fine to leave that empty slot for later.

 

I applaud our FO for cutting two guys who they determined were the ones to cut, 40-man considerations be damned. You don't do it lightly, but you can't let fear of losing an asset drive every decision, especially a small asset.

I liked this...but it made my head hurt

My syntax has a track record for doing this.

I could keep making a png of the current state of the roster or you can just look at it 

 

HERE

 

If you scroll through the tabs you will find auto-updated rosters for the 25-man, 40-man and each minor league level

 

 

 

Stewart's line at AAA since the beginning of June:

6 GS, 25 IP, 39 H, 36 R, 30 ER, 16 BB, 22 K, 2 HBP (edit to add: 10.80 ERA, 12.96 RA9 -- only a 6.65 FIP, though!)
 

 

Thanks for this! It's funny how much stats have changed. We're at the point where mentioning the 10.80 ERA is an afterthought. Back in the days of yore (ie: less than 10 years ago), an ERA like that would be a huge negative. Not sure I'm quite ready to let go of that stat myself, I still view a 10.80 ERA as a bad thing. What are the truly key stats these days for pitchers? Most important ones are K's per 9 and FIP?

Usually in that metaphor, "grain" is a plural/collective noun. With this bullpen, however, it's pretty much down to a singular grain.

I would like this is even more if I knew what a plural/collective noun was. I was raised on a farm, so I got the grain and chaff thing pretty well in hand!

 

So the forty man is now at 36. Something (trade) must be going to change that soon?

The answer is clear and you've all been missing it: Matt Belisle. He's tanned, rested and ready. It'll be just like making a trade. Only better.

Edited July 18, 20197 yr by howeda7

I would like this is even more if I knew what a plural/collective noun was. I was raised on a farm, so I got the grain and chaff thing pretty well in hand!

Gee whiz, and this same joke absolutely KILLED when I tried my hand at open-mike night last weekend at the comedy club. Here was the MC for the evening:

 

 

Moreover we've now witnessed, two times in quick succession with Morin and Magill, the reason to open a 40-man spot without necessarily filling it. It's already been stated that to remove a guy from the active (25-man) roster, if he has no minor league options remaining, then he has to be removed from the 40. That is independent of a decision to add someone else to the 40 - because it's not a step that is easily reversed later on. If the guy you want to bring up to the majors to replace him is already on the 40, it's fine to leave that empty slot for later.

 

I applaud our FO for cutting two guys who they determined were the ones to cut, 40-man considerations be damned. You don't do it lightly, but you can't let fear of losing an asset drive every decision, especially a small asset.[/quote

 

Applaud the front office for releasing two guys (or four) that should have never been there? Faint praise

Applaud the front office for releasing two guys (or four) that should have never been there? Faint praise

It's possible to keep two concepts separate.

Am I the only one who liked Magill? He didn't seem to get steady work, but was one of the few guys in our own with real upside, imo. He demonstrated heart and grit. Threw hard and missed bats. His pe stood is better than May's, imo. Harnessing consistency was an issue hits whole career I guess. But the talent is there.

 

The Minnesota Twins just announced that RH RP Matt Magill has been DFAd. Kohl Stewart recalled, likely in a new role.

 

3 (M)s down in the pen....

One to go.... May

 

3 (M)s down in the pen....

One to go.... May

 

And that one isn't happening anytime soon.

Thanks for this! It's funny how much stats have changed. We're at the point where mentioning the 10.80 ERA is an afterthought. Back in the days of yore (ie: less than 10 years ago), an ERA like that would be a huge negative. Not sure I'm quite ready to let go of that stat myself, I still view a 10.80 ERA as a bad thing. What are the truly key stats these days for pitchers? Most important ones are K's per 9 and FIP?

I like FIP as a comparison to ERA. It’s a good calculation for controllable runs, but it’s still an approximation.

https://library.fangraphs.com/pitching/fip/

 

xfip is a good comp to league average https://library.fangraphs.com/?s=xFIP

 

Personally I like K rate and WHIP to compare two players. How are they at limiting walks and hits, and getting strike outs?

xfip is a good comp to league average https://library.fangraphs.com/?s=xFIP

 

FIP is computed using a different additive factor each season to bring it in line with the actual ERA, making it more understandable. So the correlation you see doesn't really validate anything.

 

It's somewhat like noticing that when the Centigrade temperature goes up, so does the Fahrenheit.

FIP uses home runs and xFIP use fly balls. Since fly ball rate stabilizes much earlier than home run rate, xFIP will stabilize sooner. Neither is very useful for a reliever if we want to predict forward based on a partial season but if one must be used xFIP would be more reliable.

I like FIP as a comparison to ERA. It’s a good calculation for controllable runs, but it’s still an approximation.

https://library.fangraphs.com/pitching/fip/

 

xfip is a good comp to league average https://library.fangraphs.com/?s=xFIP

 

Personally I like K rate and WHIP to compare two players. How are they at limiting walks and hits, and getting strike outs?

As long as we can agree to use k rate and not k/9! I hate k/9. It rewards pitchers for facing more batters. K% also transfers to hitters. I don't understand why this stat isn't universally adopted.

As long as we can agree to use k rate and not k/9! I hate k/9. It rewards pitchers for facing more batters. K% also transfers to hitters. I don't understand why this stat isn't universally adopted.

I love canines

 

I love canines

 

More of a bicuspid man myself.

More of a bicuspid man myself.

I was thinking of a particular canine