Article: Week in Review: Losing Ground

[JW24]

 

Everybody seen this bullpen had been pitching over its head all year (or not very good in some cases) and that is why they should have went out and tried to get help in June. In June it could have been older mid tier guys looking to catch fire, and if they weren't good it wouldn't have cost much and they could have gotten ridden of them.

But know it is damn near August and they don't have the luxury they must go out and get high priced back end guys.

They are 3 games up on the Division but only 4 or 5 from being out of the playoffs. Good Luck getting fans next year if they piss away this opportunity, because they are selling everybody on 2021.

 

I don't know who you would have liked to see the Twins add in June that would add more stability to this roster at a reasonable price. The price of decent relievers in June is higher than at the deadline because the market is less established. Prying a good reliever away from a team that isn't more clearly defined as a seller in June will cost more than it does closer to the deadline.

 

I am sure the front office has been looking to make bullpen improvements from Opening Day, but they are smart to not pay a premium for relief pitching as relievers tend to have more significant fluctuations of talent than other positions.

[Tomj14]

 

I don't know who you would have liked to see the Twins add in June that would add more stability to this roster at a reasonable price. The price of decent relievers in June is higher than at the deadline because the market is less established. Prying a good reliever away from a team that isn't more clearly defined as a seller in June will cost more than it does closer to the deadline.

 

I am sure the front office has been looking to make bullpen improvements from Opening Day, but they are smart to not pay a premium for relief pitching as relievers tend to have more significant fluctuations of talent than other positions.

Any one of the pitchers that have been talked about on this site for over a month ( a few are below but many, many more have been talked about.) and IMO the Twins should have overpaid if that was required. (yes, I understand some were very far fetched at the time and now)

Will Smith, LHP, Giants
Liam Hendriks, RHP, Athletics
Ty Buttrey, RHP, Angels
Ken Giles, RHP, Blue Jays
Sam Dyson, RHP, Giants
Brad Hand, LHP, Indians
Oliver Perez, LHP Cleveland
Robert Stephenson, RHP, Reds
John Gant, RHP, Cardinals
Alex Colome, RHP, White Sox
Seth Lugo, RHP, Mets
Greg Holland, RHP, Diamondbacks
Sean Doolittle, LHP, Nationals
Kirby Yates, RHP, Padres

[Tomj14]

 

 

Prying a good reliever away from a team that isn't more clearly defined as a seller in June will cost more than it does closer to the deadline.

 

 

Agreed and you get that pitcher for an extra month, and a lead might drop from a dozen to three, it might only have dropped to 5,6,7 and everybody would be feeling better know about a 6 game lead, then a 4 game lead over the final playoff spot.

[SwainZag]

 

Agreed and you get that pitcher for an extra month, and a lead might drop from a dozen to three, it might only have dropped to 5,6,7 and everybody would be feeling better know about a 6 game lead, then a 4 game lead over the final playoff spot.

 

I think it's pretty obvious that since none of the guys you mentioned have changed teams that's it not as easy as overpaying to make a trade like that in June, unless it's an insane overpay.  With even that being said, even if most of those guys are upgrades, there is no saying they would have been perfect in the pen.  No reliever on that list is worth 4!? wins in a calendar month.

[Tomj14]

 

I think it's pretty obvious that since none of the guys you mentioned have changed teams that's it not as easy as overpaying to make a trade like that in June, unless it's an insane overpay.  With even that being said, even if most of those guys are upgrades, there is no saying they would have been perfect in the pen.  No reliever on that list is worth 4!? wins in a calendar month.

The cost of winning sometimes isn't cheap, losing usually is, and being 20+ games over .500 in June doesn't happen very often (in MN).

Agreed one reliever isn't worth 4 wins ( I said 3) but setting up the bullpen to better fit your guys might be worth 3.

I can't imagine the Giants turning down an offer like Graterol, Duran, Javier.

 

[In My La Z boy]

 

I am excited about Stashak our new rookie reliever.  He could be the answer.  I hope he has not been overused in the minors.  But at least the team looked past Cody Allen and took the truly hot arm.  Now if only it can translate to MLB.  He could be better than any of the trade options. 

 

He has pitched 52 innings in 31 appearances and his stats look great.

http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=664054#/career/R/pitching/2019/ALL

 

Yesterday's game was an amazing call to the minor league pen!

THIS! Maybe, maybe not but - this is not the way Terry Ryan would have done it - and I like it. Morin and Magill were cut loose now in anticipation of what is coming - and in knowing we must do better. Giving some AAA guys a shot before 7/31 is a worthy endeavor. Passing over Allen - that feels different and I like it. I will wait until August 1 to complain - and maybe I won't need to. 

[h2oface]

With so many teams not sure whether to sell as they are just a few games out of the last wildcard (national league), it is like the slow play of free agency all over again.

[jorgenswest]

Relief pitching is so difficult to assess.

 

I thought they should have signed Kimbrel because he was available and ready a month before the deadline. It wouldn’t have helped thus far. He has struggled and can’t find his command. It could be a long three years for the Cubs.

[Mr. Brooks]

Relief pitching is so difficult to assess.

 

I thought they should have signed Kimbrel because he was available and ready a month before the deadline. It wouldn’t have helped thus far. He has struggled and can’t find his command. It could be a long three years for the Cubs.

He really just had 2 bad appearances to start.

Since those first 2 appearances:

 

6 IP

9 K

4 BB

1 H

0 R

[jorgenswest]

The 4 walks in 6 innings still make me wonder about command but I was looking at pitch level data for the comment. First pitch strike and zone % well below career norms.

 

I would be concerned if I were a Cubs fan.

[ashbury]

I would be concerned if I were a Cubs fan.

I would be concerned if you were a Cubs fan, too.