Buxton and Poppen are back.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

I believe there is still a roster expansion but not for the full 40 man roster (28?). Part of the reason for this is so that every team is more likely to have the same number of call ups. That way one team is not playing with a full 40 man roster while another doesn't call up everyone. One team won't have a competitive advantage during the final month of the season.

Still, 28 is pretty hard on some teams, particularly bad teams who want to give prospects a taste of MLB in preparation for future years.

 

It seems like a more reasonable number in the low 30s could have been agreed upon.

[brvama]

For Littlel, Smeltzer, and Thorp there is the hope that they might even play themselves onto a playoff roster. So, for me, the shuttle would be a future opportunity knowing that they trust me to come up to perform at critical junctures. Also, once the trade deadline passes, it’s possible one of them could move to the 25 man permanently.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

For Littlel, Smeltzer, and Thorp there is the hope that they might even play themselves onto a playoff roster. So, for me, the shuttle would be a future opportunity knowing that they trust me to come up to perform at critical junctures. Also, once the trade deadline passes, it’s possible one of them could move to the 25 man permanently.

I think it's likely at least one of them is on the roster for good this season. By the time the postseason rolls around, that number could easily be two.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

There's roster expansion, though only to 28 players.

 

I get the idea behind a reduction from 40, but 28 is pretty brutal, especially for developing teams.

Teams will still be able to play some DL/options games with that 28, though. So the active 28 will probably change a few times that month. Although that could be limited too by the proposed increase back to a 15-day IL minimum, plus a proposed 15-day optional assignment minimum for pitchers -- not to mention, you can't option a player to a minor league team whose season/postseason has concluded. (So we might see a higher value put on minor league teams making the postseason?)

[jz7233]

 

I wonder...after 2 innings last night, is Poppen fresh?

 

...

 

 

I'll see myself out.

Poppen really needs to work on command of his pitches. He will not survive like that in the major league.

[yarnivek1972]

So, 28 in September is only two more than the rest of the year. Probably a third catcher (unless a team already has 3 serviceable ones) and more than likely another pitcher. So, you really aren’t adding to the bench. Which means teams that have little to play for still really won’t be able to rest guys because you still only have 4 guys on the bench who play somewhere besides catcher. Kinda makes clinching early less of an advantage. Because now you are trotting out guys that have nothing to play for and probably won’t have maximum focus. THAT is when players get hurt.

[Mr. Brooks]

I am not saying this is a punishment, but it is a roller coaster of emotions as well as pay and we have never had an era where players went through this. I wonder if there are some who will be harmed.

The only way one of them will be harmed is if someone's emotional support muskrat claws their eyes out on a flight to Rochester.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

So, 28 in September is only two more than the rest of the year. Probably a third catcher (unless a team already has 3 serviceable ones) and more than likely another pitcher. So, you really aren’t adding to the bench. Which means teams that have little to play for still really won’t be able to rest guys because you still only have 4 guys on the bench who play somewhere besides catcher. Kinda makes clinching early less of an advantage. Because now you are trotting out guys that have nothing to play for and probably won’t have maximum focus. THAT is when players get hurt.

Clinching early would be an even bigger advantage, no? Without expanded rosters, you can't rest your whole lineup in just 1 or 2 games anymore, but you can do so quite easily over a week or more with just your normal bench.

 

I think 3rd catchers may not be automatic September call-ups in that scenario anymore either. Probably just keep a third catcher on standby? Maybe add them for the last week, if you have clinched?

 

I think the "mass backups starting" thing is pretty isolated anyway. The 2017 Twins had nothing to play for in the last 4 games, but we pretty much started our regular lineup and bench guys each game. Same with the 2018 Red Sox, for even more games -- eyeballing it, I only see 2 starters across their last week of lineups that didn't make their postseason roster. Some guys got pulled early in those games, of course.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

I think the "mass backups starting" thing is pretty isolated anyway. The 2017 Twins had nothing to play for in the last 4 games, but we pretty much started our regular lineup and bench guys each game. Same with the 2018 Red Sox, for even more games -- eyeballing it, I only see 2 starters across their last week of lineups that didn't make their postseason roster. Some guys got pulled early in those games, of course.

This. I used to think this was a thing until I started paying attention to it (not just the Twins, but what I saw across baseball).

 

Starting pitching seems to be the only part of the equation that really benefits from clinching. The starters often throw short games in the last week or get shuffled around for how the manager wants the postseason alignment.

 

Even the bullpen doesn't seem to get much of a break, as managers seem to fear "cold arm" heading into the postseason. The manager might give his best guys one extra appearance off but unless a guy is injured, "have a week of rest" isn't something teams do for their best relievers.

 

As for the position players, each guy might get a day off but it's barely a blip on the radar in the grand scheme of things. I can't recall seeing mass benchings from any team except for the last game of the year, to which I respond "big deal".

[stringer bell]

Players and their agents know the rules. Until the agreement is modified, these are the rules that the players play with. The Twins are playing by the rules. There was mention upthread to players who have spent time in the majors making a higher guaranteed salary. Is this anyone on the 40-man roster regardless of mlb service time, or is there a provision once players have accumulated a day of service time?

[mickeymental]

if a player got to choose among: a) staying in aaa, repeatedly shuttling between aaa and mlb, or c) finding a job in the real world, i'm guessing the choice would be pretty easy.

 

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

There was mention upthread to players who have spent time in the majors making a higher guaranteed salary. Is this anyone on the 40-man roster regardless of mlb service time, or is there a provision once players have accumulated a day of service time?

Here's a site that purports to offer some info about that:

 

https://sportslawblogger.com/baseball/salary-information/minor-league-salary/

 

Salary for first year on 40-man roster:
2015: $41,400

Salary for second year on 40-man roster or if one or more days of Major League service time:
2015: $82,700

Minor league salary must be at least 60% of the player’s combined minor league and Major League salary in the preceding season.

 

 

[ashbury]

I heard sliders don't break at all over 30,000 feet, though.

Don't underestimate the effect of special relativity on a moving aircraft. Fastballs get a lot of late movement.

[Mike Sixel]

if a player got to choose among: a) staying in aaa, repeatedly shuttling between aaa and mlb, or c) finding a job in the real world, i'm guessing the choice would be pretty easy.

Baseball is a real world job. But I agree the choice seems way. That does not mean there are not emotional costs at all.

[DocBauer]

I think you're right. I suspect that a Twins playoff roster (knock on wood) will include LIttel and either Thorpe or Stashak.

From what we have seen, I'm thinking Littell is about as close to a lock as you be at this time. Man, I really wish he had been rested and ready for the 2nd Yankee game instead of Stewart.

 

Also agree on Thorpe, but wouldn't bet against Smeltzer. Poppen maybe over Stashak???

[jorgenswest]

From what we have seen, I'm thinking Littell is about as close to a lock as you be at this time. Man, I really wish he had been rested and ready for the 2nd Yankee game instead of Stewart.

Also agree on Thorpe, but wouldn't bet against Smeltzer. Poppen maybe over Stashak???

I don’t disagree but just reminding us that Stewart gave them a critical inning to get the win against the A’s. He pitched a scoreless 9th working through the heart of the A’s order getting two strike outs. I don’t want that to get lost.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

From what we have seen, I'm thinking Littell is about as close to a lock as you be at this time. Man, I really wish he had been rested and ready for the 2nd Yankee game instead of Stewart.

Also agree on Thorpe, but wouldn't bet against Smeltzer. Poppen maybe over Stashak???

I think Thorpe is likely, as he's a lefty. Stashak is a clear favorite over Smeltzer. I love Devin but he's a starter, if anything. He doesn't have long-look stuff to fool people over a postseason series, at least not yet.