Should we be more concerned about our bullpen?

[goulik]

At first glance this off season, every time the bullpen topic has come up the prevailing thought has been “Rogers, May, Duffey, and Littell” and “they out performed expectations”. We comfort ourselves with these thoughts and move on to the truly pressing topic of the Rotation. Well, I took a glance at the 40 man roster today (or should I say 37 man roster) and I came up a little short on numbers. http://m.mlb.com/min/roster/40-man/ Who will fill out the pen?

 

Are we counting on Hildenberger, Harper, Stashak, Wisler, Romero, and Graterol? I was actually hoping Graterol would get another chance to start.... Romero too since were on that topic. And since we’re talking starters, that’s what Thorpe has been and then there’s Poppen. Is he gonna be a reliever too? I mean our 5th starter competition is more than Dobnak vs Smeltzer right?

 

Now Alcala, I get him being a reliever but he isn’t ready is he? At least he’s ahead of Chalmers... Jhoan Duran has been suggested as a future potential front end starter who if he changed to reliever could fast track to the majors... honestly, I’m getting concerned that all our future front line starters are fast tracking to the majors as relievers.... It would be nice if more than Berrios turned out and possibly someone turn out to be a true Ace AHEAD of Berrios.

 

So where does that actually leave our bullpen? I’m not as comfortable with this topic as I was this morning... Feel free to discuss and please make my concerns go away!

[Riverbrian]

I can’t make your concerns go away. I think bullpen concern should be perpetual.

 

Bullpen arms fluctuate in production. I won’t look at Rogers for example and assume we have someone we can count on in 2020.

 

So the best I can do to make you feel better: Strength in numbers. The fact you are listing multiple options suggests we have multiple options and that’s a good thing. We just need the team to get bullpen serious and let the risers rise and let the fallers fall.

[Battle ur tail off]

Well, if all these boys our FO traded for are as good as everyone says they are, then we shouldn't have any worry?

 

I think getting a guy this offseason to tend the 8th or 9th inning would be prudent as well. 

[Cody Pirkl]

Relief pitchers are the most volatile position in baseball year to year. We could sign all of the top free agent relievers who did well last year and they could turn out like Addison Reed for example. After making almost no moves to help the pen last year in free agency and watching 95% of the relief free agency market implode, I've come to trust our front office on that front. 

 

In my opinion for how well our bullpen finished the year playoffs aside and how young a lot of them are, we have more reason to be optimistic than most teams at this point. 

[Tomj14]

 

At first glance this off season, every time the bullpen topic has come up the prevailing thought has been “Rogers, May, Duffey, and Littell”

Are we counting on Hildenberger, Harper, Stashak, Wisler, Romero, and Graterol? I was actually hoping Graterol would get another chance to start.... Romero too since were on that topic. And since we’re talking starters, that’s what Thorpe has been and then there’s Poppen. Is he gonna be a reliever too? I mean our 5th starter competition is more than Dobnak vs Smeltzer right?
 

The Twins need 7 to 8 on the roster at all times, “Rogers, May, Duffey, and Littell” is 4 that means at this point they are playing the up and down to the minor league with the other 3 to 4 spots. (We I kind of like)

Seems a bit like the top 4 are going to get over worked at the beginning of the season slump in the middle and have to pick it up at the end or get cut like the relief pitchers from last year.

IMO it would be nice to pick up one good to great relief pitcher and a couple of other arms that have options so they can run them up and down to AAA.

 

"I’m not as comfortable with this topic as I was this morning"

 

Either am I, either am I.

[DocBauer]

The nature of RP and thus the bullpen in general are volatile and unpredictable in nature. That doesn't mean the Twins have a problem, it's just a fact about most pens and most relievers.

 

Track history and experience mitigate that, to some degree.

 

Personally, I feel pretty good about our pen at this point. I feel really good if they make a couple of moves: re-sign Romo (or equivalent) and sign a LH they believe in. I'm on the Pomeranz bandwagon myself.

 

This time last year we didn't have the new and improved May and Duffey. We didn't have Littell and Stashak looking like real potential fixtures.

 

In his brief work, Poppen looked solid. Alcala could be really close. What if Romero suddenly repeats his delivery more consistently and just throws instead of aiming? While you don't want to "waste" a SP option in the pen, and you always need depth, rotation pieces like Thorpe or Smeltzer, etc, can still lend a hand, even if it's temporary.

 

I feel pretty good.

[Vanimal46]

Strength in numbers is about the only way to address it. For the quantity to work, they're going to need players with options handy, or a quick trigger finger if someone is out of options and can't help in 2020.

 

The top 4 are locked in. Romero is out of options, so he'll have to find a role in the bullpen to make it 5. I'd look for at least 1 bullpen FA MLB signing (Pomeranz, Kintzler, etc.) A few minor league with ST invite signings, and have 3-4 players ride the Rochester shuttle again.

[MMMordabito]

Well, they signed Blaine Hardy to a MiLB deal. He looks to be a lefty with a pulse, and he wasn't very good against lefties.  59 PA 7 HR ... That's scary.

 

I guess it matters less with the 3 batter rule, but I hope they get some more arms in to compete.  

 

I agree with the previously stated opinions about the volatility of bullpens.

 

 

[DocBauer]

Strength in numbers is about the only way to address it. For the quantity to work, they're going to need players with options handy, or a quick trigger finger if someone is out of options and can't help in 2020.

 

The top 4 are locked in. Romero is out of options, so he'll have to find a role in the bullpen to make it 5. I'd look for at least 1 bullpen FA MLB signing (Pomeranz, Kintzler, etc.) A few minor league with ST invite signings, and have 3-4 players ride the Rochester shuttle again.

Romero still has 1 option remaining. I thought he was also out but I was corrected a few weeks ago. FWIW

[sweetmusicviola16]

How about bringing in Will Harris and resign Romo.

[Danchat]

Sergio Romo was used as the de facto setup guy to Rogers, and he's gone, at least for now. Methinks they need to find someone to replace him, though I'm sure we'll see May and Duffey get the 8th inning as well.

 

The Twins had what appeared to be the healthiest bullpen in baseball, or at least among the healthiest. I wouldn't bet on that repeating, so adding depth will be important. 

 

 

[diehardtwinsfan]

I'd have signed Will Smith, so I guess that answers that question.. yes... the numbers matter. 

 

I do think that since Graterol won't go a full season as a starter that he's a pen member as well. I don't want him there permanently, but he could be the best long man in the league next year. 

[RaoulDuke]

I want to see them get a Rodgers level right hander for the back of the pen, Giles would be my preferred target.  I love the improvements May/ Duffey/ Littel made in the 2nd half last year but I am not sold on any of them being a playoff caliber setup guy. 

 

I think between Hardy/ Smeltzer they probably won't add a lefty, I would love to see Romo back in a lesser role.