Kirilloff In, Donaldson Out - Twins Wild Card Series Roster

[twinbythebay]

 

Like I said, some of the in-season decisions have been odd...like letting the guy they signed for the post-season pitch the last game of the regular season. And if Kiriloff doesn't get any "meaningful" at-bats, why is he on the roster rather than Wade? For the most part it's just tinkering around the edges of the core lineup/staff, but it's still baffling. 

Why not let Hill pitch when the division title was on the line? Were you expecting him to start instead of Pineda in game 3? As far as a long relief option, I think Odorizzi provides just as much value as Hill would have provided in this series. I can see your point about Kirilloff vs. Wade... My guess is that they want a bench bat with some pop given Donaldson's absence, and Kirilloff certainly provides more power than Wade.

[mikelink45]

Like the other commenters I am shocked that Kiriloff is on the roster.  I would have had Blankenhorn for 3B.  Although Alex in place of Sano would not bother me.  Adrianza and Gonzalvez do need pinch hitting so Kiriloff is good for that too.  

 

Donaldson was missing 28 games this season so we are used to being without him and even when he was with us, he was poor as much as he was great.

 

Avila is a puzzle to me too.  Why.  

 

And both Odorizzi and Dobnak instead of Alcala does not seem right.  Alcala is able to go multiple innings.  

So now we can tune in and learn if our concerns have any validity.  Go Maeda!

[USAFChief]

Something must be wrong with Alcala. There's no other reasonable explanation.

[KFEY93]

 

Was hoping for a Tortuga-free postseason. Thanks, Josh.

Same

[Dman]

 

Something must be wrong with Alcala. There's no other reasonable explanation.

 

His last time out he seemed pretty wild had trouble finding the zone so I wondered the same thing.  Sounds like since we got him from Houston they might know him a little too well so give that arm some rest and we see him next series.

[woolywoolhouse]

Look; Twins just have to take this series 2-0 with a pair of comfortable wins, and then they can reset their rosters next week. Easy-peasy. 

[Dman]

Of the four catchers (if you include Astudillo) only Avila bats left handed.  Garver can play first or DH if Cruz is hurting.  Astudillo can play 1st 2nd, 3rd, left field or catcher and is contact hitter off the bench.  So there is versatility there if needed.

 

I like the Kirilloff add.  How much worse could be than Sano against righty pitchers?  He could be a decent pinch hitter as well.  I think he is nice option to have available even if they don't use him at all.

 

I think saving HIll for the next series makes the most sense.  He could be used as a two three inning starter that gives way to Berrios or Pineda or if effective another good starter.  He wasn't going to help until game three if then so rest him and have him ready.

 

Not sure about the Alcala decision but he was off at the end of the season (hurt?).  At any rate I trust the FO knows what they are doing with that decision and it is the only one I really question.

[Danchat]

Kiriloff makes sense knowing that Wade couldn’t be brought up, and was going to take a 40 man spot in November.

 

Alcala being off the roster... why?! He’s been pretty darn good. I guess they don’t trust a rookie to relieve, as Littell and Stashak got hit up in last year’s playoffs.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

They talked about a few of these decisions over at the Twins site. Wade isn't eligible having been optioned to the ALT site on Saturday. They also were concerned with how well Houston knows Alcala, having gotten him from them in the 2018 trade. Personally, that was over two years ago and I doubt Houston would have an advantage from his time there.

Interesting, thanks for sharing. I guess the 10 day option minimum still applies. (Normally it's not an issue this time of year because you can't option a player anywhere after the minor league seasons end.)

 

In that case, with Donaldson out and Marwin likely needed at 3B, they probably had no choice but to roster Kirilloff, whether they intend to use him or not.

 

FWIW, that would mean Wade is ineligible for the ALDS roster too. (Unless someone gets hurt, of course -- but then the hurt player would be ineligible for that series and the following one.)

[Doctor Gast]

I was surprised about Kiriloff addition & Hill & Alcala being left off also

[Joey Self]

 

 

 

No Rich Hill - really? Didn't we sign him partially for his post season experience? 

 

 

Yes, and had the Twins had the division championship locked up on Sunday, I doubt Hill would have pitched--or at least not as many innings as he did. 

But they didn't, so he did...

 

JcS

[dbminn]

Plenty of controversy around the edges of the roster. Love it!

 

IMO, the Twins will win or lose because of the core players, especially the pitching staff. 

[TouchEmAllGuy]

Good point on Avila being a lefty stick. Thanks TD members.

[jud6312]

 

Astudillo can play 1st 2nd, 3rd, left field or catcher and is contact hitter off the bench.  So there is versatility there if needed.

 

 

Can he though? It's more like occupying space around those places and hoping for the best.

 

Honestly, if he has to put a glove on - fielding or batting - this series has gone horribly wrong.

[jun]

 

Astudillo is clearly there for utility purpose and not necessarily as a catcher. I would be shocked to see him behind the plate at all. But it does make one wonder why they kept Avilla in this scenario.

Surprised but not shocked that both Odorizzi and Dobnak are on the roster. But really disappointed Alcala isn't there in place of someone. Again, maybe in place of Avilla.

I just don't get Kirilloff over Wade this late in the season. If he gets an opportunity I hope he does well and I look forward to seeing him excel as a Twin for years to come. But a rookie debuting for a playoff game? I just don't get it.

Alcala and Hill should be in, Astudillo and Dobnak should be out.

[mnfireman]

Late to the roster party, work got in the way!! 

 

I think Wade over Kirilloff would have been a better call, but either way i think its okay.

 

Austudillo being on the roster though can't be overlooked. He doesn't bring anything that can't be covered by somebody else. We should be used to this though, Gardy kept Punto around for no reason other than "he battles his tail off every night".

[Danchat]

 

Late to the roster party, work got in the way!! 

 

I think Wade over Kirilloff would have been a better call, but either way i think its okay.

 

Austudillo being on the roster though can't be overlooked. He doesn't bring anything that can't be covered by somebody else. We should be used to this though, Gardy kept Punto around for no reason other than "he battles his tail off every night".

I believe it was mentioned earlier that Wade was recently optioned and couldn't be brought up unless an injury happened. I didn't think that limitation would hold for the playoffs, but if it is true then it makes sense to have Kiriloff rather than no 5th OF.

 

I have a soft spot for Tortuga but putting him on the team over Alcala makes zero sense to me.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I believe it was mentioned earlier that Wade was recently optioned and couldn't be brought up unless an injury happened. I didn't think that limitation would hold for the playoffs, but if it is true then it makes sense to have Kiriloff rather than no 5th OF.

Yes. I guess it makes sense that the 10-day option rule would affect playoff rosters this year, because otherwise a team could option a bunch of guys on the last weekend (especially pitchers after they've thrown, like Berrios etc.), effectively breaking the 28 man roster limit with no penalty.

 

In a normal season, teams can't option players after Sep. 15 or so because the minor league seasons/postseasons end by that date, so it's normally a non-issue.

 

I suspect if Buxton had his HBP scare a day earlier, we would have found a way to keep Wade on the roster instead of needing to add Kirilloff?