Nick Blackburn - potential ace?

[glunn]

I have been playing a game on Facebook called "Dream Nine". I am playing as the Twins.

 

Every team has one ace. For the Yankees it is Sabathia, for the Dodgers it is Kershaw and so on. It takes some work to get your ace, and when I finally qualified for my ace, I got Nick Blackburn. I guess the game company had as much trouble as we do finding an ace on the Twins' roster. If you play as the Twins, then Blackburn will be your ace.

 

Once you get a player, you can train the player to increase his skills. I have been focusing on training my ace -- Blackburn. I have trained him till he ached. After all the training, Blackburn has now won more than 10 games in a row, mostly against quality teams.

 

This got me to thinking. Maybe if Blackburn trained like Stallone in the Rocky movies during the offseason, he could go back to something close to his production in 2008 (193 IP, 4.05 ERA and 1.360 WHIP) and 2009 (205 IP, 4.03 ERA and 1.366 IP).

 

Blackburn will be 31 years old in February. This year is a contract year for him. It seems at least possible that he could make a comeback. It seems unlikely that Blackburn will ever be an ace -- his strikeout rate has not been high since 2004 (A level). But if he could get some heavy sink on the ball and stay down in the zone, it seems reasonable that he could burn a lot of innings with good results.

What do you think?

[Shane Wahl]

It all depends on his elbow. He will NOT be the ace, but he could be a legitimate 5th starter, making the Correia signing completely atrocious. The Twins may have killed his elbow by letting him pitch with bone chips floating around in there.

[glanzer]

I laughed out loud when I saw that Blackburn was the ace. Much like My29 makes me laugh out loud... my my 29!

[glunn]

I laughed out loud when I saw that Blackburn was the ace. Much like My29 makes me laugh out loud... my my 29!

 

I was hoping that Diamond would be my ace.

 

I have also trained Deduno to his maximum level and he is winning most of his games. If Deduno could cut his walk rate, it seems to me that he could be a decent starter.

 

I hope that Deduno and Plouffe trained with the old guy from Karate Kid during the offseason -- they both possess a lot of natural talent that might be awesome if focused. Wax on. Wax off.

[snepp]

If Deduno could cut his walk rate, it seems to me that he could be a decent starter.

 

If I could throw my knuckleball 80 mph I could be a decent starter.

[minn55441]

I was hoping that Diamond would be my ace.

 

I have also trained Deduno to his maximum level and he is winning most of his games. If Deduno could cut his walk rate, it seems to me that he could be a decent starter.

 

I hope that Deduno and Plouffe trained with the old guy from Karate Kid during the offseason -- they both possess a lot of natural talent that might be awesome if focused. Wax on. Wax off.

 

Stranger thinks in sports have happened. I love these 1:00am posts glunn, it really seems like anything is possible at that hour of the day.

[Riverbrian]

Hey Glunn,

 

Im curious exactly how much training these guys put in. I'm sure some are busting their rear and some are skating by. Just like real life outside baseball. There's a part of me that wished I knew how hard everyone on the Twins was working... And a part of me that is happy that I don't know.

 

Blackburn at his best was average... He could get back to being average and that would be much needed... but... he has to locate that sinker and he has struggled for the past 3 years trying to do that.

 

Oddly enough... I'm still think there is a chance. Like Shane said... Maybe it was physical... Maybe a little cleaning up of the elbow wil help.

 

Deduno at his best was really quite good. I just have the feeling that Sam doesn't have full control of the ball or himself and yet he was still effective at times just winging it. I can't help but think... What would happen if a guy with stuff like that... Suddenly figured it out? I hope to see him in the rotation in April looking confident.

[glunn]

Hey Glunn,

 

Im curious exactly how much training these guys put in. I'm sure some are busting their rear and some are skating by. Just like real life outside baseball. There's a part of me that wished I knew how hard everyone on the Twins was working... And a part of me that is happy that I don't know.

 

Blackburn at his best was average... He could get back to being average and that would be much needed... but... he has to locate that sinker and he has struggled for the past 3 years trying to do that.

 

Oddly enough... I'm still think there is a chance. Like Shane said... Maybe it was physical... Maybe a little cleaning up of the elbow wil help.

 

Deduno at his best was really quite good. I just have the feeling that Sam doesn't have full control of the ball or himself and yet he was still effective at times just winging it. I can't help but think... What would happen if a guy with stuff like that... Suddenly figured it out? I hope to see him in the rotation in April looking confident.

 

Maybe the Twins should offer to provide trainers to those who need them during the offseason? Would this violate the collective bargaining agreement?

[70charger]

 

Once you get a player, you can train the player to increase his skills. I have been focusing on training my ace -- Blackburn. I have trained him till he ached. After all the training, Blackburn has now won more than 10 games in a row, mostly against quality teams.

 

This got me to thinking. Maybe if Blackburn trained like Stallone in the Rocky movies during the offseason, he could go back to something close to his production in 2008 (193 IP, 4.05 ERA and 1.360 WHIP) and 2009 (205 IP, 4.03 ERA and 1.366 IP).

What do you think?

 

A relevant link: That's Called A Montage! - Video Clips - South Park Studios

[Badsmerf]

Steroids. Steroids is what I think and if he chooses that route I will turn pro-choice-to-not-be-a-****ty-pitcher.

[Guest USAFChief]

USAFChief - potential lotto winner?

[LaBombo]

I was hoping that Diamond would be my ace.

 

I have also trained Deduno to his maximum level and he is winning most of his games. If Deduno could cut his walk rate, it seems to me that he could be a decent starter.

 

I hope that Deduno and Plouffe trained with the old guy from Karate Kid during the offseason -- they both possess a lot of natural talent that might be awesome if focused. Wax on. Wax off.

 

Make sure he teaches them the Crane Technique: "If do right, no can defense."

[Thrylos]

Blackburn has 2 young kids (and 2 more are on the burner.) That much for training

[Brandon]

A relevant link: That's Called A Montage! - Video Clips - South Park Studios

 

Don't forget about the team montage either.

 

[glunn]

Blackburn has 2 young kids (and 2 more are on the burner.) That much for training

 

That is bad news. He is lucky to get any sleep, much less training.

[edavis0308]

I don't even know the breakdown for every team, but does the pitcher that makes the most just get defaulted into the "Ace" position?

[Boom Boom]

Real life isn't like a video game or a fantasy league. Training like that would cause most real-life pitchers to blow out a rotator cuff and elbow all at the same time.

[gil4]

The only way I know for him to be an ace is the Danny Almonte way. If you know someone who can make him a really good fake birth certificate, he could probably dominate the LLWS.

[ashbury]

Real life isn't like a video game or a fantasy league. Training like that would cause most real-life pitchers to blow out a rotator cuff and elbow all at the same time.

 

Nonsense. Do you think Stallone or Schwarzenegger are video games? And look at their success in team sports. Teams like the Twins are missing a trick.

[ashbury]

That is bad news. He is lucky to get any sleep, much less training.

 

He'll be involved in plenty of training. Potty, if nothing else.

[luke829]

Just to see Nick B. pounding away at a frozen slab of steer while Paulie shouts encouragement would be worth the price of admission.

[RodneyKline]

Maybe the Twins should offer to provide trainers to those who need them during the offseason? Would this violate the collective bargaining agreement?

 

Hahaha! It would be great if the Twins had a trainer/conditioning staff during the season too!!! Maybe their entire team would not be injured like the last two years if they did.

[BrentMpls]

When I saw Blackburn signing autographs in 2010 a guy and his little boy were getting something signed - the dad said "Look son, a real major league baseball player!" to which Blackie replied "eh... sorta". Shorty thereafter he was in Rochester.

 

Last year Ryan sighted confidence as one of the reasons Blackie was in Rochester again.

 

Talent aside, I don't think he has the mental gumption to be an ace, no matter how unlikely his physical performance might be in that direction.