Lewis Thorpe Should Be in the Bullpen

[Cody Pirkl]

Lewis Thorpe has put up respectable numbers in his few MLB starts so far this season. That being said there is certainly cause for concern in regards to his future in the rotation. It may be time to try something a bit different.

It’s hard to really pick at Lewis Thorpe’s performance on the season. In fact, his performance so far isn’t the issue at all. He has a 3.86 ERA and 4.22 FIP which is much better than most of the current rotation. His SIERA, Skill Interactive ERA however tells a much different story. SIERA is more predictive than most ERA indicators and puts Thorpe at a 5.44 mark, over a run and a half higher than his current ERA.

If you’ve watched Thorpe’s handful of starts then you know exactly what the issue is. For the 2nd straight season, Thorpe is averaging under 90 mph on the fastball. In fact, Thorpe’s average fastball is actually .2 mph less than his disaster 2020 season. He was averaging a perfectly acceptable 91.2 mph as recently as 2019 where he looked like a future rotation piece.

I give Thorpe all the credit in the world for performing as well as he has with what little velocity he’s had to work with. That being said, there are very few starting pitchers who can put up consistent performances with an average fastball under 90 mph. Those that do are arms like Kyle Hendricks, Zach Davies, etc. All command specialists with devastating offspeed pitches. Thorpe just simply doesn’t fall into that bucket of pitcher.

The frustrating thing is that Thorpe possesses the ability to ramp up his fastball somewhere in there. Spring performances don’t mean much, but after an encouraging offseason he looked like a stud as he pumped 92-93 mph. So where has that fastball gone and what can the Twins do?

After one of his recent starts, Thorpe mentioned that he’s been struggling with some “dead arm”, a malady all pitchers suffer through where they just don’t have their top notch arm strength. Dead arm however typically lasts a week or two and it’s looking increasingly like Thorpe just doesn’t have a fastball that can run into the low 90s for multiple innings. That’s exactly why the Twins should try Lewis Thorpe in the bullpen.

In shorter stints Thorpe’s fastball could easily play up 2-3 mph which isn’t uncommon when starters transition to the bullpen. He has a pitch mix to face hitters from both sides with his slider and changeup, both of which would play off of a fastball with more velocity. Especially now that Thorpe seems to be around the strike zone more, it’s easy to imagine him finding success. It may also give him a more clearcut route to a spot on the MLB roster next year when he’s out of options.

In addition to Thorpe’s benefit there are a few other factors to consider. The Twins now have two other starters that can fill that spot start role in Dobnak and Ober. I also think they’ll heavily shop Taylor Rogers on the trade market given the return they could find for him and the near $7m he’s due to make in 2022. The Twins will have an opening for another lefty in the bullpen and Thorpe may be just the guy to fill that role from within.

Some may see a move to the bullpen as giving up on Lewis Thorpe. It may be giving up on him as a starter, but it’s incredibly hard to overlook the velocity issues. I personally think it’s giving Thorpe an opportunity. Plenty of openings in the bullpen are coming and the probability of Thorpe sticking there looks to be much higher than the rotation at this point. 

Not every starting pitching prospect finds themselves toeing the rubber every 5th day at the Major League level but I think Thorpe has a chance to follow a path similar to players such as Tyler Duffey and Taylor Rogers. The Twins have put themselves in a position where they can try some new things. In regards to Lewis Thorpe, I think it’s time to start experimenting.

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[ToddlerHarmon]

I wonder if the Twins themselves agree. Dobnak has again shown he belongs in the rotation, leaving a spot open for an effective long man

[LA VIkes Fan]

I agree with everything you wrote with one exception. I thought for a while the that Thorpe probably needs to be in the bullpen. Frankly, I think Shoemaker  should go there with him. We have Dobnak and Ober showed enough to potentially fill a spot. I think there’s a much better chance of Thorpe being an effective, long-term pitcher in the Majors by putting him in relief. 
 

I disagree that they’ll heavily shop Rogers at the trade deadline. I think the team is past the day where you get rid of a guy just because of his salary. I think I’ll keep Rogers, try to re-sign him over the winter and, if Ithey can’t, trade him then..

[Doctor Gast]

I suggested Thorpe in the beginning of season to pitch long relief. Still do, this season we need at least 2 long relievers. To keep the starters fresh and not be so depending on the short relief.

[h2oface]

Thorpe is a waste of time. I can't believe how long they have hung on to him, especially with his drastic drop in velo. He can't even throw it 90 anymore.

It may come across as insensitive, but he also has homesickness problems. Missing mom and dad in Australia. That doesn't help him grow up. He is a young man now. Tic toc.

[mikelink45]

Thorpe is not and will not be the answer.  Time to move on.  He has disappointed too much and I have no faith in him.  Lets get to Duran and Balazovic,   Dobnak is more reliable.  Thorpe is the guy you have to fill innings when you have no hope but still have to get in nine innings.  

[Cody Pirkl]

6 hours ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

I agree with everything you wrote with one exception. I thought for a while the that Thorpe probably needs to be in the bullpen. Frankly, I think Shoemaker  should go there with him. We have Dobnak and Ober showed enough to potentially fill a spot. I think there’s a much better chance of Thorpe being an effective, long-term pitcher in the Majors by putting him in relief. 
 

I disagree that they’ll heavily shop Rogers at the trade deadline. I think the team is past the day where you get rid of a guy just because of his salary. I think I’ll keep Rogers, try to re-sign him over the winter and, if Ithey can’t, trade him then..

I could write an entire article on why the Twins should look to trade Rogers. He's a proven arm who can pitch in any situation and is left handed. Relievers are volatile. If you can trade 2 expensive years of one for a haul (the Twins probably can) then you absolutely should. Also for as much as they failed this winter to build a bullpen, being this bad this early gives them plenty of time to backfill Rogers spot and find the next high leverage guy headed into next year. 

[Cody Pirkl]

6 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

I suggested Thorpe in the beginning of season to pitch long relief. Still do, this season we need at least 2 long relievers. To keep the starters fresh and not be so depending on the short relief.

He'd have been there if he didn't have that extra option. At this point though I'm not sure they should even go the long relief route. I'm interested to see how his stuff plays up in a traditional one inning relief role. He could turn into a valuable guy in the middle to late innings.

[Cody Pirkl]

50 minutes ago, mikelink45 said:

Thorpe is not and will not be the answer.  Time to move on.  He has disappointed too much and I have no faith in him.  Lets get to Duran and Balazovic,   Dobnak is more reliable.  Thorpe is the guy you have to fill innings when you have no hope but still have to get in nine innings.  

He looked like a future piece and was a big prospect as recently as 2019 (the last time baseball was normal). He's been a valuable pitcher basically whenever he's been able to get to 91-93 consistently so why not see if he can get there in one inning appearances? I know he's been a disappointment but I'm surprised at how many people want to cut bait without trying everything after watching similar mistakes with guys like Nick Anderson.

[Aerodeliria]

10 hours ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

I agree with everything you wrote with one exception. I thought for a while the that Thorpe probably needs to be in the bullpen. Frankly, I think Shoemaker  should go there with him. We have Dobnak and Ober showed enough to potentially fill a spot. I think there’s a much better chance of Thorpe being an effective, long-term pitcher in the Majors by putting him in relief. 
 

I disagree that they’ll heavily shop Rogers at the trade deadline. I think the team is past the day where you get rid of a guy just because of his salary. I think I’ll keep Rogers, try to re-sign him over the winter and, if Ithey can’t, trade him then..

Agreed! I just mentioned the same thing in the wrap-up. I think we can milk at least two innings out of Shoemaker and/or Thorpe on occasion. It seems like everyone else can only go one inning and all of them except for perhaps Robles can only come in for every other game without getting lit-up like a Chinese New Year's celebration. (But I am kind of meh on keeping Rogers due to his durability.)

[Aerodeliria]

PS-Besides, since this is the season that wasn't, I would say let's try some experimenting now. Let's see what players can do in various situations. This will be a good season to find out which pieces are actually good enough to keep and then jettison some of the deadwood and/or the cash cows that can bring a giant upside.

[mikelink45]

12 hours ago, Cody Pirkl said:

He looked like a future piece and was a big prospect as recently as 2019 (the last time baseball was normal). He's been a valuable pitcher basically whenever he's been able to get to 91-93 consistently so why not see if he can get there in one inning appearances? I know he's been a disappointment but I'm surprised at how many people want to cut bait without trying everything after watching similar mistakes with guys like Nick Anderson.

You are right, if we are going to try Waddell, Law, and the list of retreads that the FO keeps signing then they can give Thorpe some more options, but I do not see him as part of any future rotation. 

[Cody Pirkl]

1 hour ago, mikelink45 said:

You are right, if we are going to try Waddell, Law, and the list of retreads that the FO keeps signing then they can give Thorpe some more options, but I do not see him as part of any future rotation. 

Nope, not rotation. He's got a good sample size of not being able to maintain his velo in the rotation now. I just wouldn't be shocked if he flourished in the bullpen.

[USAFChief]

13 hours ago, Cody Pirkl said:

I could write an entire article on why the Twins should look to trade Rogers. He's a proven arm who can pitch in any situation and is left handed. Relievers are volatile. If you can trade 2 expensive years of one for a haul (the Twins probably can) then you absolutely should. Also for as much as they failed this winter to build a bullpen, being this bad this early gives them plenty of time to backfill Rogers spot and find the next high leverage guy headed into next year. 

Their failure to build this year's bullpen means they have "plenty of time" to build the next one?

 

And they start on that by trading one of the few talented pen arms they have?

 

I can understand trading Rogers, but doing so will be about hope for 2023 and beyond, not 2022.

[roger]

Don't know whether he should be a starter or reliever.  What I do know is that moving him back and forth between the two isn't doing Thorpe or the Twins any good.  Make a decision and stick with it.

Correct me if I am wrong, but hasn't he started (spot starts) every time he has appeared for the Twins and been used in relief in every outing for the Saints?

[mike8791]

Let's see, Thorpe has lost his fastball, has marginal other pitches, and has never looked like a positive rotation addition, so we should try him in this disaster of a bullpen???  What is lacking in the pen are power arms that can come in with some men on base(especially on 2nd base in extra innings) and get some strikeouts.  Even in middle relief, Thorpe provides little.  He has richly earned a DFA, along with others like Thielbar, Colome, Smeltzer and the other retreads the Wonder Boys have accumulated.  Let's take off the rose-colored glasses, see reality for what it is, and move on from these dreary tailenders.  And if there is no one else in the minors who can provide this jolt of energy, time for Falvine to find a new job.  Isn't 4 + years enough time to at least develop one bona fide reliever?

[AceWrigley]

Maybe he could become Glen Perkins 2?

[wabene]

Liam Hendricks

[Mike Sixel]

He's more likely to succeed there than as a starter, IMO.

[LA VIkes Fan]

Thorpe may not work out in the bullpen but it's definitely worth a shot. Some guys have gotten much better with a change in role (see Perkins, Glen and Aguilera, Rick). I don't know if Thorpe will be one of those guys but it's definitely worth the experiment given that the other option would be a DFA or release unless his fortunes change as a starter. This is the perfect season to give this a try since we aren't likely going anywhere any way.