LaVelle E. Neal says Alex Burnett has been optioned to AAA Rochester. Burnett's inclusion on the roster the past few years has been baffling to me especially when it seemed there were always better options. It almost seemed the job was just being handed to him. Glad to see the Twins looked at some ugly spring outings and made the right call.

It will be tough to replace those, uh... strikeout. Singular.

Wow. Who am I going to scream at this year? No Capps. No Burnett. How will I get my scream therapy?

Wow. Who am I going to scream at this year? No Capps. No Burnett. How will I get my scream therapy?

 

At some point this season, they'll find a new Jeff Gray to pitch in crucial situations.

Wow. Who am I going to scream at this year? No Capps. No Burnett. How will I get my scream therapy?

 

You wont be short on options.

Wow. Who am I going to scream at this year? No Capps. No Burnett. How will I get my scream therapy?

 

 

You won't have any voice left for screaming at the bullpen after screaming at the starters this year.

 

I can't say that I love this bullpen, but I'm thrilled to not have Burnett in it. The top 5 guys seem like they belong and I imagine the other 2 should have limited roles, be filling low-leverage situations, or be swapped back to Rochester fairly readily.

So who is in? Roenicke or Robertson?

Twins are going to have a top ten BP. Perkins is going to establish himself as an elite closer. It's just unfortunate how the rotation has been neglected. Miraculously, the Twins still could save their chances of competing by acquiring Chris Young and Chris Capuano. PLEASE

With this move, the Twins have their Opening Day roster complete (pending trade, injury, other unforeseen circumstances). The bullpen will be: Perkins, Burton, Duensing, Fien, Pressly, Roenicke, Robertson (with Swarzak and Wood going to the DL).

I like that Pressly made the team. Nice to see a rule V pick work out again for us.

So who is in? Roenicke or Robertson?

 

Both. They now have 12 pitchers. Though I'm not sure how long Robertston will hang around. AS soon as Swarzak is ready, they'll option Robertson.

I like that Pressly made the team. Nice to see a rule V pick work out again for us.

 

It's good to see him make the Opening Day roster. He pitched well in spring training, but let's hope it works out well! Hopefully it carries into the regular season!

It's good to see him make the Opening Day roster. He pitched well in spring training, but let's hope it works out well! Hopefully it carries into the regular season!

 

He's the first Rule 5 guy they've had since Santana with two plus pitches. Diamond's main strength is control, but his pitches are average. Pressly throws in the mid 90s with a wicked hook. He's a keeper.

With this move, the Twins have their Opening Day roster complete (pending trade, injury, other unforeseen circumstances). The bullpen will be: Perkins, Burton, Duensing, Fien, Pressly, Roenicke, Robertson (with Swarzak and Wood going to the DL).

 

Not quite, they have to bump someone from the 40-man so they can add Ramirez.

Burnett is still young. This allows the Twins to still keep him around next season, if need be, and try a few others (Wood and Roeincke -- this year's Gray and Maloney). I'm still not sold on the need to keep Swarzak...I wish he hadn't been injured. I doubt the Twins will pay him big bucks next year in arbitration. I would rather see DeVries be the long-man in the bullpen. Right now, Hendriks, DeVries, Robertson and Roeincke are on the ubble for a quick trip east if they fail in the first two weeks.

Robertson "won" the last bullpen spot by sucking slightly less than Burnett and by being left handed.

Where is Slama these days?

Where is Slama these days?

 

Shackled to a post somewhere in the depths of Casterly Rock, I believe.

I like that Pressly made the team. Nice to see a rule V pick work out again for us.

 

Indeed. It's nice to see a move like that work out.

I'd rather have seen them keep Walters instead of Roenicke or Robertson. Given the "uncertainy" around the starting rotation, I think they're going to need relievers who can go 3 or 4 innings and spot start. With exception of Duensing, I don't think anyone in the bullpen can fill that roll.

stunning but still a positive move that MN see's his numbers last yr werent good

Robertson and Roenicke are not much better than those two.

Both struggled in spring training.

Robertson has had some truly terrible appearances this spring. Wrote elsewhere that the bottom of the pen may collapse in 2011 style.

Top ten BP? I am not sure, Fien, Robertson and Roenicke all struggled in spring. I would prefer to see Hernandez, Walters and Perdomo instead.

Pressly truly earned the spot like De Vries.

I'd rather have seen them keep Walters instead of Roenicke or Robertson. Given the "uncertainy" around the starting rotation, I think they're going to need relievers who can go 3 or 4 innings and spot start. With exception of Duensing, I don't think anyone in the bullpen can fill that roll.

 

Part of that is a 40-man roster issue. It will be a challenge finding room for Ramirez. It would be even harder to find room for Walters as well. If any of those guys starts slow, Walters is just a phone call away.

I would give Roenicke a chance since he has the experience. Robertson should start the season in AAA. However I like Deduno better, if he is healthy he should be back in ML. In my opinion Deduno should be a long reliever. I don't have much hope for Swarzak to do well.

Edited March 27, 201313 yr by jun

I'd rather have seen them keep Walters instead of Roenicke or Robertson. Given the "uncertainy" around the starting rotation, I think they're going to need relievers who can go 3 or 4 innings and spot start. With exception of Duensing, I don't think anyone in the bullpen can fill that roll.

I agree, though they should have kept both Walters and Hernandez. Both could pitch long innings. Hernandez is a lefty. When Deduno is healthy, bring him back.

Burnett had a good minor league progression, and progress happened to stop when he was brought up to the majors in 2010, skipping AAA. And he did all right up through the middle of June, posting a 2.70 ERA. After that, he fell apart, got sent to AAA, was brought back up, and totaled a 11.30 major league ERA the rest of the way. Does anyone remember if something "happened" to him, like a nagging injury? Or did the league suddenly find out he sucked?