Opening Day Bullpen-Alex Burnett

[Hoss4476]

I thought this year they were starting with a clean slate and decided everyone mustt earn their spot..

So how'd this guy make the opening day roster?? Here's his spring stats and last years stats...

Spring 2012: ERA: 6.97, WHIP: 2.22, Batting Average Against: .366, with 5 K's and 5 BB's in 9 innings..

Last Year: ERA: 5.51, WHIP: 1.40, Batting Average Against: .275, with 33 K's and 21 BB's in 50 2/3 innings..

 

I would've much rather seen Fien make the opening day roster over Burnett. Fien's stats this spring...

ERA:1.93, WHIP: .86, Batting Average Against: .176, with 9 K's and 2 BB's in 9 1/3 innings.

He wasn't on the 40-man roster though.

 

Others on the 40-man I would've rather seen over Burnett..

 

Lester Oliveros:

Spring: He was sent down right away so he only got 3 innings and he has control issues, but so does Burnett and this guy has a mid-90's fastball

 

Carlos Gutierrez:

Spring: As with Oliveros, He had a very small sample size this spring and he also has some control issues, but he also has a mid-90's fastball and his pitches have movement. He spent all of 2011 at AAA and I think he or Oliveros would've been a much better option then Burnett.. Are the Twinkies still holding onto the good start Burnett had in the 2010 season???

[Seth Stohs]

they have an 8-man bullpen. If they would have FIVE starters right now, Burnett wouldn't be on the roster. As soon as Baker or Marquis comes back, he'll likely be sent down to Rochester.

 

Since one of those two should be back within the first week or so of the season, is it really worth adding Fien to the 40 man roster and then losing him when they move down to a 7-player bullpen.

 

There is still plenty of hope for Burnett... I believe that his likelihood of meeting his potential wold be greatly improved by sending him to Rochester for awhile...

 

Oliveros is starting the season in AA, so not sure he's a great option at this point either (and I believe he can be very solid too, but rightfully, they'll let him succeed and then move up). We all saw Gutierrez pitch, and he still doesn't have a second pitch. He also wasn't terribly good in AAA last year. I still think he could be good, but not yet.

[Hoss4476]

Marquis didn't earn his spot either, but they will still probably send down Hendriks once Baker and Marquis are both back....

 

Yes, there is hope for Burnett, but he needs more work at AAA. Gutierrez didn't have the best season laast year that is true, but he deserves his chance.

[Thrylos]

Last week I had the pleasure to spend a good time (like about 30 minutes each; more on Oliveros) watching Gutierrez, Manship and Oliveros throw bullpens and in Minor League ST games. And I mean not from the stands. I was about 10 feet behind the catcher in these pens, about 15-20 feet behind the home plate umpire in the games.

 

Of those 3, Oliveros is definitely the most intriguing. Had the pleasure to watch him last Thu by the radar gun station at Ft Myers with Bobby Cuellar who just finished his AAA game and came to the next field to watch him. He was watching him pitch and had this game going on with the kids (Twins' rookie players) who were manning the radar station and charting the game: He would guess a speed (and he was pretty right) And the way he was guessing was based on the outcome... FB 94+ straight and all over the place. Sliders 85+ same thing. FB 92-93 nice downward movement and heavy sink; sliders 82-83 unhittable. So there are a lot of eyes on Oliveros in the organization. Just if Bobby taught him a changeup...

 

I think that the overthrowing is also Gutierrez' problem in some respects. Not sure what Manship's issues are... If I were to see who is the next reliever up, I'd say Sam Deduno

[Fanatic Jack]

It really is something that Alex Burnett is on the roster even if it's to start the season. What has he done in 2 years to warrant another promotion. "Expect More, Pay Less."

[Thrylos]

It really is something that Alex Burnett is on the roster even if it's to start the season. What has he done in 2 years to warrant another promotion. "Expect More, Pay Less."

Here is the thing: they needed 2 players for Baker's and Marquis' positions who were already in the 40-man roster. They chose Hendriks and Burnett. They will go down when Baker and Marquis are ready. Would you rather have Guerra/Gutierrez/Oliveros than Burnett for a week?

[Highabove]

Is there any chance that Hendriks ends up in the Bullpen?

 

Similar route as Santana

[Dilligaf69]

Here is the thing: they needed 2 players for Baker's and Marquis' positions who were already in the 40-man roster. They chose Hendriks and Burnett. They will go down when Baker and Marquis are ready. Would you rather have Guerra/Gutierrez/Oliveros than Burnett for a week?

 

It was the right move....Burnett will be the first to go barring injuries, and I doubt he even pitches when he's here, at least not in any close games.

[Mike Sixel]

Agreed, he's up for a cup of coffee and mop up work in blowouts, nothing more or less at this point. It could be Seth, and it wouldn't really matter to the outcome of any games.