Article: Twins Minor League Report (7/31): The Albers Show Continues

[Seth Stohs]

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?r=2164-Twins-Minor-League-Report-(7-31)-The-Albers-Show-Continues

[robbie111]

I was interested in Terry Ryans comments today about Albers, May, Meyer, Tonkin and Hendriks helping the Twins next year. He described Albers as having a deceptive delivery. I'm assuming that's not Luis Tiant or Pat Neshek deceptive, so has anyone actually seen him pitch? How deceptive is his delivery?

 

Also interesting that he figures May and Meyer will be ready next year.

So does that make the rotation at some point next year as Gibson, Meyer, May, Deduno and Albers?

[60ft6in]

Yes, the Jairo Rodriguez tour continues with a trip back to Ft Myers.....

[robbie111]

“Albers works off of deception. He’s athletic and he throws strikes, he’s certainly not afraid. But most of the stuff he throws up there, on a scale it’d probably be below average. But he does have that deceptive delivery, he has funk, he has the stamina. He is a legitimate starting pitcher. He seems to get into that seventh or eighth inning quite often.”

Ryan also mentioned a few names as possibilities next year.

“[Michael] Tonkin is certainly in that area,” said Ryan. “I believe that [Liam] Hendriks [and] Albers possibly could help us. I just left some of those guys at Double-A, but Trevor May has a chance to help us. There are a handful of guys that ultimately are going to help us. I hope that we can get Alex Meyer back here. I’m thinking it might be August 10th or so that he’ll start for New Britain. But he has a chance to be a guy for us.”

 

For those interested, the quote today from Terry Ryan is listed above.

[B Richard]

Glad to see Meyer slated for a comeback. Let's hope he's well rested and healthy

[ThejacKmp]

This is minor but it seems odd to me that they have Wilkin down in the GCL for a rehab start. He's recovering from a concussion but you put him in a league of young guys with lots of power but little control? Seems like you're five times as likely to take one to the ol' bean in the GCL than in AA or AAA. Makes no sense.

[IdahoPilgrim]

This is minor but it seems odd to me that they have Wilkin down in the GCL for a rehab start. He's recovering from a concussion but you put him in a league of young guys with lots of power but little control? Seems like you're five times as likely to take one to the ol' bean in the GCL than in AA or AAA. Makes no sense.

 

Understand your point, but the Twins almost always do their rehabs in Fort Myers, at the GCL and/or Miracle level. That's where they have their ST complex and training facilities and can better monitor the rehab.

[SurroundedByTigers]

Got to like it when we get solid starting pitching at AAA (Albers), AA (Pat Dean), High-A (Jason Wheeler) and GCL (Lewis Thorpe - wasn't this guy a swimmer or something in Australia?). And on top of that, all of them are lefties. Any of these guys got a shot of making it in the Majors? Wheeler is 8-4 with 4+ ERA and 1.53 WHIP. Dean 6-11, 4+ ERA, 1.34 WHIP, Thorpe 2-0, 2+ERA, .94 WHIP.

[Tibs]

What are the chances Albers pitches for the Twins this year since no pitchers were traded? And who takes the new spot on the 40 man?

[E. Andrew]

He described Albers as having a deceptive delivery. I'm assuming that's not Luis Tiant or Pat Neshek deceptive, so has anyone actually seen him pitch? How deceptive is his delivery?

 

The ball comes out of his hand a bit later than you'd expect, but it doesn't look terribly crazy otherwise. Does anyone see something else?

 

Edit: Can't get the time stamp to work -- Start at 40 sec, he throws pick-offs til then...

 

[video=youtube;wSNe6P9UL8Y]

[3up3down]

Robbie, I have seen him pitch but not this year, I dont see the deception but he is doing something right..I talked with a scout friend yesterday & he said he is just getting by with throwing strikes & hitters are missing them. he was 84-86 yesterday & threw some fat pitches right down the middle & they just missed them..he definately has earned his shot but there is a reason the twins are reluctant to bring him up..

 

as far as Hendriks, I have seen him several times & I have never been high on him, no plus pitches , no out pitch , he has to have pinpoint control to have success..

 

if TR is looking ahead & sees Albers & Hendriks in the future rotation the twins are going to struggle for a while..

 

but Albers has earned a shot , lets see what he can do..

[jimbo92107]

The ball comes out of his hand a bit later than you'd expect, but it doesn't look terribly crazy otherwise. Does anyone see something else?

 

Edit: Can't get the time stamp to work -- Start at 40 sec, he throws pick-offs til then...

 

[video=youtube;wSNe6P9UL8Y]

 

I see two things that could screw up a hitter. First, (visibility) Albers closes his lead shoulder, which masks the ball. Second, (timing) he does an odd loop with his pitching hand, which makes it look like he's going to be late on his release, but somehow he catches up without losing control. The overall impression is herky-jerky, but apparently his motion doesn't result in wildness and it's hard to time.

 

I've seen other pitchers use this kind of delivery before. Jared Weaver comes to mind, and somebody else mentioned Neshek, and a few others whose names I don't recall. None of them were hard throwers.