Pitching Bullets

[jorgenswest]

Contemplating Archer, Moore, Price, Cobb, Helickson, Griffin, Parker, Malone, Strailey, Gray...

 

 

Those guys all came up young. While most had good strikeout numbers they weren't all dominating in the minors. They didn't show perfect command before they arriving.

 

 

I think Alex Meyer needs to start with the club next April.

 

I think we are seeing some teams calling up pitchers younger while they still have most of their bullets left. You certainly see it in the Rays an A's. I don't think the Twins should worry as much about service time with pitchers. Injuries are much more frequent.

 

I also think they need to have Trevor May on the team even if it means he is in the bullpen while working on a third pitch.

A study or two is in order. What happens to velocity as pitchers age? What is the growth curve for a pitcher? Is it the same for hard throwers?

 

In any case, the Twins need to do something different. They have shown no ability to develop pitching. They need to look at the whole organization from Anderson on down. They need to make some changes.

[old nurse]

I think the steroid era let the power pitchers pitch longer. Jiminez looks like he lost the real blazing ball at 26, Verlander is going strong at 30. There would be average things like

Pitcher Aging Curves: Introduction | FanGraphs Baseball

But in my opinion the individual variabily between pitchers would be hard to predict. Injuries probably play a part.

[jorgenswest]

It is individual but Verlander was 23 in his first full season. Jimenez pitched half a season at 23 and full time at 24.

 

It is Meyer time. Any domination of AAA is a waste of bullets.

[howieramone1406390264]

In any case, the Twins need to do something different. They have shown no ability to develop pitching. They need to look at the whole organization from Anderson on down. They need to make some changes.

They did make a conscious effort to bring in more power arms 2 drafts ago. The emphasis in International signings is power bats and power arms.

 

For those keeping score at home, let me suggest a hypothetical. It's not too much of a stretch to think the Twins will attempt to bring in 2 starters better than anyone we currently have this winter. If we then take 2 college starters with our first 2 picks in the very deep 2014 draft, we will have positioned ourselves for the parade. It would leave us the 2014 trade deadline and winter of 2014/2015 to fine tune and account for wastage. We have 19 months to get it done.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I think the Twins are going to be competitive in the central from 2015-2020, but what's with this talk about starting the parade?

[ThePuck]

I think the Twins are going to be competitive in the central from 2015-2020, but what's with this talk about starting the parade?

 

Some people have it in their heads that the glory days are going to start in 2015...hence the talk of a parade.

[MichiganTwins]

Well you have to plan a party ahead of time. Everyone knows that.

[jorgenswest]

It doesn't take long to be sidetracked back to the same topic in every threads.

 

Any thoughts on moving the hard throwing pitchers earlier? How are the A's and Rays finding success in their young pitchers? They all haven't dominated the minors.

 

Should the Twins move Alex Meyers to the majors in April? How many bullets should he waste in the minors.

 

I would say the same about May if he has success in the AFL hitting haven.

[old nurse]

Although the smart ones can name quite a few, most pitchers do not do well their first year in the majors. If the best coaches are in the majors to refine their technique, start them in the bullpen next year to have that coach work with them.

[Oldgoat_MN]

Hmmm...

Name one pitcher that came to the Twins from another MLB team who got better SO/9 after working with Anderson.

Not sure he's the one we want 'refining' Meyer's technique.

[TheLeviathan]

I think the Twins are going to be competitive in the central from 2015-2020, but what's with this talk about starting the parade?

 

Better not to ask.

[jorgenswest]

I hope the Twins make changes to pitching throughout the organization starting with Rick Anderson.

[old nurse]

Hmmm...

Name one pitcher that came to the Twins from another MLB team who got better SO/9 after working with Anderson.

Not sure he's the one we want 'refining' Meyer's technique.

 

I must have missed something. When did Anderson go to be the bullpen coach?

[Oldgoat_MN]

I must have missed something. When did Anderson go to be the bullpen coach?

 

I am not clear as to the assignments of the coaches. If it is the bullpen coach who primarily works to refine the pitches of the starting pitchers, then I am clearly amiss in my statement.

[Shane Wahl]

The problem with doing that with Meyer is the innings limit he will rightly face in 2014. It's probably similar to Gibson's 2013 mark. And hopefully the Twins don't do to Meyer in 2014 what they did with Gibson in 2013.

[diehardtwinsfan]

The problem with doing that with Meyer is the innings limit he will rightly face in 2014. It's probably similar to Gibson's 2013 mark. And hopefully the Twins don't do to Meyer in 2014 what they did with Gibson in 2013.

 

Meyer will get AFL time. His innings limit will be higher than 130