Article: The Case For Brett Anderson

[Oxtung]

Damn, I would rather have traded for Anderson than signed either Nolasco or Hughes. Oh, to have an above average pitcher on the staff.... Ah well, another season of mediocre pitching will just blend into the last 5 years.

[jay]

I'd say the comp is closer to Gibson than to May. Bummer the Twins couldn't pull this one off, but Oakland is well known for wanting pitching and we really don't need to give any of that up... especially for a 2-year lottery ticket.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Damn, I would rather have traded for Anderson than signed either Nolasco or Hughes. Oh, to have an above average pitcher on the staff.... Ah well, another season of mediocre pitching will just blend into the last 5 years.

 

I understand the thinking but Anderson is only above average if he's actually on the mound... A place he hasn't spent much time in the past three years. Given his inability to stay healthy, it makes all the sense in the world for the Twins to pursue "lesser" pitchers because the odds that they'll actually go to the mound 30+ times a season and help the team win offsets their marginally lower ceilings.

[iastfan112]

I understand the thinking but Anderson is only above average if he's actually on the mound... A place he hasn't spent much time in the past three years. Given his inability to stay healthy, it makes all the sense in the world for the Twins to pursue "lesser" pitchers because the odds that they'll actually go to the mound 30+ times a season and help the team win offsets their marginally lower ceilings.

 

If this was all a bunch of arm related injuries I might agree but flukey injuries like ankle problems are unlikely to reoccur. Feel this is the same type criticism Hardy received for being injury prone yet has proceeded to be healthy and productive in Baltimore.

[Brock Beauchamp]

If this was all a bunch of arm related injuries I might agree but flukey injuries like ankle problems are unlikely to reoccur. Feel this is the same type criticism Hardy received for being injury prone yet has proceeded to be healthy and productive in Baltimore.

 

Oh, I'm aware of the "flukey" nature of his ailments... Which is why I'm disappointed the Twins didn't push harder to get the guy, especially in light of what the Rockies gave up to get him.

 

On the other hand, the guy hasn't been able to stay on the mound for three consecutive seasons. That's a red flag to an organization that perennially trots out the worst rotation in baseball. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the Twins opting to go for reliable guys with lower upside over the guy who hasn't accumulated a full season of innings in the past three years combined.

 

If the options were between another Kevin Correia signing and Brett Anderson, yeah, I'd be all over Anderson. But Nolasco and Hughes were perfectly reasonable signings given the Twins' current needs.