3 Twins Relievers Show Dangers of Relying on Duffey, Thielbar Too Much

Not enough appearances to come to a conclusion, but they have looked really shaky so far.  Duffey seemed much better against the Sox last night.  

duffey can maybe still be effective in a lessor role.  I feel that Thielbar and Stashek will not be part of the next good Twins team and we should be working on there replacements now. 

As a devoted Pat Neshek lover, I’d have to say Neshek really isn’t a good example. You mention that relievers “burn bright and die out quickly,” but Neshek had 9 seasons after leaving the Twins with a sub-4.00 ERA and 6 of those with a sub-3.00 ERA. It doesn’t look like his opponents ever really adjusted to him — he just dealt with injuries his last few years here that made him ineffective in a very small sample. 

I agree about Neshak.  I wouldn't say that "making multiple all-star teams" is defined as "falling on hard times."

You forgot to mention that Rincon used performance enhancing drugs.

I cringe when Thielbar enters a game. Duffey is not far behind. 

Good article, though I agree with the other that Neshek doesn’t belong here. Clear injury related decline in MN, and a long multiple All-Star appearance career after he left. But yeah, the others.

Thielbar is in his age 35 season. His stuff looks to be declining, and I bet he knows it, because despite his history of decent to good control, he now seems afraid to throw it over the plate, walking more than a batter per inning pitched. And I get that fear since batters (in a very light-hitting April league-wide) are pounding him for a .375 BAA. The Twins have better options now, and they should waive him on May 2nd. I like Caleb, and hope he gets a chance elsewhere, but either way his skills and age probably mean he is out of baseball soon.

Duffey’s leash is probably longer, but shouldn’t be too much longer. Look up his career stats, and he is a distinctly mediocre pitcher (with a negative WAR from 2016-18) until things click in 2019-20 when he became very good. Last year was solid, but with some flags popping (like declining velocity). One can only speculate on how the banning of tacky stuff affected Tyler (though his second half was better than his first). Overall, he looks like a pitcher in his early thirties losing speed he depends on. Some pitchers can reinvent themselves, and extend their career (like Caleb Thielbar). Some can’t. Either way, Tyler looks a lot more the Early Duffey than Dominant Duffey, but I’d give him some more time to work that out. But not forever, and not 8th or 9th high leverage until he shows he has worked it out, because the Twins have options in their system.

18 hours ago, GKuehl said:

As a devoted Pat Neshek lover, I’d have to say Neshek really isn’t a good example. You mention that relievers “burn bright and die out quickly,” but Neshek had 9 seasons after leaving the Twins with a sub-4.00 ERA and 6 of those with a sub-3.00 ERA. It doesn’t look like his opponents ever really adjusted to him — he just dealt with injuries his last few years here that made him ineffective in a very small sample. 

Neshek always struck me as one of those situations where Gardy just didn't like certain players who didn't fit his view of the game and he got run out, never really getting the chance to work all the way back from the injury.  The Twins during this period had a solid history of screwing with their pitchers and either losing them or having them find success elsewhere after the Twins gave up.

Regarding Neshek's popularity, the sidearm delivery was cool, but Neshek was from Wisconsin and really bonded with our fanbase.  Beyond that, he was simply fun.  It was a shame how that played out, he was pretty clear that his hope was to stay with the Twins for the long term.

Thielbar hit 95 his last outing and looked better.  I just don't know why his velocity fluctuates so much from game to game......

Duffey reminds me so much of Eddie Guardado in his pitching approach.  I'd really rather not see him in the closer role, though.  He doesn't seem to have that same craftiness that Eddie G had to find some way to get most guys out. 

That said, Pagan as a Twin so far has reminded me of Brandon Kintzler - no nasty out pitch he can rely on to end an at bat.  IDK who should close.  I don't really want that to fall to Duran either.  Maybe Joe Smith until Alcala returns?

Lefthanded pitching is a weakness of this roster. The Twins only have Couloumbe, Thielbar and Moran for lefthanded pitching. If one of them is pitching poorly they can't rely on the other to pick up all the slack. We may see Devin Smeltzer soon. After Smeltzer there's basically nobody else in the organization for lefthanded pitching.