MIN 4, STL 1: Berrios is Back

No worries here. Twins are 18-20 and showing signs of consistently putting together good games. I prefer being mildly disappointed to the nervousness of last year, when they were 21-17 and every time out we all wondered when the wheels were going to come off. Starters look good. Bullpen is reliable, if unspectacular. And the hitting will come around. Heck, Morrison is ready to top the Mendoza line.

For me, I enjoy every game as they unfold and see real potential for a breakout, much like Cleveland last summer. Play ball!

Not trying to jinx anything, but Fernando Rodney has quietly gone about his job since that early hiccup. The guy looks like a legit closer and I for one no longer get the shivers when his name is called.

The bats weren't exactly on fire, but maybe the offensive spark from an unlikely source will get things going. Bobby Wilson of all people, wow. Escobar continuing to carry this team on his back with the game-tying hit in the later innings. Berrios, yeah that's what we needed!

Break out the brooms this afternoon!

  On 5/16/2018 at 10:51 AM, Tommygun921 said:

Phil Hughes....9 pitches is the last 5 days. They're treating him like a rule 5 pick. Just trying to hide him on the roster it seems. Why not cut ties and bring up someone else that can hopefully make an impact? I'm not rooting against him...maybe he'll be the guy that can make that impact. Idk

Yes. I don't like the fact he's taking up a valuable spot in the bullpen.

  On 5/16/2018 at 12:59 PM, wsnydes said:

This tendency might be what drives nuts the most about the FO.  There is no reason to be sacrificing a roster spot on a team that is supposed to be contending.  I get that he's owed a bunch of money, but at some point you have to admit to a mistake (that they didn't make) and move on from it.

There's a lot of eventual roster moves to be made with Santana, May, Sano, Polanco and Castro eventually coming back.  Their hands will likely be forced with Hughes.

  On 5/16/2018 at 1:38 PM, wsnydes said:

I'm not really convinced of that.  Only two of those are pitchers and a lot can happen between now and then.  Assuming no injuries occur before then, it's much easier to send Romero down to make room for Santana and jettison one of the struggling bullpen arms to make room for May.  

 

When Polanco is activated, Petit goes back down.  When Castro comes back, Wilson gets DFA'd.  If the timing is right, Petit gets DFA'd to make room on the 40 man for either Santana or May.  There are a couple of DFA options for bullpen arms as well (Magill and maybe Moya?).  I don't think their hand will be forced at all.  At least no more than it is right now anyway.

I don't know. I just hate to hear the phrase DFA. It makes me cringe as I think of what John Hicks is doing in Detroit or remember JT Chargois.

  On 5/16/2018 at 1:38 PM, wsnydes said:

I'm not really convinced of that.  Only two of those are pitchers and a lot can happen between now and then.  Assuming no injuries occur before then, it's much easier to send Romero down to make room for Santana and jettison one of the struggling bullpen arms to make room for May.  

 

When Polanco is activated, Petit goes back down.  When Castro comes back, Wilson gets DFA'd.  If the timing is right, Petit gets DFA'd to make room on the 40 man for either Santana or May.  There are a couple of DFA options for bullpen arms as well (Magill and maybe Moya?).  I don't think their hand will be forced at all.  At least no more than it is right now anyway.

Snydes:

I believe you are missing Sano's return in your projections.  Assuming Sano comes back before Polanco, Petit will be optioned at that time.  

Nonetheless you are accurate in your worries that Santana and May's return do not, unfortunately, necessarily equate to the dumping of Hughes - although Romero is making it very tough for the Twins to send him back down.

  On 5/16/2018 at 12:59 PM, wsnydes said:

This tendency might be what drives nuts the most about the FO.  There is no reason to be sacrificing a roster spot on a team that is supposed to be contending.  I get that he's owed a bunch of money, but at some point you have to admit to a mistake (that they didn't make) and move on from it.

While I think Hughes is likely cooked, I don't think a mop-up reliever whose has the stamina for 3+ innings is a wasted roster spot. We saw what happens during the post-Puerto Rico stretch when you don't have that guy on your roster: musical chairs.

Hughes isn't pitching now because the Twins are playing close, good games. His role is for blowouts. Blowouts happen to every team, contending or not. If they happen 2 days in a row and you don't have a Hughes-type it causes problems.

  On 5/16/2018 at 10:51 AM, Tommygun921 said:

Phil Hughes....9 pitches is the last 5 days. They're treating him like a rule 5 pick. Just trying to hide him on the roster it seems. Why not cut ties and bring up someone else that can hopefully make an impact? I'm not rooting against him...maybe he'll be the guy that can make that impact. Idk

He pitched ok in the last outing, but why would you eat the salary on him to start the clock on a guy from the minors that is only going to have marginal impact right now? The bullpen is doing fine, overall. The decision point comes when Santana/May get healthy, until then I'm not all that worried about the 12th and 13th spots on the pitching staff.

I love seeing Buxton get a bunt down that he can run on, because the fear and panic he inspires running down the line is delightful. He makes people rush throws, bobble a fielding opportunity, overthrow, and anything else bad you can think of. So much fun.

  On 5/16/2018 at 2:16 PM, gunnarthor said:

Was Buxton's bunt ruled a hit or an error? I saw the play on mlbtv this morning and I couldn't believe how fast he got to first on a bunt more or less straight back to the pitcher.

Not sure officially, but it should have been ruled a hit and an error.  Essentially, every base gained has to be accounted for.  And on a close play with a wide throw, the official scorer typically gives the runner the benefit of the doubt.   In this case, Buxton should have been credited with a hit, and Gregerson should have been charged with the error allowing Morrison and Buxton advancing an extra base each.

  On 5/16/2018 at 2:08 PM, wsnydes said:

Yup, I am.  Adrianza would become a DFA target at that point if Gordon truly is pushing to be brought up.  Escobar becomes the utility guy again, filling Adrianza's role.  Sano's return is easier to deal with in my view because you don't need to open a 40-man spot like you would with Santana and May.  Perhaps that's where Petit gets DFA'd.  The Twins already have too many pitchers on the 40 man.  It would depend on the timing, but I don't think any of these moves force the hand of the FO to move on from Hughes.

 

I'd hate to see Romero sent back down with how well he's pitching.  It's a numbers game at that point and he's got options though.  It's possible that they move on from Lynn, but I don't see that happening either.

I would hope the numbers say to keep Lynn over Hughes.

Hughes just hasn't come back and there are several years of data to prove it. Whereas Lynn has a recent track record of success versus his struggles to start the year.

  On 5/16/2018 at 2:10 PM, Shaitan said:

While I think Hughes is likely cooked, I don't think a mop-up reliever whose has the stamina for 3+ innings is a wasted roster spot. We saw what happens during the post-Puerto Rico stretch when you don't have that guy on your roster: musical chairs.

 

Hughes isn't pitching now because the Twins are playing close, good games. His role is for blowouts. Blowouts happen to every team, contending or not. If they happen 2 days in a row and you don't have a Hughes-type it causes problems.

Lynn can take the long reliever spot over Hughes. 

  On 5/16/2018 at 2:29 PM, wsnydes said:

It's a wasted spot if you go 2 weeks without using him.  Plus, Magill can fill the long man role.  One of them is a wasted spot.  Plus, you don't need a mop up guy.  You use the relievers that haven't gotten much work lately.  Nobody needs a mop up guy.  bring in another arm that you can use in close games.  

But what happens if you don't have any relievers that haven't gotten much work lately? What happens when they're all being used, such as 2 weeks ago after the Puerto Rico games? Then they're stuck making changes to the 40-man roster based on immediate necessity, which usually means journeymen.

You have the right to disagree, of course, but I do think a mop-up pitcher is a vital role. Don't waste your core reliever arms on meaningless innings. They can get extra work in the bullpen. Anything can happen in a live game (e.g.: injury).

  On 5/16/2018 at 3:56 PM, Blake said:

Lynn can take the long reliever spot over Hughes. 

A part of me wonders if they'll cut Lynn before Hughes, due to the 1 year contract.

  On 5/16/2018 at 6:40 PM, Shaitan said:

A part of me wonders if they'll cut Lynn before Hughes, due to the 1 year contract.

The way the game has gone, maybe both will be looking for another home.

Yeesh, Lynn is bad.