What To Make Of Mike Pelfrey

With the way Nolasco has pitched this year (and last) I am sceptical of a trip to the dl and 2 rehab starts making him the pitcher he was before he signed with the Twins.  He had a whole offseason to heal from last year. I do not think he did.I doubt he will make it back as an effective pitcher.

The Twins advanced metrics team likes that Pelfrey nearly always has a low earned runs total per hour pitched. 

One of the best posts I have seen here in a while. 

Still a lot of base runners on in his last start.  

Five hits and two walks in seven innings in his last start. One base runner per inning is acceptable in my book.

As to the questions of what to do with Nolasco - I think the reality is that we can't just stick him in indefinite rehab, per the CBA. Either he has to be back with the club or he's released, and I can't see the Twins swallowing three years of contract to release him.

Both Milone and Pelfrey have had one good start, one mediocre one, and one poor one so far this year. Any differences in peripherals are because Milone struck out more batters in his one good start. We can no more call Milone consistent than we can say that about Pelfrey yet.

As someone said above - each of our starters will get two more starts before Nolasco has to come back. A lot can (and will) change before then.

Where is the real Pelfrey?

What have you done with the real Pelfrey?

Can we keep this version of Pelfrey instead?

OK, so I said the same thing in a blog elsewhere. I liked the comment. Lol

I caught most of the game and was genuinely impressed. And I saw some of this wicked split fingers. And just when I thought he'd implode, he didn't. No guarantees, but I still think he has the right stuff to MAYBE re-invent himself as a quality bullpen arm: throw hard, mix in pitches, and only have to face a couple hitters,mor go through the lineup once. I just don't trust him.

To me he's that friend or cool uncle who is a really neat guy, who everyone likes and roots for, who always has the best intentions...but who always lets you down in the end.

Thanks for the clarification.  I actually was reading it as two players, a low level prospect PLUS a starter which was more than what you intended.

 

And given that Correia was absolutely worthless on the trade market, being more valuable than him doesn't necessarily return anything interesting.  And as you say, Pelfrey's not even there yet -- he's got what, 1-2 starts here, with good results by bad peripherals.  Long way to go.

I probably should've ended my post without bringing up that trade scenario. It probably just distracted from any good points I might have actually made formerly. I don't think that hypothesizing whether or not Pelfry might garner any trade market value adds anything to the argument that he should continue to pitch. He should continue to pitch as long as he continues to pitch well. If Noloasco were ready to pitch today, I would not send Pelfry to the bullpen to make room for him. Neither would I send anyone else on the rotation to the bullpen or to AAA to make room for Nolasco. 

As for what to do with Nolasco...

What happens if the Twins just reassign him to Rochester? That's not the same as cutting or releasing him. We would still have to pay him according to his contract, yes? but wouldn't it force him to consider asking the club for a release so that he could seek MLB employment elsewhere, which wouldn't that then excuse the Twins from his contract?

 

What happens if the Twins just reassign him to Rochester? That's not the same as cutting or releasing him. We would still have to pay him according to his contract, yes? but wouldn't it force him to consider asking the club for a release so that he could seek MLB employment elsewhere, which wouldn't that then excuse the Twins from his contract?

He can refuse the assignment (as a veteran with more than five years of experience). He does become a free agent at that point, but it does not void his contract. So, basically, he'd get paid twice if another team signed him, and we'd still be on the hook.

Pelfrey really did not pitch all that well did he?  He got into the same number of jams as usual, but then balls were hit at fielders instead of between them?  If  the double plays were just FC, wouldn't he have given up a good 3 or 4 runs and we would have probably lost?  I've never been a big Pelf fan, but results aside, I need to see a bit more.  I was fooled by Deduno last year.  Luck is luck.  Don't get it confused with stuff.

 

At the same time, Pelfrey owes us, and Nolasco may be worse yet.  Maybe Pelf really has turned a corner.  If that's the case, I throw him 120 pitches every 3rd day until the wheels fall off or his arm falls off, whichever comes first.  My bet is on the wheels, because I'm still not convinced he's even average.

I think this states things pretty well. We know what Pelfrey is and will be. A little success should not change anything. Guys who are early to mid twenties can "turn a corner", guys Pelfrey's age don't and nobody should be fooled. There were a lot of cases against KC where Suzuki had his glove low and on the corner and the ball drifted to the middle. He was lucky and more time will quickly expose that. Nolasco is no savior but we are married to him for now. When he is ready, Boyer should go, Pelfrey goes to the pen and May should stay.

Nolasco's first rehab start is Sunday. It will likely take at least two as he builds towards 100 pitches. The 5 in the rotation have at least two more starts before a decision is made. If they are all pitching at 4th starter level or better, it would be foolish to replace them with Nolasco.

He can refuse the assignment (as a veteran with more than five years of experience). He does become a free agent at that point, but it does not void his contract. So, basically, he'd get paid twice if another team signed him, and we'd still be on the hook.

ah. rats.

Pelfrey just turned 31. He's definately a candidate for a four year extension from this club.

Thank you for your insight.

Pelfrey just turned 31. He's definately a candidate for a four year extension from this club.

Well, after tonight against Detroit, this post became incredibly relevant.

I don't know what to make of Pelfrey now. Up until this year, Pelfrey would unravel and be done. Now, he unravels a bit, then gets better.

Maybe his health really was that bad the last couple of years?

Or, it's the old Twins way of finding a reclamation project that finally pays off. 

Although, Pelfrey as an 8th inning setup man really intrigues me now.

He can refuse the assignment (as a veteran with more than five years of experience). He does become a free agent at that point, but it does not void his contract. So, basically, he'd get paid twice if another team signed him, and we'd still be on the hook.

I think getting paid twice is not correct. A player can be signed for the minimum by the other team, and the team that releases the player gets that amount of salary relief. The total paid remains the same, just split between the teams, with the signing team getting the player for the minimum.

I'd hand Rick the Mike.  You're going to the pen.

Pelfrey has been a joy to watch the last 2 games.  There is a crispness to his pitching and he is maintaining a good pace.  (So good that the games have just flown by).

Given his pre-Twins record, I think you give him a chance to continue it.

I'd probably send Nolasco or Milone to the pen but then I've yet to see anything good from Nolasco in a Twins uniform so its hard to want him in the rotation.

 

 

I'd probably send Nolasco or Milone to the pen but then I've yet to see anything good from Nolasco in a Twins uniform so its hard to want him in the rotation.

We at least got one good month out of Nolasco last September. We've only seen one good start from Milone, including last year. At this point, I'd keep Nolasco in the rotation.

I've never been a believer in Pelfrey, but I hope he continues pitching well. I also hope the Twins don't hesitate to trade him if the opportunity arises, because some space has got to be cleared out.