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  • Twins Minor League Report (8/5): Burdi Gonna Burdi

    Jeremy Nygaard

    By Jeremy Nygaard

    Tyler Duffey made his big league debut for the Twins and didn’t go as well as we hoped.

    There was good news before the Twins game, though, when it was announced that Byron Buxton will be joining the Red Wings as soon as Friday to begin his rehab assignment.

    The Kernels activated starting pitcher John Curtiss from the disabled list and placed reliever Cameron Booser on the DL with left shoulder impingement.

    Later in the evening, Seth announced on Twitter that Aaron Slegers was promoted to Chattanooga.

    Baseball America’s minor league transaction log included the detail that the Twins have signed minor-league pitcher Loek Van Mil. Van Mil, a 7’ 1” pitcher from the Netherlands, signed with the Twins in 2006 and pitched in the system until he was traded for Brian Fuentes. His last stop was in Japan, but pitched in AAA for the Reds organization as recently as 2013.

    Oh, and typically when you get your picture on a minor league report, you’ve done something good. Today is not a typical day.

    Read more about Nick Burdi and the rest of the day below.

    Image courtesy of Jamie Rhodes / USA Today Sports

    Twins Video

    RED WINGS REPORT

    Rochester 3, Gwinnett 4

    Box Score

    Taylor Rogers had a rough four-run fifth inning, but still managed to pitch seven innings, surrendering those four runs on seven hits and a walk. He struck out four. Mark Hamburger pitched a scoreless eighth inning.

    Reynaldo Rodriguez, fresh off being named IL Player of the Week, went 3-4 with two doubles and a triple. He scored twice. Xavier Avery and Chris Herrmann both had two hits. Oswaldo Arcia went 0-3, but managed to drive in two runs.

    Rochester drops to 56-55.

    CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

    Chattanooga vs Jackson

    Wednesday’s game was postponed due to rain. The Lookouts will play two on Thursday.

    MIRACLE MATTERS

    Ft. Myers 4, St. Lucie 7

    Box Score

    Nick Burdi may very well be a pitcher who enters a game as a ticking time-bomb. Now, there’s a chance he’ll dominate the opposition. Blow them away with a 100 mph fastball and a slider so sick batters will wet their pants.

    But there’s also a chance that he will explode (or, more accurately, implode) and his team will lose because they brought him into the game.

    That’s what happened tonight. The Miracle turned to Burdi to save their one-run lead. He didn’t.

    He walked two of the first three batters. And after striking out the next batter allowed the next three hitters to single-walk-single. He ended his night by getting ejected after throwing a wild pitch and arguing with the umpire whether the runner was safe or not.

    Two outs, four runs (three earned), two hits, three walks, two wild pitches, one strikeout. Blown save. Loss.

    Burdi’s game overshadowed a poor start from Stephen Gonsalves. Gonsalves allowed three runs on three walks and six hits in 4.2 innings. He struck out three.

    Trevor Hildenburger (2.1 IP, 5 K), Tyler Jay (IP, K) and Todd Van Steensel (.1 IP) were effective.

    Aderling Mejia had three hits - including a triple - that drove in two runs. Michael Quesada had an RBI double. Engelb Vielma had two hits.

    The Miracle drops to 21-18 on the second half, trailing Palm Beach by 5.5 games.

    KERNELS NUGGETS

    Cedar Rapids 3, Dayton 8

    Box Score

    Felix Jorge struggled for the second straight start. On Wednesday, he gave up six runs (five earned) on seven hits and two walks. He gave up two home runs and struck out four.

    Yorman Landa (struck out three) and Ethan Mildren each gave up a run in relief.

    Nick Gordon drove in two runs, getting two hits, including a triple. His average broke .270 for the first time since May 2. His OPS is the highest it’s been since April. He did, however, commit his 16th error of the season.

    Brian Navarreto went 1-4, but his defensive presence was felt. He picked a runner off of first base in the fourth inning. He threw out a potential base-stealer in the fifth inning. In the eighth, Navarreto combined with Nick Gordon to complete the strike-em-out, throw-em-out double play. He’s got a ways to go offensively, but it would be hard to find a higher-ceilinged catcher in the system.

    The Kernels, who have already qualified for the playoffs, drop to 22-17 in the second half.

    E-TOWN E-NOTES

    Elizabethton - Off Day

    E-town had a scheduled off day on Wednesday.

    GCL TWINS TAKES

    GCL Twins 2, GCL Rays 1 (12 innings)

    Box Score

    Robert Molina led the charge offensively, going 3-4 with two walks, two stolen bases and a double. Luis Arraez, Blake Schmit, and Kolton Kendrick all contributed doubles. Despite scoring twice, no one was credited with an RBI.

    The whole staff pitched well, which is the case when you give up one run in twelve innings. Jovani Moran started and pitched three no-hit innings. He allowed one walk and struck out four. Luis Hernandez was charged with the lone run. Moises Gomez allowed an inherited runner to score, blowing the save, but struck out two in three innings. Andrew Vasquez and Matz Schutte both pitched multiple scoreless innings.

    The GCL Twins improve to 19-16.

    TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

    Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Jovani Moran, GCL

    Twins Daily Minor League Hitters of the Day – Reynaldo Rodriguez, Rochester and Robert Molina, GCL

    THURSDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

    Rochester at Gwinnett (5:35 CST) – LHP Jason Wheeler

    Chattanooga at Jackson (5:05 CST) – RHP Greg Peavey

    Chattanooga at Jackson (Game 2) – LHP David Hurlbut

    Ft. Myers – OFF DAY

    Cedar Rapids vs Dayton (6:35 CST) – RHP Zach Tillery

    Elizabethton at Johnson City (6:00 CST) - LHP Sam Clay

    GCL Twins vs GCL Orioles (11:00 CST) - TBD

    Feel free to leave any questions or comments below!

    Jeremy Nygaard has been a season ticket holder since the Metrodome days, loves the draft and lives on the other side of the river.
    Follow Jeremy Nygaard on Twitter: jeremynygaard

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    Seth Stohs

    Seth Stohs 23,732

  • Owner

    • Posted

     

    Landa has been pitching well since he came back from his shoulder issues. Do any of the CR contingent have any reports on the guy?  Has his velocity came back?

     

    There were reports shortly after he came back that the Trackman (or whatever that's called) had him hitting 99.8 a couple of times in Cedar Rapids, so I'd say that velo is pretty good!

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    Cap'n Piranha

    Cap'n Piranha 5,641

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

     

    In his last 26 games, he is hitting .330/.365/.440 (.805) with seven doubles and a homer. He's certainly turned it around.

     

    To be honest, he's much more impressive in person than on box scores. He's got great size and that arm is very strong.

     

    Let's also not forget Stuart Turner, who is right in the midst of his traditional second half surge.  He slashed .310/.405/.423 in June, and in 27 games since the AS break, he's at .278/.371/.389, with 13 walks to only 16 k's.  The word on him was always strong defense, and he actually has his best career rate at throwing out opposing baserunners (24 of 58--41%).

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    Mike Sixel

    Mike Sixel 41,021

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted

    I really think Turner needs half a year to adjust......let's hope that trend continues.

     

    IMO, they should not have tried to change what worked with Burdi......indeed, the "progress" from all the RP makes me question their entire approach to coaching RP in the minors.

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    Seth Stohs

    Seth Stohs 23,732

  • Owner

    • Posted

     

    Let's also not forget Stuart Turner, who is right in the midst of his traditional second half surge.  He slashed .310/.405/.423 in June, and in 27 games since the AS break, he's at .278/.371/.389, with 13 walks to only 16 k's.  The word on him was always strong defense, and he actually has his best career rate at throwing out opposing baserunners (24 of 58--41%).

     

    Yup, the last couple of weeks, I've been tweeting fairly frequently on Navarreto, Turner and Mitch Garver who have all been hitting well the last month (Garver since about June 1). 

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    Seth Stohs

    Seth Stohs 23,732

  • Owner

    • Posted

     

    I really think Turner needs half a year to adjust......let's hope that trend continues.

     

    IMO, they should not have tried to change what worked with Burdi......indeed, the "progress" from all the RP makes me question their entire approach to coaching RP in the minors.

     

    I don't know what they changed with Burdi... maybe he should make some adjustments? I don't know what's going on behind all the scenes, but it's not always the organization's or coaches fault.

     

    And, that adjustment period is pretty normal. That's why when they get to the big leagues and make those adjustments and get to that third year at just one level (albeit the highest level), it's interesting to see what they become. There are so many levels to get to the big leagues though, so it's quite a process.

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    SwainZag

    SwainZag 5,031

  • Community Moderator

    • Posted

     

    I don't know what they changed with Burdi... maybe he should make some adjustments? I don't know what's going on behind all the scenes, but it's not always the organization's or coaches fault.

     

    And, that adjustment period is pretty normal. That's why when they get to the big leagues and make those adjustments and get to that third year at just one level (albeit the highest level), it's interesting to see what they become. There are so many levels to get to the big leagues though, so it's quite a process.

     

    Is there any evidence or anything out there about changes they made with Burdi?  I have heard it mentioned and blamed on the coaching staff, but haven't read anything they might have done.  Obviously I haven't seen him pitch.

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    Mike Sixel

    Mike Sixel 41,021

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted

    I thought I read over and over they tried to change Burdi, to give him more control. I have no idea it is true or false, I just took it at face value.

     

    If not, then they clearly were wrong to draft a RP that high.....if so, they were wrong to make changes. Either way, I'm still waiting for one of these "close to the majors" RP they've drafted to even be good in AAA as a RP.....or is that AA?

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    nicksaviking

    nicksaviking 26,755

  • Community Moderator

    • Posted

     

    I don't know what they changed with Burdi... maybe he should make some adjustments? I don't know what's going on behind all the scenes, but it's not always the organization's or coaches fault.

     

     

    His delivery in the minors looks much different than in college.  He looked pretty unorthodoxed and out of control in college but the results were good. He had a longer stride and he seemed to deliver the ball from behind his ear.  Now he's got a shorter stride what lookes like a 3/4 arm delivery from the videos I see.

     

    Seems to me, it would be harder to pick up a pitch that looked like it was coming from the pitcher's ear and a released a foot closer to the plate.  I don't need my relievers to look pretty throwing, I would let them do what worked for them in college and only make them change if it didn't professionally or if an injury causes a change of mechanics. 

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    nicksaviking

    nicksaviking 26,755

  • Community Moderator

    • Posted (edited)

     

    Is there any evidence or anything out there about changes they made with Burdi?  I have heard it mentioned and blamed on the coaching staff, but haven't read anything they might have done.  Obviously I haven't seen him pitch.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qsXVt0qnWg

     

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dyj2sZAWaQ4

     

    He sure looks prettier in the second one, but if it's at the expense of results I'll take ugly.

     

    It would also explain why he was still effective last year, the Twins, and likely most teams have said before that they don't work on changing mechanics the summer after the draft.

     

    While I'm no lip reader, it sure looks like they are working on Burdi's arm slot in that video.  And that stride to the plate makes me want to cry. Why do all Twins pitchers have to have a stride long enough only to step over a sidewalk crack?  So much wasted velocity.

    Edited by nicksaviking
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    TRex

    TRex 264

  • Provisional Member

    • Posted

     

    <snip> I would let them do what worked for them in college and only make them change if it didn't professionally or if an injury causes a change of mechanics. <snip>

    In a weird way, I think Burdi is similar to ABWII (... you know, we can't go a week without this discussion)!

     

    To me, the overall goal is to develop an MLB player, not to have success in the minors. The flaw with ABWII (i.e. strike zone judgement) is the same for Burdi. If you don't consistently throw strikes, it is very unlikely that you will have success in MLB. If this was not possible with Burdi's 'unorthodoxed and out of control' delivery, why not make the change right away?

     

    It would be great to know Burdi's 'out of zone' swing % in college was so that we could get a true representation of his ability to throw strikes; but I couldn't find anything.

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    nicksaviking

    nicksaviking 26,755

  • Community Moderator

    • Posted

    I don't know why there is any reason to think Burdi's former delivery was causing control problems. If anything the new one is, possibly it's simply because it's foreign to him. Why try to fix something that isn't proven to be broken?

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    TRex

    TRex 264

  • Provisional Member

    • Posted (edited)

     

    I don't know why there is any reason to think Burdi's former delivery was causing control problems. If anything the new one is, possibly it's simply because it's foreign to him. Why try to fix something that isn't proven to be broken?

    One last thought...

     

    Are you sure he is 'broken'? His high-A numbers from 2015  are very similar to those from 2014 (especially if you would grant me the luxury of ignoring last nights FUBAR).

     

    YEAR  TEAMLGLEVE W L ERA G CG  SV       IP H R ER    BB SO AVG WHIP GO/AO
    2014 FTM FSL A(Adv) 2 0 0.00 7 0 0 0 1 1     7.1  5  0 0 0 1 2 0 12 .208 0.95 1.00
    2015 FTM FSL A(Adv) 2 2 2.65 11 0 0 0 2 4 17.0 12 7 5 1 0 3 0 24 .207 0.88 0.56

    Edited by TRex
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    bird

    bird 6,083

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    Burdi's receiving instruction from coaches working at the highest level. Why must we so easily conclude the coaches are at fault when a player struggles? Why would some succeed and others struggle if it was a coaching problem?

     

    It's quite conceivable that something appeared to be broken and that they're fixing it, and that Burdi is struggling, perhaps mentally and emotionally more than mechanically, to adjust. Burdi lost control of his emotions and was tossed from his last game. Is that an indication perhaps of a player struggling with himself, or is this also on the coaches?

     

    If Burdi adjusts and succeeds, will the Twins still have been wrong in drafting him so high? Glen Perkins struggled too. Were the Twins wrong with him?

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    Mike Sixel

    Mike Sixel 41,021

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted (edited)

    List the RP they've drafted and developed the last 4 years.......it's not a one off problem, is it?

     

    For some people, it is never the FO or the coaches or the process.....

    Edited by mike wants wins
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    diehardtwinsfan

    diehardtwinsfan 14,830

  • Community Moderator

    • Posted

     

    List the RP they've drafted and developed the last 4 years.......it's not a one off problem, is it?

     

    For some people, it is never the FO or the coaches or the process.....

     

    And for some it's always that.  And some of us recognize that we really don't know what is going on.   There tends to be a rush to judgement to support the stance that fits our view of how the org functions, most of which is likely inaccurate. 

     

    I would be curious if there was more info on what was going on and why.  I think in general this type of insight is very interesting.

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    Hosken Bombo Disco

    Hosken Bombo Disco 15,870

  • Community Leader

    • Posted

    And for some it's always that.  And some of us recognize that we really don't know what is going on.   There tends to be a rush to judgement to support the stance that fits our view of how the org functions, most of which is likely inaccurate.

    I think some teams ruin it for others. A team like the San Francisco Giants has been to 3 World Series and mostly with guys they've drafted themselves. Cain, Lincecum, Bumgarner, Jonathan Sanchez, Brian Wilson, Sergio Romo, Volgelsong, others I'm sure who are also coming up through the system that aren't household names yet.
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    bird

    bird 6,083

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

     

    I hope it isn't systemic, but based on outcomes, something isn't right.

     

     

    The something that may not be right at least to a degree is having the opportunity to draft the likes of Cain, Lincecum, Bumgarner, Sale, Verlander. It's not the direct line you'd like to draw. 

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