yarnivek1972

I'm not sure I would call Santiago (at least as a Twin) or Gibson incinsistent. They have been consistently bad. The good outings are the outliers.

With due respect to Ken Rosenthal's source, it makes no sense to get that close to a trade and have it hung up on medical issues in the case of Nick Burdi. I find it hard to believe they didn't already know he had TJS and what the potential ramifications of that were.

Hanging chads?

Ervin Santana's numbers pre-Twins would be considered quite average. Probably even below average.

This

Couldn't resist.

Well, Stewart was pulled after only 70 pitches. Though he had already walked 4 at that point.

lol, how could it possibly be someone that "most of us" on twins daily AREN'T familiar with? He'd have to be like the Twins 50th ranked prospect or something.

Thrylos: Re: Haley: He is not tradeable by the Twins.They have to return him to Boston for that to happen. Correct me if I am wrong but did the Twins not acquire Johan Santana by trading with The Marlins, who selected him from Houston in the rule 5 draft? How would this be different other than it being in season?

Oh, yeah, forgot about rookie ball. That will make it interesting. He could theoretically start next Tuesday in LA. He threw 84 pitches last night. Of course, as of now, Colon has that start. I don't know what else the Twins might do. It wouldn't make sense to send Mejia down. Maybe if Gibson has another clunker Saturday, Haley takes his spot. The Twins have a couple off days yet this month, so someone figures to get skipped. Maybe they will just plunk Haley in the long relief role and send out Pressly. I've been saying for awhile now that sooner or later Matt Belisle is not going to survive a roster move. I still feel that way. Haley is coming back. Hector is coming back. Someone will have to go. One would assume that Gee will eventually get a look to.

At this point the Twins can keep Haley down on rehab until August 3. I suspect they will. What they do at that point is anyone's guess. I suppose it might depend on if Colon (and Ervin and Santiago for that matter) is still around. I presume they are stretching him out to make some starts.

Baby steps.

My strategy: start by releasing Breslow and Belisle and option Pressly. Call up Busenitz, Turley and Rucinski - he's earned another shot IMO. In his last 10 appearances for Rochester, he's pitched 16 1/3 IP, given up 9 hits and 0 runs. That's not 0 earned runs. 0 actual runs. Last time he gave up a run in AAA was May 24. Hildenberger should be tried in some higher leverage situations. Today was a good start to that. It was a 5 run lead, but it's still the Yankees and the 9th inning is always a different challenge for pitchers. Or, it can be. I think Duffey will probably be okay, but he needs his workload reduced. It's apparent that he isn't as sharp as he was early on. Busenitz and Rucinski can be the low leverage relievers until they show otherwise. Not sure what Turley will bring to the team as a reliever, but I definitely want to find out. At some point Tonkin might make his way back. Perhaps September. Earlier if the need arises. He also hasn't been scored on in a whlie - June 14 to be exact. Maybe it's just my philosphy. I'm a "see what's in the fridge first before I call for pizza delivery" guy. Sometimes, something better can be there just waiting to be savored.

Even if he pitched the rest of the season, he would only make maybe 12 more starts. 8 wins? He knows you have to get through 5 with a lead to have a chance - something he has not done in two months. I seriously doubt he can do that 8 more times ever let alone 8 more times in the next 10 weeks. I'm sure that's what is playing in his head.

Gee, what will the Twins do now with the rotation? I guess the question is how many starts will Colon be given? They gave Tepesch one. Turley 3. I figure they give Colon 4 or 5.

Ssshhhhh. Not so loud. Maybe the Astros won't notice.

Problem was third time through came in the 5th inning. Meaning he had plenty of baserunners the first two trips too. He just pitched out of it.

Mejia looked like a Cy Young candidate the first time around last night too. He didn't make it through 6 innings. FWIW, Colon this year for Atlanta was hit early and often.

Carlos Correa just hit the DL for Houston. Expected to miss 6-8 weeks, essentially almost all of the remainder of the regular season. Escobar? If the Twins start dropping.

Or the steal potential.

One might point to an absurdly low .118 BABIP as an indicator of horrendous luck. On the other hand, it seems like every ball he hits is on the ground. Although the actual ratio is about 2 GB to every FB. Even with his speed that will result in a lower than normal BABIP. .118 is absurdly low though.

I don't think this is an original take (meaning I probably saw it somewhere), but he has Paul O'Neil upside IMO.

I doubt they can challenge plate blocking. That's a judgement call.

Colon was obviously right about being better off retiring batters quickly. He's still pitching. Santana hasn't pitched in the majors in almost 5 years.

When Colon throws his first pitch tonight, he will be the 28th pitcher to appear for the Twins this season, including Chris Gimenez. They used 29 all of last year, including Eduardo Escobar. 8 have appeared in 3 or fewer games.