• Capps reinstated from DL, Waldrop optioned to Rochester

    by
    Parker Hageman
    Published on 07-12-2012 12:27 PM
    50 Comments Comments
    The Twins have reinstated reliever Matt Capps from the 15-day disabled list.

    Capps was placed on the disabled list on June 25 (retroactive to June 24) with right shoulder inflammation. In his two outings with the Fort Myers Miracle Capps worked two innings while striking out one against Florida State League competition.

    To clear room, the Twins have optioned reliever Kyle Waldrop to Rochester.

    In Capps' absence, the Twins have used Glen Perkins and Jared Burton as the team's closers. Perkins worked nine innings, striking out eight and walking just one while converting four of five save opportunities. Burton pitched 8.2 innings while posting a 6/5 strikeout-to-walk ratio while converting on both of his save opportunities. With Capps back in the fold, Burton and Perkins may return to their previous set-up roles.
    Comments 50 Comments
    1. DPJ's Avatar
      DPJ - 07-12-2012, 02:42 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by rocketpig View Post
      Oh, come on. You had to know I was joking there.
      You're not the same RP I used to know...you've changed.
    1. mike wants wins's Avatar
      mike wants wins - 07-12-2012, 02:53 PM
      3/5 of an out....awesome sarcasm. Awesome.
    1. diehardtwinsfan's Avatar
      diehardtwinsfan - 07-12-2012, 03:09 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by mike wants wins View Post
      3/5 of an out....awesome sarcasm. Awesome.
      Correct. In Gardy world, the 9th inning outs are the most important, and games lost in April don't count.
    1. Boom Boom's Avatar
      Boom Boom - 07-12-2012, 03:13 PM
      How much do outs count for on Thursday or Sunday getaway days?
    1. Brock Beauchamp's Avatar
      Brock Beauchamp - 07-12-2012, 03:30 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by Boom Boom View Post
      How much do outs count for on Thursday or Sunday getaway days?
      Double, which is why you only play people who are half as good at baseball on those days.

      Otherwise it's unfair.
    1. mini_tb's Avatar
      mini_tb - 07-12-2012, 03:36 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by DPJ View Post
      Who's to say they're the most important outs. What if there's a couple on and no outs in the 7th or 8th?

      The bottom line is they're 3 outs that any respectable arm can get but the Twins have always placed a premium on them. Hell as crazy as it sound keeping Capps and having Perkins and Burton stay in the fireman role in either the 6th, 7th or 8th might be best for this team.
      Look on the bright side. Capps on a 1 year contract at $4.75 is a lot more palatable than the 4 year/$50M contract Philly handed out to Papelbon. Now there's a *last place* team that puts proper emphasis on the last 3 outs!!

      Also, as a quick aside, how do you pronounce Matt Capps' middle name, Dicus?
    1. Brock Beauchamp's Avatar
      Brock Beauchamp - 07-12-2012, 03:46 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by mini_tb View Post
      Also, as a quick aside, how do you pronounce Matt Capps' middle name, Dicus?
      Do you really want anybody here to answer that question?
    1. YLT's Avatar
      YLT - 07-12-2012, 04:24 PM
      The Twins should take whatever they can get for Capps or even just look for a salary dump without any C level prospect - I'd be fine with that. They're paying this "proven closer" ~$80000 per out at this point. What a complete waste of money.
    1. Shane Wahl's Avatar
      Shane Wahl - 07-12-2012, 05:42 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by rocketpig View Post
      Given the Twins current bullpen, Capps is expendable. There is no reason not to trade him and get what you can for the guy. Hopefully some teams really need a "closer" (gags a little).
      Well it might more likely be that teams with closers might see Capps has a good setup man (fairly true).
    1. glunn's Avatar
      glunn - 07-12-2012, 06:19 PM
      The key point seems to be that a last place team should not be spending big dollars on an expensive closer. Also, the best possible outcome will be for Capps to come back strong, so that some other team will make a good offer for him.
    1. USAFChief's Avatar
      USAFChief - 07-12-2012, 06:20 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by DPJ View Post
      Who's to say they're the most important outs. What if there's a couple on and no outs in the 7th or 8th?

      The bottom line is they're 3 outs that any respectable arm can get but the Twins have always placed a premium on them. Hell as crazy as it sound keeping Capps and having Perkins and Burton stay in the fireman role in either the 6th, 7th or 8th might be best for this team.
      What's not crazy is having enough good relievers so you're consistently getting 3 outs in almost every high leverage inning after the 6th, no matter which order you pitch them in.

      1, 2, or 3 man bullpens--with the rest being low quality filler--don't work very well over 162 games. You're going to need every single one of your bullpen arms to pitch meaningful, high-leverage innings during multiple games over the course of a season. And you'll most likely need more than that, filling in from the minors for guys who get hurt, or are ineffective.

      I'm all for dealing Capps, but let's not pretend doing so doesn't weaken the 2012 bullpen.
    1. glunn's Avatar
      glunn - 07-12-2012, 06:41 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by USAFChief View Post

      I'm all for dealing Capps, but let's not pretend doing so doesn't weaken the 2012 bullpen.
      Well said, Chief. I would add that a few extra losses in 2012 might result in a better draft position in 2013.
    1. Top Gun's Avatar
      Top Gun - 07-12-2012, 08:30 PM
      Why don't you just forfeit.
    1. Brock Beauchamp's Avatar
      Brock Beauchamp - 07-12-2012, 09:12 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by USAFChief View Post
      What's not crazy is having enough good relievers so you're consistently getting 3 outs in almost every high leverage inning after the 6th, no matter which order you pitch them in.

      1, 2, or 3 man bullpens--with the rest being low quality filler--don't work very well over 162 games. You're going to need every single one of your bullpen arms to pitch meaningful, high-leverage innings during multiple games over the course of a season. And you'll most likely need more than that, filling in from the minors for guys who get hurt, or are ineffective.

      I'm all for dealing Capps, but let's not pretend doing so doesn't weaken the 2012 bullpen.
      If Duensing goes back to the pen where he belongs, the Twins pen is fine. They have four quality arms in the pen: Burnett, Burton, Duensing, Perkins. That's plenty. Of course, the more the merrier but it's not as if Capps is holding down the pen.
    1. TheSchweeze's Avatar
      TheSchweeze - 07-12-2012, 10:46 PM
      ATTN: rocketpig
      Even if no one else does, I get the 3/5 joke...congratulations on finding humor in our forefathers mistake.
    1. Fire Dan Gladden's Avatar
      Fire Dan Gladden - 07-12-2012, 10:47 PM
      For some reason the Twins feel they need to have the "Closer" position solidified, whether it is a good decision or not. Everybody new that the Twins chances this year were pretty slim, yet they decided to resign him anyways. While trading him would now, especially when he has been pitching fairly well, would make the most sense, I don't believe sense will play into the team's decision. If Capps is not moved before the deadline, it is a guarantee the team will pick up his option for next year.

      Glenn Perkins does not need to be the closer, they need to continue to put him in the high leverage middle inning situations. He excels there. Locking him into a fixed situation where the pressure level fluctuates does not seem to suit him. Does anybody remember Matt Guerrer? Same thing for him.
    1. Rosterman's Avatar
      Rosterman - 07-12-2012, 10:59 PM
      And the Twins do have arms in the minors that still need a major league look (Slama if he can get healthy). Guerra should be next in line. And, yes...you don't need a first-line closer if you aren't winning games. You can develop one.......
    1. Blackjack's Avatar
      Blackjack - 07-13-2012, 07:04 AM
      The Twins like a good closer because management realizes that it’s a psychological blow to the whole team every time they lose in the 9th inning. Can you say 'Ron Davis'?
    1. Brock Beauchamp's Avatar
      Brock Beauchamp - 07-13-2012, 07:37 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by glunn View Post
      The key point seems to be that any team should not be spending big dollars on an expensive closer.
      I edited your post for clarity. I hope you don't mind.

      "Closers" are nonsense in their current iteration. In many cases, guys like Perkins and Burton are more valuable than a ninth inning specialist. Since the advent of the "ninth inning closer", baseball teams are winning the exact same percentage of games they lead heading into the ninth that they were before La Russa created the Eckersley monster.

      And if teams aren't winning a higher percentage of games they're winning leading into the ninth, why would anyone pay big money to a ninth inning specialist?

      A "Bullpen Ace", on the other hand... That's an idea I can get behind.
    1. Top Gun's Avatar
      Top Gun - 07-13-2012, 08:11 AM
      Saves is a stat and pitchers get paid big money for this and managers know it.
    Page 2 of 3 FirstFirst 1 2 3 LastLast
©2013 TwinsCentric, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

SEO by vBSEO