Thread: Nick Blackburn Promoted to Twins

Originally Posted by mike wants wins

The question should be, will Hendriks be better next year by pitching here, or dominating AAA? I have no idea, but given their track record lately, I don't trust them much to do the right thing right now. Hopefully that changes somehow....

If it's something specific they want to see fixed, I have no problems with him sitting in Rochester for awhile. If they're trying to overhaul him as a pitcher for some unknown reason, my opinion changes drastically.

Originally Posted by SpiritofVodkaDave

His walk rate definately needs to come down for him to be effective again, agree 100% on that.
Yes he did out pitch his FIP and xFIP in 2008 and 2009, but even then those 4 numbers were between 4.37-4.49. In 2010 his xFIP was 4.46 and last year it was 4.32. Even factoring in this rough year his career xFIP is 4.48. That is why I think if he can come back healthy and lower his walk rate he can give us 170 IP and a 4.50 ERA. If he does that you are looking at a 1.0-1.5 WAR player, which you can live with out of your #5.

It's an extremely SSS but in his 4 starts at AAA he did lower his walk rate and was pretty effective. So there is so hope, run him out there for another 5-6 starts and if he continues to pitch awful then by all means DFA if you have someone better on the roster, at this point the Twins probably don't.

You are trying waaay too hard to defend him. At this point, he's worthless. Actually, he's less than worthless because we are still committed to another year of this garbage.

Originally Posted by DPJ

So keep trotting out Blackburn, the AAAA all-stars and random scrap heap signings instead of the somewhat well reguarded prospect who's MLB ready.

That's the point - he's not.

Originally Posted by cr9617

You are trying waaay too hard to defend him. At this point, he's worthless. Actually, he's less than worthless because we are still committed to another year of this garbage.

I'm pointing out his career stats, I'm not defending him or saying him is some sure thing great pitcher. I am saying it would be best for the Twins if he could come back and post a 4.50 ERA as a #5 pitcher. I'd much rather have that then them go out and waste money on the next Marquis would would put up a similar line. The money is already owed to Blackburn at this point, I'd at least like to see him recoup a little bit of the value. If he puts up a 4.50 ERA next year maybe we could even flip him next year at the deadline for a C level prospect.

Originally Posted by DPJ

At this point Liam is a better pitcher cause he had atleast has a future with this club, Blackburn is only around cause the Twins front office is made up of idiots that though giving an ultra hittable pitcher 14 million was a good idea. Liam should be up taking his lumps good or bad to see if he has a future with this club. Figure out if he can hold down a spot or is it one more hole to fill going into 2013.

I agree with this 100%.
However once Liriano is gone, and hell even before that there is plenty of room for both Hendriks AND Blackburn in the rotation. It's not like Blackburn is blocking Liam at all.

August 1st we are looking at this for a rotation:

1. Diamond
2. Walters??
3. Hendriks??
4. DeVries??
5. Blackburn??

If you wanted to make the argument that Swarzak or Duensing should be getting starts over Blackburn I guess you could, but I think both are much better served in the pen.

Originally Posted by sbknudson

That's the point - he's not.

So unless you come up and pitch well right away as a rookie you're not MLB ready?

He's pitched 100+ very good innings at Rochester, the major league team is rolling out the corpse of Nick Blackburn for the 50th time and crossing there fingers. Why the hell would a team (in a losing season) not commit to it's best pitching prospect for the season. There's nothnig to lose, so commit to the kid and see if he's got a role in 2013 or not.

Originally Posted by SpiritofVodkaDave

I agree with this 100%.
However once Liriano is gone, and hell even before that there is plenty of room for both Hendriks AND Blackburn in the rotation. It's not like Blackburn is blocking Liam at all.

August 1st we are looking at this for a rotation:

1. Diamond
2. Walters??
3. Hendriks??
4. DeVries??
5. Blackburn??

If you wanted to make the argument that Swarzak or Duensing should be getting starts over Blackburn I guess you could, but I think both are much better served in the pen.

What a terrible terrible rotation...sad year for the Twins. All of these guys are soo bad, I don't think WAR wise replacing anyone of them with someone in our AAA or someone in the bullpen that we have already used is going to win us any more games at this point. You can rotate them in and out as much as you like. I say sell them all.

I'm ok with giving Blackburn yet one more chance. But please do not subject us to Jeff Manship ever again. Stay with Deduno over this guy. He can't pitch at the major league level. That has been proven time after time.

Originally Posted by SpiritofVodkaDave

I agree with this 100%.
However once Liriano is gone, and hell even before that there is plenty of room for both Hendriks AND Blackburn in the rotation. It's not like Blackburn is blocking Liam at all.

August 1st we are looking at this for a rotation:

1. Diamond
2. Walters??
3. Hendriks??
4. DeVries??
5. Blackburn??

If you wanted to make the argument that Swarzak or Duensing should be getting starts over Blackburn I guess you could, but I think both are much better served in the pen.

You can look at that five man rotation and STILL argue for dumping Liriano?

It is a lost season anyway.

If Hendriks is part of the long-term solution for this team, I'd prefer him to be working with Cuellar in Rochester especially if he would be getting bombed in the majors.

And I'd really like to see Duensing back in the pen where he seems to be effective. The Twins are on the line for Blackburn's salary anyway -- and I really don't see him as a long-term solution for this team so let him get bombed and frustrated. But the likelihood is that he will figure it out for 2 or 3 starts before he gets really bad again. That seems to be a pattern with him.

Originally Posted by SpiritofVodkaDave

I agree with this 100%.
However once Liriano is gone, and hell even before that there is plenty of room for both Hendriks AND Blackburn in the rotation. It's not like Blackburn is blocking Liam at all.

August 1st we are looking at this for a rotation:

1. Diamond
2. Walters??
3. Hendriks??
4. DeVries??
5. Blackburn??

If you wanted to make the argument that Swarzak or Duensing should be getting starts over Blackburn I guess you could, but I think both are much better served in the pen.

I'm not sure if I'm supposed to laugh or cry at this rotation.

Originally Posted by notoriousgod71

I'm not sure if I'm supposed to laugh or cry at this rotation.

I laughed....until I cried.

Originally Posted by USAFChief

You can look at that five man rotation and STILL argue for dumping Liriano?

If they don't think they can re-sign him for a reasonable amount, sure. If it's going to take 3/30 to keep Liriano, I think that money is better spent on another FA pitcher.

Hendricks will be back sometime before the season is over. It may be Sept. 1. A big part of pitching is confidence, is it better to keep getting bombed in the majors or dominate in AAA? Let him work out a few kinks, they'll call him up when hes ready.

Blackburn is up because they have very few other options. Hopefully he has HIS confidence back!!!

Originally Posted by Blackjack

Hendricks will be back sometime before the season is over. It may be Sept. 1. A big part of pitching is confidence, is it better to keep getting bombed in the majors or dominate in AAA? Let him work out a few kinks, they'll call him up when hes ready.

Blackburn is up because they have very few other options. Hopefully he has HIS confidence back!!!

That's the point, what does he have to work out? He doesn't have any competition in AAA. Its just stupid the year he's had there. He need to get confidence with the Twins. He needs to learn to pitch against MLB hitters. He needs to be with the Twins. Trotting De Vries, Walters and Deduno out there before him is a joke.

Originally Posted by Badsmerf

That's the point, what does he have to work out? He doesn't have any competition in AAA. Its just stupid the year he's had there. He need to get confidence with the Twins. He needs to learn to pitch against MLB hitters. He needs to be with the Twins. Trotting De Vries, Walters and Deduno out there before him is a joke.

In the interview Ryan gave yesterday, it sounded like he does indeed have somehthing to work out - it isn't just about confidence or getting experience with MLB hitters. If they saw something that needs correction, than Rochester is a good place to work on that, get it down pat, then bring it up to the bigs.

Originally Posted by USAFChief

You can look at that five man rotation and STILL argue for dumping Liriano?

I'd still prefer they sign him to a 2-3 yeard deal. But at this point you either gotta sign him now or move him for a solid prospect.

Originally Posted by sbknudson

In the interview Ryan gave yesterday, it sounded like he does indeed have somehthing to work out - it isn't just about confidence or getting experience with MLB hitters. If they saw something that needs correction, than Rochester is a good place to work on that, get it down pat, then bring it up to the bigs.

Guess I didn't hear this. Makes more sense this way.

Originally Posted by SpiritofVodkaDave

I'd still prefer they sign him to a 2-3 yeard deal. But at this point you either gotta sign him now or move him for a solid prospect.

Why not move him for a solid prospect now and sign him during the offseason?

Originally Posted by Pius Jefferson

This is just people barely alive trying to get on the cap sized lifeboat.

That is either a very large cap or a very small boat.