Thread: Article: Spring Organizational Depth Chart: The Starting Pitchers

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The Twins rotation looks like a bunch of fourth and fifth starters. That's not great, but at least they do, for the most part, look like legitimate major league starters. If they can just pitch five or six innings consistently, it will at least be an improvement over last year.

You have Baxendale, Melotakis, Rogers, Duffy, Bard and Powell from last years draft class getting a chance at starting. Is this what you would do with these young men or is this information that you have been made aware of? Within reason, I'd like to see most of those arms from the 2012 draft to get looks as a starter, but I was starting to assume it was just wishfull thinking.

Aside from Rogers, Bard and Berrios, I believe the only draft pick last year to get starts was Andre Martinez who didn't dazzle but the Twins did pay over-slot to ensure he didn't go to college. Would you have him with the short season crew, or is the team not likely to keep him in the rotation?

Twins starters may all be 4th or 5th on other teams but at least their different 4-5 starters than years past. At least their giving some one else a shot instead of running the same guys out there year after year.

The Cedar Rapids rotation matches its position player roster in excellence. That is going to be a fun team to watch (esp. for JC). And if Bard is legit (still have some question marks, but we'll see) and Salcedo and Boer can pitch as well as they can, the Fort Myers rotation is going to be excellent as well.

Originally Posted by nicksaviking

You have Baxendale, Melotakis, Rogers, Duffy, Bard and Powell from last years draft class getting a chance at starting. Is this what you would do with these young men or is this information that you have been made aware of? Within reason, I'd like to see most of those arms from the 2012 draft to get looks as a starter, but I was starting to assume it was just wishfull thinking.

Aside from Rogers, Bard and Berrios, I believe the only draft pick last year to get starts was Andre Martinez who didn't dazzle but the Twins did pay over-slot to ensure he didn't go to college. Would you have him with the short season crew, or is the team not likely to keep him in the rotation?

It's what I know they are doing with those guys. I don't know where they will start the season (Beloit or Ft. Myers). I know Bard will be worked into the starting role.

Regarding Martinez, the Twins had agreed to pay him over-slot, but then they found something in his physical or something and ended up signing him for well below slot. He's very young, he'll definitely be in the extended spring training group. He'll get a chance to start at some point, I'm sure.

Originally Posted by Shane Wahl

The Cedar Rapids rotation matches its position player roster in excellence. That is going to be a fun team to watch (esp. for JC). And if Bard is legit (still have some question marks, but we'll see) and Salcedo and Boer can pitch as well as they can, the Fort Myers rotation is going to be excellent as well.

Bard may or may not prove to be worth a late supplemental first round pick... like any pick... but there's no reason to not believe he's got a chance to be quite good when healthy. He certainly has the pitches, so now it will come to the development and the health.

"...4 runs in his 5-6 innings...". Hmm, ERA from 6.00 to 7.20, my oh my! 2 years of this "upgrade".

Originally Posted by Kwak

"...4 runs in his 5-6 innings...". Hmm, ERA from 6.00 to 7.20, my oh my! 2 years of this "upgrade".

4 runs or less. He could keep the ERA down around 4.90 with that.

I didn't realize the Phillies were down on Worley so much that he was the 54th starter.

I think Deduno has a shot at the rotation if they decide to send Gibson down to start the year. He's pitched very well really since mid-August. He's the only guy on the list of options who has electric stuff, and he seems to have turned a corner with his control.

Originally Posted by cmathewson

I think Deduno has a shot at the rotation if they decide to send Gibson down to start the year. He's pitched very well really since mid-August. He's the only guy on the list of options who has electric stuff, and he seems to have turned a corner with his control.

I'm kind of in agreement with you. I think I saw a corner turned. Control was always the issue. I guess since he's not on the 40 man roster, I don't think they'd do it on Opening Day. They'll make him prove himself for a month or so in AAA (like Gibson), but I'm impressed with what he's done since then. Feels real.

Didn't Deduno have an ERA over 6 in 5 starts during September/Oct, with like 15 or 16 walks in just over 20 IP?

Originally Posted by Seth Stohs

I'm kind of in agreement with you. I think I saw a corner turned. Control was always the issue. I guess since he's not on the 40 man roster, I don't think they'd do it on Opening Day. They'll make him prove himself for a month or so in AAA (like Gibson), but I'm impressed with what he's done since then. Feels real.

Plus he is missing a good part of spring training while with the Dominican Republic team. That can't help making the opening day roster.

I really hope that the one Twins' pitcher who was left out (Rich Harden) has the best season of all the starters (and that he is starting), which would probably make this a competing team. Otherwise, until 2015, it will be hard to have a good rotation (or even decent for that matter.)

Some people think it's better this year because the Twins have got some new names in the rotation. Everyone knows how the season went last year for Liriano, Baker and Pavano but I'd take those 3 over Correia, Pelfrey, and Worley.

Originally Posted by fairweather

Some people think it's better this year because the Twins have got some new names in the rotation. Everyone knows how the season went last year for Liriano, Baker and Pavano but I'd take those 3 over Correia, Pelfrey, and Worley.

None of the pitchers you prefer are likely to be ready/healthy enough to start the season. So there's that.

Originally Posted by fairweather

Some people think it's better this year because the Twins have got some new names in the rotation. Everyone knows how the season went last year for Liriano, Baker and Pavano but I'd take those 3 over Correia, Pelfrey, and Worley.

I don't know if I would, honestly. Pelfrey is the real wildcard but if you line him up against Liriano, he doesn't look so bad. Worley isn't a bad alternative to Baker because Scott could never stay healthy, but was quite good when pitching. Both Correia and Pavano are pretty bad options no matter what.

Originally Posted by fairweather

Some people think it's better this year because the Twins have got some new names in the rotation. Everyone knows how the season went last year for Liriano, Baker and Pavano but I'd take those 3 over Correia, Pelfrey, and Worley.

Let's test our mettle as a prospective GMs. I'll go with Worley over Baker, Pelfrey over Liriano, and Correia over Pavano. See you in September.

Originally Posted by birdwatcher

Let's test our mettle as a prospective GMs. I'll go with Worley over Baker, Pelfrey over Liriano, and Correia over Pavano. See you in September.

And I'll see you with Marcum, Lannan and Saunders...