Thread: Article: Sleeping on Slama

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/index.html?532-Sleeping-on-Slama

The Slama equation is perplexing to me. Maybe the Twins organization knows something we do not that is horrifying. Based upon performance - Slama should have been up with the big club a long time ago. I don't get it.

Slama's MLB era is interesting -- 7.71 in his callup in 2010 (4 runs in 4.2 innings) and 0.00 in 2011 (0 runs in 2.1 innings).

The failure to give him more of a chance seems inexplicable, yet it's odd that no one else claimed him when they had the chance. Maybe we should put together a PETITION to Terry Ryan. I wonder if anyone in the Twins organization reads this site.

Well clearly the "access" media need to question the organization. They have trotted out chumps instead of Slama the past two years+. There is no excuse for this.

There is no way that this consistent performance in the minors doesn't translate to the majors. No way.

This is a real head scratcher.

Alex Burnett has a photo Album of Twins Coaches.
Slama does not.

No reason not to give him a shot. None.

I think Nick's points are all very valid. I don't really understand why they have refused to give him a real shot at the major league level. Burnett seems to have returned to previous form his last few times out, and would seem like a likely guy to replace, but I think the Twins feel Burnett can be a 2 or 3 inning guy, where I don't think Slama is. So, who else would you replace in the pen right now? I don't think there's an obvious spot for him right now, and the Twins bullpen, well not stellar, hasn't really been the Twins biggest issue this year.

One of many curious decisions. More and more it seems that players on the Twins major league roster have to fit into certain boxes for their position, and obviously Slama doesn't, no matter what his stats. Same reason Gardenhire will always prefer a shortstop who looks more like Nick Punto than J.J. Hardy. He doesn't know what to do with a player that doesn't fit "the Twins way." See also hard throwing pitcher. The list goes on....

If for no other reason, it seems like Slama has given the Twins great value in the minors and deserves at least a fair chance to show his stuff. Especially when the starting staff's ERA is so laughable. I've been waiting to see Slama given an opportunity for 3 years.

Maybe the Twins should read this stuff. I think they might learn something., especially their coaches. We can't just exchange players, we have to give the current players a reason to believe there is a new plan that has a good chance of succeeding, like speeding up the pitchers in their time between pitches. It worked great for Jim Kaat!!! If not that, something else.

It is mind baffling that Slama is not up with the Twins. He was not even invited to Spring Training while a whole bunch of minor league free agents were invited. Totally crazy.

Hard to get into Gardy's and Andy's brains, but I think that something that Gardy said when he was talking about Liriano the other day might shine some light on why these people have not given Slama a chance: He said something to the effect (paraphrasing) that if Liriano goes to the minors he will not improve because MiLB hitters are swing happy and they will swing all the time and he will dominate without having great stuff. I just wonder if that's what they think that Slama is doing. Nuts.

REALLY!?!? With all the problems plaguing the Twins this season, from poor hitting, terrible starting pitching, unexplainable mental errors, a lack of replacement talent in the upper levels of the minor leagues, you choose to complain about one marginal minor league relief pitcher, who you feel should be on the big league club? The bullpen has actually been one of the few bright spots for the Twins... Who would Slama replace? Would it really make an impact on what's happening with the team? It's like complaining about the brand of bubble gum the Twins are using...

gmarais66....so every article posted on this site should be about the stuff you list? That would be boring. They've ignored Slama's production for years. This article asks why. It is an interesting discussion. If you don't want to participate in it, why comment on it? there are plenty of other articles talking about what you want to discuss. I've never understand that phenomonan on the internet, complaining about a blog post. If you aren't interested in it, why not read something else and comment on that? I'm genuinely curious about this behavior, not in a mean way, in a curious way.

Apparantely, Slama doesn't quite fit the cute little cookie mold that all Twins players need to fit.

Originally Posted by mike wants wins

gmarais66....so every article posted on this site should be about the stuff you list? That would be boring. They've ignored Slama's production for years. This article asks why. It is an interesting discussion. If you don't want to participate in it, why comment on it? there are plenty of other articles talking about what you want to discuss. I've never understand that phenomonan on the internet, complaining about a blog post. If you aren't interested in it, why not read something else and comment on that? I'm genuinely curious about this behavior, not in a mean way, in a curious way.

That's not what I'm saying at all... I'm asking why he's complaining about a marginal minor league pitcher not being called up to the big leauges... He really has no argument for why he should be called up at this point... There's no place for him on the roster and his addition is not going to make a lick of difference to how the team performs... What's the point?

Originally Posted by cr9617

Apparantely, Slama doesn't quite fit the cute little cookie mold that all Twins players need to fit.

He's not hitting enough bats. And at 28, his bat-hitting skills are unlikely to improve any time soon. He'll probably end up missing bats for several years in one of those foolish organizations who believe in pitchers getting hitters out that way.

At this point I see no reason not to give Slama an extended shot at relief pitcher. If the guy's gets hitters out, then who cares how he does it? Even knuckleballers get more chances than Anthony Slama.

Call him up, give him a chance, and if he blows it, cut him. At least let the guy try his hand. If he fails, he can go try elsewhere. Saints need pitching... ;-)

Originally Posted by gmarais66

Who would Slama replace? Would it really make an impact on what's happening with the team?

Making an impact on what's happening is not really my concern. In my view, this season is already basically a lost cause. I'm more interested in identifying players who can help the team in the coming years, and this strikes me as a good opportunity to take an extended look at Slama. If he's bad, what is there to lose?

It's pretty clear they don't want him to foul up our pennant run.