Explain the use of Tonkin

[Mike Sixel]

Can someone explain why Tonkin only faces 1 batter every outing? Is he actually not as good as EVERY other RP on the roster?

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

It seems like Gardy wants Tonkin to pitch when the Twins are doing a mid-inning pitching change. 6 of his 9 appearances so far this year have come with runners on base. He's been used in higher leverage situations this past month than he ever has before.

 

Compare him to Burton, who has the same number of appearances, but has yet to enter the game this season with a runner on base. Burton has managed to allow more runners to score (9) even if you charge all of Tonkin's inherited runs allowed to Tonkin's line.

 

 

I think the numbers should look better as the season progresses. Tonkin has been in some unenviable situations so far and has done ok. Duensing and Swarzak both have a better strand rate so far, but I think Tonkin has shown that he handles being thrown into the fire about as well as anyone in the bullpen.

 

Last night he only faced two batters because the following inning Gardy wanted a lefty-lefty matchup to start (Duensing v. Carl Crawford). If a righty was up first, Gardy may have elected to leave Tonkin in longer.

[Mike Sixel]

Thanks, it is hard to see what happened from the box score (haven't been able to listen much lately). That all made sense.

[Old Twins Cap]

Maybe he's quicker to the plate than Burton, or better able to induce ground balls. With the Twins, there's always a reason. The problem is their reasons are not always very intelligent.

[cmathewson]

It's to clear the bases for the next guy. Seriously, the guy has allowed 5 of 9 inherited runners to score. Someone needs to tell him that a 95 MPH straight fastball down the middle is a juicy treat for major league hitters.

[Mr. Brooks]

It's to clear the bases for the next guy. Seriously, the guy has allowed 5 of 9 inherited runners to score. Someone needs to tell him that a 95 MPH straight fastball down the middle is a juicy treat for major league hitters.

 

Maybe a bigger sample size than 7 IP before judging a guy on something with as much variance as Inherited runners scored %?

 

It is actually 4 of 9 that have scored (not 5 of 9.) Which brings his career totals to 6 of 19 scored which is almost right at league average ( 29%). Prior to last night's game it was at 4 of 17, which would have made him better than league average.

 

If you are going to caution people to exercise caution making judgements with small sample sizes, in other threads, it may be prudent to do the same here. We are talking about 7 IP, after all.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Personally, I think that's a horrible way to manage releivers and a recipie for future injuries... maybe I'm wrong, but Gardy likes his managin, and this is one of his favorite things. Given Tonkin's success in the minors, I'd give him an inning or two in lower leverage situations and work him up as he earns it.

[Seth Stohs]

Can someone explain why Tonkin only faces 1 batter every outing? Is he actually not as good as EVERY other RP on the roster?

 

 

Answer #1 - Just to annoy you, MWW.

Answer #2 - To Be Determined.

[Mike Sixel]

Thanks for the laugh, Seth!

[Craig Arko]

I always liked the fire engine and the dump truck. They were both easy to use, too.

[cmathewson]

Maybe a bigger sample size than 7 IP before judging a guy on something with as much variance as Inherited runners scored %?

 

It is actually 4 of 9 that have scored (not 5 of 9.) Which brings his career totals to 6 of 19 scored which is almost right at league average ( 29%). Prior to last night's game it was at 4 of 17, which would have made him better than league average.

 

If you are going to caution people to exercise caution making judgements with small sample sizes, in other threads, it may be prudent to do the same here. We are talking about 7 IP, after all.

 

With relievers, you deal in small samples. There are never enough innings to draw conclusions from the numbers with relievers. That's why we use scouting. As often as not, he has come in with runners on base and thrown his fastball down the middle to the first hitter, who smacked it into the outfield for RBI. That has to stop.

[Mr. Brooks]

With relievers, you deal in small samples. There are never enough innings to draw conclusions from the numbers with relievers. That's why we use scouting. As often as not, he has come in with runners on base and thrown his fastball down the middle to the first hitter, who smacked it into the outfield for RBI. That has to stop.

 

6 times out of 19 is "as often as not"?

I'm no math major, but 13 of one, and 6 of another hardly seem the same.

[cmathewson]

6 times out of 19 is "as often as not"?

I'm no math major, but 13 of one, and 6 of another hardly seem the same.

 

OK, sorry I used loose language.

[Thrylos]

Can someone explain why Tonkin only faces 1 batter every outing? Is he actually not as good as EVERY other RP on the roster?

 

2 words:

 

Gardy

Andy

[Mike Sixel]

Maybe I am wrong....

[LaBombo]

I always liked the fire engine and the dump truck. They were both easy to use, too.

Dump truck was awesome. The Christmas that I got mine I used it to haul my nine month old cousin from the kitchen into the living room, and dumped him on his back in front of my parents and his.