May pulled after 5, on next start after 120 pitches

[jokin]

Trevor May's 120 pitches were all part of the Twins' plan

 

 

http://www.twincities.com/twins/ci_26009511/trevor-mays-120-pitches-were-all-part-twins

 

In a bit of irony after this article came out this morning, Trevor May pitched only 5 innings of a 7-inning, abbreviated double-header game for the Red Wings this afternoon. In a game where he pitched decently, but not dominantly, there had to be some eyebrows raised over his removal after only throwing 83 pitches, 53 of which were strikes. He struck out 3, walked 2, and gave up 3 runs on 5 hits, including a first inning, 3-run homer.

 

Kyle Gibson, he of the 114 pitch gem in Rochester in May of 2013, and a 110 pitch effort against Detroit one week ago, summed up how he viewed the Twins philosophy and pitch count with their top pitching prospects:

 

"It's tough for the front office, I would assume," Gibson said. "Guys like Alex Meyer and Trevor May and Logan Darnell and everybody, as they get closer you've got to let them find out how that feels to pitch deep into the game. But at the same time, the more tired you get, the more risk for injury you're at when you change your mechanics."

 

Gibson shook his head.

"If those guys get worn out before they get to the big leagues, maybe it costs them a chance to get up here," he said. "That's kind of where they're at on that issue, I'm sure. It's a double-edged sword: I want to develop, but I also want to stay healthy and get there."

 

It appears that the Twins have a plan for extended pitch count performances, it's all in the efficiency of effort in hitting those high counts. CBS Sports reported: "Twins pitching prospect Trevor May threw 120 pitches in a start for Triple-A Rochester Monday, and assistant general manager Rob Anthony did not seem to think it was a cause for concern, however, as he told the St. Paul Pioneer Press Saturday:"

 

I don't have any problem with the way (May) was handled," Twins assistant general manager Rob Antony said. "I think he probably did wear down a little, but it's probably good for him." That might seem a contradictory statement for an organization that has gone to six-man starting rotations at Class A and below in order to protect young arms, one that has allowed just two big-league pitchers -- Nick Blackburn and Francisco Liriano (twice) -- to throw 120-plus pitches since the start of 2010.

However, May's eye-raising pitch total actually falls in line with the Twins' overall philosophy.

It's not the raw number of pitches that typically precipitates a pitching change. It's more about how much effort goes into those pitches along the way.

 

Another factor that came into play was the first AAA appearance for Mark Hamburger, who closed the game out with 2 innings of shutout ball. But clearly, the Twins were extra cautious today in not asking May to extend himself in back-to-back games. Here's Trevor's post-game interview from his previous game:

 

[video=youtube;tcQ6Z1vM5Zs]

[Monkeypaws]

To the chagrin of fans in Rochester, New Britain, and on down the line, top prospects are being groomed for a spot in the majors, not to help your team win games. Sad but true. All the more so with pitchers.

[ashbury]

When the dreaded word "consistency" is heard in Twins braintrust interviews, the ability for a pitcher to handle an increasingly heavy workload has to be a part of it. May seems ready to face MLB batters, but perhaps a little further seasoning is still required if he's to achieve enduring success.

[ashbury]

To the chagrin of fans in Rochester, New Britain, and on down the line, top prospects are being groomed for a spot in the majors, not to help your team win games. Sad but true. All the more so with pitchers.

 

It's true. You are not truly watching a contest between two teams trying to win the game with all the strategy and tactics available to them. They are trying to win games through good performances. Sometimes there's not a difference, oftentimes there is. Minor league fans simply, IMO, have to accept this; otherwise they set themselves up for disappointment instead of great fun.

[Seth Stohs]

To the chagrin of fans in Rochester, New Britain, and on down the line, top prospects are being groomed for a spot in the majors, not to help your team win games. Sad but true. All the more so with pitchers.

 

This is correct, and this is how it should be...

[jokin]

This is correct, and this is how it should be...

 

Hopefully, the 120 exercise is the last big test...if so, Trevor May appears to have passed that test with flying colors. And perhaps Saturday's follow-up game was enough confirmation of enough life left in May's arm after such a rigorous test. And lining up with Kevin Correia sure seems to be bringing out the best in KC...."and this is how it should be", as well.

[TKGuy]

I watched the game on Milb TV and they really didn't hit him at all after the first inning. Hamburger looked good also.

[drivlikejehu]

To the chagrin of fans in Rochester, New Britain, and on down the line, top prospects are being groomed for a spot in the majors, not to help your team win games. Sad but true. All the more so with pitchers.

 

Minor League baseball is a good option for relatively inexpensive entertainment for baseball fans. That's it. Without the developmental aspect, most minor league teams wouldn't exist at all.

[Mike Frasier Law]

This is a surprisingly progressive attitude I did not expect from the Twins. I always thought of them as a strict pitch count team. But the fact that they are considering the exertion of the pitcher and not just counting pitches is encouraging to me.

[Paul Pleiss]

More interesting to me is trying to figure out when we will see Trevor May in Minnesota. Will he be up by the mid-summer classic? Can the Twins keep him down much longer? Even if they bring him up to be an arm out of the pen, I have to believe he has done everything he needs to do at AAA. Just waiting for that phone call...

[jokin]

More interesting to me is trying to figure out when we will see Trevor May in Minnesota. Will he be up by the mid-summer classic? Can the Twins keep him down much longer? Even if they bring him up to be an arm out of the pen, I have to believe he has done everything he needs to do at AAA. Just waiting for that phone call...

 

Would they dare to bring him up to debut for the first game after the return from the road trip, on June 30 against Kansas City and James Shields?

 

As of today, the Twins have a "TBD" as the probable, in what would be Pino's 3rd starting turn. After his abbreviated stint on Saturday, if May pitches on Wednesday, instead of Thursday for the Red Wings, he would be right on schedule for a week from Monday, and in synch, with Pino.

[Paul Pleiss]

As of today, the Twins have a "TBD" as the probable, in what would be Pino's 3rd starting turn. After his abbreviated stint on Saturday, if May pitches on Wednesday, instead of Thursday for the Red Wings, he would be right on schedule for a week from Monday, and in synch, with Pino.

 

I would love to see May taking on Big Game James at Target Field, especially if Pino stayed with the ballclub to work out of the pen.

 

Now we're talking baseball that I like!

[jokin]

I would love to see May taking on Big Game James at Target Field, especially if Pino stayed with the ballclub to work out of the pen.

 

Now we're talking baseball that I like!

 

Hey, hellzya. And I like your stance today in the face of Burt-ie and Swarz-ie doing well. But we gotta give the Twins a little credit, for all the Bartlett/Kubel head-scratchers, they have made more moves that have made sense than in previous years.

[Paul Pleiss]

Let's not bring back the Bartlett talk. I nearly lost my mind when he made the squad, and the roster crunch that ensued losing players who could have contributed in CF... oh my oh my. Jason Barlett is gone, Jared Burton is next. And if anyone else has initials JB, watch out, I'm coming for you when Burton has been DFA'd.

[John Bonnes]

Great post jokin. You know, that is practically a blog entry. If you ever have the urge to fire up your blog here at Twins Daily, let me know.

[curt1965]

With the reference of Swarz-ie, I was wondering why he didn't pitch the 8th. I believe he retired the 6 batters he faced with relative ease, and with a day off on Monday, he would be good to go for the Angels series. No confidence for the big guy?