Is Deduno getting a fair shake?

[DocBauer]

OK, for some this ship has sailed for various reasons. And I get it. And I know some will blast me for even bringing this topic back up. But there's a legitimate reason I bring Deduno back up.

 

Let's rewind for a moment.

 

Deduno is a journeyman milb player with electric stuff and poor enough control to make Nuke LaLoosh look like Brad Radke. The Twins give him a shot and he shows some flashes at AAA. He comes up in 2012 and while very inconsistent, continues to show flashes.

 

At one point in 2013, throwing a little less hard for better control, he not only pitches solid, but is probably the Twins best SP for over two months. Then he has a shoulder twinge, tries to battle through it, but simply isn't the same, and finally gets shelved.

 

The Twins were cautious with him in ST 2014, but he performed very well. So much so that many were questioning why he wasn't part of the rotation instead of the bullpen. Except for a couple poor glimpses, he actually pitches well out of the pen, Gardy even compliments on having a pitcher with his ability out of the pen. He finally gets his shot back in the rotation and pitches...OK to meh...before being pulled for....Pino and Johnson???

 

I watched him pitch relief against the Royals the other night, and while their lineup isn't exactly frightening, I watched the Deduno I remember send some stuff up to the plate that looked like 90mph curveballs and found myself wondering where he's been? Why isn't he still getting a shot after what he has shown he could do when healthy? Do Pino and Johnson really have more than he does?

 

Hughes, Gibson, Nolasco, May, Meyer, Barrios soon...and some other solid options...I'm not sure what future Deduno has. But May and Meyer aren't here yet. Nolasco had been hurt. Does Deduno really rate behind Pino and Johnson? I just can't help but wonder if Deduno is getting a fair shake here.

[Kwak]

Perhaps you've noticed that the Twins manage by pitch-count?  They have that counter in their hand just in case they need a reminder.  Deduno "isn't that type of pitcher", nor is he the manager.  If the Twins were winning 60+% of the games he starts I suspect they might be more tolerable.  Sadly, that doesn't happen and Deduno gets replaced too early, too often for the Twins.  The Twins have managed to stockpile a barrel of AAA pitchers who have "been there" (reasons are obvious) and some of them have "earned a chance".  So.....

[DuluthFan]

While he has good stuff in small doses, he cannot last long enough to be a consistent starter. He has trouble keeping the opponents off the bases for more than 4-5 innings. The Twins need their starters to last into the 6th and 7th innings while giving up under 4 runs. Deduno did not show consistency in doing that. He could typically last once or twice through the batting order before being hit hard. He appears to be a good candidate for long relief. If he can control his wildness, he could even become a setup man or closer some day.

 

Some other points to consider: he was signed as a minor league free agent to be filler for the AAA team and was pushed into major league service after numerous injuries to the Twins staff. He no longer has options remaining which means if he finds himself in a long slump, the team cannot just send him down to AAA without DFA'ing him. Since he was DFA'd once before, he can become a free agent if DFA'd again. Since he has no options left, it is more difficult to trade him since the receiving team must keep him on the major league roster or DFA him to send him down. While he does have good stuff, he could be pushed out of a job by a lesser player who is more consistent, has options or is better. Right now he is just a borderline major leaguer, good enough to play, but not a lock if something better comes along.

[DaveW]

DeDuno is on a major league roster collecting a major league paycheck each week, this would be unlikely on several other teams, I think his shake is more than fair personally

[drjim]

I think they have stumbled into a very good role for him and for the team. How is that anything other than fair?

[Thrylos]

To answer this question you need to answer a couple more first:

 

- Does Deduno belong in a championship caliber rotation?

- Does Deduno belong in a championship caliber bullpen?

 

I'd probably answer both "NO", YMMV.

[huhguy]

Nobody loves Deduno more than I do...but I think he has found his role..long relief...he has been great until his next to last entry..and I think he can help us more there than starting.

[USAFChief]

To answer this question you need to answer a couple more first:

 

- Does Deduno belong in a championship caliber rotation?

- Does Deduno belong in a championship caliber bullpen?

 

I'd probably answer both "NO", YMMV.

Concur.

 

The only thing I'd add is that so far in 2014, in a relatively small sample size, he's performed well in a long relief role. But I question if he can keep it up, primarily because I disagree with the OP's description of him having "electric stuff." I don't see it.

[ashbury]

I look forward to a day when questions of any kind about players who have been discarded by other teams no longer come up.

[Kelly Vance]

His pitches have rare movement, and that is part of why he has control problems. I like him and hope he finds a way to develop better control. I get a feeling sometimes he has no idea where a pitch is going.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Could be a Swarzak replacement -- Anthony will be due something close to $2 mil in the offseason, while Deduno should have another full season until he's arbitration eligible.

 

Of course, one of our AAA arms might be better than either of them in that role.

[old nurse]

I look forward to a day when questions of any kind about players who have been discarded by other teams no longer come up.

Picking up someone else's discards has been the way of baseball teams since their inception

[Paul Pleiss]

I'm not sure Deduno will even be back with the club next season. He's a good mop-up guy, but his inconsistency keeps him from being effective. He's wild, puts men on base, and while he has good movement on his pitches, I'm not sure anyone knos where they're going.

 

I have a near hatred for 2014 Jared Burton, but I'd rather bring him into a close game than Deduno.

 

Sammy D, thanks for the memories.

[DocBauer]

Some great points. I myself stated earlier in the season he didn't have the ability/durability to be anything more than a potentially very good 5th SP. I just think he's built for 26 starts and not 32-33.

 

I just watch him throw sometimes I think, really? Guys like Pino and Johnson offer more?

 

I also think he has a tough time making a Twins rotation with the likes of Hughes, Gibson, Nolasco, May, Meyer, and now maybe Milone. Possibly Pelfrey for a year or part of a year, and Berrios climbing the ladder.

 

If he harnesses even somewhat decent control, I also see him as a viable bullpen arm who can just be wicked at times. So I think all of your comments are probably right on. It's just that I watch him at times and wonder why he's not out there, at least for the now.

[Thrylos]

FTFY:

 

Picking up someone else's discards has been the way of bad baseball teams since their inception