Duensing to start Saturday?

[Seth Stohs]

Rhett Bollinger just tweeted:

 

Sounds like LHP Brian Duensing will start on Saturday against the Reds. Still haven't heard official word from Gardenhire.

Thoughts? Other options include Anthony Swarzak and Jeff Manship. Cole De Vries just started for Rochester last night.

[IdahoPilgrim]

I've wanted to give him another chance all season.

[Badsmerf]

I feel like we've done this before?

[Musk21]

No congrats Seth?

[Thrylos]

Trying to remember Duensing's longest outing this season.... I think Swarzak has pitched more innings. Starting Duensing will leave only one LHP in the pen (and this has been the closer.) Not too good. I'd rather have seen DeVries up I guess, but since that cannot happen, I'd rather see Swarzak start. Been very disappointed in Manship in general...

[Boom Boom]

Looks like it's pretty much official now.

 

Good for Duensing. In every role he's had he's been a trooper about it. I still like him better as a reliever, but whatever - it really doesn't matter.

[gunnarthor]

I'm ok with a spot start here or there from Duensing.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I still like him better as a reliever, but whatever - it really doesn't matter.

Everyone should like him better as a reliever. Starters that make right-handed hitters salivate at the idea of facing him have a tendency to make me ill.

 

As a reliever, on the other hand...

[ashbury]

Duensing has been better against righties this year than his putrid 2011 against them. Cincy can throw a lot of righthanded hitters at him; all but Votto and Bruce the other day against Mets lefty Niese. Should be a good test.

[greengoblinrulz]

Duensing has been very underrated in his 09/10 & 11 was tough.

Leave him in start all yr or keep him in pen where he is very valuable.

Way they think in MN....he wont go more than 2/3IP blowing off the pen till the AS break.

[Thrylos]

Duensing will be the tenth pitcher to make a start for the Twins in 2012. And it is just June.

[SweetOne69]

Trying to remember Duensing's longest outing this season.... I think Swarzak has pitched more innings. Starting Duensing will leave only one LHP in the pen (and this has been the closer.) Not too good. I'd rather have seen DeVries up I guess, but since that cannot happen, I'd rather see Swarzak start. Been very disappointed in Manship in general...

If this was a permanent move I would agree with you, but since it will be just a 1 time spot start I am okay with it.

 

The Twins won't need a 5th starter again until the DH on 6/30 and both Pavano and Walters will be eligible to come off of the DL or we could call up De Vries to pitch one of the games. I believe the new CBA permits expanding the roster for Doubleheaders.

 

With that being said, next Thursday is the last off day before the AS Break (11 games in 10 days) so they will need a 5th starter from the 30th on.

[greengoblinrulz]

with off day Thur....they dont need another 5th stater till 2nd game of DH next Sat.

That could mean they could go to DeVries then as he will start on MON.

Hopefully, this is only a game outing for Duensing and he gets back to pen & we ditch Gray next wk.

[DaveW]

I don't like it. Duensing should stay in the pen, hopefully this is only a one time spot start.

[thrillema25]

I think this is probably the right move...they have to try something with the starting rotation. Duensing, in my opinion, is a much better option that Cole DeVries at this point. Plus, the bullpen seems to have a few other pitches that can take on the long relief role, such as Jeff Manship and Anthony Swarzak. Although it only leaves us with one lefty reliever in the pen, as mentioned above...it doesn't hurt to give it a shot though.

[spideyo]

I'd have rather seen Manship than Duensing, but I'm very happy they have apparently decided not to risk another Swarzak start.

[Mike Sixel]

I guess it depends, are you trying to win one game, or make your team better all year long? Because Duensing should be in the pen, and available across multiple games. He's not likely to be a lot better than Devries or any other spot starter, but the bullpen is likely to be a lot worse. It's just a bad strategy, and maybe even bad tactically.

[Guest USAFChief]

I guess it depends, are you trying to win one game, or make your team better all year long? Because Duensing should be in the pen, and available across multiple games. He's not likely to be a lot better than Devries or any other spot starter, but the bullpen is likely to be a lot worse. It's just a bad strategy, and maybe even bad tactically.

I endorse this opinion. Well said.

[nicksaviking]

Previous to last season, Duensing was seen as a future staple of the rotation. There are basically question marks for all five spots come 2013, why not give him another shot. Things looked promising for Duensing just over a year ago, it would seem pretty foolish not to see if he can flash some of what made him effective in the past when the Twins are already scraping the bottom of the pitching barrel as it is. Besides, it's not like his poor 2011 looks any worse than the numbers the 2012 starters are putting up.

[YourHouseIsMyHouse]

Get ready for the Reds to pump out as many righties as possible in their lineup. Hopefully we don't have to worry about Votto as much in this game.

[jokin]

Besides, it's not like his poor 2011 looks any worse than the numbers the 2012 starters are putting up.

With that ringing endorsement, it's no wonder that this board sound more and more like Royals/Padres Territory with each passing day.

[Thrylos]

Previous to last season, Duensing was seen as a future staple of the rotation. .

By whom?

by the ones who re-signed Pavano to a ridiculous contact and gave Blackburn that also ridiculous contact?

 

Duensing's numbers as a starter and against RHB were not there. Ok. They were better than Blackburn's while they were both starting, I'll give you that

[IdahoPilgrim]

Hey, I keep hearing that since we're going nowhere this year anyway, this is the year to experiment and try things and see what works. We know that Swarzak is not effective as a starter this year, DeVries was only marginally effective at best, we saw tonight that Manship is struggling right now. So who's left? Why not give Duensing another shot? It's not as if we are endangering a playoff run. If it doesn't work, have we really lost anything?

[glunn]

I see both points of view here, but since it looks like the Twins will lose 90+ games this year, it's getting difficult to care about a spot start here or there. The Reds will probably win the game by at least 5 runs either way.

[Cody Christie]

What is his pitch count going to be limited to? He can't be very stretched out at this point.

 

This means Swarzak will probably have to pitch multiple innings. So can we consider it a co-start by both Duensing and Swarzak?

[JB_Iowa]

I just feel like Duensing has found his niche in the pen and I hate to see them mess with that.

 

I also suspect that it wouldn't be just one start with the Doubleheader a week from tomorrow.

 

But that's also probably a part of why they are going with him.

 

It's slim-pickin's in the Twins pitching ranks (I know that is a revelation to everyone).

[Cody Christie]

Funny to read the Star Trib story about Duensing and his approach at the plate since he will have to bat tomorrow.

 

I like the quote at the beginning of the article:

I'll tell [manager Ron Gardenhire], I'm not going to even bunt," Duensing said. "I'm not going to put my face in there.