Nolasco to return to the Rotation, Milone to the bullpen

[Danchat]

Apparently, Tommy Milone is the one who will be going to the bullpen this time. Ricky Nolasco will start on Saturday and Milone will have to stretch out... perhaps as a long reliever? They will have to open up space, and now that Milone might be the new long reliever... I think this means Stauffer's time is up. Either that or Thielbar will get set down.

 

I think this was a very good call. We need to keep Trevor May in the rotation and he's still there, so I like the move.

 

 

Source: https://twitter.com/DWolfsonKSTP/status/593888900302577664

[whosafraidofluigirussolo]

Keeping Nolasco in the minors for another rehab start also might have been a good call.

[stringer bell]

Can't argue.  Let's see what a healthy Ricky Nolasco can do.  Milone should get another shot, too.  He's faced a gauntlet of tough lineups and his pitching was not the disaster it was late last year. 

[gunnarthor]

I'm ok with this.  Milone could be a good pen option but Nolasco has to start, with that contract.  Hopefully he pitches well enough that we can unload him.  Also a good sign that Hughes doesn't have to go to the DL.

[h2oface]

I see no future for Milone. The 85-87 mph fastball with little movement, and the change up being about 81 mph and only a few mph different is not something that will create sustainable results ever. Not as a starter, and not as a reliever. No where in the majors. This is not saying that he will not have occassional good outings. He has and can and probably will. Oakland knew what they were doing.   But I am not a fan of Nolasco starting right away either, but I bet he will be trade bait and he needs to show he can have a string of maybe 4 or 5 good outings to get him traded and unloading that horrible contract.

 

[Danchat]

One more note. Apparently Brian Duensing is on track to be activated for Saturday's game. This probably means Thielbar and Stauffer will be getting the axe.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Recently, I've watched Twins games until the starter is pulled and then I turn off the game. It has served me very well thus far and this move isn't going to change that approach to watching Twins baseball.

[Hrbowski]

Awful, Milone has been our second best starter this year, horrible.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Awful, Milone has been our second best starter this year, horrible.

Which is the equivalent of winning silver in the Special Olympics.

[Platoon]

Which is the equivalent of winning silver in the Special Olympics.

I think a better analogy is definitely in order!!

[Brock Beauchamp]

I think a better analogy is definitely in order!!

No, I pretty much nailed it with that analogy.

[Platoon]

I still think using the Special Olympics was in poor taste, and I admittedly have a sophomoric sense of humor! I agree with the fact Milone is not exactly a quality MLB pitcher.

[Rosterman]

The Twins are prepped to send out Thielbar (why have Thielbar and Graham in the bullpen if you really aren't going to use them).

 

Hughes will determine if Stauffer stays or not.

 

And Milone could pull a Pelfrey and stay in the rotation then.

 

And, who knows, the Twins could trade Pelfrey before this weekend!

[spinowner]

My prediction is similar to Rosterman's: If Hughes is DL'ed Milone will be back in the rotation without ever really leaving and Stauffer stays until Hughes is activated. Stauffer will be gone on Saturday if Hughes is not DL'ed. And Thielbar will go down when Duensing is activated.

Milone doesn't really deserve to come out of the rotation but he is probably better suited for the pen than Nolasco even though I think there should be at least one lefty in the rotation. And don't get too hung up on Milone's radar gun readings. Look at Jamie Moyer. He pitched in the majors at age 49.

[TheLeviathan]

 

No, I pretty much nailed it with that analogy.

 

Think you missed his point of criticism there Brock and it's a valid one to consider.

[h2oface]

 

No, I pretty much nailed it with that analogy.

Comedy is not pretty. If they can't take a joke.............

I think it worked just fine and made the point well. No need to blow it up to be anything else.

 

[nicksaviking]

A team can never have enough bullpen arms with high contact rates and weak fastballs.

 

I guess.

[Jham]

 

Comedy is not pretty. If they can't take a joke.............

I think it worked just fine and made the point well. No need to blow it up to be anything else.

 

Only someone who had never been to a Special Olympic event, never seen the joy on the faces of the individuals who compete, and never appreciated the hard work of the thousands of dedicated individuals who make these events possible would ever mock it.  So my advice would be A) go volunteer at an event, and be prepared for one of the more heart-warming and gratifying experiences of your life; Donate $10 to the Special Olympics for every off-colored joke or "R" word and encourage your friends and office mates to do the same; or C) choose a less offensive analogy.  

 

Also, Milone, Pelfrey, May, Hughes, AND Gibson have ALL looked pretty capable this year.  So I would not agree with the analogy anyway.  

 

 

[Dantes929]

 

Comedy is not pretty. If they can't take a joke.............

I think it worked just fine and made the point well. No need to blow it up to be anything else.

I'm not big on political correctness and I can handle the slam to Milone though I believe he deserves a bit more credit also but its disrespectful and demeaning to those that have participated in the Special Olympics.   If you had a child that participates you might feel differently. 

 People lump everyone that has an upper 80's fastball together as incapable of succeeding in the major leagues but in fact there are thousands of such pitchers and not all of them are capable of a career ERA under 4.03 over 86 starts in the American League.   In fact not other pitcher on the staff all of whom throw several mph faster have a career ERA under 4.32.   Nolasco's is over 4.5 in the NL. 

[zchrz]

Just shuffling of deck chairs waiting to be replaced.  Hughes, Gibson, May are the only ones I'm worried about being in the rotation.  The rest are varying degrees of 5th starter cannon fodder.

[Boom Boom]

Comedy is not pretty. If they can't take a joke.............

I think it worked just fine and made the point well. No need to blow it up to be anything else.

Jokes are supposed to be funny.

[DocBauer]

I absolutely would have given Nolasco another rehab start. It would allow him to stretch out further, get back in some sort of groove, and give everything and everyone on the ML staff another start, or a few more days, to see if anything changes. (Injury, etc) This almost feels like a panic move, and yet, no word on Hughes missing any time at this point.

 

But color me shocked and pleased they didn't send May back down. THAT is a smart move for the future of this club.

 

Stauffer......(shakes head.....shrugs....and has nothing else to say).....

[Linus]

 

I absolutely would have given Nolasco another rehab start. It would allow him to stretch out further, get back in some sort of groove, and give everything and everyone on the ML staff another start, or a few more days, to see if anything changes. (Injury, etc) This almost feels like a panic move, and yet, no word on Hughes missing any time at this point.

But color me shocked and pleased they didn't send May back down. THAT is a smart move for the future of this club.

Stauffer......(shakes head.....shrugs....and has nothing else to say).....

This.  The most important thing is that May is still in the rotation along with Gibson.  I would have definitely made Nolasco have another rehab start.  This is the second time he has pitched poorly apparently due to injury.  If I were in charge I would tell him that when he can go 90 pitches and he has the feel back for his pitches, then he can return to the rotation.  In other words, we want you back when you are ready to perform and health is no longer an issue.  The idea that he is going to come back after one start, be mediocre and then everyone give him a pass because he is coming off an injury is maddening.

 

Long term, Milone should not be in the pen.  He should be optioned to Rochester so he can stay stretched out and be ready to come back when we inevitably need another starter.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

Whew - as long as May is staying up, everything else is just peachy keen.

[Thrylos]

 

And, who knows, the Twins could trade Pelfrey before this weekend!

 

I'd have no problem with that, if I felt that Meyer can come in and be the number one starter.  Might need a month or so to figure the strike zone out, but until then, Hughes and Pelfrey are pretty good

[laloesch]

 

This.  The most important thing is that May is still in the rotation along with Gibson.  I would have definitely made Nolasco have another rehab start.  This is the second time he has pitched poorly apparently due to injury.  If I were in charge I would tell him that when he can go 90 pitches and he has the feel back for his pitches, then he can return to the rotation.  In other words, we want you back when you are ready to perform and health is no longer an issue.  The idea that he is going to come back after one start, be mediocre and then everyone give him a pass because he is coming off an injury is maddening.

 

Long term, Milone should not be in the pen.  He should be optioned to Rochester so he can stay stretched out and be ready to come back when we inevitably need another starter.

 

I wonder if the FO is getting ready to make a move here shortly.  I would not surprise me if they are actively shopping Pelfrey possibly Milone given we are stuck with Nolasco and Santana for the next two years at least. 

[laloesch]

 

I'd have no problem with that, if I felt that Meyer can come in and be the number one starter.  Might need a month or so to figure the strike zone out, but until then, Hughes and Pelfrey are pretty good

 

Yeah.  Meyer has gotten off to a terrible start.  Effectively wild, walking guys like crazy, getting shelled in AAA.  I know that they have been trying to tweak his mechanics and save his shoulder but at this rate we probably won't see Alex this year unless he really turns things around.  Unfortunate for a 25/26 year old who should be in the majors by now.

[adorduan]

 

I see no future for Milone. The 85-87 mph fastball with little movement, and the change up being about 81 mph and only a few mph different is not something that will create sustainable results ever. Not as a starter, and not as a reliever. No where in the majors. This is not saying that he will not have occassional good outings. He has and can and probably will. Oakland knew what they were doing.   But I am not a fan of Nolasco starting right away either, but I bet he will be trade bait and he needs to show he can have a string of maybe 4 or 5 good outings to get him traded and unloading that horrible contract.

Nobody is going to give you anything for Nolasco even after 4 or 5 good starts. 

[laloesch]

 

Nobody is going to give you anything for Nolasco even after 4 or 5 good starts. 

 

We would be lucky to find a trading partner for him and even more luckier to not have to pay 50% of his remaining salary.  Let all cross our fingers that Santana doesn't turn out the same way.

[tobi0040]

 

Awful, Milone has been our second best starter this year, horrible.

 

May, Pelfrey, and Hughes have a better ERA and WHIP.

 

But when you look at guys under contract, performance, and future with the club Milone is the obvious candidate.  I don't neccesarily think the contract piece should be as big of a factor, but it is.