Nick Blackburn and Sunk Costs

[edavis0308]

http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/pitching/_/league/al/count/219/qualified/false/order/false

 

Sweet Jesus.

[The Greatest Poster Alive]

We should have signed Rudy Eugene if that was the plan.

Or Jose Mijares.

[Brandon]

There isnt that much better on the team right now. Who would pitch? Lets see we have Diamond, Liriano, Deunsing (from the pen), Hendricks (hasn't pitched too good yet) and Blackburn (can at least make it through 5 innings)

 

Hurt starting pitchers

Baker (out for year)

Pavano (don't know when he's comming back hopefully soon)

Walters (I think its right around the allstar break)

 

in the minors our 2 best prospect Gibson and Wimmers are out.

 

So as we start getting pitching back then we should consider putting Blackburn in the pen. but he still has value as someone who consistantly gets through 5 innings. (thats only value on this staff as it is that bad) We may need him to start again.

 

I would keep him around to finish this year and even to compete in spring training next year. Hopefully the Twins do something with their pitching by next season so it is a competition and Blackburn could be let go if he isn't living up to his end or after Gibson is in the minors long enough to show he is healthy (put off arbitration and free agency another year). That could be his value too.

 

I am in no way advocating Blackburn as he should be pitching for the Whitesox right now instead of us. But i did want to see him get closer to the over under of 70 wins that Gleeman and some guy at Baseball america had going a few years back after Blackburn was named the organization's top prospect.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Yes I realize these things, I guess I thought he was -0.5 or -1.0 To replacement level.

 

 

I think what bothers me about this is that the replacement player is about as mythical as big foot. They are there, but not exactly in large supply, and I'd argue that's especially true with pitchers moreso than hitters....

 

that said, I think we are all sick of Nick (Blackburn that is). Given the lost season, he isn't exactly hurting anyone, and quite frankly he's not exactly blocking anyone either... so I really don't care what you do with him. If he's not a 5 year guy, you can send him to the minors and he can fix it in Rochester, but I'll bet anything that his "replacment" isn't exactly a replacement player either.

[Riverbrian]

I know a little about pitching. I hope this helps. The sinker that is Blackburn's bread and butter is a real finesse pitch. I believe the Twins staff, me, and plenty of others, were enamored with Blackburn because of his fleeting mastery of the pitch. And the belief that his simple mechanics put the unfleeting mastery of the pitch within his grasp. I have to admit that I haven't watched much of the Twins the past year so I really don't have an opinion on what's wrong now. I do know that the sinker must be mixed with at least 1 other pitch, and a SP needs to be able to change speeds. Because it tips the pitch, ML pitchers rarely succeed with different arm slots for different pitches. Unfortunately different arm slots work best for different pitches, so finding a slot that works best for the mix is challenging. Arm/shoulder/elbow pain can put a pitcher at odds with his body and render a particular pitch ineffective. If a sinker don't sink, or a cutter don't cut, or a slider don't slide, you ain't exactly helping out. Finally, you can hang a sinker just like a curveball, so if you aren't commanding whatever you're throwing you won't succeed. Blackburn could have 1 or all of these maladies, I don't know because I haven't seen him. But one thing's for certain, he's not carrying his end right now.

Thank You Paul... Breath of fresh air.

 

I'm putting you on my smart poster list.

 

BTW... On the nasty attack side of this thread... If someone makes the major leagues and then sucks in the major leagues... Please understand that they kick your ass and it isn't close. It's kind of like Goober with no teeth, flunked out of school in 10th grade, today getting evicted after spending his rent money on Beer and Ravioli. Goober Can't understand how the computerized voice on the weather radio has a job talking that way and yet will sit in the middle of a bar and say Obama is an idiot.

[The Greatest Poster Alive]

Thank You Paul... Breath of fresh air.

 

I'm putting you on my smart poster list.

 

BTW... On the nasty attack side of this thread... If someone makes the major leagues and then sucks in the major leagues... Please understand that they kick your ass and it isn't close. It's kind of like Goober with no teeth, flunked out of school in 10th grade, today getting evicted after spending his rent money on Beer and Ravioli. Goober Can't understand how the computerized voice on the weather radio has a job talking that way and yet will sit in the middle of a bar and say Obama is an idiot.

Nick Blackburn being able to strike me out has nothing to do with his talent, or my ability to analyze his talent. I guess we should only post appreciative gamethreads where we give him a pat on the back and battling. No need for any other threads since people who haven't played in the majors can't analyze those that do.

[darin617]

I am just waiting for Nickie to come forward and claim some weird injury for the reason for his downward spiral. If he needs any foolish aliments he would just need to consult Joe Mauer and he could come up with something for him.

[Riverbrian]

Nick Blackburn being able to strike me out has nothing to do with his talent, or my ability to analyze his talent. I guess we should only post appreciative gamethreads where we give him a pat on the back and battling. No need for any other threads since people who haven't played in the majors can't analyze those that do.

Ya kinda missed my point by a couple of football fields and kinda made my point at the same time. Thats impressive and not easily done... No wonder you are the greatest poster alive. The average poster alive would struggle attempting that.

[jctwins]

I agree with all of this and would love to see one of our gurus address these issues.

http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_llavvrkvLE1qbu7b1o1_500.gif

[glunn]

It's kind of like Goober with no teeth, flunked out of school in 10th grade, today getting evicted after spending his rent money on Beer and Ravioli. Goober Can't understand how the computerized voice on the weather radio has a job talking that way and yet will sit in the middle of a bar and say Obama is an idiot.

Good one Brian. Goober is probably upset today about Obamacare, but tomorrow he will feel no shame getting free care at his local emergency room.

[Paul]

Thank You Paul... Breath of fresh air.

 

I'm putting you on my smart poster list.

 

BTW... On the nasty attack side of this thread... If someone makes the major leagues and then sucks in the major leagues... Please understand that they kick your ass and it isn't close. It's kind of like Goober with no teeth, flunked out of school in 10th grade, today getting evicted after spending his rent money on Beer and Ravioli. Goober Can't understand how the computerized voice on the weather radio has a job talking that way and yet will sit in the middle of a bar and say Obama is an idiot.

Thank you Brian.

 

As to your critique of the "nasty attack side of this thread", I enjoyed it, and the concept of giving diamonds to ducks springs to mind for some reason.

[Riverbrian]

Thank you Brian.

 

As to your critique of the "nasty attack side of this thread", I enjoyed it, and the concept of giving diamonds to ducks springs to mind for some reason.

Paul... (Sheepishly) I ask... What is the concept of giving Diamonds to Ducks? I admit that I don't know the reference but it sounds like a good one.

 

All in all, I rarely think about it when I post away... But there are times when I think it's completely plausible that Twins Players actually read this site. Why not... They can all afford Ipads and laptops... The Hotels that they stay in have internet connection. They have some down time. It's human nature to see what people are saying about them even if it isn't what they want to hear.

 

I know they are compensated well and taking some abuse from fans comes with the territory but calling a player a piece of **** is just wrong and it also lacks imagination. Of course players can and will be critiqued and it's a major component of what makes this board tick. It's reasonable to say that someone doesn't belong at the MLB level if they are struggling but calling a player a piece of **** is beyond defense.

 

Just making the major leagues is an accomplishment of epic scale regardless of the results.

 

Goober calls Obama or Bush or Shelly Winters an idiot because he doesn't know what it took to get there nor the myriad of challenges that have to be addressed once there and he doesn't have the words or ability to understand it.

[crapforks]

Welp. This got weird.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Welp. This got weird.

Sup, hotcakes. A/S/L?