Who replaces Duensing, Boyer and Stauffer when they are cut?

[DaveW]

I think they bring up once bench player, for the other two I'd like to see Tonkin and Oliveros

[twinsnorth49]

Ditto, keep Polanco up when Rosario is back and ditch one of them.

[jokin]

Ditto, keep Polanco up when Rosario is back and ditch one of them.

I expect (hope) to see Polanco leading off tomorrow. If he can hit or reach 3 or more times, hopefully that forces both the issue, and this whole process, on a fast-forward track.

 

Should this scenario somehow come about tomorrow... Can Molitor be pragmatic enough to lighten up on his Escobar fixation to make this happen? Doubtful, Polanco needs to play every day.

[h2oface]

Boyer? He may not keep up his surprising performance, but isn't this a little early to include him with this company? It amazes me that Molitor keeps thinking Duensing is worth bringing in in games that are close. I don't see what anyone sees in Tonkin. He can handle AAA, but is over-matched in the show. He has had his chances. I am truly amazed this pen has not totally blown up yet.

[jokin]

Boyer? He may not keep up his surprising performance, but isn't this a little early to include him with this company? It amazes me that Molitor keeps thinking Duensing is worth bringing in in games that are close.

Boyer was a great story for May, but the calendar rolled over, and it looks like pumpkin time has arrived. I was hoping he could keep the smoke and mirrors going a little longer, but I would bet that every team on the schedule now has a perfectly edited 15 or so minutes of video detailing precisely how to attack him.

[SwainZag]

 

Boyer was a great story for May, but the calendar rolled over, and it looks like pumpkin time has arrived. I was hoping he could keep the smoke and mirrors going a little longer, but I would bet that every team on the schedule now has a perfectly edited 15 or so minutes of video detailing precisely how to attack him.

 

He has pitched 4.1 innings in June.  He gave up a 2 out double to Gomez whom Thompson let score and the HR to Perez tonight.  There are far bigger problems in the pen than Boyer right now, and I'm not a Boyer fan at all.

[h2oface]

 

He has pitched 4.1 innings in June.  He gave up a 2 out double to Gomez whom Thompson let score and the HR to Perez tonight.  There are far bigger problems in the pen than Boyer right now, and I'm not a Boyer fan at all.

I totally agree. I am not saying that Boyer (like Thompson) might fall apart... but it is way to early to consider that it has happened. Perkins tends to give up the homer too (and it usually costs the game, which this one tonight did not)...... not that I am comparing him to Perkins, but I feel he is not in the same discussion with Duensing and Stauffer at this time.

[stringer bell]

Boyer's not the biggest problem for the Twins.  The bullpen is a big problem, though. 

[Platoon]

Boyer's not the biggest problem for the Twins.  The bullpen is a big problem, though.

 

I agree. BUT, if they don't do something about this offense, the bull pen is not going to remain a problem. You can't hold a lead you don't have. And the offense is not in a slump. This is the offense! Back to topic. TR is not likely going to dump 3 pitchers he signed, in one season. I could see Stauffer. He will piddle through with Duensing because he just signed him for a year, and Boyers shine will take all most all year to wear off. At the most him and Fien will swap places.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Boyer? He may not keep up his surprising performance, but isn't this a little early to include him with this company? It amazes me that Molitor keeps thinking Duensing is worth bringing in in games that are close. I don't see what anyone sees in Tonkin. He can handle AAA, but is over-matched in the show. He has had his chances. I am truly amazed this pen has not totally blown up yet.

 

overmatched in small samples.  I think he needs time to learn.  Best way to do that is to put him in the mop up role reserved for guys like Stauffer. 

[USAFChief]

I agree. BUT, if they don't do something about this offense, the bull pen is not going to remain a problem. You can't hold a lead you don't have. And the offense is not in a slump. This is the offense! Back to topic. TR is not likely going to dump 3 pitchers he signed, in one season. I could see Stauffer. He will piddle through with Duensing because he just signed him for a year, and Boyers shine will take all most all year to wear off. At the most him and Fien will swap places.

Actually, I'd say they are in a slump. It happens. The offense is not this bad.

 

But I think the bullpen is a long term problem, no matter what the rest of the team does.

[TheLeviathan]

 

Boyer's not the biggest problem for the Twins.  The bullpen is a big problem, though. 

 

The bullpen thus far is a microcosm of how the Twins handle bullpens.  They find wonderful reclamation projects and do an excellent job squeezing way more out of guys than you'd ever expect and then they hang on to them WAY too long believing they can find it again.

[twinsnorth49]

Here's a couple of questions.

 

Did anyone think the game was going to turn the Twins way once the KC bullpen entered the game?

 

Did anyone think the Twins bullpen wasn't going to give up any more runs?

 

I know my answers.

[Vanimal46]

I have an uneasy feeling in my guy that Duensing & Boyer aren't going anywhere off the MLB club. Polanco for Stauffer should be an automatic. I'll play along with this hypothetical though and say Meyer for Boyer, and any LH with a pulse for Duensing.

[Mike Sixel]

I think it is "if", not when. We have multiple months of being awful, and both still have a job. For weeks people have been saying "just wait a week, it will change", and it hasn't. Somehow they have no RP in the minors that can be better than these guys, in their mind.

[DaveW]

 

Here's a couple of questions.

 

Did anyone think the game was going to turn the Twins way once the KC bullpen entered the game?

 

Did anyone think the Twins bullpen wasn't going to give up any more runs?

 

I know my answers.

I was texting with my friend in the 7th saying the Twins only shot to win the game was for  Young to walk Mauer and then Plouffe to hit a HR (thus ending the no hitter), I knew the minute that Plouffe just barely missed the HR to tie the Twins were basically screwed. Rosario has been awesome this year thus far and a nice surprise against LHP but I knew he was over matched, I'm actually impressed he was able to at least put the ball in play with two outs.

 

Wade Davis vs Hicks, Vargas and Escobar is unfair. Though I like how Hicks at least battled.

This is why I was suggesting the Twins try to get Chapman, then call up Jay, that could be such a lethal 7-8-9 combo with Perkins, where you get teams almost pressing too much in innings 5 and 6 since they know once you get to the pen your odds of winning are almost nil

[howieramone2]

I think one of Meyer, Burdi, or Jay will be up early enough to make the play-off roster. We have the pieces to have a very good bullpen, just need more time.

[spinowner]

 

I think one of Meyer, Burdi, or Jay will be up early enough to make the play-off roster. We have the pieces to have a very good bullpen, just need more time.

The makeup of the bullpen is just another of many examples demonstrating that the Twins are really still rebuilding. They have a good W-L record at the moment but that's just a pleasant accident. That doesn't mean that prospects such as these three can't be brought up, but we shouldn't do it if we think it will hurt their development and we shouldn't expect sub-2.00 ERA's and a postseason berth if we do.

[Rosterman]

If you are complaining about Boyer, than complain about Thompson. Their newness may be wearing down, but they still got a few more weeks or the season left in them. Duensing can be replaced by Thielbar or even Darnell. Why is Stauffer around. If you aren't going to use a pitcher, don't give them a roster spot. Okay, you can have one backend spot if your bullpen is halfway decent and set up to work, and that is Graham.

 

I would run Achter out there again before Tonkin. And you have to give Oliveros another EXTENDED chance.

[stringer bell]

 

If you are complaining about Boyer, than complain about Thompson. Their newness may be wearing down, but they still got a few more weeks or the season left in them. Duensing can be replaced by Thielbar or even Darnell. Why is Stauffer around. If you aren't going to use a pitcher, don't give them a roster spot. Okay, you can have one backend spot if your bullpen is halfway decent and set up to work, and that is Graham.

 

I would run Achter out there again before Tonkin. And you have to give Oliveros another EXTENDED chance.

Achter doesn't have the big fastball, but he's been very effective in AAA.  Oliveros has not had an EXTENDED chance ever, and certainly not since his TJ surgery. 

 

I loved what Thompson did early this year, but he's been somewhere between bad and dreadful for the last month.  He has an option this year, so I think it will be him who is demoted, despite the horror show numbers put up by Duensing and Stauffer.  It would be nice to get back to 12 pitchers. 

[TheLeviathan]

 

I think one of Meyer, Burdi, or Jay will be up early enough to make the play-off roster. We have the pieces to have a very good bullpen, just need more time.

 

Waiting until then may jeopardize the need for them on the "playoff" roster.

[howieramone2]

I don't understand the near rock star status Oliveros has on this board. He was waived during ST and nary a whiff of interest. No way he comes anywhere near close to making our 40 man roster next year.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I think one of Meyer, Burdi, or Jay will be up early enough to make the play-off roster. We have the pieces to have a very good bullpen, just need more time.

Any player on the 40-man on Sep. 1st is eligible for the postseason roster, so that covers Meyer already.  (If he's not on the 25-man roster on Sep. 1st, we'd just need someone on the DL for him to technically replace -- actually, maybe Ervin Santana since he is ineligible for the postseason.)

 

Burdi isn't rushing to claim a 40-man spot yet, and I doubt that Jay would get one within 3 months of being drafted if he will require a starting conversion.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I don't understand the near rock star status Oliveros has on this board. He was waived during ST and nary a whiff of interest. No way he comes anywhere near close to making our 40 man roster next year.

He's no rock star, but actually, Oliveros might have a better shot a making our roster next year than pending free agents Stauffer and Duensing (and Boyer, for that matter).  He's cheap, with 6 years of team control, and even an option remaining, I think (if we don't use it up this year).  Meaning he could make the 40-man roster without making the 25-man roster.

 

I'd rather audition him and/or Achter, Tonkin, etc. than continuing to trot out expensive veteran placeholders.

[Mike Sixel]

Veteran placeholders that are among the worst at their job in all of baseball for sure.......

 

Of relievers who have pitched 10 or more innings......over 200 have been better than Duensing this year, and over 220 have been better than Stauffer (only 4 have been worse than Stauffer).

 

It is hard to  believe that the minors have zero people better than that. Zero, apparently.

[tobi0040]

Boyer has a good ERA (2.40) and WHIP (1.10) through 30 IP and has consistetly been our 8th inning guy.  I think that he is more likely to get an extension than being cut.

 

I look at his 3.9 K per 9 and 4.14 FIP and think that would be a terrible idea.  But I still think it is more likely of an outcome. But I too don't see why he is grouped with Duensing and Stauffer.

 

The good news is Staffer receives a $250K bonus with his 15th appearnce (at 13 now), with multiple $250K bonsuses for every three starts after that.   Translation, he won't be here another week. I just hope that one apperance is not in a close game.