Phil Coke; Worth a look?

[SwainZag]

Phil Coke declines option and becomes a free agent.  With Duensing and Thompson struggling is he worth a look to bring in as a left handed member out of the pen?

[Craig Arko]

A Coke and a smile?

[Danchat]

Looking at his stats, I don't know if he's much of an improvement... he could be a LOOGY, but not much else.

 

If he could keep his K/9 in the 8s like he did with the Cubs, he could potentially rebound here. Our pitching staff knows how to limit walks, and that would help Coke.

 

I would still rather see some younger arms from the minors, though.

[DaveW]

Better to have a once was then a never was.

[Mike Sixel]

Try the young guys.

Try the young guys.

Try the young guys.

Try the young guys.

[drjim]

 

Phil Coke declines option and becomes a free agent.  With Duensing and Thompson struggling is he worth a look to bring in as a left handed member out of the pen?

 

Not sure he is more likely to succeed going forward than Duensing.

[HitInAPinch]

Gotta kick the Coke habit

[DocBauer]

We are winning but still in transition mode. I won't pout or curse if they give him a shot. But I'd rather roll through Rochester and Chattanooga and see who wants to grab hold of a job.

[stringer bell]

It would be good if they had someone anyone in the bullpen who was left handed and could pitch in the seventh or eighth inning (not Perkins). To me, the bully is about half done--Graham (mopup), Boyer, Pressly, Fien and Perkins. A solid lefty to go with the rh setup men would help immensely.

[jorgenswest]

Is he likely to have a better second half than Duensing? I don't think so. They are comparable but I would bet on a Duensing. His signing would delay the solution to the problem rather than solve it.

[SwainZag]

 

Is he likely to have a better second half than Duensing? I don't think so. They are comparable but I would bet on a Duensing. His signing would delay the solution to the problem rather than solve it.

 

I just mentioned it because of the perceived depth in LHP options in the high minor leagues right now for the Twins.  I have more faith in Duensing than I do Thompson right now, a lot more.

 

Very small sample size this season, but did pitch to an xFIP of 3.39, while carrying a high .351 BABIP with a K rate of 8.52 K/9.  Coke still touches 94 on the gun and for his career he is much better against lefties.  Upside is he would be cheap, downside he will be 33 next month and possibly would block someone.

 

What left handed options do the Twins have who could fit a loogy situation in the high minors? I ask.....because I'm not sure.

[USAFChief]

I'm with Stringer.

 

A really good LOOGY or two would help the bullpen a lot.

 

I just doubt Phil Coke is/will be a really good LOOGY.  Most teams are looking for one (I bet Coke gets a shot with someone, as would Duensing if released), and they're not easy to find.

 

 

[jimbo92107]

Is Coke's mlb ERA better than Caleb Theilbar's? Can he bring a heater like Oliveros? I'd be fine with Coke if this were more of a pennant run season, but I still don't think it is.

 

We'll know for sure after today's game. ;-)

[howieramone2]

 

Try the young guys.

Try the young guys.

Try the young guys.

Try the young guys.

This is not the time to throw bodies against the wall to see what sticks. When did you get off the win now bandwagon?

[Thegrin]

Oh NO.the LOOGY again!  The present day Duensing is better than the present day Coke.  You can look it up.

 

[jorgenswest]

 

I just mentioned it because of the perceived depth in LHP options in the high minor leagues right now for the Twins.  I have more faith in Duensing than I do Thompson right now, a lot more.

 

Very small sample size this season, but did pitch to an xFIP of 3.39, while carrying a high .351 BABIP with a K rate of 8.52 K/9.  Coke still touches 94 on the gun and for his career he is much better against lefties.  Upside is he would be cheap, downside he will be 33 next month and possibly would block someone.

 

What left handed options do the Twins have who could fit a loogy situation in the high minors? I ask.....because I'm not sure.

http://twinsdaily.com/blog/36/entry-6678-rebuilding-a-bullpen/

[Minniman]

Phil Coke didn't last long in Toronto.

 

Can he get righties out?

[PseudoSABR]

He does have good hustle from the bullpen and pitches with the wrong hand, but no.

[DocBauer]

It would be good if they had someone anyone in the bullpen who was left handed and could pitch in the seventh or eighth inning (not Perkins). To me, the bully is about half done--Graham (mopup), Boyer, Pressly, Fien and Perkins. A solid lefty to go with the rh setup men would help immensely.

Agreed.

 

I began to forget what I said where we have been discussing so many variations of the same lately, in a variety of different ways.

 

This one isn't about Mauer pitching from the OF while hitting second is it? Whew! OK

 

Graham has surprised from day one and just might be a keeper. Boyer is scary. Scary because I keep waiting for the bottom to fall out. I don't mean a bad day or two or a slump, but "the world is flat, a hole just opened, and he just fell through Stauffer-style" bottom fall out.

 

Can we start to use that as a term? I kind of like it; "Stauffer-style"

 

Anyway, back to our regularly scheduled thread. Fien is in. Pressly is solid. Tonkin less so. I don't want to blow him out or yo-yo him, but Oliveros also deserves a shot at some point. Me, you, everyone wants hopes and experts Meyer to be in the rotation again. But in an unusual train of thought, the Twins have talked about Meyer getting his first taste of the majors in the bullpen. I don't always agree with this line of thought, but I do here. It keeps him developing, it doesn't shut the door in any way, but it might actually further build his confidence.

 

The port side needs work. Love Duensing, believe he's done. I'd give Thompson a little longer, say, a couple weeks maybe, to see if his first couple months is the illusion, or the last couple of weeks. But I'd be auditioning every LH pitcher, starter or otherwise, at AAA and AA until I find TWO guys who can fill a role of A: a short lefty/LOOGY and B: a solid long-mid-7ish LH. There ARE talented arms to go through, it's not a a Walters, Pino journeyman desperation move. It's honest prospect auditions for a job on a still rebuilding team.

[Thrylos]

Coke is not it!

[stringer bell]

My limited view of Coke is that he can throw hard enough to break a plane of glass. To me, he seems lose either concentration or confidence. History is filled with relievers who suddenly are effective after struggling. Maybe it could be Coke or maybe someone in the organization. I think Coke would have a far better chance than anybody in the system.

[jorgenswest]

Molitor's lack of trust in Duensing and Thompson is very evident tonight. He kept Pelfrey in against Cabrera in the 7th and Fien against Eaton in the 8th. Two outs and runners in scoring position. If you aren't going to use them in that situation, when would they be needed? I think it is time for Thielbar.

[USAFChief]

 

Molitor's lack of trust in Duensing and Thompson is very evident tonight. He kept Pelfrey in against Cabrera in the 7th and Fien against Eaton in the 8th. Two outs and runners in scoring position. If you aren't going to use them in that situation, when would they be needed? I think it is time for Thielbar.

Yup...and it was actually LaRoche and Cabrera for Pelfrey. 

 

EDIT:  don't know if Coke is any answer, but something needs to be done.  When the manager won't go to his lefty(s) in a situation that screams LOOGY, he's asking his GM for help.

[DaveW]

He can't be worse then the current LHP in the pen not named Perkins.

[jorgenswest]

He can't be worse then the current LHP in the pen not named Perkins.

That's not good enough. It just means they go 5 more weeks and realize they don't have a solution.

[USAFChief]

 

That's not good enough. It just means they go 5 more weeks and realize they don't have a solution.

So...what's the solution?

[stringer bell]

 

So...what's the solution?

Personally, I think they should trade for someone because I don't see any LH solutions on the horizon. That would mean a bullpen arm that they would keep this year and next at least.

[nater79a]

 

I just mentioned it because of the perceived depth in LHP options in the high minor leagues right now for the Twins.  I have more faith in Duensing than I do Thompson right now, a lot more.

 

Very small sample size this season, but did pitch to an xFIP of 3.39, while carrying a high .351 BABIP with a K rate of 8.52 K/9.  Coke still touches 94 on the gun and for his career he is much better against lefties.  Upside is he would be cheap, downside he will be 33 next month and possibly would block someone.

 

What left handed options do the Twins have who could fit a loogy situation in the high minors? I ask.....because I'm not sure.

 

In AAA we have O'Rourke, Thielbar, and Darnell.

 

O'Rourke would be your extreme case of a LOOGY. Lefties can't touch him, but righties will roast him.

Thielbar...been there, done that.

Darnell... was hoping he'd replace Duensing over the winter, but he's been kind of meh this year. Mid 3's ERA and a 1.7 WHIP.

 

Not much in the way of lefty relievers at Chattanooga.

[nater79a]

 

Personally, I think they should trade for someone because I don't see any LH solutions on the horizon. That would mean a bullpen arm that they would keep this year and next at least.

 

A guy like Tyler Clippard has unbelievable splits against LH batters, even though he's right-handed.

 

.109 BA, .222 OBP  .349 OPS  vs lefties.

 

Clippard is a free agent-to-be though.  He'd be a rental.

 

Otherwise, here's hoping Tyler Jay dominates at Fort Myers and can move up quickly. 

 

 

[USAFChief]

Personally, I think they should trade for someone because I don't see any LH solutions on the horizon. That would mean a bullpen arm that they would keep this year and next at least.

I agree, but LH relief help is tough to find, and everybody's looking for it.

 

StL is still trotting Randy Choate out there, who I watched pitch for the Tucson Toros for something like three years a decade ago after multiple big league seasons. He couldn't break a pane of glass even then. And yet, there he is, still collecting a paycheck as a LOOGY, because better options can't be found.