May will stay on in the pen indefinitely after the ASG break

[jokin]

 

More stats that look pretty but have nothing to do with the reality of how they are going to use May in the immediate future.

 

 

 

via Bollinger:    May will stay in the bullpen, for now, anyway:

 

 

He added that right-hander Trevor May will remain in the bullpen in the short term instead of going to Triple-A Rochester.

 

"I think there is enough opinion here that we still want to find out what we have out there before we would think about maybe getting him back into the Triple-A rotation as an alternative," Molitor said. "Also if we get into needing a starter or something, he would probably be the guy that could fairly rapidly get into a starter role because of his youth and his makeup.

 

It appears he's still weighing the option of May becoming the short-term set-up man, but that opinions are varied on if he can handle it, or if it's the right thing to do with him. 

 

Regarding his second comment-    Is that an indication that a Pelfrey trade might still be under consideration?

[Blake]

May has pitched two innings and has two wins. May is probably laughing his you-know-what off right now.

 

And Molitor is probably shaking his head thinking that perhaps May has some sort of Vulture mojo going on right now.

[DaveW]

I don't think it has to do with a pelfrey trade, just if pelfrey struggles over his next two starts. This may be the best thing for May, a month or so in the pen, allows his innings to remain somewhat low for a long playoff run where he is the #4 starter

[Craig Arko]

I don't think it has to do with a pelfrey trade, just if pelfrey struggles over his next two starts. This may be the best thing for May, a month or so in the pen, allows his innings to remain somewhat low for a long playoff run where he is the #4 starter

Plus the pen can use all the help it can get.

[DaveW]

Plus the pen can use all the help it can get.

exactly. I would like to see him brought into some high leverage situations soon, no reason why he couldn't "handle" it.

[drjim]

Even without a trade unlikely 5 guys make it the rest of the year.

 

Hey, if May stays in the bullpen the rest of the year it means the other 5 stayed healthy and productive. Could be worse problems, even if not the beatbest for May long term.

[drjim]

via Bollinger: May will stay in the bullpen, for now, anyway:

 

 

It appears he's still weighing the option of May becoming the short-term set-up man, but that opinions are varied on if he can handle it, or if it's the right thing to do with him.

 

Regarding his second comment- Is that an indication that a Pelfrey trade might still be under consideration?

I'll believe they are fully committed to May as a reliever when he comes into an inning with men on base. They aren't there yet as I implied in the comments you quoted.

[jokin]

 

I'll believe they are fully committed to May as a reliever when he comes into an inning with men on base. They aren't there yet as I implied in the comments you quoted.

 

 

Yes... And as Molitor implied in his comments that I also quoted. 

 

You two look like you are on the same page.

[Badsmerf]

That screams trade to me. If they send him down he had to stay down for a number of days. Not worth it. He is one of the better pitchers on the staff. Do not want to get in a situation where you agreed on a trade but he can't be put into the rotation.

 

If not trade.... please be a trade.... he bring talent to the bp, which needs it desperately. I'm in favor of that too.

[Danchat]

I really hope this doesn't mess up May's future as a starter. I know it probably won't, but still... I am a bit worried.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Trevor May leads (or "led") the staff in strikeout rate and fielding-independent ERA, so Molitor/Ryan's talk of sending him to Rochester is just bizarre. I think they'll find a good role for him, however. He's been a good luck charm so far.

[stringer bell]

I still think May can be more than an afterthought in the bullpen. With the fade of Boyer and Fien right now, they really need help in the setup area. Pelfrey is the guy on the hook still, but I think he earned at least a couple more starts after being effective against the Tigers. Note that he did better than both Santana and Hughes. IIRC Gibson has really struggled against the Tigers, so it isn't inconceivable that Pelfrey will have the best start against the rival Tigers.

 

May has started 24 games in the majors, while he hasn't completed his development I don't think being out of the rotation for a month or two will adversely effect him.

[drivlikejehu]

The notion of even thinking about sending May to AAA is insane. The Twins are in trouble if their decision makers are that out of touch with reality.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

 

Trevor May leads (or "led") the staff in strikeout rate and fielding-independent ERA, so Molitor/Ryan's talk of sending him to Rochester is just bizarre. I think they'll find a good role for him, however. He's been a good luck charm so far.

not having him in the big league rotation is bizarre

[jokin]

 

not having him in the big league rotation is bizarre

 

I agree, but I would understand it better if the Twins obviously had an action plan for him. Molitor's comments indicate that they really have no obvious role in mind for him at this point.  It's mind-boggling that the guy with the best overall peripherals among the SPs, and #2 overall in K%, and highest WAR among all Twins pitchers is actually currently on the knife edge between, on one hand, AAA exile , and on the other hand, grudging role-ess RP afterthought.

 

And it's not as if this current difficult situation snuck up on them, they've known about just this type of potentiality from the day that Ervin was suspended.

[DaveW]

I'm pretty sure the next time Pelfrey lays an egg (assuming he didn't have 2-3 great starts prior to it) they will swap May back in.

 

i think his development as a starter will be fine regardless. He's basically a rookie earning his nice MLB paycheck, he has all the motivation in the world to pitch great regardless of whether it's in the rotation or out of the pen.

[drjim]

 

I agree, but I would understand it better if the Twins obviously had an action plan for him. Molitor's comments indicate that they really have no obvious role in mind for him at this point.  It's mind-boggling that the guy with the best overall peripherals among the SPs, and #2 overall in K%, and highest WAR among all Twins pitchers is actually currently on the knife edge between, on one hand, AAA exile , and on the other hand, grudging role-ess RP afterthought.

 

And it's not as if this current difficult situation snuck up on them, they've known about just this type of potentiality from the day that Ervin was suspended.

 

I don't think he's on the knife edge between the bigs and AAA. If he was he would already be down there making starts - there are plenty of guys that could be called up to fill in as an extra reliever. I'm glad they aren't making him a true reliever yet, I want him in the rotation, sooner rather than later.

 

I don't think the decision snuck up on them as it never really sorted itself out into an obvious answer, so they have to ad hoc for a little bit.

[jokin]

 

I don't think he's on the knife edge between the bigs and AAA. If he was he would already be down there making starts - there are plenty of guys that could be called up to fill in as an extra reliever. I'm glad they aren't making him a true reliever yet, I want him in the rotation, sooner rather than later.

 

I don't think the decision snuck up on them as it never really sorted itself out into an obvious answer, so they have to ad hoc for a little bit.

 

All fine and good...   Except for the fact that Molitor revealed this bit of internal turmoil, or uncertainty, that you have casually cast aside:

 

 

"...we still want to find out what we have out there before we would think about maybe getting him back into the Triple-A rotation as an alternative,"

 

I prefer him in the rotation too, but at the moment, he's a man waiting for someone to slip on a banana peel- or get a ticket out of town, and woefully underutilized in this curious process.

[John Bonnes]

If Mays is demoted to AAA to keep him strong as a starter, I'm going to lose my S.

 

There are a few areas that are completely baffling to me: SS is one and the bullpen is the other. I'm hoping - against any rational expectations of what I've seen so far - that May comes in and settles roles in the bullpen by gradually taking over an 8th inning setup role. That is probably pie-in-sky given the comments above, but for the Twins to hedge bets on weak options while seemingly it's "all hands on deck" everywhere else is going to drive me crazy.

[TheLeviathan]

That's the most confusing part - the Twins are doing some aggressive things we haven't seen in some time to help the lineup....but we are content to banish one of our best starters to some unclear role in the bullpen because...well, hell if I can come up with a reason. Those two approaches seem so at odds.

[drjim]

 

That's the most confusing part - the Twins are doing some aggressive things we haven't seen in some time to help the lineup....but we are content to banish one of our best starters to some unclear role in the bullpen because...well, hell if I can come up with a reason. Those two approaches seem so at odds.

 

They obviously don't want him to be a reliever, short or long term. Seems pretty clear.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I don't think having May in the pen will be a long term detriment to him, as a number of pitchers have had valuable development there.  I'd probably put him in higher leverage situations given how weak the pen is and how good he has been, but that's a different issue.  I suppose there is some value in easing him into the role. 

 

That said, I would prefer he start.  I think the Twins are stuck until something is done with Pelfrey this season, and either Milone or Nolasco next season, though given May's development curve thus far, I suspect that he will be without question good enough to be bumping someone else.  His FIP and K rate have been pretty good, unfortunately, he hasn't quite learned how to limit that big inning.  Time in the pen might actually be a good prescription for that.

[Thrylos]

May may be fine in the pen, but the Twins need more than May in their pen to compete.  Good to see Duensing getting back where he should be (23.8% K% and 1.03 WHIP in June and July and pitching a no-hitter for July), but other than him, Perkins and maybe Graham, they need upgrades.  Pressly when healthy can be one, but even with him and May, they need at least 2 quality arms.  And hopefully the 39 year old who Ryan just picked up from the heap, and being lit up in Chatanooga is not one of them...

[Linus]

May may be fine in the pen, but the Twins need more than May in their pen to compete. Good to see Duensing getting back where he should be (23.8% K% and 1.03 WHIP in June and July and pitching a no-hitter for July), but other than him, Perkins and maybe Graham, they need upgrades. Pressly when healthy can be one, but even with him and May, they need at least 2 quality arms. And hopefully the 39 year old who Ryan just picked up from the heap, and being lit up in Chatanooga is not one of them...

Amen

[TheLeviathan]

They obviously don't want him to be a reliever, short or long term. Seems pretty clear.

Then they obviously should have chosen Pelfrey.

[Mike Sixel]

Mind boggling. How can you not have a plan? What do they do all day if not plan for a bottle neck everyone but them saw coming?

[Jham]

Hey, Phil Hughes has actually pitched out of the pen before, and well, if I remember...  He isn't pitching better than any of other starters, although I'm not sure he's pitching better than anyone in our pen either...  I have nothing to base this on, but I feel like Hughes would be more receptive to a move to the pen.  

 

That said, I'm not as convinced as others that May is our current or future ace.  His peripherals seem boosted by his K rate and unsustainable low-walk rate (1.97).  To me he looks wild within the strike zone which contributes to the high BABIP (.342).  When the BB stabilize his xFIP and ERA will both climb.  I would say pitchers termed "effectively wild" tend to be more effectively wild in the Pen.  But he's young so who knows. I just don't think it's wise to bank on his peripherals, or view him as our Ace as some have.

[USAFChief]

Mind boggling. How can you not have a plan? What do they do all day if not plan for a bottle neck everyone but them saw coming?

They have a plan...May temporarily to the pen while they evaluate the other starters. Mean while, protect May's arm, which isn't accustomed to short reliever warm up or usage patterns. If he stays in the pen, then start conditioning him to that role.

 

You can't just take a guy who is used to pitching in long stretches every fifth day and one day ask him to immediately learn how to be ready in 15 pitches. And do it on back to back days.

[strumdatjaguar]

One advantage to upgrading the bullpen by keeping Trevor May out there -  It makes it less likely that the Twins trade a promising prospect for a 7th or 8th inning guy (member Matt Capps!).  Maybe May can be that set-up guy.    AFTER the season, prospects should be traded for OTHER PROSPECTS to shore up positions where the Twins have a need one or two years down the line - MEANING Catcher and shortstop (depending on how they view Jorge Polanco's potential).  The Twins look pretty good in the outfield and at first base, so maybe Adam Brett Walker and/or Max Kepler can be dangled out there for a similar level prospect at SS and Catcher.

[Vanimal46]

May's seemingly had an innings cap of 150 IP since 2011. i wonder if he's still at that limit of 150 or if they could have stretched it out more to 175? Either way that's my theory for stashing him in the bullpen for now... to save his innings for a playoff push. However, it's ridiculous to not have a plan for him while he's in the pen. Why not give him a shot as a 7th-8th inning reliever??