What is the point of having May in the pen?

[DaveW]

Clearly Molly won't use him in high leverage situations, which begs the question, what is the point of having him in the pen? At least have him at AAA keeping stretched out.

[Rosterman]

Not really sure who is doing what, but is was disheartening to see Duensing warming up again tonight. Have to get ALL the guys some work, especially with a day off Monday. But I would've used May (or Graham) thinking it might go an inning or three befroe the Twins scored a run.

 

[DaveW]

Duensing at least has been very effective as of late, he would have been a much better option then Fien.

[Kwak]

"Duensing a better option [than] ...".  This is not a statement I ever thought I would read on a TD Forum.  It smacks of hindsight except we don't know what would have happened if Duensing was pitching.

[USAFChief]

I really liked the possibilities May presented as a short reliever, for 2015 anyway.

 

But they've had three weeks and made no effort to make that transition.

 

Do so, or put him back in the rotation, or send him to AAA as a starter to keep him stretched out.

 

But don't waste him. Sheesh.

[Vanimal46]

The Twins have a potential solution right in front of their eyes for a 7th/8th inning guy and refuse to give him a shot. It's a shame, really...

[Danchat]

2015 Fien appears to be headed in the 2014 Burton direction. Uh-oh.

 

I'm not sure what the plan for May is, but they don't appear to trust him in a high-leverage situation. Perhaps it's because he's a rookie or because he just entered the bullpen?

 

Maybe they're just waiting for a starting pitcher to fade or get hurt and slide May right back in. Still, it's a waste of a bullpen spot if this is the case.

[curt1965]

When the A's tied it up in the 9th, I thought: "ok, bring in May to pitch the rest of the way," like Rosterman said. IMHO, he is easily the best option other than Perkins. Sometimes, I think Mollie is loyal to a fault.

I think he felt this was Fien's spot, and needed to go with him in that situation.

I'm hoping he isn't saving May to be the long guy.

[SwainZag]

 

Clearly Molly won't use him in high leverage situations, which begs the question, what is the point of having him in the pen? At least have him at AAA keeping stretched out.

 

Is a tie game in the 10th high leverage?

[jokin]

 

Is a tie game in the 10th high leverage?

 

In that situation, yes.

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/statsd.aspx?playerid=3926&position=P&type=5&gds=2015-07-18&gde=2015-07-18&season=

[TheLeviathan]

Fien does look to be heading down the Burton path.  We have been very good at turning scrap heap pickups into effective relievers.

 

But then we hang on to them way too damn long.

[Mike Sixel]

Mind. Boggling. Don't worry, they clearly have a plan here.....

[drjim]

Do people really think Molitor shouldn't have considered Fien his best reliever (outside of Perkins) at this moment?

 

The could certainly change quickly, but certainly seems obvious at this point.

[halfchest]

Well, he will hopefully be in the starting rotation to take over for Pelfrey within a few weeks.  To me the decision should have been obvious when Santana came up that Pelf was beginning to falter and May was on the upswing.  However at the time Pelf still had a sub 4.00 ERA and is the veteran.  He also had a number of great starts the first half that extended his leash for sure.

 

I'd love to see Pelfrey continue to give the team good starts but over his last 6 he's given up 27 ER over 32 IP.  I think we need to look outside the organization for a setup guy for this year and then hope Burdi and the other flamethrowers are ready by next year.  

[drjim]

 

Well, he will hopefully be in the starting rotation to take over for Pelfrey within a few weeks.  To me the decision should have been obvious when Santana came up that Pelf was beginning to falter and May was on the upswing.  However at the time Pelf still had a sub 4.00 ERA and is the veteran.  He also had a number of great starts the first half that extended his leash for sure.

 

I'd love to see Pelfrey continue to give the team good starts but over his last 6 he's given up 27 ER over 32 IP.  I think we need to look outside the organization for a setup guy for this year and then hope Burdi and the other flamethrowers are ready by next year.  

 

I think Pelfrey gets two starts, which lines up perfectly with the trade deadline.

 

May is probably in his undefined role for the next 10 days then a clear decision is made based on performance and trades that are (or aren't) made and they roll with it.

[HitInAPinch]

The next time you see Molitor run out onto the field prior to the 5th inning to yank Pelfrey, then May is back in the rotation.  I don't think Molitor has much patients for guys who throw temper tantrums like Pelfrey.  Pelfrey to the pen.

 

 

[Brock Beauchamp]

I really liked the possibilities May presented as a short reliever, for 2015 anyway.

 

But they've had three weeks and made no effort to make that transition.

 

Do so, or put him back in the rotation, or send him to AAA as a starter to keep him stretched out.

 

But don't waste him. Sheesh.

Yep. The only way this makes even a little bit of sense is that May's arm was tiring AND Ryan plans to move Pelfrey or Milone at the deadline.

[spinowner]

 

Yep. The only way this makes even a little bit of sense is that May's arm was tiring AND Ryan plans to move Pelfrey or Milone at the deadline.

Milone's start today notwithstanding I think there should be at least one lefty in a starting rotation if at all possible. I would guess we could get a worthwhile return trading Pelfrey.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Milone's start today notwithstanding I think there should be at least one lefty in a starting rotation if at all possible. I would guess we could get a worthwhile return trading Pelfrey.

Pelfrey won't bring much in return but if he can bring back a competent setup guy, I think you have to make that move.