Mixing in Jepsen in the Pen

[jorgenswest]

The Twins added Kevin Jepsen today. How does he fit in the pen?

 

Jepsen does one thing really well. He is extremely tough on right handed batters. He has held them to a .510 OPS this year and .470 last year. That is far better than anyone on the Twins. The Rays have generally used this skill well. This is the first year in the last 5 where he has faced more left handed hitters than right handed hitters. They haven't utilized his talent as well this year.

 

The Twins need him. They Blue Jays are heavy with right handed bats in Batista, Tulowitzki, Encarnacion and Donaldson. He is the Twins best option against those hitters. They see the Blue Jays next week. As it stands today, the Twins would face the Angels in a single playoff game. The best Angel hitters also bat right handed in Trout and Pujols.

 

The Twins need to utilize Jepsen's skill as Maddon did well with the Rays. Use him when the Jays are going through the middle of their lineup whether it be the 7th, 8th or even 6th inning. They need to make sure he is seeing the opposing team's best right handed batters later in the game. Keep Trevor May in that 8th inning set up role. Mix in O'Rourke against a lefty. Use Fien in the 7th or even 6th to get out of a jam.

 

The reliever the Twins added has done a far better job of getting out right handed batters than Clippard or Broxton. It is up to the Twins, Molitor and Allen to utilize that skill.

 

 

[ashbury]

And hope the opposing team doesn't have a lefty hitter or two on the bench...

[Craig Arko]

He's better shaken, not stirred.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

 

The Twins added Kevin Jepsen today. How does he fit in the pen?

 

Jepsen does one thing really well. He is extremely tough on right handed batters. He has held them to a .510 OPS this year and .470 last year. That is far better than anyone on the Twins. The Rays have generally used this skill well. This is the first year in the last 5 where he has faced more left handed hitters than right handed hitters. They haven't utilized his talent as well this year.

 

The Twins need him. They Blue Jays are heavy with right handed bats in Batista, Tulowitzki, Encarnacion and Donaldson. He is the Twins best option against those hitters. They see the Blue Jays next week. As it stands today, the Twins would face the Angels in a single playoff game. The best Angel hitters also bat right handed in Trout and Pujols.

 

The Twins need to utilize Jepsen's skill as Maddon did well with the Rays. Use him when the Jays are going through the middle of their lineup whether it be the 7th, 8th or even 6th inning. They need to make sure he is seeing the opposing team's best right handed batters later in the game. Keep Trevor May in that 8th inning set up role. Mix in O'Rourke against a lefty. Use Fien in the 7th or even 6th to get out of a jam.

 

The reliever the Twins added has done a far better job of getting out right handed batters than Clippard or Broxton. It is up to the Twins, Molitor and Allen to utilize that skill.

Great observations. We need this guy.

 

 

[Seth Stohs]

I'd just throw him right in to it. Sounds like that's the plan too. They have enough history on him to know what he is and can be. I'd throw him right into the 7th or even the 8th inning. He's got pretty good stuff.

[nicksaviking]

Unless a lefty leads off the 8th, the Twins still seem pretty set on their bullpen structure. If the team traded for him intending for him to be the set up guy, I'm sure he will usually be in 1st batter of the eighth no matter which part of the lineup is up, unless a lefty leads off, then he will get batter number two.

[jimmer]

 

The Twins added Kevin Jepsen today. How does he fit in the pen?

 

Jepsen does one thing really well. He is extremely tough on right handed batters. He has held them to a .510 OPS this year and .470 last year. That is far better than anyone on the Twins. The Rays have generally used this skill well. This is the first year in the last 5 where he has faced more left handed hitters than right handed hitters. They haven't utilized his talent as well this year.

 

The Twins need him. They Blue Jays are heavy with right handed bats in Batista, Tulowitzki, Encarnacion and Donaldson. He is the Twins best option against those hitters. They see the Blue Jays next week. As it stands today, the Twins would face the Angels in a single playoff game. The best Angel hitters also bat right handed in Trout and Pujols.

 

The Twins need to utilize Jepsen's skill as Maddon did well with the Rays. Use him when the Jays are going through the middle of their lineup whether it be the 7th, 8th or even 6th inning. They need to make sure he is seeing the opposing team's best right handed batters later in the game. Keep Trevor May in that 8th inning set up role. Mix in O'Rourke against a lefty. Use Fien in the 7th or even 6th to get out of a jam.

 

The reliever the Twins added has done a far better job of getting out right handed batters than Clippard or Broxton. It is up to the Twins, Molitor and Allen to utilize that skill.

Quick question.   Are you suggesting Maddon managed Jepsen?  

 

In any event, most people seem to suggest he'll be our 8th inning guy.  Let's see what they do because, it seems, they really have little idea what they are doing with the pen except to say Perkins is the closer.

[jorgenswest]

Bringing in Jepsen to face two left handed batters to start an inning was not my thought on utilizing him well.

[drivlikejehu]

I'm impressed already.

[RichardMcBeef]

He fits right in! If there was one thing the Twins were short on, it was relief pitchers you don't want in high leverage situations.

 

In a 14-2 ballgame this team has the best bullpen in the majors.