Pour one out for Boyer

[drjim]

It was a good run:

 

 

It should have happened several weeks ago, and he's not good, but I will choose to remember him for his inexplicable effectiveness (22 games, 1 run) during the best run of the season for the team.

[SwainZag]

It's not a straight release, but I am guessing he has thrown his last pitch for the Twins.  Addition by subtraction!  Welcome back Tonkin, let's see your make your case at being part of the pen next year.

[Seth Stohs]

No way... he'll be back in September - if healthy.

 

Honestly, he takes way too much grief from many Twins fans. He's struggled his last two outings allowing inherited runners to score, and he doesn't fit the profile of what we want in a reliever, but he's been pretty solid all year, especially during that incredible early-season run. 

 

I think it's important to say that, for the most part, he's gotten the job done for the Twins this year. Turned out to be a very quality signing.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I think it's important to say that, for the most part, he's gotten the job done for the Twins this year. Turned out to be a very quality signing.

Yeah.  Like Jepsen, the real fault was not getting someone better than him.

 

Hopefully we won't have to debate his re-signing.

[JaleelWhite FanClub]

 

No way... he'll be back in September - if healthy.

 

Honestly, he takes way too much grief from many Twins fans. He's struggled his last two outings allowing inherited runners to score, and he doesn't fit the profile of what we want in a reliever, but he's been pretty solid all year, especially during that incredible early-season run. 

 

I think it's important to say that, for the most part, he's gotten the job done for the Twins this year. Turned out to be a very quality signing.

 

If he comes back in September, what are the chances Tonkin actually gets to stay with the Twins? I don't know how great he is, but at some point he should at least as long a leash as the other under-performing Twins relievers get, right?

[drjim]

 

No way... he'll be back in September - if healthy.

 

Honestly, he takes way too much grief from many Twins fans. He's struggled his last two outings allowing inherited runners to score, and he doesn't fit the profile of what we want in a reliever, but he's been pretty solid all year, especially during that incredible early-season run. 

 

I think it's important to say that, for the most part, he's gotten the job done for the Twins this year. Turned out to be a very quality signing.

 

I imagine he'll be back but he won't pitch another meaningful inning for this team.

 

He did take too much grief, but it was merely people anticipating the impending time bomb rather than embracing the inexplicable success. He provided enough production for his salary, but it was/is time to move on.

[jimbo92107]

With younger, cheaper system guys of equal or better talent, why keep playing these games with retread relievers? It makes no sense, especially in a transition year like this. 

 

I want to see Tonkin and every other option in AAA before I see Blaine Boyer again. Boyer was surprisingly good the first half; now we need to see what we've got moving forward. 

[SwainZag]

 

If he comes back in September, what are the chances Tonkin actually gets to stay with the Twins? I don't know how great he is, but at some point he should at least as long a leash as the other under-performing Twins relievers get, right?

 

Well in September, Tonkin has no where to go with the AAA season being over and the rosters being expanded.  

[Danchat]

Finally, our bullpen is moving in the right direction.

 

Next up, Duensing and Fien get mysterious injuries and get shelved.

[Vanimal46]

Boyer probably got more grief than he should have, and he was one of our most reliable relievers for a period of time in May-June... Problem was they tried using him like Matt Guerrier by giving him boatloads of appearances. I recall Nick Nelson's mid-season stats article that brought up red flags, and Boyer was one of them for being overused. The guy had 37 appearances in the last 4 seasons combined, so I'm not sure what the expectation was going into this season. Probably not over 50 appearances is my guess..

[tobi0040]

 

Yeah.  Like Jepsen, the real fault was not getting someone better than him.

 

Hopefully we won't have to debate his re-signing.

 

Completely agree. If Boyer was a mop up type guy and if Jepsen was a righty type specialist they would be good pieces. 

 

But they were used as your 8th inning guy in tie ballgames. 

 

Boyer's ERA of 2.98 is good, but his FIP of 4.30 is very close to his career 4.30 ERA. 

 

[Jham]

Personally, I thought Boyer looked tired the second half of the season.  His stuff was still ok, but the control left him and every ball was up in the zone.  Opposite of when he was pounding low and away with the slider earlier in the year.  Not surprising given his physique, how much work he put in just to make the team, the fact he was out of baseball last year, and his insane usage by management.  I'd be willing to see what he's like after a significant rest, if he gets that.

 

Duensing and Fien were both rushed back from injuries, and it showed in their productivity.  Duensing particularly turned a corner more recently.  Having JR Graham and May in the pen has really hurt the rest of the pen since those two arms are hardly ever used.  The old rubber-armed relievers have value if only to save the rest of your go-to options.  Unfortunately, it looks like all our relievers break down with high-usage.

[JaleelWhite FanClub]

 

Well in September, Tonkin has no where to go with the AAA season being over and the rosters being expanded.  

 

He could go home.

[LaBombo]

 

No way... he'll be back in September - if healthy.

 

Honestly, he takes way too much grief from many Twins fans. He's struggled his last two outings allowing inherited runners to score, and he doesn't fit the profile of what we want in a reliever, but he's been pretty solid all year, especially during that incredible early-season run. 

 

I think it's important to say that, for the most part, he's gotten the job done for the Twins this year. Turned out to be a very quality signing.

There's lowering the bar, and then there's knocking the bar to the ground like the last sentence of this post does.

 

Terry Ryan has drafted in the top 5 in all three of the drafts prior to this season, and has offered assurances that were variations on a theme that 'money is no object' with respect to free agent signings to return the Twins to contention.    And yet despite those resources, we're supposed to believe that Blaine Boyer is the best the franchise can muster to round out the bullpen.

 

But implausible as that may be, it pales in comparison to the absurd notion that a reliever with a -0.1 WAR, a 4.35 FIP, and a miserable 1.67:1 K/BB ratio, who posted a sub-3.00 ERA through nothing but blind luck, could somehow be considered a "quality signing".    And scolding Twins fans for 'giving Boyer too much grief' is one of the silliest things I've ever read on Twins Daily.

 

At some point the local media need to hold the Pohlads and Twins management to a higher standard than just gratitude for not moving or contracting the team.    Boyer is EXACTLY the sort of fringe journeyman you sign when profit is the sole mission of the franchise,

[SydneyTwinsFan]

Boyer has 0.8 BRef WAR, more than any Twins reliever not called Glen Perkins. Not what that says about WAR as a metric for evaluating relievers. Or about the state of the Bullpen this year. Nothing good for either as far as I am concerned.

JR Graham has pitched more innings than any other reliever, so the notion he has "hardly ever been used" or that the composition of the pen has in some way been affected by carrying him for the year don't ring true for me.

[Kwak]

Don't rule out that Boyer might be signed for 2016!  I have the distinct impression that the additional $20MM allocated for free-agents this season isn't permanent.  Santana will remain (they are stuck with him) but cost-control will be ruthless for next season (both Dozier and Plouffe will get sizable increases).  Bargain-basement pitchers will be the norm in the bullpen except for those with contracts in hand for next year.

[DaveW]

No way... he'll be back in September - if healthy.

 

Honestly, he takes way too much grief from many Twins fans. He's struggled his last two outings allowing inherited runners to score, and he doesn't fit the profile of what we want in a reliever, but he's been pretty solid all year, especially during that incredible early-season run.

 

I think it's important to say that, for the most part, he's gotten the job done for the Twins this year. Turned out to be a very quality signing.

Boyer can't strike anyone out and has a 4.35 FIP. That is pretty much the definition of replacement level. No it wasn't a "very quality signing" it was a mediocre to "meh" signing. He is ok for a 90 loss team, but for a team with playoff aspirations he should be no where near the 25 man roster, fortunately for him the Twins are the former at this stage, so indeed he will be back this season.

[DaveW]

Boyer has 0.8 BRef WAR, more than any Twins reliever not called Glen Perkins. Not what that says about WAR as a metric for evaluating relievers. Or about the state of the Bullpen this year. Nothing good for either as far as I am concerned.

JR Graham has pitched more innings than any other reliever, so the notion he has "hardly ever been used" or that the composition of the pen has in some way been affected by carrying him for the year don't ring true for me.

fwiw he has a negative 0.1 WAR on fangraphs, which mean he is worse than replacement level according to them. I am actually more positive and view him as basically replacement level. Not a bad guy to stash in AAA on a minor league deal, but absolutely not a guy you should hand the 8th or 7th inning role to out of spring training or even be on the 25 man roster out of spring training.

[Thrylos]

4.35 FIP, 12.3 % K%, 7.4 % BB%.

No thank you.  Either way.  If the Twins are competing, they cannot deal with that.  If they are not, they should look at the future.

[Seth Stohs]

Not saying it was likely to continue, but he pitched fine. A very solid minor league signing. 

[USAFChief]

 

Not saying it was likely to continue, but he pitched fine. A very solid minor league signing. 

If he had been pitching in the minor leagues, I'd agree.

[Dr. Evil]

Part of Ryans on the cheap pen.