Can Alex Meyer help the pen?

[hosskartrite]

Meyer has put toether a nice run in AAA. Last seven outings 15.2 without an earned run. 10hit, 6BB and 19 k's.

[DaveW]

yeah. I'd call him up ASAP.

 

I'd trust him more than Boyer, any LHP we have in the pen currently, and possibly even Fien at this point.

[stringer bell]

I thought so, but I guess the Twins decided otherwise. I'm glad he finished strong in Rochester. Perhaps he will be another hand-throwing weapon in the Twins bullpen in 2016.

[hosskartrite]

I'm sure he has a sour taste in his mouth from his first call up. It could go a long way toward next years success giving him another look while he is going good. Rochester's season is over and there is nothing to lose by giving him another look.

[Rosterman]

I totally agree. Last year they didn't call him up for some reason (not on the 40-man). He has redeemed himself at Rochester, and has not overworked himself. 

 

Sure, you gotta pay these guys like $3,500 a game to be up here, get them a room and meal money on the road. But the major league experience is priceless. It will motivate someone a helluva a lot to want to remain up here. Plus, the Twins can actually see if he has learned anything.

 

Now if he was still stinking up the stadium, like another guy we know. Maybe not. 

 

I still wonder if we will see Polanco and Kepler sit on the major league bench for at least two weeks. What a thrill that would be for Kepler.

 

Anyone wonder how high Dougie Mientkiewicz's stock has risen? Would he be offered a managerial role with some team? Will someone try and make him a coach? Should the Twins find a coaching spot for him? Do the Twins elevate him to Rochester to see if can bring a first-place finish to them, and would Dougie be happy to accept it,? Now that is a prospect that the Twins have to serious keep!

[jimbo92107]

I'd bring Alex Meyer up just to keep him encouraged. He's going to be a late bloomer, but still might be a star pitcher...in a couple years.

[laloesch]

 

I'd bring Alex Meyer up just to keep him encouraged. He's going to be a late bloomer, but still might be a star pitcher...in a couple years.

 

 

Maybe, but probably not as a starter.  He is too erratic.  If he hasn't developed the control necessary to be a starter by now he never will.

[Blackjack]

 

I'd bring Alex Meyer up just to keep him encouraged. He's going to be a late bloomer, but still might be a star pitcher...in a couple years.

 

Maybe the snub of not getting called up for September will motivate him to work hard, extra hard, all winter to try and make the club out of spring training.

[Brock Beauchamp]

There is no reason not to call him up. If he pitches well, great... But he's going to start with mop up innings anyway so it doesn't really matter if he's bad.

[nicksaviking]

 

There is no reason not to call him up. If he pitches well, great... But he's going to start with mop up innings anyway so it doesn't really matter if he's bad.

 

Mop up duty is probably what would happen.

 

However there are plenty of times when the game is on the line and a walk won't hurt much because the only thing that matters is getting the strikeout because there's a guy on 3rd and less than 2 outs.  I know it seems counter-intuitive to send out your most erratic guy and Molitor probably couldn't bring himself to do it, but in a tie game with no outs in the seventh and a guy on 3rd, I'd choose Meyer over Fien every time.  At least there's a chance the ball doesn't get put in play.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Mop up duty is probably what would happen.

 

However there are plenty of times when the game is on the line and a walk won't hurt much because the only thing that matters is getting the strikeout because there's a guy on 3rd and less than 2 outs.  I know it seems counter-intuitive to send out your most erratic guy and Molitor probably couldn't bring himself to do it, but in a tie game with no outs in the seventh and a guy on 3rd, I'd choose Meyer over Fien every time.  At least there's a chance the ball doesn't get put in play.

I feel the same way. Meyer is worth a call just to see what happens. If you don't give him much of a leash, it won't really hurt the team while the upside is there to make hitters look foolish swinging at his stuff.

[big dog]

I would absolutely call him up.  Don't understand why the Twins haven't.

[sane]

If he hasn't developed the control necessary to be a starter by now he never will.

Except for that sentence (with which I could not possibly disagree more!), I agree with you.

[Willihammer]

I've started thinking that the Fireman role should be reincarnated. I don't really know what the original purpose of the Fireman was (or if it was even defined) but this time, define it as a one out, strikeout guy. Or a OOSG. Maybe Meyer can be that guy for the Twins and help with the Inherited runners scoring problem while limiting the exposure to walks.

 

edit: what nicksaviking said

[DocBauer]

 

I'd bring Alex Meyer up just to keep him encouraged. He's going to be a late bloomer, but still might be a star pitcher...in a couple years.

This!

 

A few positive, successful ML appearances to close out this season, and a much more positive second half overall, could give Meyer that much more of a boost of confidence going in to next season, regardless of what his role is intended to be.

[laloesch]

I would imagine the Twins are going to make one last ditch effort to turn him into a starter.  If not he could open 2016 in the bullpen. 

[sane]

If he hasn't developed the control necessary to be a starter by now he never will.

If I were to comment appropriately to that statement, I would likely be sent to the Blog Poster Prison. Do you have any idea how many pitchers (especially TALL pitchers develop pitch command later in their careers than Meyer is now?...I'll take that as a "NO".

[stringer bell]

 

They should have brought both Meyer and Arcia up to keep encouraging them to try and become big leaguers. Who knows maybe just maybe one of those two guys could have helped us win one of these last three games. Last night and this weekend they could really use another bullpen arm or someone that can be a long innings guy the way the rotation is imploding.

They have known that Darnell has had Pneumonia since the Chicago series, leave it to the cheapskate Twins ownership and GM, always saving on payroll or major league service time and there stupid doghouse, pecking order, teach guys a lesson for not having success, or we don't want to upset the culture or chemistry, or whatever other excuse they always trot out. All the other contenders take advantage of the expanded rosters, the Twins are content to let two of there better prosepects try and win a AA championship rather than help the Twins make the playoffs.

Four different players and four different cases. Kepler has truly earned a promotion of the basis of his superb season. However, he's getting regular at-bats in the AA playoffs, which is probably better for him. Buxton isn't playing much and he is the better player. I believe they are right keeping Kepler in the Southern League playoffs. Polanco also is probably better served in Chattanooga. However, it would have been nice to have another infielder and pinch runner in the last game of the Tiger series.

 

I thought Meyer should have been called up on September 1. I don't know if he would have been a better option than Achter, but then again he couldn't have been worse.

 

If I was GM, I certainly would not have promoted Arcia. He was terrible in AAA and a promotion to the Twins would smack of a scholarship. I think he really needs the message that he can be a major leaguer, but he needs to perform.

[ShouldaCouldaWoulda]

I think Meyer should absolutely be up. There is no reason NOT to have him up. You aren't sending someone down by brining him, and we gain an extra "live" arm in a last ditch stretch at making he playoffs. He might fail, but he has already had a down season, so failing with the big club isn't going to add any extra sadness to his life I doubt. 

 

If nothing else, it would be good for he pitching coaches to get a look at him in person, and for them to be able to work with him some to end the season. Just maybe that is all he needs. Being part of a playoff chase is also a good experience for a young player to learn from, and can help in future positions like this. I don't really think the Twins should feel that they have too many better options than Meyer right now, because the don't. 

 

Added onto that, Arcia should be up too. Not because he earned it, but because he could be used as a pinch-hitter in some spots that might make a difference. He wouldn't be getting any starts, so its not like he is on "scholarship" or anything, but if he can even possibly help in one situation...he should be here in case. Maybe it helps refocus him being around guys that are succeeding as a team, and maybe he would be put in his place. I would think maybe Hunter could reach a guy like him.

[laloesch]

 

If I were to comment appropriately to that statement, I would likely be sent to the Blog Poster Prison. Do you have any idea how many pitchers (especially TALL pitchers develop pitch command later in their careers than Meyer is now?...I'll take that as a "NO".

 

 

Name me 5 pitchers off the top of your head that had no control and developed it late in their careers in MLB.  NAME them!  Crickets chirping.  Yeah the only one you can think of is Randy Johnson and even he was consistently a 10+ game winner by his second year.  See ya SANE.

[sane]

From hardballtimes.com:

 

"Thus all things being equal a tall pitcher is much more likely to finally attain MLB skills than a shorter pitcher.

Why? Greater “plane,” closer release point, longer fingers for more movement, greater overall strength and more reliability.."

[Otto von Ballpark]

You know, I absolutely forgot about Meyer when contemplating the pen recently.  Was there any reason given why he wasn't called up?  His last 30 days at Rochester featured some good numbers, and he was averaging multiple innings per appearance during that time too.  Plus he's already on the 40-man roster.

 

I don't think he'd be a savior, but he's almost certainly a more promising option as long reliever than Achter/O'Rourke.

[zenser]

He definitely could have thrown an inning or two this month so far.  Even if he doesn't pitch a lot, just to get a feel for the atmosphere at the major league level would help. 

[Willihammer]

Anyone know why Meyer isn't in Minnesota? Seth?

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Name me 5 pitchers off the top of your head that had no control and developed it late in their careers in MLB.  NAME them!  Crickets chirping.  Yeah the only one you can think of is Randy Johnson and even he was consistently a 10+ game winner by his second year.  See ya SANE.

Okay, both of you tone it down and stop taking jabs at each other. Consider this an informal warning.

[jimmer]

 

Name me 5 pitchers off the top of your head that had no control and developed it late in their careers in MLB.  NAME them!  

Even if one could name five, they would then need to name the huge number of pitchers who never developed it.  The Randy Johnsons of the world are extremely rare.  He's an inner circle HOFer.

 

Getting Alex Meyer was a mistake.

[stringer bell]

 

Even if one could name five, they would then need to name the huge number of pitchers who never developed it.  The Randy Johnsons of the world are extremely rare.  He's an inner circle HOFer.

 

Getting Alex Meyer was a mistake.

Disagree. Getting Alex Meyer was a gamble. One that so far hasn't worked out. Having Denard Span for the last three years would have made a bad team a bit better, but I can't believe it would have made the Twins relevant. Some projections had Meyer as a top of the rotation guy, that didn't come close to panning out. Some projected him as ending up in the bullpen, perhaps as a power arm at the end of games. Perhaps that is the role he'll play. Far more likely (now) is that he'll end up a bust, but it was a gamble worth taking IMHO.

[jimmer]

 

Disagree. Getting Alex Meyer was a gamble. One that so far hasn't worked out. Having Denard Span for the last three years would have made a bad team a bit better, but I can't believe it would have made the Twins relevant. Some projections had Meyer as a top of the rotation guy, that didn't come close to panning out. Some projected him as ending up in the bullpen, perhaps as a power arm at the end of games. Perhaps that is the role he'll play. Far more likely (now) is that he'll end up a bust, but it was a gamble worth taking IMHO.

The thought process was right, the execution was wrong.

[h2oface]

 

Maybe the snub of not getting called up for September will motivate him to work hard, extra hard, all winter to try and make the club out of spring training.

Snubbing to motivate. The Bobby Knight school of motivation. Kind of like bullying. I, for one, am not a fan of it.

[sane]

 

Name me 5 pitchers"

Chuck Finley, Derek Lowe, Mark Hendrickson, Randy Johnson, Joe McGrane, Mark Mulder, Jeff Robinson, Andy Benes, Gene Conley, Jeff Juden, Jon Garland, JR Richard, Chris Young