Phil Hughes- Is this a Written or Unwritten Rule?

[spinowner]

 

Not the worst thing in the world, can potentially keep some of the younger guys fresh. I'd prefer that Santana at this point stays on the traditional 5 day schedule though....

 

 

Yep. I think it's a pretty good idea. at this point in the season, most guys are feeling some kind of pain. Given the overall equity of all the pitchers in the rotation, swapping out guys who are wearing down isn't going to have much of an impact.

I'd be on board with this idea as well. Start Santana every fifth game. That would be 9/16, 9/22, 9/27 and 10/2. Then the other five would rotate through in their usual sequence to cover the rest of the games.

[jokin]

 

I'd be on board with this idea as well. Start Santana every fifth game. That would be 9/16, 9/22, 9/27 and 10/2. Then the other five would rotate through in their usual sequence to cover the rest of the games.

 

Even better would be to maximize Santana's remaining available value and moving up his last start to 10/1 vs. Cleveland and have him available for a possible Game 163 if that's how it looks like it might shake out- if he were to pitch on Friday, 10/2- there likely would be no way he could come back and start on Monday, 10/5 on only two days rest.

 

(Assuming Hughes is on "all systems go" after next Tuesday, Hughes then  would move up two days- still pitching on normal rest interval- and take Duffey's spot on September 20. September 21 is an off day, so as in your schedule, Santana would still be pitching on 9/22 on regular rest, as well- it seems pretty obvious after you spent all that Free Agent money that you would try to put your best asset out there, who's only had arm-wear over the last 2.5 months- over a raw rookie who they are already very concerned about exceeding his inning limitations... Put Duffey on long relief duty/spot starter duty assigned to throw on either Pelfrey's or Hughes' scheduled dates, should either of them falter, between starts or in-game).

 

[jokin]

 

I remember Eric Milton once started a playoff game for Ft. Myers, probably 12 years ago or so. I believe he gave up one run in 4 innings and took a loss. I am not going to go back and look, but I think they lost 1-0. 

 

Good to know. Was it a playoff-series-clinching start?

[dougkoebernick]

Let's not talk about setting up your rotation for the playoffs. First, they have to make them. Second, they get to play a one game playoff. Third, if they survive that they go with what they have. Don't worry about things that you can't control especially since when they get to the final games everyone is on the table for use. 

[jokin]

 

Let's not talk about setting up your rotation for the playoffs. First, they have to make them. Second, they get to play a one game playoff. Third, if they survive that they go with what they have. Don't worry about things that you can't control especially since when they get to the final games everyone is on the table for use. 

 

I'm sure the Twins' coaching staff is talking about it, if they aren't doing projections and game-planning than they're not doing their jobs.

 

I think everyone should understand that this is all hypothetical, and the chance for the Twins making an extended successful run is still quite a long shot. A team with this series of question marks that make up the starting staff has to try to come up with any kind of small advantage. wherever it can be derived.***

 

Why can't the teams' fans do some of their own projecting and thinking out loud, as well?  It's been 5 long seasons in baseballs' hinterlands; for many fans, it's fun to finally be able to do some meaningful What If-ing .

 

 

*** For example, the rotation is currently set up for Milone to start the WC game. After tonight's 4th inning implosion by Tommy, the Twins can't honestly look at anyone on this staff as their sure-thing, post-season, give-him-the-ball and get out of the way, stopper.---  except for the hope and a prayer that Phil Hughes has somehow re-found his 2014 mojo.

[Rosterman]

Hughes starting a playoff game? Possible. But not sure if he would've had to start his rehab before the playoffs. It isn't unheard of to move players up (or down) to a minor league playoff team to better their chances. You just have to meet the roster requirement.

[Otto von Ballpark]

*** For example, the rotation is currently set up for Milone to start the WC game. After tonight's 4th inning implosion by Tommy, the Twins can't honestly look at anyone on this staff as their sure-thing, post-season, give-him-the-ball and get out of the way, stopper.--- except for the hope and a prayer that Phil Hughes has somehow re-found his 2014 mojo.

If that is the case, then Milone probably shouldn't be starting every 5/6/7th day in the meantime either. We should be optimizing our lineups starting now just to get to a game 163 or WC game.

[stringer bell]

 

If that is the case, then Milone probably shouldn't be starting every 5/6/7th day in the meantime either. We should be optimizing our lineups starting now just to get to a game 163 or WC game.

Three weeks is a long time. I imagine most, if not all, of the starters will have some sort of hiccup in their three or four starts. Three starts ago, everybody was down on Santana, three straight wins including two excellent starts and he's an ace. Let's face it, the Twins starting pitching has improved, but their top starters aren't aces, not even close. If they get that far, maybe one guy will be going great.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Three weeks is a long time. I imagine most, if not all, of the starters will have some sort of hiccup in their three or four starts. Three starts ago, everybody was down on Santana, three straight wins including two excellent starts and he's an ace. Let's face it, the Twins starting pitching has improved, but their top starters aren't aces, not even close. If they get that far, maybe one guy will be going great.

Given their top starters aren't aces, that's all the more reason they need to play match-ups (L/R, ground/fly ball, ballpark, opponent, etc.) over the next 3 weeks rather than set their rotation with October 5-6 in mind.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Given their top starters aren't aces, that's all the more reason they need to play match-ups (L/R, ground/fly ball, ballpark, opponent, etc.) over the next 3 weeks rather than set their rotation with October 5-6 in mind.

You could be right. They might have that in mind with Pelfrey, to slip him back into the rotation against the opponent he is most likely to succeed against (setting aside the bigger debate on Pelfrey's merits pitching in MLB at all).

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

You could be right. They might have that in mind with Pelfrey, to slip him back into the rotation against the opponent he is most likely to succeed against (setting aside the bigger debate on Pelfrey's merits pitching in MLB at all).

That's what I hope too.  Having 6 starters gives us some flexibility in that regard, hopefully making up for the lack of flexibility due to not having aces and trailing in the standings...

[DaveW]

I'd be on board with this idea as well. Start Santana every fifth game. That would be 9/16, 9/22, 9/27 and 10/2. Then the other five would rotate through in their usual sequence to cover the rest of the games.

I think they will likely give Duffey 6-7 days between starts to limit his innings (save him for the playoffs) which is ok, as long as the rest of the guys hold serve.