What's Up w/ Perkins?

[DrNeau]

I think it's safe to assume we can all agree that Perkins is going through a rough patch. As a matter of fact, it seems as if he's giving up home runs now at an alarming rate. Ruined the shutout in two recent games due to homers, including a 2-run shot tonight to Carlos Santana. What gets me is the pouting and over-the-top displays of attitude. Has anyone else noticed this? It seems that his emotions get the best of him after not getting a call, then he falls behind, and then just says "screw it" and grooves a fastball right down broadway. It's frustrating that he is not hitting the corners, but more frustrating to me are things like this: 

 

* Fly ball to short right tonight, Dozier and Hicks nearly converge, but Hicks makes the catch. Perkins immediately starts talking to Plouffe about it, and starts giving major stink-eye over in the direction where the play was made. 

* 2-1 count to Carlos Santana (who was hitting .583 career vs. Perk BEFORE tonight's 9th inning HR). Perk throws a FB that misses the inside corner, and proceeds to shake his head at the ump for not giving him the call. Takes his darn time pouting on the mound, then gives up an absolute bomb to left, because he just placed it on a tee. 

* After finally getting the 3rd out, he started in with the umpire, complaining about that 2-1 call, which was inside. He's not hitting the corners, and needs to focus less on the umpire and more on his own game. 

* Acting aloof lately. Seems to be some sort of a defense mechanism. Quit acting like you don't care. You care. Man up and find a way to be productive. Nothing else matters. 

* The fact that he laughed ON THE MOUND the other night after he gave up another 9th inning homer, which ruined another shutout. Ticked me off. Who laughs in this situation? Again, this is all blame-shifting stuff that he's pulling. Quit laughing. You are not a victim of incredible circumstances. You are throwing a straight FB down the dead center of the plate. Stop showing up your own players and making faces at them on the field. Stop complaining and griping at the umpires. 

 

Getting tired of the act, and somebody needs to sit him down. He's lucky his teammates are not making faces at him, especially considering how poorly he's been pitching lately. 

[stringer bell]

Perkins stuff looked pretty good.

 

As far as the emotion and attitude, it's a long season and a pennant race. The emotions are pretty raw. Look at Dozier and Plouffe, Both seem like nice guys, but have shown frustration on the field.

[bluechipper]

It seems like he's finding it harder to get swings and misses on the slider when the fastball is 92 instead of 96. I know velocity isn't everything, but it looks like batters are laying off the slider pretty easily when they don't have to worry about that big fastball.

[nicksaviking]

It looked like he was hitting 94 and at least once 95. I think his velocity is there, just a rusty slider.

 

Perk definitely had an attitude tonight though, I was really hoping the camera would have shown Perkins and Rosario meeting at the end of the game. I don't like him showing up the young fielders, but maybe a little stink eye is OK.

 

Clearly he was showing up the ump. That's not good, but perhaps there's more that we didn't see, after all, the ump did turn out to be the type to toss a guy after the game was over. That stinks of arrogance and making sure he has the last word.

[sane]

 

"The fact that he laughed ON THE MOUND the other night after he gave up another 9th inning homer, which ruined another shutout. Ticked me off. Who laughs in this situation?" 

 

A professional who is trying to stop beating himself up after a baseball failure, because that is how he calms himself. There's no crying in baseball, but laughter is encouraged!

[sane]

 

"Clearly he was showing up the ump. That's not good, but perhaps there's more that we didn't see, after all, the ump did turn out to be the type to toss a guy after the game was over. That stinks of arrogance and making sure he has the last word"

 

Players are NOT given a Get-out-of-Jail pass, just because the game is over. If you don't want to STFU, there are consequences.

Perkins knows that, but he wanted to vent, and felt that it would be worth it to pay the resulting fine.

He just needs to get his kids a paper route, to recover the money.

[sane]

"What's Up w/ Perkins?"

 

His pitches?

[DaveW]

Perk is fine, I like seeing him fired up. Giving up two runs in the 9th up for isn't an issue at all. I would be much more concerned if he walked the bases loaded or something.

 

 

He is still one of the three pitchers I trust most in the pen at this point.

[ScrapTheNickname]

It's low-to-mid-leverage situation for Perkins from here on out as far as I am concerned. Because ... I am concerned.

[DaveW]

It's low-to-mid-leverage situation for Perkins from here on out as far as I am concerned. Because ... I am concerned.

Other than Jepsen and May, there aren't a whole lot of other options. Perk is going to be in some high leverage situations from here on out, and I have confidence he will do just fine.

[Seth Stohs]

The night before, he came into a one-run game with runners on 1st and 2nd and nobody out and got out of it without allowing a run. He was pretty dominant.

 

I don't have a problem with him venting a bit last night, but he definitely deserved the ejection. Obviously it was after the game was complete, so it didn't hurt the Twins,and he'll only have to pay a fine. So, it's kind of much ado about nothing.

 

As for some of the other stuff, I don't want to read into it more than necessary. We don't know what was said or thought or anything like that.

[DrNeau]

4 runs in the past 5 outings (over the span of 4.1 innings) is a bit alarming. Additionally, he's been noticeably off since the all-star break. His slider has been missing, and also he's not hitting the corners with his fastballs, getting himself behind in counts, then serving them up on a platter. If he was "just fine", he would still be pitching in tight situations. He's not, because he's getting hit hard every outing lately. It started going downhill ever since the games he blew vs. the Yankees and Pirates, and seems to be in a tailspin right now.

 

I hope he can get back to his early-season form... and soon!

 

Regarding the attitude, fair enough to not read too much into it. I am actually all for a player having attitude when competing. Shows fire. Love that. What gets me upset is when it's directed at his own teammates. That, to me, is unacceptable.

[Platoon]

One of the posters mention Plouffe and Dozier also. And I might include Mauer, from earlier in the year. I dont know if it's just me, but it seems the Twins have complained more this year about balls and strikes than I can ever remember. I don't know if that comes from the change in managers or not. I know Gardy got ejected more, but I've umped long enough to know that some guys don't get ejected, they just whine through the whole game instead. Plouffe has gotten to the point where there are only two kinds of pitches, the ones he hits, or ones called balls. No pitch he takes can ever be considered a strike. As for calls, in about the last two weeks, I think Sano homered after a missed third strike (one was a complete gut shot down the middle on 2-2) and EE walked on a 3-2 to start the 3 run inning that won the Tues game. Perk should be happy it didn't cost him the game. Speaking of Perk, he has almost never pitched well in low leverage situations. If they would bring him in to get an inning in a non save game, he generally seemed to struggle. Last night was really nothing new.

[Boom Boom]

Listening to Barreiro the last couple weeks... Jack Morris was on and heavily implied that Perkins was out of shape. Then last week when Barreiro asked LEN3 to comment on what Morris said, Neal didn't name names but did say that he had heard that concern before from some inside Twins sources.

[gil4]

 

* Fly ball to short right tonight, Dozier and Hicks nearly converge, but Hicks makes the catch. Perkins immediately starts talking to Plouffe about it, and starts giving major stink-eye over in the direction where the play was made. 

* 2-1 count to Carlos Santana (who was hitting .583 career vs. Perk BEFORE tonight's 9th inning HR). Perk throws a FB that misses the inside corner, and proceeds to shake his head at the ump for not giving him the call. Takes his darn time pouting on the mound, then gives up an absolute bomb to left, because he just placed it on a tee.  

 

I think he was talking to Plouffe about the umpire, not the play by Hicks.  I can't remember if it was the 0-2 or 1-2 pitch to Johnson, but it looked like strike three, Fox and FX both showed it inside the area where pitchers normally get the call, and Perkins acted like it was strike three before taking a long look in at the plate where Suzuki held the ball.  He had to throw 3-4 extra pitches because Johnson fouled a couple off.

 

In the Santana at-bat, ball three looked like it probably could have been a strike (although it wasn't as bad a miss as the pitch to Johnson), and one of the other balls looked like it could have been close.  Other than the one pitch to Santana, I thought Perk looked pretty good and back to his old self.  (That double by Lindor really should have been caught.)  I've gone from being pretty worried to mildly concerned about him.  I think he's going to be fine.

 

[HitInAPinch]

Perkins has had health issues post All Star break for the last couple years.  Overthrowing, being used too much?  IDK.  I think Molitor is very smart to be concerned and cautious with the entire pitching staff.

 

As for the rest of the team:  they're in uncharted territory.  This is the 1st time in [ how many? ] years that they've played in meaningful games, post All Star break.  It's somewhere between "learning on the job" and "suck it up" time.

 

 

[ThejacKmp]

 

Listening to Barreiro the last couple weeks... Jack Morris was on and heavily implied that Perkins was out of shape. Then last week when Barreiro asked LEN3 to comment on what Morris said, Neal didn't name names but did say that he had heard that concern before from some inside Twins sources.

 

 

Not sure what being in shape really matters for a pitcher, especially a relief pitcher.

 

http://multimedia.mmc.com.do/multimedia/cdn_uploads/2015/06/Bartolo-Col%C3%B3n.jpg

[Mike Sixel]

 

"The fact that he laughed ON THE MOUND the other night after he gave up another 9th inning homer, which ruined another shutout. Ticked me off. Who laughs in this situation?" 

 

A professional who is trying to stop beating himself up after a baseball failure, because that is how he calms himself. There's no crying in baseball, but laughter is encouraged!

 

I am with Sane. This is a full time job, sometimes you need to laugh at stuff. I don't think people realize this sometimes......laughter doesn't mean you don't care.

[Thrylos]

Good to see him throw 94, 95 yesterday, but he has been not average, not bad, but atrocious the second half:

 

.351/.382/.658 Opponent's slash line, 7.16 ERA, 6.88 FIP, 1.78 WHIP

 

If that were Tim Stauffer, Twins fans would want him ran out of town... (oh wait.)  Don't get the differential treatment of Perkins by the Twins' fan base.  Because he is Minnesotan?  He sucked recently.  Period.  Minnesotan or Martian he is hurting this team.

 

Lots to be concerned there, the least of which is that:

a. he should not be trusted in high leverage situations and b. the Twins should be in the look out for another closer this off-season.

[Mike Sixel]

Maybe it is a history of success that is the difference, and the realization that he's on the roster now, not at the beginning of the year, and lots of other actual baseball things that have him treated differently.

[Thrylos]

 

Maybe it is a history of success that is the difference, and the realization that he's on the roster now, not at the beginning of the year, and lots of other actual baseball things that have him treated differently.

 

Well, this history of success was been brief.  Clearly, his peak was 2011-2013, with a pretty bad time for 5 seasons before that and a decline that started slower and is getting sharper the last 2 seasons...

 

It is not this season.  He is declining clearly and he will be 33 next season.  Not getting any younger.  With his salary as a decent mid-level reliever, which he could be, the Twins should think about doing that move right now.   The other concern is that LHBs have been hitting .396/.429/.453 this whole season (i.e. even when he was "good") and .284/.324/.448 the whole last season, which makes me think that his stuff in not working against lefties any longer.  And if you are a LHP, that is not a good situation to be.

[spinowner]

I think the original post has too much conjecture about Perkins' attitude, especially the stinkeye comment. I'm not worried about his immediate future. He's been on the shelf for a bit and I think he's shaking of the rust OK. My guess is that he'll be very good for the rest of the season.

I know it's off-topic but I'll also respond to gil4's comment about the Lindor double. It's well known that balls hit directly at an outfielder are the hardest to judge, the stadium lights are a factor on line drives to left field, and even if Rosario had judged it correctly off the bat the ball was far enough over his heat that it would have been very difficult to get in position to make the catch. Very few, if any, major league left fielders make that play.

[USAFChief]

Good to see him throw 94, 95 yesterday, but he has been not average, not bad, but atrocious the second half:

 

.351/.382/.658 Opponent's slash line, 7.16 ERA, 6.88 FIP, 1.78 WHIP

 

If that were Tim Stauffer, Twins fans would want him ran out of town... (oh wait.)  Don't get the differential treatment of Perkins by the Twins' fan base.  Because he is Minnesotan?  He sucked recently.  Period.  Minnesotan or Martian he is hurting this team.

 

Lots to be concerned there, the least of which is that:

a. he should not be trusted in high leverage situations and b. the Twins should be in the look out for another closer this off-season.

You really don't understand why Perkins would get a longer leash, both from management and most fans?

 

Concern? Sure.

 

Run out of town? Really?

[stringer bell]

He's built up a reservoir of good will, not only with his performance but because of how he's been portrayed off the field. Comparing Perkins with other closers, he needs to command his pitches because he has two good ones, but they aren't overwhelming. 94-95 is good, but nothing special in this high-velo era.

 

The injuries late in the season have to be a concern. I don't expect Perkins to be among the elite closers going forward, but he is still a quality relief pitcher.

[Mike Sixel]

That said, I've advocated trading him the last two years......mostly over the second half concerns and the high price PROVEN CLOSERS command.

 

If he's willing to accept a different role, and to get/keep in shape (if that part is true), I'd want him on the roster next year, since I doubt anyone will give up much for him after the last two years.

[bholmgren]

Lots to be concerned there, the least of which is that:
a. he should not be trusted in high leverage situations and b. the Twins should be in the look out for another closer this off-season

 

Trevor May for closer

[Mike Sixel]

 

Lots to be concerned there, the least of which is that:
a. he should not be trusted in high leverage situations and b. the Twins should be in the look out for another closer this off-season

 

Trevor May for closer

 

Trevor May for starter, please.

[DaveW]

 

Well, this history of success was been brief.  Clearly, his peak was 2011-2013, with a pretty bad time for 5 seasons before that and a decline that started slower and is getting sharper the last 2 seasons...

 

It is not this season.  He is declining clearly and he will be 33 next season.  Not getting any younger.  With his salary as a decent mid-level reliever, which he could be, the Twins should think about doing that move right now.   The other concern is that LHBs have been hitting .396/.429/.453 this whole season (i.e. even when he was "good") and .284/.324/.448 the whole last season, which makes me think that his stuff in not working against lefties any longer.  And if you are a LHP, that is not a good situation to be.

Give me a break, Perkins has never been a LOOGY, everybody knows this including you, so bringing up his stats vs LHB in order to try to prove "he is done" is irrelevant.

 

A quick glance at his career numbers show a .733 OPS against RHB and a .723 OPS against LHB. In fact LHB have .20 points higher in BA and OBP against him all time.

 

The concern with Perkins is his health, if Perk is healthy he is a top flight closer (Seriously, did we all suddenly just forget his last few years?) If he isn't healthy then clearly he struggles a bit, but that doesn't mean he should be run out of town or given the Tim Stauffer treament. That's just preposterous. Ideally he is able to "gut it out" enough to be a solid 7th/8th inning guy or so the rest of the season and playoffs for us, then he can fully recover over the off-season and be the top flight shut down closer again in 2016.

 

[SwainZag]

 

That said, I've advocated trading him the last two years......mostly over the second half concerns and the high price PROVEN CLOSERS command.

 

If he's willing to accept a different role, and to get/keep in shape (if that part is true), I'd want him on the roster next year, since I doubt anyone will give up much for him after the last two years.

 

It could be argued that if they would have traded Perk at the deadline last season they might not be where they are right now without his stellar first half.

[DaveW]

It could be argued that if they would have traded Perk at the deadline last season they might not be where they are right now without his stellar first half.

It would pretty much be a fact. Perkins held together that pen all by himself.