Twins Claim LHP Strong from Marlins

[Thrylos]

 

I think Terry gets some sort of disgusting pleasure in pissing off his fan base (or at the very least making them roll their eyes).

 

Terry has a fan base?

 

[nicksaviking]

I think Terry gets some sort of disgusting pleasure in pissing off his fan base (or at the very least making them roll their eyes).

Well to be fair, I think people are upset about this off season's inaction and it's boiling over with this largely benign move. Does anyone really give more than a shoulder shrug about exchanging Darnell for Strong?

 

And frankly, I'm not upset that the Twins got Darnell off of the 40-man, good chance he clears waivers anyway.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Who just got demoted from AAA to AA in this deal? Who just moved to A+ in this deal?

 

 

As of right now, I would think that Strong will get a shot to compete for a spot in Rochester's bullpen, though he could start in Chattanooga. Based on pitching well in AA with the Brewers (Biloxi) last year but really poorly in AAA. He's not a big league option at this time. But, they must see something.

 

He throws FB (up to 93), Curveball and Changeup... Sounds a lot like Logan Darnell.

[TFelton]

All seriousness, what was the purpose? 

 

Both fringe 40 man.  Basically mirror images of each other.  Splitting hairs, could argue Darnell bit better.  Why waste the paperwork?

[Seth Stohs]

 

All seriousness, what was the purpose? 

 

Both fringe 40 man.  Basically mirror images of each other.  Splitting hairs, could argue Darnell bit better.  Why waste the paperwork?

 

Twins scouts or whoever think that Strong is a better option than Darnell for the 40 man roster. It's not anything more complicated than that. I may disagree, but I've never seen Strong pitch. Frankly, I'd never heard of him before today. Maybe they feel he can contribute by the end of the year or into next year. Or maybe they claimed him and hope that Darnell gets through waivers. And now maybe they'll DFA Strong and hope he clears too. I mean, there's no real downside to this. It's a back-end of the 40 man roster move. It's not supposed to be exciting. 

[Seth Stohs]

So, the final weekend, I spent a couple of hours in the clubhouse before one of the Twins games. 

 

I spent about 20 minutes chatting with Chris Herrmann. I spent a good 15-20 minutes with Aaron Hicks. I talked to AJ Achter for 5 minutes. I talked to Logan Darnell for about 10 minutes. Note to players on the Twins roster, if I'm in the clubhouse, don't talk to me...

 

Though I also spent time talking to Kepler, O'Rourke, Dozier, Vavra and a few more too, so I'm not completely bad luck.

[DaveW]

Knowing the Twins major league scouts and their results, I'm guessing he won't be better than Darnell.

 

Just seems like a pointless signing all around. Instead of trying for an impact player Ryan goes back to his favorite hobby of dumpster diving for RP help. I hope this dude ends up ok, but I doubt it.

[TFelton]

 

So, the final weekend, I spent a couple of hours in the clubhouse before one of the Twins games. 

 

I spent about 20 minutes chatting with Chris Herrmann. I spent a good 15-20 minutes with Aaron Hicks. I talked to AJ Achter for 5 minutes. I talked to Logan Darnell for about 10 minutes. Note to players on the Twins roster, if I'm in the clubhouse, don't talk to me...

 

Though I also spent time talking to Kepler, O'Rourke, Dozier, Vavra and a few more too, so I'm not completely bad luck.

That's funny.  Seth, I have a few other guys for you to talk to... joking of course.

[beckmt]

I would guess the Twins are hoping to keep both Darrell and Strong.  This is a tactic used a lot by Toronto last year to pick up minor league depth pieces.  Win some and lose some.  Look at it as clearing roster space and adding to depth.  None of these two rate to break spring training with Minnesota. 

[Rosterman]

I would say that Strong may go thru waivers again and the Twins will be able to outright him to AAA (or AA). Not sure what the future holds for Darnell. But this is a Fringe move, fer sure.  But if BOTH are at Twinsfest, I'm buying my ticket tomorrow!

[big dog]

 

That's funny.  Seth, I have a few other guys for you to talk to... joking of course.

Yeah, I was wondering if I could get you to set up interviews with a couple of my colleagues in other departments...

[notoriousgod71]

 

So, the final weekend, I spent a couple of hours in the clubhouse before one of the Twins games. 

 

I spent about 20 minutes chatting with Chris Herrmann. I spent a good 15-20 minutes with Aaron Hicks. I talked to AJ Achter for 5 minutes. I talked to Logan Darnell for about 10 minutes. Note to players on the Twins roster, if I'm in the clubhouse, don't talk to me...

 

Though I also spent time talking to Kepler, O'Rourke, Dozier, Vavra and a few more too, so I'm not completely bad luck.

 

Can you please have a chat with Nolasco?

[gbg]

If the Twins'd had a lefty in Chattanooga putting up a 0.926 WHIP and a 8.9k/9 (after dominating the AFL the fall before), several people on this board would have been outraged that he hadn't been called up. Now, that pitcher is added to the 40 man and people are outraged.

[Platoon]

Ryan wanted to see if they could handle the pressure.

 

Or something.

I will go with "something". Remarkably, or sadly, it makes sense in this context!

[Platoon]

Ryan wanted to see if they could handle the pressure.

 

Or something.

I will go with "something". Remarkably, or sadly, it makes sense in this context!

As of right now, I would think that Strong will get a shot to compete for a spot in Rochester's bullpen, though he could start in Chattanooga. Based on pitching well in AA with the Brewers (Biloxi) last year but really poorly in AAA. He's not a big league option at this time. But, they must see something.

 

He throws FB (up to 93), Curveball and Changeup... Sounds a lot like Logan Darnell.

Logan Darnell? That names familiar. Was he available?

[USAFChief]

If the Twins'd had a lefty in Chattanooga putting up a 0.926 WHIP and a 8.9k/9 (after dominating the AFL the fall before), several people on this board would have been outraged that he hadn't been called up. Now, that pitcher is added to the 40 man and people are outraged.

I don't see much outrage.

 

I do sense disappointment over the seeming lack of urgency in adding quality bullpen options.

 

I also see confusion over losing Zach Jones to rule five in favor of Darnell, then waiving Darnell weeks later.

[Otto von Ballpark]

If the Twins'd had a lefty in Chattanooga putting up a 0.926 WHIP and a 8.9k/9 (after dominating the AFL the fall before), several people on this board would have been outraged that he hadn't been called up. Now, that pitcher is added to the 40 man and people are outraged.

A 26 year old with a 8.9 K/9 at AA who struggled at AAA? Yeah, no. Nice try, though

[Platoon]

I don't see much outrage.

I do sense disappointment over the seeming lack of urgency in adding quality bullpen options.

I also see confusion over losing Zach Jones to rule five in favor of Darnell, then waiving Darnell weeks later.

I am as far from a TR apologist as exists. But was Darnell over Jones a LH v RH consideration? Of course that still begs the next question, is Strong over Darnell yet another "we will make a silk purse out of someone else's sows ear" decision? All I can say is I hope the aforementioned confusion is with us, and not the FO. I hope they really do have a plan, and aren't just winging it.

[mikelink45]

The Twins know how to stoke the old Hot Stove!  Busher, Strong, Abad...way to go Terry, I bet you had to fight off a lot of teams to get these guys. 

[jokin]

Twins scouts or whoever think that Strong is a better option than Darnell for the 40 man roster. It's not anything more complicated than that. I may disagree, but I've never seen Strong pitch. Frankly, I'd never heard of him before today. Maybe they feel he can contribute by the end of the year or into next year. Or maybe they claimed him and hope that Darnell gets through waivers. And now maybe they'll DFA Strong and hope he clears too. I mean, there's no real downside to this. It's a back-end of the 40 man roster move. It's not supposed to be exciting. 

 

No downside to this? What? It's more of the long slow slouch towards Gomorrah for this bullpen. Silly waste of time. Why didn't Ryan bypass all this silly sturm and drang and simply just protect Gilmartin from Rule 5 one year ago- and this offseason sign or trade for one of the available young hard throwers from the Twins vast minor league depth? *** 

 

***(Instead... they stockpiled one more (MLB-blocked) swing and miss, over-the-hill, minor league power hitter, along with Abad RP....)

[Han Joelo]

I don't know either of these guys, but I feel like I "know" Darnell after following his progress over the years.  I thought he was as about as uncontroversial a prospect as you can get.  No strong calls that he was getting blocked, or blocking someone, or didn't get a chance, etc.  In my recollection, it was Dean who took the brunt of the Zach Jones loss angst.  Darnell was just a left-handed guy.

 

What I think about is a 27 year old young man (does he have a wife?  Young kids?) who suddenly is unemployed.  What little certainty he had--Florida in a month, Rochester after that most likely--is suddenly gone.  He went from thinking he had a punchers chance of making the 25 man, and with it the paycheck (not to mention the dream).  Now…waiting for the phone to ring.  Might get a shot, might end up in Arizona for ST and then???

 

I want to win and watch stars as much as the next person, but the human stories interest me just as much anymore.  I'm not suggesting it was the wrong decision.  I do think it is fascinating to think about the guys on the fringe, and both of these guys are the definition of the fringe--27 years old, infinitesimal chance to be a star, long odds even to become regulars.  And it is so ironic that in a sport awash with money, guys like this are possibly barely surviving financially, which is something Logan and I might have in common, besides being left-handed.

 

I wish both of them the best.  This move feels like a gin rummy move, where you pick up a 9 you probably won't need, and discard a 10 you probably won't need.  

[Seth Stohs]

 

I don't know either of these guys, but I feel like I "know" Darnell after following his progress over the years.  I thought he was as about as uncontroversial a prospect as you can get.  No strong calls that he was getting blocked, or blocking someone, or didn't get a chance, etc.  In my recollection, it was Dean who took the brunt of the Zach Jones loss angst.  Darnell was just a left-handed guy.

 

What I think about is a 27 year old young man (does he have a wife?  Young kids?) who suddenly is unemployed.  What little certainty he had--Florida in a month, Rochester after that most likely--is suddenly gone.  He went from thinking he had a punchers chance of making the 25 man, and with it the paycheck (not to mention the dream).  Now…waiting for the phone to ring.  Might get a shot, might end up in Arizona for ST and then???

 

I want to win and watch stars as much as the next person, but the human stories interest me just as much anymore.  I'm not suggesting it was the wrong decision.  I do think it is fascinating to think about the guys on the fringe, and both of these guys are the definition of the fringe--27 years old, infinitesimal chance to be a star, long odds even to become regulars.  And it is so ironic that in a sport awash with money, guys like this are possibly barely surviving financially, which is something Logan and I might have in common, besides being left-handed.

 

I wish both of them the best.  This move feels like a gin rummy move, where you pick up a 9 you probably won't need, and discard a 10 you probably won't need.  

 

Well put! Thank you!

[Willihammer]

 

And like Abad, Strong is a lefty who has actually been worse against LHB in each of the past 3 seasons...

The only explanation I can figure, is that they think they can coach both pitchers up against lefties. Otherwise they are just handicapping themselves by limiting their pool of candidates for getting lefthanded batters out, to lefthanded throwers.

 

Why do I get the feeling its the latter.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

So, the final weekend, I spent a couple of hours in the clubhouse before one of the Twins games. 

 

I spent about 20 minutes chatting with Chris Herrmann. I spent a good 15-20 minutes with Aaron Hicks. I talked to AJ Achter for 5 minutes. I talked to Logan Darnell for about 10 minutes. Note to players on the Twins roster, if I'm in the clubhouse, don't talk to me...

 

Though I also spent time talking to Kepler, O'Rourke, Dozier, Vavra and a few more too, so I'm not completely bad luck.

Here comes the Turk walking toward us. Pretend you don't see him and hope to hell he's coming for one of the other guys.

[Hrbowski]

It has been a great offseason.

[Thrylos]

 

So, the final weekend, I spent a couple of hours in the clubhouse before one of the Twins games. 

 

I spent about 20 minutes chatting with Chris Herrmann. I spent a good 15-20 minutes with Aaron Hicks. I talked to AJ Achter for 5 minutes. I talked to Logan Darnell for about 10 minutes. Note to players on the Twins roster, if I'm in the clubhouse, don't talk to me...

 

Though I also spent time talking to Kepler, O'Rourke, Dozier, Vavra and a few more too, so I'm not completely bad luck.

 

the off-season is still young...

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

All teams make low profile moves like this.

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/transactions/#month=1&year=2016

 

My concern is that I feel O'Rourke has been the best option all along.

[howieramone2]

 

Slap a "mission accomplished" on this offseason baby!

This is what King Theo calls a small move. I wouldn't read too much into it.

[howieramone2]

 

Great name, but he's actually slightly older than Logan Darnell, who himself was already pretty old for a "prospect".  27 years old, 12 career IP at AAA... hmmm.  8.9 K/9 at AA last year isn't bad, but he was a 26 year old at AA.

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.cgi?id=strong001mic

 

Darnell had an 8.6 K/9 in his first taste of relief at AAA last season, although he was otherwise more effective as a starter.  I notice Darnell did manage a 9.4 K/9 and 3.27 ERA as a short reliever from April through June, before being switched back to long relief and starting in July.
 

And it's great that 2 of the only guys we called upon as pitching reinforcements in our pennant race late last season (Achter and Darnell) are also two of the first guys to get DFA'd this winter...

What's great is we dumped board favorite Pinto first.

[howieramone2]

 

I am as far from a TR apologist as exists. But was Darnell over Jones a LH v RH consideration? Of course that still begs the next question, is Strong over Darnell yet another "we will make a silk purse out of someone else's sows ear" decision? All I can say is I hope the aforementioned confusion is with us, and not the FO. I hope they really do have a plan, and aren't just winging it.

You can bet your life on it.