Bear, Bullish or BS on the Bullpen, Building and Beyond

[DocBauer]

Wow, not only is life distracting by things like work, errands, shopping, bill paying, kids, dogs and oh yeah, sleep once in a while, but there is also TD articles, forums and blogs to attend to. I've gotten so wrapped up in all of the above...and more...I damn near lost track of the start of SPRING TRAINING, the new and improved spin of the world as a result, and actual baseballike games being played. And I have to admit, a big distraction has been a weird mix of hope-reasoning-speculation-depression-frustration and borderline vitriol from the bloggers here at our beloved TD.

 

Shouldn't we be excited that baseball is back? Didn't our Twins actually play solid and meaningful ball most of last season? Didn't they actually produce a winning season? Weren't they actually competitive on a nightly basis?

 

Man...you would think we were the Marlins cutting bait on hope and every good player under contract, or the Astros/Cubs/Royals/others who haven't had a significant season or playoff appearance until last season (s) in "fill in the blank" years.

 

Part of me gets it. 4 bad seasons and we got close. Some are optomistic. Some are scared of a tease and sudden regression. Some are PO'd the Twins didn't mortgage the farm..err...field to "go for it" last season as if there may never be another chance.

 

A couple of things I know or think I know:

 

The Twins were really good in 2010.

The Twins thought they'd be just as good, or better, in 2011 but things went haywire.

The Twins thought they could rebound with health and moves in 2012.

The Twins stunk in 2013.

The Twins stunk in 2014.

The Twins surprised in 2015.

 

I agree with previous statements made that the Twins rebuild really began with the May and Meyer trades. Before that, like any franchise, the Twins were trying to accumulate and perpetuate talent, and in some cases, success. While the Twins never actually came out and stated a rebuild was in place...it was. If you were TR and the Twins, would you announce you had no chance, make no moves, and just announce you might stink the next few years as you rebuilt? Woulid anyone? Has anyone?

 

For the most part, I see the plan. I get most of it. But I have also freely blasted TR and the FO for almost completely ignoring the CF debacle the previous couple of seasons, and the bullpen last year and this year. And I dont excuse myself from caring and critiquing. (Or blasting on occassion) But a step back...some reflection and different perspective...I am amending some of my own thoughts. And I am re-enforcing others I have previously held.

 

BULLPEN:

 

I disliked the Stauffer and Boyer signings last year. I thought the Jepsen trade was a good one. I thought there should have been another acquisition of equal quality, and I thought both should have taken place a couple weeks earlier. I also disliked the move of May to the bullpen. I claim BS.

 

2016? Honestly, I was initially angry. I'm still not happy. I still don't like May in the pen. (It's a mistake) Even with May in the pen, why on earth wouldn't you make a real attempt for the port side of the pen? Are you telling me that we couldn't afford it,,or that we couldn't flip a quality LHP later on? Again, I claim BS.

 

But I'm softening my stance. The truth is, the rotation IS crowded enough that FOR NOW, someone has to help in the pen. Hasn't there been a lot of previous discussion about successful teams like the Cardinals utilizing SP's in the pen before returning them to the rotation? Before last season, hasn't Fien been very reliable? At least when healthy and not over exposed in 8th or 9th inning roles?

 

I have accused Ryan of pinning hopes to a wing and a prayer in 2015 thinking Burdi, Reed, Jones, SOMEONE would step forward to help. He's kind of doing the same thing again this year...except...there's a REAL chance this year it happens. Combine that with Melotakis, Rogers, Darnell, Runtzler, etc, etc, and there is a chance for a really strong bullpen to be built here. Am I Bear on the bullpen? No. But I can't be Bullish either as its would be hard for the pen to regress from last season. So I'm BS on the treatment heading in to the season...but...BEARISH on the potential.

 

BEYOND:

 

We've agonized over 2 primary topics this off season, Sano to the OF, and the pen. (I won't and can't include Mauer as that's been ongoing for years) Do we have any other choice than to be optomistic? Only you can answer that. And I truly hate to dismiss poor performance and lost games...potentially...in the early part/first half of the season. And feel free to call me an optomistic homer wrapped up in sunshine and intoxicated by the prospects of spring, but I just have to believe Perkins, Jepsen, May, Fien is a solid start/foundation to build on. Quantity is no replacement for quality...but...with so many options available from the port and starboard sides to flesh out the pen initially, I think we will be at least OK, if not good.

 

As for the rest, my biggest concern is how to make room for everyone. What? You heard me right. We have spent hours and hours of finger exercises and pages and pages and pages of Internet type discussing the future of the Twins and the hopes for tomorow. The reality is, IMHO, that our beloved Twins actually surprised themselves in 2015. And TR, conservative and a bit miserly to protect the future, didn't want to make sacrifices.

 

Realize for a moment that in 2014, 2015, and coming to a ballpark near you in 2016, we have at least seen/will see appearances from Rosario, Buxton, Sano, Kepler, Santana, Polanco, Vargas, Gibson, May, Meyer, Duffey, Berrios, Rogers, Melotakis, Burdi, Reed and others. WOW! Holy whatever Batman.

 

ROTATION:

 

The talented and strapping Hughes will be healthy and rebound. Santana has been a model of quality consistency his entire career, occassionally dominating. Gibson could end up being better than both. Would you bet against Duffey at what he's proven/shown to this point? Milone is surprisingly solid if unspectacular. He's only holding a place for Berrios...who could be better than anyone. (Not even including May or a resurgent Meyer) When is the last time you could feel this good about a Twins rotation? BEARISH

 

OUTFIELD:

 

In 2 seasons we've gone from Willingham, ?, Arcia to Rosario, Buxton, Sano (?) and Kepler in the wings, (not including Walker and much better AAAA options) and a hopefully better Arcia. BEARISH

 

INFIELD:

 

Plouffe, Escobar, Dozier, Mauer...forget foregone conclusions regarding a trade of Plouffe. He's solid and productive. Escobar has done nothing but play well and produce when given the SS job. Now he has it from day one. Dozier just needs breaks to maintain a full season. Mauer? To be determined unfortunately. UNDETERMINED ANIMAL

 

CATCHER:

 

With all due respect to Zuke and his guts, gamesmanship and leadership, and appreciation for all of the previous and more, I just don't believe he's good enough in any particular category any longer to be the starting catcher on a championship caliber team. (Possible backup and mentor-yes) We don't know yet what we have in Murphy. I wish we did. Draft position, prospect ranking, milb notes and production, early ML performance and production all speak of something solid. Once again, I don't know that we could actually go backward. But I don't know yet how much we've improved. Another UNDETERMINED ANIMAL.

 

Truth be told, we really and truly don't know what to expect from our Twins this season. Are there reasons for regression and pessimism? Absolutely. Are there reasons for continuing improvement and optimism? You bet. The changes, the youth movement, the rebuild that was never formally announced are all in full swing and very possibly reaching the end of the new begining.

 

Blast and be Bullish if and where you will. Dare to be the Bear. Tainted or rose tinted glasses...I like to think I have on the blue-blocker high definition eyewear that let's me see clearly. While I still have questions about the bullpen, at least early on, I really like this team. I am BEARISH overall, and I think this team is 5-7 games better this season.

 

You tell me. Are you Bullish, Bearish, or do you call BS on something in particular?

[blairpaul715]

Seems to me you have bullish and bearish mixed around........I am bullish on the Twins future and the future begins NOW!!!!!!..........I like our rotation options, even tho we dont have an Ace we do have 3 or 4 guys who are #3 and who could play up.............bullpen, I can see being bearish, but we need to at some point see what we have in our system, I am happy if our relief pitching options in the minors get a chance.............I am bullish for the outfield, super potential and we will see what we have.........Infield is the place I would be most bearish about, do we have a SS that is playoff caliber, 3rd and 2nd base are in pretty good hands, and 1st base is ok, but not superior to any other teams IMO.

[Paul Pleiss]

I think this team performs at a level closer to last year's pythag, and finishes at or just below .500, but with a significantly better 2nd half. I look forward to the future, and the young guys playing that we've started seeing with this roster last year will continue to build and I'm excited.

[DocBauer]

With apologies...it was the end of a very, very long couple of days...and I'm afraid I may of indeed mixed my metaphors unintentionally. And for that I do apologize.

[h2oface]

I call BS on a rebuild. There never was a rebuild. 

....and seriously........ how long do we all have to keep seeing, over and over, that picture of nick punto's nipples and shaved chest? Are all nipples now allowed on TD? Playboy takes them away and TD gives them? 

[Otwins]

I do like this team, It should improve as the season progresses, Kepler, Berrios should help at some point.Bullpen should sort itself out. Sano will learn to play outfield or he won't stay out there. Park and Buxton may start slow  but should progress. Polanco may make enough progress to force a trade. This would not be the first team to arrive a bit ahead of schedule. The potential is here for the first time in the last four years. Think 1987

[Platoon]

If the Twins actually bring in some of those young power arms, AND let them acclimate before the 3:10 leaves for Rochester, (See Tonkin) then I am bullish on the pen. Till then, Grizzly Bearish. A somewhat ignored issue is still Perkins for a whole season. As for the analogy to the Cards stockpiling SP talent in the pen, the Cards likely don't have one of their better starters in the pen, and are using several less talented heavily contracted players in front of them. I admit I am not a Card follower, but the rotation does seem much better overall than ours. Bulls, Bears, and Aardvarks aside, nice article, thank you.

[Dakota Native]

It has been well over a year since I have responded or commented on a topic. I love my Twins and it is a grievous sin not to have participated in such a long time. That said, my past comments have been centered around the current wave of talent that is descending on the major league team. Having experienced past rebuilding efforts (can anyone say Scott Stahoviac(sp?) or Brad Havens), rejoiced at the two World Series Championships the 1980's rebuilding effort produced, it is my opinion that we are seeing the finest wave of talent since the 1960s group that moved to the Twin Cities. Of course times were different then. I have longed to see a lineup card with the names of Buxton, Sano, Polanco, Kepler, Rosario, Gibson, Berrios, etc. in it and a bullpen full of throwers like the Nasty Boys of the 1990 Cincinnati Reds. Well, that vision or dream is upon us with Burdi, ​Reed, Melotakis, Rogers, Jones, etc. soon to be cutting their teeth on major league competition. I long to see the days when the Twins treat the Yankees like yesterday's news and throw them out with the trash. Time has come to dominate the American League. Maybe we are a year or two away, but we can see it coming. Let's hope it is not like the George Thorogood line from "I Drink Alone":

 

The other night I lay sleeping
And I woke from a terrible dream
So I called up my pal Jack Daniel's
And his partner Jimmy Beam
And we drank alone, yeah
With nobody else
Yeah, you know when I drink alone
I prefer to be by myself

 

I am getting too old to live through another rebuilding cycle. Let this be the one that all Twins fans can rejoice in. So I am Bullish on the team and bullpen.

 

[Mike Sixel]

I'm bullish, if they let the young guys come up and work through the growing pains. If they send them down after a bad outcome or two, well, then I'm bearish on the bullpen.

[Rezzy]

Great article! So much so, that you get a free pass metaphor mix-up. Positivity, I effing love it!

 

I would like to think that most of us Twins nerds feel the same way about this team that you and I do. Not because we love our Twins unconditionally, but because we have seen first hand what a bad team looks like. And this team in no way, looks like one of those forgettable rosters of the past.

 

You and I both know there is some crazy, good talent on this team. In the Majors and in the Minors.

 

Yes, these kids will take some lumps but they will learn from said lumps and become even better for of it.

 

It won't be long now, friends. We WILL be contenders once again. Maybe even sooner than we all think.

[DocBauer]

If the Twins actually bring in some of those young power arms, AND let them acclimate before the 3:10 leaves for Rochester, (See Tonkin) then I am bullish on the pen. Till then, Grizzly Bearish. A somewhat ignored issue is still Perkins for a whole season. As for the analogy to the Cards stockpiling SP talent in the pen, the Cards likely don't have one of their better starters in the pen, and are using several less talented heavily contracted players in front of them. I admit I am not a Card follower, but the rotation does seem much better overall than ours. Bulls, Bears, and Aardvarks aside, nice article, thank you.

A great point. However, while no-one should necessarily be on a short leash or quick hook, as I stated in another thread earlier today, the depth of options shouldn't be ignored. And in regard to the pen in particilar, theremember could be a lot of "next man up", which would t necessarily be a bad thing if we're talking about prospect auditions.