Duffey article on Fangraphs

[Mike Sixel]

Here you go, Twins' coverage....

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/tyler-duffey-on-his-more-than-two-pitch-repertoire/

 

I thought some of this was already covered there, but maybe not all of it.

[70charger]

Interesting stuff. One silver lining in the Duffey to AAA deal is that he can work on his changeup in a lower leverage situation. I'd love for him to be able to come back up after a Nolasco trade (fingers crossed?) and keep everyone off balance with a completely new look.

[SwainZag]

It's interesting hearing mechanics from a pitcher's point of view.  There's so much talk on here about straight velocity and pitch type, meanwhile he is talking about controlling different speeds on the same pitch.  I really like that even he realizes that a better changeup would be big for him.  Do they track minor league pitch selection like they do for the majors somewhere?

[Jham]

It's interesting hearing mechanics from a pitcher's point of view. There's so much talk on here about straight velocity and pitch type, meanwhile he is talking about controlling different speeds on the same pitch. I really like that even he realizes that a better changeup would be big for him. Do they track minor league pitch selection like they do for the majors somewhere?

Of course, Neil Allen is supposed to be like the change up whisperer or something, I'm not sure i wouldn't have kept him in the pen and put Tonkin on waivers...

[SwainZag]

 

Of course, Neil Allen is supposed to be like the change up whisperer or something, I'm not sure i wouldn't have kept him in the pen and put Tonkin on waivers...

 

How much value would Duffy realistically have in the pen over Tonkin?  With Perkins, Jepsen and May more than likely being in the high leverage and late positions Duffy would be regulated to some middle relief role.  Having him work on and work in the changeup while continuing to throw starters innings in AAA seems like a much better usage.....at least IMO.

[Mike Sixel]

I think the point is, how is Allen going to teach all these young guys the changeup, if they are all in AAA, and a bunch of veterans are in MN?

[Dantes929]

I think Duffey deserved the spot based on what he did last year.  He and Santana pretty much carried us down the stretch.   I have no problem with him going down to work on a pitch but he has so many variations on his pitches in speed and break that saying he is a two pitch guy is pretty misleading.   Blackburn was moderately successful for a while and as far as I could tell he only threw one pitch and only started failing when that pitch stopped moving.     There were some stats a while back showing how batting averages and contact rates plummeted when fast balls hit the high 90's.   Elite fastballs are easy to measure at least in terms of velocity.    Curve balls and sliders are less easy to qualify but I am guessing the difference between an average curve ball and an elite curve ball has a similar split.   That's why its frustrating to me hearing fans group pitchers in categories based just on velocity.    Milone and Duffey are good examples of how not all 90 mph pitchers are alike.   Velocity is just one element of "stuff".

[Rezzy]

I think May and Duffey might end up trading places in a couple years if the change-up never materializes. Until then it us wise to continue the development of 'starter to be'.

 

Does anyone know what type of velocity he had when he was in the pen?

[Willihammer]

I can't believe what I'm reading lately.

May was moved to the pen after posting the best peripherals in the rotation, outrage ensued.

Duffey just posted the best peripherals in the rotation, and some folks want to... move him to the pen?

[Jham]

 

How much value would Duffy realistically have in the pen over Tonkin?  With Perkins, Jepsen and May more than likely being in the high leverage and late positions Duffy would be regulated to some middle relief role.  Having him work on and work in the changeup while continuing to throw starters innings in AAA seems like a much better usage.....at least IMO.

 

Well, right now we don't have a long reliever in case let's say Nolasco can't find his stuff and is taken out in the 2nd inning. They said they won't save May for long relief.  Duffey would be perfect for that role.  He could finish games when we're up 10 or come in when we're down 6 early.  He could throw his change to Major League hitters in low-leverage situations, and get more consistent pen work with the organization's best pitching coach.  Not a big deal either way to me.  If I could keep Tonkin in AAA I would, but saving him at the expense of not having a long reliever or having to go get whoever's in line to start in AAA if there's an injury in the rotation doesn't make a ton of sense to me.  Then again, I see Duffey as a much more valuable pitcher in even one inning stints than Tonkin.  

[LimestoneBaggy]

 

Does anyone know what type of velocity he had when he was in the pen?

88-92: http://www.minorleagueball.com/2015/8/26/9208253/who-is-minnesota-twins-rookie-tyler-duffey

[LimestoneBaggy]

 

Well, right now we don't have a long reliever in case let's say Nolasco can't find his stuff and is taken out in the 2nd inning. They said they won't save May for long relief.  Duffey would be perfect for that role.  He could finish games when we're up 10 or come in when we're down 6 early.  He could throw his change to Major League hitters in low-leverage situations, and get more consistent pen work with the organization's best pitching coach.  Not a big deal either way to me.  If I could keep Tonkin in AAA I would, but saving him at the expense of not having a long reliever or having to go get whoever's in line to start in AAA if there's an injury in the rotation doesn't make a ton of sense to me.  Then again, I see Duffey as a much more valuable pitcher in even one inning stints than Tonkin.  

 

I don't buy the bad spring check that's been handed to him. My guess (emphasis on guess) is that he was working on pitches, and he's getting squeezed as he has options. We'll find out fairly quickly when he starts pitching at AAA and the results show. I would have been happy with him as a long reliever, but I'm also guessing that the Twins are going to gamble on not exposing certain people to waivers and if they struggle, the long season won't hurt them too much when they drop them off the 40-man (Tonkin, Fien, Nolasto, I'm looking at you), Duffey will likely have a role. Based upon his history, he'll start until he proves ineffective.