Rochester Closer?

[GMinTraining]

Out of curiosity - Who will be the Rochester closer?  They have a ton of lefty relievers and all very similar.

 

I would also like to know your guess for opening day line up? [seth; Jeremy; Brandon; Nick; Etc,]

 

What will be the catcher trickle down affect for AAA - AA - High A?  Will teams keep 3 catchers?

[Otto von Ballpark]

I don't know if Rochester usually has a strictly defined closer.  Sometimes a guy like Tonkin, Achter, or Slama gets more saves than the rest, but not for long, and they usually get spread around pretty well.  I could see Graham and Kintzler getting a few at the start, with a sprinkling of chances for the LHP, then whoever gets there first among Burdi, Reed, Chargois, etc.

[Seth Stohs]

I'm looking at their current roster/work group... I don't see a typical closer in the group. Could be Graham, or even Van Mil... but any of the lefties could do it too. I'm sure they'll mix it up.

 

Note - Between Jeremy and I, we are putting together season previews for Rochester, Chattanooga, Ft. Myers and Cedar Rapids. I'm told the rosters are not yet set and probably won't be for a couple more days. But they're close. We will post our previews as quickly as possible after the affiliate announces it. 

 

It will include rosters, information on prospects, projected lineups, predicting the first guys promoted to the next level. and some more. So, if you can wait until probably Monday or Tuesday (depending upon the affiliate), we'll get them out there.

[sane16]

 

Note - Between Jeremy and I, we are putting together season previews for Rochester, Chattanooga, Ft. Myers and Cedar Rapids. I'm told the rosters are not yet set and probably won't be for a couple more days. But they're close. We will post our previews as quickly as possible after the affiliate announces it. 

 

 

Thanks.

Is there any update to the March 23 Work Groups summary?

[Shaitan]

I would hope the minors use closer by committee. But I also think they shouldn't have the DH because prospects need to learn defense regardless of AL v NL. So who am I to speak.

 

Is Graham still to be a multi-inning pitcher? If so, I'd think he wouldn't be candidate.

 

[clutterheart]

Maybe my memory is faulty.  But I can't think of the last bullpen guy at AAA who became a Twins Bullpen mainstay.  Especially a closer.  

[sane16]

 

Maybe my memory is faulty.  But I can't think of the last bullpen guy at AAA who became a Twins Bullpen mainstay.  Especially a closer.  

Your memory is pretty good.

 

Most MLB closers began as:

Starters who failed,

Starters who got old,

Starters who developed a gimmick pitch..or

Position players who couldn't hit.

[gunnarthor]

What are the Twins doing with Graham?  Is he going to get a chance to start?

[bluechipper]

I would hope the minors use closer by committee. But I also think they shouldn't have the DH because prospects need to learn defense regardless of AL v NL. So who am I to speak.

 

Is Graham still to be a multi-inning pitcher? If so, I'd think he wouldn't be candidate.

The DH gets guys ABs when they're getting a break from the field too. There aren't many prospects who DH as their primary position anyway, so I don't think that's a problem at all.

[DJL44]

 

Maybe my memory is faulty.  But I can't think of the last bullpen guy at AAA who became a Twins Bullpen mainstay.  Especially a closer.  

 

Jesse Crain was a closer throughout the minors.

[Seth Stohs]

 

What are the Twins doing with Graham?  Is he going to get a chance to start?

 

Bullpen. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

Jesse Crain was a closer throughout the minors.

 

Neshek is another who was a bullpen guy all the way up.

[Hawkeye12]

Jose Mijares had a handful of starts early on in the system, but was exclusively a bullpen guy for a few years before he finally debuted with the Twins.

[nicksaviking]

I hate to imply I don't care about them winning, because I want our friends in Rochester (and Chattenooga) to watch good baseball, but I'd rather they not worry about who is the closer and instead focus on who needs the work.

[Seth Stohs]

Clearing out the Rochester LHP situation a little bit, the Twins released Aaron Thompson on Friday.

[ashbury]

Clearing out the Rochester LHP situation a little bit, the Twins released Aaron Thompson on Friday.

It was the beard, wasn't it?

[DocBauer]

Did I read correctly that Rogers will be pitching from the pen at Rochester?

 

That might ultimately be his best fit, but I find it hard to understand why they wouldn't place him in the rotation because A} he's a pretty decent SP and could be better with a better change and B} he gets more innings in as a SP to work on his repertoire.

[Seth Stohs]

 

It was the beard, wasn't it?

 

I saw him down on the minor league side the day after he was sent to minor league camp.  It was shocking to see him without the beard! He still had the hair but no beard.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Did I read correctly that Rogers will be pitching from the pen at Rochester?

That might ultimately be his best fit, but I find it hard to understand why they wouldn't place him in the rotation because A} he's a pretty decent SP and could be better with a better change and B} he gets more innings in as a SP to work on his repertoire.

 

Yes, they're at least going to start him there (in the bullpen)... He was in camp until late so wouldn't have been stretched out to start early in the season. 

 

A.) I agree. B.) I agree. Additionally, he gets to work in more situations as a starter than as a reliever. Runners on 2nd and 3rd, one out... As a starter, he'll see that situation much more as a starter than as a reliever.

[Thrylos]

 

Did I read correctly that Rogers will be pitching from the pen at Rochester?

That might ultimately be his best fit, but I find it hard to understand why they wouldn't place him in the rotation because A} he's a pretty decent SP and could be better with a better change and B} he gets more innings in as a SP to work on his repertoire.

 

The issue is prep.  Starters have a different prep than relievers do.  Relievers need to be ready to pitch every day or every other day at 100% for an inning or two.  Much less recovery time and much less overall effort.   5K vs a marathon.   Marathon runners can run 5Ks every day, but can probably run a marathon once a week (the elite ones).  Different prep...

[DocBauer]

The issue is prep.  Starters have a different prep than relievers do.  Relievers need to be ready to pitch every day or every other day at 100% for an inning or two.  Much less recovery time and much less overall effort.   5K vs a marathon.   Marathon runners can run 5Ks every day, but can probably run a marathon once a week (the elite ones).  Different prep...

Absolutely. And it makes sense if their full attention is to make him a RP. And truth be told, with SP depth...with or without Nolasco...you still have Duffey and Berrios at the ready, and ahead of Rogers, with Gonsalves from the LH side maybe as early as next year. Maybe, and hopefully, Meyer yet as well, it makes sense. Just seems to me more IP to work on holding runners and working on the change would be a good thing.

[sane16]

 

Thanks.

Is there any update to the March 23 Work Groups summary?

Apologize for repeating myself.

I think it's a symptom of aging, BUT...

Is there any update to the March 23 Work Groups summary?

[Bob Sacamento]

 

Apologize for repeating myself.

I think it's a symptom of aging, BUT...

Is there any update to the March 23 Work Groups summary?

Here is the 3/31 Work groups:

 

 

[sane16]

Here is the 3/31 Work groups:

Thank you.