This bullpen is bad

[SwainZag]

You got that right!!

 

Also, I've said it multiple times but Glen Perkins is done being elite. That fastball won't ever come back. You could even hear it in Bert's voice the concern he has for Glen and that fastball. He still has value though, he would be a nice lefty specialist

Lefties have always hit Perkins better than righties. He's not a loogy candidate.

[Ncgo4]

Let's see...man on 2nd and no outs. I know, let's have the next three hitters attempt to go yard. Ton Kelly must be pulling his hair out. It's the problem with how the team has been constructed. A second base pull power hitter, a RF power hitter/strike out specialist, a third base power hitter and an untried DH from the moon and a team strike out rate of about 30%. This is fun.

 

It's only 5 games into the season and way too early to throw in the towel, but with Santana out and Kepler up, there will be some interesting things to watch. Thank God for Escobar or we could be worse. Is there worse than 0-5?

[DocBauer]

Fien's contract will not keep him around. His $2M is a pitance in this market. But a couple appearances is way too quick to move anyone, (even if you want to) But I am surprised he's looked this awful.

 

I still feel TR blew a real opportunity this off season to improve the pen by bringing in a couple strong and proven arms, and letting May return to the rotation. The entire staff would be better for it. (With tradable pieces available down the road) But I think at this point, our conversations should be about what to do, not what we didn't do.

[70charger]

Team OPS with men on base: .318

Team OPS with runners in scoring position: .279

 

They're batting .096 with men on base. Without bothering to look it up, I'll venture to say no team in history has been so un-clutch for a season. Last season the same guys were better with men on base than bases empty.

 

This will pass.

 

 

Whoa.

 

Well said. It's hard not to get down on your team after a crap start (like we did last year), but there isn't any rule that says a few losses early damn us to futility. Hopefully we'll be right in it in September (like we were last year).

[TheLeviathan]

Yeah, this is still true.

[bluechipper]

 

Let's see...man on 2nd and no outs. I know, let's have the next three hitters attempt to go yard. Ton Kelly must be pulling his hair out. It's the problem with how the team has been constructed. A second base pull power hitter, a RF power hitter/strike out specialist, a third base power hitter and an untried DH from the moon and a team strike out rate of about 30%. This is fun.

It's only 5 games into the season and way too early to throw in the towel, but with Santana out and Kepler up, there will be some interesting things to watch. Thank God for Escobar or we could be worse. Is there worse than 0-5?

I agree with this.

 

And 0-6 is worse than 0-5.

[bluechipper]

 

Yeah, this is still true.

J.T. Chargois is at 27 K/9 this year. I think it's time.

[Mr. Brooks]

The part that is odd to me is that Ryan went into the off season acknowledging that the bullpen was the number one priority, then did nothing to improve it.

Those defending him say that it wasn't worth blocking any of the prospects, but if so, that was true before those comments.

 

So, what changed? Why did Ryan so quickly change his mind from top priority to no additions needed?

 

It's hard not to conclude that it's because he didn't want to spend the money. And there is no such thing as over paying for free agents. They cost what the market determines they cost. If you need them you pay that price, period.

[jorgenswest]

I suppose they could have signed Tony Sipp and Joakim Soria. They could have then put May in the rotation and Nolasco in relief while waiving Tonkin and non tendering Fien. All that happens and I think they are still 0-6.

[jimmer]

 

I suppose they could have signed Tony Sipp and Joakim Soria. They could have then put May in the rotation and Nolasco in relief while waiving Tonkin and non tendering Fien. All that happens and I think they are still 0-6.

Our pen was bad last year. Management said it was our #1 offseason priority (even though we were last in the AL for OBP and 13th in OPS). We did nothing to correct the bullpen issue.  I can't get behind the idea that it wouldn't matter what we did, the bullpen would still be bad. 

[Thrylos]

 

The part that is odd to me is that Ryan went into the off season acknowledging that the bullpen was the number one priority, then did nothing to improve it.
Those defending him say that it wasn't worth blocking any of the prospects, but if so, that was true before those comments.

So, what changed? Why did Ryan so quickly change his mind from top priority to no additions needed?

It's hard not to conclude that it's because he didn't want to spend the money. And there is no such thing as over paying for free agents. They cost what the market determines they cost. If you need them you pay that price, period.

 

Odd?

 

Should not be odd.  Ryan himself admitted that time has passed him by, the first time he retired.   He does not know how to manage a competitive team long in the post-season.   And he is a spendthrift.  So the Abads, and the Fiens and the Tonkins on the world.  Plus he is delusional thinking that magically Perkins will become effective at age 33 with -5-7 mph velocity and keeps rewarding players based on having the (half) season of their careers.  Add Jepsen to the Suzuki and Capps and Hughes equation.

 

Add the fact that the ones who owning the team do not hold him accountable, and then why should he do it?  

[jimbo92107]

I just noticed something: This bullpen is bad.

[parrothead]

It's only one week! Perkins is a top tier closer, Jepsen is a very good closer and an even better set up guy, Fien was a 2.50 ERA guy recently and May is the next Wade Davis.

Things will turn around! Things always bounce back! 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I'm not sure Perkins can be top tier again until he gets his arm loose and his mid 90s fastball back.

 

Until then I'm hoping for some creative problem solving from Ryan and Molitor and Eddie, banishing away roles (7th inning guy, 8th inning guy), using more information supplied by the analytics department, calling up some younger guys who can throw heat or strike out lefties, cutting ties with a couple other guys sooner rather than later. 

 

Better that we not wait around to act, simply to increase the sample size of things we already know. 

[Primetime82]

 

It's only one week! Perkins is a top tier closer, Jepsen is a very good closer and an even better set up guy, Fien was a 2.50 ERA guy recently and May is the next Wade Davis.

Things will turn around! Things always bounce back! 

 

Put the pipe down Terry!!!

[FattCrapps]

The bullpen IS FINE!!!!

[jokin]

 

I'm not sure Perkins can be top tier again until he gets his arm loose and his mid 90s fastball back.

 

Until then I'm hoping for some creative problem solving from Ryan and Molitor and Eddie, banishing away roles (7th inning guy, 8th inning guy), using more information supplied by the analytics department, calling up some younger guys who can throw heat or strike out lefties, cutting ties with a couple other guys sooner rather than later. 

 

Better that we not wait around to act, simply to increase the sample size of things we already know. 

 

Great post. For once, I'd love to see the same kind of decisiveness shown in promoting Kepler being applied to sweeping action taken to address the looming bullpen disaster.

 

FWIW, it was nice to see Jepsen pick himself up off of the floor today, he threw some 96 MPH much-better-placed peas today, but really, he's not the pitcher who gets you to the postseason in the traditional role as the main set-up guy.

[jimbo92107]

 

It's only one week! Perkins is a top tier closer, Jepsen is a very good closer and an even better set up guy, Fien was a 2.50 ERA guy recently and May is the next Wade Davis.

Things will turn around! Things always bounce back! 

My real concern is Perkins. Last couple seasons he started strong, then faded fast around the All-Star break. Now his heater is down around 91 to 92mph, and his command doesn't look as sharp. In fact, it looks like Perkins after the All-Star break the last two seasons. If this is the new normal for Perkins, then he's done being a closer. 

[DJSim22]

 

 Exactly!!!

 

I think what bothers us all the most is the fact that the Twins can easily spend another 30/40 million but they would rather pocket the money. Worst owners in Minnesota Sports.......

 

I agree with you, but others would complain we are blocking AA guys who may or may not ever see the field...

[DJSim22]

 

My real concern is Perkins. Last couple seasons he started strong, then faded fast around the All-Star break. Now his heater is down around 91 to 92mph, and his command doesn't look as sharp. In fact, it looks like Perkins after the All-Star break the last two seasons. If this is the new normal for Perkins, then he's done being a closer. 

 

Definitely concerning.  Is there any reason to think he can not regain the velocity over time?  I remember several guys who were not throwing at normal velocities early in the season, but were later in the season.  I'll be really concerned if Perkins is throwing 91 in May. 

[h2oface]

It certainly doesn't help when a plate umpire can't get calls right. Trevor May was hosed by plate umpire, John Hirschbeck in the 10th. First on the 4th pitch to Colon that led to the lead-off walk. 

 

 

Then on the 5th pitch to Moustakas that was literally a perfect pitch in the very upper outside corner of the strike zone that gave the Royals another unearned walk....

 

 

...... and Hirschbeck continued with the ineptitude in the Cain at bat, by calling Trevor May's second pitch, another great pitch in the upper outside corner of the zone, a ball (a correct strike call would have made the 4th pitch a strikeout).

 

 

May is led to think and acccused of being wilder than he was. As long as humans call the balls and strikes, baseball will continue to embrace inept plate umpiring. Pitchers and batters deserve better.

 

 

 

[TheLeviathan]

Those two pitches are hardly rock solid strikes....I'm rooting hard for May this season but he just didn't have command yesterday. We can do better than complaining about two pitches nibbling the zone.

[Minniman]

 

Those two pitches are hardly rock solid strikes....I'm rooting hard for May this season but he just didn't have command yesterday. We can do better than complaining about two pitches nibbling the zone.

 

The alternative is to throw no movement fastballs into the middle of the strike zone like Fien does.

[TheLeviathan]

 

The alternative is to throw no movement fastballs into the middle of the strike zone like Fien does.

 

Wait...that's not working for him?

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

It certainly doesn't help when a plate umpire can't get calls right. Trevor May was hosed by plate umpire, John Hirschbeck in the 10th. First on the 4th pitch to Colon that led to the lead-off walk. 

May fell behind the batter 3-0.  I don't think you really have much right to complain when your borderline 4th pitch, at best on the very edge of the strike zone, is called a ball in that situation.  May has no one but himself to blame for giving himself no margin for error in that AB.  It's like a batter who swings wildly out of the zone to go down 0-2, then takes a borderline pitch for a called third strike -- no right to complain.

 

And according to Brooks Baseball, that was May's only strike pitch yesterday that was called a ball, so you may want to rethink your further complaints too:

http://www.brooksbaseball.net/pfxVB/pfx.php?s_type=3&sp_type=1&year=2016&month=4&day=10&pitchSel=543507&game=gid_2016_04_10_minmlb_kcamlb_1/&prevGame=gid_2016_04_10_minmlb_kcamlb_1/&pnf=&prevDate=410&batterX=0

[Mike Sixel]

When your GM says it is the number 1 off season priority, and this is what changes are made, why is anyone surprised? TR is not stupid, he knew, and told us this bullpen was bad, and needed improvement. No improvement came, this is what you get.

[Pardon My Dinger]

 

Jepsen has been fine yeah.. so has Fien..not

Take off the Twins glasses and look at reality 

Hey, man. I can't even see without my Twins glasses. 

[clutterheart]

We knew the bullpen would be shaky and Ryan probably did too.  He made a choice that this team was going to out hit its bulpen problems.  

 

So....Dozier, Plouffe & Park better step it up!

If not, they need to be gone.

 

But its early.  Wait until June, see what we got.  If its not working, time to fire sale the vets and go to a full on youth movement.

 

What other option is there?

[h2oface]

 

May fell behind the batter 3-0.  I don't think you really have much right to complain when your borderline 4th pitch, at best on the very edge of the strike zone, is called a ball in that situation.  May has no one but himself to blame for giving himself no margin for error in that AB.  It's like a batter who swings wildly out of the zone to go down 0-2, then takes a borderline pitch for a called third strike -- no right to complain.

 

People are trained by years of ineptitude of humans, who are trying mind you, but still guessing...... to accept wrong calls from perfect pitches or perfect takes, and call them borderline as if that makes it all ok. The whole point of pitching is to make the close pitches, and never make "rock solid" meatball strikes! For a pitcher or a batter to be robbed of the perfect pitch or perfect take is a travesty and always has been, and always will be, until humans are no longer relied upon to guess and get so many wrong in so many games in so many important situations. The count, or any other pitch in the current or any other at bat, should have no consequence whatsoever with a correct or incorrect call for any subsequent pitch. Ever. Absolutely nothing.

 

For an umpire to force a pitcher to make pitches that are giving a batter an unfair advantage, or to make a batter swing at pitches that are balls because they will call them strikes anyway, is robbing the game of the players.... the human factor.... deciding the games' outcomes instead of umpires.

[Brock Beauchamp]

It's going to be really hard to win games if the "good half" of the bullpen blows every lead they receive.