a few thoughts

[jimmer]

 

Well then both parts of my post are relevant! Lol I was wrong, I hate when that happens, and while I could understand, and see where he could be a shutdown style RP, I think it's a waste for him to be in the pen. IMHO

I agree.  He should be in the rotation.  Been saying that all along.

[USAFChief]

I wasn't clear. I feel the lack of a LHRP acquisition was the most egregious mistake of the offseason. In my earlier post, I was speaking specifically about righties but didn't clarify that point.

Jepsen and May as your go-to guys with a mix of Pressly, Tonkin, and another non-Fien pitcher isn't ridiculous. No, it probably won't be great but I don't think the Twins pen will be great until the kids arrive in force. I can at least acknowledge the thinking that led to internal options filling the right-handed side of the pen.

Fair points.

 

Also, I'm quite possibly just a bit peeved over another slow start.

[Danchat]

 

Second, guys get hurt, so the guys you're counting on might not always be there.

This is why I'm concerned for our bullpen. Last year, every single member of the opening day bullpen minus Aaron Thompson was placed on the 15 day DL at one point (info from Derek Wetmore of 1500ESPN). Guys are going to get hurt, but the question is, who's going to replace them? Guys like Burdi and Chargois probably aren't going to be ready. If something happens to Abad, at least they have O'Rourke. But what happens if it turns out somebody like Jepsen or Perkins is hurt for a month? The only feasible options on the 40 man roster I see are O'Rourke and Rodgers. JR Graham isn't ready yet.

 

The way I see it, the Twins need to add some bullpen depth. They should think about signing a free agent. Perhaps Nolasco or Duffey could end up in the bullpen? 

[jokin]

 

Then Duffey and Berrios will be in front of May.  May is a reliever now,  that's it.  He's done fine in that role so far this year, IMO.  2 games, 4 innings, 1 earned run.  He came into a game with no outs and a guy on 3rd base.   Very high percentage that guys scores whether his wild pitch happens or not.   Then the other run was on a ground ball.  

 

I'm not sure if that's 100% in stone. At least they went through the pretense of giving May a shot at one of the starting spots in ST, and talked about May's potential to help the team in more than just as a RP, long term. If they really have set May's permanent role as a reliever, than I have to question management's ability to evaluate talent and potential in the extremus.

[jimmer]

 

I'm not sure if that's 100% in stone. At least they went through the pretense of giving May a shot at one of the starting spots in ST, and talked about May's potential to help the team in more than just as a RP, long term. If they really have set May's permanent role as a reliever, than I have to question management's ability to evaluate talent and potential in the extremus.

Last year, he was, not too arguably, one of our two best starters when they took him out in favor of Pelfrey and this year he's been demoted in favor of Nolasco.  The questioning, IMO, was valid a long time ago.

[bluechipper]

 

Last year, he was, not too arguably, one of our two best starters when they took him out in favor of Pelfrey and this year he's been demoted in favor of Nolasco.  The questioning, IMO, was valid a long time ago.

It's a year to year thing. The Twins had an abundance of starters, and a need in the back end of the bullpen. May showed he can handle that role, so the decision was made to put him where he could help the team the most for this year. 

[jokin]

 

Last year, he was, not too arguably, one of our two best starters when they took him out in favor of Pelfrey and this year he's been demoted in favor of Nolasco.  The questioning, IMO, was valid a long time ago.

 

Oh, I plead guilty to the "questioning" at the time, and I did so very "arguably." What they're doing to him is borderline curious to strange to head-scratching... and only makes sense on a non-baseball set of issues.

[jimmer]

 

It's a year to year thing. The Twins had an abundance of starters, and a need in the back end of the bullpen. May showed he can handle that role, so the decision was made to put him where he could help the team the most for this year. 

you guys with his talent shouldn't be jerked around like that.  Can't just say starter this year, reliever next year, starter this year.

[bluechipper]

 

you guys with his talent shouldn't be jerked around like that.  Can't just say starter this year, reliever next year, starter this year.

I agree, but what happened last year set up his role this year.

 

I still think May could go back to starting next year if a rotation spot is open.

[jokin]

 

 

It's a year to year thing. The Twins had an abundance of starters, and a need in the back end of the bullpen. May showed he can handle that role, so the decision was made to put him where he could help the team the most for this year. 

 

Gee.. I wish that May was actually contemplated for the set-up or closer role... doesn't look like that's in their way of thinking whatsoever... "The decision" that "was made" to "where he could help the team most" appears to be Mollie has him throwing multiple innings like a long reliever for a starter who couldn't get past the 5th inning.

 

 

There are many of us that argue that he could/should be the 2nd best starter on this team- let's face it- your "Twins abundance of starters" currently in the rotation includes Milone, who gets hurt every year, and Nolasco who has underperformed, mightily, with no suggestion that he's about to turn things around any time soon.

 

Do you mean an abundance of high-salaried starters that we must put out there both to keep the agents happy and in an attempt to salvage $$$s from a misguided big FA contract?

[bluechipper]

 

Gee.. I wish that May was actually contemplated for the set-up or closer role... doesn't look like that's in their way of thinking whatsoever... "The decision" that "was made" to "where he could help the team most" appears to be Mollie has him throwing multiple innings like a long reliever for a starter who couldn't get past the 5th inning.

 

 

There are many of us that argue that he could/should be the 2nd best starter on this team- let's face it- your "Twins abundance of starters" currently in the rotation includes Milone, who gets hurt every year, and Nolasco who has underperformed, mightily, with no suggestion that he's about to turn things around any time soon.

 

Do you mean an abundance of high-salaried starters that we must put out there both to keep the agents happy and in an attempt to salvage $$$s from a misguided big FA contract?

Those 2 inning stints were in close games. He's not a long reliever. He's the 7th inning guy under normal circumstances.

 

And of course Berrios and Duffey are included in the abundance of starters thinking.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

you guys with his talent shouldn't be jerked around like that.  Can't just say starter this year, reliever next year, starter this year.

It's certainly fair to criticize May's demotion but I don't think any harm has been done by "jerking" him around.

 

Adam Wainwright made zero relief appearances in the St Louis farm system.

 

In 2006, Adam Wainwright made only relief appearances for the Cardinals.

 

From 2007-2014, Adam Wainwright made zero relief appearances for the Cardinals.

 

Adam Wainwright seemed to do just fine for himself. As long as May is on the MLB team and helping the team win, he's learning something. Could he learn more from starting and bring greater value to the team in the long run? Yeah, I think so... But I'm not terribly concerned about the team jerking him around. May seems to have a good head on his shoulders and he's getting half a million dollars to play baseball. Is he mildly irritated he isn't in the rotation? Yeah, probably, any good athlete has an ego... But I doubt he lets it bother him too much. He has a job to do and he seems to relish in doing it, as evidenced by his increased velocity and strikeout rate as a reliever.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Those 2 inning stints were in close games. He's not a long reliever. He's the 7th inning guy under normal circumstances.

 

And of course Berrios and Duffey are included in the abundance of starters thinking.

Yeah, if anything, why wouldn't Molitor use May for two innings in close games? He's a former starter who can easily go two innings and he's probably the best guy in the bullpen. I'd want that guy to go an extra inning as often as possible, too.

[jokin]

 

Those 2 inning stints were in close games. He's not a long reliever. He's the 7th inning guy under normal circumstances.

 

And of course Berrios and Duffey are included in the abundance of starters thinking.

 

Well, using him in extended innings situations, twice, made him not available last night in a very winnable game against the champs.

 

I'm with you on Berrios and Duffey, I'm just not sure that they offer what May offers right now, namely, a clearly superior option to the back end of the rotation options.

[jokin]

 

 

Yeah, if anything, why wouldn't Molitor use May for two innings in close games? He's a former starter who can easily go two innings and he's probably the best guy in the bullpen. I'd want that guy to go an extra inning as often as possible, too.

 

You answered your own question. Because he wasn't available last night in a situation that he seems to be the current best option for him to be filling.

[jimmer]

There's a couple examples of it working out Brock and way more that don't.  

 

Just like when Randy Johnson gets mentioned when talking about Meyer's slow progress, the fact that there are so few players to point out and say it worked out great for that player show how bad it is, not how it's okay.

 

Anyway, he's a reliever now.  He'll get pigeonholed as one and by the time he can reach FA, that will be that.  It's too bad.  Such a waste.

[bluechipper]

 

Well, using him in extended innings situations, twice, made him not available last night in a very winnable game against the champs.

 

I'm with you on Berrios and Duffey, I'm just not sure that they offer what May offers right now, namely, a clearly superior option to the back end of the rotation options.

It didn't really affect last night's game, as they got out of the 7th ok, but I see what you mean in general with making him unavailable for the next game. I think as the season goes on, he's going to be the 7th or 8th one inning at a time guy.

[Platoon]

It's a year to year thing. The Twins had an abundance of starters, and a need in the back end of the bullpen. May showed he can handle that role, so the decision was made to put him where he could help the team the most for this year.

 

Now I am confused? . So they had an abundance of starters, and a need at the back end of the bullpen? And I agree with those two statements. But others have pointed out to me that Ryan said he was in long relief? More confusion. I can see the value of him at the very end of the pen (8th), enough that a legitimate argument can be made that on THIS roster he belongs there. But as a long man? Hmmm, more confusion!

[Brock Beauchamp]

This "long man" argument is nonsense. May has two appearances. He pitched the seventh and eighth innings in both appearances.

 

It's blatantly obvious this is how Molitor views the bullpen, top to bottom: Perkins, Jepsen, May, those other guys.

 

You know. Just. Like. Last. Year.

[bluechipper]

 

Now I am confused? . So they had an abundance of starters, and a need at the back end of the bullpen? And I agree with those two statements. But others have pointed out to me that Ryan said he was in long relief? More confusion. I can see the value of him at the very end of the pen (8th), enough that a legitimate argument can be made that on THIS roster he belongs there. But as a long man? Hmmm, more confusion!

I don't know where everyone is getting the long reliever thing. I didn't see that comment from TR, and I think it's pretty obvious that May is going to be pitching late in close games.

[jimmer]

'"We are going to put him in the bullpen," Ryan said. "I don't know how they'll use him. If he throws two innings, three innings, I don't care. I kind of like those multi-inning relievers."'

 

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/167780598/trevor-may-headed-to-twins-bullpen

 

[Willihammer]

Maybe May will throw 2-3 innings a pop but he won't be a "long man" in the sense of doing mopup duty. He will pitch in close games. I'm intrigued by the idea. Maybe they want to be able to stretch him out quickly, for starting if needed.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

 

Adam Wainwright made zero relief appearances in the St Louis farm system.

 

In 2006, Adam Wainwright made only relief appearances for the Cardinals.

 

From 2007-2014, Adam Wainwright made zero relief appearances for the Cardinals.

 

Trying to change the subject to why Berrios isn't up instead of Tonkin or Fien, I see

 

 

[Mike Sixel]

No arguments here. I gave Molitor a pass on his weird pinch-running fetish the first time but it's quickly becoming old hat.

 

Arcia sits on the bench while Santana gets PAs and pinch-running appearances. It's so nonsensical I can't even begin to understand the thinking behind it.

He is a huge Santana fan. We saw the irrational behavior last year, you may recall.

[Brock Beauchamp]

He is a huge Santana fan. We saw the irrational behavior last year, you may recall.

All too well.

[Mike Sixel]

Trying to change the subject to why Berrios isn't up instead of Tonkin or Fien, I see

Post of the thread?

[Brock Beauchamp]

Trying to change the subject to why Berrios isn't up instead of Tonkin or Fien, I see

I would have also put Tonkin on the roster, at least for 4-6 weeks.

 

Fien... Uh... No. Not so much.

[jay]

Only mistake was letting Santana bat instead of Arcia. Then use Nunez as a sub for him if need be, not Mauer.

 

Nothing wrong with a defensive sub for Sano with a lead. Nothing wrong with May pitching multiple innings in an appearance (he's NOT the mop up guy). Molitor has stated more than once that he prefers to do that.