The leash on Ricky Nolasco is getting shorter. Right?

[70charger]

Remember what seems like just a few days ago, when Terry Ryan cut Tommy Milone, JR Graham, Casey Fien, and Ryan O'Rourke? It was a good direction to go, I thought. Clear out some underperformers who were hanging on to the roster by their fingernails, and get the rookies up and playing (not that the second part actually happened, but that's another thread).

 

Just for "fun," let's compare the only starting pitcher affected by that cull with Ricky Nolasco, who predictably gave up six runs without finishing three innings last night.

 

Using ERA+, Tommy Milone's career figure is 97. With the Twins, he's been a bit worse than below average, clocking in at 89. That's demotion worthy, in my opinion. Ricky Nolasco is sporting a career figure of 90, worse than Milone. With the Twins, it's been a dismal 73.

 

Another quick and dirty stat for the non-SABR-inclined. Milone's WHIP with the Twins was 1.411, leading to a 4.56 ERA. That's pretty bad. Nolasco with the Twins has managed a depressing 1.490 WHIP, leading to a hair-tearing 5.46 ERA.

 

This isn't (just) a reaction to yet another mound meltdown last night. It's becoming crystal clear that, whatever money Nolasco was given, he isn't earning it, and in fact, his presence on the roster is worse than eating salary and sending him packing. Think about what we could do with the roster spot: Berrios could have had more than a one-game leash when he performed in a Nolasco-like way one time. Maybe we could even see what we have with Meyer without handing him a ticket back to Rochester the second he goes to the clubhouse after the game ends. Gibson's coming back; you better believe I'll riot if they move Duffey out of the rotation. 

 

Fact is, the Nolasco contract failed. We can compound the failure by trotting him out there because he has a contract, or we can recover from the failure by cutting him. At this point, the idea of trade value is as ludicrous as the idea that he's one of the Twins' five best pitchers. He's a prime candidate for outright assignment waivers, and I wouldn't even want him on the Red Wings.

 

The leash is tightening around Nolasco's neck, right? It has to be.

[TKGuy]

Now it's not my money, but it would seem to be a good time to cut bait and place him on waivers. He needs to be in the National League

[Linus]

The process would speed up if some other starters would pitch better than him.

[Old Twins Cap]

The hope that the Twins could flip Ricky for some A-ball middle infielder is now gone.

 

There was nothing, nothing he threw last night that was not roped.

[Blackjack]

 

The process would speed up if some other starters would pitch better than him.

Thats just it, who do you bring up next?? Who's next in line?

 

Berrios flamed out and from listening to Terry Ryan on Sunday, he was not very impressed with his meltdown and lack of composure - Berrios won't be back soon. 

 

Meyer hasn't pitched enough lately to be brought back as a starter. May is melting down in the bullpen, who thinks he'd be any better in the rotation??

 

The big issue is the short start by Nolasco and the drain on the bullpen, if he keeps delivering these short starts, thats what will drive them to move him. But since this was a 'rain delay' short start they'll trot him out there again - and probably again.

[old nurse]

Maybe they can trade him for a comp pick.

 

[Vanimal46]

He's sticking around the rest of this season. Book it. Maybe, just maybe, the next GM in charge eats the contract and lets him loose in the off-season. 

[ShouldaCouldaWoulda]

If you're a veteran starting pitcher on this team your rope is endless it seems. 

 

1 good start= 7 freebie bad starts

 

1 mediocre start= 4 freebie bad starts

 

Something like that it seems. See Mike Pelfrey, Gibson, Hughes, Milone, ......

[d-mac]

He's doing no worse than Phil Hughes this year, where are the pitchforks for him? He's clearly not 100% and refuses to go to the pen or DL and it's hurting the team. Nolasco has pitched to about his career average in xFIP and SIERA, both around 3.80. He's near his career low in BB% and LD%, plus has the highest K% he's had since 2010. He's been incredibly unlucky with a LOB% 57.9. That's unsustainable. Some smart NL should look to pick him up if the Twins eat most of his salary. 

[KirbyDome89]

 

Thats just it, who do you bring up next?? Who's next in line?

 

Berrios flamed out and from listening to Terry Ryan on Sunday, he was not very impressed with his meltdown and lack of composure - Berrios won't be back soon. 

 

Meyer hasn't pitched enough lately to be brought back as a starter. May is melting down in the bullpen, who thinks he'd be any better in the rotation??

 

The big issue is the short start by Nolasco and the drain on the bullpen, if he keeps delivering these short starts, thats what will drive them to move him. But since this was a 'rain delay' short start they'll trot him out there again - and probably again.

Bringing up one of the 2 you just mentioned would be a good start. Giving either more than a couple games (1 in Meyers case!) would be nice. A wave of promising young prospects was the plan during all these miserable seasons. Its time for the Twins to make good on their plan; growing pains and all.  

[lukeduke1980]

How's your ankle Ricky?  Oh it's sore again?  Let's try a 15 day stint on the old DL.

[gunnarthor]

Nah, by fip he's just as good as Taijuan Walker.  

[dgwills]

Nolasco never should of been in the rotation. He's not a good pitcher and there was no reason to think he would turn it around this year. Luckily (I guess) this team isn't competitive, so it doesn't really matter. 

[Danchat]

 

He's doing no worse than Phil Hughes this year, where are the pitchforks for him? He's clearly not 100% and refuses to go to the pen or DL and it's hurting the team. Nolasco has pitched to about his career average in xFIP and SIERA, both around 3.80. He's near his career low in BB% and LD%, plus has the highest K% he's had since 2010. He's been incredibly unlucky with a LOB% 57.9. That's unsustainable. Some smart NL should look to pick him up if the Twins eat most of his salary. 

You make a fair point. Hughes should be under tremendous pressure and Ricky's next in line.

 

Hughes should go to the DL and Nolasco should move to the bullpen. I think Nolasco could do better in the bullpen, and that should be his final chance to stay on the roster.

[70charger]

 

He's doing no worse than Phil Hughes this year, where are the pitchforks for him? 

 

I think you'll find those here: http://twinsdaily.com/topic/22517-article-what-to-do-with-phil-hughes/

[Rosterman]

Who do you bring up? The second coming of Logan Darnell? You can add to the 40-man roster then (and really add if you 60-day Perkins). Of course, Gibson is about to come back, and at this point I WOULD NOT send down Dean or Duffey for Gibson. But if Gibson isn't better, we have three rotten guys hanging onto spots in the rotation because of veteran status or contract.

 

But besides Meyer and Berrios, who do you bring up...or, wait - MOVE MAY TO THE ROTATION (but, wait, he hasn't pitched multi-inning 75+_ pitch count games...not stretched out...because of this crappy way the bullpen is being handled).

 

[diehardtwinsfan]

Well, Hughes and Rickey were signed at the same time.  One had a fantastic year and a mediocre year.  One has had two horrible years.  Neither are pitching well.  I would think (hope?) the leash is shorter on Mr. Nolasco at this point.  Another year with an ERA well over 5 and at one point they just have to DFA him and eat the cost... like it or not, baring a decent string of starts, we aren't getting squat for him. 

[Mr. Brooks]

Poor guy just can't catch a break.

[USAFChief]

 

Maybe they can trade him for a comp pick.

Comp pick??

 

Tooth pick, maybe.

[DaveW]

 

Nah, by fip he's just as good as Taijuan Walker.  

Which is a great example why FIP is not a good stat to use when it comes to SSS....

[howeda7]

How much do they have to eat to give him away for nothing?

The hope that the Twins could flip Ricky for some A-ball middle infielder is now gone.

 

There was nothing, nothing he threw last night that was not roped.

 

[Vanimal46]

 

How much do they have to eat to give him away for nothing?

What's the veteran minimum? $500k? If so, they'd have to eat $23 million of the remaining salary. 

[FormerMinnasotan]

With such limited options for replacing Nolasco, its my guess we are stuck with him for most of the season.

 

IF the Twins actually coached and developed Berrios right he may not have the control/command issues he has now. Or they could have helped Berrios FIX his issues he has had this season. Not surprising from one of the worst teams in terms of developing starting pitchers.

 

After Berrios you have Meyer, Milone, and Jason Wheeler in AAA. And our best pitching prospects after that are in A+ ball (Stewart, Gonsalves, Jay, and Felix Jorge). So in short the Twins don't have any one to replace Nolasco.

[jimmer]

 

With such limited options for replacing Nolasco, its my guess we are stuck with him for most of the season.

 

It's funny you say that since the idea of rotation depth was shoved down our throat before the season started.  

 

Of course, we've gotten all the way to Pat Dean, so, you know perhaps not so much..

[Thrylos]

Believe it or not, Nolasco leads the Twins' starters in: FIP, SIERA, K/9, K%, K/BB, IP, normalized WHIP, and is second in IP/GS, BB%.  He is not going anywhere.  The Twins (should) have bigger fish to fry including their hitting coach.

[jimmer]

 

Believe it or not, Nolasco leads the Twins' starters in: FIP, SIERA, K/9, K%, K/BB, IP, normalized WHIP, and is second in IP/GS, BB%.  He is not going anywhere.  The Twins (should) have bigger fish to fry including their hitting coach.

if the Twins cared about advanced stats and the more telling peripherals when making those kind of decisions, May would have never been moved out of the rotation last year. Look where he ranked in those before he got moved out of the rotation. Nolasco, since he's been with us (2+ seasons), has been worth 2.5 WAR.  That's pathetic. May has been worth 2 WAR in only 25 starts (same as Santana in the same amount of starts as Santana).

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

With such limited options for replacing Nolasco, its my guess we are stuck with him for most of the season.

IF the Twins actually coached and developed Berrios right he may not have the control/command issues he has now. Or they could have helped Berrios FIX his issues he has had this season. Not surprising from one of the worst teams in terms of developing starting pitchers.

After Berrios you have Meyer, Milone, and Jason Wheeler in AAA. And our best pitching prospects after that are in A+ ball (Stewart, Gonsalves, Jay, and Felix Jorge). So in short the Twins don't have any one to replace Nolasco.

 

I'm not sure I'm ready to blame Berrios' control issues on coaching... not yet at least.  Did they coach Duffey the right way? 

 

People mature differently.  People have different mental makeups.  A 22 year old kid is going to be naturally more amped up than say a 25 year old.  Not quite sure that's coaching.  It's possible, but that's a damning conclusion based on nothing but supposition. 

[Linus]

Don't look now but Ricky is your best Twins starter in this disaster of 2016.

[diehardtwinsfan]

yeah, he pitched well last night. Hopefully he strings a few more good starts together so we can flip him for a future utility player. 

[HitInAPinch]

I signed in today to post the same things as posts #29 and #30.  My thinking is somewhere between bewilder and amazed. 

 

With a 2-4 record and an ERA now below 5.00, Nolasco is the staff ace and leader in strikeouts.

A .500 record and an ERA closer to 4.00 may get someone of some value.