Article: Ninth Wonder: What To Do At Closer?

[nicksaviking]

Good read. I think all these options are plausible. Regarding the FA's Feliz would be a great stop gap closer with some upside, I think JT is destined for the job but agree might be much to hand it too him out of spring training. Id also be fine with Tonkin, assuming he pitches well in Spring Training. He dominated AAA as a closer and think he was severely mismanaged being the "long relief" guy pitching 2-3 innings clearly burned him out towards the end of the season. Kitzler should not be the closer, he did an ok job filling in and I'm ok bringing him back as a middle reliever but he's a sinker baller who does not strike many people out, we're seeing in the post season elite relievers with strikeout abilities are critical to success.

Welcome aboard!

[KirbyDome89]

 

It worked out pretty well for Kansas City to acquire Wade Davis and James Shields in 2013... Helped them clinch a winning record in over 10 years.

It wasn't just the starting staff that lost 103 games. The bullpen blew plenty of leads last year.  

KC acquired both to bolster the starting staff. Davis didn't move to the bullpen until the end of that 2013 season and it was because he was tanking as a starter. KC got lucky, I doubt they knew they were getting an elite reliever when they traded for Davis so I wouldn't exactly call this a fair example of a top relief acquisition. 

 

It sounds like both of you (and almost everybody else) are advocating for the same thing: buy low, sell high candidates on short term contracts. Its a solid plan. Mike said it best, spending money isn't an issue, this team has to in order to improve. However, committing long term to a position as volatile as relief pitching should be avoided, at least at this stage in the rebuild.

[Platoon]

Agree.  Kintzler is a 1 inning pitcher.  I think Perkins has the same problem as Kintler.

 

Kintzler is also a sinkerballer.  So a "5.8 K/9 rate" isn't bad, just not what people want to see.  A WHIP of 1.233 is pretty good, even with those 8th inning appearances. 

 

I'm not promoting Kintzler as THE closer.  Chargois improved a lot through the end of the season.  I'd cross my fingers and put him in as A closer, i.e.  Dual Closers. 

 

Tonkin is the one, youngish RP I don't really trust.  I've seen him and a couple other young relievers choke when brought in with runners on.  I guess we should assign that to youth / inexperience.  I'm more for signing a Holland or Feliz to be in a co-closer role.

 

Either way, any way or whatever way,   Twins bullpen for next season is a fun topic!!

 

Thanks, Nick !!

You brought up an interesting point on Tonkin. He doesn't seem to do well with inherited runners. But he did do well in closing situations during his MiLB career. Given the season we just experienced, some would have tried him in that role during the year, instead of trying to keep us within 33 games of first place? I don't know if Tonkin can do it in MLB, but I do know that certain players have certain strengths. Putting players in position to take advantage of these strengths is what a good manager does! As for next seasons team, we don't need to spend money on a closer until we the team to a place where there is something to close. Picking up a FA on a two year deal, completely wastes a year of it. As for Kintzler and Perkins? Not closers for my team.

[jimmer]

Tonkin allowed 34.1% of inherited runs to score.  Better than Pressly, May, Abad, Chargois and Dean.

Edited October 23, 2016 by jimmer