Trevor May will be a Starter

[Otto von Ballpark]

Also, does May have an option remaining so he could possibly start the season in Rochester to make sure he will be stretched out enough to go 6+ innings?

 

May should have an option left. But I doubt he would need it to stretch out at the beginning of the season, every pitcher will be stretching out just the same in March.

[Physics Guy]

Here's what I want to see happen in the rotation:

 

Santana, Gibson, Santiago, May and Hughes.

 

I would like to see Berrios and Meija start in AAA and get pulled up relatively quickly if any of the top five struggle. If May has options left, I wouldn't mind seeing Berrios in the rotation and May starting the season in AAA exclusively as a starter. I wouldn't be surprised if Hughes isn't ready and Berrios is in the rotation, but he will be given the opportunity to be in the rotation. If he stinks, try him in the bullpen.

[Doomtints]

 

Not really sure it is up to any manager what a pitchers role is on the team.

 

This should be up to the manager. It is the manager who has to manage the pitching during the game. A manager would be dumb to not be as big of a part of the pitching personnel decisions as possible.

 

The manager should also be deciding the bench players.

[brvama]

A lot of people seemed to buy into the idea that Ryan and Molitor were planning on giving him a real shot at the rotation last year when many of us, (including May as it turns out) new it was BS from the start.

Well, Jimmer, I'm one of those that step in the BS with both feet and I still have flies all over my shoes. the decision not to return him to the rotation was a big disappointment for me. I am hoping that with Falwey/Levine the culture is changing. If there is follow through on what has been said and done so far, it will give me hope that things are really changing.

[jimmer]

 

I am hoping that with Falwey/Levine the culture is changing. If there is follow through on what has been said and done so far, it will give me hope that things are really changing.

I'd be nice to see, because we've been set back.

[HitInAPinch]

 

I think this is another example of the FO taking certain decisions away from Molitor. Adding Pickler to the dugout also helps. Molitor has a great baseball mind but doesn't seem to be a good baseball manager, if they can fix the things he's bad at we might not see the disaster we saw last year.

Just a gut feeling:   Jeff Pickler is the Twins manager next year.

[S.]

Honest question: why do so many people seem to think Hughes is going to be able to pitch successfully in the majors at all, let alone be a starter? It's going to take a miracle and a 3mph uptick on his fastball from last year for him to ever be an effective major leaguer again. Counting on guys like that for a rotation spot is why our pitching has sucked for so long.

[Doomtints]

 

I like this rotation.

1. Santana

2. Santiago

3. May

4. Hughes, if stuff returns, otherwise DFA option

5. Berrios/Mejia/ other FA signings(Hammel?)

 

Just do not see Gibson as a ML starter.

 

ML starter or not, Gibson is probably the #2 or #3 on that list.

 

Vogelsong would be the #3 or #4 if put on that list.

 

It would be surprising if Hughes is DFA'd due to the money involved, even if that's the right option.

 

May is a better option than Hughes and any of the young guys, at least for now.

 

This is still a razor thin SP staff.

[DJSim22]

Santana

Santiago

Berrios

Gibson

May

 

I'll be interested in the order of the rotation and if they don't use a a fifth starter in April. 

[Halsey Hall]

May starting?  We'll see.  I'm in Georgia headed that way, so I'll do what I can to whip these guys into shape.  They should start trickling in this week. 

[wsnydes]

 

Just a gut feeling:   Jeff Pickler is the Twins manager next year.

I don't want to say "anyone but Molitor", but I agree that the writing is kind of on the wall for this.  It would be a logical move in my view as well.

 

Also, I'm really glad to hear that May is slated to start.  I think he's better suited for that role.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

May wasnt moved to the pen because he was "blocked." He was moved to the pen midseason 2015 because the Twins found themselves in contention and in dire need of bullpen help.

 

If anything, rather than blocked by signing veterans, he was forced to the pen by the failure to sign pen help.

agreed on the need for Bullpen help, but why not move Pelfrey to the pen?

[DocBauer]

Santana

Santiago

Berrios

Gibson

May

 

I'll be interested in the order of the rotation and if they don't use a a fifth starter in April.

 

The way I see it as well, everyone healthy and nobody just stinking up the joint. Hughes is on the outside looking in until he can prove he is 100%, has his fastball back plus his control, endurance, etc. I just can't see him breaking with the Twins. I see extended training for him followed by milb rehab to build himself up in game situations. And then we'll see. I'm hopeful for the guy, I just think this is reality.

 

A few positive spins on the projected rotation?

 

1] a pair of young arms in Berrios and May.

2] I don't care what Nolasco does going forward. He was a bad fit. I'don't rather have Santiago, and his numbers, and the way he finished his 2016.

3] I've seen the Twins put out worse rotations, lacking any growth potential, than this one.

[drjim]

May wasnt moved to the pen because he was "blocked." He was moved to the pen midseason 2015 because the Twins found themselves in contention and in dire need of bullpen help.

 

If anything, rather than blocked by signing veterans, he was forced to the pen by the failure to sign pen help.

I also don't think May would have been a clearly better starter in 2015. I would even consider the idea that it was better strategically that season to roll with the better upside reliever to finish the season (though that spot start was epic roster mismanagement).

 

The big mistake was not getting him into the rotation last year, though health might have been a factor. May on the radio yesterday said he never felt good going into the season. Maybe 2016 was going to be lost no matter what.

[TheLeviathan]

May has also cited working out of the bullpen as being a likely cause of his injuries.  And there is reason to believe that, he was extremely durable as a starter.  Injuries didn't start occurring until after he was made a reliever.

[drjim]

May has also cited working out of the bullpen as being a likely cause of his injuries. And there is reason to believe that, he was extremely durable as a starter. Injuries didn't start occurring until after he was made a reliever.

I've heard him say that and it's certainly possible, but I'm a little skeptical it was from relieving and not just pitching. Pitchers get hurt.

 

And even if that is the cause, Twins wouldn't have known that in 2015.

[beckmt]

 

ML starter or not, Gibson is probably the #2 or #3 on that list.

 

Vogelsong would be the #3 or #4 if put on that list.

 

It would be surprising if Hughes is DFA'd due to the money involved, even if that's the right option.

 

May is a better option than Hughes and any of the young guys, at least for now.

 

This is still a razor thin SP staff.

Gibson has had at most one year with an ERA under 4.  That is not major league stuff.  His margin for error is razor thin.  Maybe Allen can fix him, but have my doubts.

Rest are either young or have several seasons of under 4 ERA.  Sorry but that is my feeling. To call Gibson the 2 or 3 option on the staff is a serious error.

[nicksaviking]

It would be hard to convince me that the underlying reason May was moved to the bullpen was not because he was low man in seniority. I would listen to, but not agree with and likely not believe that he was moved simply because he had good velocity.

But his arsenal has gone to waste in the pen. This is good news but shouldn't be surprising considering May has good velocity and four pitches which means he more than anyone else on the team looks like a Cleveland pitcher.

If I were to guess about Falvey's philosophy based on the structure of Cleveland, I'd guess the rotation will be:

Santana (by default even if he doesn't exactly match the mold)
Gibson (with increased change and slider usage at great expense to his sinker)
May
Santiago/Mejia (Santiago will have a large advantage to win the spot but a super short leash)
Berrios/Hughes (Berrios will have a large advantage to win the spot but super short leash)

They'll want one lefty and one younger arm to groom to fill the last two spots. Just my guesses based on what I'd think Cleveland would do.

[specialiststeve]

Am glad that May will try starting again..... I am not sure it will work but think that  is where he should be.

 

I also think Hughes should be in bullpen fulltime.

 

Gibson should be traded or go to the bullpen also ... career 4.60 ERA... just not getting it done.

 

Rotation

 

Santana

Santiago

Barrios

Mejia

Haley

 

Will be plenty of  up's and down's with the young guys but the stuff is there. Gotta give them innings.

 

 

[bluechipper]

 

Am glad that May will try starting again..... I am not sure it will work but think that  is where he should be.

 

I also think Hughes should be in bullpen fulltime.

 

Gibson should be traded or go to the bullpen also ... career 4.60 ERA... just not getting it done.

 

Rotation

 

Santana

Santiago

Barrios

Mejia

Haley

 

Will be plenty of  up's and down's with the young guys but the stuff is there. Gotta give them innings.

The chances that Justin Haley is in the rotation to start the year is probably less than 5% in my mind, and I'd guess there's a 95% chance Kyle Gibson is in, unfortunately. I think he gets another opportunity to show that he's worth keeping around.

[Oldgoat_MN]

Interesting discussion regarding the starting rotation. Probably shouldn't exclude Tyler Duffey, though I don't expect they will pencil him in at the beginning of the season.
The Twins have a fairly young group. Santana & Hughes are the only SP candidates who will be 30 or older this season.

 

The unspoken issue I see is that there are really only 8 pitchers we are talking about (by age: Berrios, Mejia, Duffey, May, Santiago, Gibson, Hughes, Santana) with almost everyone certain Mejia will start in AAA and no one clear as to whether Hughes will be healthy.

 

As injuries are sadly common, either Haley needs to surprise everyone or Romero needs to be put on the fast track. Maybe both. We are not likely to get through the season with these 8 starting pitchers and ours is NOT a deep SP roster.

[h2oface]

Why Hughes EVER starts a season starting is beyond me. Other than one season in his whole career, he has been HORRIBLE in April. Never ready. The season he wasn't horrible, he wasn't remarkable either. So Hughes to the bullpen. If the Twins get lucky, maybe they will find lightning in a bottle. I don't like the pitching staff at all.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I've heard him say that and it's certainly possible, but I'm a little skeptical it was from relieving and not just pitching. Pitchers get hurt.

 

And even if that is the cause, Twins wouldn't have known that in 2015.

May's back problems were widely reported in 2015, they were cited as the reason he couldn't pitch back to back days (and I think a few times he required multiple days off?).

[jimmer]

May's back problems were widely reported in 2015, they were cited as the reason he couldn't pitch back to back days (and I think a few times he required multiple days off?).

when he went to the bullpen

[The Wise One]

 

Why Hughes EVER starts a season starting is beyond me. Other than one season in his whole career, he has been HORRIBLE in April. Never ready. The season he wasn't horrible, he wasn't remarkable either. So Hughes to the bullpen. If the Twins get lucky, maybe they will find lightning in a bottle. I don't like the pitching staff at all.

Hughes as horrible pitcher.  He has been in mlb since 2007. 63 out of 806 starters  in accumulated WAR over that time period.  To avoid the cherry picking name he is ranked 257 out of 806 starters in fip. In 52 place in wins as a starter. If you think he has given up more home runs than any good pitcher shoud, Shields, Hammel, Hamels,, Cain, King Felix,  Verlander as well as a few more notable Cy Young winners have given up more HR than Hughes over that time period. So if  Hughes is horrible, what does that make over 400 other starters

[iTwins]

This is good news. May seemed to really be clicking as a starter before he was shifted to the 'pen in 2015. I'm inclined to believe that simply switching May and Duffey's roles will make for better years than each had in 2016. Duffey seems like he could succeed out of the bullpen with his curve ball / fastball tendencies, and we've seen that May can handle starting. 

 

Santana 

Gibson

May

Berrios 

Santiago / Mejia 

 

There's no one in that list that I'd bemoan sending out every fifth day. (At least, not when near-spring optimism is clouding my perspective.) 

[Mike Sixel]

 

Best news I've heard this offseason.

 

Concur. Castro signing and this are neck and neck right now.

[Mike Sixel]

I don't get why anyone wants Berrios in AAA at this point. If your best coach is in the majors, and he utterly dominated AAA, what is the point? 

 

As for Hughes, he's had about half good years, and half bad years. He's had one great year. It is hard to see a LIKELY path where he is great this year.

 

I really believe he could be a very good to great RP, though, and I'd start him there this year, unless he's just blowing serious fastballs this spring.

[drjim]

May's back problems were widely reported in 2015, they were cited as the reason he couldn't pitch back to back days (and I think a few times he required multiple days off?).

Quick scan of game log suggests the back to back wasn't exactly rigidly enforced.

 

My skepticism that it was caused by relieving over starting remains.

[drjim]

I don't get why anyone wants Berrios in AAA at this point. If your best coach is in the majors, and he utterly dominated AAA, what is the point?

 

As for Hughes, he's had about half good years, and half bad years. He's had one great year. It is hard to see a LIKELY path where he is great this year.

 

I really believe he could be a very good to great RP, though, and I'd start him there this year, unless he's just blowing serious fastballs this spring.

Because it's not clear he utterly dominated AAA.