Article: Twins To Sign RH RP Matt Belisle

[drjim]

I don't understand the desire to get rid of Tonkin. He had good k and bb rates and was pretty good against rh hitters. A little homer prone but if used right he's a nice weapon.

 

I would consider this a worse move if he replaces Tonkin.

[Oldgoat_MN]

 

Happy to see this. Upgrades the bullpen without necessarily blocking the youth. 

 

Not long ago I asked Ted at Off The Baggy who he thought would get dropped from the 40 man if something like this happened, his guess was Buddy Boshers. That makes a lot of sense, given the presence of fellow lefty Glen Perkins, Taylor Rogers, Ryan O'Rourke and Mason Melotakis on the 40 man. Randy Rosario would also seem like a candidate, but I think since we're adding a pitcher it would be surprising to see Danny Santana removed from the 40 man.

 

I don't think I like it Tom.

Boshers is 28 year old, had a 1.167 WHIP, a 2.84 FIP and 9.3 K/9 last season.

If that were as bad as it gets we wouldn't have lost 103 games.

 

EDIT: For those who prefer xFIP, he had the best on the team with 3.38.

Edited February 3, 2017 by Oldgoat_MN

[Rhino and Compass]

Here is my scouting report on Matt Belisle

I was pretty sure he had retired, like 3 years ago. 

[jimmer]

 

Here is my scouting report on Matt Belisle

I was pretty sure he had retired, like 3 years ago. 

Well, not sure that says anything about him/his ability, actually. It's unfortunate you thought that because he's pitched well the last couple years.  Getting out of Colorado was good for him.

[Vanimal46]

I don't understand the desire to get rid of Tonkin. He had good k and bb rates and was pretty good against rh hitters. A little homer prone but if used right he's a nice weapon.

I would consider this a worse move if he replaces Tonkin.

He may strike out more batters, but he also gives up a ton of hits. Purely by the eye test I don't like his flat fastball... It may come in at 95, more often than not, hitters can catch up to it and get good contact.

 

I'm willing to gamble there are other options who can make a better impact than Tonkin next year.

[TheLeviathan]

 

I don't understand the desire to get rid of Tonkin. He had good k and bb rates and was pretty good against rh hitters. A little homer prone but if used right he's a nice weapon.

I would consider this a worse move if he replaces Tonkin.

 

I'd like us to keep both.  Belisle isn't perfect...but you don't get perfect when you wait to sign relievers until early February.

[Rhino and Compass]

 

Well, not sure that says anything about him/his ability, actually. It's unfortunate you thought that because he's pitched well the last couple years.  Getting out of Colorado was good for him.

I think it's good for me. I'm looking at him with fresh eyes, and not remembering him from the Rockies/Reds. 

[zchrz]

Former Twins hired back into the organization --- check

 

Appear interested in big name free agents --- check

 

Appear interested in big trade --- check

 

Sign 1 cheap veteran position player - check

 

Lackluster bullpen addition (preferably from the NL) --- check

 

 

Whelp off season is done, are we sure it wasn't Rob Antony pulling the levers all these years with TR as some baseball euphemisms spouting puppet figure? 

 

 

More seriously Belisle for 2 mil is fine, as a 6th/ 7th innings eater guy.  Belisle for setup man/closer single piece to fix the bullpen is Twins. 

[Guest]

This could turn out to be Abad signing.

[jimmer]

 

I think it's good for me. I'm looking at him with fresh eyes, and not remembering him from the Rockies/Reds. 

He had four good years with the Rockies (2010-2013).  Then an off year in 2014, then a couple decent bounce back seasons.

 

It's a good signing, IMO.

[Guest]

He had four good years with the Rockies (2010-2013).  Then an off year in 2014, then a couple decent bounce back seasons.

 

It's a good signing, IMO.

Maybe you're right and it will be Light's out.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

They could lose the guy they drop off the 40. It is possible that the guy they drop has a better career moving forward than one year of Matt Belisle. If they lose a player and Belisle pitches at a mediocre level, did they make a mistake?

 

Edit: If they drop Tonkin, he had essentially the same xFIP in the context of the American League and essentially the same Steamer projection (also in the AL context).

true enough, but I really doubt Boshers has a long high leverage career in front of him. Tonkin doesn't exactly do a lot for me either.

 

Marginal improvements are still improvements

[Brandon]

So why did we fire Terry Ryan?

[Otto von Ballpark]

true enough, but I really doubt Boshers has a long high leverage career in front of him. Tonkin doesn't exactly do a lot for me either.

 

Marginal improvements are still improvements

Given that Belisle is 36 years old and hasn't been a high leverage reliever since 2013, I am not sure he has "a long high leverage career in front of him" anymore either.

[jorgenswest]

Belisle hasn't been able to stay healthy the last two years pitching about a season worth of innings in the last two. I wonder if he had other major league contract offers. He went to the Nationals on a minor contract last year. I don't see a pitcher the Twins should be counting on in high leverage situations.

 

On the other hand, he could be a good veteran for the young relievers to learn from in the pen. It sounded like Falvey and Levine were looking for that quality from a veteran. Hopefully he stays healthy and post another ERA significantly lower than his peripherals while being a leader in the pen.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Belisle will be fine. He's not here to save the season.

 

The Twins have some young arms to play with. Falvey was one of the minds responsible for the Cleveland plan to shut down Toronto in the ALCS, and the pitchers executed very well. Cody Allen was a 20th round pick who raced through the Cleveland system, never optioned back to the minors after his debut, and became closer shortly after. They acquired Andrew Miller, enough said. Again I need to give the new front office and analytics guys the benefit of the doubt in figuring out how to put these bullpen guys in positions to succeed.

[nicksaviking]

Interesting. His age and low strikeouts make him look like a guy who'd be forced to take a MiLB deal.

 

On the glass half empty side, I'd rather have a better free agent or give the job to a young guy. On the glass half full side, he's another of way too many RH relief options, which can't hurt May's odds of getting handed a starting job.

 

Just please don't put another guy who can't miss bats in high leverage situations. Let's give this guy the bases empty in the sixth gigs.

[flags]

 

So why did we fire Terry Ryan?

 

Because he would have given Belisle 2 years and 6 million

[twins_89]

This is a signing I'd be very happy with if he was the 4th or 5th best player acquired this off-season, unfortunately he's the 2nd best acquisition.

[mickeymental]

punto is probably still in shape.

[Platoon]

true enough, but I really doubt Boshers has a long high leverage career in front of him. Tonkin doesn't exactly do a lot for me either.

Marginal improvements are still improvements

"Marginal Improvements" can be found in the Webster under "Faint Praise Indeed". :)

[Richie the Rally Goat]

"Marginal Improvements" can be found in the Webster under "Faint Praise Indeed". :)

well yeah. 7th inning reliever isn't exactly high impact. Now that I think of it. Knowing Moli loves to pick one reliever and trot him out there 2 of 3 games until his arm falls off; maybe Belisle will be that guy and Moli won't pick a guy like Chagois, Light or May. Then Belisle would have a long lasting high impact as a protector of young arms.

[lukeduke1980]

 

Because he would have given Belisle 2 years and 6 million

'First' post and you deposit a solid single over the shortstop into left field...nice!

[TheLeviathan]

 

'First' post and you deposit a solid single over the shortstop into left field...nice!

 

Single?  He made a hard turn around third for an inside-the-park HR!

[LimestoneBaggy]

http://www.twinkietown.com/2017/2/3/14496470/twins-sign-veteran-pitcher-article-template 

 

I'm just going to leave this here....

[Rhino and Compass]

 

He had four good years with the Rockies (2010-2013).  Then an off year in 2014, then a couple decent bounce back seasons.

 

It's a good signing, IMO.

Yeah, I saw that looking back on it. I don't have any problem with the signing either. I had just fallen out of touch with him. I had fallen victim to the Lattroy Hawkins syndrome that so many Twins fans had. He had been a bad starter and I hadn't bothered to see how he was as a reliever, and it turns out he was pretty good.

 

The more arms the better, I say.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Because he would have given Belisle 2 years and 6 million

 

Welcome to the site! Solid base hit with your first post!

[Mike Sixel]

Meh. Not exactly exciting, but not bad either. Cheap, might be decent, RP on a 1 year deal. I mildly endorse this mild move. 

[Steve Lein]

This is not a bad signing...But there's nothing to get excited about here either.

 

[Oldgoat_MN]

 

Meh. Not exactly exciting, but not bad either. Cheap, might be decent, RP on a 1 year deal. I mildly endorse this mild move. 

 

Hey Platoon!

 

Does this also qualify as 'faint praise'?