Article: Twins To Sign RH RP Matt Belisle

[Vanimal46]

 

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

 

In the spirit of Valentine's Day coming up, this signing is the equivalent of taking your SO to Red Lobster.... If we planned this out a month or two in advance, we could have found a table at Manny's Steakhouse! 

[zenser]

If Tonkin is the odd man out, I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.  However, if he is the odd man out, I would have liked to see him in a one inning role.  He is not really a multiple inning pitcher and IMO was out there in multiple innings too often.  That is my only gripe in regards to how Tonkin was handled.

Edited February 3, 2017 by zenser

[Brock Beauchamp]

Not a super-sexy deal but the kind of deal this team should be making this season. Pick up a middling guy on a one-year deal, hope he's competent, and flip him at the deadline if the team is out of it in June.

[d-mac]

This is a classic Terry Ryan move. Yuck. No thanks. A NL only middle reliever approaching 40 that hasn't had a K/9 above 7 since 2013. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

This is a classic Terry Ryan move. Yuck. No thanks. A NL only middle reliever approaching 40 that hasn't had a K/9 above 7 since 2013. 

The guy doesn't profile as someone statheads want to love but he gets the job done.

 

In five of the past seven seasons, he has posted both a very good ERA and a very good FIP (and he did it in Colorado for most of that time).

 

Maybe this is the season he falls apart. Maybe it's not. For $2m, what the hell. Go for it.

[Vanimal46]

Also, in fairness, I'm sure there are posters on here in their mid-30s that wouldn't like being described as approaching 40. Hell, I'm 26, and if someone described me as a 30 year washout, I'd do this:

http://cdn0.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1001375/1780549-shakehead.gif

[nicksaviking]

It seems Tonkin is the guy most see as the odd man out. He's actually the kind of guy I want to see if Falvey's new strategies will benefit.

 

http://twinsdaily.com/topic/24826-article-how-will-derek-falvey-improve-twins-pitching/

 

A mid-90s FB and a slider are my two of my three favorite pitches. The first being a high-90s FB. At times he has looked really good.

 

Looking at which bullpen options on the 40-man should get the boot, it kind of seems difficult. The pen was terrible last year (last decade) but it looks to me that there are a lot of guys that are just good enough or just young enough where you don't really want to toss them out.

 

So I can see how Tonkin could be first on the chopping block. I can also see how Justin Haley might not make the cut which would cause a lot of us to wonder how the worst team in the league, with the first pick in the Rule V draft couldn't find room for a guy.

[markos]

 

Not a super-sexy deal but the kind of deal this team should be making this season. Pick up a middling guy on a one-year deal, hope he's competent, and flip him at the deadline if the team is out of it in June.

I'm not sure how much interest he will have at the deadline even if he is pitching well. He doesn't strike anyone out, and he's not left-handed. Despite being quite successful last season (at least by ERA), the Nats didn't think he was worth having on their playoff roster.

[d-mac]

 

The guy doesn't profile as someone statheads want to love but he gets the job done.

 

In five of the past seven seasons, he has posted both a very good ERA and a very good FIP (and he did it in Colorado for most of that time).

 

Maybe this is the season he falls apart. Maybe it's not. For $2m, what the hell. Go for it.

 

If they were going to reach this low in the barrel I'd have preferred a minor league deal. Rebuilding teams do not give guaranteed roster spots to Methuselah. 

[d-mac]

 

I'm not sure how much interest he will have at the deadline even if he is pitching well. He doesn't strike anyone out, and he's not left-handed. Despite being quite successful last season (at least by ERA), the Nats didn't think he was worth having on their playoff roster.

 

Belisle isn't even a deadline trade candidate if all goes well. His upside is of an August trade for a PTBNL. I just don't have a ton of confidence that he can successfully transition to the AL for the first at 36/37 while having posted sub 7K/9's the past three seasons. 

 

Tonkin, Boshers, Haley can all give similar production at or near the minimum. Why boot one of these younger, cheaper options off the roster? This move smacks of Terry Ryan era veteran fetishism. It's sub-optimal roster construction. And even at the fringes it still grinds my gears. 

[d-mac]

 

Also, in fairness, I'm sure there are posters on here in their mid-30s that wouldn't like being described as approaching 40. Hell, I'm 26, and if someone described me as a 30 year washout, I'd do this:

http://cdn0.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1001375/1780549-shakehead.gif

 

Same age is you. But I can tell you I certainly feel more like 30 than 25. I'm married and have a kid that's turning 1 in two weeks. 

[mikelink45]

Interesting.  Not exciting, but at least another name to talk about.  They have enough players they can drop that I do not worry about that. 

 

Checking stats - the ERA number for the last two years are amazing.  Why?  His career numbers are really pedestrian - who are we getting?  http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/belisma01.shtml

[Mike Sixel]

A guy that a playoff team didn't think was good enough to be on their playoff roster......I also am surprise this isn't a minor league deal.

[nicksaviking]

Interesting, he used to be a "sinkerballer" back in the day:

 

http://www.brooksbaseball.net/outcome.php?player=279571&b_hand=-1&gFilt=&pFilt=FA|SI|FC|CU|SL|CS|KN|CH|FS|SB&time=year&minmax=ci&var=pcount&s_type=2&startDate=03/30/2007&endDate=02/03/2017

 

He now only uses his sinker very sparingly. Maybe he was brought in to try to show Gibson and Stewart that it is possible to be cured of that disease.

[diehardtwinsfan]

hope that's the end of Boshers.

 

Edit:  Park, seriously???

[nicksaviking]

***Mod Note***

 

I moved the Park related posts to the new Park thread created by Seth.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Danny Santana is to Molitor what Nick Punto was to Gardenhire.

Case Closed

 

Punto was a much better player. But yes.

[GCTF]

 

Because he would have given Belisle 2 years and 6 million

Lulz...first post, totally worth the sign up.

[GP830]

 

He's younger than anyone they sign, which I'd lay odds of 80% happens now.

Right- and he hit 12 bombs in his first few months in a new league, while adjusting to culture, pitching, etc. His numbers were abysmal, but I'd love to see what he can with another year under his belt without the injured wrist.

[SotaFan14]

I don't have a issue with this signing as it adds a veteran piece to the pen.  Now, they need to get a veteran bat.  There is one guy that I have been waiting for them to sign.  Daniel Descalso can play all of the IF positions and is an ok bat.  This would add another option at SS and can spell Sano and Dozier if needed.  He has also played a few games in the OF the last couple years so could slot in there if needed.  In looking at the possible available OF's to replace Grossman as the 4th OF, there are a few options that sound ok but not great. Angel Pagan is one option that makes sense but not sure he could play in CF though he did log 122 games there in 2015.  He was a 2.1 WAR guy last year and was a key piece to all of those SF Giants WS titles. I seem to remember him as a good RISP guy as well.  Coco Crisp and Micheal Bourn are not great but can still handle CF if needed too and can still swipe a bag or too.  All 3 are long in the tooth but have been around the block and could bring a Hunter like voice for the younger guys.  

 

I would rather have any of those 3 to replace Grossman as the 4th OF.  His D is the main issue and aside from a few hot month, was below replacement player last year all around.  Danny needs to go as he is not good anywhere on the diamond.

[d-mac]

 

hope that's the end of Boshers.

 

Edit:  Park, seriously???

 

WTF??!!!!! Ok. FIRE FALVINE INTO THE SUN!!!!

[drjim]

 

Also, in fairness, I'm sure there are posters on here in their mid-30s that wouldn't like being described as approaching 40. Hell, I'm 26, and if someone described me as a 30 year washout, I'd do this:

http://cdn0.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1001375/1780549-shakehead.gif

 

As someone basically the same age as Belisle, the way my body feels after some pickup basketball definitely makes me realize I'm approaching 40.

[Vanimal46]

 

As someone basically the same age as Belisle, the way my body feels after some pickup basketball definitely makes me realize I'm approaching 40.

Kudos to you for still playing pickup basketball! We used to have a company basketball team that I attempted to play in... Until one of my mid-30's co-workers tore his achillies making a move towards the basket. Our team dispersed after that. 

[drjim]

 

Kudos to you for still playing pickup basketball! We used to have a company basketball team that I attempted to play in... Until one of my mid-30's co-workers tore his achillies making a move towards the basket. Our team dispersed after that. 

 

That is the classic injury for men my age. I have 3 good friends who have torn theirs in the last couple of years.

 

My strategy is minimal hustle.

[Platoon]

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.

And that is the reason I would not be too quick to throw Tonkin under a Greyhound! Molitor abused him at times last year. I had issues with Gardy, but at least his BP had a rough idea of what was expected.

[nicksaviking]

 

That is the classic injury for men my age. I have 3 good friends who have torn theirs in the last couple of years.

 

My strategy is minimal hustle.

 

My dad tore his in high school and I kind of think that stuff is genetic. A few years back after trying to get in shape by running (yuck) I got tendonitis in my achilles. Now I can't run more than about a mile without it feeling like it's on fire. Or so the excuse goes when my wife tries to get me in shape again.

[Mike Sixel]

 

My dad tore his in high school and I kind of think that stuff is genetic. A few years back after trying to get in shape by running (yuck) I got tendonitis in my achilles. Now I can't run more than about a mile without it feeling like it's on fire. Or so the excuse goes when my wife tries to get me in shape again.

 

biking, hiking, skiing, snow shoeing, .........

[nicksaviking]

biking, hiking, skiing, snow shoeing, .........

Yeah, I like riding my bike. It's been a little tough the last couple years though because my kids are old enough to bike, but too young to bike far. It's kind of hard to tell my kids I'm going out to ride my bike without them.

[Pardon My Dinger]

Kudos to you for still playing pickup basketball! We used to have a company basketball team that I attempted to play in... Until one of my mid-30's co-workers tore his achillies making a move towards the basket. Our team dispersed after that.

Ouch. On a similar note, I got hit in the head with a softball in two out of the probably ten games I've ever played. The second time, my ear almost fell off. Since then, I've decided I'm really more of a spectator.

[Twinsbar107]

 

Also, in fairness, I'm sure there are posters on here in their mid-30s that wouldn't like being described as approaching 40. Hell, I'm 26, and if someone described me as a 30 year washout, I'd do this:

http://cdn0.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1001375/1780549-shakehead.gif

Watching The Wire, while reading TD, and about to play OOTP. But the gif. This post doesn't add to the board, but had to post that after the gif.