COLUMN: Handicapping the No. 5 SP Spot

[Brandon Warne]

Wrote about this for Zone Coverage today: 

 

http://zonecoverage.com/2017/twins/handicapping-the-no-5-starter-battle-for-the-twins/

 

As always, looking for good discussion and (kind) criticism here!

[Mike Sixel]

Great article

[Brandon Warne]

Thank you sir.

[Brandon Warne]

I mean it has to be a distant consideration, but it would sort of be out of left field, wouldn't it? I think it might raise some eyebrows since he's been used pretty normally this spring. 

[Mike Sixel]

I thought it was one of your better articles. Lots of detail, clearly a ton of thought went into it. 

 

Unfortunately, the site is blocked at my work.....but fortunately, I have a phone!

[DocBauer]

Nice read!

 

Berrios is probably not going to be stretched out enough to win the spot, unfortunately. Doesn't mean he doesn't come up soon. I think it is down to Duffey and Mejia. The winner may actually depend on the final makeup of the pen.

 

As for Hughes, today was a major bummer. But he has looked pretty good until today and has far exceeded my expectations. Let's how he looks next time out. Guys sometimes just have bad days.

[beckmt]

I hope this puts two starter positions in play.  Hughes needs to build up arm strength, and should use a rehab assignment before entrusting him to a rotation spot. 

[Willihammer]

I hope this puts two starter positions in play.  Hughes needs to build up arm strength, and should use a rehab assignment before entrusting him to a rotation spot.

If not the pen.

[beckmt]

Actually like the idea of dropping Haley and putting Hughes in the pen.  Then if Duffey fails you can swap him with Hughes or send  him down and bring up Berrios.

[gheggs42]

How hard do you guys think Duffey would throw if he were in the pen?

[Mike Sixel]

 

How hard do you guys think Duffey would throw if he were in the pen?

 

IIRC, he might gain 1-2MPH, if he's "average" in gain.

 

Oddly, it is hard to find that data on line, or my google foo is off today...

[nicksaviking]

 

How hard do you guys think Duffey would throw if he were in the pen?

 

Duffey and Chargois were co-closers for Rice prior to the 2012 draft. It seems to me only Chargois was touted as having plus velocity. I'd guess Duffey could bump up the velocity in the pen but probably not to a level where we all get excited.

 

But that's not his calling card really, he's useful because of a really good curveball. That could still play really well in the pen if it remains a knee-buckler and was paired with a 92-93 MPH FB.

[Lee-The-Twins-Fan]

I think Mejia will get the fifth spot. I was hoping for Haley, but it looks like he'll need more seasoning. 

 

Mejia will be good in the 5 spot. Glad they let Vogelsong go.