Proposal: Tyler Duffy as new closer!

[darin617]

I have never been a huge Brandon Kintzler fan as a closer and would rather see him in a 7th inning role. Tyler Duffy closed in college and could be better suited as the new closer over trying to stretch him out to go back to starting.

[Mike Sixel]

 

I have never been a huge Brandon Kintzler fan as a closer and would rather see him in a 7th inning role. Tyler Duffy closed in college and could be better suited as the new closer over trying to stretch him out to go back to starting.

 

I'd rather Duffey be used in the 7th or 8th (or 6th) when the best hitters are up, in high leverage situations, than be saved for a 3 run lead in the 9th. 

 

I'd like to see him pitch in like 50-60 games, 2 innings or sometimes 1.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I've said this only half-jokingly: I think the Twins should try Gibson as closer / late inning guy.

[darin617]

 

I've said this only half-jokingly: I think the Twins should try Gibson as closer / late inning guy.

You might be on the right track if Gibson can't get his stuff together as a starter.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

It's not that far-fetched. Cody Allen with Cleveland is strictly a fastball-curveball guy. Those are literally the only two pitches he throws. Over time, Duffey might be able to ramp his fastball up to 94-95 in the bullpen.

[drjim]

 

It's not that far-fetched. Cody Allen with Cleveland is strictly a fastball-curveball guy. Those are literally the only two pitches he throws. Over time, Duffey might be able to ramp his fastball up to 94-95 in the bullpen.

 

No far fetched at all. There is a reason Duffey was a successful college reliever. I do wonder if that is the best use of his skillset though. Multiple inning guys working the 6-8th might bring more to the table.

[ashbury]

I've said this only half-jokingly: I think the Twins should try Gibson as closer / late inning guy.

If you like a closer who nibbles, nibbles, nibbles at the plate.

 

^{_{/ "But if he was the closer, I'd tell him to go right after the hitters." "Then, tell him that now."}}

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

If you like a closer who nibbles, nibbles, nibbles

On second thought, I would not like a closer like that

[Riverbrian]

I have nothing against Tyler Duffey as a closer. Although... I do feel that our more pressing need is starting pitching depth and I'm hopeful that Duffey could help. 

 

I have natural concerns about our closer position being handled by someone who joined the club on a minor league deal.

 

However... I strongly feel that Kintzler or anyone for that matter should fail before you remove him from the position. 

 

He is currently 3 for 3 in Save Ops... 4.1 Innings thus far allowing only 1 hit with 4 K with a 0.92 WHIP. 

 

Last Year he was 17 out of 20 which wasn't that bad. 

 

I'm just a big believer in letting people who are getting the job done continue getting the job done. 

 

 

 

 

[Blake]

 

I have nothing against Tyler Duffey as a closer. Although... I do feel that our more pressing need is starting pitching depth and I'm hopeful that Duffey could help. 

 

I have natural concerns about our closer position being handled by someone who joined the club on a minor league deal.

 

However... I strongly feel that Kintzler or anyone for that matter should fail before you remove him from the position. 

 

He is currently 3 for 3 in Save Ops... 4.1 Innings thus far allowing only 1 hit with 4 K with a 0.92 WHIP. 

 

Last Year he was 17 out of 20 which wasn't that bad. 

 

I'm just a big believer in letting people who are getting the job done continue getting the job done. 

Kintzler seems to have a really good attitude about the the whole thing too. And, you never know, Kintzler might very well turn out to be the find of the decade for the Twins.

 

 

[jimbo92107]

 

If you like a closer who nibbles, nibbles, nibbles at the plate.

 

^{_{/ "But if he was the closer, I'd tell him to go right after the hitters." "Then, tell him that now."}}

Actually, putting Gibson in as a closer might help him be a better starter. A closer can't afford to nibble, not at all. Being forced to go after guys in the strike zone might get Gibson to attack more, which later on would make him a better starter. For that reason alone I'd be willing to swap Gibson and Duffey for a while. Let Duffey have another go at starting, and let Gibson learn how to attack the zone. 

[Bark's Lounge]

 

I'd rather Duffey be used in the 7th or 8th (or 6th) when the best hitters are up, in high leverage situations, than be saved for a 3 run lead in the 9th. 

 

I'd like to see him pitch in like 50-60 games, 2 innings or sometimes 1.

I surrender here. I believe the golden age of the closer is coming to an end. It was a good time. Eckersley opened it up and the era was closed down by Mariano Rivera. Great HOF pitchers.

 

Andrew Miller really cemented in me last year with Cleveland what a lot of baseball nerds have been saying for the last half decade.

 

We don't have an Andrew Miller, and most teams do not. I would wish for Duffey to be put in those high leverage situations, but with the unknown about Mejia and Berrios, I don't think we will see Duffey utilized correctly. He will be, for the most part a long man.

[Vanimal46]

Concur with Mike and Bark. I like the thought of Duffey in the "fireman" role pitching in high leverage 7th/8th inning situations instead of closing. Kintzler can keep the spot, and, hopefully with more saves under his belt could be trade bait in July.

[jimbo92107]

As for Tyler Duffey, this article is giving up on him far too quickly as a starter. His best pitch is his curve, which I think is one of the best in baseball. Rather than developing a standard four-pitch mix, I would rather see Duffey develop a wider range of curves, and then throw them almost exclusively. I would like to see him throw versions in the 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's. Similar release points, you just don't know how fast and where it's going to cross the hitting zone. 

 

Would they sit on the curve? Of course. However, if you aren't sure where how fast or what trajectory that curve is going to have, it could be very difficult to square it up. Suppose he starts you with a 55mph rainbow. Looks like the second one is the same pitch, but you wind up behind the 70mph harder curve. A lot of good hitters miss Duffey's hooks by half a foot or more as it is. If he starts adding more variations, it could drive hitters crazy. 

[Vanimal46]

As for Tyler Duffey, this article is giving up on him far too quickly as a starter. His best pitch is his curve, which I think is one of the best in baseball. Rather than developing a standard four-pitch mix, I would rather see Duffey develop a wider range of curves, and then throw them almost exclusively. I would like to see him throw versions in the 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's. Similar release points, you just don't know how fast and where it's going to cross the hitting zone. 

 

Would they sit on the curve? Of course. However, if you aren't sure where how fast or what trajectory that curve is going to have, it could be very difficult to square it up. Suppose he starts you with a 55mph rainbow. Looks like the second one is the same pitch, but you wind up behind the 70mph harder curve. A lot of good hitters miss Duffey's hooks by half a foot or more as it is. If he starts adding more variations, it could drive hitters crazy.

 

He has that already, no? Haven't been able to check out his outings on TV this season, but I recall last year he had a hard(er?) ~78 MPH curve, and a slower ~70 MPH curve.

[jimbo92107]

 

He has that already, no? Haven't been able to check out his outings on TV this season, but I recall last year he had a hard(er?) ~78 MPH curve, and a slower ~70 MPH curve.

Yes, I have seen Duffey toss benders in the low 70's, which is why I think he could learn to throw them even slower. It is very difficult for guys that train to hit mid-90's heaters to hold their bat and wait...and wait...and wait... for a super slow ball. They wind up looking like bad softball players, swinging and whiffing as they try to drive it 600 feet. 

 

Of course I realize this isn't going to happen. Nobody is going to approve a major league pitcher throwing 80 percent curves of varying speeds and spins. It would be like some guy refusing to spin the ball at all. Can't possibly work...!

[Linus]

Is anyone concerned that Gibsom may have an injury? I watched part of the game and his fastball was shown as 89-90. Maybe that's normal for him but it's hard to be successful at that FB velocity. It could also explain the nibbling.

This has been pretty much his MO for his career. I don't think he is a very confident person and I fear this is who he is as a major league pitcher.

[BK432]

 

I have never been a huge Brandon Kintzler fan as a closer and would rather see him in a 7th inning role. Tyler Duffy closed in college and could be better suited as the new closer over trying to stretch him out to go back to starting.

 

I think the Twins can do better than Kintzler too, but I've fallen in love with the idea of Duffey being a high-leverage, 1-2 IP shutdown reliever. I think with him we can aim higher than closer.

[USAFChief]

Leave Duffey in the pen where he belongs. He can't survive as a starter with two pitches.

 

Closer? Rather have him available for earlier in the game.