Berrios Video

[Mike Sixel]

Normally I'd bury this in teh "fangraphs and other national ...." thread....but here is his 6th inning yesterday! Enjoy.

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/instagraphs/daily-prospect-notes-51/

 

 

[drjim]

I think he is the one called up this week, but this is the rub:

 

 

Whatever Berrios has left to learn might have to be taught by major-league opponents.

 

If he's called up he'll get a couple of starts and hopefully he does well, but they won't keep running him out if he doesn't show improvement, no matter how much he has dominated AAA. At least not at this point of the season.

[Jerr]

Looks good, but struggles when he comes up.....a lot like my take on Buxton.

Bring him up and let him raise and learn in the majors.

[nicksaviking]

 

I think he is the one called up this week, but this is the rub:

 

 

If he's called up he'll get a couple of starts and hopefully he does well, but they won't keep running him out if he doesn't show improvement, no matter how much he has dominated AAA. At least not at this point of the season.

 

I'd agree but with the belief that his leash also might extend past Gibson's. If Berrios gets called up and struggles initially I could see them riding him a bit longer then they normally would if Gibson too is still a train wreck. If he can't turn it around I think the team makes a decision on him first regardless of how Berrios performs. Which would buy Berrios extra time through no actions of his own.

[drjim]

 

I'd agree but with the belief that his leash also might extend past Gibson's. If Berrios gets called up and struggles initially I could see them riding him a bit longer then they normally would if Gibson too is still a train wreck. If he can't turn it around I think the team makes a decision on him first regardless of how Berrios performs. Which would buy Berrios extra time through no actions of his own.

 

I'm looking forward to Berrios getting another crack at this. And the front office isn't going to call him up unless he gets at least 5 starts or so.

 

For Berrios, it's not a him vs. Gibson thing, it is solely his develpment. If Berrios is good, he'll stay. They'll move the other pieces around. If he's not doing well, they'll send him back down and figure it out.

[drjim]

And I don't think the team will move on Gibson first. They'll throw Gibson out there until he is forced from the rotation by someone else. Even if Berrios is great, it will still have to be another starter (such as Mejia) that forces Gibson out.

[USAFChief]

There just isn't any reason he shouldn't be in Minnesota for his next start.  None.

[gunnarthor]

Berrios has now made 35 starts at AAA, 223ip, 2.54 era, 10 k/9, 2.5 bb/9.  And he was extremely young for his age.  He's made 14 ML starts.  Bring him up and don't think about sending him down until he has 35 ML starts under his belt.  

[John Kelsey]

 

Berrios has now made 35 starts at AAA, 223ip, 2.54 era, 10 k/9, 2.5 bb/9.  And he was extremely young for his age.  He's made 14 ML starts.  Bring him up and don't think about sending him down until he has 35 ML starts under his belt.  

 

This. I'd give him a long leash. 

[Mike Sixel]

 

Berrios has now made 35 starts at AAA, 223ip, 2.54 era, 10 k/9, 2.5 bb/9.  And he was extremely young for his age.  He's made 14 ML starts.  Bring him up and don't think about sending him down until he has 35 ML starts under his belt.  

 

Agreed. Call him up this week, leave him up all year. 

[Whammy]

That 0-1 pitch to the 3rd batter was super duper filthy.

[Mike Sixel]

I was just glad it wasn't blocked at work, so I could watch it. He has stuff. That's clear. 

[DaveW]

 

There just isn't any reason he shouldn't be in Minnesota for his next start.  None.

He literally can't be worse than some of our other options, that's for sure.

And of course he can be so so so so so so so so so so so much better.
He needs to be up NOW.

[crapforks]

That 0-1 pitch to the 3rd batter was super duper filthy.

But that 1-2 fastball to strike him out looked meaty. Is he efficient in the minors because he can blow by more of the hitters?

[gunnarthor]

 

But that 1-2 fastball to strike him out looked meaty. Is he efficient in the minors because he can blow by more of the hitters?

Well, certainly some of the swings the batters took were on pitches that were balls and ML hitters probably don't make those swings.  I do think Berrios will have some trouble again because he'll have to throw real strikes but that lineup did have a few MLers in it.  He'll be fine but he'll struggle until he can throw stuff in the zone where he wants it.  But I'd love to see Castro work with him.

[gheggs42]

 

But I'd love to see Castro work with him.

This is going to make a huge difference for J.O, IMO.

[drjim]

But that 1-2 fastball to strike him out looked meaty. Is he efficient in the minors because he can blow by more of the hitters?

Without question, but that is probably true of any prospect coming up. But he should have enough to be an effective starter.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Without question, but that is probably true of any prospect coming up. But he should have enough to be an effective starter.

 

It would be true of every MLB pitcher, or Sano wouldn't get so many meatballs....it's not easy to throw the perfect pitch thousands of times a year.

[ashbury]

And he was extremely young for his age. 

So was I, when I was born. But then I got older.

[rghrbek]

It looks like everyone on this thread is in agreement, but I would probably take bets that Tepesch or Gibby gets that start...

 

I will be frustrated if this happens to say the least.

[TheLeviathan]

Those of us who doubted the Twins ability to compete this year could be proven very much wrong by this one guy.

 

Adding an effective Berrios to Santiago and Santana could very well put this team in it to the end.

 

And I'd very much love to be wrong.  

[DaveW]

Santana, Berrios, Sano, Kepler, Buxton, Dozier are enough to keep them in the wild card race IMO. Dozier, Buxton and Berrios all need to step up though

[Brock Beauchamp]

Those of us who doubted the Twins ability to compete this year could be proven very much wrong by this one guy.

 

Adding an effective Berrios to Santiago and Santana could very well put this team in it to the end.

 

And I'd very much love to be wrong.

Indeed. Imagine what this team looks like with a competent Buxton (who seems to be making strides) and an above average Berrios.

[drjim]

And to keep beating a dead horse, imagine all those things and an additional good bullpen piece or two.

[Mike Sixel]

 

And to keep beating a dead horse, imagine all those things and an additional good bullpen piece or two.

 

Heh, I almost posted this, but figured it was dust by now....

[TheLeviathan]

 

Indeed. Imagine what this team looks like with a competent Buxton (who seems to be making strides) and an above average Berrios.

 

I'm being patient on Buxton.  But yes, he could jump them on to the next level.

 

To build on this, at some point this lineup could be really, really lethal:

 

Dozier 

Polanco

Buxton

Sano

Kepler

Grossman

Mauer

Castro

Rosario

 

Even more lethal if anyone can convince Brian Dozier he gets into heaven easier if he bats 5th.....

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

I'm being patient on Buxton.  But yes, he could jump them on to the next level.

 

To build on this, at some point this lineup could be really, really lethal:

 

Dozier 

Polanco

Buxton

Sano

Kepler

Grossman

Mauer

Castro

Rosario

 

Even more lethal if anyone can convince Brian Dozier he gets into heaven easier if he bats 5th.....

I'm patient on Buxton as well. I should have clarified: a .700-.750 OPS is what I consider competent. Given how he has played defense this year, that could make him a 4 WAR player. Fangraphs has his defense for 2017 at 5.2. The next closest non-catcher is at 3.4, almost two full points lower. His UZR/150 stands at an absurd 48.1. I tend to ignore UZR/150 because I think it's garbage but that number is beyond ridiculous.

[AlwaysinModeration]

And to keep beating a dead horse, imagine all those things and an additional good bullpen piece or two.

Just to be clear, you are advocating for 14 or 15 pitchers on the roster?

[Oxtung]

I'm fine with Berrios staying in AAA if the Twins feel there are a few very specific things they want to see him work on. If there is an end point and a clearly laid out plan to get him there then pitching at AAA is less stressful and there won't be the incentive to pull him when he gets in trouble or skip his starts there will be at the MLB level.

 

On the other hand if he is only there because they aren't sure what to do with him...

[HitInAPinch]

I said sometime last year, that Berrios could be something like Greg Maddux.  I watched video on both yesterday.  Berrios looks closer to Maddux's delivery this year, but still needs work:  arm still drags a bit, his 'finish' is inconsistent.  The big difference is Berrios doesn't drive through his delivery like Maddux did. But there is improvement and that's all that really counts.  I see no reason to NOT bring him up.  We really need to see what he can do against MLB hitters.

 

Yeah, I know, an unfair comparison to Maddux.  I think if the Twins do better than what they did to Meyer and Berrios in Houston, Berrios may be on the MLB roster permanently this year.