The bullpen needs reinforcements

[TheLeviathan]

 

At this point, Duffey's role is pretty well defined.  He's a 1 to 2 inning guy, 7th inning or earlier.  He's been used for more than 2 IP only twice, and not since the season's first two weeks.  Almost exclusively used in games where the Twins are up or down 2 runs or less, so he's not a mopup guy.  I could easily see that usage pushed back an inning or two if he remains better than Belisle.

 

In any case, he's going nowhere.  He's young and he's been pretty effective.  

 

Sorry, I see how I might have sounded like I suggested getting rid of him.  I meant - it's time to put him into a more significant role or just make him the long guy.  Being this year's version of Tonkin makes no sense to me.

[DaveW]

Duffey should be in the rotation.

 

Try Gibson or Hughes in the pen.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

You don't have to throw Burdi straight into the fire, but having him available for late inning situations would really help this team.

 

You could argue we have more long relievers than late inning guys in our pen right now. I can't ever recall that being the case for the Twins during my time as a fan. I don't even recall it being close.

Youve got 3 guys Brelsow, Belisle, and Pressly that need to get upgraded significantly. Pressly can maybe figure things out but I'm not sure in the bigs.

 

If the starters were more consistently going 6-7 innings Wilk could be let go for a bench bat, but with the 2.2 inning clunkers coming 2 of 5 starts how can you justify it?

[jun]

Breslow is not as bad as Wilk, Belisle and Pressly. Wilk and Belisle should be demoted now. Bosher and Mejia should be recalled. Wilk seems like a left handed Tonkin who throws not as hard.

[crapforks]

Wilk is on the fringe. I'm certain that the team is scouting the waiver wire just to bring in fresh arms. We have seen Tepesch, Ruczinski, Wilk, Boshers, and Haley. Outside of Haley's rule V status, all of those listed pitchers are expendable. It is a very un-Twins like thing to do to pick a guy up and throw him in the fire for a few innings and discard him shortly after, but it looks like that might be the plan until the pen sorts itself out. I don't think someone like Wilk is thought as anything beyond a guy to eat a few innings before being given the boot.

[yarnivek1972]

Breslow is not as bad as Wilk, Belisle and Pressly. Wilk and Belisle should be demoted now. Bosher and Mejia should be recalled. Wilk seems like a left handed Tonkin who throws not as hard.

At least Wilk can give the team innings. They may not be very good innings, but are Breslow's? Sure, his ERA is okay, but he has never gotten righties out and now seems intent on walking lefties. He's aleady walked 3 out of the 17 LHB he has faced. That's not helpful. What the Twins really need is a LHP that can get RHB out at a decent rate. They don't have one.

[jun]

 

At least Wilk can give the team innings. They may not be very good innings, but are Breslow's? Sure, his ERA is okay, but he has never gotten righties out and now seems intent on walking lefties. He's aleady walked 3 out of the 17 LHB he has faced. That's not helpful. What the Twins really need is a LHP that can get RHB out at a decent rate. They don't have one.

When you give up 4 runs in an inning, the game is pretty much over. I don't think any major league teams would like to have those not very good innings.

[drew_7726]

 

Wilk is fresh.

 

*ducks

 

 

It's starting to look like we'll have quite a few selling teams at the trade deadline, so perhaps it will be a buyer's market, at least for less elite RP's. But I hope they don't have to go there, because I think they very likely have what they need and are about to start the parade anyway. Shaggy and Burdi for starters. Those two, combined with Kintzler, Rogers, Duff, Press, and Belisle wouldn't be all that tragic. And that still leaves a slew of options for later in the season that may not be terrible: Melo, Bard, Reed, Hildenberger, etc.

What about Haley?

[crapforks]

 

What about Haley?

based on what we are seeing, I wouldn't be surprised if he's offered back to the Red Sox. Is anyone seeing some potential there, waiting to be unlocked? he looks like just an arm. 

[Willihammer]

 

Duffey should be in the rotation.

Try Gibson or Hughes in the pen.

I would love to see what Gibson could do in 1 inning bursts.

 

Hughes is pretty crafty, a lot craftier than I expected before the year. I'd give him some leash.

[David HK]

 

Also possible/likely that Pressly rebounds a little. I still have hopes for him.

They may be able to scrape together a pen yet.

Someone made this point on an earlier thread, regarding Press' last outing looking good, and Kintzler nailing down 3 games in a row-    that there's nothing like seeing your bullpen mates and even starters get DFA'd or sent down to kind of light a fire under a guy...

[David HK]

Well, it looked like Wilk threw some good pitches at times, but my God, he and the rest of that crew are going to get Buxton killed out there...