The most unsurprising postgame news (Haley DL, Vargas optioned)

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Jason Wheeler and Drew Rucinski? Why? I get Rucinski ( I guess), but why Wheeler?

Santiago pitched yesterday, if it were me, Wheeler would be an emergency pitcher today, but slated to start tomorrow to give Santiago another day and send Gibson to AAA.

 

Is wheeler exciting? Not really, but he can't be worse than Gibson

[Otto von Ballpark]

i hope Santana gives another lights out performance today, and Wheeler gets the start tomorrow, goes 7 strong and then the pitching staff goes back to 12.

 

Maybe bring up Palka on Wednesday

Why would Wheeler get the start tomorrow? It is Berrios' turn, and he even has an extra day of rest since his last start.

 

In any case, Palka looks like a worse bench option than Vargas right now.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Santiago pitched yesterday, if it were me, Wheeler would be an emergency pitcher today, but slated to start tomorrow to give Santiago another day and send Gibson to AAA.

 

Is wheeler exciting? Not really, but he can't be worse than Gibson

Santiago is already scheduled for Wednesday. Berrios is Tuesday. Sunday was Santiago's throw day anyway, presumably.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Why would Wheeler get the start tomorrow? It is Berrios' turn, and he even has an extra day of rest since his last start.

 

In any case, Palka looks like a worse bench option than Vargas right now.

i had it in my head that Santiago and Berrios were switched. Agreed Palka is a step down from Vargas, but a better hitter than the other options for the next 10 days

[old nurse]

 

Gibson should just be cut. How many more starts are we gonna waste on him?

Go out and trade for literally anybody with an arm.

Gibson is the equivalent of anybody with an arm. Rather than Gibson's name it would be someone else the people would be complaining about. To get someone of quality they would have to give something up. That would have the added advantage of giving people another player to write endless posts about giving up on a player

[tarheeltwinsfan]

If Haley's repertoire is what he exhibited yesterday, can someone explain why he has a roster spot for this year.

[70charger]

If you are willing to run a 13 man staff and the last 2 spots are pretty fungible/interchangeable, there is no reason you can't stretch out Duffy in MLB. Molitor has even had plenty of opportunity to start pushing him beyond 2 innings in his last 3 relief outings prior to Sunday's emergency appearance, if he had wanted to start that process already, but it could still be done on the fly.

 

If your pen gets taxed during the week, you can swap out one or two of those arms before Duffey's start so you have plenty of backup / long relief.

 

In a perfect world, obviously you don't like to stretch out a guy to start in MLB, but when you currently have Bad Kyle taking the hill every 5th day, you are obviously not in a perfect world. Relative to the status quo, there is little or no disadvantage from stretching out Duffey at the MLB level right now.

On mobile and can't like, but I agree with this.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Santiago is already scheduled for Wednesday. Berrios is Tuesday. Sunday was Santiago's throw day anyway, presumably.

his bullpen session was 10 AM yesterday

[drjim]

If Haley's repertoire is what he exhibited yesterday, can someone explain why he has a roster spot for this year.

Nope.

[Otwins]

 

his bullpen session was 10 AM yesterday

His batting practice session was in the evening

[Rosterman]

The Twins really want to keep Haley, for some reason. But at some point they have to decide if it will be worthwhile to burn a 40-man spot for him come the off-season.

 

Wheeler is a fine choice. Long-relief. Possible start if the Twins part with Gibson after a start.

 

Hope Ervin is set to pitch a complete game...or why bring up another guy you don't get to use until Tuesday.

 

And how is the rotation now set? Yes, Santiago may have thrown on the mound on his throw-in-the-bullpen day.

 

Anyone know why Duffey couldn't pitch a tad more, or wasn't he loose enough, coming in suddenly for Haley.

 

Pretty amazing that we are in first place.

 

But good for Wheeler.. Like so many guys, it is his job to keep, if he can shine. I would rather see guys that have played in our system get an opportunity than people we may never ever see again.

 

[SwainZag]

Why is there so much support to put Duffey back into the rotation?  Haven't we seen that how that works? Without a decent 3rd pitch, he always seemed to get hit hard the 3rd time through the order.  

 

Look at his numbers in the pen.  Walks down, K's up, velocity up.  He has looked like a true shutdown reliever this season, why do so many want to toy with that and put him back into the rotation? Color me crazy, but I would rather have a shutdown bullpen arm than a run of the mill 4.50 ERA, 1.4 WHIP starter who gets lit up every other time out.

[Riverbrian]

 

They didn't need 13 pitchers today, they just wanted 2 fresh arms. Optioning Gibson instead of Vargas would have accomplished the same thing.

Depending on how the pen was used this week, they could swap out one of those arms again before Duffey's turn in the rotation, or option Vargas at that time if they wanted.

 

True

 

It looks like they are committed to giving Gibson a few starts. 

 

Duffey... I have no idea what they are thinking short term or long term. 

[DocBauer]

Good for Wheeler! He finally gets at least some kind of a shot. I think I may have gone to AA for Rosario, but in Wheeler they probably have more of a long man they feel they needed for right now.

 

I don't believe Vargas was demotedin any way, shape or form. If you look at the roster, and options, the only real choice was to lose Adrianza or send Vargas down...temporarily.

 

Right now, we need Gibson to start and cross fingers. There just isn't any way to skip the 5th spot right now.

[mikelink45]

 

I think the message is clear and easy to put across: "We had a marathon game and we don't have a day off to rest pitchers for a long while. You're the only one with options, we'll get you back up in 10 days."

 

This will not effect his confidence.

He is not the only one - Gibson could be sent back down too and unlike Vargas would not be needed to pinch hit or fill in. 

[ThejacKmp]

 

He is not the only one - Gibson could be sent back down too and unlike Vargas would not be needed to pinch hit or fill in. 

 

If you send Gibson back down, you don't have a 5th starter. I don't think anyone is super enamored with Gibson but who do you have start in his place? Duffey needs to get stretched out and after pitching last night, that's going to be hard to do. I'm not sure the AAA fodder is much of a step up.

 

There wasn't a great decision to be made. Vargas down seems like the best of a bunch of bad ones.

[DaveW]

 

 I don't think anyone is super enamored with Gibson but who do you have start in his place? 

Anyone not named Gibson at this point.Gi

Give SOMEONE a chance. Gibson is done IMO, he needs a fresh start somewhere else.

[John Kelsey]

 

Anyone not named Gibson at this point.Gi

Give SOMEONE a chance. Gibson is done IMO, he needs a fresh start somewhere else.

 

I'm also in the anyone but Gibson camp and I think Duffey needs to stay in the pen. 

 

Give it to Slegers, he can't be worse. 

[Danchat]

Wheeler is here now, maybe he could replace Gibson? I'd rather keep Duffey in the pen.

 

It's really too bad May's elbow exploded. We could really use him.

[Mike Sixel]

This is what happens when you build a bad, old, bullpen filled with guys with no options. Entirely predictable.

[mikelink45]

 

If you send Gibson back down, you don't have a 5th starter. I don't think anyone is super enamored with Gibson but who do you have start in his place? Duffey needs to get stretched out and after pitching last night, that's going to be hard to do. I'm not sure the AAA fodder is much of a step up.

 

There wasn't a great decision to be made. Vargas down seems like the best of a bunch of bad ones.

They moved Wheeler - who is a starter and how will they use him.  If he takes Gibson's place the shuffle is even more inexplicable.

[kab21]

 

This is what happens when you build a bad, old, bullpen filled with guys with no options. Entirely predictable.

The worst part is the lack of upside from virtually everyone in the bullpen. That is a slight exaggeration but it is true.

[yarnivek1972]

 

The worst part is the lack of upside from virtually everyone in the bullpen. That is a slight exaggeration but it is true.

I don't think this is an exaggeration at all.  Is there really anybody out there you would expect to improve with more experience?  Rogers. MAYBE.  But even he is pitching as well as I think he is ever going to pitch.  I don't think Pressly needs more experience either.  He needs movement on his pitches.  MLB hitters can hit a 97 MPH straight fastball.  And they are.  9 extra base hits in 18 IP.