Article: We Can Rebuild It: Creative Bullpen Fixes

[Vanimal46]

 

If people are skeptical about putting Hughes in the pen because they don't want Gibson in the rotation, how about if the Twins do take Nick's suggestion of calling up Romero for the pen, let him get his feet wet as a long man for a month or so and if he doesn't completely fall apart see if they can ease him into the rotation, hopefully allowing for both Hughes and Gibson to move to the pen by the AS break?

 

I'm skeptical Romero is even close to ready at this point... 

[Mike Sixel]

 

If people are skeptical about putting Hughes in the pen because they don't want Gibson in the rotation, how about if the Twins do take Nick's suggestion of calling up Romero for the pen, let him get his feet wet as a long man for a month or so and if he doesn't completely fall apart see if they can ease him into the rotation, hopefully allowing for both Hughes and Gibson to move to the pen by the AS break?

 

Long man? Those guys rarely play (well, maybe in MN they do).

 

Keep him in AA until August, then bullpen in August and September, then rotation next year. That, imo, should be the plan.

[Han Joelo]

I agree with SirLoin about Haley.  If I were to criticize the FO about anything, it would be Haley.  It's not like he's a flamethrower who might harness things, a la Pressly.  He seems a lot like what Hildenberger is to me, without the flexibility.

 

I know all teams do it, but manipulating the Rule V process with these pitch/DL stints is poor sportsmanship. It makes me queasy to be a party to it, and in all honesty, I feel bad for the guy. I'd bend my morals if he was Johan Santana, though.  

[tarheeltwinsfan]

I, for one, like the idea of Kintzler and Duffy switching roles, given our current bullpen makeup..

[Mike Sixel]

 

I, for one, like the idea of Kintzler and Duffy switching roles, given our current bullpen makeup..

 

Why? 

 

For me, I want the best one available to pitch when most needed, not when they need a "save". That, to me, is probably Duffey. Plus, I think he's more suited to go more than 3 outs...

 

So, why do people want to switch them?

[FlauerPauer]

I don't understand why Busenitz has not been given a chance.  How is Rucinski still on the 40 man?  Busenitz has an 11/9 k rate.  That should translate to at least a 7/9 k rate in the majors.  There's no reason guys like Rucinski and Breslow and Belise should be ahead of him right now.  Alan has been lights out so far in AAA.  Give the kid a chance.

 

#FreeBusenitz

[hugelycat]

We should make a push to coax Rojo Johnson out of retirement. Jason Castro has already caught for him, just saying...

[kab21]

 

If people are skeptical about putting Hughes in the pen because they don't want Gibson in the rotation, how about if the Twins do take Nick's suggestion of calling up Romero for the pen, let him get his feet wet as a long man for a month or so and if he doesn't completely fall apart see if they can ease him into the rotation, hopefully allowing for both Hughes and Gibson to move to the pen by the AS break?

I don't like anything about this Romero suggestion.

You want to take a prospect that has a history of arm trouble and move him to the bullpen for the middle part of the season and then move him back to the rotation? This sounds like a really bad idea imo.

[Sam Morley]

Looks like joe Nathan was released yesterday... eh? eh?

 

Isn't Glenn Perkins on the comeback trail?

 

Hughes to the pen isn't very inspiring, but it would be something. Can't imagine any uptick in velocity would be significant... fb avg from 89 to 91? Meh.

 

Surprised this article doesn't call for Gibson to the pen, especially since it does call for a Romero call up. If Romero were to come up, wouldn't we rather see him in the rotation, especially over Gibson and/or Hughes? Gibson's stuff it seems would play up out of the pen, especially compared to Hughes. He regularly hits 95 as a starter. How often have we seen Gibson cruise through 3 or 4 innings only to get solved and pounded the second-third time through. It's really hard to imagine him having success for the twins as a starter ever, at this point- maybe for another team. Seems like a try in the pen is worth it before parting ways.

[drjim]

 

I don't like anything about this Romero suggestion.

You want to take a prospect that has a history of arm trouble and move him to the bullpen for the middle part of the season and then move him back to the rotation? This sounds like a really bad idea imo.

 

Really bad idea.

[yarnivek1972]

My question regarding Romero would be what are your future plans? If you plan to have him be a starter, IMO having him pitch in the pen this year (or any year) would be an enormous mistake. There's plenty of speculation that going back and forth contributed to May's injury. Romero already has injury history. If he's going to be a starter in the future, keep him starting.

[Mike Sixel]

 

My question regarding Romero would be what are your future plans? If you plan to have him be a starter, IMO having him pitch in the pen this year (or any year) would be an enormous mistake. There's plenty of speculation that going back and forth contributed to May's injury. Romero already has injury history. If he's going to be a starter in the future, keep him starting.

 

Other than, you know, the Cardinals do it A LOT, sure.

[drjim]

My question regarding Romero would be what are your future plans? If you plan to have him be a starter, IMO having him pitch in the pen this year (or any year) would be an enormous mistake. There's plenty of speculation that going back and forth contributed to May's injury. Romero already has injury history. If he's going to be a starter in the future, keep him starting.

They will likely keep him as a starter as long as possible. Having him pitch out of the pen the last two months before putting him back in the rotation next spring shouldn't be a huge deal, it's a development path other teams use, especially to limit innings, which he needs to do this year.

 

I personally think he ends up in the pen, so I'd do the move quicker, but I understand wanting to give him every shot to ve a starter.

 

What happened to May shouldn't impact this.

[drjim]

Other than, you know, the Cardinals do it A LOT, sure.

The Cardinals have done it for a couple of guys, but I think this is overstating it.

[Mike Sixel]

 

The Cardinals have done it for a couple of guys, but I think this is overstating it.

 

didn't you just agree with me, in the post above this?

 

Maybe A LOT was an exaggeration....maybe.

[drjim]

didn't you just agree with me, in the post above this?

 

Maybe A LOT was an exaggeration....maybe.

A lot is an overstatement, but he is the type of pitcher it might work with. It's still a development strategy with some risk. Teams don't like flipping roles, dor better or worse.

 

Plus, he might be so good in the pen they won't move him back, which would be an outcome I would support.

 

He is a 6'0 RH, injury history, not clear he has a good enough 3rd pitch. Put him in the pen!

[Mike Sixel]

 

A lot is an overstatement, but he is the type of pitcher it might work with. It's still a development strategy with some risk. Teams don't like flipping roles, dor better or worse.

Plus, he might be so good in the pen they won't move him back, which would be an outcome I would support.

He is a 6'0 RH, injury history, not clear he has a good enough 3rd pitch. Put him in the pen!

 

I agree, that's his most likely outcome, but I'd certainly be willing to see if he can start for now.

[Brandon]

The Cardinals also have lots of injuries

[Mike Sixel]

 

The Cardinals also have lots of injuries

 

do they? I mean, I literally have no idea what injury rates are by team, compared to other teams.

[drjim]

 

do they? I mean, I literally have no idea what injury rates are by team, compared to other teams.

 

Don't know how it compares, but they've had Wainwright, Garcia, Lynn, Wacha, Rosenthal all go down with serious injuries the last 3 years. Probably a couple more.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

 

Why? 

 

For me, I want the best one available to pitch when most needed, not when they need a "save". That, to me, is probably Duffey. Plus, I think he's more suited to go more than 3 outs...

 

So, why do people want to switch them?

Did you dad ever say to you, "Cause I said so"? I remember my dad saying that a lot.  Well, I want Kintzler and Duffy switched because Nick is an owner and he said so!

[nater79a]

Hughes to the bullpen?  Ooooh, I don't know about that.  I think the creativity here needs to be how to get him off the squad completely.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Did you dad ever say to you, "Cause I said so"? I remember my dad saying that a lot.  Well, I want Kintzler and Duffy switched because Nick is an owner and he said so!

 

this made me laugh! thank you.

[cmoss84]

Sam Dyson was just released. Same as Joe Nathan. 

[nater79a]

 

Don't know how it compares, but they've had Wainwright, Garcia, Lynn, Wacha, Rosenthal all go down with serious injuries the last 3 years. Probably a couple more.

 

Not to mention Alex Reyes.

[Mike Sixel]

Listing anecdotes w/o looking at other teams does what? Clearly limiting pitch counts for RPs doesn't work, since the Twins have lots of injured minor league RPs......

[beckmt]

Hughes will be bullpen rotation depth next year, Gibson should be nontendered after this year. Santiago will be an FA. You will need 3-4 starters, plus 4-5 relievers next year. I am all for starting to indentify them now. How else are you going to have an idea of how many you have to buy on the market this winter?

[Mike Sixel]

Hughes will be bullpen rotation depth next year, Gibson should be nontendered after this year. Santiago will be an FA. You will need 3-4 starters, plus 4-5 relievers next year. I am all for starting to indentify them now. How else are you going to have an idea of how many you have to buy on the market this winter?

And Santana will be older. Agreed, figure out what you might have.

[Brandon]

Adam wainwright has missed over 2 seasons, jamie garcia, several relievers ad there was 1 other starter off the top of my head.

[drjim]

Hughes will be bullpen rotation depth next year, Gibson should be nontendered after this year. Santiago will be an FA. You will need 3-4 starters, plus 4-5 relievers next year. I am all for starting to indentify them now. How else are you going to have an idea of how many you have to buy on the market this winter?

Since they are still in first place, and the division is mediocre, I would still prioritize winning right now over trying to figure out if marginal guys currently in the minors might be able to help next year.