Nik Turley to start Sunday

[Seth Stohs]

In his post game media gathering, Paul Molitor announced that Nik Turley will start on Sunday. Corresponding 25 and 40 man roster moves likely after Saturday's game or before Sunday's.

[nicksaviking]

These promotions of journeymen vets typically draw an emotion somewhere between boredom and frustration.

 

Honestly though, with this one, my curiosity is more than piqued. I'm game for seeing if we've caught lightening in a bottle here. He's putting up some monster numbers, maybe something truly did click for him.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Agree nick. Can't imagine there would be a better time than now to see how he does.

[Rosterman]

But why did they sign Heston? Bullpen?

 

[Oldgoat_MN]

In my experience, there is no really good reason to expect the 27 year old Nik Turley to have an outing that is any better than poor in this, his first appearance in MLB.

And yet, I'm quite curious.

Nowhere in A, AA or AAA before this year did Turley ever put up the kinds of numbers he's been putting up this year. Along with his K rates being almost comical, he has managed to keep his WHIP down as well.

 

I'm looking forward to his start on Sunday.

[kab21]

 

In my experience, there is no really good reason to expect the 27 year old Nik Turley to have an outing that is any better than poor in this, his first appearance in MLB.

And yet, I'm quite curious.

Nowhere in A, AA or AAA before this year did Turley ever put up the kinds of numbers he's been putting up this year. Along with his K rates being almost comical, he has managed to keep his WHIP down as well.

 

I'm looking forward to his start on Sunday.

And this is the argument that I have continually made in favor of Santiago, Gibson and Hughes taking up space in the rotation and 'blocking' Berrios at the beginning of the season. The Twins were going to get to AAAA starters in a hurry like Tepesch and Turley and any others we see this season. None of Santiago (I still like him as a solid 4-ish ERA guy), Gibson or Hughes were going to be great this year but they are at least potentially a big step above AAAA pitchers.

[drjim]

If you cycle through enough retreads, you eventually find an interesting one.

 

San Fran has a pretty weak offense, might be a good way for him to break in, could have some success. Pitchers can follow strange development curves.

[HitInAPinch]

but, but, but, he's a Canadian!!!  

 

 

Sorry, couldn't resist.....      

[HitInAPinch]

But, seriously folks:  I've got to assume there's something in the MiLB pitching that Falvey and Levine don't like, right now.  

 

Me, I'd like to hear what that 'something' is.

[drjim]

But, seriously folks: I've got to assume there's something in the MiLB pitching that Falvey and Levine don't like, right now.

 

Me, I'd like to hear what that 'something' is.

I'm going to go with talent.

[Lonestar]

Fearless prediction: Nik Turley pitches good enough to avoid being optioned and get another start.  He becomes a poor man's Rich Hill with that curve ball.  Averages 5.2 innings per start with ERA under 3.50, helping to sustain the Twins unlikely quest for AL Central championship (with a record worse than both wild card teams).

 

[wsnydes]

 

I'm going to go with talent.

If that is the case, the state of this franchise is much worse than we think.  They aren't going to be able to buy enough pitching and without cleaning out the prospects they do have, they aren't going to be able to trade for enough of it either.

 

I do agree that that seems to be what they're telling us though.

[Seth Stohs]

It's MLB ready talent. The prospects are at AA. Gonsalves is 4 starts in after missing two months. Fernando Romero has huge talent, but he's not ready. Felix Jorge probably needs AAA time.

 

Turley isn't old, throws 91-94, good breaking pitches... he's been effectively wild in the minors, and deserves the opportunity. Im excited for him, and i hope he does well.

[drjim]

If that is the case, the state of this franchise is much worse than we think. They aren't going to be able to buy enough pitching and without cleaning out the prospects they do have, they aren't going to be able to trade for enough of it either.

 

I do agree that that seems to be what they're telling us though.

I guess this begs the question of what you thought the state of the franchise was going into the year. There's a reason the general manager was fired.

 

I personally feel slightly better about the current state, in that Mejia might be a functional starter and Berrios could end up prettt good. Both were far from certain coming in to the year.

 

If they keep Santana and sign a decent free agent (there are decent options and the team has some money), they should have a representative rotation on day 1 next year.

[drjim]

It's MLB ready talent. The prospects are at AA. Gonsalves is 4 starts in after missing two months. Fernando Romero has huge talent, but he's not ready. Felix Jorge probably needs AAA time.

 

Turley isn't old, throws 91-94, good breaking pitches... he's been effectively wild in the minors, and deserves the opportunity. Im excited for him, and i hope he does well.

Gonsalves could contribute by the end of the year, might even end up as a good 4.

 

I still see Romero as likely ending up as a good reliever.

 

Jorge definitely needs more time, may be an option late next year.

 

And they should draft a college starter that can help by later next year.

 

So of they do sign a solid free agent and keep Santana, they'll have a solid rotation with some depty behind it. The franchise is not in a great position, but it's not a disaster either.

 

And who knows, maybe they'll get lucky and find something with Turley.

[wsnydes]

 

I guess this begs the question of what you thought the state of the franchise was going into the year. There's a reason the general manager was fired.

I personally feel slightly better about the current state, in that Mejia might be a functional starter and Berrios could end up prettt good. Both were far from certain coming in to the year.

If they keep Santana and sign a decent free agent (there are decent options and the team has some money), they should have a representative rotation on day 1 next year.

I certainly didn't feel good about the state of the franchise, and that hasn't drastically changed. Considering how much they rely on their farm system and with how much it was touted just a couple of years ago, a lack of talent in the farm system is a rather large departure from that supposed high water mark.  This is part of the reason that I don't feel that they ever really started to rebuild to start with.  They've been treading water for some time in my opinion.  If the new FO is telling us that the cupboard is bare in pitching prospects, that means that we're going to have to wait even longer to have any sort of real seriously competitive team.  I agree that Mejia is a nice find.  I can't rely on Santana given his age, which is why I'd like them to deal him.  I wouldn't give him away, but if you can get a near ready pitching prospect out of the deal I'd take it.  But if the FO is telling us there aren't any reinforcements coming up from the minors, if you keep Santana you're window is one year - next year.  They don't have enough pitching to be real even next year.  Are they closer?  Sure, but with the last 6 years that this franchise has put together, a one year window at a championship isn't good enough.

 

I realize that AAA is relatively bare due to either injuries or the prospects haven't gotten there yet.  I'd like them to throw a couple of the relievers into the fire now so that they're more polished come next year.  Deal Santana for a ready or near ready pitching prospect if possible and bridge that gap.  I do think 2019 should be a very good year and I hope they get a bit of a head start next season with as many of the lower level pitching prospects as possible.  There is talent there, it's just not in AAA and what is in AAA is of bullpen stock and on mostly on the DL.

 

I'm not advocating pushing guys that clearly aren't ready, but those that are on the cusp should be thrown into the fire at this point.  Even the AAAA types should be brought up, given a chance, and then dealt with accordingly.  Get them out of the system and push some of the prospects lower in the minors.

 

All that said, I don't feel that the situation is as bad as what I describe in my first paragraph.  My frustration is that the hitters are ready now and with the lag in pitching, I don't think they're maximizing their potential as well as they could.  They need to find a way to get more pitching to bridge that gap without selling the farm.  The FA class sucks, so the braintrust needs to get creative.

[ashbury]

If you cycle through enough retreads, you eventually find an interesting one.

It's an expensive strategy.

 

Not in terms of salary, of course. But, except for the smallest-of-market teams, the constraining resource is not money, but space on the 40-man and (especially) the 25-man rosters. There is a lot of opportunity cost while you sift through the candidates, each year you try to bottom-feed, and you never have a strong enough roster to compete when you carry the candidates that turn out not to do well.

 

It's a fun way to root for a doormat franchise to pick itself up while beefing up the lower minors. You can get to about .500 if you're good at it. That's about the only time it's fun, though. I want us to be past that by now, but apparently not.

[jorgenswest]

Recent write up on fringe 5. It is probably posted elsewhere on site. He has been on this list a few times and you can follow the links back if interested.

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-fringe-five-baseballs-most-compelling-fringe-prospects-90/

 

Two pitch pitcher - fastball and curve ball. Other starters have been able to be successful using this combo 90% of the time.

[ThejacKmp]

it's also not crazy that Kyle Gibson is a function 4th starter the rest of the year. He's not good and the hopes of 2-3 years ago that he could develop into a facsimile of a #2 starter are gone but he's also not as bad as he was to begin this year. He's had a nice run and I could see him settling in at the back of the rotation. The Twins have good defense behind him and he's a guy who isn't going to strike out people with any consistency.

 

You can continue to compete if you have Santana, Berrios, Santiago, Gibson and Mejia with Hughes/AAAA pitcher filling that 6th starter spot (if nothing else, for all those doubleheaders the Twins have coming up). Especially since you have the potential for a Duffey-like cameo by a Gonsalves, Romero or Jorge down the stretch in late August, early September.

 

Gotta hit. Gotta hit.

[TheGiantTeapot]

I dunno. Feels like the FO is as surprised as anyone at the team's unexpected competence this season. We're all hoping they can sustain it, but are we really optimistic? They may have gotten everything they're going to get from Hector. Gibby is showing his typical flashes of brilliance before he reverts to his nibbling norm. Give Turley a shot, his numbers are promising enough. You roll the dice, you take your chances... it's a long season. Never know who might step up and shine!

[ThejacKmp]

 

It's an expensive strategy.

 

Not in terms of salary, of course. But, except for the smallest-of-market teams, the constraining resource is not money, but space on the 40-man and (especially) the 25-man rosters. There is a lot of opportunity cost while you sift through the candidates, each year you try to bottom-feed, and you never have a strong enough roster to compete when you carry the candidates that turn out not to do well.

 

It's a fun way to root for a doormat franchise to pick itself up while beefing up the lower minors. You can get to about .500 if you're good at it. That's about the only time it's fun, though. I want us to be past that by now, but apparently not.

 

Are they though? It seems to me that the Twins have essentially taken Michael Tonkin's spot and just moved a bunch of borderline guys through it. It's like streaming in fantasy sports. Yeah it doesn't build your team for the future but as long as you're only doing it with one roster spot, you're not hurting your team and you occasionally strike gold.

 

I guess I can't think of a single time where the Twins lost someone useful this year. Tonkin made it back to AAA and Daniel Santana is not someone I'm going to cry about (though he does have a .749 OPS with the Braves thus far).

[Circus Boy]

 

but, but, but, he's a Canadian!!!  

 

 

Sorry, couldn't resist.....      

Are you sure? No one knew anything about Roy Hobbs either.

[whosafraidofluigirussolo]

In his post game media gathering, Paul Molitor announced that Nik Turley will start on Sunday. Corresponding 25 and 40 man roster moves likely after Saturday's game or before Sunday's.

 

Guessing Hughes goes from the 10-day to the 60-day DL and either Heston or (Randy) Rosario goes to the minors

[Danchat]

I'm surprised to see Turley start over Heston... so I guess Heston's in the Wilk/Wheeler/Haley role now? Turley's getting his first major league start at age 27 but he does get strikeouts, which is nice. 

 

I'm thinking they send down R. Rosario for this move and DFA Rucinski. I think Randy is better off continuing in AA and Rucinski isn't needed.

[Tibs]

I'm glad to see this just for the fact that I thought he was released after getting 15 Ks in a game to make room for Chris Heston. I got Nik Turley and Nick Tepesch mixed up and never bothered to look it up. Everything makes a lot more sense now

[Twodogs]

Hopefully he catches lightning in a bottle, has a good half of baseball. I think the Twins are probably just seeing what they have with him.

[John Kelsey]

I'm glad they went with Turley, excited to see him pitch. 

[Roaddog]

I'm ok with him coming up. We don't exactly have anyone else who is ready and you have to be impressed with his numbers. If nothing else maybe he becomes a bullpen arm once some of the kids are ready.

[drjim]

It's an expensive strategy.

 

Not in terms of salary, of course. But, except for the smallest-of-market teams, the constraining resource is not money, but space on the 40-man and (especially) the 25-man rosters. There is a lot of opportunity cost while you sift through the candidates, each year you try to bottom-feed, and you never have a strong enough roster to compete when you carry the candidates that turn out not to do well.

 

It's a fun way to root for a doormat franchise to pick itself up while beefing up the lower minors. You can get to about .500 if you're good at it. That's about the only time it's fun, though. I want us to be past that by now, but apparently not.

Few teams are good enough that all 40 man spots are locked in. And if they were, they wouldn't do this strategy anyways.

 

Pitching can be goofy. Guys can unexpectedly click at any time for a variety of reasons.

 

This isn't an ideal strategy, but it isn't terrible to use the back end of a roster (25 and 40) to throw some stuff out there. A lot of the moves this year were scrambles, but this one is actually intriguing.

[drjim]

it's also not crazy that Kyle Gibson is a function 4th starter the rest of the year. He's not good and the hopes of 2-3 years ago that he could develop into a facsimile of a #2 starter are gone but he's also not as bad as he was to begin this year. He's had a nice run and I could see him settling in at the back of the rotation. The Twins have good defense behind him and he's a guy who isn't going to strike out people with any consistency.

 

You can continue to compete if you have Santana, Berrios, Santiago, Gibson and Mejia with Hughes/AAAA pitcher filling that 6th starter spot (if nothing else, for all those doubleheaders the Twins have coming up). Especially since you have the potential for a Duffey-like cameo by a Gonsalves, Romero or Jorge down the stretch in late August, early September.

 

Gotta hit. Gotta hit.

This isn't crazy at all. They could patch this thing together all year. Still a lot of talent in the lineup that could emerge.