Nik Turley to start Sunday

[old nurse]

 

Journeyman means that he's played all over. After a long start to his career in the Yankees organization, including 1+ years on the 40 man roster, Turley has been in the Giants and Red Sox organizations. He spent 2016 in Somerset in the independent Atlantic League. Now he's with the Twins. He's also played winter ball, so I'm good with "journeyman." 

 

Now, that doesn't mean he doesn't have potential. It's possible that something clicked in the indy leagues (like they did for Boshers or Kintzler) and now he'll be solid in MLB... 

Journyman used to describe a solid player that never found a home. Mike Korgan and Terry Muholland comes to mind.  Todd Zeille is another. Journeyman minor league players were the ones you picked up to fill out the minor league roster to have a competitive team and to be a  disaster plan for the mlb team. Yohan Pino for example. Turley is not the former and I don't think he was brought in to be the latter.

[darin617]

 

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.

 

My opinion is that they DFA John Ryan Murphy. No reason to keep him around and I would be shocked if he got claimed. And if he did, the Twins could always find a replacement. No need to DFA Rucinski.

[mikelink45]

How fun - why not?  Is it better to start Santiago or Gibson?  Give the guy a shot.  He might not have a big career,but wouldn't it be great if he lit up the majors for a year or two?  Go Nik - and if you are successful you can explain where the "C" went in your name.  

[Old Twins Cap]

Simply put:  He's earned his shot.

 

People need to realize that every other player in the entire Twins organization is watching, and learning, how the Twins do business.

 

You come to this organization, you will be given a fair shot.

 

Nothing wrong with that, but, you need to show up or be shown the door.

 

Adios Tepesch, Milone, Tonkin, et al.

[Shane Wahl]

FWIW, I blogged about Nik Turley being a reasonable trade target from the Yankees in 2013.

 

I WILL be vindicated!

[Seth Stohs]

 

Was also the Yankees milb pitcher of the Year in 2012, FWIW. I know that's been a few years, but I think it speaks to some of his potential. From what I gather, he had some arm soreness and was released in 2014 and began bouncing around a bit before his independent league stint last season. I don't know, I'm not expecting greatness, but guys do get healthy and find themselves later in their career sometimes.

 

Correct. That's why I'll never complain about signing guys from indy leagues, or minor league veterans... because players can figure things out later, or after meeting a certain coach and hearing just the right thing for them, and that doesn't always happen in a traditional way. If he can be just a solid MLB contributor, that's a remarkable signing. Already a remarkable story and signing, but to get MLB production is an added bonus.

[Jerr]

In this very interesting/exciting Twins' 2017 season, bringing in a 10 years in the minors starting pitcher for those FIRST PLACE Twins to start.....GOT my attention for this game!!!!!!

Could be a very GREAT story in the making!

[Otto von Ballpark]

Rucinski DFA'd for the 40-man spot.

[jimbo92107]

The Fringe 5 video shows Turley throwing slow curves for standing strikes. I really hope he's got more than that. Major leaguers are pretty good at hitting slow curves, if that's all you've got. I hope he's got equally good control of his low-90's heat. 

 

Mainly, I hope he manages to control his adrenaline. Shake hands with Santana, that should help. Touch the ultimate cool. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

Randy Rosario optioned to AA for the 25-man spot.

[yarnivek1972]

I guess I need to be convinced that...

 

1) getting this one start is good for the development of the prospect

2) the organization can actually learn something significant about the prospect in this small snapshot

3) it gives the Twins the best chance to win tomorrow's game.

 

It doesn't need to be all three but if it isn't number 3 it had better be the other 2.

I think Turley has just as good of a chance to win as anyone else the Twins could throw out there.

[ThejacKmp]

I hope he has a nice start for many reasons but also because it would help the Twins get around the doubleheader next weekend against Cleveland. Santiago could come off the DL and be the 6th starter on Saturday.

[jorgenswest]

I think Turley has just as good of a chance to win as anyone else the Twins could throw out there.

I agree. I am not convinced they should have given this start to someone who might be seen as a prospect.

[yarnivek1972]

I agree. I am not convinced they should have given this start to someone who might be seen as a prospect.

Well, what is a prospect? I do believe Turley was likely the best chance to win today. But, I also believe he is a guy who MIGHT be able to help the team in the future. Perhaps as a starter. Perhaps as a reliever. Perhaps not at all. But he deserves a legitimate shot to prove he can pitch at the MLB level or prove he can't.

[Thrylos]

Turley is under team control for 6 seasons including 2017, until his age 33 season.  He was lights out at AA and good (albeit unlucky - .368 BABIP, 66.3% LOB%) at AAA.  He improved his command and increased his velocity this season.  He is a lefty.  LHSPs do not grow on trees.  The Twins should give him any possible chance to succeed.

 

He is not Buddy Bo or Scott Diamond.  He had video game numbers at AA...

[jorgenswest]

Well, what is a prospect? I do believe Turley was likely the best chance to win today. But, I also believe he is a guy who MIGHT be able to help the team in the future. Perhaps as a starter. Perhaps as a reliever. Perhaps not at all. But he deserves a legitimate shot to prove he can pitch at the MLB level or prove he can't.

It seems like you are arguing with me even though we agree. I think my original comment about being content convinced traces back to those who felt the Twins should be investing their time in a younger player.

 

Is a 27 year old a prospect? Maybe not in the sense that they are in the range of prime development, but I don't care so I changed it to younger. Why spend time arguing about a definition?

[crapforks]

I like that the team aggressively promoted someone with eye-popping, potentially flukey numbers in a spot where he was needed. They did it before anyone pushed for it. This FO is behaving very different from what we are used to.

[yarnivek1972]

It seems like you are arguing with me even though we agree. I think my original comment about being content convinced traces back to those who felt the Twins should be investing their time in a younger player.

 

Is a 27 year old a prospect? Maybe not in the sense that they are in the range of prime development, but I don't care so I changed it to younger. Why spend time arguing about a definition?

I do think we agree and I wouldn't say we are arguing at all. Just clarifying points.

[jimmer]

Turley is in no way any kind of a prospect.  He's organizational filler who just happens to play on a team so pitching starved, he's getting a start.

[jorgenswest]

When you come up at 26 or older, there is little space left for upside and you have to perform. Turley needs to perform or they go to the next guy.

[Mike Sixel]

I like that the team aggressively promoted someone with eye-popping, potentially flukey numbers in a spot where he was needed. They did it before anyone pushed for it. This FO is behaving very different from what we are used to.

Maybe no one pushed for it because he isn't a prospect...

[JustinCB]

Maybe no one pushed for it because he isn't a prospect...

Looked better than Gibson at least!

[Thrylos]

 

Looked better than Santiago at least!

 

FTFY

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Looked better than Gibson at least!

agreeed w/ Thrylos too.

 

If Turley could gain some efficiency (as some of his write ups suggested) he could be very effective. the high pitch count is what ultimately limited is start from being better.

 

Seems like he pitched well enough to get another shot.

[Mike Sixel]

giving up 4 runs in 4 innings.....was good? Huh.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

giving up 4 runs in 4 innings.....was good? Huh.

9.00 ERA, but a 1.10 FIP.

 

Relative to our last spot starter (Tepesch) and recent Santiago, that's not bad.

[Doomtints]

Hurley wasn't a complete disaster. However, this bullpen does not have enough team players when it comes to trying to give young or struggling pitchers a chance.  

 

We are approaching time for the Twins to make a decision, however. The Twins either need to find another guy who can start or a few guys who can back up the starters in the pen. The latter is probably wiser.

[Doomtints]

 

9.00 ERA, but a 1.10 FIP.

 

Relative to our last spot starter (Tepesch) and recent Santiago, that's not bad.

 

If they had kept him in all game at that rate, it would have been a 1-run game. He played better than those who followed.  

[Thrylos]

 

giving up 4 runs in 4 innings.....was good? Huh.

 

 

That's why ERA is worthless.  He gave up 3 runs and had a man on base.  The next pitcher (Heston) made that guy score but it was charged of Turley.

 

First inning he had the butterflies and regardless, he adjusted and kept the Twins in the game, which is more than can be said for someone like Santiago and Gibson (other than the latter's last appearance.)

[Mike Sixel]

 

That's why ERA is worthless.  He gave up 3 runs and had a man on base.  The next pitcher (Heston) made that guy score but it was charged of Turley.

 

First inning he had the butterflies and regardless, he adjusted and kept the Twins in the game, which is more than can be said for someone like Santiago and Gibson (other than the latter's last appearance.)

 

So, 3 runs in 4 innings is good? I'm so confused.