Rotation Order

[amjgt]

When we have a chance to hit the reset button at the All Star break, what pitching order do you think we should have?

 

Let's assume current starting 5.

 

I think we need to break up Santana and Berrios. It hurts the bullpen too much to have the other 3 back to back.

 

I think I'd keep the lefties together.

 

Santana

Gibby

Berrios

Santiago

Mejia

[yarnivek1972]

If Santana pitches in the All Star game, which is still a possibility, he likely won't start the first game back.

[Oldgoat_MN]

I appreciate your idea of breaking up Santana and Berrios as a way of resting the bullpen. Your lineup looks pretty good. Makes sense, given how seldom Gibson lasts 6 innings.

[caninatl04]

This is NOT my original idea, but a poster said it best:

Santana

Berrios

Rain

Rain

AAA du jour

Repeat as needed.

[Brandon Warne]

Don't overthink it:

 

Santana-Berrios-everyone else.

 

Line those two up to get more starts than anyone else in the rotation.

[amjgt]

I don't think having them back to back increases their chances of being able to skip guys

[Brandon Warne]

 

I don't think having them back to back increases their chances of being able to skip guys

 

They rarely do that anyway, and I'm really not sure it matters how the rotation is lined up as far as days off are concerned. 

[Pardon My Dinger]

Not exactly related, but yesterday, for some reason, I just remembered that Trevor May is a guy who exists. That gave me a little bit of a warm fuzzy. 

[mikelink45]

Gibson is the same guy that got sent down.  I do not like him up in the #2 slot.  After Santana and Berrios it really does not matter.  My biggest hope for the other three is that Mejia will get his talent to shine - he has more potential for success so I would put him three.  And personally I would put Gonsalves in place of Gibson - what do we have to lose?

[amjgt]

 

Gibson is the same guy that got sent down.  I do not like him up in the #2 slot.  After Santana and Berrios it really does not matter.  My biggest hope for the other three is that Mejia will get his talent to shine - he has more potential for success so I would put him three.  And personally I would put Gonsalves in place of Gibson - what do we have to lose?

 

Do not mistake this as an approval of Gibson.

 

Nobody would argue he's our #2.

 

What I'm saying is the the order of our rotation doesn't have to go in the order that we trust them and, in fact, sticking to that order is probably forcing us to use relievers in spots we'd rather not use them.

 

I like keeping the lefties together because then it's less likely that those lefties will see righty-dominant lineups (although with Santiago's splits this year, he'd probably welcome it)

[bluechipper]

I like your order in splitting up Santana and Berrios, even if it might be Berrios first if Santana pitches in the All Star game. (I suppose it's possible Berrios makes it too with the lack of SP options in the AL)

[DocBauer]

I would stick with Santana and Berrios, in whichever order, in a traditional order. I guess I'd go Santiago 3rd, being the more experienced the LH and hoping he resorts to his "norm", followed by Gibson and Mejia.

 

I understand the "save the pen" theory by breaking up Santana and Berrios, but I also feel those guys back to back helps give "relief" to the pen for a couple of days, helping to freshen them up for the next 3 days. And really, you can't predict mass usage those next 3 days. Someone can go right ahead and surprise a bit and give you a solid 6 IP on any given night. So as someone said, don't overthink it.

[yarnivek1972]

There's also the friendly competition factor putting Santana and Berrios back to back. Anything you can do, I can do better...

[Rosterman]

Just find 2 other bodies to be the third and 4th, not currently on the 25-man roster or DL.

 

[jun]

Santana

Mejia

Berrios

Gibson

Santiago

 

Gibson could move down to #5 if Santiago performs better

[diehardtwinsfan]

Santana, Berrios, Mejia, pray for rain.

 

I think Mejia is coming a long nicely, and while we will get the occasional clunker from him, he's starting to go deeper into games and is more effective. He may be a 5 for the rest of this season, but a 5 with upside is something we really need. I'm almost ready to say that I'm quite confident in him for 2018 as well...  Not quite there yet, but he's been encouraging.

[yarnivek1972]

Has anybody heard anything about a possible IP cap for Berrios? I ask, because it was mentioned as part of a fantasy article in Yahoo sports. If he has one, it's probably 190-200. That sounds like a lot. He's already at 100. I figure he has about 18 regular season starts left. That's only 5 IP per to get to 190.

 

If the Twins remain in contention, it could become an issue.

[drjim]

Has anybody heard anything about a possible IP cap for Berrios? I ask, because it was mentioned as part of a fantasy article in Yahoo sports. If he has one, it's probably 190-200. That sounds like a lot. He's already at 100. I figure he has about 18 regular season starts left. That's only 5 IP per to get to 190.

 

If the Twins remain in contention, it could become an issue.

200 seems reasonable. Maybe they start him 4th or 5th out of the all star break. I would guess 17 starts left.

[caninatl04]

What are reasonable MLB arrival times for the three AA pitchers?  2018? 2019?

 

And I'd vote to replace Falvey with Thibodeau. Tom's making things happen!

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I was listening to the pre game conversation between manager Paul Molitor and Cory Provus this morning. Molitor told Provus that his rotation after the break will set up as:

 

Berrios, Santana, Gibson. 

 

Re Berrios: I have no problem with Berrios starting the first game following the All Star break on seven days' rest and pitching every fifth day or fifth turn in the rotation thereafter until the end of the season. 

 

Re Santana: I am a little annoyed however about Santana starting the second game after the break. Partly because I like the idea the OP had about breaking up the best two pitchers (ymmv), and more importantly because Erv is not going to get the benefit of rest that other MLB players will get over the break. Assuming he pitches in the All Star game, Santana will still need to warm up and ready himself to pitch that night, and it is unknown which inning he will come in or how easy or difficult that inning will be. Ervin will then need to turn around and prep himself to pitch on the following Saturday, which is only three days' rest, meaning his bullpen will need to be on the Thursday during the break when he is away from the team and could be catching up on rest and recharge.

 

I know that Santana is making a nice wage for himself to throw baseballs for a living and this is not hard physical labor. I understand the Twins are more likely than not to miss the postseason regardless of who pitches when, and that Morris and Blyleven see themselves as superior pitching specimens who had it tougher back in their day (didn't we all). The Twins might also have matchup info that compels them to align Santana for Saturday and thereafter. Yet I think a rested pitcher is a better pitcher and the benefits might outweigh the costs of holding Santana back a couple days; perhaps until the home opener Monday night against the Yankees, for example. 

 

I have a couple other nitpicks about sending Santana out on the Saturday following the break, but that is the primary one.

[Brock Beauchamp]

What are reasonable MLB arrival times for the three AA pitchers? 2018? 2019?

I suspect we'll see Romero this year depending if the Twins are in contention in September.

 

The problem isn't when the prospects will arrive, it's whether they'll ever be any good.

 

Gonaslves, Romero, and Jorge are nice pieces to have but they are NOT elite prospects and it's incredibly unlikely they save this rotation.

[yarnivek1972]

I was listening to the pre game conversation between manager Paul Molitor and Cory Provus this morning. Molitor told Provus that his rotation after the break will set up as:

 

Berrios, Santana, Gibson.

 

Re Berrios: I have no problem with Berrios starting the first game following the All Star break on seven days' rest and pitching every fifth day or fifth turn in the rotation thereafter until the end of the season.

 

Re Santana: I am a little annoyed however about Santana starting the second game after the break. Partly because I like the idea the OP had about breaking up the best two pitchers (ymmv), and more importantly because Erv is not going to get the benefit of rest that other MLB players will get over the break. Assuming he pitches in the All Star game, Santana will still need to warm up and ready himself to pitch that night, and it is unknown which inning he will come in or how easy or difficult that inning will be. Ervin will then need to turn around and prep himself to pitch on the following Saturday, which is only three days' rest, meaning his bullpen will need to be on the Thursday during the break when he is away from the team and could be catching up on rest and recharge.

 

I know that Santana is making a nice wage for himself to throw baseballs for a living and this is not hard physical labor. I understand the Twins are more likely than not to miss the postseason regardless of who pitches when, and that Morris and Blyleven see themselves as superior pitching specimens who had it tougher back in their day (didn't we all). The Twins might also have matchup info that compels them to align Santana for Saturday and thereafter. Yet I think a rested pitcher is a better pitcher and the benefits might outweigh the costs of holding Santana back a couple days; perhaps until the home opener Monday night against the Yankees, for example.

 

I have a couple other nitpicks about sending Santana out on the Saturday following the break, but that is the primary one.

Santana might throw 15-20 pitches Tuesday. That's less than he would throw on the side between starts. If for some odd reason he throws more than that, Molitor probably changes the plan. If he throws that many, odds are he would get taken out mid inning.

 

Pretty much guarantee that all the other starters that appear will start Saturday. I don't think it is a good idea to micromanage and try to set a particular pitcher into a particular series. The object has to be to get your best pitchers into as many games as possible. That means running Ervin out there as soon as it is prudent. That is Saturday.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

I suspect we'll see Romero this year depending if the Twins are in contention in September.

 

The problem isn't when the prospects will arrive, it's whether they'll ever be any good.

 

Gonaslves, Romero, and Jorge are nice pieces to have but they are NOT elite prospects and it's incredibly unlikely they save this rotation.

Romero's career high for innings in a season is 90 set last year. He's got 85 innings so far in '17.

 

I doubt he's still pitching in September, but he could get a few relief appearances for the Twins in August.

[spinowner]

After the break:

Berrios

Santana

Mejia

Gibson

Santiago

 

I would not give consecutive starts to the lefties. I think it's better to make the opposition change their approach from game to game.

 

I would not expect this rotation to last for the rest of the season. Days off, injuries, poor performance, and other factors are certain to come into play but this is how I would proceed beginning on Friday.

[Mill1634]

Santan

Berrios

Mejia

Gibson

Big sexy

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Santana might throw 15-20 pitches Tuesday. That's less than he would throw on the side between starts. If for some odd reason he throws more than that, Molitor probably changes the plan. If he throws that many, odds are he would get taken out mid inning.

Pretty much guarantee that all the other starters that appear will start Saturday. I don't think it is a good idea to micromanage and try to set a particular pitcher into a particular series. The object has to be to get your best pitchers into as many games as possible. That means running Ervin out there as soon as it is prudent. That is Saturday.

its not micromanaging, it's just finding the best, most practical place to slot him in.

 

I will take that bet about all other All Star starters starting on Saturday.

[amjgt]

 

After the break:

Berrios

Santana

Mejia

Gibson

Santiago

 

I would not give consecutive starts to the lefties. I think it's better to make the opposition change their approach from game to game.

 

I would not expect this rotation to last for the rest of the season. Days off, injuries, poor performance, and other factors are certain to come into play but this is how I would proceed beginning on Friday.

 

I think keeping the lefties together messes with opposing teams more than breaking them up. I'll use us facing the Red Sox as an example. The first two games of the series were Sale and Pomernaz. They are both lefties. We sat Mauer and Kepler against Sale. You don't want to sit them both two days in a row, so they both played against Pomeranz even though they have significant split issues against lefties. 

[Brandon]

Santan

Berrios

Mejia

Gibson

Big sexy

Id just switch Mejia and Gibson here. And Berrios and Santana....and see if we can get Berrios enough starts so we have 2 20 game winners on the staff.

[yarnivek1972]

its not micromanaging, it's just finding the best, most practical place to slot him in.

 

I will take that bet about all other All Star starters starting on Saturday.

With one asterisk. Once upon a time the first couple pitchers went two innings. Although, I'm not sure that has happened recently. If a starter throws more than 25 pitches Tuesday, he probably wouldn't start Saturday. I also don't think it is likely any starter throws that many though.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

With one asterisk. Once upon a time the first couple pitchers went two innings. Although, I'm not sure that has happened recently. If a starter throws more than 25 pitches Tuesday, he probably wouldn't start Saturday. I also don't think it is likely any starter throws that many though.

For sure. Pitchers have it easier these days and the game is different (more player-friendly).