Ex-Twins in the Box Scores

[old nurse]

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjT_f50Deo9/?utm_source=ig_embed

 

See what happens

[Twodogs]

Dereck Rodriguez former Twins minor leagues, son of Pudge, has been called up to the Giants. Dang it never seemed like he hardly ever made it out of A ball in the Twins organization, but now first year with a new team and he's good enough to be with the big squad?

[Doctor Wu]

 

Dereck Rodriguez former Twins minor leagues, son of Pudge, has been called up to the Giants. Dang it never seemed like he hardly ever made it out of A ball in the Twins organization, but now first year with a new team and he's good enough to be with the big squad?

Darn, you beat me to it! I just read this blurb on ESPN:

 

The San Francisco Giants purchased Dereck Rodriguez's contract from Triple-A Sacramento, where he went 4-1 with a 3.40 ERA after signing as a minor league free agent on Nov. 15. He will be in the bullpen Monday against Colorado, looking to make his major league debut.

[70charger]

 

Dereck Rodriguez former Twins minor leagues, son of Pudge, has been called up to the Giants. Dang it never seemed like he hardly ever made it out of A ball in the Twins organization, but now first year with a new team and he's good enough to be with the big squad?

 

Probably had to do with the fact that he was only converted to pitching (by the Twins) after several years  of him trying to be an offensive player. Because minor leaguers can leave the organization after six years, the Twins couldn't stop him when he left.

 

Think of it as a Joe Nathan kind of situation. The Giants did all the work drafting him, playing him, and converting him to a pitcher. Then they got shockingly little value out of him because all that payoff went to the Twins.

 

What can you do?

[jkcarew]

Charger nailed it.  Twins were kind of stuck.  He was always behind having to do with the conversion...but you could always tell that he had a chance to eventually get there.

 

Happy for him...he grinded and grinded.  Would have been easy to give up...maybe even more so, in light of the shadow dad's career casts.

[Twodogs]

 

Probably had to do with the fact that he was only converted to pitching (by the Twins) after several years  of him trying to be an offensive player. Because minor leaguers can leave the organization after six years, the Twins couldn't stop him when he left.

 

Think of it as a Joe Nathan kind of situation. The Giants did all the work drafting him, playing him, and converting him to a pitcher. Then they got shockingly little value out of him because all that payoff went to the Twins.

 

What can you do?

Dang, too bad they couldn't have done something to hold on to him?  Could you imagine bringing Pudge in to do some spring training catcher instruction?  I mean he'd then get to watch his kid pitch at the same time.  Win/win

 

I mean its not like they couldn't use a little extra help coaching catchers?

[ewen21]

 

Our old friend Pedro Florimon did it again, not only pitching a scoreless inning of relief for the Phillies, but homering in the same game too. a trick that even Otani hasn't done (yet) this year. I also love the original headline on the story on Yahoo news that touted the accomplishment by the Philadelphia "star" player!

 

https://sports.yahoo.com/phillies-emergency-pitcher-something-shohei-ohtani-hasnt-yet-mlb-162244761.html

Long and lean.  Looks like a shortstop

[Doctor Wu]

Palka homered again for the White Sox yesterday. That's his 5th HR of the year so far, along with 17 RBI. His batting average is now up to .289. I doubt he can sustain that average, but still, an impressive start. He played right field in that game, but I think he's had more starts at DH so far.

[Mike Sixel]

Palka homered again for the White Sox yesterday. That's his 5th HR of the year so far, along with 17 RBI. His batting average is now up to .289. I doubt he can sustain that average, but still, an impressive start. He played right field in that game, but I think he's had more starts at DH so far.

Color me shocked. And happy for him.

[Twodogs]

Never made it to Twins but was in the system for 6 years, Yangervis Solarte is having another solid season.

 

He kind of reminds me of Escobar, actually.

I think, in my opinion, Solarte is better overall than Escobar. Just my opinion.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I think, in my opinion, Solarte is better overall than Escobar. Just my opinion.

bWAR agrees with you. Since the start of 2014, they have Solarte at 7.5 bWAR in 2289 PA, and Escobar at 4.1 bWAR in 1993 PA. Although most of that difference is probably due to 2016, when Escobar was at -0.7 bWAR. Solarte's lowest full season bWAR so far is only 1.3.

[Twodogs]

bWAR agrees with you. Since the start of 2014, they have Solarte at 7.5 bWAR in 2289 PA, and Escobar at 4.1 bWAR in 1993 PA. Although most of that difference is probably due to 2016, when Escobar was at -0.7 bWAR. Solarte's lowest full season bWAR so far is only 1.3.

Just seems like Solarte is pretty consistent. Escobar can go through periods during a season where he seems unstoppable and can almost carry a team for a small stretch. Solarte doesn't seem like that but just seems more consistent over the long haul.

[ashbury]

I don't know if this was reported elsewhere, but Phil Hughes made his NL debut last night and I watched his ninth-inning mop-up appearance on mlb.tv. At first it was encouraging. He had really excellent location, hitting the corners and tempting batters just outside. But, the stuff wasn't there, and a couple of guys got clean singles off of him on pitches that got too much of the plate, and after a walk he had the bases loaded and needed help from Brad Hand to get the final out. His Padres ERA thus stands at a clean 0.00.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I don't know if this was reported elsewhere, but Phil Hughes made his NL debut last night and I watched his ninth-inning mop-up appearance on mlb.tv. At first it was encouraging. He had really excellent location, hitting the corners and tempting batters just outside. But, the stuff wasn't there, and a couple of guys got clean singles off of him on pitches that got too much of the plate, and after a walk he had the bases loaded and needed help from Brad Hand to get the final out. His Padres ERA thus stands at a clean 0.00.

Hey, it wasn't entirely mop-up -- Hughes was protecting a 5-run lead. By loading the bases, he gave Brad Hand a save opportunity. More evidence that he's a great teammate!

[ashbury]

Hey, it wasn't entirely mop-up

[Otto von Ballpark]

So a 3 run lead is save situation -- closer time. And a 5 run lead is mop-up work. What's a 4 run lead?

[Sssuperdave]

 

So a 3 run lead is save situation -- closer time. And a 5 run lead is mop-up work. What's a 4 run lead?

 

Saves with a 3 run lead is one of the most ridiculous statistical quirks in baseball. I would classify 3, 4, and 5 run leads with one inning left as mop-up work. You should be confident handing any pitcher on your staff the ball in those situations. If a pitcher can't consistently hold a 3 run lead for one inning they shouldn't be in the majors.

[ashbury]

So a 3 run lead is save situation -- closer time. And a 5 run lead is mop-up work. What's a 4 run lead?

"Low-leverage"?

 

I was using the term pretty loosely. Maybe a little humorously, although I'm hard pressed to explain the joke. Not even being allowed to work through a bases loaded jam certainly isn't classic mop-up, where even a grand slam won't immediately affect the outcome. OTOH a mop-up situation in the 7th is maybe a bigger lead than one in the 9th. Go with "low-leverage" if you prefer; it was a good situation to bring Hughes in, was the main meaning I wanted to get across.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I understand, I was just goofing.

 

Hughes's first relief appearance for the Twins this year was with a 5-run lead in the 9th too.

[Han Joelo]

Pudge Jr.'s debut:  http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/mlb/miami-marlins/article212175979.html

 

gave up four runs--but had an RBI double.  Maybe the Twins already had Ohtani and they didn't even know it...

[ashbury]

I understand, I was just goofing.

 

Hughes's first relief appearance for the Twins this year was with a 5-run lead in the 9th too.

I'll have to go review the newspaper account to see what adjective was used. A home run was involved, so probably not "stellar".

[Otto von Ballpark]

I'll have to go review the newspaper account to see what adjective was used. A home run was involved, so probably not "stellar".

Check the game thread too for more "colorful" adjectives.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Just seems like Solarte is pretty consistent. Escobar can go through periods during a season where he seems unstoppable and can almost carry a team for a small stretch. Solarte doesn't seem like that but just seems more consistent over the long haul.

Solarte is probably the better player but I think it's a bit unfair to label Escobar as inconsistent. He has yet to cross 500 PAs in a season because he starts on the bench every year and jumps from position to position as needed. It's pretty hard to display consistency in that kind of role.

[Twodogs]

Solarte is probably the better player but I think it's a bit unfair to label Escobar as inconsistent. He has yet to cross 500 PAs in a season because he starts on the bench every year and jumps from position to position as needed. It's pretty hard to display consistency in that kind of role.

Yeah Solarte Definitely gets more PT, Escobar does spend a lot more time on the pine, but in Solarte's defense, it seems like he also plays a lot of different positions too. So yeah Escobar needs that opportunity to play a full season to see what he can do, looks like he's getting that shot this year.

[jorgenswest]

One guy’s production they really need is John Ryan Murphy and his 8 home runs in just 79 at bats.

[Twodogs]

One guy’s production they really need is John Ryan Murphy and his 8 home runs in just 79 at bats.

Seems like we give up on some guys too quickly?

[Mike Sixel]

Seems like we give up on some guys too quickly?

He was terrible, and they replaced him with Castro. I have no issue with that decision.

 

Now, adding why he was terrible here.... That's legit.

 

Anyone second guessing letting him go, I don't get that. He was terrible here.

[mickeymental]

 

Seems like we give up on some guys too quickly?

aaron hicks?

[Monkeypaws]

 

Pudge Jr.'s debut:  http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/mlb/miami-marlins/article212175979.html

 

gave up four runs--but had an RBI double.  Maybe the Twins already had Ohtani and they didn't even know it...

I wish the Twins would give guys like this a chance more often than going to the scrap heap.

 

I'm sure there are issues with the roster, options, whatever.

 

Draft and develop seems to have a very large last step in this organization.

[John Kelsey]

Rodriguez had a pretty great start today.