Kinley's Magical Horseshoe Remains Intact

[jud6312]

Last night, it appears Alan Busenitz was justifiably sent down to Rochester. This morning the Twins recalled Tyler Duffey to take his spot.

 

Yet somehow, Tyler Kinley remains on the roster.

 

How does this happen? The guy is a complete and total trainwreck.

 

So far he's had one good (not clean, but decent) outing, one to be expected outing, and two disasters.

 

I honestly believe the only thing keeping him around at this point is the hubris of the front office.

 

This was their move and by all accounts it's been an absolute botch job. At this point Bard would likely have given them more, Chargois (yes, I know the two moves aren't technically related, but they sort of are) would have likely given them more, and even the imploded elbow of Nick Burdi would be giving them more right now.

 

It's time for the FO to admit their mistake and move on.

 

 

[Blake]

As much as I'd like to wring my hands over the start this year, I have to remember this is a team that got its butt whipped early and often last year but still made the playoffs.

 

Personally, I'm dialing back my expectations, so I can enjoy the Twins and baseball in general more.

 

I'm not going to get to exercised over Kinley when the Twins had pitchers like Nick Turley on the roster last year.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Almost exactly one year ago (April 23, 2017), the Twins first put Justin Haley on the DL.

 

Compared to Kinley, Haley was downright useful. He already had 3 relief outings recording 10+ outs at this point last season, plus 2 other, shorter outings.

[Otto von Ballpark]

My guess is that Kinley is DFA'd when Buxton is activated later this week. That will keep Busenitz and Moya eligible to return sooner.

[jud6312]

 

As much as I'd like to wring my hands over the start this year, I have to remember this is a team that got its butt whipped early and often last year but still made the playoffs.

 

Personally, I'm dialing back my expectations, so I can enjoy the Twins and baseball in general more.

 

I'm not going to get to exercised over Kinley when the Twins had pitchers like Nick Turley on the roster last year.

The only problem is that Turley is likely a far superior pitcher to Kinley ... as astonishing as that might be having watched Turley pitch.

 

[jud6312]

 

Almost exactly one year ago (April 23, 2017), the Twins first put Justin Haley on the DL.

Compared to Kinley, Haley was downright useful. He already had 3 relief outings recording 10+ outs at this point last season, plus 2 other, shorter outings.

Ah, Justin Haley, how I miss you ... when compared to Kinley.

[jud6312]

 

My guess is that Kinley is DFA'd when Buxton is activated later this week. That will keep Busenitz and Moya eligible to return sooner.

Fingers crossed. Although, LaMarre back to Rochester would allow them more time to assess the precious high-velocity arm of Tyler.

[Blake]

 

The only problem is that Turley is likely a far superior pitcher to Kinley ... as astonishing as that might be having watched Turley pitch.

Mr. Turley was but one example of a number of pitchers run through the organization last year, which is what I was trying to get across.

 

Anyway, my point is that I want to enjoy baseball and I find myself getting to wrapped up in things when I should remember that it's a long season.

 

Today's another day and another game against the Yankees. 

 

No matter how you slice and dice it, the Twins, no matter who's been on the mound, have a history of having their collective butts whipped when in NY.

 

Kinley is far from the only problem right now. 

 

My $.25 worth, which won't even by you a cup of coffee.

[USAFChief]

 

Mr. Turley was but one example of a number of pitchers run through the organization last year, which is what I was trying to get across.

 

Anyway, my point is that I want to enjoy baseball and I find myself getting to wrapped up in things when I should remember that it's a long season.

 

Today's another day and another game against the Yankees. 

 

No matter how you slice and dice it, the Twins, no matter who's been on the mound, have a history of having their collective butts whipped when in NY.

 

Kinley is far from the only problem right now. 

 

My $.25 worth, which won't even by you a cup of coffee.

True, but it does seem like one problem with a  possible solution.

[Blake]

 

True, but it does seem like one problem with a  possible solution.

This is true.

 

I'm trying to avoid singling out one player when the whole team stinks right now. 

 

Well, at least when it comes to singling Twins players.

 

Brett Gardner? That's another story.

[Vanimal46]

2nd year in a row where the FO forced a rule 5 pick onto the roster. 2nd year in a row where it's a complete failure. Time to cut the cord and find a useable 25th man on roster.

[Squirrel]

 

My guess is that Kinley is DFA'd when Buxton is activated later this week. That will keep Busenitz and Moya eligible to return sooner.

That's a reasonable explanation, but I'm still annoyed that Kinley is still here. I guess there is no one else in Rochester they could call up in place of Kinley, too?

[Aggies7]

 

As much as I'd like to wring my hands over the start this year, I have to remember this is a team that got its butt whipped early and often last year but still made the playoffs.

 

Personally, I'm dialing back my expectations, so I can enjoy the Twins and baseball in general more.

 

I'm not going to get to exercised over Kinley when the Twins had pitchers like Nick Turley on the roster last year.

The twins were as many as 4 games under .500 last year as late as like august 5 then caught fire in august (20-10) before finishing a .500 september. They were 3 games over .500 at the end of last may. As fun as last season was, it's easy to forget that this team has had a total of 4 winning months the past 2 years (this month not looking great). I'm starting to have serious doubts as to whether this team is as talented as I'd hoped.

[Mill1634]

Front office should be put under serious fire every day that Kinley stays on the roster. He is a waste of a 25th man. Mine as well bring up a useful long reliever (Sleegers?), or someone that provides speed (Granite) or pop (Cave/Vargas) to fill the 25th role. Not someone that is supposed to save the bullpen, but can't get anyone out. Ridiculous. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

That's a reasonable explanation, but I'm still annoyed that Kinley is still here. I guess there is no one else in Rochester they could call up in place of Kinley, too?

Not really. Can't bring back Moya since he hasn't been down for 10 days yet (although we could DL Kinley to do it). Could have brought up Curtiss, but he just pitched 2 innings yesterday. Plus Busenitz, that is all of the minor league relievers we have on the 40-man roster at the moment.

 

Could do a starter, I suppose, although Enns pitched last night. Slegers pitched Saturday. They probably want to keep the others starting right now.

[Blake]

 

The twins were as many as 4 games under .500 last year as late as like august 5 then caught fire in august (20-10) before finishing a .500 september. They were 3 games over .500 at the end of last may. As fun as last season was, it's easy to forget that this team has had a total of 4 winning months the past 2 years (this month not looking great). I'm starting to have serious doubts as to whether this team is as talented as I'd hoped.

I believe the team has more talent than last year. The acquisition of Odorizzi, Lynn and Reed are upgrades over what has gone before.

 

The announcers did mention that it's really hard for a team to get going when they have as many postponements as the Twins have had this season. I have to believe that's had some effect.

 

I was hoping this team had enough talent to compete with teams like New York but, it doesn't look very likely, right now. Perhaps that was expecting a bit too much.

 

I do think the team is poised to take another step forward this year and give Cleveland a run for the Central title.

 

It's a wait and see.

[Vanimal46]

Not really. Can't bring back Moya since he hasn't been down for 10 days yet (although we could DL Kinley to do it). Could have brought up Curtiss, but he just pitched 2 innings yesterday. Plus Busenitz, that is all of the minor league relievers we have on the 40-man roster at the moment.

 

Could do a starter, I suppose, although Enns pitched last night. Slegers pitched Saturday. They probably want to keep the others starting right now.

Only the Twins could have 25 pitchers on the 40 man and lack options to call up to the MLB team.

[Squirrel]

Not really. Can't bring back Moya since he hasn't been down for 10 days yet (although we could DL Kinley to do it). Could have brought up Curtiss, but he just pitched 2 innings yesterday. Plus Busenitz, that is all of the minor league relievers we have on the 40-man roster at the moment.

 

Could do a starter, I suppose, although Enns pitched last night. Slegers pitched Saturday. They probably want to keep the others starting right now.

Then I find it annoying that as many RP we signed off season it apparently wasn’t enough

[Number3]

"As much as I'd like to wring my hands over the start this year, I have to remember this is a team that got its butt whipped early and often last year but still made the playoffs."

 

I haven't bothered to check but, if memory serves correct, the Twins were in or close to first place for a good chunk of the first part of last year and also handled the Yankees early. They also managed to avoid any long losing streaks. If they aren't careful, they are on the verge of possibly losing 7 in a row and 8 of nine. Last night's game wasn't just a loss; it was a complete and total mismatch with their opening day starter on the mound against a pitcher with a 6.5 era having given up 7 runs in a few innings against Miami in his last start. Berrios absolutely must step up tonight and an early exit is not an option.

[Shaitan]

Why would we want to recall Moya? He was as lost out there as Kinley. He needs AAA time.

 

I wonder if we're stuck with a floating AAAA arm at the 25th spot until Santana returns and Hughes moves to long relief. 

[nicksaviking]

I understand the consternation regarding Kinley, but at least there's a justification for keeping him (even if fans don't care for it); they lose him if they remove him from the 25 man.

 

What is the reason Hildenberger is still up? Ugh, and Rogers and Duke are on this team only because the other option is Moya. The lefty situation is a disaster, I don't think there's much reason not to see what Jay has, screw his lack of innings, he can't be worse. If not Jay, then I think it's time for Mejia or Gonsalves to get called up to the MLB pen.

[TheLeviathan]

I just do not understand why we have pitchers on our roster that we don't/can't trust to pitch to major league hitters.

[ThejacKmp]

For everyone trashing the Rule 5 moves of the Twins, its time we remember Johan Santana. My point isn't that Kinley is going to turn into Johan Santana (he isn't) but that this is what a Rule 5 is supposed to be. Santana put up a 6.50 ERA in his season and then went to the minors to learn to pitch.

 

The problem for the Twins is not Kinley - he's the last guy in the pen. He's supposed to be bad. The problem is that a lot of the rest of the pen is pitching like hot garbage. Hildenberg, Rogers, Rodney and Duke have all struggled. The starters aren't even making it through the 5th. The long relief guy should not matter that much. The Twins (and any AL team) can easily carry a Rule 5 reliever. They just need the rest of the staff to not all suck at the same time.

 

Kinley is who he is supposed to be. I don't see the long-term value of him but looking at Santana and Pressley, I can see the allure of the Rule 5 daft and don't blame the Twins for taking a shot at it. But the rest of the staff needs to step it up.

 

The positive side is that the Twins have some real options in the minors. Curtiss, Duffey, May are all waiting. I'm confident that the Twins pen can turn it around.

[ThejacKmp]

Follow-up: What game have the Twins lost because of Kinley? What game did they absolutely need another, better relief pitcher? Who is sitting in AAA killing it who shouldn't be because of Kinley?

 

The Twins are losing games because they aren't very good at pitching now. That isn't on Kinley, that's on the staff.

[Rosterman]

You would think that you would want your best 25 men on the field.

 

Yes, you can always find exceptions. The veteran contract of Logan Morrison, the vet presence of Robbie Grossman. And anyone in the minors IS an unknown factor. How will they produce in the majors compared to great minor league numbers. You don't know until you try.

 

But, yes, the Kinley fire is hot. We will make him the poster pitcher for our losses of Burdi, maybe still Bard, Chargois, Boshers (Boshers?).

 

The Twins want to win. They really do. Yet they hang onto Phil Hughes. They filled the bullpen with rookie Moya (has great stuff, but...), a bashed in spring Hildenberger (the league caught up to him), and even though you can say the extra bench bat or the end of the bullpen guy should be immaterial, we see that the Twins do have a short bench (albeit the bench guys are performing better than their starting counterparts) and the bullpen has been called upon for more innings than necessary, especially considering how graet the starters were the first week.

 

But then remember this is baseball, 162 games, day night, rain sun, cold heat. Better coaching, more powerful arms, swings out of this world. It is a long season.

 

Sit back, enjoy. At least we aren't complaining about pitching to contact, although it seems the fielders are watching a lot of base-on-balls and strikeouts compared to season's past. As are the fans.

 

In the end, the BEST are the winners, the others fall into their places, and the game goes on.

[Vanimal46]

Follow-up: What game have the Twins lost because of Kinley? What game did they absolutely need another, better relief pitcher? Who is sitting in AAA killing it who shouldn't be because of Kinley?

 

The Twins are losing games because they aren't very good at pitching now. That isn't on Kinley, that's on the staff.

That's the wrong question to ask IMO. Is there someone else they could use that roster spot on that will make a bigger impact than Kinley?

 

Wouldn't it be better to have another position player on roster who could play in the OF over Grossman? Or another middle IF that could have taken some of Sano's rotten PAs?

[Squirrel]

 

I understand the consternation regarding Kinley, but at least there's a justification for keeping him (even if fans don't care for it); they lose him if they remove him from the 25 man.

 

What is the reason Hildenberger is still up? Ugh, and Rogers and Duke are on this team only because the other option is Moya. The lefty situation is a disaster, I don't think there's much reason not to see what Jay has, screw his lack of innings, he can't be worse. If not Jay, then I think it's time for Mejia or Gonsalves to get called up to the MLB pen.

If there is justification for keeping Kinley, then make a deal for him.

 

As for the rest of them, yeah, ugh. Despite the off-season signings the Twins made our bp is still in very bad shape.

[nicksaviking]

 

I just do not understand why we have pitchers on our roster that we don't/can't trust to pitch to major league hitters.

 

I suppose it's just impractical to carry only three pitchers. 

[nicksaviking]

 

If there is justification for keeping Kinley, then make a deal for him.

 

As for the rest of them, yeah, ugh. Despite the off-season signings the Twins made our bp is still in very bad shape.

 

I don't care what they do with Kinley, I'm only suggesting that the hand wringing over him seems way too focused. I wouldn't worry about putting out the camp fire when the entire forest is in flames.

[USAFChief]

 

I don't care what they do with Kinley, I'm only suggesting that the hand wringing over him seems way too focused. I wouldn't worry about putting out the camp fire when the entire forest is in flames.

fighting the fire with one less fire fighter seems needless, to me.

 

roster spots matter.