Article: MIN 4, DET 3: Austin Homers, Hildy Survives Save Chance

[Riverbrian]

 

What's your plan for that 5th chance? A home run every time?

 

You know me.

 

I don't like the structure of a starting 9.

I don't like the structure of players only playing one position. 

I don't like the structure of a traditional bullpen.

 

No way I'm gonna structure that 5th AB for him... I'm just gonna be happy it's no longer a strike out. 

 

 

[ashbury]

 

You know me.

 

I don't like the structure of a starting 9.

I don't like the structure of players only playing one position. 

I don't like the structure of a traditional bullpen.

 

No way I'm gonna structure that 5th AB for him... I'm just gonna be happy it's no longer a strike out. 

I'm partial to the structure of home runs.

[slash129]

If we consider that Castellanos is probably the biggest threat in the Tigers lineup, May was definitely brought in during the "high leverage" situation.

 

I'm not going to defend the overuse of Hildenberger or the call to use him when he has obviously been getting shelled, but a couple things to consider:

 

1) The poster calling Molitor an idiot for using Hildenberger against left-handed hitters must not have noticed that Martinez and Goodrum are both switch-hitters.  That argument needs at least more development.

 

2) Hildenberger's change-up has been the pitch that's been getting drilled. I think hitters are sitting on it, and it's been the frisbee that they're looking for.  He did ditch that pitch after the Goodrum bomb.  Using his only sinking fastball, which did have some movement, during what became a high leverage situation, he actually was quite effective.  He probably can't go with being a one-pitch pitcher for the balance of the season, but in this situation, it was the right move.

 

 

[ChrisKnutson]

Dear FO,

 

Please send Hildy down to AAA to work out of this funk, it’s not like we’re contending anymore.

[USAFChief]

 

 

 

Will Tyler Austin produce enough? I don't know but lets find out. 

I suspect the answer to this question will depend on how many RH pitchers he faces.

[Riverbrian]

 

I suspect the answer to this question will depend on how many RH pitchers he faces.

 

Right now in a small sample size of 6 AB's... It's looking like the answer to this question will depend on how many balls are thrown low in the zone. 

 

[USAFChief]

 

Right now in a small sample size of 6 AB's... It's looking like the answer to this question will depend on how many balls strikes are thrown low in the zone. 

ftfy

[Riverbrian]

 

ftfy

 

No it's the balls that he is swinging at. 

[Jacksson]

If we consider that Castellanos is probably the biggest threat in the Tigers lineup, May was definitely brought in during the "high leverage" situation.

 

I'm not going to defend the overuse of Hildenberger or the call to use him when he has obviously been getting shelled, but a couple things to consider:

 

1) The poster calling Molitor an idiot for using Hildenberger against left-handed hitters must not have noticed that Martinez and Goodrum are both switch-hitters. That argument needs at least more development.

 

2) Hildenberger's change-up has been the pitch that's been getting drilled. I think hitters are sitting on it, and it's been the frisbee that they're looking for. He did ditch that pitch after the Goodrum bomb. Using his only sinking fastball, which did have some movement, during what became a high leverage situation, he actually was quite effective. He probably can't go with being a one-pitch pitcher for the balance of the season, but in this situation, it was the right move.

HELLO = Yes, I DO KNOW they are switch hitters. From which side do they bat when a RHP is on the mound? If a LHP was used instead of Hildy, both those switch hitters would have been turned around.

[Circus Boy]

 

Is there anybody on the planet, except for maybe MoY, who isn't willing to give Trevor MAY a shot in the closer role? Maybe he just got the wrong Trevor in the wrong inning.

Or maybe it's just better to have a burned-up sidewinder who's put up a WHIP over 2.00, and ERA of 12+ lately?

I really like May, as well. The thing about Hildy, though, is that of the 12 runs he's given up in the past 9.2 innings in 10 games, none of them cost us a win except for the Lindor walkoff HR.

[Riverbrian]

 

HELLO = Yes, I DO KNOW they are switch hitters. From which side do they bat when a RHP is on the mound? If a LHP was used instead of Hildy, both those switch hitters would have been turned around.

 

I'm not trying to start anything I promise since you are already capitalizing...

 

But Both Martinez and Goodrum have hit left-handers better this year and V-Mart also has hit left-handers better for his vast career... so I'm not sure what you gain by turning them around. 

[ashbury]

I really like May, as well. The thing about Hildy, though, is that of the 12 runs he's given up in the past 9.2 innings in 10 games, none of them cost us a win except for the Lindor walkoff HR.

Does that speak to the pitcher's craftiness, or to the manager not putting him in when a run would matter?

[Circus Boy]

 

Does that speak to the pitcher's craftiness, or to the manager not putting him when a run would matter?

Why, yes, of course.

[Mr. Brooks]

I'm not trying to start anything I promise since you are already capitalizing...

 

But Both Martinez and Goodrum have hit left-handers better this year and V-Mart also has hit left-handers better for his vast career... so I'm not sure what you gain by turning them around.

And to add to that, Hildy is actually better against lefties, both this year and last.

[yarnivek1972]

I'm not the traditional closer role guy so I don't spend a lot of time worrying about who is in the 9th.

 

If I had to choose, I like low WHIP guys in the 9th and Hildenberger used to be that prior to this deep funk he is in so I'm not completely in opposition to this being his role... I'm just more in opposition of the static role itself.

 

Because sometimes you have a 3 run lead in the 9th where it makes sense to give Brandon Workman the ball and sometimes you have a 1 run lead in the 7th where it makes sense to give Craig Kimbrel the ball. Just pitching Kimbrel in the 9th exclusively if it's a 3 run lead or a 1 run lead is just another form of auto-pilot managing that I am a little sick of at the moment.

 

I understand that as long as players are compensated for saves, the players will demand the role and this puts me firmly against the wind but I'm pointing this out to say that I don't care if Hildy is our closer.

 

So with that said and knowing that Molitor doesn't share my thoughts on the subject and knowing that he is going to require a 9th inning guy. The selection of Hildenberger is interesting. Hildy is in a deep funk and Molitor went there anyway.

 

Not surprising... Molitor is pretty consistent, he has his chosen guys and he is going with those guys come hell or high water.

Are they though?

 

Addison Reed was guaranteed 4 times the money that Fernando Rodney was. Even Duke was guaranteed $ 2 mil to Rodney’s $4 mil and change. He’s just a loogy.

 

Maybe, just maybe, the market is catching on to what kind of relievers are truly valuable.

[Riverbrian]

 

Are they though?

Addison Reed was guaranteed 4 times the money that Fernando Rodney was. Even Duke was guaranteed $ 2 mil to Rodney’s $4 mil and change. He’s just a loogy.

Maybe, just maybe, the market is catching on to what kind of relievers are truly valuable.

 

I agree that adjustments have been trending the figures together but the Closer still makes the money. In Arbitration ruling and Free Agent Deals. 

[Blackjack]

 

agreed he should be a reliever, but i’d rather May be more of a fireman ala Miller. Heart of the lineup in the 7th or 8th get May warmed up.

 

I could live that!!!

[laloesch]

 

agreed he should be a reliever, but i’d rather May be more of a fireman ala Miller. Heart of the lineup in the 7th or 8th get May warmed up.

 

Except he has repeatedly said he wants to be a starter.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Except he has repeatedly said he wants to be a starter.

Has May expressed that recently? I wonder if he has changed his tune at all after his surgery. At the very least, he might be sick of the back-and-forth, which another return to starting now would represent.

[USAFChief]

 

Has May expressed that recently? I wonder if he has changed his tune at all after his surgery. At the very least, he might be sick of the back-and-forth, which another return to starting now would represent.

I'm also guessing if the choice is starting in Rochester, or relieving in Minneapolis, he picks the latter.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I'm also guessing if the choice is starting in Rochester, or relieving in Minneapolis, he picks the latter.

True, although May will finally be out of options next spring, so he can be reasonably confident he's not going back to Rochester anymore (he would be claimed if we tried to waive him).

 

Not that it gives him much leverage to demand starting or anything. And FWIW, while he has spoken of a preference for starting in the past, he has moved to the pen in 2015, 2016, and now in 2018 without incident as fas as I know.

[matthew0211]

I think on one of the recent episodes of Inside Twins (sorry, I don't have a link), Falvey said something to the effect that May came to them with the request to work out of the bullpen for now, but they are not ruling him out as a starter in the future.

[ashbury]

I'm also guessing if the choice is starting in Rochester, or relieving in Minneapolis, he picks the latter.

So it's probably thumbs down from him also on the manager's chair in Chattanooga, or an ownership stake in Elizabethton?