Kohl Stewart: An idea very few will like

[Riverbrian]

I felt bad for the kid. His major league career just hasn't started very well and it sure looked like a severe case of nerves. 

 

However... I think he has good stuff. His fastball has real good movement and he has a decent breaking pitch that could be the foundation of an alright pitcher. 

 

1. I don't think he should get another major league start this season. 

2. Although I'd like to see the team keep trying to develop him as a starter.  

3. I also don't think he should be sent down. 

 

I'd like him to stay with the club and work out of the bullpen for the remainder of 2018 (Low Leverage). Give him some time hanging in the major league environment and see if he can settle those nerves a little. 

 

Next Year... He can start in Rochester as a starter and keep working on things. We got some options to use. 

 

For now... Call up Gonsalves or Romero to take his place in the rotation. 

 

Of course, someone in the bullpen will have to be traded, sent down, placed on the DL or released to accommodate Stewart hanging around.

 

Crazy I know, I just want to see how he looks if he could just settle down a little and that might take some acclimation time. 

 

 

[gman]

I think Stewart looked pretty good. If we weren't playing for the World Series, I would have left him in longer. But, that's just me. It would be nice if the team could display just a touch of patience with young players.

[Brandon Warne]

Been saying the same. Need to get a look at him, so give him the Carlos Carrasco treatment.

 

Start, then relieve, then start again

[jorgenswest]

I like it.

[DocBauer]

Agree 100%. Like that hes shown something this season and like the aggressiveness to promote him to Rochester and then give him this shot. And he is probably better served pitching from the pen right now.

 

Also, the team is better served with Gondalves and Romero both in the rotation. This seems so obvious to me that I just can't understand why it's not being done.

[Mike Sixel]

He will get claimed, imo, next year, in the rule five. So, I'lli not sure what they should do with him this year. But I'm not opposed to your idea.... But I see almost no chance he is in Rochester to start the year.

[Riverbrian]

 

He will get claimed, imo, next year, in the rule five. So, I'lli not sure what they should do with him this year. But I'm not opposed to your idea.... But I see almost no chance he is in Rochester to start the year.

 

He will be protected if he remains on the 40 man. Just don't take him off the 40 man. 

 

If we lose him... it will be because we decided to let him go. 

 

I think he is worth stashing. 

 

 

[Han Joelo]

 

He will get claimed, imo, next year, in the rule five. So, I'lli not sure what they should do with him this year. But I'm not opposed to your idea.... But I see almost no chance he is in Rochester to start the year.

Why wouldn't they protect him?

[nicksaviking]

I don't know about continuing the quest as a starter, but I've long believed he should get a serious look in the pen.

[Squirrel]

When I saw the title, I thought maybe you were going to suggest he take some reps in the outfield and maybe at catcher, too, because well, positional flexibility.

[twins_89]

 

He will get claimed, imo, next year, in the rule five. So, I'lli not sure what they should do with him this year. But I'm not opposed to your idea.... But I see almost no chance he is in Rochester to start the year.

 

The Twins would have to take him off the 40 man roster for the rule 5 draft to be a concern. I think there would be a pretty good chance somebody would claim him if the Twins made a 40 man roster move. It seems clear that if the organization believes in him they keep him, if not he's probably gone.

[Otto von Ballpark]

What about, use a reliever as an "opener", and let Stewart come in after him? Could that relieve some pressure, but still let Stewart get his innings? Maybe let him focus on 3 innings or whatever.

[yarnivek1972]

I think having Stewart be an opener would make more sense.

[Riverbrian]

 

When I saw the title, I thought maybe you were going to suggest he take some reps in the outfield and maybe at catcher, too, because well, positional flexibility.

 

C'mon now... I am a no one trick pony. I'm a tricks pony. 

 

BTW... Catcher would a terrible idea. 

 

OF? Why not. 

[Riverbrian]

 

I think having Stewart be an opener would make more sense.

 

I'm open to the idea of an opener. It is a season that allows you to experiment without playoff implications. 

 

GM's will use this time to look at players... or try to. 

 

If you are willing to experiment with players (and you should)... why not with concepts? 

 

 

[IndianaTwin]

Don’t dislike it, but prefer a slight variation.

 

Romero is at 134.2 innings for the year. At the 150-160 limit many of us were advocating for, he’s got 20-25 left. Bring him up for the two starts needed before the end of August. Then move him to the pen.

 

Stewart back down for two starts in Rochester to end their season, then back up to work from the pen.

 

(And that leaves 3-4 MLB starts for Gonsalves.)

[Seth Stohs]

 

He will be protected if he remains on the 40 man. Just don't take him off the 40 man. 

 

If we lose him... it will be because we decided to let him go. 

 

I think he is worth stashing. 

 

I'd absolutely keep him on the 40. He's got good stuff... Maybe it'll play better out of the bullpen for now, but I'd keep him starting. 

 

The stuff: man, he's got some really good movement on that 2-seamer (or 1-seam sinker)... Tonight, he just had no command or control of it. He's also got the velocity, sitting 92-96 with the 4-seamer. The curveball and changeup can be good too. He just needs more consistency. It's too early to give up on a young guy with that kind of stuff... He doesn't have Gibson's pedigree, but the movement he gets is similar to what Gibson's two-seamer was his first few years in the big leagues. 

 

And to those who have said it... no question that Stewart would have been taken in the Rule 5 if left off the 40-man again. 

[Krusington]

He doesn't hit Mahtook in the third inning while he's ahead in the count 1-2 and he probably has a very good chance of getting out of the inning giving up no runs. I don't think he pitched that bad. A ton of swing and misses tonight from the Tigers and if he locates just a tiny bit better in the third he probably pitches at least 5/6 innings this game (depending on how the heart of the lineup looked the third time through). Patience - and I think we have a 4/5 rotation starter for quite some time.

[nater79a]

 

I'd absolutely keep him on the 40. He's got good stuff... Maybe it'll play better out of the bullpen for now, but I'd keep him starting. 

 

The stuff: man, he's got some really good movement on that 2-seamer (or 1-seam sinker)... Tonight, he just had no command or control of it. He's also got the velocity, sitting 92-96 with the 4-seamer. The curveball and changeup can be good too. He just needs more consistency. It's too early to give up on a young guy with that kind of stuff... He doesn't have Gibson's pedigree, but the movement he gets is similar to what Gibson's two-seamer was his first few years in the big leagues. 

 

And to those who have said it... no question that Stewart would have been taken in the Rule 5 if left off the 40-man again. 

 

Actually Seth, would Stewart even be available for the Rule 5?  Wouldn't he just be waiver claimed before that point by some team if the Twins tried to outright him off the 40?

[jimbo92107]

I like Riverbrian's idea. Stash him in the pen, let him throw some low leverage innings. Let him acclimate for a bit. Let him know that the organization sees his potential, and will remain patient with him. 

 

What I saw today from Kohl Stewart was wildly oscillating levels of self-confidence. He fought through a tough first inning, then after the Twins went ahead, for a couple batters he looked dominant. Then he lost confidence again, and it snowballed in the 3rd inning. 

 

Amid all that, I saw a young athlete with some very promising stuff. At one point he was spotting his fastballs on the edges. He threw a couple good curves, and I think a good change. Very live arm, even if he never gets to the high 90's. His two seamer runs arm side quite a bit, and I saw him flick a sinker down low at 93 with no apparent effort. 

 

What I did not see was consistency and mental toughness. But wait a minute...how many 23 year old pitchers have all that? Kohl Stewart needs to refine his mechanics, solidify his curve and his change, but mostly, he needs to just exist for a while at the major league level. Talk to the veterans. Watch Gibson work out and practice. That experience will be invaluable to him. He needs role models at the top. 

 

 

[akmanak]

I mentioned this at the end of his last start that he wasn't ready and was mocked for it.

 

His control still needs a lot of help and he shouldn't pitch again until he figures it out.

[East Coast Twin]

 

Actually Seth, would Stewart even be available for the Rule 5?  Wouldn't he just be waiver claimed before that point by some team if the Twins tried to outright him off the 40?

I think that's right.  The claiming team would get him with three option years left and wouldn't need to keep him on the 25 man roster for all of 2019, unlike the Rule 5 draftees..

[h2oface]

23 is young but 28 is old. I don't agree. The being "young" excuse is getting "old".

 

At this rate, even if you can't risk contracts for 30 yr old free agents, and, let's say, by 25 a pitcher should be ready..... that means a pitcher only has a 5 or 6 year viable career. I don't buy it.

[Otto von Ballpark]

[old nurse]

 

23 is young but 28 is old. I don't agree. The being "young" excuse is getting "old".

 

At this rate, even if you can't risk contracts for 30 yr old free agents, and, let's say, by 25 a pitcher should be ready..... that means a pitcher only has a 5 or 6 year viable career. I don't buy it.

With the skill level in baseball nowdays, to be fully developed by 23 is rare, hence 23 is young.  If you are not developed by 28, you are getting on the old side.

Other thaan Sherzer which pitcher has performed up to their 3 or more year contract for more than half of it?

[Otto von Ballpark]

Actually Seth, would Stewart even be available for the Rule 5? Wouldn't he just be waiver claimed before that point by some team if the Twins tried to outright him off the 40?

I think Seth meant "had he not been added to the 40-man in the first place." I think we all agree he would get claimed on waivers now, even if just to go back on waivers soon for his new team (although I bet he would get optioned next year first, just like he will for the Twins).

 

In any case, I don't think the 40-man spot will be needed for anybody else significantly better, so it's mostly a moot point.

[Platoon]

I think Stewart looked pretty good. If we weren't playing for the World Series, I would have left him in longer. But, that's just me. It would be nice if the team could display just a touch of patience with young players.

I woke up considering making a post of exactly this. What good was done taking him out in the third inning. There were two outs, a base open, and all we are playing for is a draft slot. A Matt Belisle type you take out, there is no evaluation of a long term prospect there. I don't know if Stewart will make a MLB pitcher, but this is the time when we find out. As for nerves? There is the natural inclination to nerves in this situation. Then add the fact that he is pitching in front of a manager who by now has to be known through the the teams MiLB affiliates as not willing to waste time on rookies, especially rookie pitchers. In the words of the great Alfred E. Neumann, "what, me worry"?

[Riverbrian]

 

23 is young but 28 is old. I don't agree. The being "young" excuse is getting "old".

 

At this rate, even if you can't risk contracts for 30 yr old free agents, and, let's say, by 25 a pitcher should be ready..... that means a pitcher only has a 5 or 6 year viable career. I don't buy it.

http://cerebella.ryanfeeley.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/bell-curve.png

[jorgenswest]

At this point I don’t think they will need to use an option and he is worthy of remaining on the 40. These starts will have value in getting his feet wet. He lost command both games when an inning became stressful. He can overcome that.

 

I don’t think these starts help the Twins learn anything new but I do think they have helped Stewart learn about himself. Gonsalves needs the same opportunity.

[drivlikejehu]

Stewart didn't have command at any time during the game. In his two starts, he's struck out 8.1% of batters and walked 13.5%. 

 

I don't mind the look-see but he's pretty far away from being an MLB starting pitcher at this point.