Article: DET 7, MIN 5: Stewart Bombs Second Audition

[Otto von Ballpark]

They noted that he threw a live BP and that he was rusty during the game last night. I always find it funny when they have to report on these things for guys like Belisle. They make it seem like the Twins and the fans are anxiously waiting for the return of a 40 year old reliever with a 6 ERA.

Matt Belisle's response:

 

[Otto von Ballpark]

The baseball gods simply are against us when a couple Mendoza-line heroes account for nearly all of Detroit's runs.

I'm pretty sure even the baseball gods aren't watching these Twins-Tigers tilts anymore.

[jimmer]

Last year, Stewart carried an ERA of 4.23 between AA and AAA. He averaged 6.3 SO9 and 5.0 BB9.

This year, Stewart carried an ERA of 4.47 between AA and AAA. He averaged 8.4 SO9 and 2.7 BB9

 

Overall...

 

Stewart spent parts of three seasons in AA, 3.87 ERA, averaging 6.5 SO9 and 4.2 BB9.

Stewart spent parts of two seasons in AAA, 4.34 ERA, averaging 6.9 SO9 and 2.6 BB9.

 

Those are pretty poor numbers (certainly don't scream promote me)and Berrios dwarfed those AA and AAA numbers when he was there...

Edited August 19, 2018 by jimmer

[mikelink45]

 

You mean like every other organization? I don't think they're doing anything different than other organizations do. And remember this is Jeremy Zoll's first year as the minor league director, so it's difficult to know what his process is or will be. And, we're in year 2 of Falvine, but the first year of them being sellers at this point in August.

 

Gonsalves is already on the 40-man roster, and arguably doesn't have as much "stuff" as Stewart. Wade isn't on the 40-man roster, has only been off the DL for 10 days or so. And he's left-handed and Field is right-handed and Grossman is a switch-hitter. Wade also is a prospect, so he should play every day. 

I think you give this FO too much credit and leeway.  I want them to succeed, but I am not happy with their progress, I do not see much of a pattern.  This is MLB, there is no time for on the job training in the FO.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Seth your my guy, hell your all our guys...you've been doing this so long.  You're wrong here tho.  The old FO f'd up.  Gonzalez s/b up now...silly.

 

The've been wrong  with Stewart and then did are w Jay.

 

Let's just say TR and his crew **** the bed.  BTW they did!  It's been long enough to assess.  It doesn't mean the new guys are tainted with that stain.

 

Stewart and Jay are abject failures, good dudes but common TD has to be objective.

 

If the organization wants Stewart to be a reliever, then send him down and put him in line with our 5 guys who throw harder have better stuff and are ready

 

Clearly they haven't been great picks. I also think that it's fair to say that patience can be good. I think giving a guy more than 2 starts is fair. I guess that's not right. But we also have to remember that the business side of the game does matter to the front office, and it should. 

[Riverbrian]

 

I'm pretty sure even the baseball gods aren't watching these Twins-Tigers tilts anymore.

 

This might be the post of the year. 

 

[Seth Stohs]

 

Remember in 2016 when the Twins brought up a kid who finished the season with an ERA of 8.02, a WHIP of 1.87, and opponents hit .310 against him? They should have admitted their mistake and dumped him too. Instead they kept using him and all he did was pitch in the All Star game this year.

Give the kid a chance.

 

Correct... Now, no one is going to put Stewart and his stuff into the same category as Berrios... but I would say it could be similar to Gibson, and thankfully they've remained patient with him too. Of course, the hope is that they can compete in 2019 (or certainly 2020) and there are lots of possible options, so he'll spend more time in AAA too.

[jimmer]

 

Correct... Now, no one is going to put Stewart and his stuff into the same category as Berrios... but I would say it could be similar to Gibson, and thankfully they've remained patient with him too. 

So we just have to wait until Stewart has burned 4 years of control and/or is 30 years old? :-)  It's too bad our first round pick took this long to figure it out (assuming he can continue this next year).

 

It's also too bad that this is a standard/best case scenario we have for a #4 overall pick.

Edited August 19, 2018 by jimmer

[adorduan]

 

Remember in 2016 when the Twins brought up a kid who finished the season with an ERA of 8.02, a WHIP of 1.87, and opponents hit .310 against him? They should have admitted their mistake and dumped him too. Instead they kept using him and all he did was pitch in the All Star game this year.

Give the kid a chance.

That "kid" had minor league numbers that were light years better that Stewart's.  Not even close to the same situation.

[108Stitches]

Stewart has a 3.36 career ERA in the minors.

Not in the ones that matter most. And a minor league whip of 1.40 and a .300 average against. NOT first round acceptable at all.

[jorgenswest]

 

Not in the ones that matter most. And a minor league whip of 1.40 and a .300 average against. NOT first round acceptable at all.

Drafting a high school pitcher #4 is a risky decision. 

 

Of the 14 drafted only 5 had a good a career (Matlock, Fernandez, Wood, Morgan and Brett). Six ended with a negative WAR or no appearance in the majors. 

 

Dylan Bundy (2011), Kohl Stewart (2013) and Riley Pint (2016) remain and none are a sure thing for a significant career. Bundy has a chance and Pint has been awful in the minors.

 

The 2013 first round doesn't look very good. Of the top 12 picks only 2 have positive WAR and after pick 3 (Gray) you need to go down to supplemental round pick 32 before finding a significant player in Aaron Judge.

[Doctor Wu]

Two poor starts by Stewart, which is obviously very disappointing and unimpressive, but I say keep him up for the rest of the season and see what he can do. Let him take his lumps, get shelled some more, maybe gain some confidence by a good outing or two, whatever. But at this point I think the big league experience can only help him, plus it will give the front office a better idea about what  to do with him, and whether they think he will actually be part of the team's future or not, either as a starter or in the bullpen. In a lost season like this one, I think the team can afford to be patient with struggling youngsters like Stewart.