Article: Can the Twins Be Competitive With Their Current Bullpen?

[Leadoff Man]

 

How quick we forget. Hildenberger, during the "good" part of his season, at one point had let 7 out of 7 inherited runners score.... all charged to his teammates, and his stats still looked like he was doing great. I think the hitters have caught up to his gimmick, and hope the leash is not too long.

 

I am extremely disappointed that the FO did not get Ramos. Betting that Castro will be a plus this year, his lame duck year, coming back from injuries, is hoping for luck. He is prone to passed balls, his bat was already declining, and the last thing this lineup needs is another bat that doesn't hit. Garver is still a question as to whether he will come back from the concussion. 

 

There is a reason (probabaly several) that the Angels, Brewers/Orioles, and Rays let the guys go that we picked up. This is the offseason of doing nothing except hoping that the guys actually perform. Baseball doesn't care how old you are once the game starts. The age excuse is so tired.

No discussion of a pitching staff is complete without an analysis of the pitchers' batterymate from the perspective of his defense, ability to manage pitchers, and chemistry. Offense aside, I have a lot of doubt as to whether the Twins' current collection of catchers is capable of enhancing the productivity of what looks to be a fairly inexperienced pitching staff.

[howieramone2]

 

No discussion of a pitching staff is complete without an analysis of the pitchers' batterymate from the perspective of his defense, ability to manage pitchers, and chemistry. Offense aside, I have a lot of doubt as to whether the Twins' current collection of catchers is capable of enhancing the productivity of what looks to be a fairly inexperienced pitching staff.

Castro is as solid as they get defensively. It will be interesting though, because he will be dealt at some point in time and the much awaited Astudillo era will begin.

[Battle ur tail off]

Might be nice to have Ryan Pressly eh?

 

But I guess we are good to go, we got 2 A ball kids. 

 

 

[howieramone2]

 

Might be nice to have Ryan Pressly eh?

 

But I guess we are good to go, we got 2 A ball kids. 

That is probably the best trade the new regime has made. A little over a year of Pressly for 2 solid prospects. Actually the CF was in rookie league. 

Edited January 14, 2019 by howieramone2

[Battle ur tail off]

Yawn. Wake me up in 2025 when they even see AAA. 

 

Might end up turning out that way, but you sacrificed one of the better arms in your system to get them. Don't tell me they couldn't have resigned him if wanted after this coming season. 

 

I guess I'm just sick of always playing for the future. Letting go of guys like that in their prime for low, low minor league players will keep you in the perpetual rebuild. A ball and lower guys are always a crapshoot and I'd guess on the average, 20% or less of those prospects at that level every pan out. If those kids were AA cats dominating that level, I might feel a bit different about it. 

 

Maybe the Twins won't be good the next couple years and those prospects end up being a couple of players. Then it's a great trade. However, if the Astros get another year like last out of Pressly and one of those 2 doesn't end up being a pretty valuable piece, we lose. 

[Doomtints]

The pundits who publish pieces stating May will be the next closer are probably right.

 

As for the original question of "Can this team be competitive with this bullpen?" Yeah, they can. They were near .500 last year with THAT bullpen, which I would call being competitive....

 

At this point I'm done asking if the team can be competitive or win the division. The only question I ask is can this team win a playoff game or a playoff series. The answer is still no. The headline of the decade.

Edited January 15, 2019 by Doomtints

[Doomtints]

 

Im a big believer in the potential of John Curtiss... Needs some consistent work. I know he's still got another option or so, ,but he needs an extended run. 

 

Shucks.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Shucks.

 

Ha! I meant to come and write here about that comment... Of course, I do still believe in the upside of Curtiss, even with this decision. 

[USAFChief]

 

Castro is as solid as they get defensively. It will be interesting though, because he will be dealt at some point in time and the much awaited Astudillo era will begin.

So your prediction is the Twins will not be in contention this summer?

 

 

[Channing1964]

we'll be in contention but the back end of the bullpen and rotation will get exposed and it will be ugly.

[howieramone2]

 

So your prediction is the Twins will not be in contention this summer?

I would never say something as crazy as that. 

[USAFChief]

 

I would never say something as crazy as that. 

Then why will Castro be dealt?

[howieramone2]

 

Then why will Castro be dealt?

Asset management. If a starting catcher goes down we could get a haul. My guess is he gets moved at the deadline for young starting pitching prospects.

[USAFChief]

 

Asset management. If a starting catcher goes down we could get a haul. My guess is he gets moved at the deadline for young starting pitching prospects.

So the Twins will be in contention, but deal their starting catcher for "young starting pitching prospects"??

 

If that happens, Twins fans should burn down Target Field and tar and feather Falvine on their way out of town.

[howieramone2]

 

So the Twins will be in contention, but deal their starting catcher for "young starting pitching prospects"??

 

If that happens, Twins fans should burn down Target Field and tar and feather Falvine on their way out of town.

Trade deadline 2017. Do you really want to badmouth Astudrillo on this board?

Edited January 17, 2019 by howieramone2

[TheLeviathan]

And now Ottavino off the board.  Options are starting to run out.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Castro is as solid as they get defensively. It will be interesting though, because he will be dealt at some point in time and the much awaited Astudillo era will begin.

I’m leaning this way as well. Competitive or not, Castro and his expiring contract will get traded away at the deadline, or August waiver period.

 

Look for Astudillo to start consistently at C in AAA and shortly before the deadline a minor league journeyman C (like Wilson) be signed, Castro get traded for minor league pitching, and Astudillo get called up.

 

To the point, the bullpen as is could be ok, but the pitching as a whole looks like a weakness.

 

Seems like the “opener” will be heavily used as well as “stacker”.

Edited January 20, 2019 by Sconnie

[Linus]

Answer is still no.