Article: Starter Or Reliever, That Is The Romero Question

[Mike Sixel]

Berrios began 2017 in AAA for zero good reason.... Still can't figure that out at all.

Edited February 11, 2019 by Mike Sixel

[Tomj14]

 

But the only point in making him a reliever now is if the Twins are in win-now mode, and they really need him; or if they plan to throw him out there when the game is already lost, and he can experiment without a cost.

Aren't the Twins in a win-now mode, right now?

They signed Cruz, didn't trade Gibson or anybody else yet. Seems like they are trying to win now.

Every team should be in a win now mode until they forced not to be.

[FormerMinnasotan]

I would rather keep Romero as a starter at this point. Outside of Brusdar Graterol there is no pitcher with a higher ceiling (Lewis Thorpe, Kohl Stewart, Stephen Gonsalves, Zach Littell, and Tyler Wells have question marks on how well their stuff will play in the Bigs). To put Romero in the ‘pen now is to set the rotation back 2-4 more years till Graterol or maybe Blaine Enlow has more than their feet wet in the Bigs. Also don’t discount how few minor league innings Romero has, his road to get to his debut was considerably quicker than either Berrios or Gonsalves with overall better results.

[ChrisKnutson]

I don’t care where he starts the season, Romero is a starter. Period.

 

Honestly, we should’ve never signed Pineda (Perez too)... If it weren’t for that move, maybe we could’ve had both Keuchel and Romero in our rotation this season.

[RatherBeGolfing]

I'd like to see him used creatively really, I have my doubts on him as a long term starter but I'd hate to limit him to being a one inning reliever as well. I know it's cliche but an Andrew Miller role (obviously assuming he can handle the tight situations, which is a big ask) may be where he ends up in the next few years.

 

But I'm all for experimenting with him and seeing what comes up

[Steve Lein]

 

I would rather keep Romero as a starter at this point. Outside of Brusdar Graterol there is no pitcher with a higher ceiling (Lewis Thorpe, Kohl Stewart, Stephen Gonsalves, Zach Littell, and Tyler Wells have question marks on how well their stuff will play in the Bigs). To put Romero in the ‘pen now is to set the rotation back 2-4 more years till Graterol or maybe Blaine Enlow has more than their feet wet in the Bigs. Also don’t discount how few minor league innings Romero has, his road to get to his debut was considerably quicker than either Berrios or Gonsalves with overall better results.

 

Be careful with your final comparison, because it's not true. Quicker? Yes. Better? No.

 

MiLB ERA:

 

Berrios - 2.77

Gonsalves - 2.46

Romero - 3.02

 

MiLB K/9IP:

 

Berrios - 9.6

Gonsalves - 9.5

Romero - 8.3

 

MiLB WHIP:

 

Berrios - 1.08

Gonsalves - 1.10

Romero - 1.19

 

And it doesn't get better if you compare only AAA numbers or AAA and AA. The gap widens more if only looking there. He's still got work to do and I like the idea of him doing so out of the bullpen. Before last season I was on record here saying I didn't think he'd start a game for the Twins because of those few innings he had. Thought he was a great candidate to come up out of the bullpen when he approached any innings limit. I was happily wrong on that, but I still like this path for him in 2019 if he doesn't earn the starting gig. He is one of their best arms for sure. Definitely will be interesting to follow during spring training.

 

[IndianaTwin]

 

It doesn't have to be either or, Seth,

 

He could be used every fourth or fifth game as a long reliever.  Come in for one of the starters who doesn't pitch deep into games and finish their game.  That could give him three to five innings in say 30+ games during the year...say 135+/- innings.  Would likely not see the lineup turn over for a third time which should lead to success for him and the Twins.  Would also set him up, innings wise, for being a starter in 2020.  

 

A side benefit would be that the rest of a seven man bullpen would get a day off and save wear and tear on everyone else.

 

Agreed that it doesn't have to be either/or. I get that people think of going from 146 to 165-170 this year, but let's not forget that 146 comes on the heels of 125, 90, 0, and 12. I'd also be into a plan that target last year's inning total. 

 

Another side benefit is that he'd get the year with the major league pitching coach that hopefully is going to be his buddy for the next 10 or so years. 

 

[ahart10]

Putting him in the bullpen this year doesn’t exclude him from starting in years to come. The Cardinals have done this with lots of their pitchers over the years and have become the model mid market team.

[MN_ExPat]

 

That said, a move to the pen is not a permanent situation.  It took Chris Sale dominating in the pen for 2 seasons before he became an ace.  I think that a year in the pen for Romero working towards becoming a better pitcher might do wonders for his development as a starter.  

 

Four of the penciled in rotation arms this season are free agents next off-season, so there will be plenty of room for Romero.

Excellent point.   I'd fully agree that using him in the pen this year wouldn't be a bad idea and may actually be beneficial to him.   We also saw this type of usage with Adam Wainwright when he first broke into the league.   He worked out of the pen a lot initial and still went on to be a first rate starter.

[DocBauer]

I'd stick Pineda and Perez in the bullpen and put Romero and Mejia in the rotation.

 

This! Absolutely!

 

I hope to eat crow about Perez, but I thought his signing was head scratching at best. Now, I think there is a good chance Pineda dies well. But Perez? The final spot shku,d be an audition for anyone and everyone, including Mejia and Romero specifically. I even envisioned a scenario where they could see innings out of the pen...on a regulated basis...and piggyback one another in the rotation.

 

I can read the numbers that are not so great in Romero's resume. But I can also read scouting reports and watch him on the mound and see what he is capable of. He missed a great deal of time and was still performing well and promoted quickly. He is a young man with tons of potential still harnessing his stuff. I get his long term role could be as an outstanding RP. And that is still a good thing! But no way do you convert a young arm with his potential to the bullpen at this time.

 

However...he is one of the Twins best 12-13 arms for sure. And if your plan is to not use him in an old school, regimented fashion, then he can still pitch a lot of ML innings and continue to hone his stuff for a move back to the rotation. It's been done before with great success. And the Cardinals are somewhat known for doing this. But as has been mentioned, the Twins also did this with Santana and Liriano.

 

I am fine with him, and Mejia, in the pen to begin 2019. But it would be a HUGE mistake to slot them in as situational or 1 IP guys.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Starter.

 

Case closed.

[David HK]

As per the photo atop this article-

 

Whichever role Romero winds up in, I'm just glad that no Minny pitchers have to hand the ball back to Molly this year.

[jimbo92107]

Stick him in the pen, and tell him his new nickname is "Johan." If he develops that third pitch during the season, try him out as a starter. Otherwise, leave him in the pen for this season, then re-evaluate next spring. 

[wabene]

The only reason, besides the old adage you can never have enough pitching, to sign Perez that I can think of is maybe they know something about Mejia's health that we don't.

[zenser]

I would love to see him as the 5th starter this year.  If he isn't the 5th starter, he needs to be in the bullpen and not in AAA.  It was mentioned before that the Cardinals do this with their young arms.  I would like to see Romero learn to pitch and get batters out at this level in either role.  To me, AAA is not an option for him.

[ashbury]

The only reason, besides the old adage you can never have enough pitching, to sign Perez that I can think of is maybe they know something about Mejia's health that we don't.

Someone posted a tidbit about Kyle Gibson losing a lot of weight due to a bacterial infection, shortly after the signing, and I couldn't help wondering about that connection, if true.

[Riverbrian]

As of February 12, 2019... It is possible to throw 140 innings or more out of a (non-traditional) bullpen.

 

It matters not... if the the pitcher gets those 140 plus innings by starting at the beginning of the game or if the pitcher comes into the game in a different inning down the line. 

 

Starters can throw less than 5 innings and relievers can throw more than 1 inning. 

 

The only question or concern I will have is this: Will he deserve to throw 140 innings based on his performance, as it happens? 

 

I will absolutely have both eyes and ears on utilization this year and every year in the future. 

 

 

[Linus]

Even with modern usage starters are still more valuable. A smart front office would have signed any number of affordable free agents to fortify the bullpen so Romero could develop as a starter in Rochester. He would hopefully been ready to be in the rotation later this summer or for sure next summer when we have one starter under contract

[Riverbrian]

Even with modern usage starters are still more valuable. A smart front office would have signed any number of affordable free agents to fortify the bullpen so Romero could develop as a starter in Rochester. He would hopefully been ready to be in the rotation later this summer or for sure next summer when we have one starter under contract

Starters are absolutely more valuable. Good starters that is. And of course I’m talking in the traditional sense. But... Bad starters will kill you completely and consistently and teams are rolling out bad starters just to fit a traditional model.

 

Even with modern usage. The goal is still to get more innings out of your top performers.

 

If Romero is hanging zeros in the majors. Give him more innings to hang those zero. This effectively stretches him out regardless if he starts or comes in later.

 

If he isn’t hanging zeros. He should go to Rochester for that reason and throw innings down there to improve.

 

What I don’t want to see is 60 good innings when he is capable of 140 good innings. It’s a waste of 80 good innings.

[yarnivek1972]

“Starters are more valuable”

 

 

I still remember Gardy claiming that Santana was more valuable pitching “3 or 4 times a week than once a week”.

 

He mis-stated usage both ways to fit his narrative. Being used 3 times a week would be 78 appearances. 4 times a week would be 104. Starters typically pitch 3 times every 2 weeks.

[Dr. Evil]

I have no idea why the top 4 starter spots are considered locks. Gibson and Berrios yes. Beyond that we got big question marks. Didn't Odorizi and Penida have like 4.40 era's in both of their last full seasons?

Edited February 14, 2019 by Dr. Evil

[David HK]

 

I would love to see him as the 5th starter this year.  If he isn't the 5th starter, he needs to be in the bullpen and not in AAA.  It was mentioned before that the Cardinals do this with their young arms.  I would like to see Romero learn to pitch and get batters out at this level in either role.  To me, AAA is not an option for him.

That's a big, "I concur, Dr."

[TheLeviathan]

I would really, really like to keep this kid in the rotation.  I get why people are excited about him in the bullpen, but that excitement should get squashed real soon when you think about our rotation options without him.

[Danchat]

It looks like we have our answer to this question:

 

Twins manager Rocco Baldelli told reporters that RHP Fernando Romero will be converted into a reliever this spring.
Baldelli said Romero will start "training for shorter stints" as the spring unfolds. Romero made 11 starts as a rookie last year, going 3-3 with a 4.69 ERA and 1.42 WHIP. He struck out 45 batters in 55 2/3 innings. It was a solid debut season for the 24-year-old right-hander but the new coaching staff in Minnesota wants to try him in the bullpen, at least for now. Romero put up promising stats in his minor league career and many observers are optimistic about his potential to be a successful starter in the major leagues if given the chance.

 

 

With the lack of bullpen signings, the writing was on the wall for this one. I can imagine they'll try to work him into high-leverage situations if he starts the season well.