Stewart, Romero Up... Cave, Duffey Down

[Seth Stohs]

The Twins announced this morning that Kohl Stewart and Fernando Romero were being called up today. Stewart ,as we knew, will start tonight against the Astros. Romero is a bit more surprising, ,though they are likely protecting themselves from a short start by Stewart. 

 

No surprise that Tyler Duffey was optioned, but with the second pitcher called up, Jake Cave was also optioned. 

[USAFChief]

Probably a permanent switch to a bigger pen? Cave is useless. Gonzalez can cover corner OF, they shouldn't be resting any of the three OFers more than once every couple months anyway.

[yarnivek1972]

Magill has been almost perfect in his 4 rehab appearances, including a 2 inning outing on the 22nd. Don’t know why they wouldn’t just activate him.

[jkcarew]

April 24th. Didn't take too long to go from 11 to 13 pitchers, did it?

 

I think Cave is the choice to put in the starting lineup most days if one of Buxton, Kepler, Rosario were to go on the IL. But it was obvious that Cave was the bench player for which Baldelli was having the hardest time getting at-bats. So, makes sense in that regard. When a random rest day is needed it will have to be Adrianza, Gonzalez, or even Astudillo out there....which would still leave two options after Sano comes back. Maybe it will be different later in the season when more rest days may be in order for the three main guys.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Magill has been almost perfect in his 4 rehab appearances, including a 2 inning outing on the 22nd. Don’t know why they wouldn’t just activate him.

If Magill just threw 2 innings on Monday night, they probably don't want to count on him for long relief on Wednesday night. Particularly just coming off the DL.

 

I suspect Romero might go back down tomorrow to activate Magill. (Or Harper could be optioned instead.)

[ashbury]

Magill has been almost perfect in his 4 rehab appearances, including a 2 inning outing on the 22nd. Don’t know why they wouldn’t just activate him.

Magill doesn't have minor league options. They are milking his rehab stint, because once they activate him, he has to stay. Romero first then Magill is possible - Magill then Romero isn't. And if Romero succeeds, there will be some other candidate to demote when Magill has to be activated.

 

Always do the possible, first.

[scottz]

Who knows how it will work out, but I like the use of the 40 man so far in 2019. I like Cave and I like Duffey when he's on. But this is a good use of options.

 

Come on, Stewart! Get those 'stros.

[yarnivek1972]

Magill doesn't have minor league options. They are milking his rehab stint, because once they activate him, he has to stay. Romero first then Magill is possible - Magill then Romero isn't. And if Romero succeeds, there will be some other candidate to demote when Magill has to be activated.

 

Always do the possible, first.

Always use the guy who gives you a better chance to win. ALWAYS. If Magill comes up and stinks you cut him loose and don’t think twice about it.

[yarnivek1972]

Who knows how it will work out, but I like the use of the 40 man so far in 2019. I like Cave and I like Duffey when he's on. But this is a good use of options.

 

Come on, Stewart! Get those 'stros.

I’m not old enough to remember when Duffey was on.

[Vanimal46]

I’m not old enough to remember when Duffey was on.

2015 seems like a lifetime ago...

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

April 24th. Didn't take too long to go from 11 to 13 pitchers, did it?

 

I mean, that was the plan all along, wasn’t it?

[Mike Sixel]

These moves make sense. I hope they work.

[ashbury]

Always use the guy who gives you a better chance to win. ALWAYS. If Magill comes up and stinks you cut him loose and don’t think twice about it.

I prefer a front office who thinks about asset management.

 

I'm far from a Magill woofer. I don't think he brings a lot to the table. If they cut him loose, I'm probably fine with that. I just don't see a reason to cut an asset sooner than you have to.

 

If Romero had done better in his one major league appearance so far, I'd go along with your rule of thumb and say that it happens this time to coincide with mine. But I'm not confident Romero will be effective.

[wsnydes]

 

Always use the guy who gives you a better chance to win. ALWAYS. If Magill comes up and stinks you cut him loose and don’t think twice about it.

I don't necessarily disagree with this, but in this particular case I think that's a bit shortsighted. It's not as though there are younger pitchers knocking down the door needing to be added to the 40 man. He's still a more known commodity than most in AAA. Cut him and that likely means more Duffey. I'm guessing that neither of us would argue that he gives this team a better chance to win in the long run or even the short term. In house options are pretty limited.

 

Obviously they could use that spot and bring someone else in, but if that was their thinking then why have they not already done that with other players?

[MMMordabito]

 

Always use the guy who gives you a better chance to win. ALWAYS. If Magill comes up and stinks you cut him loose and don’t think twice about it.

 

After one game?

[LifeLongTwinsfan]

Hopefully this fixes the bullpen! Go Twins!

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Magill doesn't have minor league options. They are milking his rehab stint, because once they activate him, he has to stay. Romero first then Magill is possible - Magill then Romero isn't. And if Romero succeeds, there will be some other candidate to demote when Magill has to be activated.

 

Always do the possible, first.

I don't even think it's that complicated, in this situation.

 

They really need someone capable of pitching length tonight, Wednesday night, to back up Stewart.

 

Romero hasn't pitched since Saturday, and has had a full healthy spring/season so far. He could almost certainly throw 30-40 pitches tonight, if necessary.

 

Magill had an abbreviated spring, and just threw a season-high 26 pitches (2 innings) for Rochester on Monday night. They probably don't want to push him beyond that in his MLB season debut.

 

They might switch out Magill for Romero or Harper as soon as Friday.

[VATwinsFan]

There is no need for 13 pitchers (or 12 for that matter).  There is a need for at least 13 non-pitchers.

 

Yeah, I'm a dinosaur.

[MMMordabito]

 

Hopefully this fixes the bullpen! Go Twins!

 

Oh, BTW, Welcome!

[Mike Sixel]

I don't even think it's that complicated, in this situation.

 

They really need someone capable of pitching length tonight, Wednesday night, to back up Stewart.

 

Romero hasn't pitched since Saturday, and has had a full healthy spring/season so far. He could almost certainly throw 30-40 pitches tonight, if necessary.

 

Magill had an abbreviated spring, and just threw a season-high 26 pitches (2 innings) for Rochester on Monday night. They probably don't want to push him beyond that in his MLB season debut.

 

They might switch out Magill for Romero or Harper as soon as Friday.

This.

[ashbury]

They might switch out Magill for Romero or Harper as soon as Friday.

They might. Multiple factors play into the ordering of their moves.

[yarnivek1972]

After one game?

Who said after one game? Given what he has done in the past, he certainly deserves some rope.

[nicksaviking]

I'm happy to have MaGill back as an option, but I'm confused as to why he'd be seen as the hands-down superior option. We have a 29-year-old journeyman who has been injured and coming off of an OK, not great season based on baseball card stats but which his peripherals in no way support vs. two former top prospects in their primes who have significantly more arm talent.

 

I mean, maybe the edge goes to Magill, but barely.

 

[PharmerJack]

Hopefully Duffey can settle down a bit in AAA. Cave was an obvious pick, absolutely no need for him this early in the season. I'm sure Astudillo can play competent RF if need be, or shuffle Cron to 3rd and slot Marvin in right with Astudillo or Cruz at 1st. Plenty of options to field a decent lineup while also carrying 13 arms.

[ashbury]

Cave was an obvious pick, absolutely no need for him this early in the season.

Cave also did himself no favors, when he got 3 consecutive starts in place of an ailing Kepler and didn't hit well. Small sample size, of course, but then so are the postseason series - I want guys who step up to get rewarded, and Cave just didn't this time. We'll see him again in the majors.

[wsnydes]

Cruz can play the outfield too. He's never played 1B, so I'm not sure why people keep slotting him there.

[yarnivek1972]

I don't even think it's that complicated, in this situation.

 

They really need someone capable of pitching length tonight, Wednesday night, to back up Stewart.

 

Romero hasn't pitched since Saturday, and has had a full healthy spring/season so far. He could almost certainly throw 30-40 pitches tonight, if necessary.

 

Magill had an abbreviated spring, and just threw a season-high 26 pitches (2 innings) for Rochester on Monday night. They probably don't want to push him beyond that in his MLB season debut.

 

They might switch out Magill for Romero or Harper as soon as Friday.

Problem with Romero is that 30-40 pitches from him might be less than 2 innings.

[ashbury]

Cruz can play the outfield too. He's never played 1B, so I'm not sure why people keep slotting him there.

I think it's usually when lumping together the positionally-inflexible players for purposes of roster discussion.

[KFEY93]

 

I’m not old enough to remember when Duffey was on.

 

He was on a for like a month in 2015. Not before, not after. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Problem with Romero is that 30-40 pitches from him might be less than 2 innings.

Sure, but it's still probably longer than Magill could give us tonight.