Odorizzi to IL, Littell up

[crapforks]

Didn’t see this topic posted yet.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/07/twins-to-place-jake-odorizzi-on-injured-list.html

[SwainZag]

I like how they are taking advantage of the break to get another pitcher up, savvy move.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I like how they are taking advantage of the break to get another pitcher up, savvy move.

I don't think that's quite the motivation. Odorizzi was scheduled to start again Sunday before the break, and that will have to be a AAA pitcher now (presumably Smeltzer).

[jkcarew]

Has a replacement been named for the AS game? Or is the assumption that he'll be back and dressed for the AS game? I hate to deny Jake that experience...but I'd also kinda hate to see him miss a start for the Twins, so that he can heat up and pitch 1-2 innings in the AS game two days later.

[MMMordabito]

 

I hate to deny Jake that experience.

 

He could still go hang out.  I hope they name Berrios.  

[jimbo92107]

Twins appear to have a plethora of average candidates for the 4th or 5th spot in the rotation. 

[Rosterman]

I was hoping they would NOT do this and just use his start as a bullpen game, perhaps with an opener, give Mejia the ball for 3-4 innings.

 

[howeda7]

 

That makes sense. I'd love to see Thorpe get another start but I don't think his 10 days will be up by Sunday. This would also gives the MLB starters a little more time off. My only thought would be to send someone else down because I think Littel has the talent to stay with the big club and provides more value down the stretch than some others in the bullpen. I guess the issue is that only he, Harper and Duffy have options. Maybe Magill or Morin has a need for a 10 day IL stint?

Since it's a IL move, they could have called him back up, but they would have needed to do it when Odorizzi went on the IL.

[rghrbek]

 

Twins appear to have a plethora of average candidates for the 4th or 5th spot in the rotation. 

I think the stating the 4th spot may be a bit generous...

[jz7233]

Casey Sadler was just picked up by Dodgers. I am sure Twins could have picked up before Dodgers. The rich just got richer. I guess Twins must have a better bullpen than Dodgers.

[jz7233]

 

Dodgers traded for Sadler, it wasn't a waiver claim. They also sent him to AAA. He's not on the big league club. Sadler had a 6.86 ERA in his infrequent call ups (9 games) with Pittsburgh in 2014, 2015 and 2018.  He's been better this year with the Rays but is already 28 and wasn't exactly a dynamo in the minors. HArd to get too excited about this one. 

He might be a better option than Morin, Parker or Harper this season and he could pitch multiple innings each outing.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Hard to argue with this decision. Odorizzi is badly needed down the stretch and simply has not been very good for the past month. By skipping one start, he gets, what... like almost two weeks off?

[nater79a]

 

Hard to argue with this decision. Odorizzi is badly needed down the stretch and simply has not been very good for the past month. By skipping one start, he gets, what... like almost two weeks off?

 

I realize the finger blister is the official reason Odo is headed to the IL.... but, it sure seems like he's been in kind of a "dead arm" period these last three weeks.   

 

Some extra time off might be just what he needs.

[spanman2]

Whatever is causing Odo to struggle his last 4 starts or so this should be what the Dr. ordered...get those legs etc. the rest they need.  Come back after the break and take 2 of 3 from Cleveland.  Let's hope that puts them 9-10 games up on the Tribe again!  WIN TWINS. 

[stringer bell]

Who starts Sunday? Would the Twins recall Smeltzer or have someone else go on the injured list so that Thorpe could start? The do have four days off after Sunday, so everybody should be rested going to Cleveland after the All-Star game. Perhaps they'll do a "bullpen game" and have all the relievers go an inning or two since they have the days off following.

[FormerMinnasotan]

My only question on this is why is Littell the one that got called up? We just lost a starter in Odo and we call up at best a multi inning reliever in Littell. Not that I am hating on Littell as he’s starting to look better as a reliever but right now we need a starter to fill Odorizzi’s spot in the rotation.

[Don Walcott]

Berrios was just named to replace Odo at the All-Star Game.

[IndianaTwin]

 

My only question on this is why is Littell the one that got called up? We just lost a starter in Odo and we call up at best a multi inning reliever in Littell. Not that I am hating on Littell as he’s starting to look better as a reliever but right now we need a starter to fill Odorizzi’s spot in the rotation.

 

Because Littell can help the next few days if needed. And Saturday evening, they can decide whether to make it a bullpen game or call up Stewart (started Sunday) or Smeltzer (Tuesday) (or Hutchison from Monday, but I'd prefer they not go there). 

 

(Of course, a Stewart decision would have to happen before Saturday night.)

[nater79a]

 

Who starts Sunday? Would the Twins recall Smeltzer or have someone else go on the injured list so that Thorpe could start? The do have four days off after Sunday, so everybody should be rested going to Cleveland after the All-Star game. Perhaps they'll do a "bullpen game" and have all the relievers go an inning or two since they have the days off following.

 

Have to think they try to get Mejia through four innings or so.   Then you you can burn through the bullpen the rest of the game with the All-Star game coming up.

[howeda7]

 

He might be a better option than Morin, Parker or Harper this season and he could pitch multiple innings each outing.

I get that Harper and Morin aren't great. But they've both pitched to an ERA of under 3.00 in a half season and we're pining for a guy in AAA with a career ERA over 6 to replace them?

[stringer bell]

 

Have to think they try to get Mejia through four innings or so.   Then you you can burn through the bullpen the rest of the game with the All-Star game coming up.

If they want to do a bullpen game, they can also get multiple innings from Littell for sure. Depending on bullpen use prior to Sunday, they can probably do a bullpen game with no long lasting effects and a decent chance to win. 

[jz7233]

 

I get that Harper and Morin aren't great. But they've both pitched to an ERA of under 3.00 in a half season and we're pining for a guy in AAA with a career ERA over 6 to replace them?

Sadler has an ERA under 2 in the major this year and he could pitch multiple innings. Morin has not been pitching in high leverage situation all season. Harper and Morin rarely pitch more than one inning each outing.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Sadler has an ERA under 2

And a FIP well over 4.

 

I'm not saying Sadler wouldn't have been an okay flyer but he's hardly someone worth flipping over backwards to get. In an era when hitters almost pride themselves on how violently they can miss the ball while swinging, Sadler has a swinging strike rate of just 8.9%.

 

We poke fun of Parker around here and his swinging strike rate is 10.1%. And Parker's K% is over six points higher than Sadler's K%.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Who starts Sunday? Would the Twins recall Smeltzer or have someone else go on the injured list so that Thorpe could start? The do have four days off after Sunday, so everybody should be rested going to Cleveland after the All-Star game. Perhaps they'll do a "bullpen game" and have all the relievers go an inning or two since they have the days off following.

 

 

Have to think they try to get Mejia through four innings or so.   Then you you can burn through the bullpen the rest of the game with the All-Star game coming up.

 

Bullpen game sounds like a bad idea. Mejia isn't really stretched out (much less dependable enough) to count on him eating a lot of innings. Yeah, your pen can recover over the break, but why put yourself through the trouble -- extra innings in such a game could be a disaster!

 

And assuming you activate Odorizzi after the break, you're going to need to demote a pitcher then anyway. So you're not really losing anything by demoting a reliever and calling up Smeltzer on Sunday -- actually, that could reset the 10 day option clock on a guy like Littell earlier, meaning he'd be eligible to return sooner, rather than letting him stay on the MLB roster through the break.

 

You can also plan to lean on Littell (or whomever you plan to demote) on Friday/Saturday, so your other relievers are more rested for Sunday.

[stringer bell]

Smeltzer for Littell on Sunday does make sense. I do believe it will depend on how much the bullpen is used in the next three games as far as how they go on Sunday.

[yarnivek1972]

Littell is likely sent down after today. 30 pitches over the last two days. The speculation is that Cody Allen is coming up. Would still need to make room for someone on Sunday. I believe Duffey and Harper are the only other relievers with options remaining.

[jz7233]

 

I get that Harper and Morin aren't great. But they've both pitched to an ERA of under 3.00 in a half season and we're pining for a guy in AAA with a career ERA over 6 to replace them?

Well after today's outing, Morin's ERA is over 3 now.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Well after today's outing, Morin's ERA is over 3 now.

Honest question: what makes you believe Morin and Sadler are different guys going forward?

 

I’m legitimately curious. Up to this point, they’re pretty much twinsies statistically.