Article: Twins Trade Deadline: Final Touches

[Riverbrian]

Again...if you think Smelzer or Thorpe is better than Perez, then put him in the rotation. That's completely different than what you originally posted.

 

If you need to know at the drop of a hat, take your pick. Just exactly like you'd do if you were "determining who is the 6th starter." You'd pick one, and try it. Then what? Give the other a try? That's not different than what you'd do if the need aroze.

 

In the meantime, your 5th starter is sitting there not pitching, while you try to prepare for a decision that might not be necessary at all, and for which the solution is exactly the same as, and does you no more good than, waiting for the actual need to arise. You've weakened your team for however long your 5th starter isn't in the rotation, and he would probably need to be stretched out again.

 

Should they put May in the closer role for a while, in case Rogers gets hurt? Call up Gordon and sit Polanco for 3 weeks, to see if he can handle SS for 3 weeks in case they need a SS for 3 weeks?

Seriously?

 

Yeah let’s bench Polanco for three weeks.

 

When you counter points with extreme ridiculous examples not being made, You really disrespect the person you are responding to. Go find an example of me suggesting Jake Cave should be benched for 3 weeks.

 

If you find that maybe then you can try stretch that into Polanco.

 

P.S. You won’t find it.

[Riverbrian]

I don't want him in the field in October either.

Preventing runs matters. It's why we needed pitching at the deadline.

Cruz plays the position of DH for good reason. He can pinch hit.

It a legitimate point you are making. I make the suggestion because we don’t know the coming landscape and that’s a talented experienced bat limited by his defensive capabilities and there is always trade offs between defense and offense. I don’t know the trade off without knowing his defense.

[USAFChief]

 

Seriously?

Yeah let’s bench Polanco for three weeks.

When you counter points with extreme ridiculous examples not being made, You really disrespect the person you are responding to. Go find an example of me suggesting Jake Cave should be benched for 3 weeks.

If you find that maybe then you can try stretch that into Polanco.

P.S. You won’t find it.

Yes, seriously.

 

How is that different than trying out a 6th starter, just in case you need a 6th starter? The principle is exactly the same. In both cases, you're benching the player you've determined is better, on the chance he won't be available at some point in the future. All while already knowing what the solution will be.

 

If the Twins lose a starter, one of Smelzer or Thorpe will get the starts. Which one is anyone's guess, but sans giving them both 10 starts to figure out which one, you just make your best call and live with it. And that goes for any of the Twins starters, not just Perez, by the way.

 

There's nothing gained by trying it out before it needs to happen. You already know the answer to the question.

 

 

[Riverbrian]

Yes, seriously.

 

How is that different than trying out a 6th starter, just in case you need a 6th starter?

 

In both cases, you're benching the player you've determined is better, on the chance he won't be available.

What am I always looking for?

 

Depth

 

I’ve made a few posts on the subject along the way.

 

If the staff remains healthy where does Perez end up in the playoffs? I don’t believe they will use a 5 man rotation.

 

So get ready for it.

 

If a pitcher gets hurt who is the next man up? We didn’t trade for a starter so who’s the guy who takes the spot of the starter we didn’t trade for. The more work you give him the better prepared he is for that injury and that could happen in the playoffs.

 

It’s just getting the players you have to work with ready for all eventualities.

 

Last point... production from Perez can be duplicated. It’s not like I’m suggesting (ridiculous example) Verlander to step aside for (Insert a ridiculous example).