Front Page: Handbook Preview: Glen Perkins Reviewing Relievers

[John Bonnes]

Throughout the season, the Twins bullpen was a concern. Should it be a concern this offseason? Who better to ask than former Twins closer, three-time All-Star , Fox Sports North analyst and closet nerd Glen Perkins?

 

In this year’s Twins Daily Offseason Handbook, Perkins dives into the improvement of the Twins relief corps (and core). As a former reliever, he’s able to share changes the pitchers made that increased their effectiveness beyond their projections back in April. Like this:Throughout the 2019 season Littell found himself on the Rochester-to-Minnesota shuttle. Most times it was not due to performance, but by being one of the few guys who had options. When he returned to Minnesota on July 3rd he was a new pitcher. He was sent down in June with instructions to alter his arm swing and delivery to try and help add velocity. Littell was acquired from the Yankees in 2017 as somewhat of a soft-tossing strike-thrower and, along with the move to full-time bullpen arm, came back from Triple-A throwing harder than ever before. After averaging just over 92 MPH in 2018, Littell saw his FB velocity jump to nearly 95 mph while his swinging strike rate went from 7.7% to 12.8% in 2019.

 

The focus on this offseason is starting pitching, which seems odd considering as recently as the trade deadline the focus was 100% on the bullpen. Perkins's review of the more important arms is a feel-good story, but it also gets to the main question that must be answered: should it still be a priority?

 

You’ll review the evidence and decide for yourself if you preorder the Offseason Handbook. By preordering it, you get it days before those who wait, and the $10 investment provides a whole hot stove’s worth of information over the offseason. Grab it now.

 

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