Brett Lee

[DAM DC Twins Fans]

Brett Lee Update #18

 

The Twins minor league pitching gurus are obviously being very cautious with Brett. He hasn't made a start in about 10 days. With good reason--Brett has now pitched 110 innings in 2013.

 

Brett has made 2 bullpen appearances in this span. He pitched 1 inning in each (8/20 and today). So in two innings he has been perfect--faced 6 batters--retired them all--no hits, no walks, no runs. He struck out 1 (today) and the other 5 ground out.

 

His ERA for the year is now down to 3.11. His record is still 7-4. I am not going to update ratios (2 IP out of 110 wont change much). Obviously, they all (very) slightly improved...

 

Unless Brett starts next week--no update till end of season--then I will summarize everything. Hopefully, Brett gets a playoff start as a reward for a good (no outstanding) season.

[Steven Buhr]

Everything I've heard indicates Lee will start one of the games in the first round of the Kernels' postseason.

[lightfoot789]

Everything I've heard indicates Lee will start one of the games in the first round of the Kernels' postseason.

 

As he should. Maybe higher prospects on team at pitcher - but he is this teams Ace. He should start game one and get Kernels that 1st win on the road. Lee as the table setter in 2 of 3 series. Melo as the key mid-reliever should be lights out this post season. Boer and Gilbert as the key closers. Who knows who else they may bring up by next week [pitchers 2013 draft ].

Lee - Shibuya - Atherton (if needed) for 1st series

 

Atherton or Berrios (game 1 and / or 2) - Sulbaran - Montanez - for second series (Lee possible game 5 starter)

 

Lee - Shibuya - Atherton - Berrios - (Sulbaran game 5 if needed) for championship series

[DAM DC Twins Fans]

To my surprise, I figured Jake Mauer and the Twins pitching gurus would keep Brett in the pen until the playoffs--limiting his innings, Brett Lee made his 11th second half appearance (and 9th start) tonight. He was impressive--and should continue to move up Seth's list (or be one of his 5 overlooked pitching prospects or both). Brett got the win as the vaunted Kernels offense (but not Adam B. Walker) showed up behind him. Brett's next appearance should be starting for the Kernels in the playoffs (maybe game 1). He has earned it. We will ignore the fact that Brett has pitched 116 innings in 2012.

 

Tonight Brett went 6 innings--almost perfect. He gave up zero (nada) runs, only 3 hits and a single BB. He struck out 5.

 

Brett's (presumably) final second half stats--57.1 IP, 13 runs (9 earned), 42 hits, 8 BB, 45Ks. He has retired 74 via the grounder vs. 21 via the fly. (That's a 3.5 ratio.) His K/BB is 5.625 and his K per 9 innings is about 7 (very impressive even though less than my other "adapt a prospect" Stephen Gonsalves). Brett's second half WHIP is 0.87. His second half ERA is 2.04. All of these numbers are pretty impressive--his numbers for the year are (slightly) less so--I will post all year numbers post-playoffs (which hopefully wont end before mid-Sept.)

 

When I started this blog, I thought Brett had a future with the Twins as the lefty reliever (long or short). Now I wonder if he has a role as a back of the rotation starter...we will learn more in 2014 at New Britain or Ft. Myers.

 

For the year, Brett is 8-4 with an ERA of 2.95.

[Steven Buhr]

Lee had this to say after the game:

 

“It was a little more difficult going that long now,” Lee admitted. “After going just one or two innings for the past couple of weeks. I definitely could feel it, especially with how hot it was. I had to come in here (to the clubhouse) between each inning. I would sit on the bench and I would literally be dripping.”

 

My full game story can be found by clicking Kernels clinch 2nd half flag

 

The rotation was set up to have Berrios pitch game 1, Lee game 2 and Atherton game 3, if necessary. Berrios has struggled his last 2 games so Mauer and Lucas were going to take another look this afternoon, then talk to their pitchers. Could stay the same, could see a different pitcher plugged in to game 1 or could see Lee pushed up to game 1. May find out tonight.

[DAM DC Twins Fans]

Thanks SD (or JC your alter ego) for the post...wonder about Lee hitting the wall (so to speak) like Berrios apparently has...hopefully cooler weather for the playoffs (in Sept.).

[DAM DC Twins Fans]

Brett Lee Update 20

 

 

Hopefully this wont be the last update in 2013. The Cedar Rapids Kernels began their post-season tonight. Unfortunately, the vaunted Kernels offense didn't show up. The Kernels managed a grand total of 4 hits and lost 2-1.

 

Brett got the start--he didn't take the loss he left with the game tied 1-1. Brett considering his pitching load this year did well but not great. He went 5 innings giving up the one run (it was earned) 4 hits, walking 3 (not good). The rest was better he retired 7 via the ground ball, 1 flyout and 6Ks.

 

MILB.com boxscore stats (like BA and ERA) are for post-season only--so I will not add to second half stats. If Brett gets another post-season appearance--for that to happen the Kernels must win the next 2 and then Brett get a start towards the end of the second round series--I will combine post season appearances. If the Kernels don't win the next 2--they are done. I will post a wrap after the Kernel season is done. For now, I will say that Brett accomplished more than I expected--he turned out to be a top of the Kernels rotation guy when I expected to see him in the pen after June.

[DAM DC Twins Fans]

Brett Lee 2013 Wrap:

 

I have decided to do a wrap for both of my "adopt-a-prospects". I have enjoyed following both of them in the Twins minor league system this summer. Thanks to Seth's (and Jeremy's) daily reports I have followed the minors more closely this summer than any other in my over 55 years of following baseball...helped by the Twins being so woeful.

 

Here are Brett's stats for the three half seasons of ball in the Twins organization:

E-town 2012: 4-0 2.68 ERA. He appeared in 16 games (only 4 starts) pitching 43.2 innings allowing 39 hits and 17 runs (13 earned). He walked 12 and had 48Ks.

Cedar Rapids 2013 first half: 4-4 4.44 ERA (weird). He was a starter (10) who came out of the pen twice in the first week of inclement weather. He pitched 58.2 innings giving up 36 runs (29 earned--his error cost him a couple of earned runs) and 75 hits and 18 BB. He struck out 44.

Cedar Rapids second half: 4-0 1.41 ERA. Not only was he a starter (arguably) he was the Kernels second half ace. His back-back complete games in July were the only 2 Kernels complete games until the last week of the season. He pitched 57.1 innings giving up 42 hits, 13 runs (9 earned) and only 8 BB. That made his second half WHIP 0.87. He struck out 45. It seems that Brett will strike out about 45 batters each half season--numbers the Twins could use.

 

 

I believe splitting his numbers this way, Brett improved each half of career and took a HUGE step up in the second half of 2013. I was very impressed. Brett was not on any of Seth's lists going into the season--I expected a switch to the bullpen--which only happened at the end--to limit his innings--Brett's performance kept him in the rotation. I believe Brett's numbers are far superior to any pitcher who has worn a Twins uniform in the past 2 seasons (that isn't saying much).

 

In summary, I rank Brett at the top of the second tier of Twins pitching prospects behind only Meyer, Stewart and Gonsalves--along side of May, Berrios etc. Definitely in the top 10. I hope Seth agrees--I am sure we will hear more about Brett from Seth in the offseason. While Brett may end up in the Twins pen in 2016, I think he deserves a chance to earn a rotation spot.

 

He definitely earned a promotion to Ft. Myers in 2014 and hopefully he will be in New Britain soon (so I can see him in Bowie and Harrisburg). Barring the injury plague that seems to hit most Twins pitching prospects, I expect that Brett will be in New Britain by 2015 and in Twins training camp the following spring. I look forward to following his progress and hope to adopt him in 2013.

[Steven Buhr]

There was a fair amount of debate in CR this year concerning who the Kernels' MVP was. Buxton was by far the best prospect, but was only in CR half the season. Many felt Walker, by being in town all season, was the MVP with all of his power numbers.

 

To be honest, I'd give Brett Lee a lot of consideration if I were voting for a Kernels' MVP. He was the most consistent pitcher the Kernels had (with a hat tip to Mason Melotakis, as well).

 

I'll just say that the Kernels would have been a much poorer ballclub without Lee in the rotation all year.