Should Pedro Hernandez Remain in the Rotation?

[bwille]

After watching Hernandez struggle with his command over the past two starts and with Samuel Deduno and Cole De Vries getting healthy, I have started to wonder if Hernandez should remain in the rotation long-term with the Twins.

 

"Hernandez proved he could be of value on the Twins’ roster and the team decided to keep him around longer than expected. However, over his past two appearances, Hernandez has struggled mightily and his role in the rotation long-term should be called into question."

 

Do you think Hernandez's struggles have been related to personal performance or the teams he has had to face? Do you think his struggles are simply a slump or a trend that shows he doesn't belong in the rotation long-term as of yet? What do you think Twins Centric?

 

Pedro Hernandez: Minnesota Twins Should Consider a Move to Bullpen

[ThePuck]

I think his mind wasn't on the game last night...I'd like to see a few more starts out of him, myself.

[twinscowboysbulls]

No.

[cmathewson]

No. Keep him in the majors until after the game Sunday in case you need long help. Then swap him out for Gibson, who should start on Monday.

[cmathewson]

By the way, that last statement was as much about Gibson as Hernandez. Gibson has earned the spot, Hernandez has not.

[Brock Beauchamp]

The Twins have several junkballers/soft-tossers in the system right now that project as back of the rotation arms at best (Deduno, De Vries), some of which are borderline prospects and young (Hendriks).

 

And then there's Gibson.

 

The long and short of it is that if one of Hernandez, Deduno, or De Vries is not performing, they should have an extremely short leash and should be replaced with a similar pitcher in the minors.

 

And Hernandez had his shot. It's time for someone else to have a go at it.

[IdahoPilgrim]

I don't think Hernandez was ever the first choice for the 5-spot; he was always, at least in my mind, a placeholder, brought up because Hendriks couldn't cut it again and only until DeVries/Deduno/Gibson were ready to go. If he had pitched lights-out, then we could have this discussion, but I think you send him down, not because of the last two starts, but just because we do have better options and always did.

[edavis0308]

Not to get off topic, but wasn't it frowned upon to start an account and then post blog entries from an outside site? No disrespect meant or anything.

[nicksaviking]

The Twins have several junkballers/soft-tossers in the system right now that project as back of the rotation arms at best (Deduno, De Vries), some of which are borderline prospects and young (Hendriks).

 

And then there's Gibson.

 

The long and short of it is that if one of Hernandez, Deduno, or De Vries is not performing, they should have an extremely short leash and should be replaced with a similar pitcher in the minors.

 

And Hernandez had his shot. It's time for someone else to have a go at it.

 

Agreed. I think it should go without saying that the top pitching prospects should not be blocked by back of the rotation arms. The is a business and the goal is to win with the best talent. The team doesn't "owe" anyone a longer look. Meyer and Berrios should be expecting the same treatment, May too if he gets back on his game.

[Nick Nelson]

Not to get off topic, but wasn't it frowned upon to start an account and then post blog entries from an outside site? No disrespect meant or anything.

 

I don't mind that he's linking to his articles and using them as discussion starters. I think this is a little different than what you're referring to.

[Nick Nelson]

With regards to the question at hand, Hernandez simply does not have a future as a quality MLB starter. That seems pretty clear. He might end up being a decent lefty specialist or long man out of the bullpen, but right now the Twins should focus on feeding starts to guys who have a chance to be assets in the rotation long-term.

[bwille]

Not to get off topic, but wasn't it frowned upon to start an account and then post blog entries from an outside site? No disrespect meant or anything.

 

No disrespect taken. I talked with those in charge of the blog and got permission to post things in this format on the forum for discussion. I made sure it was ok before ever posting anything as I would not want to ruin the good thing that this site has going in any way.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Agreed. I think it should go without saying that the top pitching prospects should not be blocked by back of the rotation arms. The is a business and the goal is to win with the best talent. The team doesn't "owe" anyone a longer look. Meyer and Berrios should be expecting the same treatment, May too if he gets back on his game.

 

Berrios, May, and Meyer absolutely fall in the same category as Gibson. I didn't include them because none of them are ready to head to Minnesota. That could change later in the season.

[Brock Beauchamp]

No disrespect taken. I talked with those in charge of the blog and got permission to post things in this format on the forum for discussion. I made sure it was ok before ever posting anything as I would not want to ruin the good thing that this site has going in any way.

 

You're good, don't worry about it. We have no problems with linking blogs, though we encourage you to create your own blog here at TD. Should you do so, feel free to link back to your own blog within the TD blog post. If an admin likes your blog entry, we'll promote it to the front page (including the link back to your blog).

[Please]

That was some pitching job last night to honor his dead relative...I'd hate to see what he'd do if he actually disliked the relative.

[ThePuck]

That was some pitching job last night to honor his dead relative...I'd hate to see what he'd do if he actually disliked the relative.

 

wow...

[cmathewson]

With regards to the question at hand, Hernandez simply does not have a future as a quality MLB starter. That seems pretty clear. He might end up being a decent lefty specialist or long man out of the bullpen, but right now the Twins should focus on feeding starts to guys who have a chance to be assets in the rotation long-term.

 

Yes, particularly with Gibson's often-mentioned innings limit this year. Let's not waste his bullets in AAA.

[Shane Wahl]

That was some pitching job last night to honor his dead relative...I'd hate to see what he'd do if he actually disliked the relative.

 

Nominee for most abominable post I have seen at TD . . .

[Riverbrian]

I don't think Hernandez was ever the first choice for the 5-spot; he was always, at least in my mind, a placeholder, brought up because Hendriks couldn't cut it again and only until DeVries/Deduno/Gibson were ready to go. If he had pitched lights-out, then we could have this discussion, but I think you send him down, not because of the last two starts, but just because we do have better options and always did.

 

Knud... I agree with everything you say in this post. But I'd like to add a couple of things.

 

1. Personally... I really have high expectations for Deduno... I think he can produce and I'm waiting patiently for the chance to see Deduno this year. My expectation for Hernandez isn't nearly as high and its not even close.

 

2. My expectations for Gibson are higher than Deduno for the future and less than Deduno for the immediate present but higher than Hernandez and it ain't close... Once again... I'm patiently waiting for that chance to see Gibson this year.

 

3. Here is where I go off the tracks tho... Hernandez had a great April... Followed by two terrible starts in May. I'm willing to tolerate one more start for Hernandez to see if its April like. Not that he's earned it... But... Deduno and Gibson haven't earned it either and neither are guarantees.

 

Hernandez's current ERA... Suggests to me... That he has one foot in AAA.

[IdahoPilgrim]

Knud... I agree with everything you say in this post. But I'd like to add a couple of things.

 

1. Personally... I really have high expectations for Deduno... I think he can produce and I'm waiting patiently for the chance to see Deduno this year. My expectation for Hernandez isn't nearly as high and its not even close.

 

2. My expectations for Gibson are higher than Deduno for the future and less than Deduno for the immediate present but higher than Hernandez and it ain't close... Once again... I'm patiently waiting for that chance to see Gibson this year.

 

3. Here is where I go off the tracks tho... Hernandez had a great April... Followed by two terrible starts in May. I'm willing to tolerate one more start for Hernandez to see if its April like. Not that he's earned it... But... Deduno and Gibson haven't earned it either and neither are guarantees.

 

Hernandez's current ERA... Suggests to me... That he has one foot in AAA.

 

Fair enough. And I share your enthusiasm for Deduno's potential (if you can call it that at age 29). If he ever develops a more consistency (like he started to show in the WBC) he could end up being what he hoped to get from Liriano but never did.

[stringer bell]

I think Gibson and Meyer are in a different category than the plethora of candidates who will be in Rochester, or are already there. May might also work his way into top prospect status, as well. I have stated from the time Gibson was sent down that his performance would determine when he was recalled. When he proves he's ready, he should be on the Twins' roster. Conservatively, he may need one more start at Rochester to show he can bounce back from a long outing and show that he has the desired consistency.

 

Hernandez is an interesting case. He pitched in relief in spring training and hasn't yet exceeded five innings. He's been effective against lefthanders, but hasn't had much success at all against RH hitters. The Twins could use an effective LH specialist and currently they have only Duensing from the left side (not counting Perkins).

[Rosterman]

Hernandez should hang around for a day or two, depending on who is called up...but the next start should by by DeVries with Gibson in the wings. Hernandez should stay in the Rochester rotation and get another shot, because he is elft-handed. At worse, he can be a potential longman.

 

Now Casey Fien, who has options. Time to bring Tim Wood up for a looksee, and then if Wood doesn't pan out, take him of the 40-man and give a look to Perez.

 

Does anyone cry out for the return of Liam?

[ashbury]

Nominee for most abominable post I have seen at TD . . .

 

You have forgotten some of my rally avatars in game threads.

[70charger]

I don't see how he's an upgrade over Liam Hendriks.

[Thrylos]

The Twins have several junkballers/soft-tossers in the system right now that project as back of the rotation arms at best (Deduno, De Vries), .

 

I'd add Diamond and Worley to that mix.... And other than HR/9 and GB%, DeVries' peripherals were better than Diamond's last season.

[Thrylos]

Now Casey Fien, who has options. Time to bring Tim Wood up for a looksee, and then if Wood doesn't pan out, take him of the 40-man and give a look to Perez.

 

Wood will not be a Twin any time soon. He is going to the AAA DL with further shoulder issues

[YourHouseIsMyHouse]

He's got no chance as a starter and we have plenty of long relief options that are much better. At best, he's a LOOGY. Hernandez could probably do whatever Tyler Robertson was supposed to.

[hosskartrite]

My feeling is, Gibson is a homegrown Twin, that was drafted and developed by the Twin's organization. Why should a anybody with less than a year in the organization get the next start. It's a no brainer, they both started last night and Gibson could easily replace Pedro and be on his rest schedule. Because of injury, they took a chance on Arcia and he has proved that sometimes young players deserve a shot, though Hicks has been the opposite. My main concern is that it doesn't send a very good message to future Twin's prospects. Nobody held a gun to Kyle Gibson's head demanding he sign with us. It is time we reward him for doing so.