Headrick, starter or reliever?

[Squirrel]

1 hour ago, lecroy24fan said:

Varland sent down, Brent Headrick called up.

That’s interesting. Are they going to use him in relief or a starter? As a starter, that begs more questions. Who still needs rest or recovery?

[DJL44]

28 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

That’s interesting. Are they going to use him in relief?

I hope so. It would be kind of dumb to start Headrick rather than one of the other pitchers in the rotation.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

That makes no sense, unless they are going to reorder the rotation and pitch Maeda in Boston and separate Maeda and Mahle from pitching back to back. Then it makes good sense. Otherwise just IL Maeda instead. 

Their two weakest pitchers, Archer and Bundy, pitched back to back during all of 2022, causing some rest issues for the relievers. 

[Squirrel]

35 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

I hope so. It would be kind of dumb to start Headrick rather than one of the other pitchers in the rotation.

I’m guessing long relief, as we could have used yesterday; or, maybe Maeda to the IL, or maybe Gray isn’t fully recovered from illness? Headrick hasn’t been used as a RP, has he? That’s why this is interesting.

[stringer bell]

7 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

I’m guessing long relief, as we could have used yesterday; or, maybe Maeda to the IL, or maybe Gray isn’t fully recovered from illness? Headrick hasn’t been used as a RP, has he? That’s why this is interesting.

Headrick has pitched out of the bullpen this year (SSS of course). It seems Rocco is serious about having a guy available to go at least three innings and it probably means Maeda is good to go in Boston. 

[Squirrel]

3 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

Headrick has pitched out of the bullpen this year (SSS of course). It seems Rocco is serious about having a guy available to go at least three innings and it probably means Maeda is good to go in Boston. 

That seems the most logical. I haven’t followed Headrick closely this year so didn’t know he had done any relief pitching. Even if a very SSS, at least it’s something 

[USAFChief]

Yes.

[stringer bell]

3 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

That seems the most logical. I haven’t followed Headrick closely this year so didn’t know he had done any relief pitching. Even if a very SSS, at least it’s something 

Without checking (I’m on the road—on a pit stop), Headrick had one bad relief outing and one good one. 

[FlyingFinn]

15 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

I’m guessing long relief,

Yes IMO. And Stringer Bell has it right on his pitching this year.

Headrick has plenty of options and the Twins are choosing to use one of them. He will be used like Sands. This says the Twins want Maeda to start soon and not be an option should Pablo Lopez have a short outing today.

[stringer bell]

1 minute ago, FlyingFinn said:

Yes IMO. And Stringer Bell has it right on his pitching this year.

Headrick has plenty of options and the Twins are choosing to use one of them. He will be used like Sands. This says the Twins want Maeda to start soon and not be an option should Pablo Lopez have a short outing today.

Nit pick—the option was used when Headrick was sent to St. Paul, not in recalling him now or when he is sent down again. 

[FlyingFinn]

7 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

Nit pick—the option was used when Headrick was sent to St. Paul, not in recalling him now or when he is sent down again. 

Can we really keep sending him down and calling him back up in 15 days (or whatever it is) all year and not use up any options? I must have the option rule messed up.

[Rosterman]

With an off-day Monday, the Twins don't need Madea until Saturday/Sunday and can make anotehr decision then. I see Headrick as long-relief, or justs plain old relief. Possinbly putting Morlan on the  bubble for the moment. But they won't be bringing Headrick up to sit, going with Gray, Ryan, Mahle and possibly Lopez on Saturday.

[Squirrel]

5 minutes ago, FlyingFinn said:

Can we really keep sending him down and calling him back up in 15 days (or whatever it is) all year and not use up any options? I must have the option rule messed up.

This might help, or might make it more confusing.

https://www.mlb.com/glossary/transactions/minor-league-options

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

59 minutes ago, Hosken Bombo Disco said:

That makes no sense, unless they are going to reorder the rotation and pitch Maeda in Boston and separate Maeda and Mahle from pitching back to back. Then it makes good sense. Otherwise just IL Maeda instead. 

Their two weakest pitchers, Archer and Bundy, pitched back to back during all of 2022, causing some rest issues for the relievers. 

For the record, I have no opinion on Headrick. Thanks to whoever merged threads.

I think Maeda probably makes a start in Boston this week, otherwise just put Maeda on the Injured List if you are not going to use him for 10 days. 

[FlyingFinn]

5 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

This might help, or might make it more confusing.

Excellent, so one option used per year but there is a limit of 5 times of being sent to the minors, which you are correct they oddly call these 5 options. That's where I was confused. Thank you!

[ashbury]

1 hour ago, FlyingFinn said:

Headrick has plenty of options and the Twins are choosing to use one of them.

He's on the 40-man so the Twins optioned him when he started the season in St Paul.  There is a 20-day loophole, so if by chance he stays up with the rest of the club for essentially the rest of the season then maybe that option isn't burned.  But the option isn't used by his being called up, it already happened.

And that one option is good for the full year, so he can go up and down (subject to other rules) as many times as necessary and it's still only one option used.

[ashbury]

2 hours ago, Hosken Bombo Disco said:

That makes no sense, unless they are going to reorder the rotation and pitch Maeda in Boston and separate Maeda and Mahle from pitching back to back. Then it makes good sense. Otherwise just IL Maeda instead. 

Their two weakest pitchers, Archer and Bundy, pitched back to back during all of 2022, causing some rest issues for the relievers. 

This is a really good tactical point, and is yet another (minor) reason I dislike the numbering convention for starters.  In terms of ability you will rank your five starters, maybe, but for these tactical reasons you maybe want to order your rotation as 1-2-4-3-5 or maybe even separate 1 and 2, going 1-4-2-3-5 or something. "Oh look, Rocco still thinks Bundy's a #2 starter? LOL."

[Nine of twelve]

5 hours ago, Rosterman said:

With an off-day Monday, the Twins don't need Madea until Saturday/Sunday 

Actually it's Saturday. The three games in Boston will be Gray/Ryan/Mahle, and then Lopez will go on Friday vs the Nats. The plan must be to put Maeda back into the rotation at that point, otherwise he would have been IL'd several days ago. Since we don't need another starter it makes sense to get Varland back into the rotation in AAA and get a reliever up with the big club in case he's needed.

[McGregor]

Been a lurker on the forums for years. I played basketball with Brent in high-school, and my cousin caught for him on the baseball team. He was about 50 pounds lighter back then and yes; he was dunking on people. I was raised as a Twins fan in the Chicago suburbs. (father from Northern Minnesota) You never expect to see your high-school teammate pitching for your favorite baseball team one day. It was so surreal seeing him out there today with some of the guys that got drafted when I was still in high school. Now for some stuff Twins fans might want to know:

-kid was a class act on and off the court/field, very dedicated to his craft

-he has absolutely gigantic hands; I would be willing to bet he has some of the biggest hands in all of baseball; this is why his fastball and slider have so much movement and how he was able to baffle some of those Red Sox hitters today

-his fastball has been clocked as high as 96

So excited to see how he continues to develop. I hope we get a chance to see him again soon with the way Moran is pitching.

[Danchat]

With Sands and Winder likely to end up in the bullpen, I'd rather try to keep Headrick as a future option in the rotation.

[Jocko87]

39 minutes ago, McGregor said:

Been a lurker on the forums for years. I played basketball with Brent in high-school, and my cousin caught for him on the baseball team. He was about 50 pounds lighter back then and yes; he was dunking on people. I was raised as a Twins fan in the Chicago suburbs. (father from Northern Minnesota) You never expect to see your high-school teammate pitching for your favorite baseball team one day. It was so surreal seeing him out there today with some of the guys that got drafted when I was still in high school. Now for some stuff Twins fans might want to know:

-kid was a class act on and off the court/field, very dedicated to his craft

-he has absolutely gigantic hands; I would be willing to bet he has some of the biggest hands in all of baseball; this is why his fastball and slider have so much movement and how he was able to baffle some of those Red Sox hitters today

-his fastball has been clocked as high as 96

So excited to see how he continues to develop. I hope we get a chance to see him again soon with the way Moran is pitching.

Now I understand that elite mustache much better. Welcome!

[Doctor Gast]

This was the absolutely perfect situation for Headrick to get his feet weet. Yesterday was another great opportunity to use long relief as well as today with Maeda pitching. Headrick or any other long RP would have many opportunities to keep loose through out the year. But the way the Twins manage their BP, it's best that Headrick is sent down.

IMO any long RP role in MLB will not hinder Headricks but enhances it by being stretched out in a MLB condition instead of being thrown right into a very demanding rotation (which many have great difficulty physically & emotionally to thrive). Likewise I recommend (and we need) Winder to return with a short RP role, then be ramped up again into long RP role and eventually my hope is that he can be get stretched into a SP role. 

[wabene]

Many stars have to align for long relief pitching to be implemented. Especially with only 5 eastbound tickets allotted per player on the 94 shuttle. When it works out can be very beneficial in many ways as we witnessed last night. Save the bullpen, win the game, provide a perfect initiation for a young player. When it doesn't work you have a wasted roster spot filled with a lesser prospect because you don't want top prospects sitting. My guess is Headrick will end the season without any tickets left. The question is will he in Hennepin or Ramsey county when the season ends? 

[stringer bell]

12 minutes ago, wabene said:

Many stars have to align for long relief pitching to be implemented. Especially with only 5 eastbound tickets allotted per player on the 94 shuttle. When it works out can be very beneficial in many ways as we witnessed last night. Save the bullpen, win the game, provide a perfect initiation for a young player. When it doesn't work you have a wasted roster spot filled with a lesser prospect because you don't want top prospects sitting. My guess is Headrick will end the season without any tickets left. The question is will he in Hennepin or Ramsey county when the season ends? 

In looking at the options, the Twins might roll with Headrick until he's ready to throw again. Sands can't be recalled, Megill is a one-inning guy and been knocked around, Jordy Blaze is coming back from a broken jaw and all of the others on the major league roster are starters and prospects, at that. Winder is on rehab, but pitched last night and probably wouldn't be able to pitch for a couple days.

Three guys not on the roster have pitched acceptably and might fit in--Dereck Rodriguez, Aaron Sanchez and Jose De Leon. Someone would have to be put on the 60-day list or DFAed in order for one of those guys to be on the long reliever carousel.