Is it Ober for Maeda?

[4twinsJA]

Is it time for Maeda to move to middle relief and Ober to stay up as 5th starter?

[Althebum82]

According to the radio broadcast, Maeda has left the field now with a trainer at his side for 3 of his 4 starts.  Sounds to me like more of a candidate for the IL rather than the bullpen?  But yes, the month-log Maeda experiment needs to come to an end in favor of Ober.

[USAFChief]

There's no role for Maeda pitching like he has. 

[LA Vikes Fan]

Maeda either hasn't recovered, isn't ready or just hasn't yet come back all the way. All of those lead to Ober taking his spot. In a way, him leaving with the trainer again may give the Twins the "cover" they need to make a switch. I hope (and predict) that he goes on the 15 day IL in the next day or two. Ober comes up to take his spot in the short term. I would like to see Maeda go on a rehab assignment to AAA after recovering from whatever is bothering him.

On the positive side though, Headrick has pitched pretty well. He may be the long reliever we need. 

 

[Brock Beauchamp]

55 minutes ago, 4twinsJA said:

Is it time for Maeda to move to middle relief and Ober to stay up as 5th starter?

I suspect Maeda hits the IL after today.

[Vanimal46]

According to Baseball Savant he did not have a pitch faster than 90 MPH today (89.9 was the high). 2 starts in a row where his FB was in the 87-89 range. That’s not going to cut it in the bullpen. 

It’s possible he just won’t get the velocity back. Won’t be the first or last pitcher who had major surgery in their mid 30s and be cooked. 

[Doctor Gast]

I've advocating this since ST. Coming back from TJ, his long absence & his age, he should have been put in the BP or as a SP been on a very short leash. Now with the trainer out there, he should be place on the IL & try to overcome all this.

[twins_89]

I don't see this as much of a question at this point. It is beyond obvious which pitcher gives the Twins a better chance to win.

[Rod Carews Birthday]

At the moment, he's not right and belongs on the IL.  It's hard to tell whether this is a "current" injury or whether he just isn't recovering completely from TJ surgery, or maybe a bit of both.  Give him some rest and healing and then bring him back through St. Paul on a rehab assignment to get his wheels back under him.  Then make a decision about his future, not now.   In the meantime, give Ober some starts over the next month and see where that leads. 

[rwilfong86]

51 minutes ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

I suspect Maeda hits the IL after today.

After last week and then today, something isn't right. 

[August J Gloop]

It's 100% Ober now. I said in the other threads that there wasn't evidence that he wasn't able to go, but we have it now. He had no command, had trouble moving off the bump, all sorts of bad indicators. This was exactly why Ober needed to keep his head up. No way all 5 starters were gonna make it all year without a setback. Let's hope this is a month of recovery for King Kenta and he can adapt to the new role. Or that he's ready to be back his tricky self when someone else needs a few weeks. 

[chpettit19]

I'd actually go Varland instead of Ober, but Kenta needs an IL stint. Generally speaking I'd give Kenta more starts, but if he takes a week or 2 of just pens and rest before making a few rehab stints I'll go off whatever those rehab stints suggest. I'm not sure the pen is a great option for him, though. His stuff isn't going to play up there, and, to me, the question isn't a matter of 5/6 innings vs 1/2 innings for him. If he's good I'd have him in the rotation again. If he isn't, he wouldn't really be part of my plans beyond mop up duty instead of Pagan.

[Vanimal46]

If the MRI reveals he is indeed injured, then we get the desired short term result of placing him on IL/rehab assignment. 

If it doesn’t, then what? Why is there a reluctance to DFA/release him? He’s 35, pending free agent, due $3 million, lost multiple ticks on his velocity and lost command. There’s really no reason to hide him in the bullpen. Just let him go and bring up the younger talent. 

[August J Gloop]

If Kenta can't start, he won't be any use out of the pen. Unless it's about fatigue, but that doesn't track. His command is all over the place because he's rusty, had injured his leg and apparently his arm again. I would not be surprised to see him thake 2-3 weeks off and then spend 30 days trying to come back, only to step back again, and find himself on the 60 day. I hope not, but he looked rough out there today, like he was fighting every bit of his body. 

It has to be Ober because he's actually been pretty good in the bigs. Louie hasn't been great shakes yet at AAA this year, while Ober has been lights out. That would be a real risky move in the clubhouse. I also wonder if after Ober, if Headrick hasn't put himself in line for a start ahead of Louie or SWR. 

[LA Vikes Fan]

I agree. I think that while Ober would need to stay in AAA 15 days since he was optioned, he can come back immediately to replace a pitcher put on the IL.  We shouldn't need a starter in Maeda's spot until next Tuesday 5/2 in Chicago so there is time to think. 

[Nine of twelve]

Before today I was advocating for putting Maeda in the bullpen. After today, I am advocating for the IL with a rehab assignment, and stretch everything out as long as possible. If at the end of the rehab assignment he clearly shows he has the stuff to get major league batters out, then into the bullpen he goes. Otherwise it's time to DFA. He should no longer be in the major league starting rotation. Both Ober and Varland have earned a spot there.

I was at the last major league game in which Steve Carlton pitched in 1988. Even though I was way the heck out in left field I gave him a long standing ovation (and hardly anyone else did) because I knew it was the end of a HOF career. When the end comes it comes, and for Maeda I think we may have seen it today. I feel bad that this may be how it ends but there's nothing anyone can do to change that.

[MMMordabito]

2 hours ago, August J Gloop said:

It has to be Ober because he's actually been pretty good in the bigs. Louie hasn't been great shakes yet at AAA this year, while Ober has been lights out. That would be a real risky move in the clubhouse. I also wonder if after Ober, if Headrick hasn't put himself in line for a start ahead of Louie or SWR. 

It should definitely be Ober, but Varland has basically had one inning where he was ambushed at AAA. 17 Ks and only 2 walks in 9+ innings. I wouldn't hesitate to call him if Ober wasn't available.

 

 

[stringer bell]

I’ve pretty much agreed with Nine of Twelve that Maeda deserved the starts he got, but he really didn’t fool very many and had two trainer visits. 
 

I would think he has to go on the IL and go through a rehab assignment and have lots of information available to determine if he can help the club sometime this year. 

[tony&rodney]

In more important news ... Alex Kirilloff is not in the lineup tonight against Rochester. Any reason for this?

[stringer bell]

2 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

In more important news ... Alex Kirilloff is not in the lineup tonight against Rochester. Any reason for this?

He’s only played back-to-back games twice and I don’t believe he played nine innings on both games of those back-to-backs. Probably just part of the plan. 

[tony&rodney]

7 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

He’s only played back-to-back games twice and I don’t believe he played nine innings on both games of those back-to-backs. Probably just part of the plan. 

Ok. Thank you. AK has looked very much in command at the plate. i have watched most of his at bats with St. Paul. I'll be patient. He does have to prove himself.

[Craig Arko]

Based on Rocco’s presser, it seems pretty certain Maeda is IL bound. I’m pretty sure Ober will get the call as replacement. After that stretch and rehab, we’ll just have to see how it plays out.

The somewhat related question; does Headrick also get sent back to St. Paul after the long stint today?

[tony&rodney]

Maeda is in a tough place being an older player returning from a major rebuild of his arm. The mind knows what to do but the body doesn't necessarily follow as well. I agree with those who believe Kenta deserved to get his starts. Thing is, now we see a lack of physical readiness and it looks like an IL stint is needed. 

The Twins have some players who have earned their positions and spots on the team, but professional sports can be cruel and  a host of younger/ less experienced players are chomping at the bit for their opportunity. Maeda may need to step back for recovery time now and this allows Ober or Varland to step forward. Soon enough we will see if names like Kirilloff, Lewis, Julien, and Wallner get their shot due to injury or a lack of performance. It is a long season and April has gone pretty well. Four games versus Kansas City to close out the month. So far so good.

[Dman]

Yeah things have not gone Kenta's way.  I would really like them to do a 60 day IL and slowly build him back up.  Given the lack of recovery he seems to be having I would just take it slower on the ramp up.  The team can't really afford to try things out in Major League games when they have solid options in AAA right now.  We probably will know more after the MRI's and I guess they could start with a 15 day IL stint I just think it is going to take longer than that to prove his arm is where it needs to be to compete at the highest level.  I don't see a compelling reason to push him right now. He is still a valuable asset when he is on.

I think there is some trust lost at this point and it will take more than 15 days to get it back IMO.

[Twodogs]

Yeah, I think Maeda needs to go on the IL, his first start actually looked ok, even his second start wasn't terrible, his 3rd start is when he got hit by the comebacker and today he looked lost.  

 

I think he needs to go on the IL, do some rehab, go to AAA and pitch in the rotation.  Meanwhile Ober will be with the Twins.  If he locks down the spot Maeda is in trouble as he will have to wait until the next injury.  But if Ober struggles then give Maeda a shot.   But he needs 5 - 6 starts down there, a full month and then decide what to do with him. 

[mnfireman]

Maeda is not getting the job done, whether it is a physical or mental issue I do not know. Ober has a good track record and Varland has shown the ability to get outs at the MLB level. If this team is serious about competing, they cannot afford to let Maeda "figure it out" when they have 2 better options available. IL him and let him work on things between BP sessions and re-hab starts in St. Paul.

Recovery from TJ surgery is different for every player, and even though he has taken extended time, he does not look ready.

[rwilfong86]

15 hours ago, chpettit19 said:

I'd actually go Varland instead of Ober, but Kenta needs an IL stint. Generally speaking I'd give Kenta more starts, but if he takes a week or 2 of just pens and rest before making a few rehab stints I'll go off whatever those rehab stints suggest. I'm not sure the pen is a great option for him, though. His stuff isn't going to play up there, and, to me, the question isn't a matter of 5/6 innings vs 1/2 innings for him. If he's good I'd have him in the rotation again. If he isn't, he wouldn't really be part of my plans beyond mop up duty instead of Pagan.

I agree with you about Varland, he looked pretty good against the NYY and deserves a 2nd look. 

[Twodogs]

I think you'd have to go with Ober first Varland second.  Only because Ober has more major league experience and has done well.  Good problem to have though.

[wabene]

It is too bad it's taken 4 losses to get to this point. I'm a little surprised that while working closely behind the scenes with Kenta, management couldn't see he didn't quite have it, that it cost this many games. It is hindsight and not quite that simple I suppose.

I think Ober is still the #6 guy, with Louie #7. Hendrick may be edging past the 22 year old SWR for #8. Ober has the talent to run with this chance and he looks ready. Will be hold up? 

[Doctor Gast]

I've always been very skeptical of what Maeda would be able to do coming off TJ with his age. ST his control as expected was a problem so I was disappointed that Maeda had the nod over Ober. I'd expect him to have a strict 70 pitch count to start with, to protect his arm. Maeda was surprisingly good for his 1st outing, with a pitch count of 79. His pitch count was increased his next game to 83 and it was all down hill from there. Baldelli is on a campaign of increasing SP innings, with Lopez, Ryan and Gray that's totally acceptable but Mahle & especially Maeda it is not. If Baldelli wanted all his SPs to pitch well into a game they should have put Maeda in the BP in long relief to protect him and at the same time utilize Maeda's stuff. Now Maeda is basically useless to us.