Maeda to Bullpen

[stringer bell]

Missing out on the first round, I have Sands, Winder and Headrick--all three technically are at St. Paul. Floro is just too hittable, as is Keuchel.  Alcalá hasn't been that good when on the major league team and is just now completing rehab, and Funderburk is my last cut. The ERA looks good and other numbers are fine, but he has struggled to retire the first batter he's faced in his outings, which could loom large on the big stage of the playoffs.

[IndianaTwin]

9 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

The way I see it for Round 1 of the postseason: Three starters--López, Gray and Ryan. Three starters as middle relief-piggyback options--Paddack, Varland, Maeda. Five late relievers--Stewart, Thielbar, Pagán, Jax and Duran. 

If the Twins win the first round in two games, Ryan starts the next series, otherwise it is Bailey Ober. 

As noted in my comments above, I'd flip to Maeda for Game 3, Ober to bullpen and Ryan to ALDS Game 1. 

But in any case, again to the crowd, doesn't it feel good to not be thinking about Dobnak for Game 2 and instead be thinking of a staff that has one of these guys as its weakest link? 

[chpettit19]

27 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

The way I see it for Round 1 of the postseason: Three starters--López, Gray and Ryan. Three starters as middle relief-piggyback options--Paddack, Varland, Maeda. Five late relievers--Stewart, Thielbar, Pagán, Jax and Duran. 

If the Twins win the first round in two games, Ryan starts the next series, otherwise it is Bailey Ober. 

 

22 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

Missing out on the first round, I have Sands, Winder and Headrick--all three technically are at St. Paul. Floro is just too hittable, as is Keuchel.  Alcalá hasn't been that good when on the major league team and is just now completing rehab, and Funderburk is my last cut. The ERA looks good and other numbers are fine, but he has struggled to retire the first batter he's faced in his outings, which could loom large on the big stage of the playoffs.

I have the same round 1 pitching staff, and Funderburk would be added for round 2, if it were me making the decisions.

[IaBeanCounter]

I would have Maeda as the game 3 starter.   Maeda has been on the stage before and I don't believe he will be overamped (like Duran on Friday).  Also homeruns are a big factor in the the playoffs and Maeda has given up .27 and .40 HRs/9, for the year and post AS.  Ryan is .34 and .54, with Ober .47 and .72.

[Nine of twelve]

5 hours ago, Squirrel said:

 I have no issues with Maeda in the pen, but I just want to know why people proclaim Maeda the better reliever. 

Maeda has pitched fairly extensively in relief and knows how to handle it. I don't recall Ryan or Ober pitching out of the bullpen; if they have it's been very few times. Ober also seems like the type of pitcher who takes longer to get ready to pitch, although I admit that's more just an impression on my part than anything. Also, Maeda having the ability to pitch anywhere from one inning to five is a valuable asset. I think we get the most out of the three pitchers in question if Maeda is the bullpen guy. That said, if there's a third game in the first round and he hasn't pitched in either of the first two games I can understand arguments in favor of starting him.

[nicksaviking]

Moving to the pen isn't an indictment on Maeda, he's just the most trustworthy option out there, and that's going to be a key position, probably even more key than the #3 starter. The Twins have had three managers this century all make the post season, and each of them has shown diminished nerves come October and have an itchy trigger finger when it comes to pulling starters early. He's almost certainly going to be needed and I think most would feel better about plugging him in for multiple innings in a critical game over Ryan and Ober. We don't know if the early pull will be game three; odds are it will be before then, regardless of how well Gray or Lopez did during the regular season.

[Nine of twelve]

5 hours ago, Squirrel said:

 I have no issues with Maeda in the pen, but I just want to know why people proclaim Maeda the better reliever. 

Maeda has pitched fairly extensively in relief and knows how to handle it. I don't recall Ryan or Ober pitching out of the bullpen; if they have it's been very few times. Ober also seems like the type of pitcher who takes longer to get ready to pitch, although I admit that's more just an impression on my part than anything. Also, Maeda having the ability to pitch anywhere from one inning to five is a valuable asset. I think we get the most out of the three pitchers in question if Maeda is the bullpen guy. That said, if there's a third game in the first round and he hasn't pitched in either of the first two games I can understand arguments in favor of starting him.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

3 hours ago, IndianaTwin said:

doesn't it feel good to not be thinking about Dobnak for Game 2

Actually, there were people who sounded giddy about running Dobnak out there for Game Two. 

 

But, yes.

 

[insagt1]

Its really good to have a couple of decent starters available in the pen in case our game starter can't go 5 innings. Being able to throw a Maeda or Ober in there for more than 1 inning really saves the regular bullpen pitchers. No ghost runners in playoffs so burning pitchers for one inning or less can be dangerous if games are long or pitch count gets unwieldy .

I'm still hoping Lewis can play in round one. Correa too.

[nicksaviking]

19 hours ago, Hosken Bombo Disco said:

Actually, there were people who sounded giddy about running Dobnak out there for Game Two. 

Yankees fans are just THE worst.

[laloesch]

Maeda can eat innings and will be a stabilizing force in the bullpen should any of the starters go short, but I do see the benefits of him starting over Ryan.  It's too bad Ober won't be available in the WC.  

[Azviking101]

Definitely looks like Ryan is the third starter which means Ober would open up the ALDS if the first round goes 3 games. 

Very small chance they will need Maeda out of the pen in the opening series and had the opportunity to have Ryan open up the ALDS which is much better than Ober. Really not happy at all with this decision. Moving your third best starter to the pen cause he pitched well in the playoffs 4 years ago is insane. 

Hope that’s not the reason they lose the series. Can’t imagine anyone is happy that Ober has been named the 4th starter. Somehow they forgot he was so bad they sent him down a month ago. 

[laloesch]

1 minute ago, Azviking101 said:

Definitely looks like Ryan is the third starter which means Ober would open up the ALDS if the first round goes 3 games. 

Very small chance they will need Maeda out of the pen in the opening series and had the opportunity to have Ryan open up the ALDS which is much better than Ober. Really not happy at all with this decision. Moving your third best starter to the pen cause he pitched well in the playoffs 4 years ago is insane. 

Hope that’s not the reason they lose the series. Can’t imagine anyone is happy that Ober has been named the 4th starter. Somehow they forgot he was so bad they sent him down a month ago. 

It does seem like a miscalculation.  I like Ryan, but I'm not sure i'd go with him over Maeda in a short series.  It's tough.  Maeda definitely has the experience.  Ryan in my opinion relies too much on his fastball.  He might get it done, but it's a risk in the wild card round.

[Azviking101]

2 minutes ago, laloesch said:

It does seem like a miscalculation.  I like Ryan, but I'm not sure i'd go with him over Maeda in a short series.  It's tough.  Maeda definitely has the experience.  Ryan in my opinion relies too much on his fastball.  He might get it done, but it's a risk in the wild card round.

I really do like Ryan, but I think Maeda is the better pitcher right now. It’s not by a lot, but he’s better. In my opinion, the bigger issue is having Ober in the rotation. Ober is a huge step below both of them right now. 

[Linus]

I think Maeda is better than Ryan but it is very close. The combo of Ryan starting and Maeda coming out of the pen is probably a little better than Maeda starting and Ryan coming out of the pen which he has never done. I guess we will find out. If the Twins win the series and Maeda isn’t used he could still start the first game of the second round. 

[saviking]

I still favor 2 starters pitching 4 innings each in game 3

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

44 minutes ago, saviking said:

I still favor 2 starters pitching 4 innings each in game 3

That would never happen.  You get to the 7th or 8th and they would be jumping into the bullpen in a tight game.  

[saviking]

23 hours ago, Hawkeye Bean Counter said:

That would never happen.  You get to the 7th or 8th and they would be jumping into the bullpen in a tight game.  

Who said it will be a tight game .. if Ryan and Iber leave their  best stuff over 4 innings each we might have a nice lead and rest the bullpen. 

[insagt1]

i know the game was meaningless, but it wasn't fun getting beat by an 8th inning HR from a 110 loss team. That one was on Maeda. I know its nit-picking but I want the Twins to be sharp as hell going into the playoffs.

So they go from the worst team in baseball to the worst team in the NL. Whoever plays, I want them to play hard and win these 3 games. they have to 'feel' like winners all the way if they want to stop that ridiculous post season losing streak.

[RpR]

3 hours ago, insagt1 said:

i know the game was meaningless, but it wasn't fun getting beat by an 8th inning HR from a 110 loss team. That one was on Maeda. I know its nit-picking but I want the Twins to be sharp as hell going into the playoffs.

So they go from the worst team in baseball to the worst team in the NL. Whoever plays, I want them to play hard and win these 3 games. they have to 'feel' like winners all the way if they want to stop that ridiculous post season losing streak.

No game is meaningless; some forecast the future.

[BiggestRoccoFan]

I am starting Kenta in game 3 and putting Ryan in the pen.