Should they look at Cole Sands in the rotation?

[IndianaTwin]

1 hour ago, IndianaTwin said:

Baldelli after yesterday's game: 

“There is urgency here,” Baldelli said. “I mean, we can’t play like this, pitch and play like this, and think things are just going to be fine. And our guys know it’s not just going to be fine. We’re going to have to do things. We’re going to have to be open to making roster moves and finding new ways to use players and figure some things out.”

Rocco doesn't tend to telegraph roster moves, so this sounds like a change. With the amount they used the bullpen yesterday, if the plan is to demote Varland, I suspect we will see it today in order to get another reliever up. They don't have to have another starter available until Friday, so they don't have to go with another transaction until then.

 

 

 

EDIT to add, as of 12:30 p.m.: Duarte to the 60-day IL, freeing up a 40-man spot to add Ronny Henriquez, who is called up in favor of Varland. 

And Henriquez has options, correct? So he or another optionable pitcher can be sent down to bring up SWR for the start. Personally, I'd prefer that happen on Wednesday, so that SWR is not back-to-back with Paddack. 

[USAFChief]

5 hours ago, IndianaTwin said:

Baldelli after yesterday's game: 

“There is urgency here,” Baldelli said. “I mean, we can’t play like this, pitch and play like this, and think things are just going to be fine. And our guys know it’s not just going to be fine. We’re going to have to do things. We’re going to have to be open to making roster moves and finding new ways to use players and figure some things out.”

 

 

Perhaps open to examining your management, as well? Rigid adherence to decisions made by spreadsheet 4 hours before 1st pitch?

Perhaps examine what your 3 headed batting coach is doing?

Or are those things above question?

[wabene]

4 hours ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

Still, that hardly makes him unique among pro athletes and  we could really use him, so .

Among the general population maybe. Pro athletes get more press, but are not more likely to offend than the general populous. The opposite is true actually.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

14 hours ago, laloesch said:

They are going to make a move there's no question about it.  Paddack and Varland have been awful.  Need two starters.

That aged well in a half-ironic sort of way

[saviking]

NO!!! He's found his grove as a long reliever and now let's Varland fund his ..  relief pit hing prove from last year .. Then, everything will be groovy 😎 

[specialiststeve]

As the saying goes... "leave well enough alone!" 

As I stated in Spring training Varland should have stayed in the bullpen. He had found a niche and was dominant. 

Sands also has found that spot and should stay where he is at. Keep a strength a strength. We have some starter options that we need to see if can pitch at this level. 

[Jeff K]

On 4/21/2024 at 10:50 PM, Hosken Bombo Disco said:

They could also stretch out Sands on the fly, up here with the Twins.

Sands last worked yesterday, same as Ober. The Twins could assign both to pitch in the Thursday matinee against the White Sox, when it’s Ober’s turn again, with a plan something like Ober for 5 or 6 and Sands for 3 or 4 innings. Although it would be understandable to bring in a closer if the Twins held a one or two run lead in the 9th that day. Varland would then pitch the next night in L.A. with a rested bullpen. If they then decide Varland should go back to AAA after that Angels start, and if Sands comes out of that hypothetical Thursday performance feeling good, then Sands could slip into Varlands spot in the rotation. 

I’m not saying this should happen or not. It is a valid discussion topic and fun to chew on. When I watched Sands make starts in 2022, my gut said he was not cut to be a starter, but things can change, and the Twins do need to be looking for starters here and now. 

This has already been decided, but Varland can't have a sniff of the majors until he has had several successful starts with St. Paul.

[Shaitan]

5 hours ago, specialiststeve said:

As the saying goes... "leave well enough alone!" 

As I stated in Spring training Varland should have stayed in the bullpen. He had found a niche and was dominant. 

Sands also has found that spot and should stay where he is at. Keep a strength a strength. We have some starter options that we need to see if can pitch at this level. 

"Dominant" is a stretch, as he was still pretty untested in that role.

But I agree that he's better in the pen. I also don't think it was a mistake to give him one more shot as a starter. If you don't, you have people asking "What if?" forever (see Duran, or even Aguilera). Now he's had that shot...we can move on with our lives. I imagine he'll still be mostly SP in St. Paul just to get innings.

[specialiststeve]

On 4/25/2024 at 4:17 PM, Shaitan said:

"Dominant" is a stretch, as he was still pretty untested in that role.

But I agree that he's better in the pen. I also don't think it was a mistake to give him one more shot as a starter. If you don't, you have people asking "What if?" forever (see Duran, or even Aguilera). Now he's had that shot...we can move on with our lives. I imagine he'll still be mostly SP in St. Paul just to get innings.

Allowed only two runs in 12 innings as a reliever (a 1.50 ERA) with  17 strikeouts and two walks.... 

Not sure what your definition of dominant is but that would be in my dictionary... 

[Shaitan]

On 4/27/2024 at 1:36 PM, specialiststeve said:

Allowed only two runs in 12 innings as a reliever (a 1.50 ERA) with  17 strikeouts and two walks.... 

Not sure what your definition of dominant is but that would be in my dictionary... 

Maybe 50+ IP sample size. 12 innings is a hot streak with minimal scouting by the opposition. 

[Jocko87]

I'm actually kind of intrigued by this, its a shame to have 30 more posts of reliving the off-season rather than discussing Cole Sands.

The question doesn't have much to do with the needs of the team, although fitting in perfectly with those needs is a nice bonus.  It might very well fit in with a pretty standard development plan for a pitcher. 

He's not so much failed starter as last years sacrificial long reliever.  They thought enough of him that there was a spot for him on the roster even if he wasn't used much.  He's showing good stuff and an ability to get major leaguers out but he's not exactly Duran just yet.  Considering Falvey's recent comments I'm wondering if this wasn't always the plan, with the stocking up on relievers.

The more I think about it, I expect him to go down when Topa or Duran is ready and start to stretch out.  A Kuechel like role in the last half of the season would be pretty solid with upside Kuechel didn't bring.

[Linus]

Normally I would say no way but they are one starter injury away from a big problem. Never thought I would say this but I have more confidence in Sands than Festa or Dobnak or even the current version of Varland. Of course the question is how much stuff will he lose having to pitch multiple innings?

[Mike Sixel]

No. Just no. He's in the right role, more back end starters should be moved to this role, not less. 

[jorgenswest]

58 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

No. Just no. He's in the right role, more back end starters should be moved to this role, not less. 

I don’t disagree. I just don’t see depth in starting pitching

I would guess at least 8 pitchers will get at least 5 starts with the 6th and 7th closer to 10. There will probably be another two guys that get a few starts. So far they have used 6 starters. Even if Festa finds command and is number 7 who is the best candidate for 8. If a need occurred in the next few weeks I wonder if Sands is their best option for success.

 

 

[Linus]

21 hours ago, jorgenswest said:

I don’t disagree. I just don’t see depth in starting pitching

I would guess at least 8 pitchers will get at least 5 starts with the 6th and 7th closer to 10. There will probably be another two guys that get a few starts. So far they have used 6 starters. Even if Festa finds command and is number 7 who is the best candidate for 8. If a need occurred in the next few weeks I wonder if Sands is their best option for success.

 

 

This is my concern as well. And if one of the top three starters get hurt - look out.