Twins axe Slama, Sign Eppley

[jokin]

That would be a great point if you could have mentioned relievers blocked all season in New Britain. Hernandez at 24 would still be somewhat of a prospect. A 3.71 ERA before this game would not say useless either.

 

Nurse, nurse, nurse, there you go again. You veer past the obvious points that were made by me in this very thread. I specifically stated that "Hernandez has no future as an MLB starter", time to move him to the pen as a Swarzak-like middle reliever who specializes in getting out primarily lefthanders. And I did mention two relievers who are currently blocked at New Britain who should be who the Twins emphasize in moving up, along with questioning why the Twins would bring in Eppley- with them seemingly ready to be tried out in Rochester

 

Reading, it's fun-da-mental.

[old nurse]

 

Reading, it's fun-da-mental.

 

A pitcher without a plus pitch does not make for a good reliever nor a good long reliever. That is the problem with a good part of the starting staff on Rochester.

Darnell is a starter who finally seems to be doing well, doesn't make him a relief pitcher. Achter hasn't even had a half season at NB. He will get to Rochester after a half season at NB. Iberra is blocked only by his own ability. If I had typed it "actually blocked " it would have been clearer, but then you would have nothing to attack. If I had thought anything of your list I would not have said what I did, but a you are right. Then there wouldn't be comments like this from you.

Have a nice weekend.

[Guest USAFChief]

Huh? I clearly said time to cut bait with the AAAA lifers. Goodbye to the Eppleys and Martis' and Velasquez's of the world (OK, I left a small out for Velasquez, but really, he's just another scrap heap pray-and-hope). Hello to legit prospects. And remember, there is likely at some point to be the 13th pitcher sent down from the Twins to consider, as well.

 

Every team in baseball has a AAA team littered with "AAAA lifers." Why? Because there aren't enough prospects in any organization available to fill a AA roster, much less a AAA roster.

 

AAA baseball has very few actual prospects. Those who are good enough to be regular major league players don't spend much time there.

[drjim]

Every team in baseball has a AAA team littered with "AAAA lifers." Why? Because there aren't enough prospects in any organization available to fill a AA roster, much less a AAA roster.

 

AAA baseball has very few actual prospects. Those who are good enough to be regular major league players don't spend much time there.

 

This. Plus, what exactly is wrong with trying to do right by the AAA affiliate? Obviously you don't want to hurt the big club or block prospects in AA for an extended time, but does this move, or any other the Twins are currently doing, fall into this category?

[jokin]

Every team in baseball has a AAA team littered with "AAAA lifers." Why? Because there aren't enough prospects in any organization available to fill a AA roster, much less a AAA roster.

 

AAA baseball has very few actual prospects. Those who are good enough to be regular major league players don't spend much time there.

 

I'm well aware of this situation with the lifers------And I'm willing to ask the question why teams are willing to have so many guys litter their roster and spend year after year after year with the detritus. It has been said that the Twins purposefully avoid sending prospects to Rochester because the culture there is rather negative with the guys who have never quite been good enough to make the show.

 

In this particular case, signing an Eppley or retaining a Martis seem like a waste of time and money with worthy arms in New Britain and all of the extra arms signed in the lower parts of the organization.

[jokin]

This. Plus, what exactly is wrong with trying to do right by the AAA affiliate? Obviously you don't want to hurt the big club or block prospects in AA for an extended time, but does this move, or any other the Twins are currently doing, fall into this category?

 

Yes, as demonstrated previously.

 

And what, exactly, is "doing right by the affiliate" by signing Eppley or retaining Martis?

[drjim]

Yes, as demonstrated previously.

 

And wha, exactly, is "doing right by the affiliate" by signing Eppley or retaining Martis?

 

I disagree with your assessment that prospects are being blocked. We probably won't agree on this.

[jokin]

I disagree with your assessment that prospects are being blocked. We probably won't agree on this.

 

Would you care to take a stab at the question proffered?

[IdahoPilgrim]

I'm well aware of this situation with the lifers------And I'm willing to ask the question why teams are willing to have so many guys litter their roster and spend year after year after year with the detritus. It has been said that the Twins purposefully avoid sending prospects to Rochester because the culture there is rather negative with the guys who have never quite been good enough to make the show.

 

In this particular case, signing an Eppley or retaining a Martis seem like a waste of time and money with worthy arms in New Britain and all of the extra arms signed in the lower parts of the organization.

 

I'd be curious to know if there is some basis for this assertion or is it just anecdote heard somewhere else on the web?

[Guest USAFChief]

I'm well aware of this situation with the lifers------And I'm willing to ask the question why teams are willing to have so many guys litter their roster and spend year after year after year with the detritus.

The post you responded to here contained the answer.

 

No organization would even have a AAA team if they tried to fill the roster with only prospects. There aren't anywhere close to enough guys still on their way up. For any team.

[cmathewson]

First Benson. Now Slama. Who's next? Butera? THE HUMANITY!

[bird]

It's pleasant to have some terms of agreement, but let me disagree with you a little bit anyways.

 

Logan Darnell is an excellent case in point. I think it's safe to say that the noble Virgil Vasquez experiment has run its course- time to move him to the pen or back on the comeback trail with another organization. Or just move Pedro Hernandez to the pen, he has virtually 0% chances of being a major league starter, anyways. Darnell has repeated his AA experience twice now and has passed the third exam with flying colors.

 

AJ Achter and Edgar Ibarra could also be considered for promotion. They have both been a little wild compared to their career rates this year, but as demonstrated by their low OBAs, wildly effective. I don't think anyone would miss Cody Eppley or Shairon Martis to give these guys a shot like they've given the "4 Ts", Thielbar, Turpen, Tonkin and Thompson.

 

Doing something like this then opens up the gates at Ft Myers for guys like Jones, Johnson and Williams to replace them. Let's get this timetable accelerated already, no more fillers and reclamation projects need apply.

 

Did you copy Brad Steil on this memo? You know, those people are so clueless. It'll be a huge relief for them to get all your ideas. They certainly have not considered any of these options.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I kind of wonder if Slama didn't ask for the release. He wasn't getting a shot here, and that was pretty clear. I hope it works out for him. I never quite understood this org's refusal to give him a real chance last year. I get that he doesn't look the part, but in a 96 loss season, I don't see the harm, especially over the likes of Jeff Gray.

[Oxtung]

AAA baseball has very few actual prospects. Those who are good enough to be regular major league players don't spend much time there.

 

Not to take away from your larger point but I've seen this said multiple times and I just don't believe it is true.

 

Player - Games/Innings at AAA

Will Myers - 162 games and counting

Trevor Bauer- 140 IP and counting

Zach Wheeler - 102 IP and counting

Gerrit Cole - 74 IP and counting (he's up because of an injury)

Danny Hultzen- 70 IP and counting

Tyler Skaggs- 109 IP

Travis D'Arnaud- 79 games and counting

Shelby Miller- 136 IP

Julio Teheran- 275 IP

Nick Franklin- 103 games

Jake Odorizzi- 163 IP

 

These are the top prospects in baseball that reached AAA last season at some point, some for just a few games at the end of the season. As you can see every one spent a large amount of time at AAA. The idea that AAA doesn't matter and that top prospects don't need to play there just isn't true.

[Mike Sixel]

Has anyone figured out why they signed this guy yet?

[70charger]

Not to take away from your larger point but I've seen this said multiple times and I just don't believe it is true.

 

Player - Games/Innings at AAA

Will Myers - 162 games and counting

Trevor Bauer- 140 IP and counting

Zach Wheeler - 102 IP and counting

Gerrit Cole - 74 IP and counting (he's up because of an injury)

Danny Hultzen- 70 IP and counting

Tyler Skaggs- 109 IP

Travis D'Arnaud- 79 games and counting

Shelby Miller- 136 IP

Julio Teheran- 275 IP

Nick Franklin- 103 games

Jake Odorizzi- 163 IP

 

These are the top prospects in baseball that reached AAA last season at some point, some for just a few games at the end of the season. As you can see every one spent a large amount of time at AAA. The idea that AAA doesn't matter and that top prospects don't need to play there just isn't true.

 

You seem to have missed the point. It isn't that top prospects DON'T go to AAA (read it again; he never said that). It's that "there are few prospects" there. You listed what, ten guys? Out of 750? What's the ratio of AAAA filler to prospects? My guess is that it's pretty damn high.

 

It's all a numbers game. Some top guys may stay there for a whole year, but when they tend to go on to have 10-15 year big league careers, we're not really talking about consistent rosters, are we? In the end, AAA rosters are full of filler because they have to be. The idea is to develop the prospects and then win with the guys who stick around.

[by jiminy]

I hope Slama signs with the A's and does well there, just like Breslow, Balfour, and Neshek.

 

If the Twins didn't want to give him a shot, and they obviously didn't, they should have traded him years ago. Now he's apparently playing hurt and will have a hard time catching on. But I'll be rooting for him.

[Oxtung]

You seem to have missed the point. It isn't that top prospects DON'T go to AAA (read it again; he never said that). It's that "there are few prospects" there. You listed what, ten guys? Out of 750? What's the ratio of AAAA filler to prospects? My guess is that it's pretty damn high.

 

It's all a numbers game. Some top guys may stay there for a whole year, but when they tend to go on to have 10-15 year big league careers, we're not really talking about consistent rosters, are we? In the end, AAA rosters are full of filler because they have to be. The idea is to develop the prospects and then win with the guys who stick around.

 

No I didn't miss his point. In fact I acknowledged it right off the bat.

 

Not to take away from your larger point....

.

 

The rest of my post was directly in response to the segment I quoted. That prospects don't spend much time in AAA. While you're right that I didn't do an exhaustive study on length of stay in AAA, I am satisfied that if the very best prospects in baseball are spending considerable time at AAA then most of the lesser prospects probably are as well. If you disagree with that assessment I would love it if you took the time to do the actual research. I think it would be very interesting.