Varland to the bullpen

[Mike Sixel]

It's time to move him. Festa and Dobnak have passed him as starters, and Morris and Matthews are close to doing so. Seriously, it's past time. Let's see what he is as a RP, because they need more.

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

Thought this was an actual move LOL.  

[Craig Arko]

Agreed.

[jaimedude]

I would move him, to the bullpen. I agree with this He has strikeout stuff. Varland seems to get tired after 3 innings. 

[LA Vikes Fan]

Has to happen. Couldn't agree more. Move him to the BP and get him up to Minnesota. 

[tony&rodney]

This makes perfect sense and it will be up to the field staff to recommend when/if he is ready.

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

9 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

It's time to move him. Festa and Dobnak have passed him as starters, and Morris and Matthews are close to doing so. Seriously, it's past time. Let's see what he is as a RP, because they need more.

Agreed.

I think he can have a similar trajectory as Sands and Jax. 

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

Duran / Jax / Alcala / Sands / Varland / Richards / Okert / Thielbar 

That should be the one in October. I still think they'll regret not getting an upgrade over the two lefties but nothing they can do about it now.

[ashbury]

29 minutes ago, Twins_Fan_in_NJ said:

 nothing they can do about it now.

Waiver wire, baby!

/ oh wait, you said "upgrade".

[Azviking101]

I wonder if they’ll think about giving Headrick another chance this season if Thielbar and Okert continue to be awful. He’s seemed to embrace the 1 inning reliever role in AAA so far 

edit- forgot he was likely done for the year. 

[Kenny Powers]

27 minutes ago, Azviking101 said:

I wonder if they’ll think about giving Headrick another chance this season if Thielbar and Okert continue to be awful. He’s seemed to embrace the 1 inning reliever role in AAA so far 

edit- forgot he was likely done for the year. 

I'm sure Headrick will get another shot.  But he's going to have to show he's healthy (and effective) first.  Regarding Theilbar, he actually started pitching well in July:

10 games, 9.2 innings, 11 Ks, 2.79 ERA and 1.14 WHIP.  

These guys are so streaky...I think they just have to play the hot hands and rotate as necessary.  I'd keep throwing Theilbar out there for now until he loses it.

[nicksaviking]

12 hours ago, ashbury said:

Waiver wire, baby!

/ oh wait, you said "upgrade".

Works for the Rays.

Used to work for Terry Ryan too. Honestly, SSS issues is often the difference between a waiver wire reliever and someone who got hot for three months and got traded.

But I'll still go to my grave never trusting a relief pitcher.

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

Headrick will get another shot - but, I suspect its to replace Thielbar...in 2025. 

Topa's the most immediate reinforcement, probably replaces Dobber unless another injury pops up.

[LA Vikes Fan]

3 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

Works for the Rays.

Used to work for Terry Ryan too. Honestly, SSS issues is often the difference between a waiver wire reliever and someone who got hot for three months and got traded.

But I'll still go to my grave never trusting a relief pitcher.

Hey, Vinny Nittoli just elected free agency after a DFA by the Orioles. He's 0-1, 1.5 ERA, 1.00 WHIP in 12 innings, 9 games. Can go 2 innings a pop and has the last 3 times out against Miami, KC, and the Yankees - 6 IP total, 1 earned run. Came off the IL about 3 weeks ago. He's RH but has better stats against lefties (.188 BA). He could be a find if this is anywhere near real. Also, Jake Diekman (LH) and Adrian Houser (RH) have been waived/released by the Mets. Both pretty meh to meh minus this year but both have previous good previous track records.

The bullpen is the one place where you can get actual decent pieces on the waiver wire or post DFA free agency. Nittoli is worth a look. Probably an upgrade on Okert and maybe on Dobnak. Worth looking at the waiver wire as a way to upgrade the BP. 

[NotAboutWinning]

Do you think we'll see a waiver salary dump similar to what LAA did last year? There are probably a handful of teams that will decide they are out of the playoffs hunt in a few weeks.

[wabene]

23 minutes ago, NotAboutWinning said:

Do you think we'll see a waiver salary dump similar to what LAA did last year? There are probably a handful of teams that will decide they are out of the playoffs hunt in a few weeks.

Hope not that's a cheesey way to upset the balance of power. Last year we got lucky that Giolito fell apart. Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.

 

[stringer bell]

Back to the OP, yes it may be time to change Varland's role. However, I am not convinced he will be a large asset in the bullpen. His work in the BP late last year featured some pretty good batted ball and hard-hit luck IIRC and those things tend to vary dramatically, making most relievers almost impossible to project.

Josh Staumont might be a very good recent example, going from a 0.00 ERA to DFA seemingly in a minute.

[ashbury]

Still burned into my retinas is the flyball hit by Chapman against our Shutdown Reliever of the Future in the top of the sixth in game 1 of the Wild Card Series against Toronto, two run lead, two men on.  Maybe you remember the play.  MAT ranged to his left and bailed him out big time.  He got a pat on the butt when he came back to the dugout, and he earned a Hold for that performance, LOL  Two pitches and I was done with him (any other ballplayers you'd like a scouting report on?) and apparently so was Rocco since Thielbar took over in the seventh.  He's pigeonholed for me as a Try Real Hard guy we all like to root for - he's got guts and moxie and a fastball the good hitters can turn on.  I'm fickle like that when I attend a ballgame in person.  I remain unsold on his future, but he can try the bullpen if he or they want - I hope he can succeed, I hope he makes me eat my words.

[wabene]

 

3 hours ago, stringer bell said:

yes it may be time to change Vqrland's role. However, I am not convinced he will be a large asset in the bullpen. His work in the BP late last year featured some pretty good batted ball and hard-hit luck IIRC and those things tend to vary dramatically, making most relievers almost impossible to project.

Josh Staumont might be a very good recent example, going from a 0.00 ERA to DFA seemingly in a minute.

FTFY Leading by example is a better look for you. But if you prefer public chastising, how about spelling Varland's name correctly? Lol

[wabene]

1 hour ago, ashbury said:

Still burned into my retinas is the flyball hit by Chapman against our Shutdown Reliever of the Future in the top of the sixth in game 1 of the Wild Card Series against Toronto, two run lead, two men on.  Maybe you remember the play.  MAT ranged to his left and bailed him out big time.  He got a pat on the butt when he came back to the dugout, and he earned a Hold for that performance, LOL  Two pitches and I was done with him (any other ballplayers you'd like a scouting report on?) and apparently so was Rocco since Thielbar took over in the seventh.  He's pigeonholed for me as a Try Real Hard guy we all like to root for - he's got guts and moxie and a fastball the good hitters can turn on.  I'm fickle like that when I attend a ballgame in person.  I remain unsold on his future, but he can try the bullpen if he or they want - I hope he can succeed, I hope he makes me eat my words.

Very well said, there is no guarantee Louie succeeds in the pen. He had his moments in that role, but also have up some hard contact at times, walking a tightrope. 

On the positive side he does do well his first time facing a batter in either role.

[dxpavelka]

21 hours ago, Kenny Powers said:

I'm sure Headrick will get another shot.  But he's going to have to show he's healthy (and effective) first.  Regarding Theilbar, he actually started pitching well in July:

10 games, 9.2 innings, 11 Ks, 2.79 ERA and 1.14 WHIP.  

These guys are so streaky...I think they just have to play the hot hands and rotate as necessary.  I'd keep throwing Theilbar out there for now until he loses it.

Ball players streaky?  Who knew?

[Mike Sixel]

11 hours ago, stringer bell said:

Back to the OP, yes it may be time to change Varland's role. However, I am not convinced he will be a large asset in the bullpen. His work in the BP late last year featured some pretty good batted ball and hard-hit luck IIRC and those things tend to until they try vary dramatically, making most relievers almost impossible to project.

Josh Staumont might be a very good recent example, going from a 0.00 ERA to DFA seemingly in a minute.

We won't know until they try. 

[NotAboutWinning]

Not having acquired a viable 5th starter at the trade deadline keeps Varland the break glass in case of emergency guy if one of the starters goes injured, or goes beyond their innings limit. Don't think they can move him to the bullpen until the end of the season.

[Mike Sixel]

2 minutes ago, NotAboutWinning said:

Not having acquired a viable 5th starter at the trade deadline keeps Varland the break glass in case of emergency guy if one of the starters goes injured, or goes beyond their innings limit. Don't think they can move him to the bullpen until the end of the season.

Certainly that's the play not to lose strategy. I'm not interested in that strategy, but I can see where others are.

[Danchat]

29 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

We won't know until they try. 

I was very skeptical on Jax and thought his chances of becoming a quality reliever were low, but that’s why they have to shake the dice. No reason not to given the track record of AAAA started becoming great relievers.

[nicksaviking]

2 hours ago, Danchat said:

I was very skeptical on Jax and thought his chances of becoming a quality reliever were low, but that’s why they have to shake the dice. No reason not to given the track record of AAAA started becoming great relievers.

Duran, Alcala, Sands, Rogers, May, Duffey, Pressly, Perkins, Duensing, Hendricks. The Twins have been doing this for years with starters with good MiLB track records but little path to starting in the majors. No reason to stop until it doesn't work anymore.

[USAFChief]

5 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

Duran, Alcala, Sands, Rogers, May, Duffey, Pressly, Perkins, Duensing, Hendricks. The Twins have been doing this for years with starters with good MiLB track records but little path to starting in the majors. No reason to stop until it doesn't work anymore.

With absolutely zero research to back it up, I'd wager 90 percent of current MLB relievers were starters at one point in their professional career. 

[nicksaviking]

14 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

With absolutely zero research to back it up, I'd wager 90 percent of current MLB relievers were starters at one point in their professional career. 

Agreed, but these guys were all changed into relievers at AAA or early in their major league careers. The Twins have had next to no luck with the guys who were always viewed as relief pitchers. I don't even know the last one they as a team developed like that, Trevor Hildenberger? Jesse Crain?