Can a Healthy Joe Ryan Elevate to Ace Status in 2025?

[FargoFanMan]

21 hours ago, Eric Blonigen said:

This is exactly right. I know it’s easy sometimes to compare today’s best pitchers to those from 20, 30, or 40 years ago, but the game has changed. Pitchers throw significantly harder, and throw pitches that are hard on the arm. There’s also significant data that shows decreasing effectiveness third and fourth times through the order. Sometimes, an ace is still an ace even if he doesn’t go deep. It’s about what they do with their innings, and consistency that defines an ace today.

Totally agree. If the Twins can get through the whole season and not have Lopez, Ryan and Ober miss more than 2 starts it’s gonna be a good year. This staff will keep them in games even if the offense goes on its up and down trajectory like last year. There’s also enough rotation depth to weather a few storms but overall it’s not the rotation I worry about. Regardless of whether the horses can make it through 6 innings. This season will be how good is the bullpen actually? And will this offense simply be consistent?

[Squirrel]

59 minutes ago, Linus said:

I like this.  It’s amazing how many endless debates there have been on these boards over who is an ace or who is a number 12345 starter and never once has anybody cared to define what the debate was about 😀

I’m one of those who has a pretty narrow definition of ace. To me it’s a career term and defines a very special pitcher, and there just aren’t many. And I don’t worry one iota whether or not we have one on the roster. That said, I think there are many pitchers who can have an ace-like season and can have great careers. I don’t buy into the ‘we need an ace in order to compete or win the WS’. Maybe a pitcher (or two) who has an ace-like season would help. Or maybe pitchers who just keep us in games and a BP that is ‘mow ‘em down, shut ‘em down.’ I think Ryan has the stuff to be a very good pitcher and could have one of ‘those’ season. If I were a betting person, and I said this earlier, I think Ober or Lopez are more likely candidates to be that ace this season. Hey, maybe all three will be? Unfortunately, I think we still have an offense problem. We will see.

[old nurse]

On 2/15/2025 at 11:45 AM, Eric Blonigen said:

Correct. At this point, the guys getting the quick hook are either unproven rookies being eased into Major League action, or guys who have shown us repeatedly that they can’t produce decent results the third time through. In both of those cases, pulling them early is almost certainly the right move. 

They had to limit the innings of both Mathew’s and Festa as they went over 20% more innings.  Had they pitched them deeper into games they would have ran out of innings by the middle of September. Leaving them 2 SP short. 

[old nurse]

3 hours ago, Linus said:

I like this.  It’s amazing how many endless debates there have been on these boards over who is an ace or who is a number 12345 starter and never once has anybody cared to define what the debate was about 😀

It is a useless term. Pitchers go every fifth day. They go in order.  As a team game the counting stat that matters is wins for the team. 

[bean5302]

I feel like I've talked about what constitutes an "ace" to me a few times. There are a set of criteria which need to be met or expected. It basically boils down to fan confidence. Fans should expect their team will win the game when their ace is on the mound.

Stat-wise, something like this:
1) Season ERA under 3.30.
2) 75%+ of starts ending with at least 5.0 innings and an ERA under 4.00.
3) 75%+ of starts ending with at least 6.0 innings and 3 or fewer ER.
4) Streaks of at least 4-5 games in a row meeting #2/3

Joe Ryan is pitching in his age 29 season, folks. He's long since left the world of prospects and he's nearing the age where his velocity is likely to start declining. He's never had an ace season in his career or even close to it. The question could be could Joe Ryan become a #2 or establish himself as a reliable #3. Ace shouldn't even be in the discussion.