Randy Dobnak is the last guy in the Bullpen

[MMMordabito]

2 minutes ago, thelanges5 said:

Dobnak taking the last bullpen spot. 26 man is set for opening day in St Louis. 

Link:

https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/twins-randy-dobnak-nabs-final-bullpen-spot/

 

Dobber's salary makes him a unicorn shuttle player.  He can maybe sit/maybe mop up, get DFA'd, work in St. Paul, get selected again and get DFA'd again.  No team is going to claim him, and he will never elect free agency and lose $$.

[LA Vikes Fan]

1 hour ago, MMMordabito said:

Link:

https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/twins-randy-dobnak-nabs-final-bullpen-spot/

 

Dobber's salary makes him a unicorn shuttle player.  He can maybe sit/maybe mop up, get DFA'd, work in St. Paul, get selected again and get DFA'd again.  No team is going to claim him, and he will never elect free agency and lose $$.

You got that right. Dobnak is almost as good as a guy with options in that way. 

[jud6312]

What an absolute joke that Dobnak made this team. The guy got shipped out with the rest of the minor leaguers weeks ago. Glad I didn't sign up for Twins TV yet.

 

If you're wasting a roster spot to start the season, why not do it with the young kid with the live arm? If he doesn't work out, you Dobnak him when someone comes off the IL. If he does, you have a good problem of too many good arms. 

 

I'll take upside over feeling the need to get any return on a horrible contract 100% of the time.

[Cory Engelhardt]

25 minutes ago, jud6312 said:

What an absolute joke that Dobnak made this team. The guy got shipped out with the rest of the minor leaguers weeks ago. Glad I didn't sign up for Twins TV yet.

 

If you're wasting a roster spot to start the season, why not do it with the young kid with the live arm? If he doesn't work out, you Dobnak him when someone comes off the IL. If he does, you have a good problem of too many good arms. 

 

I'll take upside over feeling the need to get any return on a horrible contract 100% of the time.

I wouldn't want to waste a young starter in the 8th man in the bullpen role who will no doubt be designated again when Brock Stewart is ready in a few weeks. 

And frankly, Dobnak looked ok this spring. Not the worst thing to have a guy in the opening weeks who can give you multiple innings.

Plus, way more things to actually be angry about.

[Parfigliano]

3 hours ago, thelanges5 said:

Dobnak taking the last bullpen spot. 26 man is set for opening day in St Louis. 

Randy Deeeee!!!

[jud6312]

16 minutes ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

I wouldn't want to waste a young starter in the 8th man in the bullpen role who will no doubt be designated again when Brock Stewart is ready in a few weeks. 

And frankly, Dobnak looked ok this spring. Not the worst thing to have a guy in the opening weeks who can give you multiple innings.

Plus, way more things to actually be angry about.

On the surface it's small. But in reality it's just another instance of this front office refusing to admit mistakes.

They need mop up innings? Castellano wasn't ready to start anyway. Why not give him a shot for a couple extra weeks to see if there's anything there against big league hitters? We already know there's very little there with Dobnak.

 

Either way, they're cutting someone loose in a few weeks as guys get healthy. Why not look at the guy with more upside than "easily disposable?"

[Cory Engelhardt]

1 minute ago, jud6312 said:

On the surface it's small. But in reality it's just another instance of this front office refusing to admit mistakes.

They need mop up innings? Castellano wasn't ready to start anyway. Why not give him a shot for a couple extra weeks to see if there's anything there against big league hitters? We already know there's very little there with Dobnak.

 

Either way, they're cutting someone loose in a few weeks as guys get healthy. Why not look at the guy with more upside than "easily disposable?"

1) They could still keep Castellano via trade if possible.

2) Castellano averaged a walk per inning this spring. That is NOT sustainable.

3) Dobnak looked ok this spring, and he can give you bulk innings. Early in the season that's ok. 

[jud6312]

3 minutes ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

1) They could still keep Castellano via trade if possible.

2) Castellano averaged a walk per inning this spring. That is NOT sustainable.

3) Dobnak looked ok this spring, and he can give you bulk innings. Early in the season that's ok. 

1) It's not necessarily about "keeping Castellano," but everyone seems to be obsessed with his arm and his stuff. Why not see if he's anywhere close in actual game settings? And they wouldn't have to give anything up to do so

 

2) For a couple weeks in mop up duty they could've survived. Chances are if Dobber is getting in there, the game is over. Could it be any more over with someone else mopping up?

 

3) I'll take the 4-year track record of not being an MLB caliber arm over 6 ST innings. Castellano was a starter, could also give bulk innings.

[stringer bell]

Here’s my take: It is a short-term move saving service time and later a 40-man spot. Dobnak is almost certain to go unclaimed when he is DFA’d because of his low upside and relatively lucrative contract. He will be able to provide multiple innings if called upon. He isn’t a guy who will be ruined or wasted if he isn’t used. 
 

Congratulations to Dobnak, but I hope he’s back in St. Paul soon. 

[big dog]

1 hour ago, jud6312 said:

On the surface it's small. But in reality it's just another instance of this front office refusing to admit mistakes.

They need mop up innings? Castellano wasn't ready to start anyway. Why not give him a shot for a couple extra weeks to see if there's anything there against big league hitters? We already know there's very little there with Dobnak.

 

Either way, they're cutting someone loose in a few weeks as guys get healthy. Why not look at the guy with more upside than "easily disposable?"

As we are constantly reminded, April games count just as much as September games. Mr. Rule 5 was bad this spring. Do we want to have him blow three games to see if that is really the case? I'm not a huge Dobnak guy, but if he gives us the best chance to win April games I'm ready to see him.

[Gamblerssoftball]

Why so hard on Dobnak? He's done well this spring and has a guaranteed contract. If you're gonna pay the man, play the man! How are some folks so convinced that he will fail? He's not going to asked to be the closer. He knows what his role will be....

[jud6312]

2 hours ago, big dog said:

As we are constantly reminded, April games count just as much as September games. Mr. Rule 5 was bad this spring. Do we want to have him blow three games to see if that is really the case? I'm not a huge Dobnak guy, but if he gives us the best chance to win April games I'm ready to see him.

Isn't the argument here that Dobnak/whoever is in this spot pitches mop up duty to save the pen for another day? That indicates to me that the game is over - you can't lose a game that's already lost. 

 

Even if that's not the case and the person in this spot is pitching in winnable games, what has Dobnak done in the last four years to instill any shred of confidence in his ability to help this team win games? He's been awful with average defense behind him - he's now got Correa and the cast of the Bad News Bears trying to field grounders behind him.

[jud6312]

19 minutes ago, Gamblerssoftball said:

Why so hard on Dobnak? He's done well this spring and has a guaranteed contract. If you're gonna pay the man, play the man! How are some folks so convinced that he will fail? He's not going to asked to be the closer. He knows what his role will be....

6 innings and they shipped him off to Minor League camp. He's a sunken cost, why keep trying to recoup value from it.

 

How are we so convinced he'll fail? Because we have eyes? Or maybe it was the playoff debacle of 2019. Or the major league failures of 2021 and 2024. Or in 2022 and 2023 when he was injured and/or deemed not good enough to even sniff the majors.

 

The guy has failed more than he's succeeded at the highest level. He even failed himself into an unnecessary extension. I mean, good for him, but bad for a team that cries poverty every chance they get.

[Cory Engelhardt]

20 minutes ago, jud6312 said:

6 innings and they shipped him off to Minor League camp. He's a sunken cost, why keep trying to recoup value from it.

 

How are we so convinced he'll fail? Because we have eyes? Or maybe it was the playoff debacle of 2019. Or the major league failures of 2021 and 2024. Or in 2022 and 2023 when he was injured and/or deemed not good enough to even sniff the majors.

 

The guy has failed more than he's succeeded at the highest level. He even failed himself into an unnecessary extension. I mean, good for him, but bad for a team that cries poverty every chance they get.

Not saying he will become great or anything, but aren't most relievers genearlly failed starters?

Take a deep breath man. The last guy in the bullpen is not worth expelling so much energy over.

[jud6312]

2 minutes ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

Not saying he will become great or anything, but aren't most relievers genearlly failed starters?

Take a deep breath man. The last guy in the bullpen is not worth expelling so much energy over.

If he was going to turn into anything worthwhile, don't you think he would have by now? And there's no "last spot" on a roster. There's just 26 spots. 

[DJL44]

On the plus side, this keeps Randy from taking starts away from the prospects in AAA. I thought they should send him to Double-A but instead he gets a spot in the big leagues.

[Cory Engelhardt]

1 hour ago, jud6312 said:

If he was going to turn into anything worthwhile, don't you think he would have by now? And there's no "last spot" on a roster. There's just 26 spots. 

What is worthwhile then? A long reliever who can give you multiple innings in relief is worthwhile no?

[Jocko87]

4 hours ago, stringer bell said:

Here’s my take: It is a short-term move saving service time and later a 40-man spot. Dobnak is almost certain to go unclaimed when he is DFA’d because of his low upside and relatively lucrative contract. He will be able to provide multiple innings if called upon. He isn’t a guy who will be ruined or wasted if he isn’t used. 
 

Congratulations to Dobnak, but I hope he’s back in St. Paul soon. 

I think this is exactly right.  I like this move and also hope he’s back in St Paul soon.  On favorable terms, of course.

He's perfect for the role and can actually get major league hitters out.  I bet he gets the 5th inning more than a few times as the starters get fully ramped and I’m ok with that.

He’s not going to wet himself and will provide more certain value than several guys who would be pushed out of role for the gig. 

[Fatbat]

Im a bit torn about this. 
I am super excited to see Dobber in MLB again.  He is a super cool dude and deserves a shot because he is healthy and can get guys out.

On the other hand, It would be a cool long term play to steal Castellano if he could be a solid MLB pitcher within the next 2 seasons. The FO must know that we have enough guys to step up and Stewart will be back soon. 
Dobnak is gonna be entertaining for sure!!!

[FlyingFinn]

2 hours ago, jud6312 said:

Isn't the argument here that Dobnak/whoever is in this spot pitches mop up duty to save the pen for another day? That indicates to me that the game is over - you can't lose a game that's already lost. 

Dobnak will succeed at his role. His role is to come in during mop up duty and eat up all or most of the rest of the game. He may throw 100 pitches but he will do his job. May not be great for his arm but he's not a spring chicken anymore and has done this before.

Castellano sometimes has control problems. He may get in the first inning and not have any control. After 40 pitches in 1 inning with a young guy, your pulling him. You can't ruin his arm. Then, you end up using too many guys in the pen that you wanted to save for the next days game.

Dobnak will do his job when called upon. If he's lucky, there's no mop up duty games and gets a front row seat in the big leagues for a longer period of time.

[DocBauer]

I think this is a smart move. The theory is Dobnak may only be around for a couple weeks while Stewart...and Tonkin...get ramped up. You don't want a Festa or Matthews being used sporadically out of the pen to begin the season. And they want to "save" someone like Blewett, who they seem to like, for later, because Dobnak is almost like having an arm with options you can send down considering his contract.

Dobber has had a rough go of things the past couple of years not because he doesn't have some ability, but because he had a major finger injury that required surgery and rehab and may never be right again. So he's had to work around that and adapt. He was pretty solid, for the most part, in 2024 at AAA. He looked solid in ST in brief appearances, and reportedly looked good in MILB camp once sent down.

Baseball is filled with guys who flashed and are never heard from again. But it's also filled with guys who get hurt, re-invent themselves, stick with it, and become at least useful players at some point. And who knows how well, or how poorly, Dobnak will perform in his probably limited time. But if he's throwing well, has ML experience, and is on hand vs a waiver wire pickup, why not use him in this role for now? 

It makes sense. Hopefully he does well but isn't needed much. 

[strumdatjag]

The Dobber is back!!!   First step to a World Series championship.   It’s a lock!!!

[strumdatjag]

Just now, strumdatjag said:

The Dobber is back!!!   First step to a World Series championship.   It’s a lock!!!

All kidding aside.   This is a good move for one of the good guys.  

[TheLeviathan]

I'm, like, 99% sure that Randy Dobnak played with Boof Bonser.  Also like 98% sure they're the same person.

It maths in my head.

[stringer bell]

8 hours ago, jud6312 said:

Either way, they're cutting someone loose in a few weeks as guys get healthy. Why not look at the guy with more upside than "easily disposable?"

They won’t be cutting Dobnak loose. As noted he is both without options, but easy to move between the Twins and Saints. Adding someone to the 40-man who could and would be cut loose as soon as Stewart or Tonkin are ready doesn’t make much sense.

Starting the clock on someone or adding service time as the eighth bullpen arm isn’t the most prudent thing to do. 

[DJL44]

3 hours ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

What is worthwhile then? A long reliever who can give you multiple innings in relief is worthwhile no?

I would rather spend the innings on someone who could provide value to the team in the short or long term.

[stringer bell]

9 hours ago, jud6312 said:

If you're wasting a roster spot to start the season, why not do it with the young kid with the live arm? If he doesn't work out, you Dobnak him when someone comes off the IL. If he does, you have a good problem of too many good arms. 

Specifically who could be brought up that has upside, and also doesn't create 40-man issues as soon as one of the rostered pitchers is ready? Maybe Funderburk, that's about it. I think it's important that Dobnak is trusted to go multiple innings and can be replaced later by a one-inning guy and still leave that opening on the 40-man when he exits.

[Parfigliano]

1 hour ago, stringer bell said:

They won’t be cutting Dobnak loose. As noted he is both without options, but easy to move between the Twins and Saints. Adding someone to the 40-man who could and would be cut loose as soon as Stewart or Tonkin are ready doesn’t make much sense.

Starting the clock on someone or adding service time as the eighth bullpen arm isn’t the most prudent thing to do. 

It's a great spot to put Dobnak in.

[djm24]

8 hours ago, jud6312 said:

If he was going to turn into anything worthwhile, don't you think he would have by now? And there's no "last spot" on a roster. There's just 26 spots. 

OK, man. Chill out. Why are you so angry over something which you have no control over? The FO has made their decision. So, even if we all feel it's the "wrong" decision, we have to accept it. At this point, no one knows how this decision will play out. Randy has pitched well recently and only time will tell what his future performance will be. For that fact, no one knows how well ANY of the Twins players will perform this season.

So, please cut your negativity and criticism of Dobnak. Life is too short to be angry over things which we have no control over.

As you can surmise, I am a huge Dobnak fan and will always wish him well. For that fact, I have now become a Keirsey fan and am also hoping that, after the long stint he's had in the minors, that he's able to stick with the ML. I always root for the "underdog".

Also, I strongly believe that all people usually do turn into something "worthwhile" in their lifetime.

 

 

 

 

[jorgenswest]

Dobnak gives them two things that are important for a long reliever. He throws strikes and hence can give them multiple innings. He can be swapped out for another pitcher with little risk of losing him. It would be better if he had upside to climb the bullpen ladder as Jax and Sands did from that role. Castellano didn’t offer either of those elements. He didn’t show he could throw strikes and he couldn’t be shuttled to AAA. I am hoping Dobnak defies the odds and is so effective he forces the Twins to look elsewhere when they need to make their next bullpen move.