Woods Richardson optioned to St Paul

[Brock Beauchamp]

Had to check the Twins transactions page to make sure it's real and it definitely is.

Did not see that coming. I wonder what spurred this decision? He's been kinda bad but not actually bad. Yesterday was his first actual bad start in awhile.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Ah, I bet it's roster shuffling because of the bullpen workload in yesterday's doubleheader. Demote SWR, use his spot for the pen for a couple of days, promote Festa before SWR's slot comes up again.

[thelanges5]

SWR Can throw strikes and has good control, but lives too much in the middle of the plate, poor command. Seems like he is constantly getting behind in counts and then getting punished for it.

With the doubleheader, I think they needed a pitcher for Sunday anyways? Maybe this sets up a larger picture move to get Festa up for that start.

[jorgenswest]

I think the move can help them set up the series for the Guardian/Royal week. They would need a starter on the 18th and 28th before he would be able to return. I also think the decision was made to do this before yesterday’s game. They chose not to bring up a starter for game 2 as the 27th man. Failing to bring up a starter meant that they would need one by Sunday.

[mnfireman]

The double header and short starts yesterday required some sort of move, SWR was the obvious and only choice, Funderburk can pitch again between now and Sunday, SWR could not.

I think a decision for Sunday needs to be made sooner rather than later, Festa and Matthews pitch Friday and Saturday and Morris, who is scheduled to pitch Sunday, would have to be added to the 40 man. With the team not having another day off until next Thursday, I don't think a BP game is a viable option, but it's not my call.  

[bean5302]

Sim can't get through the 5th inning and he's been a #6 caliber starter for about a year now. I think he just permanently lost his rotation spot to Festa.

[mnfireman]

 

Sim can't get through the 5th inning and he's been a #6 caliber starter for about a year now. I think he just permanently lost his rotation spot to Festa.

Festa hasn't gotten through 5 innings in his twins starts this season either, but is the better option going forward.

[bean5302]

 

Festa hasn't gotten through 5 innings in his twins starts this season either, but is the better option going forward.

Over the past 16 starts Festa (career) vs. Sim
Festa: 16 GS, 77.1 IP, 4.31 ERA, 3.53 FIP, 3.67 xFIP, 10.71 K/9 (27.6%), 3.26 BB/9 (8.4%), 1.32 WHIP.
QS = 6.25% (6.0+ IP, 3 ER or less)
QS2 = 37.5% (5.0+ IP, 3.99 ERA or less)

Sim: 16 GS, 76.0 IP, 4.97 ERA, 5.21 FIP, 4.92 xFIP, 8.05 K/9 (20.4%), 3.67 BB/9 (9.3%), 1.50 WHIP.
QS = 6.25%
QS2 = 31.25%

Festa is better in every single metric, many dramatically better, except old school QS, where they're tied. Even if he wasn't, it'd be worth taking another look at him because SWR's line is not MLB worthy.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

The double header and short starts yesterday required some sort of move, SWR was the obvious and only choice, Funderburk can pitch again between now and Sunday, SWR could not.

I think a decision for Sunday needs to be made sooner rather than later, Festa and Matthews pitch Friday and Saturday and Morris, who is scheduled to pitch Sunday, would have to be added to the 40 man. With the team not having another day off until next Thursday, I don't think a BP game is a viable option, but it's not my call.  

I think they call up Festa again. He's obviously the first in line and has done nothing to be relegated behind Matthews.

[BiggestRoccoFan]

 

Had to check the Twins transactions page to make sure it's real and it definitely is.

Did not see that coming. I wonder what spurred this decision? He's been kinda bad but not actually bad. Yesterday was his first actual bad start in awhile.

Well considering that you are lucky to get 5 innings out of the dude on a good day it's not shocking. He does not have MLB stuff. He has not exactly been that great either and he does not have an "out" pitch.

[BiggestRoccoFan]

 

Festa hasn't gotten through 5 innings in his twins starts this season either, but is the better option going forward.

Festa has swing and miss stuff. Sims stuff is meat. 

[goulik]

 

Over the past 16 starts Festa (career) vs. Sim
Festa: 16 GS, 77.1 IP, 4.31 ERA, 3.53 FIP, 3.67 xFIP, 10.71 K/9 (27.6%), 3.26 BB/9 (8.4%), 1.32 WHIP.
QS = 6.25% (6.0+ IP, 3 ER or less)
QS2 = 37.5% (5.0+ IP, 3.99 ERA or less)

Sim: 16 GS, 76.0 IP, 4.97 ERA, 5.21 FIP, 4.92 xFIP, 8.05 K/9 (20.4%), 3.67 BB/9 (9.3%), 1.50 WHIP.
QS = 6.25%
QS2 = 31.25%

Festa is better in every single metric, many dramatically better, except old school QS, where they're tied. Even if he wasn't, it'd be worth taking another look at him because SWR's line is not MLB worthy.

I agree with everything you said here except the last 6 words. He has been good enough to be a 5th starter in most MLB rotations and honestly, good enough to be a 3rd starter on many past seasons of Twins Rotations (I know, real low bar but true). We just happen to have great options at AAA right now so that makes him look worse relatively speaking...

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Well considering that you are lucky to get 5 innings out of the dude on a good day it's not shocking. He does not have MLB stuff. He has not exactly been that great either and he does not have an "out" pitch.

He's a fifth starter who had an ERA+ of 100 last season. He's a perfectly serviceable pitcher at the back of the rotation and last year, was miles better than what most teams had there.

[Mike Sixel]

I'd bet on Festa being up for two starts. If he's good, he's up until he's not for a couple games. SWR dealt at the deadline. 

That's my guess. 

[Mike Sixel]

 

He's a fifth starter who had an ERA+ of 100 last season. He's a perfectly serviceable pitcher at the back of the rotation and last year, was miles better than what most teams had there.

Agreed. He's likely a fourth starter for most teams. He's also still quite young. I think people forget how little good pitching there is in baseball. 

[thelanges5]

Festa slated to pitch Friday for the Saints. They could have him meet the team in Mil and push everyone back a day. Fundy goes back down to make the move. 

[Riverbrian]

Sensible move in consideration of the double header and bullpen usage. 

It's nice to have an option like Festa available for such things. 

It's not the end of the road for SWR. He will be back at some point. 

 

[BiggestRoccoFan]

 

He's a fifth starter who had an ERA+ of 100 last season. He's a perfectly serviceable pitcher at the back of the rotation and last year, was miles better than what most teams had there.

Well this is not last year. 

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

I like Sim because he battles on the mound. Got hit hard yesterday but more often than not, he gives the Twins a chance to win the game. Unfortunately for him, I think Festa and Matthews have higher ceilings and the Twins need to figure out what they have with those pitchers. It is a long season and injuries can and do happen so presumably, we'll see Sim again. Book's not closed on him.

[Major League Ready]

 

I'd bet on Festa being up for two starts. If he's good, he's up until he's not for a couple games. SWR dealt at the deadline. 

That's my guess. 

Seems reasonable even likely.  What do you think SWR brings in trade?  Can we get a decent catching prospect that will be big league ready by the start of next season?   

[Cory Engelhardt]

My GUESS is it's Festa too, but he hasn't pitched since 5/6. Any reason why?

Zebby last went on 5/10, just for comparison. My guess is it's Festa, but that feels like a long layoff.

[thelanges5]

Just saw this in the Strib:

Zebby Matthews, who has posted a 1.93 ERA in seven starts for the St. Paul Saints, is expected to start Sunday in Milwaukee.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Well this is not last year. 

And SWR's ERA was 4.01 before he had a bad day yesterday.

[Rod Carews Birthday]

5 hours ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

He's a fifth starter who had an ERA+ of 100 last season. He's a perfectly serviceable pitcher at the back of the rotation and last year, was miles better than what most teams had there.

Indeed.  Considering some of the sorry pitchers we've trudged out there with in the past, probably 8 years out of 10 we would be thrilled to have him as our #5 (or #4 -- some years, #3).  We've just gotten a little spoiled lately.  I just hope it stays that way. 

[Mike Sixel]

4 hours ago, Major League Ready said:

Seems reasonable even likely.  What do you think SWR brings in trade?  Can we get a decent catching prospect that will be big league ready by the start of next season?   

So few AA / AAA catchers that are high prospects that are not in the same division, on teams that want to win this year or next. I thought Rushing might be a target, but LAD just promoted him.....

[Major League Ready]

44 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

So few AA / AAA catchers that are high prospects that are not in the same division, on teams that want to win this year or next. I thought Rushing might be a target, but LAD just promoted him.....

I don't think SWR would bring back a top 20 prospect like rushing.  I don't see many possibilities as I look down the list of catchers in the top 100.   I don't see the teams that have them trading them.  Chicago, Detroit, and KC all have catchers in the top 100.  First and foremost, I want to see a good return.  However, it sure would be nice if the return fills a need in the near future.  Maybe a 1B prospect that is near ready is more feasible.  

 

[Mike Sixel]

2 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

I don't think SWR would bring back a top 20 prospect like rushing.  I don't see many possibilities as I look down the list of catchers in the top 100.   I don't see the teams that have them trading them.  Chicago, Detroit, and KC all have catchers in the top 100.  First and foremost, I want to see a good return.  However, it sure would be nice if the return fills a need in the near future.  Maybe a 1B prospect that is near ready is more feasible.  

 

I figured you'd have to go SWR and something for a top guy.....but that ship is long gone as far as I can see. Not getting Teel before CWS did was an ooops. But I'm told Jenkins is 10000000x the player.....

I'd happily take a good SS prospect that is a few years away instead, plus a flyer.

[wabene]

I'll eat my hat if Sim is traded this year...

 

 

 

[Richie the Rally Goat]

8 hours ago, BiggestRoccoFan said:

Well this is not last year. 

His 4.58 xFIP all of 2024 and 2025 to date ranks 75th among starters. That’s a good 5th starter

[USAFChief]

2 hours ago, wabene said:

I'll eat my hat if Sim is traded this year...

 

 

 

Concur. Quite unlikely IMO.