Pablo López’s Injury May Give Rocco Baldelli What He’s Always Wanted

[Blyleven2011]

32 minutes ago, Doctor Gast said:

Good point Bly. IMO, Baldelli has had many opportunities to try out a long RP but hasn't & seemed stuck using 1-inning RPs even if they could go longer. I hope he has changed. I disagree with the idea that long RPs shouldn't be in close games & they'd be sitting around for days. Do you think long relief is synonymous with mop-up games? No, they should be used in close games too, any game that doesn't go over 5 innings, they could be used.  With Festa, SWR & Zebby in the rotation, there'd be many opportunities for long relief plus any clunker that Ryan, Ober or Paddack might throw. Long relief is necessary for keeping the rotation & BP from being burned out, which usually happens. Hope Adams comes through if not there are others that could be used.

Concur doc  ,  doesn't matter when a long reliever should come in , his job is to eat innings... 

[Twinsrtheworst]

On 6/6/2025 at 3:16 PM, jorgenswest said:

The White Sox have used Mike Vasil in that role. He has one appearance following an opener so that is more of a starter than a long reliever but even without it he averages 2 innings an appearance.

The A’s use Mitch Spence in that role though they use an opener quite a bit so he has some appearances where he was a bulk reliever. He still averages less than 2 innings a relief appearance.

I don’t think the Twins should try to copy two of the worst teams in baseball by assigning that role to a specific pitcher.

A third pitcher to consider is Ben Casparius from the Dodgers. He is averaging nearly two innings a relief appearance. Looking at his game log insome of those he was in more of a starter role where he followed an opener because the Dodgers had some injury trouble.  In his 20 other appearances 7 (35%) have gone at least two innings. Funderburk has 3 of 9(33%) of 2 innings and that number would likely be greater if he was effective.

The traditional long relief role  in baseball is no longer. Bullpens are too heavily used and teams can’t have a pitcher throw 3+ innings and be unavailable for several days. Instead a shuttle to AAA or the DFA route is used to fill that last spot. The Twins used Dobnak, McCaughan and Blewett in the role. Funderburk has been in that role and now they need another arm that can take on those innings. It is Travis Adams turn. It is up to Travis Adams to take this opportunity and move up the bullpen ladder. Cole Sands and Griffin Jax made the most of the opportunity. Funderburk and Alcala haven’t taken advantage.

The long reliever role in baseball still exists but it is a revolving door. Travis Adams has just entered the door. Success in that role can result in someone else going out.

Thank you.  Great break down and I informative.

[killebrewlover]

It's simple.  Until the Twins solve the Jax issue, nothing else matters.  He's abysmal.  And yet he seems to get a free pass every time he blows a lead.