Rotation, Bullpen, Or St. Paul: Analytically Breaking Down David Festa's Arsenal

[Cody Schoenmann]

In less than two weeks, pitchers and catchers will report to the Lee Health Sports Complex in Fort Myers, serving as the unofficial start to the 66th season of Minnesota Twins baseball. Understandably, angst, uncertainty, and pessimism will be the forefront emotions of many who follow the club. Still, reasons for optimism will manifest this spring, with the club’s starting rotation being the most likely source to bring that trait to light. Barring injury or an unforeseen trade, Pablo López and Joe Ryan will operate as co-aces of the five-pitcher unit, creating one of the most formidable frontline duos in baseball. Experienced righties Bailey Ober and Simeon Woods Richardson will likely occupy the third and fourth spots, respectively. Interestingly, the club has four more starting pitchers with major league experience on its 40-man roster. However, only one of those four arms will win the final rotation spot, creating one of the more fascinating Spring Training competitions in recent Twins history.

Taj Bradley, Zebby Matthews, David Festa, and Mick Abel are the four arms set to compete for the fifth rotation spot. Luckily, all four pitchers have minor league options remaining, meaning Minnesota won’t need to make any drastic 40-man roster decisions before flying to Baltimore in late March. Still, deciding which arm to hand the fifth rotation spot to will be an incredibly consequential decision as the Twins try to avoid starting their 2026 campaign on the wrong foot, as they did in 2024 and 2025. As noted earlier, Twins decision-makers could demote the three pitchers who lost the camp competition to Triple-A St. Paul, with that trio headlining the Saints’ rotation. Interestingly, one of the four rotation hopefuls could still make an immediate impact on the major league club, just not in the role he entered Spring Training vying to win.

David Festa's Stuff

Making his major league debut with Minnesota in 2024, Festa has struggled during his first two seasons, generating a 5.12 ERA and 4.27 FIP over 117 2/3 innings pitched. The primary reason behind Festa’s struggles in the majors, so far, is that his four-seam fastball has been ineffective. Thrown a combined 36% the past two seasons, hitters have generated a .344 batting average against the 25-year-old’s fastball. Alongside hitting the pitch often, batters have also done a meaningful amount of damage with the pitch, evidenced by the pitch surrendering a .609 slugging percentage last season. On average, major league fastballs thrown by right-handed pitchers move eight inches toward same-handed hitters while dropping 15 inches. Festa’s moves only two inches while dropping 13 inches. His fastball is flat, so hitters can see it clearly as it enters the zone. A lack of four-seam shape and movement can work if a pitcher generates above-average velocity (i.e., Paul Skenes). Yet, given that Festa’s average four-seam velocity is below-average alongside being flat, hitters are able to tee off on the pitch, despite him being able to consistently locate it high in the zone.

Fortunately, the Seton Hall product’s breaking and offspeed pitches are far more effective, functioning as driving forces in the minimal success he has generated in the majors. Last season, Festa threw his change 29% of the time, nearly matching his four-seam usage rate. Unlike his four-seam, however, the right thrived with his change, posting a .113 batting average against while throwing it 256 times. Festa primarily threw the pitch low in the zone against left-handed hitters. Lefties often swung over the pitch, often whiffing or dribbling the ball to the right side of the infield, evidenced by his impressive .274 slugging percentage against. Festa’s change also functioned as his put-away pitch, evidenced by him generating 26 strikeouts and a 23.2% put away rate.

David Festa's Pitch Arsenal

His slider (thrown 27% of the time) was similarly effective. However, he primarily threw his breaking pitch to right-handed hitters. Festa generated a .231 batting average against and a .423 slugging percentage against with his slider. Yet, underlying metrics undermine his success with the pitch, evidenced by his generating a .550 expected slugging percentage against (xSLG) and a .359 expected weighted on-base average (xWOBA) with the pitch. For reference, his four-seam manufactured a .568 xSLG and .418 xWOBA. Festa often caught too much of the plate with his slider when throwing it to right-handed hitters. Similar to his four-seam, Festa’s slider lacks horizontal movement, meaning hitters can see it well as it crosses the plate. That being the case, right-handed hitters generated a lot of damage against his slider, making it an ineffective secondary pitch.

Given the plus nature of his change, Festa has somewhat surprisingly been more effective against left-handed hitters of the course of his career, evidenced by lefties generating a combined .305 wOBA the past two seasons compared to righties posting a .322. Being 6’6”, Festa has one of the highest release points in baseball, releasing the ball six feet from the ground on average. Given his lanky frame, Festa also sports one of the highest extension rates in the sport, shortening the distance between him and the batter. Unfortunately, the lanky righty’s height-driven advantage has been nullified by his throwing at a 50-degree angle, one of the highest release points in baseball. As noted earlier, Festa often throws his four-seam high in the zone. Throwing the pitch high in the zone from a high arm slot is what makes the pitch flat and, therefore, ineffective. Also, releasing breaking pitches from a high arm slot creates less horizontal movement, explaining the ineffectiveness of his slider. Interestingly, his high arm slot is likely the driving factor in his change being so effective, given that he can drop the pitch in from such a high release point.

Year	Pitch Type	#	# RHB	# LHB	%	MPH	PA	AB	H	1B	2B	3B	HR	SO	BBE	BA	XBA	SLG	XSLG	WOBA	XWOBA	EV	LA	Spin	Ext.	Whiff%	PutAway%
2025	Four Seamer	280	120	160	31.7	94.1	76	64	22	13	5	0	4	9	56	.344	.309	.609	.568	.447	.418	90.1	26	2416	7.0	14.1	16.1
2025	Changeup	256	91	165	29.0	87.8	67	62	7	3	1	0	3	26	36	.113	.134	.274	.302	.201	.221	85.7	19	1758	6.9	44.0	23.2
2025	Slider	236	154	82	26.8	87.6	55	52	12	8	1	0	3	16	36	.231	.263	.423	.550	.300	.359	91.3	19	2595	6.9	32.2	20.5
2025	Sinker	110	73	37	12.5	93.9	31	26	8	8	0	0	0	2	25	.308	.301	.308	.435	.319	.365	92.2	7	2297	7.0	13.0	25.0
2024	Four Seamer	442	242	200	40.2	94.7	93	79	24	13	7	0	4	23	56	.304	.265	.544	.514	.410	.385	91.3	18	2349	7.0	19.4	21.3
2024	Slider	349	244	105	31.8	86.1	97	92	19	13	3	2	1	26	66	.207	.236	.315	.394	.246	.292	90.2	13	2564	6.8	29.1	20.2
2024	Changeup	308	116	192	28.0	88.4	87	80	19	10	4	1	4	28	53	.238	.203	.463	.329	.319	.262	85.9	13	1839	6.8	39.4	23.0

What Should Be David Festa's Role In 2026?

Given Minnesota’s surplus of starting pitching depth and Festa’s struggles the past two seasons, the lanky 25-year-old would be best used in a short-relief role, with the Twins' pitching development staff working with him to lower his arm slot to maximize his four-seam and slider. If converted into a short relief role, the 25-year-old could add velocity to his four-seam, potentially bumping the pitch up to 96-97 MPH. As mentioned earlier, pitchers can make flat four-seams work with increased velocity. Festa would likely be able to sustain increased four-seam velocity pitching in a one-inning role. Also, minimizing his workload would allow him to maximize his slider, adding more break and velocity to the pitch. If he is able to refine his four-seam and slider while continuing to sport an elite change, Festa could quickly become Minnesota’s most effective reliever, given how little high-end talent presently resides in the club’s bullpen.

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[4twinsJA]

Festa also seems to have some durability issues, can his arm handle a starting pitcher's 150+ innings a year. Maybe he begins the year at AAA to get accustomed to relief role, but I agree, Festa could be the Twins best relief pitcher this year.

[Cory Engelhardt]

He appears to have the makings of being a very good reliever if his shoulder is healthy. It'll be fun to see how he looks this spring.

[High heat]

Festa more then any other current starter needs to move to the bullpen and should start there early in ST.

Shoulder durability is a major concern. 

Festa looks like if he added a couple MPH to the slider and fastball putting him in the upper 90s could be a better version of Varland because of the secondary stuff.  
 

not to mention the Slim Reaper is a sick nickname coming out of the pen.

 

Festa, Bradley to the bullpen with Abel and Mathew’s battling for the 5th spot.  Prielipp and Raya in the bullpen either in the majors or at St Paul.  
 

I do believe a trade of someone in the current projected rotation is coming before ST.

 

[LA Vikes Fan]

I've been beating on this drum for awhile now. Festa's shoulder issues and fastball issues all point towards him going to the Bullpen in a short relief, late inning role. He's also a guy whose batting average and SLG against goes up significantly the second time through the order. 

I think you've identified the real issue - his fastball isn't good enough to be a starter. But, add a couple of ticks to it and it may be good enough to be a strong reliever in combination with his change up and slider.

I'd like to see Festa either break with the team in the bullpen and slowly work up to a late inning role or close at St. Paul for a month. I really think that's his best and highest use. By the way, I don't think he's the 6th starter - he's a least number 7 behind Matthews at 6 and may be 8 behind Abel at 7. that's another good reason to think about putting him in the BP to start out with.  

    

[Blyleven2011]

Festa to the bullpen is a no brainer  , he was shut down at end of season with the injury that turned out milder than they were expecting  , so why risk further injury that could end his career if he is over worked  ...

Festa should already be penciled into the bullpen and our FO and manager should have told him he's going to pitch in relief so he can prepare his season  ...

Optimism  , boy i hope we can win some games and the games will be exciting ...

I sure hope the players are prepared to battle harder than ever before cause it's going to take alot of team work ( forget the organization  , there a lost cause ) , will the players go into spring training with Optimism of winning or just Optimism on making the 26 man roster ...

[Sjoski]

Oh my....Festa has to be our next closer. 

It's destined. 

Here's his walk-in song.

Don't Fear The Reaper

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pe3jFvJ0qjs&list=RDpe3jFvJ0qjs&start_radio=1&pp=ygUmZG9uJ3QgZmVhciB0aGUgcmVhcGVyIGJsdWUgb3lzdGVyIGN1bHSgBwE%3D

 

[Twins63]

Classic rock fan for sure here. May I also suggest if he is successful as a closer...Sorcerer's Reign of the Reaper 🤘😁

[bean5302]

Yeah, Ryan and Lopez are definitely the king of the road when it comes to 1-2 punches. Ranked 10th for fWAR projection this year among 1-2 starter combinations. Truly forces to be reckoned with. 

BOS = 9.5
DET = 8.8
PHI = 8.3
PIT = 7.7
ATL = 6.8
TOR = 6.8
TEX = 6.6
LAD = 6.5
KCR = 6.3
MIN = 6.3

The primary concern around Festa is his health. If he's returned to form, his stuff is just as apt to play as some other internal options, and if the writer is so concerned about actual results, Festa owns the 3rd best FIP of the entire group of proposed starters, and his ERA is dramatically above Matthews.

ERA
3.50 - Ryan
3.69 - Lopez
4.11 - SWR
4.49 - Ober
4.59 - Bradley
5.12 - Festa
5.92 - Matthews
6.23 - Abel

FIP
3.51 - Lopez
3.61 - Ryan
4.27 - Festa
4.30 - SWR
4.30 - Ober
4.41 - Matthews
4.42 - Bradley
5.11 - Abel

Personally, I think the Twins should be trading Festa or other starters before destroying their value in the bullpen. If Festa starts the year off in AAA effectively, he's worth more as a trade chip than he'd likely be worth in short relief out of the 'pen. Converting legitimate starters into bullpen arms because the front office has failed to address its needs is not a sound strategy. It's wasteful.

[Patzky]

44 minutes ago, Twins63 said:

Classic rock fan for sure here. May I also suggest if he is successful as a closer...Sorcerer's Reign of the Reaper 🤘😁

The Festa Burger combo features Carolina Reaper sauce and Slim Cut 🍟 fries

[DocBauer]

Festa to the bullpen makes so much sense that it should happen almost immediately, IMO. I have to believe the FO and coaching staff has to be considering it. Have they even broached the idea to Festa yet?

I'm not saying he's injury prone, but his shoulder issue has to be a concern. To me, his situation is very "Duran-like" in that he's got some good stuff to work work, but his body is probably just better suited to 1 IP for 2 days, and then an off day. 

I like the idea of a change in arm slot to make his FB and slider more effective. Hopefully it wouldn't take away from his changeup. I also like the idea of him continuing to get comfortable with his sinker.  It could be an additional weapon against RH hitters, and might make his FB even that more effective as well.

I'm going to disagree with the OP a bit on his velocity. When I've watched him throw I've seen him sit 94-95 comfortablely, and he's touched 96-97 pretty frequently. Going all out in a single frame could have him SITTING 95-97 easily and touching 98-99.

Additionally, while I don't have his breakdown in front of me, even with some of the issues reported above, he's usually been very good the first time through the order. He's shown a tendency to slip the 2nd time, and really start to get hit attempting a 3rd time through an order. 

Some shoulder issues and a thin frame, strong ONE TIME results through the order, a decent mix that could be even better with a different arm slot...not to mention opportunity and need...he'd seem to be a perfect back of the pen arm candidate.

Like most strong arms before him, he can be brought along a little lower in the pecking order at first, throwing in the 6th and 7th while he makes the transition, and then starts to slot in to the 8th-9th inning. An advantage he has over some of his fellow, projected, converts is that he already has ML experience. That's something Klein, Lewis, Prielipp (if/when he converts), Raya, etc don't have right now.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

2 hours ago, Sjoski said:

Oh my....Festa has to be our next closer. 

It's destined. 

Here's his walk-in song.

Don't Fear The Reaper

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pe3jFvJ0qjs&list=RDpe3jFvJ0qjs&start_radio=1&pp=ygUmZG9uJ3QgZmVhciB0aGUgcmVhcGVyIGJsdWUgb3lzdGVyIGN1bHSgBwE%3D

 

If I were Festas, I'd request to be moved to relief, just so this could be my walkup song. It would be awesome. 

[tarheeltwinsfan]

20 minutes ago, DocBauer said:

Festa to the bullpen makes so much sense that it should happen almost immediately, IMO. I have to believe the FO and coaching staff has to be considering it. Have they even broached the idea to Festa yet?

I'm not saying he's injury prone, but his shoulder issue has to be a concern. To me, his situation is very "Duran-like" in that he's got some good stuff to work work, but his body is probably just better suited to 1 IP for 2 days, and then an off day. 

I like the idea of a change in arm slot to make his FB and slider more effective. Hopefully it wouldn't take away from his changeup. I also like the idea of him continuing to get comfortable with his sinker.  It could be an additional weapon against RH hitters, and might make his FB even that more effective as well.

I'm going to disagree with the OP a bit on his velocity. When I've watched him throw I've seen him sit 94-95 comfortablely, and he's touched 96-97 pretty frequently. Going all out in a single frame could have him SITTING 95-97 easily and touching 98-99.

Additionally, while I don't have his breakdown in front of me, even with some of the issues reported above, he's usually been very good the first time through the order. He's shown a tendency to slip the 2nd time, and really start to get hit attempting a 3rd time through an order. 

Some shoulder issues and a thin frame, strong ONE TIME results through the order, a decent mix that could be even better with a different arm slot...not to mention opportunity and need...he'd seem to be a perfect back of the pen arm candidate.

Like most strong arms before him, he can be brought along a little lower in the pecking order at first, throwing in the 6th and 7th while he makes the transition, and then starts to slot in to the 8th-9th inning. An advantage he has over some of his fellow, projected, converts is that he already has ML experience. That's something Klein, Lewis, Prielipp (if/when he converts), Raya, etc don't have right now.

Great post Doc.

[Danchat]

I'd prepare Festa and Raya as relievers right out of the gate in Spring Training. Both are likely to wind up there eventually, may as well get them ready now when we need arms. 

[rdehring]

Isn't it great reading an article about the players and baseball on the field?

I don't know if Festa is the one heading to the pen, but one of the four sure needs to be there.  At least in 2026.  Gotta believe that the FO was of the belief all winter that they had several good options for their pen already in the organization.  

As for Ober and SWR being a solid #3 and #4, I also am hopeful that one of the four young guns steps up and becomes that dominant starter who takes the #3 slot with Ober and SWR  moving down a spot.  Wouldn't that be fantastic? 

[ashbury]

2 hours ago, rdehring said:

Isn't it great reading an article about the players and baseball on the field?

Those article are coming soon - when players report to camp.  All of the Twins will be injury-free for the first time in years, and they all will be reporting In The Best Shape Of Their Life™.  Every single one.  Enjoy reading about it.

[old nurse]

Times Facing Opponent in Game

 

•  
• Glossary

I	Split	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	SB	CS	BB	SO	SO/W	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	TB	GDP	HBP	SH	SF	IBB	ROE	BAbip	tOPS+
	1st PA in G, as SP	23	206	193	15	32	5	1	5			11	56	5.09	.166	.218	.280	.498	54	2	2	0	0	0	0	.205	34

[DocBauer]

9 minutes ago, Danchat said:

I'd prepare Festa and Raya as relievers right out of the gate in Spring Training. Both are likely to wind up there eventually, may as well get them ready now when we need arms. 

I don't know that anyone from the Twins has actually STATED certain moves, but my brain tells me the decision has already been made regarding Raya and Klein. I'd swear I heard the same thing about Lewis.

But it's hard to remember sometimes after weeks/months, and so much information to assimilate regarding sale/no sale, new minority owners, a new manager, new coaches, and the latest Pohlad/GM bomb.

Again, Festa has the advantage of ML experience already under his belt, as Jax had, as Varland had, and others previous. Looking back in time, even a lot of time, most Twins setup men and closers at least debuted as SP, or long relievers, just to have the advantage of ML experience. Duran is the only one I can immediately think of who debuted in a ML pen from the start.

All the more reason Festa gets a leg up on his possible, and logical conversion. All the more reason the Rogers signing is smart. And all the more reason why the new, clunky, FO should find SOMEONE of decent quality and experience to be added yet. Preferably TWO SOMEONES to just not break down and piss themselves the first time they're put in a tough situation. 

I think Raya has a chance to whittle his arsenal, throw as hard and best he can, and be a solid ML RP. That's a HUGE win for a 2020 4th round pick. But I actually like Klein even more. He's got good velocity and a nice mix, and good K results. And while Lewis HAS to get his command back, imagine throwing around 94mph and dropping in that CRAZY knuckleball for only 1-2 IP? 

There are a couple other arms I have my eye on that aren't top prospects that have a chance. But NONE of the guys I've listed have thrown a single pitch above AAA. So if Tom suddenly expects them to do so, it only shows that he's incompetent to actually accept the reigns of trying to run a MLB team in any way.

But imagine him opening the wallet just a little more...and I DESPISE that comment for obvious reasons...and Zoll can add just a couple decent, experienced arms one way or another, you AT LEAST have a top 5 or so in the bullpen that also has Sands, Rogers, Veteran #1, Veteran #2, Funderburk, Topa, Festa, and Orze filling out Opening Day. That's 1 over.

I have ZERO idea how they're going to handle Prielipp. I'm guessing they will initially keep him stretched out for the 1st half of the season to "just see" how it goes. But IF they add a couple, decent, experienced arms to just hold the fort:

1) Sands gets to prove is 2024 and late 2025 is for real and he's ready for extra duty.

2] Rogers is an experienced setup option who gets LH and the occasional RH out. 

3-4-5] Topa and 2 yet unknowns who have ML experience and hopefully won't crap the bed when called on with runners on base. At least not too much.

6-7-8] Funderburk, Festa, and Orze to handle the middle innings. Was Funderburk's late 2025 a real turning of the corner? Does Orze have another step in him? How long before Festa feels comfortable and jumps almost everyone to be a 8-9 inning option?

Meanwhile, Adams, Klein, Raya, and Lewis can be at St Paul working and adjusting as 1-2 IP RP, preparing for their debut as middle men who can contribute, and also work their way up. 

Will Tom allow for a couple more smart additions? Maybe they add another Clippard type. MAYBE they actually spring a little extra $ for a Kopech stretch 1 year deal with hope. But it sure makes sense to put Festa in an immediate role and give everyone else a month or two to ramp up in their approach as bullpen options.

By June or July 1st, you might actually have a few arms ready to debut and help for now, and the future. But it starts with Festa and a couple veteran adds.

[USAFChief]

3 hours ago, tarheeltwinsfan said:

If I were Festas, I'd request to be moved to relief, just so this could be my walkup song. It would be awesome. 

You jus' listen here, you hornswagglin' varmint you, you ain't'a no Festas, you

 

[Old Twins Hat]

Festa is a lanky pitcher, with a lot of herky-jerky in his motion.

Is that common for high-leverage relievers? I don't know.

Can he hold guys on base?  Somewhat key late in games.

If his fastball gets hit, do you really want a guy coming in and throwing a lot of off-speed?  Will he spike curve balls and change ups and splits?

I see commenters willing to throw him into the Bullpen, but we aren't looking at whether his mechanics make him a good candidate.

I get that he has ice-water in his veins.  He just goes out and doesn't seem to get rattled.  That's a plus, if he can throw strikes.

[Alex Wilde]

5 hours ago, bean5302 said:

Yeah, Ryan and Lopez are definitely the king of the road when it comes to 1-2 punches. Ranked 10th for fWAR projection this year among 1-2 starter combinations. Truly forces to be reckoned with. 

BOS = 9.5
DET = 8.8
PHI = 8.3
PIT = 7.7
ATL = 6.8
TOR = 6.8
TEX = 6.6
LAD = 6.5
KCR = 6.3
MIN = 6.3

The primary concern around Festa is his health. If he's returned to form, his stuff is just as apt to play as some other internal options, and if the writer is so concerned about actual results, Festa owns the 3rd best FIP of the entire group of proposed starters, and his ERA is dramatically above Matthews.

ERA
3.50 - Ryan
3.69 - Lopez
4.11 - SWR
4.49 - Ober
4.59 - Bradley
5.12 - Festa
5.92 - Matthews
6.23 - Abel

FIP
3.51 - Lopez
3.61 - Ryan
4.27 - Festa
4.30 - SWR
4.30 - Ober
4.41 - Matthews
4.42 - Bradley
5.11 - Abel

Personally, I think the Twins should be trading Festa or other starters before destroying their value in the bullpen. If Festa starts the year off in AAA effectively, he's worth more as a trade chip than he'd likely be worth in short relief out of the 'pen. Converting legitimate starters into bullpen arms because the front office has failed to address its needs is not a sound strategy. It's wasteful.

I agree with your point on trying to trade him as he’d have more value as a starter but those stats are inflated in a way because he never faced a lineup for a third time and his stats between first time through and second time through are wildly different. There’s definitely a reason he never made it out of the 5th and barley the 4th in alot of games.

[Danchat]

3 hours ago, DocBauer said:

1) Sands gets to prove is 2024 and late 2025 is for real and he's ready for extra duty.

I don't recall Sands pitching very well in late 2025. Looking at the splits, he had an ERA of 5.19 in the final two months of 2025 though notably a FIP of 3.25. 

[DocBauer]

1 hour ago, Danchat said:

I don't recall Sands pitching very well in late 2025. Looking at the splits, he had an ERA of 5.19 in the final two months of 2025 though notably a FIP of 3.25. 

Perhaps someone isn't feeling as lazy as I feel right now...to find th3 numbers...but he had a really poor about 7 day stretch around the first week of September, but was actually really solid post deadline otherwise. 

[ashbury]

15 minutes ago, DocBauer said:

Perhaps someone isn't feeling as lazy as I feel right now...to find th3 numbers...but he had a really poor about 7 day stretch around the first week of September, but was actually really solid post deadline otherwise. 

He gave up earned runs in five consecutive appearances Sept 10-19,  The 10 ER in those five games account for a large proportion of the 36 he gave up all year. 

He closed out the season with four games of one-inning scoreless ball.  Exactly how to cherry-pick the extremely bad stretch, I don't know - it all counts - but for forecasting it suggests more confidence in him going forward than maybe the aggregate season numbers suggest.

[Doctor Wu]

16 hours ago, High heat said:

I do believe a trade of someone in the current projected rotation is coming before ST.

Logic would say so, but the way this off-season has gone, or not gone, I no longer have any expectations. But something needs to happen with this surplus of MLB-ready starters that we possess. 

[rdehring]

14 hours ago, old nurse said:

 

Times Facing Opponent in Game

 

•  
• Glossary

I	Split	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	SB	CS	BB	SO	SO/W	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	TB	GDP	HBP	SH	SF	IBB	ROE	BAbip	tOPS+
	1st PA in G, as SP	23	206	193	15	32	5	1	5			11	56	5.09	.166	.218	.280	.498	54	2	2	0	0	0	0	.205	34

Are those the numbers for Festa, old nurse?  If so, holy cow that is fantastic.  Open the door to the pen.

But I also believe that young starter moving to the pen should be determined in spring training.  I could be any of the four, in addition to Raya, Prielipp and others.

[old nurse]

2 hours ago, rdehring said:

Are those the numbers for Festa, old nurse?  If so, holy cow that is fantastic.  Open the door to the pen.

But I also believe that young starter moving to the pen should be determined in spring training.  I could be any of the four, in addition to Raya, Prielipp and others.

Yup, those are Festa’s career numbers. It is not unreasonable to think the quiet plan was to send him to the bullpen. It made sense when they picked up starters at the deadline. Mathew’s does not have those kinds of splits 

[jmlease1]

16 hours ago, old nurse said:

 

Times Facing Opponent in Game

 

•  
• Glossary

I	Split	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	SB	CS	BB	SO	SO/W	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	TB	GDP	HBP	SH	SF	IBB	ROE	BAbip	tOPS+
	1st PA in G, as SP	23	206	193	15	32	5	1	5			11	56	5.09	.166	.218	.280	.498	54	2	2	0	0	0	0	.205	34

Definitely the kind of numbers you like to see for a reliever, and suggests that the issue with his fastball being flat is the sort of thing that impacts more as batters see it more and get a feel for it. In a relief role, that's much harder to do.

I think Festa makes a lot of sense to transition to the bullpen; with his shoulder questions and the other depth in the rotation, along with his pitch mix seem to line him up really well. And as a transitioning starter, he'd be able to throw 2 inning stints as needed as he adjusts to the role without any real trouble, giving them more windows to get him experience while they see if he's ready for higher leverage roles.

It makes more sense that having him start the year in Saint Paul, IMHO. And there's others that feel ahead of him in the rotation at this point, especially with the shoulder concerns, which can't be ignored.

Develop the slider. Add a little velocity to the fastball. Keep crushing it with the change. That could be a fearsome reliever.

[old nurse]

2 minutes ago, jmlease1 said:

Definitely the kind of numbers you like to see for a reliever, and suggests that the issue with his fastball being flat is the sort of thing that impacts more as batters see it more and get a feel for it. In a relief role, that's much harder to do.

I think Festa makes a lot of sense to transition to the bullpen; with his shoulder questions and the other depth in the rotation, along with his pitch mix seem to line him up really well. And as a transitioning starter, he'd be able to throw 2 inning stints as needed as he adjusts to the role without any real trouble, giving them more windows to get him experience while they see if he's ready for higher leverage roles.

It makes more sense that having him start the year in Saint Paul, IMHO. And there's others that feel ahead of him in the rotation at this point, especially with the shoulder concerns, which can't be ignored.

Develop the slider. Add a little velocity to the fastball. Keep crushing it with the change. That could be a fearsome reliever.

The numbers posted by both him and Mathews would suggest there is nothing to be gained by having them in St. Paul. To me Festa is at the back of the bullpen. Mathews stuff may play better with more velocity. We will just have to wait for the crack Twins Daily writing team to come up with their scientific analysis to debate it 

[jmlease1]

4 minutes ago, old nurse said:

The numbers posted by both him and Mathews would suggest there is nothing to be gained by having them in St. Paul. To me Festa is at the back of the bullpen. Mathews stuff may play better with more velocity. We will just have to wait for the crack Twins Daily writing team to come up with their scientific analysis to debate it 

well, they're going to need 8-10 starters, realistically, to get through the season. If you move Festa to the bullpen and have a rotation of Ryan, Lopez, Ober, SWR, and Bradley then there's a reasonable question of whether you're better off having the first man up in AAA be Matthews or Abel, as guys with at least some experience in MLB. Otherwise you're relying on Rojas (no MLB experience, didn't look ready for AAA last season), Morris (had some injury issues, never pitched in MLB), and the rest of the "never pitched an inning in MLB" crew.

I think one of them needs to be moved for sure, and Festa seems like the best choice.