Twins Spring Battle: Zebby Matthews vs. Mick Abel

[arby58]

8 hours ago, DocBauer said:

If I'm forced to pick, I'd pick Matthews. i say that because he's older, has nothing left to prove at AAA, and in theory that means he's EARNED the job and is ready to take the next step. That leaves the younger Abel...with less time at AAA than Matthews...as the next man up. And again, he'd still end up spending most of the season with the Twins anyway.

Abel does not have less time than Matthews at AAA. Plus, his 2025 at AAA was pretty good, combined between the Twins and Phillies: 7-2 record, 2.31 ERA, 98.1 Innings Pitched, 114 Ks, 40 walks, 1.108 WHIP. 

[Vanimal46]

Mick Abel has nothing to learn in AAA and his arm is ramped up. Zebby Matthews' stuff and velocity is down across the board. He has something to figure out in AAA to start the year. 

[jkcarew]

Both need to get every possible opportunity to fail, and fail repeatedly, at the major league level this year. No excuse for this not to be the case in 2026. Both have the upside to warrant an early-to-immediate long look. If management is unwilling to take advantage of the 2026 situation with early promotion of valued, healthy 24/25 year-old prospects… (also Raya, Prielipp, etc….it’s not like any of these guys are even very “young” at this point)…then there’s truly no hope for this organization.

[KirbyDome89]

9 hours ago, bean5302 said:

Are you intentionally working hard to take my comment out of context?

The Twins have played the yo-yo game with a number of younger players when it comes to short leashes. Much more so on the position player side of the equation than the pitching side.

The criteria you've set to prove validity of my position that having a short leash on players influences their methodology require the player to perform poorly with the Twins, be shuffled frequently between the minors and majors, then be given a subsequent more patient environment and to go on to be far better for another team. Pretty narrow.

I think it's common knowledge setting an unrealistic expectation for performance, then punishing a person for not hitting that performance number is a bad environment.

Out of context? "That kind of mentality destroys development and younger players." What context am I missing?

So asking for examples to substantiate your massively exaggerated claim is an unfairly narrow criteria. Lol ok....

Do I think Falvey's penchant to lean into veteran mediocrity over unproven youth hindered this team at times? Sure, but if you're going to claim the Twins were destroying young players then I'll say it again, cite your work, It shouldn't be that hard if the environment was/is as toxic as you're making it out to be. 

[KirbyDome89]

7 hours ago, Western SD Fan said:

I could make a tepid argument for Zach Littel.  While I wouldn't suggest he has flourished, he has managed to carve out a meaningful career post-Twins.  Even so much that some people wanted to bring him back in FA to round out the rotation for this year. 😬

I know you said tepid, so I'll take it as a devil's advocate type argument, but Zach Littell is on his 6th organization since the Twins outrighted him at the end of the 2020 season. SF waived him, he didn't appear in a MLB game for Texas, and Boston waived him before he settled in with TB. Did all those teams "mess with him," too? If Zach Littell is the example of organizational malpractice you're kinda proving my point. 

[TL]

Those trades at the deadline are looking better by the day. Imagine if we did not have Bradley, Abel and even Rojas after Lopez went down and Ober continues to struggle. Starting depth and upside would be a real problem even if they may have signed a low priced vet or two. 

[NYCTK]

14 hours ago, bean5302 said:

Are you intentionally working hard to take my comment out of context?

The Twins have played the yo-yo game with a number of younger players when it comes to short leashes. Much more so on the position player side of the equation than the pitching side.

The criteria you've set to prove validity of my position that having a short leash on players influences their methodology require the player to perform poorly with the Twins, be shuffled frequently between the minors and majors, then be given a subsequent more patient environment and to go on to be far better for another team. Pretty narrow.

I think it's common knowledge setting an unrealistic expectation for performance, then punishing a person for not hitting that performance number is a bad environment.

But it's not common knowledge that this is reality with the Twins, or at least any more true with the Twins than a typical MLB team. 

I agree with him, this doesn't seem to be the case. Much like the fabricated Twins philosophy of "anyone can play anywhere" this just seems like something a fan says regardless of the truth. 

[laloesch]

This in my opinion is what is called a no brainer decision.  You gotta go with Mick Abel over Zebby Matthews to start the season.  Matthews has been erratic and not in control.

How I think the rotation shakes out to start the year.

 

Ryan

SWR (who's not been very good so far in spring training, but logged the most innings just ahead of Abel and Bradley)

Mick Abel 

Taj Bradley

Ober, Matthews, Festa, Morris, 

[Hubie29]

It's time for Abel. Matthews has had his shots and failed. 

[Hubie29]

23 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

I would prefer a six man rotation to begin.  Let them duel against real talent in meaningful games.  Reduce the stress on Ryan's back, Ober's struggles, and SWR and Bradley's growth.  

I agree, great point. It's not like we are going to challenge for a playoff spot anyway. Spread out the innings, save arms and see what we have. 

[RpR]

1 hour ago, Hubie29 said:

It's time for Abel. Matthews has had his shots and failed. 

D. Zebulon Matthews is not done yet.