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It is often assumed that some of the best relievers are failed starters. When looking back over Twins history, the first names that get thrown out are players like Glen Perkins or, more recently, Griffin Jax. Jhoan Durán was brought along as a starter, before having enough of an elbow issue to nudge him into the reliever bin and being too dominant to return, and Louie Varland could find himself experiencing a similar fate.
Boiling the scenario down to relief, being a fallback for a starter, isn’t that straightforward, however. Rocco Baldelli might employ the best bullpen in baseball this season, but in doing so, he will need to have the utmost confidence in each person sitting beyond the outfield wall.
Last week, when talking to reporters in Fort Myers, Baldelli was asked about Jorge Alcalá and where he is coming into spring training. Of course, the goal for a guy who has missed so much time is for them to be healthy, but this is equally about preparation.
“I think a lot of it always comes back to strike-throwing and consistency in his pitches," Baldelli said. "When he is in the zone and has found his release point, if he’s not afraid to throw any of his pitches in any count and can do that successfully, he’s good. He’s got good stuff and can succeed. His spring is going to revolve around that type of consistency.”
When looking at an arm that has missed so much time, it's natural to assume that’s a large piece of the puzzle, but when there are limited spots in a good unit, high-level performance will reign supreme. Baldelli is confident that Alcalá is now healthy, and he’s looking to focus on performance. Although the role to which he's trying to stake a new claim is technically less demanding than that of a starter, though, there will be hurdles for Alcalá to clear, as well.
The Twins saw the emergence of Brock Stewart last season, and despite having suffered a career marred with injury, he transformed himself into a high-leverage reliever. While he worked just 28 innings for Minnesota, the Twins got some of their best bullpen value from the former Dodgers pitcher. His 0.65 ERA and 12.7 K/9 weren’t just the reflection of a failed starter making things work, but of the fact that he had settled into a relief role and found ways to excel.
After coming into spring training last year with some uncertainty surrounding his eventual role, things may be slightly different for Stewart this season. That said, knowing his performances are evaluated on a short-cycle basis, he is preparing the same way. “It’s like a tryout every day, and that’s kind of how I treat every outing.” Such is life; such is the plight of a reliever.
When pitchers struggle with durability, it is fair to question if a lesser workload would allow them a heightened level of performance. One of Minnesota’s best pitching prospects, Marco Raya, falls into this category. The problem is that the standard for per-batter performance is higher, and that that demand for more excellence comes along with less certainty about when you'll be called upon--and therefore, less capacity to work on things between outings or do simple conditioning and maintenance.
Those principles aren’t lost on Stewart, or on Alcalá. Remaining healthy and durable in a bullpen role is a worthwhile goal, but no simple one--not even relative to doing the same as a starter. Stretching toward the number of outings Stewart would like to have would also reflect a consistent level of performance.
“I want to be available and healthy. I want to be vigilant with my training and preparation every day," he told Bonnes. "I would love to have 75 appearances this year. One day at a time is the biggest thing.”
During the spring slate, relievers can work to find what helps them, availing themselves of a very predictable schedule. Once the regular campaign gets underway, though, and without the ability to circle a date every five games on the calendar, their usage is sporadic. A couple of years ago, Durán had to figure that out on the fly. Guys who manage to strike the delicate balance of being ready to pitch on any given night and doing the work between appearances to promote good health and in-season improvement are the ones who find the greatest level of success.
With the expectation of a good bullpen on paper, Baldelli must have confidence in his arms and (most importantly) their ability to execute. During the season, he can’t worry if a reliever loses a pitch or whether they can find the strike zone on a given night. During spring training, each individual can prove this to the manager, and the guys getting just a few outs to do so will face more pressure than those with a few innings to settle into a routine and make things work.
Developing good relievers isn’t as straightforward as shifting a stretched-out arm to the bullpen, and the teams and individuals who do it well harness much more than additional velocity or shelving a specific pitch.
Reporter credit: @John Bonnes
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