Taj Bradley Might Be Minnesota Twins' Ace Starter—and Not By Default, Either

I'm a big fan of Bradley's. the ceiling is pretty high, but the consistency hasn't been there. If the tweaks to his pitch mix (improving the splitter, shifting the cutter to a slider) take hold and let him find that consistency, then he could have a very good season. Can't say I've been sad to see his velocity playing up a bit too.

He did some good things in the first start, and it would be great to see him build off it.

Have said all spring that if this is the start of the Twins rebuilding into a competitive team, one of Abel or Bradley must take that last step into becoming someone comparable to Ryan.  A legit Ace or very good #2.  Don't know which, if either will take that step, but Bradley has looked awfully good in his first one-and-a half starts. 

I've owned him the last few years in various leagues but I couldn't justify keeping him, and yet he was popular enough I couldn't draft him back this year.  That's okay, the guys I have are better.  The only Twins I care to have at all are Jenkins and Keaschall, and that's throughout the system.  Strike that.  Zebby is also going to be real good if the Twins don't screw him up.

1 hour ago, nicksaviking said:

I was skeptical, I thought three years as a starter was long enough to make a decision on him. Control has to tighten up but so far so good and I'm looking forward to be proven wrong.

Sheesh! The guy looked brilliant this afternoon! Blowing Witt away with 100 MPH was sweet!

34 minutes ago, purplesoldier4u said:

Sheesh! The guy looked brilliant this afternoon! Blowing Witt away with 100 MPH was sweet!

Hard to complain about 6 shutout today. I hope this is the real Taj Bradley, they guy they hoped for when they traded for him. that would be very fun.

The talent is there - I don’t think anybody would argue with that. He’s now throwing enough quality strikes to really turn the tables. Hopefully he keeps it up as he has the potential to be pretty dominant. 

The Twins have Bradley for 26-29,  for 2 years remaining of Jax this appears to be absolutely a slam dunk in the Twins favor.   Jax is still Jekyl and hyde for the Rays.   Bradley has put in the work both on the mental side and the physical side.   Doing the homework and understanding how his arm slot affects the velocity, plane and effectiveness of each pitch, and tweaking each of the 4 pitches he is utilizing and bringing his split back to the fore front.   He is also doing a game plan on the hitters which he has never done prior to coming to the Twins.  There was one batter today that I am sure the game plan was to pitch him inside.   He threw 2 inside pitches past him and then jammed him for a weak out.  He also put on 5-10 lbs and stayed in the Twin Cities to work on his craft.   He put in the effort that it requires to be a big league pitcher,  and the results show.  

The stuff in his 1st outing was the 2nd best of any pitcher.  Today not quite as good,  but overall a dominant performance that gave the Twins a win they so desperately needed.   His bugaboo has always been the blow-up start.  There is still a risk of that,   but right now I think the Rays are really regretting this trade,  their fans already are on public forums.    

Now Matthew this article seems quite the turn around when you had one article after the trade deadline where you graded the trades and gave the Bradley for Jax trade a C-  stating "Bradley was once a hot name, but he’s struggled with a 4.70 ERA over 350+ MLB innings. Jax had 2.5 years of control left and could have drawn more in the offseason. His reported trade request might’ve sped up the timeline to Minnesota’s detriment."  You also called him a bust after a handful of starts last year.  Its amazing how fickle fans and writers can be.   

One positive for the Twins is their depth of starting pitching (when all are healthy).  Imagine a healthy staff of Lopez, Ryan, Bradley, SWR, and Abel, let alone Festa and (can't remember decent pitcher who pitched late last season but us in AAA now...leave Ober out).  That rotation is grade A.  If they can keep those, and they stay healthy, then they actually spend money defensively/offensively....look out!  But, Twins ownership spends on the dime instead of on the dollar...never mind!!!!!!!!!!!!

49 minutes ago, bunsen82 said:

The Twins have Bradley for 26-29,  for 2 years remaining of Jax this appears to be absolutely a slam dunk in the Twins favor.   Jax is still Jekyl and hyde for the Rays.   Bradley has put in the work both on the mental side and the physical side.   Doing the homework and understanding how his arm slot affects the velocity, plane and effectiveness of each pitch, and tweaking each of the 4 pitches he is utilizing and bringing his split back to the fore front.   He is also doing a game plan on the hitters which he has never done prior to coming to the Twins.  There was one batter today that I am sure the game plan was to pitch him inside.   He threw 2 inside pitches past him and then jammed him for a weak out.  He also put on 5-10 lbs and stayed in the Twin Cities to work on his craft.   He put in the effort that it requires to be a big league pitcher,  and the results show.  

The stuff in his 1st outing was the 2nd best of any pitcher.  Today not quite as good,  but overall a dominant performance that gave the Twins a win they so desperately needed.   His bugaboo has always been the blow-up start.  There is still a risk of that,   but right now I think the Rays are really regretting this trade,  their fans already are on public forums.    

Now Matthew this article seems quite the turn around when you had one article after the trade deadline where you graded the trades and gave the Bradley for Jax trade a C-  stating "Bradley was once a hot name, but he’s struggled with a 4.70 ERA over 350+ MLB innings. Jax had 2.5 years of control left and could have drawn more in the offseason. His reported trade request might’ve sped up the timeline to Minnesota’s detriment."  You also called him a bust after a handful of starts last year.  Its amazing how fickle fans and writers can be.   

I’m excited about him per my comments above. However it’s been two starts - might wanna slow the roll just a bit. 

13 hours ago, Linus said:

I’m excited about him per my comments above. However it’s been two starts - might wanna slow the roll just a bit. 

I gave the disclaimer in there.  I said he is prone to blowups and this is 2 starts in.

Even still he was averaging 93 mph last year - 96 to 97 this year and hitting 100 on a couple pitches.   The splitter is back and working well.   He seems more confident up there, and when he has got into trouble moments,  rather than just rearing back and chucking and hoping for the best - he seems to have a plan - whether from his pre game study ect.   

This has been my stance since we got him -  trade deadline thread,   trade grade article,   individual game threads, the Bust article.  The multiple articles this offseason.  Say what you will I  have been consistent.  What that primarily was about was 3 things - bringing back the splitter,  improving mechanics for more velocity,  3.  putting in the necessary home work to be successful.   So yes this is 2 starts,  but the process, the work put in is ultimately what matters.  He had the 2nd best stuff of any pitcher in his first outing . . . that isn't hyperbole, its not hope, its fundamental improvement.   We have him for 4 years instead of this year and next year for Jax as well (hehe).  So ultimately say what you want,  put on the breaks if you wish -  he has done what I hoped he would do.   He put in all the necessary ingredients.  Now he just needs to make the cake.  

21 hours ago, Linus said:

I’m excited about him per my comments above. However it’s been two starts - might wanna slow the roll just a bit. 

We'll take whatever we can get! 

I wanted the Twins to keep him as a starter for one more year to see if they could get something out of him that the Rays couldn’t. So far, so good. I hope he keeps it up.