Twins Place Michael Pineda on DL, Devin Smeltzer Recalled

Very happy for Devin Smeltzer!

It seems likely that the Pineda move was executed, in large part, to take advantage of the upcoming off days to push all starters back a day (not just Perez). It puts them in a position to go with 4 fresh starters for the next couple of weeks...and also gives Pineda time to work on whatever physical things he needs to. It's the type of move that can pay dividends down the line, and the type of decision made easier with the confidence of a 10-game lead heading into June.

Well that's sure a surprise.  Could Perez be battling the same illness that Kepler and others had over the weekend?

I guess we will see what Smeltzer can do on the big stage.  

Rocco said on mlb radio expecting Mike to only miss one start

O/U up to 10 (from 9.5) and Minn to -110 (from -115) for the game tonight .... Vegas didn't like Smeltzer replacing Perez

Welcome to the big leagues kid, here's Christian Yelich.

It scherly smeltz like that.

I don't usually vote up schtuff like that, but thish one was schpecial. 

Sounds like Devin Smeltzer rates a cuppa coffee if anybody ever did. I wonder if beating cancer will give him the kind of perspective on pressure that combat veterans have for professional sports. People that have faced death sometimes laugh at the idea that a 3-2 count with a runner on third base is pressure. If they fail, a guy moves ninety feet, and a number changes on the scoreboard. Hahahahahaha!

May your life experiences serve you well, Devin Smeltzer. Welcome to the Show.

The front office sure knows how to work the IL, and roster movement.  Next year this will not be as easy when they go back to 15 day IL and believe I read longer stints at AAA when sent down, may be wrong about second part, but know 15 day IL is back.  To me they know how to work the rules in their favor.  

Here is to hoping Smeltzer can shut down the brew crew, split the series and head down to Tampa on a good note. 

I agree, the FO seems to be doing well with the rules this year, though the Cruz thing is a bit hard to understand at this point....

There's really not much to it. Cruz has a sore wrist and Twins want to rest him. Offense has been doing fine without Cruz so there's no need to rush him. 

I agree, the FO seems to be doing well with the rules this year, though the Cruz thing is a bit hard to understand at this point....

He is still feeling it in his wrist and they would rather let him get to 100%.

Do-Hyoung Park

Nelson Cruz, whose left wrist is still sore but improving, continues to be cautious with his recovery and noted that the Twins' current success at the plate helps him avoid pushing his recovery timeline. The Twins did not plan to have Cruz hit again on Saturday or Sunday.

"I don't want it to be something I'm dealing with all year long," Cruz said. "I want to make sure when I go out there it's 100 percent. Only when I'm swinging."

Perhaps they figured they didn't need Cruz vs the White Sox (correct), and they were postponing his activation until they did this little starting pitcher dance with Pineda and Smeltzer? Although some might say we could have used him vs Milwaukee...

 

Assuming they send down Smeltzer and activate Cruz before the Tampa series, that lets them keep Arraez, Astudillo, and all the current relievers on the roster too, until Garver or Pineda is ready to come back.

Garver sounds like he'll be ready to play for the weekend, Rocco says Pineda is only going to miss 1 start and Cruz might be ready to go for Tampa. So it'll probably be Smeltzer getting sent down after his start -> Garver being activated and possibly Arraez getting sent down after today's game -> Cruz being activated. When Pineda gets activated its probably going to be either Littel or Astudillo being sent down. 

Reality check: He is really injured. You can't put a player on the IL without doctor approval and without player approval. If a team manages to pay off a doctor, the player can still object to the league which brings in the MLB's doctors to make a determination. Similarly, doctor approval and player approval is required to take someone off the IL, with the same escalation path to MLB doctors if there is a disagreement.

Putting someone on the IL is a lot of paperwork.

In other words, this isn't a ploy to give him some rest.

This is the same knee Pineda tore up late last year and it makes sense that it would be sore.

Pineda can probably have a sub-2.00 ERA as a bullpen arm and the Twins need someone who can do that. He would be the ideal setup guy. Move him there when he gets back. This is going to be a nagging injury if they keep putting him out there for long stretches, and the Twins have to consider Pineda's future as a ballplayer.

Adrianza .231/.333/.397 (.731OPS) 96 wRC+

Astudillo .264/.276/.396 (.671 OPS) 70 wRC+ (worst OPS and wRC+ on team, only Twins hitter with negative WAR)

Once/if the Twins are fully healthy I think the roster pinch solution is pretty obvious. Astudillo is currently the worst hitter on the roster. Whether he is reluctant to take a pitch or just that bad at pitch recognition, he needs to make some changes. Once Garver is activated (possibly this weekend), I would send Astudillo down and continue to give Arraez as many at bats as possible from a bench role.

Adrianza .231/.333/.397 (.731OPS) 96 wRC+

Astudillo .264/.276/.396 (.671 OPS) 70 wRC+ (worst OPS and wRC+ on team, only Twins hitter with negative WAR)

 

Once/if the Twins are fully healthy I think the roster pinch solution is pretty obvious. Astudillo is currently the worst hitter on the roster. Whether he is reluctant to take a pitch or just that bad at pitch recognition, he needs to make some changes. Once Garver is activated (possibly this weekend), I would send Astudillo down and continue to give Arraez as many at bats as possible from a bench role.

Astudillo is an easy choice when Garver comes back. His bat is supposed to be his strength but it's been a weakness this year. He's also "versatile" but plays each position poorly. 

Adrianza .231/.333/.397 (.731OPS) 96 wRC+

Astudillo .264/.276/.396 (.671 OPS) 70 wRC+ (worst OPS and wRC+ on team, only Twins hitter with negative WAR)

 

Once/if the Twins are fully healthy I think the roster pinch solution is pretty obvious. Astudillo is currently the worst hitter on the roster. Whether he is reluctant to take a pitch or just that bad at pitch recognition, he needs to make some changes. Once Garver is activated (possibly this weekend), I would send Astudillo down and continue to give Arraez as many at bats as possible from a bench role.

Gonna have to disagree with this one. Sure Astudillo is in a little bit of a slump since getting of IR, but he adds a lot of versatility to the field, especially since Garver will have just gotten off IR and Twins will need a little more flexibility at catcher. Arraez will benefit much more from a player development standpoint by playing everyday at AAA. Sure it's nice to have his bat, but the Twins don't really need it right now. They'll have Cruz and Garver back soon, which are two of our best hitters.

Astudillo is an easy choice when Garver comes back. His bat is supposed to be his strength but it's been a weakness this year. He's also "versatile" but plays each position poorly. 

The notion that Tortuga plays each position poorly is just not true. He's got a good arm behind the plate and has a 1.000 field percentage in 197 innings played.

First a reality check: Astudillo is hitting like a catcher and he is a catcher. Comparing his bat to others who are not catchers, well....

Molitor started playing Astudillo everywhere except his natural position, for some reason, and he did well enough for that practice to continue. This doesn't mean he isn't primarily a catcher.

In any case, yes Astudillo should be sent down when Garver comes up if they need to open up a spot. He could use regular at bats. He knows he is on the fringe of the roster and he's not going to be upset about it. His role this year can be the AAAA guy who bounces between the majors and minors as needed. If he plays sharp the rest of the way, his role can be different next year or even later this year.

First a reality check: Astudillo is hitting like a catcher and he is a catcher. Comparing his bat to others who are not catchers, well....

 

Molitor started playing Astudillo everywhere except his natural position, for some reason, and he did well enough for that practice to continue. This doesn't mean he isn't primarily a catcher.

 

In any case, yes Astudillo should be sent down when Garver comes up if they need to open up a spot. He could use regular at bats. He knows he is on the fringe of the roster and he's not going to be upset about it. His role this year can be the AAAA guy who bounces between the majors and minors as needed. If he plays sharp the rest of the way, his role can be different next year or even later this year.

I just don't think it's smart to send down our 3rd catcher when our primary catcher just got off the IR. Garver will not be able to do the catch/not catch/catch/not catch rotation for a couple weeks so he can get readjusted. You're gonna need Tortuga until Garver is at full strength. Keeping Astudillo up keeps stress off of both Garver and Castro. 

I think Littel should be sent down before Tortuga.

Gonna have to disagree with this one. Sure Astudillo is in a little bit of a slump since getting of IR, but he adds a lot of versatility to the field, especially since Garver will have just gotten off IR and Twins will need a little more flexibility at catcher. Arraez will benefit much more from a player development standpoint by playing everyday at AAA. Sure it's nice to have his bat, but the Twins don't really need it right now. They'll have Cruz and Garver back soon, which are two of our best hitters.

They won't need to carry 3 catchers. Castro can step into a bigger role if needed. Garver shouldn't be activated if he can't physically handle at least a backup role as catcher.

Astudillo is worse with the bat than Adrianza, and Gonzalez plus they offer plenty of defensive versatility themselves. No brainer IMO.