Why do the Minnesota Twins Hate Jorge Alcalá?

8 minutes ago, IndianaTwin said:

So you're saying it's not a conspiracy?  /s

Agree with many -- option availability and timing are key. 

You can never be sure. 

Lavine: "You don't understand... Jorge Alcala never gets that part... that part is perfect for him... It'll make him a big star and I'm gonna run him out of the business". 

14 minutes ago, blindeke said:

Worrying about burning Sands' last option is very silly.

Maybe... but you may need it next year and if things are going well this year you don't need to burn it. So... why put yourself in that position.  

If I had the job... it would at least be a consideration.  

I understand the whole option issue. I really do. And it's definitely a factor. And I'm pretty sure Alcala's options have a lot more with him being sent down than failure to cover a base. You don't send down a quality arm with a 0.00 ERA due to a brain cramp.

Another factor...and the one that confounds me the most...is that SOMEONE has to throw more than 1 inning at times. This is all the more true when you're on a streak of winning so many games and closing out those wins. And winning is a GOOD thing, but it can change how you are forced to use the pen at times. But Alcala has had injury issues in the past. So why is he tossing more than 1 inning at a time? (almost 3 another time). Alcala has a history of throwing hard and well for a 1 inning, often not so favorable results for a second inning. So why is he the guy pitching 2 innings at a time so often? With Duran out at the beginning of the season, and Stewart out now, Alcala's pure stuff makes him probably the next best filler option for a 7th inning role. But instead, he's been regulated to 2 innings and farm outs to St Paul after he throws 30+ pitches in a game for someone else.

MEANWHILE, Cole Sands has been a SP his entire career up until 2023. I get that he got off to a really nice start to begin this season...but so did Alcala. If anyone's arm is built for and used to throwing multiple innings it should be Sands, and not Alcala.

Now, I appreciate @Riverbriancommenting on the Twins possibly not wanting to use Sands' remaining option this season, holding it in reserve for 2025 if needed. I can see a logic in that. But....

A} 2025 is a whole season away yet. Why are we so worried about the 7th or 8th man in the pen who hasn't exactly established himself as a bona-fide stud? Why are we swapping roles between Alcala and Sands...seemingly creating a poor usage conundrum between the two...for the sole reason of MAYBE not having someone better than Sands available in 2025?

B} If 8th man Jackson is performing this disappointingly...and I'm not saying he was a bad sign...and there is nobody better to replace him, that's a FO issue. I understand we've had a virtual epidemic of injuries to the bullpen going all the way back to ST. Duarte is out for the season, Topa might not be far from him, Winder has been out, Canterino has been out, signee Weiss has been out, and Duran, Thielbar and now Stewart have spent at least a little time on the IL. That doesn't make things easy, that's for sure! But should an older, poor performing 36yo veteran arm with no options have that much sway over how the pen is being used when he's supposed to be a multi-inning arm?

For the most part, I'm really not complaining. The moves for the pen were all smart, despite the injuries. We'd be a lot worse off if we didn't have the depth we have now, even though it's depleted. And for the most part, the pen has gotten the job done and contributed greatly to the win total, despite a handful of really bad days. But it's hard to ignore what appears to be poor usage of the available arm-assets on hand, and the resistance to remove the weakest link that doesn't appear to have a future with the club. 

1 hour ago, Jim wyllie said:

The problem is  baldelli needs to have the starters throw more innings, it's constantly 3 or more bullpen innings every game, the bullpen is getting over used, but not necessarily over worked.    And baldelli doesn't want to admit it.

Twins bullpen is in the bottom third in innings pitched....

3 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

Twins bullpen is in the bottom third in innings pitched....

Since Varland was sent down and SWR took over, roughly 20 games, I believe the Twins are 2nd in innings thrown by starters. Can't recall if that was all of MLB or just the AL. But important to note nonetheless. 

14 hours ago, DocBauer said:

A} 2025 is a whole season away yet. Why are we so worried about the 7th or 8th man in the pen who hasn't exactly established himself as a bona-fide stud? Why are we swapping roles between Alcala and Sands...seemingly creating a poor usage conundrum between the two...for the sole reason of MAYBE not having someone better than Sands available in 2025?

I'd wait until he actually struggles. Burn the last option on an earned demotion. 

I'm not burning the last option on a pitcher that is PITCHING GOOD for a routine almost clerical... fresh arm needed... roster shuffle type move. 

I'm in no rush to turn him into Jay Jackson status. No rush to reduce your options down to absorb struggles or lose him entirely with years of control dripping out of his ears. 

He's pitching good. Let him continue. 

18 minutes ago, rv78 said:

it doesn't take special glasses to see Alcala is a really good pitcher, probably another 7th or 8th inning guy when he is used as a 1 inning guy

There are probably stats that will show how Alcala has done in the 2nd inning of work compared to the 1st inning of work. 

I don't know what those metrics say because I need my bifocals to read them.