Tyler Duffey's Dreadful Start Is Déjà Vu All Over Again

6 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

I’m 100% with you Nick. I don’t think you’ll find anyone who will disagree with you. I won’t go as far as saying DFA him, yet. But it’s clear for the immediate/short term he can’t be relied upon in high leverage appearances. If his FB has lost all effectiveness, his time will be limited in Minnesota and MLB. 

One would think so Vanimal46 but then again the FO and coach has demonstrated multiple times they can't let go.  Jury's out until we see some proof they have learned from past mistakes.

I am trying to avoid thinking another veteran reliever could sink this team early.  The numbers on Duffy look even worse than I initially thought.  Still he got better last year as the season wore on.  Certainly not a guy you want working high leverage situations unless things change for the better.  We are only ten games in though and it seems way too early to give up on him as well.  I hope he can figure things out but if he is this hittable he isn't just done with the Twins he is done completely.

I agree that Duffy needs to move to lower leverage spots, but i don't think its fair to say that the Rogers trade is the reason we are having bullpen issues. We got Pagan back as part of the Rogers trade and he has been good. We wouldn't have pitched Rogers in the 6th last night either.  

We need to cycle more guys through the bullpen and give the effective relievers the higher leverage innings. Right now, that means Pagan, Coulombe, Duran, and Smith in the higher leverage situations. That isn't enough. We're hamstrung carrying at least 4 relievers who aren't any help right now - Stashak, Thielbar. Jax and Duffy.  Time to make a change or two, get Smeltzer and maybe Cano up and try them. I would lose Jax and Stashak now and try those two, and also move Theilbar and Duffy to mop  up duty until they either "find themselves"  or go on May 1.   

1 hour ago, LastOnePicked said:

I felt it at the time and feel it even more strongly now: the Rogers/Paddack trade is going to be the defining blunder of this season. This team on paper had a small margin to sneak into a WC berth. That trade has made that margin even more narrow already.

Yup. On current evidence, we traded one year of excellent relief for 3 years of lousy starts.

I feel like I am piling on, but I believe Duffey has blown 10 of the 14 save opportunities he has had in his career.  With diminished stuff, I don't see how that record is going to get any better.  I would prefer Minaya over him, or maybe even give an opportunity to Cano or one of the younger arms at Wichita.  Once again, by acting like blue light K Mart shoppers in signing relievers, the FO is left trying to piece together a bullpen on the fly.

50 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

When the rosters go down in size, Jax and Stashak are going down for sure. I don't believe either is a MLB RP, so I'd be good trying someone else. 

I agree. It would be great to try a couple of other relievers now while the rosters are still 28 players. I know that creates 40 man issues but I would be fine with another DFA of Garlick and possibly Stashak if necessary to create 40 man room. I would like to see them try Smeltzer, Minaya and/or Cano now while we can give them a roughly 2 week run and see if they can help us now. We can also send Winder down to AAA to start every 5th day to create roster room, although that doesn't solve any 40 man roster issues 

1 hour ago, LastOnePicked said:

Fair, but the point of the the Correa signing was kinda to win now, wasn't it? That trade is clearly hurting our ability to win now. Unless Pagan would have been fine in the Duffey spots - in which case, this mess is more about Baldelli's poor choices.

Then how is the trade hurting us to win now?

1 hour ago, Mike Sixel said:

What would you have done differently last night?

This is a great question, and really the heart of the matter.  Given where the game was at, I would probably have used Winder for multiple innings and then looked to Pagan to close if Winder faded.  If we needed somebody behind Winder, I would have then considered Coulombe or, yes, Duffy.  I am not saying that is better, just an option.  WInder is a rookie, so the wheels might have fallen off his wagon as well.  If Duffey had been lights out, we wouldn't be discussing the topic at TD.  Overall, I don't think Rocco does a great job of managing the bullpen, or the game.  I would put him in the middle of the pack of all managers.  I think his strength is in his relationships with players, motivating players, and handling the media.  These days, those tasks are crucial IMHO.  And, I think he does that beautifully.  The real problem is what Rocco currently has to work with.  You can't play aces when your highest card is a 9.  He can only play the hand he is dealt.

46 minutes ago, LastOnePicked said:

Rogers > any other option out of the pen in a close game. By a lot. Could be a matter of several wins difference or more in 2022.

Maybe...but doubtfull there is any difference in the end....with or without Rogers this year. Don't forget we traded Rogers for a starting pitcher also