Tyler Duffey Is the Best Reliever No One Talks About

Thanks for writing this. People crap on the bullpen a lot, but some of them have actually been good. 

Wasn't Duffey a closer when they drafted him?  I seem to remember he was part of the wave of college relievers the TR regime drafted to try to turn into starters.  Is he the last one of those guys left in the org now?  Jay was the biggest name because of his draft slot but there was Duffey/ Melotakis?/ someone I am forgetting/ and Burdi who they kept a reliever.   

As a starter he only had the + curve as a weapon, the fastball played down at lower speeds, and the change was never really there.  As a reliever the nasty curve/ mid 90s fastball combo plays well.  I wonder where he could have been now had they never messed with him being a starter, because he has certainly found something after some experience in the pen. 

Very nice to see some pitching development from our coaching staff.

Maybe when/if Duffey gets more high leverage opportunities (and produces positive results) then he will get more recognition. Your friend bashing on Duffey probably remembers a high leverage or two breakdown from Duffey and not much else.

I hope the 70% of TD posters that spell his name ‘Duffy’ appreciate this write up as much as I do

The emergence of Duffey and May has been a really nice add to the late season push. I want to see them in high leverage against Boston, Cleveland and Washington to really feel confident.

I'm a fan of Duffy. a 2-pitch combo can work just fine in relief, and since he never made another pitch really go this is a better option for him. He's got the velocity on the fastball, and the curve is excellent. Hes settling in and doing great and I think he's a terrific option for the back end

I am fine with Duffey being a reliever and think his stuff plays pretty well there.   I disagree with the idea of his stuff not playing well as a starter.   He was really good in 2015.  Good command of the fastball and a really good, sharp breaking curve ball that was thrown at different speeds and angles.    If he had continued to throw that well I believe he would have continued to succeed.      If you can judge fairly accurately what you see on tv, in 2016 he did not have the same command as his fastball and his curveball was not as sharp.    Kind of like Scot Diamond.   Its not like the opposition figured him out.    His stuff and command just wasn't as good.    HIs mph has certainly improved lately which certainly helped.    Pitchers aren't just static performers.     Confidence, maturity, and experience matters.     Those things come and go.   Right now they are here for Duffey.

Wasn't Duffey a closer when they drafted him?  I seem to remember he was part of the wave of college relievers the TR regime drafted to try to turn into starters.  Is he the last one of those guys left in the org now?  Jay was the biggest name because of his draft slot but there was Duffey/ Melotakis?/ someone I am forgetting/ and Burdi who they kept a reliever.   

 

As a starter he only had the + curve as a weapon, the fastball played down at lower speeds, and the change was never really there.  As a reliever the nasty curve/ mid 90s fastball combo plays well.  I wonder where he could have been now had they never messed with him being a starter, because he has certainly found something after some experience in the pen. 

That reminds me...Could a guy like Duffey have another shot at being a starter? Wes Johnson's advanced coaching techniques have Duffey burning the zone at mid- to high-90's now. Duffey has become a power pitcher with a dyno curve, rather than a curveball guy with a so-so heater. Could he build himself up to throw that heat for 6 innings every 5 days? 

Adventures for later...

That reminds me...Could a guy like Duffey have another shot at being a starter? Wes Johnson's advanced coaching techniques have Duffey burning the zone at mid- to high-90's now. Duffey has become a power pitcher with a dyno curve, rather than a curveball guy with a so-so heater. Could he build himself up to throw that heat for 6 innings every 5 days? 

 

Adventures for later...

You need 3-4 pitches to be a starter and he has just two that work for him. No, I think he has found his professional home and starting is in the rear view mirror.

I agree. If it's not broken, don't fix it.