September Piggyback Ride

I agree with this artcle. Lets do it. Have a piggy back ride...rotation...

Interesting, Seth.  I would include Odorizzi to the list of guys that should go 4+ innings.  Seems that is where he runs into trouble.  

Will be curious if we see some of this, although doubt we will see it to the extent you have laid out.

Very well said Seth.   I really like the idea (which of course probably means the Twins and the FO wont use it ) and I agree, it could be a really good way to get extra innings and let the next wave of arms get there feet wet without to much pressure.

Remember that Mejia also needs to be worked into the mix. The Twins have a lot of potential starters on their 40-man. And, yes, it might be nice to give Lewis Thorpe a taste of the major leagues.

Baxendale and Bard need to be given a look...if the Twins feel the need to keep either around in 2019. Otherwise they will surely walk.

The number of guys THAT HAVE TO BE PROTECTED on the 40-man this off-season is around 5-6 at the max. Those places will easily be had by saying goodbye to aging vets or free agents.

But, yes, piggyback games. The guys who really need to start as starters (Berrios and Gibson and Odorizzi) should continue to start games.

Guess that means that there is no place in the mound crew for Ervin in the remaining days of 2018.

I think this would be the way to go for September. Get the younger starters some more experience, and really see what you've got. It would also help with offseason plans, and maybe with trades, too.

I literally just gave my students a 10 minute silent reading period so I could read this in peace.  I love the concept, and from a fan's perspective it's another reason to keep our focus on 2018 while looking forward to 2019 at the same time.  Thanks Seth!

It's like teams are actively trying to make the game longer in spite of the commissioner.

I, too, love the idea. These young guys are all starters but some will become relievers and the Twins can see them in both situations. And each player may learn a little more about the relief end to help them as a starter. Seth, are you thinking that May is a reliever from now on?

I really like this idea for this year, really have no interest in it next year unless it is only for the 4th and 5th starter.

I wouldn't mind seeing 3 pitchers for 3 innings each as well to get these young guys innings.

For example:

Berrios

Gibson

Odorizzi/Santana

Michael Pineda/Stephen Gonsalves/Fernando Romero
Zack Littell/Kohl Stewart/Meija

Good call. The more innings going to prospects over the final month the better. 

Seth, I like the piggy back idea but what are the odds that the Twins do something like that?? I just heard Molitor say the other day that he's still trying to win games. To him that means a starter and then piece in your best relievers.

Would you expect Molitor to say he’s trying to not win games?

With regard to piggybacking, if it is something Falvine wants to do and Molitor refuses, there is an easy solution.

I'd like to see this general idea crafted to the specific strengths/weaknesses of individual starters. For example, Odorizzi would probably do much better if he had someone piggybacking off of his first two times through the order, while Mejia might be helped by 'starting' in the second inning after an opener pitched to the top of the order in the first inning. Maybe you leave Gibson, Berrios and Pineda alone.

As Tom pointed out, it helps that we have a lot of relievers with options that could be rotated in and out of the 25 man. I also think it would help bullpen fatigue in the above scenario to identify a couple of relievers that can go more than an inning in high-leverage situations, whether that be your closer, setup man or fireman.

There really are now NO starters that need to be added to the 40-man and the names we see on the 40-man will comfortably make the Twins and staff Rochester in 2019, without additions.

Am I comfortable with that group?

Yes.

But they need major league experience, a chance to shine in spring training, and the Twins need to figure out their offense in 2019...who is at first, what we have at third, I don't know who is playing second, and what is the DH rotation...not Grossman, I hope.

Definitely piggybacking.  We have the horses. Piggyback 'till the cows come home. And since Falvine let the cat out of the bag on this, we can assume its more than just a dog and pony show of our stud pitchers. Gotta see who can really pitch seeds before we let some out to pasture. Nuf.

Strange suggestion, but perhaps consider shutting Gibson down for the season.  If, and I mean if, a pitcher only has so many innings in them in their career, I'd rather they be used in upcoming years.  And the starts could be used for the AA/AAA/AAAA pitchers mentioned above. 

I like the idea, but with one tweak.  I don't think you can just say Pitcher B is going to follow Pitcher A.  Starting pitchers are notorious for taking a long time to get warmed up to game speed.  What then happens when Pitcher A gets shelled in the 2nd inning like Stewart or Gonsalves just had happen?  If the plan had been for Pitcher B to come in after them then you are rushing them to get ready.

So my tweak would be to say Pitcher A starts the 1st and Pitcher B will start the 5th.  If Pitcher A has to be yanked early then you go with relievers until the 5th so that Pitcher B can go through their normal pregame warm up routine. If you rush them then you are asking them to prepare as a reliever, not a starter.  And I think that is setting these young guys up for failure.

Seth, I like the piggy back idea but what are the odds that the Twins do something like that??  I just heard Molitor say the other day that he's still trying to win games.  To him that means a starter and then piece in your best relievers.

Maybe that is Molitor's problem, not thinking outside of the box to win games. I mean his way hasn't gotten them to .500 this year and taken a toil on the bullpen.

I like the idea, but with one tweak.  I don't think you can just say Pitcher B is going to follow Pitcher A.  Starting pitchers are notorious for taking a long time to get warmed up to game speed.  What then happens when Pitcher A gets shelled in the 2nd inning like Stewart or Gonsalves just had happen?  If the plan had been for Pitcher B to come in after them then you are rushing them to get ready.

 

So my tweak would be to say Pitcher A starts the 1st and Pitcher B will start the 5th.  If Pitcher A has to be yanked early then you go with relievers until the 5th so that Pitcher B can go through their normal pregame warm up routine. If you rush them then you are asking them to prepare as a reliever, not a starter.  And I think that is setting these young guys up for failure.

agreed, I assumed that is how it would work. If not I no longer like the idea.

Having a different pitcher start an inning adds essentially no extra time to the game. It's the mid-inning reliever trotting in and then getting his allotment of warmup pitches that bogs the game down.

 

If anything, not trying to wring 6 or more innings out of your starter reduces the chance of needing a mid-inning phone call to the bullpen.

In theory, but this is Molitor we're talking about. He'll make sure to use 35 of 40 players on the roster in every game if possible.

The "Opener concept" is nothing new. Its used in Little league everywhere. Start an ok pitcher and bring in a better one to change the speed on hitters.  Harder to adjust 

Personally, I think it is a fad that will fade away. Starters don't like being bumped for a stop gap to start. 

The "Opener concept" is nothing new. Its used in Little league everywhere. Start an ok pitcher and bring in a better one to change the speed on hitters. Harder to adjust

 

Personally, I think it is a fad that will fade away. Starters don't like being bumped for a stop gap to start.

I think the upper echelon starters will always be. But, I think where openers are likely to stick is with a team’s 4th and 5th slots. Odorizzi types. Maybe not for every team, but “bullpen games” are not really a new concept either.

Every team will look at their roster and do what they think best gives them a chance to win.