Rotation to start the year

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Like it or not, I think yesterday likely decided who is going to begin the season in the starting rotation. Nolasco threw 6 sparkling shutout innings while Duffey struggled again in a minor league game. My first reaction was "Damn...I don't want Nolasco in the rotation." He seems to be the only unlikable guy on a very likable club, and has been a disaster ever since he arrived. But the more I thought about it, Ricky's performance yesterday was a good thing. Before he joined the Twiins, he was a more than serviceable #3 starter, and there's no reason a healthy Nolasco can't return to previous form...he sure looked like it yesterday. A good start for Ricky either strengthens our rotation, or gives Terry Ryan another trade asset.

Duffey was arguably our most consistent starter at the end of last year, but he has been bad this spring. Granted he has been working on a new changeup and that might explain some of his poor outings, but I think he needed to step up yesterday. Unfortunately he did not. Duffey will likely be a starter for us for several years, but he's still young and I have no issue with giving the 5th spot to Nolasco.

I think they begin the season with Santana, Gibson, Milone, Hughes and Nolasco.

[Monster]

Obviously you want to see a guy like Duffy continue to have positive momentum going forward but like you said if Nolosco can find some sort of decent form that's not all bad either. I was always shocked that there was national media suggesting that teams would be interested in him the last few months including before and leading up to the trade deadline.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Gibson becomes the 4th consecutive starter to throw 6 excellent innings. Nolasco, Milone, Santana and now Gibson, and only Milone gave up any runs (2) in those 24 innings. I assume Hughes goes tomorrow...we'll see if he can keep up with the others. Regardless of how he performs, the rotation seems to be rounding into form nicely.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Hughes completed the cycle for the Twins starters yesterday, becoming the 5th consecutive starter to pitch 6 effective innings. He only gave up a HR to his buddy Gardner (intentional meatball?) and otherwise was near perfect.

So that left today as the big faceoff between Nolasco and Duffey for the 5th spot. Duffey stayed in Ft. Myers to face the Pirates' big leaguers, while Nolasco traveled to face a minor league team. Even though Molitor had to be leaning toward Nolasco, I think a stellar performance by Duffey today could have won the job. Unfortunately they both stunk. Maybe that's what we should expect from our #5 guy. Anyway, I'm guessing Mollie plugs his nose and names Nolasco the fifth starter.

[Jester1534]

Hughes completed the cycle for the Twins starters yesterday, becoming the 5th consecutive starter to pitch 6 effective innings. He only gave up a HR to his buddy Gardner (intentional meatball?) and otherwise was near perfect.

So that left today as the big faceoff between Nolasco and Duffey for the 5th spot. Duffey stayed in Ft. Myers to face the Pirates' big leaguers, while Nolasco traveled to face a minor league team. Even though Molitor had to be leaning toward Nolasco, I think a stellar performance by Duffey today could have won the job. Unfortunately they both stunk. Maybe that's what we should expect from our #5 guy. Anyway, I'm guessing Mollie plugs his nose and names Nolasco the fifth starter.

Duffey sent down, bring on the Nolasco train. I hope he pulls a Pelfrey so we can ship him after two months.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Hughes completed the cycle for the Twins starters yesterday, becoming the 5th consecutive starter to pitch 6 effective innings. He only gave up a HR to his buddy Gardner (intentional meatball?) and otherwise was near perfect.

So that left today as the big faceoff between Nolasco and Duffey for the 5th spot. Duffey stayed in Ft. Myers to face the Pirates' big leaguers, while Nolasco traveled to face a minor league team. Even though Molitor had to be leaning toward Nolasco, I think a stellar performance by Duffey today could have won the job. Unfortunately they both stunk. Maybe that's what we should expect from our #5 guy. Anyway, I'm guessing Mollie plugs his nose and names Nolasco the fifth starter.

Duffey sent down, bring on the Nolasco train. I hope he pulls a Pelfrey so we can ship him after two months.

That was kind of my thoughts too, jester, until I thought about it a little more. Even though I don't like Nolasco, the best thing for the team is for him to be effective and also for Berrios and Duffey to be lights out in Rochester. I'm convinced the Twins would then find a way to deal Nolasco to a team that really needs a starter, and the better he performs in the early part of the season, the better return we will get for him.

[Monster]

Hughes completed the cycle for the Twins starters yesterday, becoming the 5th consecutive starter to pitch 6 effective innings. He only gave up a HR to his buddy Gardner (intentional meatball?) and otherwise was near perfect.

So that left today as the big faceoff between Nolasco and Duffey for the 5th spot. Duffey stayed in Ft. Myers to face the Pirates' big leaguers, while Nolasco traveled to face a minor league team. Even though Molitor had to be leaning toward Nolasco, I think a stellar performance by Duffey today could have won the job. Unfortunately they both stunk. Maybe that's what we should expect from our #5 guy. Anyway, I'm guessing Mollie plugs his nose and names Nolasco the fifth starter.

Duffey sent down, bring on the Nolasco train. I hope he pulls a Pelfrey so we can ship him after two months.

That was kind of my thoughts too, jester, until I thought about it a little more. Even though I don't like Nolasco, the best thing for the team is for him to be effective and also for Berrios and Duffey to be lights out in Rochester. I'm convinced the Twins would then find a way to deal Nolasco to a team that really needs a starter, and the better he performs in the early part of the season, the better return we will get for him.

To me I look at it this way Nolosco is now a 5th starter? Sounds like a luxury IF he can stay healthy. He has a legit track record of being a legit starter. Sure he is getting paid like a guy higher in the rotation but at this point who cares if he can get puts like a solid 5th starter great and if he does...someone will come calling.

Only a couple years ago we dealt Kevin Correia to the Dodgers. We ended up with just cash probably because he sucked really bad for them after like 1 start but oh well. I see he wasn't good last year either. Thank goodness we didn't do that extension he was wanting before his last season. I was actually not against it but the Twins had so many young arms and it felt like they needed a higher level guy than him. Dodged that bullet no pun intended. :)