Twins and starting pitching

[Monster]

Speaking of relief pitching, the additions to the 40-man roster yesterday shows Ryan's emphasis on adding power arms to the bullpen. Chargois, Melotakis and Landa were all added yesterday, and all can reach 100MPH and are considered relievers...not likely ready to help this year though.

Josmil Pinto was left unprotected and we lost him to the Padres. I really felt he could have been something special at the plate, but lack of defense and injuries have hurt him. I'm not going to lose any sleep over this loss.

Yep Pinto was a nice talent but there was no spot for him here. Dude was probably really a DH because I am just not convinced he can be a catcher. Maybe in the NL he can be a guy that pinch hits and doesn't embarrass himself at C and 1B for a few innings here or there after he hits for a pitcher or something. Twins are not lacking for young bats in their system that's for sure.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Look no further than Glen Perkins as a failed starter turned very good reliever. It happens a lot, actually. It usually comes down to mentality for the individual, though.

[Monster]

Nolosco is a guy that I see as an expensive bonus guy. Yeah he is signed for another 2 years and hasn't stayed healthy but like Pelfrey last year could surprise for at least a decent chunk of the season and be worthwhile. He isn't an overpowering pitcher but if he ends up landing in the pen maybe his velocity increases a bit and makes things more interesting. There seemed to be a surprising buzz about him from media last year around the trading deadline so maybe some teams still like him and he only has 2 more years now so the gamble isnt quite as big.

Cam keeps beating the drum of eating a top flight starter. TR already has a wide variety of SP options but he didn't sit around last year either he was looking and with the Twins looking tontakenanother step and the wallet open he could get another guy. It's starting to be a good time to be a MN pro sports team fan again.

[Tactical unit]

Nick Burdi is another potential farm closer and he can't be far off. If you see him on the right night you'd come away thinking "That's a BEAST" as he can put up 100 MPH darts and a slider that stays in the 90's. If you see him on a bad night you'd see a massive walk rate, but if he can harness the pitches just a little bit more he could easily be effectively wild. In A ball he had 20inn--3walks--29strikeouts once moved up to AA it was a different story 43 2/3inn--32walks--54strikeouts.

Going back to the failed starter becoming a RP one thing I forgot to mention was many times those starters fail because they lose their mechanics as they fatigue and thus the RP role keeps them in a short period giving you the good side of the pitcher and avoiding the bad characteristics. I think that was the case with Wade Davis in TB he'd be cooking along though 3inn quite often and he wouldn't lose anything on the fastball like some do when fatigue kicks in but he'd start getting more of the heart of the plate or leaving a secondary pitch hanging due to the fatigue.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I loved it when we drafted Burdi, and he is as close as any of our 100 MPH guys to making it to the show. But his progress has been slower than I would have thought. Remember when we drafted him, some pundits said he could be called up as early as that first September. For some reason his control has been much worse in the minors than it was at Louisville. His senior year, he struck out 65 and only walked 10 in 37 innings (0.49 ERA!), but in the minors his walk rate has gone up considerably...32 in 43 innings at AA last year. Hopefully this is because he is working on new pitches that he didn't need in college, and he will regain his command. There has to be some reason he slipped so much last year, as he started the year only walking 3 in 20 innings in A ball.

If Burdi and one or ore of the 3 100 MPH guys that got added to the roster yesterday pan out, our bullpen could look a lot like KC in a couple years.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

This article suggests a Kepler/Stewart/Gordon for Fernandez trade... Now, I doubt the Marlins trade him at this point of his career, but if they were willing, I'd jump all over that deal. I'd probably be willing to offer more, honestly. Especially if they took Nolasco back.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/66550/five-potential-trade-destinations-for-jose-fernandez

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Wow, that is really interesting stuff, Cam. Who knows if this has any legs, but it's nice to be at least included in the conversation with teams like the Dodgers, Royals, Astros and Red Sox...pretty good company.

Fernandez is a real stud and I'm intrigued by any possibility of getting him, but I'm more wary than you are for several reasons:

1) Fernandez is only locked up for three more years, at which point the big spenders like LA, NY and Boston will probably be willing to spend more than us. So this would likely just be a 3-year rental.

2) He hasn't shown that he can stay healthy...TJ surgery and a biceps issue already in his young career.

3) His personality rubs some people the wrong way.

4) So does his agent's...Scott Boras

5) Trading multiple position players for pitching is often an ill-advised strategy.

6) Nick Gordon is projected to our future SS...he's really the only 2-way SS in the system. Many prospects come in as shortstops but quickly move to a new position (like Sano and Dozier, for instance), but the Twins are convinced Gordon is going to be a very good defensive SS.

Having said that, I go after Fernandez hard with these conditions:

1) He agrees to at least a five year extension, so we have him locked up for 8 years. Why does a smart guy like Boras do this? Because of the injury risk. Rolling the dice on a much bigger payday in 3 years is risky for a guy who has had injury issues...this is the safe move. Why does Terry do it...because the Pohlads let him, and this is his ticket to the World Series.

2) Gordon isn't included in the package. We can't give up on a top 5 pick who is the only 2-way SS in the minors. I hate to give up Kepler and Stewart, but I do it (plus another prospect or 2) if that's what it takes.

[Jester1534]

Ugh I've missed this whole thread because it was on the wolves board.

Jose Fernadez trade is interesting, it's a lot like the situation when we had Liranio coming off major surgery. I honestly do the trade they proposed in a heart beat and Like Cam I would even offer another piece. If the took the Nolasco contract back we could be in play for another ace pitcher.

Pipe dream but
Jose Fernadez
David Price
Gibson
Duffey
Berrios Lets Go!!!! Never gonna happen but a pipe dream

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Ugh I've missed this whole thread because it was on the wolves board.

Jose Fernadez trade is interesting, it's a lot like the situation when we had Liranio coming off major surgery. I honestly do the trade they proposed in a heart beat and Like Cam I would even offer another piece. If the took the Nolasco contract back we could be in play for another ace pitcher.

Pipe dream but
Jose Fernadez
David Price
Gibson
Duffey
Berrios Lets Go!!!! Never gonna happen but a pipe dream

Put down that pipe that's causing those pipe dreams...I thought I would let you sober up overnight before replying, jester :) . You're saying the Twins aren't going to start any of the three guys they're paying $35 million to next year...Santana, Nolasco and Hughes? That would be way too painful for Jim Pohlad. At least two of those guys will be in the rotation, and maybe all three.