Comments on: What is going on with the bullpen?

By: Eric Pleiss

Eric Pleiss — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 14:23:58 +0000

I doubt that Slama ever pitches for the Twins. And that is disappointing because of the numbers that he’s put up in AAA. However, he was eligible to be taken in the Rule 5 draft and 29 other teams passed at an opportunity to put him on their 40 man roster. I have to believe that scouts and MLB teams know something about his stuff that will not translate to pitching in the big leagues. He’d be a great story, and I was critical of the Twins not giving him a shot last September, but after the rest of the league passed on him, hard to think they’re all making a mistake.
But the bullpen SHOULD be better in 2013, but Burton probably had his best year as a pro in 2012, so he’s likely to regress. If the starting pitching continues to struggle to get through five innings the bullpen will be overworked and guys like Wood (such a strange move by the Twins, I 100% agree) and Burnett are going to be over exposed. In a season where Twins fans are looking ahead to 2014 and beyond, I think it makes sense to give Tyler Robertson extra time to see if he can limit his walks and be the primary LOOGY of the future, and to take a closer look at Casey Fien (who although he is 29, probably has four or five productive years left in his arm). Who knows, maybe the Twins like Ryan Pressly so much they’re willing to keep him on the 25 man roster all year at the expense of some other fringy relievers.
Who knows. The more I think about the mess the Twins will have outside of Duensing, Perkins and Burton, the more questions I have.

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 13:35:20 +0000

The Wood situation confuses me. He signs a MiLB deal (so I assume that means his agent couldn’t get him a major league deal). But then he’s added to the 40-man so he’s not taken in Rule 5 draft, which no team is going to do. Being out-of-options, now he has to clear waivers to pitch in Rochester – and he probably would – which brings me back to, ‘Why did the Twins add him to take up a valuable roster spot when the facts suggest its unnecessary to do so?’

By: Joel Thingvall

Joel Thingvall — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 04:58:44 +0000

You eliminate the 100+ innings of Robertson, Maloney, Gray, Manship and Oliveros, you only have Swarzak (and Duensing, who was great in relief) as sub-par. Otherwise, the bullpen was the strength, far above the 9th place finish. Even Brunett and Waldrop contributed. Wood and Roeincke should be stronger than Maloney and Gray. Slama could be in the mix someday. And Perkins and Burton could split closing needs. Big pain when you lose, you don’t need a regular closer.