Zach Day

by WITwinsfan on Jan 11, 2008 12:35 PM EST

Joe C. Reports that Bill Smith signed Former Starter Zach Day to a minor league deal with Spring Training Invite. I really don't think this is such a bad deal. Especially if he starts the season at AAA. Day pitched formerally for the Expos, Nats, and Rockies. He was a Royals minor leaguer last year making a hand full of starts. Go ahead, tell me why I am wrong to think that he might be handled differently that the last two scrap pile pitchers. [editor's note, by WITwinsfan] Retraction: After doing examining his stats over at Baseballreference and comparing them with pitchers we already have I have come to the conclusion that: 1. This signing is pointless. 2. This is a poorly worded post.

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how about affeldt?

Remember all that promise? Maybe his blister problem is better now.

by cooldude on Jan 11, 2008 1:52 PM EST reply actions

Affeldt

Honestly, I think he would do better than Reyes, but cost WAY to much.

by WITwinsfan on Jan 11, 2008 2:07 PM EST up reply actions

Injuries...

Go ahead, tell me why I am wrong to think that he might be handled differently that the last two scrap pile pitchers.

I'd guess that the Twins look at Day more like they looked at Dennys Reyes and less like they looked at Ramon Ortiz, considering that Day and Reyes both had pretty extensive records of injury trouble. Plus, Day doesn't really have the reputation/backstory that Ortiz and Ponson had. Ortiz was supposed to be a workhorse, which surely they don't expect from Day, and Ponson had that supposed "Cy Young potential" back in the day, which no one says about Day.

by ubelmann on Jan 11, 2008 2:22 PM EST reply actions

Comparison

I would think that bringing in Zach Day would be similar to the Twins bringing in Jerome Williams at the end of last season. I mean basically that he can come to spring training and compete, but that in reality, he will be a AAA starter and the team can use some depth there because then they don't have to rush Ryan Mullins or some of the other pitching prospects as quickly. I have no problem with this signing. Kind of the same thing with signing Casey Daigle.

by SethSpeaks on Jan 11, 2008 2:33 PM EST reply actions

Minor league deals

I have no problem with minor league deals, unless Andy freaks out again and puts him in the ST rotation, as he did with Ponson last year. That created a situation where Ponson was the only guy they could bring north because nobody else had enough innings. You used to be able to get six or seven guys stretched out into the sixth inning by the end of March, but that was before they did away with most of the B games.

Anyway, there's little chance of Day getting many starts in spring training. He'll have to earn his way back through the minor leagues, which is how it should have gone with Ponson. And with Blackburn, Duensing, Swarzak, Bass and Daigle, I would say he'll need to start the season in Rochester's bullpen.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Jan 11, 2008 2:42 PM EST reply actions