Reusse states the obvious

by cmathewson on Aug 13, 2008 8:54 AM EDT Comment 13 comments

Patrick Reusse's latest column perfectly demonstrates why the Twins won't contend unless they get someone to replace Neshek. It was a lost opportunity before the break, and it's now very tough in their position to get the kind of guy they need. They have to be behind the White Sox to do it because the Sox can put a waiver claim on anybody they want in order to block a trade if the Twins are ahead of them.

I'm not a fan of Chad Bradford for the eighth inning role, so I'm not that peeved that the Twins passed on him. He is an upgrade over Brian Bass and would help some. But the kind of guy the Twins need for this role is a pseudo-closer like Huston Street. I hope the last eight games of Matt Guerrier (18.00 ERA) are the kind of wake-up call the front office needed to get off their butts and do something.

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Bobby Korecky anyone?

by nathaneide on Aug 13, 2008 9:12 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Or Ricky Barrett. Or Philip Humber. Or Kevin Mulvey.

Or even Mariano Gomez.

Or hell, even TWO of the above.

by Jesse on Aug 13, 2008 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly. Right now ANYONE would be an improvement over Bass, Guerrier, et al.

by nathaneide on Aug 13, 2008 10:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

HaHa!

I didn’t even have to say it.

by TMW on Aug 13, 2008 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Street

In the long-term, Street might be ok, though expensive. In the short-term, he lost his job as the A’s closer, has a 4.65 ERA, and since the All-Star break, has pitched 8 1/3 innings, giving up 13 hits, 9 walks, and 7Ks, with an ERA of 7.56 and opponents hitting .371/.489/.486. He’s likely hurt or worn out, and I don’t see how he could be expected to be an improvement to this year’s team.

by Diggity Dino on Aug 13, 2008 9:41 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

maybe pitching in a race for the division might perk him up

by caluofmn on Aug 13, 2008 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Another project for Andy

I don’t think they will be able to get a plug-n-play Joel Zumaya type. They will have to get someone who needs to make an adjustment or two, at this stage. Street is that kind of guy. So were Hawkins and Rausch. But that is something the Twins do very well—get the most out of their pitchers, with the exception of Ponson, who was still hurt when we had him, it turns out. The good news is, they could probably get someone like that without giving up major prospects, especially if there’s a contract issue.

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

by cmathewson on Aug 13, 2008 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

How about a play for Scott Shoeneweis?

I don’t think anyone made a claim on him, and he’s through waivers.

by Jesse on Aug 13, 2008 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Is there a list of guys who have cleared waivers?

I know the MLB doesn’t release that info, but people get it somehow. Does anyone publish it?

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

by cmathewson on Aug 13, 2008 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

mlbtraderumors

has a somewhat of a list but it’s very small so probably doesn’t have all the players. At this point I have to believe their best shot is bringing up someone from AAA and hoping they can do the trick.

Peyton's good but have you ever heard of Jeff George?

by halfchest on Aug 13, 2008 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

They won't find an 8th inning guy at this point

Sorry, that’s just not going to happen. Not a lock-down guy at any rate.

Here’s what they should do:

Bring in someone to handle the 7th, someone with experience who can take over Crain’s role. Whether that is Humber or Gomez or Korecky, I don’t know, but they need to roll the dice, and soon.

Then, for the 8th, use a combination of Crane, Reyes and Nathan to get into the 9th.

It’s skating on thin ice, but, when they didn’t replace Neshek, they were pretty much admitting that either Guerrier would hold down the fort or their season would be lost. Since they still have a chance, a pretty good chance actually, and Guerrier ain’t up to it, it’s time for a new strategy.

Crane is throwing hard, Reyes can get the occasional lefty, and if there are two outs, or it’s a must-win game, sorry but Joe Nathan is going to have to earn his millions the hard way.

by Old Twins Cap on Aug 13, 2008 11:14 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree

I agree, it isn’t going to be a lockdown guy. But a guy who fits in with Crain and Guerrier (who is freaking exhausted) adds so much more depth and lets us keep everyone much more rested and effective.

"You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the damn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all."
~ Earl Weaver
"In God we trust. All others must provide evidence."
~ Billy Beane

by AdamOnFirst on Aug 13, 2008 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

They have better upgrades in house then what is available on the wire right now

changes of scenery will likely not help much. With that said, there are some very easy things we could do both on offense and defense:

1) DFA bass and put Guerrier on the 15 day DL for tired arm (which I suspect is true). Call up Mulvey and Humber (or Gomez) in a pen role for now. Humber is out of options next year anyways, and I don’t see him beating anyone out except maybe Perkins, so you may as well try him in the pen. Both would not be any worse than what we are getting out of Bass and Guerrier right now.

2) Sign Bonds (who has publically stated he’d play for the ML minimum) to DH, move Kubel into the OF, and send down Gomez to learn some plate discipline in AAA. This would also be a nice upgrade over what we have.

by diehardtwinsfan on Aug 13, 2008 5:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs