Teams Coveted Valencia and Swarzak

by montanatwinsfan on Aug 3, 2009 2:57 PM EDT Comment 20 comments

According to Charley Walters teams were asking for Anthony Swarzak in return for the pitching help that MN so desperately needed at the deadline. We know teams wanted Valencia. We know some teams whose pieces we might have coveted (Pittsburgh, Oakland, and Toronto) were asking for some serious prospects in either quality or quantity before the deadline.

No one got Halladay, or therefore any other Blue Jay of note, Sanchez went for a pretty penny, and the White Sox gave up a lot to get Peavy (probably more than we even had to offer). Its lazy to blame Bill Smith for not making moves that we don't see, but the smarter analysis uses info that we do have to decide whether Smith made the right decision. Example: some people were yelling that the Twins should trade Young, Crain, Perkins, Keppel, Punto... but seriously, who the hell would want them? And who could we possibly get with that package combined?

According to Walters, "the Twins and Texas Rangers had trade discussions about Minnesota outfielder Delmon Young before the deadline, but couldn't make a deal." So its likely that Smith tried to unload used or damaged goods as well. But look, there's only 40 spots on a 40 man roster and who doesn't already have a Punto, a Crain, and a Perkins on it? It looks like the real question was would you have been willing to give up Valencia, or Swarzak for relief help?

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It’s kinda too bad that Slowey got hurt, cause I don’t really think Swarzak will ever amount to anything. Him for a reliever wouldn’t have been too bad.

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by fetch9 on Aug 3, 2009 9:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I disagree

Anthony is our future #3 starter…

behind Slowey and Baker ahead of Blackburn and one of Manship/ Gutierrez/ McCardell/ Guerra/ Robertson….

by SteveHoffmanSlowey on Aug 3, 2009 11:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm right with you

I’m hoping we can add Liriano to that list, but I’m less and less confident each time he pitches.

Next year, I’d love to get a free agent veteran who can actually give us average or better performance (i.e., not Livan). I also think Mulvey should be part of the list Manship/etc. Maybe the end of that list, but I think he could be a good #4.

by Adam Peterson on Aug 4, 2009 10:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also, I know hes the furthest away but I definitely shouldn’t be forgetting SP David Bromberg.

by SteveHoffmanSlowey on Aug 5, 2009 3:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

Sowey and baker, unless we get a vet, are #1and 2. Swarzak is #3. Blackburn is here until rbitration. Perkins is tradable (I hope). I’m sure there’s one prospect from that mix for next season, two more in 2011, and two more than can make the jump in 2012. Then we start looking at trading Baker and Slowey.

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by rosterman on Aug 4, 2009 1:09 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Swarzak

I wouldn’t have given up Swarzak for middle relief, but if we got offered more than that, a good player around for longer than this year, Bill Smith is even more of an idiot than I thought.

"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."
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by AdamOnFirst on Aug 4, 2009 2:40 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

WHY?

Why is everyone giving up on Perkins? So he has been stuggiling a little bit this year big deal. He was good last year and has that home grown feel that everyone loves. I love how someone struggles for a few starts and everyone rides him off i can’t stand it. I still remember how everyone rode Morneau off when he had less then average stats when we traded Mientkiewicz and look how that turned out. Glen is still young and has legitimate potential to be a good 3rd or 4th started for this franchise!!

by twinsfan04 on Aug 4, 2009 3:23 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Perkins doesn't have the secondary stuff to be consistent

His fastball is straight and his breaking stuff is average at best. He’s only effective when the ump calls the fastball on the inside corner and he can bust guys in. Not all umps call that pitch.

I think he’d be an effective lefty reliever for a couple of innings at a time. But he has trouble the second and third time through the order in games where the ump does not give him the inside strike.

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by cmathewson on Aug 4, 2009 10:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He also "gets hurt" when he has a bad outing

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by thewild_viking_twins on Aug 4, 2009 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

His ERA has been rising every year

Last year it was 4.41 in 26 starts. That’s okay but definitely nothing more than average. This year in 17 starts the ERA is 5.95. I’d be okay with him (and Liriano for that matter) as a reliever but as a starter, I’m afraid he will never be anything more than ordinary.

by Sheldon on Aug 4, 2009 10:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Perkins is also going to be more expensive (I think)

He’s due to be a super two, giving him arbitration next year instead of serfdom pay.

by ajmargarine on Aug 5, 2009 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What about Liriano

I know we’ve veered off the topic of trades and more to future rotation but what about Liriano? Is he a lost cause because of one rough season. I honestly can’t count his stint at the beginning of 08, he obviously hadn’t gotten a good enough handle on things to be judged. He was obviously dominant back in 06 and last year second half he was very good (2.74 ERA, 3:1 K:BB, and almost a K per inning).

This year has been very rough but he’s kept his K’s up his BB’s up to though. If he puts together a good last two months you’ve gotta think he’s in the rotation next year with at least Baker, Slowey, and most likely even Blackburn.

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

by halfchest on Aug 4, 2009 6:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I really think he lacks the stuff now

He was really only effective because he could throw a 90 mph slider in ‘06. Sure, he had some good moments last year, but he doesn’t have the control yet to be a starting pitcher in this league. I say put him in the bullpen and let him throw his slider as hard as he wants for one to two innings a game.

by Sheldon on Aug 4, 2009 10:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

by montanatwinsfan on Aug 4, 2009 10:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I tend to agree

Liriano also has a pretty impressive WHIP and BAA for his first 30 pitches this year…afterwards things go south

by guinness junky on Aug 5, 2009 12:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think he lacks trust in his stuff more than stuff

There are some days where his slider looks damn near like the 06 slider. I think he’s still a bit gunshy and doesn’t want to get reinjured/ scared of his lack of control.

I’m still confident in Liriano although there is a part of me that would love to see him transition to the bullpen and become our next closer post Joe Nathan.

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

by halfchest on Aug 5, 2009 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Closer?!!!???!

I hate that idea! He’ll take 10 years off my life with his wildness. I was thinking more of putting him in during games where the Twins have at least a three run lead in the seventh inning or are down by a couple.

by Sheldon on Aug 5, 2009 10:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You shouldn't

For his career Liriano has allowed a .493 OPS (Alexi Casilla) in the first inning with almost a 5.0 K/BB ratio. 2nd inning he allows a .627 OPS and a 2.5 K/BB ratio. 1st plate appearance he gives a .605 OPS where as the 2nd plate appearance jumps almost 200 points. Same thing this year he’s given up a .431 OPS in the 1st inning and a .627 in first plate appearances.

So yes his control issues are a bit scary and may mean he can’t be a closer but his performance in the beginning of games/first time against each batter he’s dominating. To me that seems like the logical move to switch him to the pen and hope he can be that dominant setup guy with potential to be a closer eventually.

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

by halfchest on Aug 6, 2009 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs