Why Alex Burnett Over Anthony Slama?

by Jesse on Apr 7, 2010 8:22 AM EDT in Player Profiles

I generally can find a reason for the things the Twins do, even if I don't agree with the choice myself. This is one of those times.

On Sunday the Minnesota Twins announced that Clay Condrey would hit the disabled list with a strained right elbow. Condrey had a decent spring and was pretty much guaranteed a roster spot on Opening Day from the minute he was signed, which was a bit odd in itself, but at least the guy had service time under his belt and experience at retiring Major League hitters. But once he hit the DL, the Twins moved by calling up reliever Alex Burnett to take his spot. Why Alex Burnett and not Anthony Slama?

Because Burnett is on the 40-man roster--sure, that's the obvious answer. But there's more to it than that.

It is a shame that Slama isn't the first guy the organization goes to. He's 26, and there's nothing left for him to prove in the minor leagues. Sure, his stuff doesn't necessarily grade out as outstanding, but the man puts up double digit K/9 ratios everywhere he goes. He barely allows a baserunner per inning. Aaron Gleeman pointed out that by putting Joe Nathan on the 60-day disabled list (which they'll probably have to do at some point anyway), Slama could have been added to the 40-man roster.

What keeps pulling us back from that precipice is just that: the 40-man roster. Because as sexy as Slama's strikeout numbers are, it's not like Burnett's a bad pitcher. He strikes out three hitters for every one he walks, he's pretty good at keeping baserunners down, he's got pretty good stuff and he's just 22.

It'd be easy to put up a side-by-side statistical comparison of both guys, but Slama's minor league career hadn't even started when he was Burnett's age. At 23, Slama was in rookie leagues destroying kids five years younger than he was. Burnett was 17 and 18 in his rookie league seasons with the Twins, where he struck out 104 batters in 119.2 innings while walking just 27, and he won't turn 23 until July. Slama has spent three years down on the Twins' farm; Burnett's been there five years already.

Slama's a good pitcher, and he deserves his shot. And he'll get it at some point this season. But don't let anyone fool you into thinking this is "A stupid Twins move", because it's nothing of the sort. Burnett's a good pitcher, and a young pitcher.

Just for the hell of it, here's your side-by-side. It's minor league career totals, but considering the age difference at echelons of the system, this is probably the best look. The games differential is what it is because 2009 was Burnett's first season as a relief pitcher exclusively.

Stat	Slama	Burnett
Games	140	139
Innings	183.2	496.1
WHIP	1.04	1.18
H/9	5.7	8.3
HR/9	0.2	0.6
BB/9	3.6	2.3
K/9	13.3	6.9

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Comments

The only thing that would make these bots more annoying

is if they shouted FIRST!!@!

Seriously, though, thanks for this post. I’d only been asking “Why not Slama?” And you answered, pretty well, I think, “Why Burnett?”

by KLP on Apr 7, 2010 8:51 AM EDT reply actions

Flexibility!

Right now the Twins are keeping an eye out and keeping a 40-man roster spot open. Once they either, make a move or decide against one, they’ll probably move Slama to the 40-man and then the big league team. Why tie your hands behind your back right away when you and everyone else knows you are looking at guys all over the league.

by Fyll on Apr 7, 2010 9:16 AM EDT reply actions

That's another reason.

It would be a bigger deal if Slama was the far superior pitcher, but Burnett’s pretty good too. And with the roles they’d be playing, I don’t think either one of them would be a sure shot better or worse than the other.

by Jesse on Apr 7, 2010 9:18 AM EDT up reply actions

Nice article

Slama’s a really interesting case since he’s such a stark combination of not-quite-big-league stuff and striking people out like it’s going out of style. I suspect he does have big league stuff, but it’s just doesn’t look that impressive unless you’re trying to swing at it. I want to see him come up, but the article does a nice job of explaining the difficulty.

Btw, why did the Twins ditch Craig Breslow last year? I wouldn’t mind him in the bullpen now.

by Luke in MN on Apr 7, 2010 9:32 AM EDT reply actions

11 hits, 11 walks, 11 runs in 14 innings thu May 19.

The bullpen was scuffling and they needed to make changes. They probably pulled the trigger too early on Breslow, but they’ve been guilty of being too slow on the trigger a number of times.

by Jesse on Apr 7, 2010 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions

Alright, that makes sense

You sort of have to be knee-jerk with relievers I guess. They did get the bullpen righted last year—sort of dramatically—so I guess I can’t fault them.

by Luke in MN on Apr 7, 2010 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions

impatience

I think many people were a bit surprised when they gave up on Breslow so quickly. After what he’s done in Oakland it was obviously a knee jerk reaction to a slow start last year. Man, it’d be nice if the Twins would have knee jerk reactions to getting rid of players like Rondell White, Livan, Ortiz etc.

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

by halfchest on Apr 7, 2010 9:43 AM EDT up reply actions

couple things

1) You lost me at “Condrey had a decent spring.” There was nothing “decent” about it. Horrible would be a much better word.

2) This decision, whether you like it or not, is very defensible. That spot on the 40 man roster belongs to Mahay. If you put Slama on the 40 man right now, then when Mahay is ready, someone has to go. This will be defensible once Morales is back in the lineup, and Butera can fade away into oblivion, but for the time being, we need 40 man slots. I’m personally surprised that the call didn’t belong to Delaney. He has AAA time and was servicable. Burent wasn’t exactly good this spring either, which tells me that the organization is not very high on Delaney. I wouldn’t be surprised if Delaney ended up off the roster in the very near future.

by diehardtwinsfan on Apr 7, 2010 9:46 AM EDT reply actions

\well...

1) If I remember correctly he got banged around early, but his last few appearances weren’t so tragic. He pitched 9 innings, and he wasn’t horrible.

2) Of course it’s defensible. That’s exactly what I’m saying. But the Mahay point is a good one to bring up, because he will make the team at some point, he just didn’t have enough time to get ready I’m not sure where you get that the org isn’t high on Delaney, though. A lot of good pitchers didn’t make the trip north this year. I wouldn’t read too much into that decision. Based on performance, there are probably a handful of players on the 40-man roster who could get the boot before Delaney.

by Jesse on Apr 7, 2010 9:59 AM EDT up reply actions

Why do we need Mahay?

Duensing might be better.

by b1 on Apr 7, 2010 9:05 PM EDT up reply actions

It seems to me...

That there is always great consternation about 2 things in Twins Territory, the use of Nick Punto, and the front office’s use of the 25th roster spot/40 man roster. Remember the great Butera 40 man roster Rule V draft debate of 08’? Oh man that was fun. Who did we loose again because of that? That’s right, you’ve forgotten as well.

It cracks me up because most of the time these are players that we have never seen play, and the Twins front office has watched endlessly. I am sure they have a scouting book 2 inches thick from every level that Slama has played, and if they truly felt he was ready and would help immediately then he would be on the team. If burnett fails I am just as sure they will replace him. Does anyone remember how long Armando Gabino was with the club, or Julio Depaula, or Carmen Cali, or Philip Humber. The answer is not very long once it was apparent they weren’t ready for prime time. Gleeman needs to relax with his Slama obsession.

by tc_brent on Apr 7, 2010 10:04 AM EDT reply actions