Runaway Crain (Never Coming Back?)

by Nick Nelson on May 19, 2010 12:38 PM EDT

Twins fans are growing increasingly frustrated with Jesse Crain. The right-hander has been abysmal this season, owning a ghastly 7.31 ERA and 1.56 WHIP through 16 appearances. Seemingly every time he's taken the hill for the Twins this season, Crain has seen his straight fastballs laced into the outfield gaps or over the fences. He's a mess.

This is, of course, not the first time we've seen these types of early struggles from Crain. Last year on this date, his ERA stood at 8.25 and his WHIP at 1.58. Crain continued to pitch poorly into June, and midway through that month he found himself demoted to Triple-A with a bloated ERA and nearly as many walks (12) as strikeouts (13).

As most are probably aware, Crain's minor-league stint did him some good and he returned to the Twins as a different pitcher in July, posting a 2.91 EA and 30-to-15 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 34 innings after returning. After being knocked around with consistency early in the year, Crain rattled off 17 consecutive scoreless appearances during one stretch in August and September.

The strong showing down the stretch was enough to convince the Twins that Crain was worth bringing back at a relatively expensive $2 million price tag. Now, the righty is struggling early again. Opponents are hitting .303/.352/.576 against him. He's yielded three homers and nine doubles in 16 innings. Recently, things have only looked worse; over his past four appearances he has allowed five runs on six hits (two homers) while walking two and striking out only one of the 14 batters he's faced.

Quite frankly, Crain appears to have no business being in the big leagues. While his velocity is fine -- Crain's fastball is averaging 94.3 miles per hour, which is where it's been for the past several years -- the lack of movement on his pitches is allowing opposing hitters to elevate the ball and drive it with authority.

The Twins have stated that they'd like Crain to start putting more sink on his pitches and they seem to have a point, as only 30.2 percent of batted balls against him are going on the ground (his previous career low in this category was 40.6 percent) while 50.9 percent are getting hit in the air (previous career high was 42.2 percent).

The Twins made a significant investment in Crain during the offseason and there's no doubt that he has the raw stuff to succeed as a big-leaguer. But sending him to the minor leagues to get straight isn't an option this year, and as the numbers listed above indicate, there's no reason to think he's on the road to significant improvement.

The Twins' recent promotion of Jeff Manship to the big-league roster gives the Twins 13 pitchers, an ominous sign for the struggling Crain. When J.J. Hardy is ready to come off the disabled list this weekend, we may see the righty reliever designated for assignment, with numerous right-handed options existing in Triple-A.

Right now, Crain looks to be headed the wrong way on a one-way track. It might be too late to get turned around.

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Comments

It's time for the Twins and Jesse Crain to part ways.

I’m not going to get mad anymore. He used to infuriate me, especially when I found out that they were going to pay him 2 million this season. It’s just time for him to go. He’s been given numerous chances, more chances than I felt he deserved. I feel like a fresh start is going to help both parties here. Some organization will fall in love with his velocity and take a chance on him, and hopefully the Twins will give his roster spot to Slama. Slama has nothing left to prove in AAA, seeing as he’s got a 1.85 ERA, 0.781 WHIP, and has 27 Ks to 9 BBs through 20 games. . He’s also 26 and not getting younger.

It’s time for Jesse Crain and the Twins to part ways.

The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. ~ Terence Mann

by John Veldhuis on May 19, 2010 1:05 PM EDT reply actions

The Brewers need bullpen help...

You think we can send him their way for some cash and a player to be named later, or even a player to be named now?

by Moojenowski on May 19, 2010 1:30 PM EDT reply actions

Relax.

He probably just isn’t wearing the right mix of titanium ionic necklaces. His, you know, “energy” is all out of whack.

by Luke in MN on May 19, 2010 1:31 PM EDT reply actions

I'm ready

Losing the money and his potential hurts, but the twitches I get when he comes in to ANY situation more than outweigh the pain.

by dctwin on May 19, 2010 1:33 PM EDT reply actions

Twins and the Bullpen.......

What’s with Condrey? Put him on the 60-man, if nothing else, so his spot can be fullfilled by another.

Whenever he is activated from the DL, looks like Neshek will be going to Rochester. As a rehab assignment or outright option, one or the otehr will happen sooner rather than later.

Mahay proved he is human. Duensing is holding his own with greatness. Jose Mijares has to know that he could be Rochester bound if his ego starts to inflate and adds those 20-missing pounds back.

Alex Burnett is holding his own, nciely. If you want to have a “12th” bullpen spot, this guy is perfert.

Crain…as said above, the Twins can take a $2 million gamble that no one will claim him for the major elague minimum and send him to Rochester.

Glen perkins, cut him loose. No one will claim him and eat his salary. So he’ll be forced to lose it all or stay at Rochester…the reincarnation of Phil Humber.

The Twins have Slama, Delaney and Waldrop in the wings. Jose Lugo COULD be an option. So it’s not like the Twins are hurting (and Neshek and Condrey).

What’s really frustrating that with the biggest payroll ever in the world of TwinsLand, the Twins, if they cut loose Crain, would have $15 million in non-productive salariy being paid to the bullpen this season, which speaks highly of why ownership hates to give people money, any money. That’s a lot of $$$ not helping the team in anyway.

I always liked Crain. Thought he ahd the power to do the closing job and would have given my right nut to keep him over AGuerrier and Rauch for next season (coming into this season). But, right now, don’t even want to waste the mop-up spot on him. I fear he may be more the Juan Rincon than the up-and-down LaTroy Hawkins.

Visit www.TwinsCards.com and check out "rosters" to see my collection!

by rosterman on May 19, 2010 1:33 PM EDT reply actions

Insurance money

Did we ever find out exactly how much of Nathan’s contract was covered by insurance money? Just wondering how financially painful it would be to get a free agent arm (if it came to that).

by dctwin on May 19, 2010 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions

I think it was

Somewhere around $5-6 million. Obviously not full value, close to 50% of the contract. If I had to guess more exactly, I’d say $5.6 million.

by Ranger_Bob on May 19, 2010 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Sad

Another pitcher with such potential ruined by a serious injury.

"If all else fails, immortality can always be assured by spectacular error." - John Kenneth Galbraith.

by 92 MPH Knuckleball on May 19, 2010 1:35 PM EDT reply actions

I agree with this

Last year, he had an option, so you give him a chance to make these adjustments and bring him back if he does. This year, he’s out of options, and you can’t carry him on a winning team, so you have to DFA him. He might also benefit from a change of scenery. Bottom line: It’s in the best interests of the team and the player to DFA him. That would create space for Anthony Slama to come up and be more effective in key situations.

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

by cmathewson on May 19, 2010 1:46 PM EDT reply actions

The Twins are usually

smart enough to realize when a guy’s time has come. Crain has no “out” pitch. He nibbles and can get some strikes on foul balls, but in the final analysis, the only outs he gets are when batters get themselves out, which will happen less and less as the season goes on.

And what’s up with stashing Slama and Waldrop in AAA. I thought we wanted to win this year?

by Old Twins Cap on May 19, 2010 2:17 PM EDT reply actions

The guy throws 95 with a good breaking ball

He should not struggle like this. So I don’t blame them for thinking he’d be effective. He should be effective. I’m as surprised as they are that he’s not. But it’s time to stop thinking he’ll improve and just let him go.

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

by cmathewson on May 19, 2010 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions

well..

The guy throws 95 with a good breaking ball.

Yes he throws hard, but the pitches have very little moment on them.
That’s the main problem and he is in love with that pitch it seems.
Regards,
Brian

by MagikLair on May 19, 2010 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree with you

When he was going good last year after his recall, he was content to throw 93 and to sink it or cut it. But he came into spring training throwing 96 and the bats couldn’t catch up. So he thought he could just overpower people. Thing is, as soon as his arm gets a little tired, he tops out at 94 and he can no longer overpower people.

It’s very similar to last year, when he came to spring training after being Canada’s closer in the WBC and striking out two guys an inning. When the bats caught up to him in May, he got pounded. When he got pounded, he only tried to throw harder, which straightened out his fastball all the more, and led to harder hit balls. It also messed with his control, because it’s a lot harder to hit the corners when you throw it as hard as you can rather than just throwing free and easy.

I thought he had learned his lesson after last year. The fact that he hasn’t should convince the Twins that thy can’t really trust him. I know Gardy has already come to that conclusion, based on his comments from a few days ago in the PiPress.

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

by cmathewson on May 19, 2010 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions

I hope it's Slama time

Baseball reminds us of all that once was good, and that could be again.-Terence Mann/James Earl Jones in FoD

by Twins33 on May 19, 2010 2:40 PM EDT reply actions

Did anyone see the pitching matchup in Washington DC tonight?

A couple of hard throwing former Twins going

Who is John Galt?

by BCTF on May 19, 2010 3:11 PM EDT reply actions

Hello from a Sox fan
Yeah, Crain sucks, demotion was a good idea

Join the NLL community at http://www.nationallacrosseleagueblog.blogspot.com/
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by bestbostonsports on May 19, 2010 3:11 PM EDT reply actions

Lucky for you he hasn't be demoted yet

Who is John Galt?

by BCTF on May 19, 2010 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes Crain needs to leave.

I vented about this a few days ago on the Twins app on Facebook. It seems like almost every time he comes out to pitch he gives up at least two runs. It is painful to watch.

by taralynn09 on May 19, 2010 3:56 PM EDT reply actions

My frustration goes back to S.T.

Slama was given no chance to pitch to good hitters. I wouldn’t be shocked if they don’t bring Slama up any time soon. Same goes for Valencia.

by b1 on May 19, 2010 4:47 PM EDT reply actions

I would bet that we'll see both of them in June

Neither Crain nor Harris is doing much to hold down positions. June was the time frame the Twins cut bait on Batista, Castro, Cirillo, and Lamb. SLama is the logical choice to replace Crain and Valencia is the logical choice to replace Harris.

I also think Butera will go down and Morales will come up some time during the next home stand.

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

by cmathewson on May 19, 2010 10:46 PM EDT up reply actions