Freeing Garza...

by gophersw on Apr 30, 2007 8:46 PM EDT Comment 24 comments

So, I had some money left on a mntwins.com gift card I'd received for Christmas. Last season I purchased one of the blue custom Twins jersey T-shirts with Cuddyer's name and number on the back... I purchased it a week before the playoffs and it arrived the day after the Cardinals won game 1 of the WS.

So.......

I just purchased, for the helluvit, the same kind of jersey that says FREE GARZA on the back with his number.

Now, my question...

Will Garza be up and in the rotation by the time the shirt actually arrives on my doorstep? I certainly hope so, but you never know...

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Won't be long

I know I'm in the minority here, but I still think Garza is the best choice to replace Ponson. It's really hard to interpret results in the minor leagues. I mean, there are obvious cases of dominance like what Jeff Manship is doing to the Midwest league (tonight: 7 innings, one hit, no runs, one walk, eight strikeouts). But when three guys are all pitching well in th same league, the difference might be that one guy is working on stuff and the other two are content to just rock and fire.

I won't pretend to know which one Terry Ryan will choose. And I will trust his choice because few have a better scouting eye and he's watching the three of them pitch in succession against the best team in the IL. But my money's on Garza because his stuff translates to the major leagues better than the other two. Throw out that first one, which should have been scrubbed with cold and snow, and he'd be right in there with them numbers wise.

I don't think Perkins can transition to the rotation just yet. He's going to have to go down and build his arm strength back up before he can compete for the next opportunity.

Free Matt Garza.

by cmathewson on May 1, 2007 12:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Garza

Garza has pitched very well, and even better when you toss out the snow bowl start. He's the best prospect of all of them and has the most experience and knowledge of what he neads to do do transition to the majors. Remember, after his first start last year he put up a 4.75 ERA.

It should and probably will be Garza. if it isn't, I expect Ryan saw something pretty remarkable out of one of those other guys.

Honestly, I'd give a shot to Baker after that. We need to see if last year was an abberation or what he is.

Baseball is great because you cant take a knee or kill the clock. You gotta put the ball over the plate and give the other guy his damn shot E Weaver abridged

by AdamOnFirst on May 1, 2007 12:27 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree...

that I'd like to see Garza, not only for his own talent, but also because he breaks up the styles of pitchers better. We need another "dominant" guy, not another ball in play guy in the rotation right now if you ask me. When Silva starts to struggle again, and it will happen, then we can get Slowey or Baker up. Same for Bonser IF he struggles. I have an odd feeling though, that Baker is next in line, before Garza.

And I also agree, I will defer to Terry Ryan on this. When it comes to this, he knows better than us.

by djskilbr on May 1, 2007 2:14 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Bonser

I'm one of the biggest supporters of Bonser around, but that "IF he struggles" needs to be changed to "if he CONTINUES to struggle."

Baseball is great because you cant take a knee or kill the clock. You gotta put the ball over the plate and give the other guy his damn shot E Weaver abridged

by AdamOnFirst on May 1, 2007 2:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

True...

Right you are Adam. I'm really hoping that outing was actually just a "working on keeping the ball down" start and didn't show some other underlying problem. Hopefully he will be the better for it now.

Also, him pitching better would allow TR to cut bait on Ponson easier, and also possibly deal one of Baker/Perkins/Silva for a bat.

by djskilbr on May 1, 2007 2:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cincy seems awfully down on Edwin lately.

He could be a fine buy low candidate.

by gophersw on May 1, 2007 7:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

well

To be fair, he's been swinging the bat about as well as a certain tiny superhero...

by ravenfly on May 1, 2007 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

this is true

but it is doubtful that that will continue throughout the course of the season.

by gophersw on May 1, 2007 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Leave Baker in AAA

And start shopping him now. He and Rick Anderson do not see eye to eye on the 2-seam fastball and he has a much better chance of being successful on another team than he does with the Twins. Calling him up is just asking for some beatings, over-coaching and psychological turmoil, and diminishing trade value.

by TheMattWilke on May 1, 2007 11:17 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Baker deserves.....

one final chance. If he's not going to listen, and if he thinks his natural talent will keep him in the majors, than either way it won't be with the Twins. If he comes to the majors and fails again, his value is no less than it is now. If he shows modest success, his value increases tenfold.

Boof.....maybe he needs some minor league tune-up time. It could happen.

Garza...yes, different than Ortiz and Silva, fer sure.

Perkins needs work. Send him down and if you need a 12th, bring up Venfroe or Cummings or someone else for a fill-in period.

by twintown on May 1, 2007 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Let's give Boof some time

He pitched very well down the stretch last year.

Yes, he's started slow in 2007, but he deserves a chance (i.e., a few more starts) to get himself straightened out.

by BD57 on May 1, 2007 11:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's not about listening

He's not comfortable with the 2-seamer. So when he struggles, Anderson is going to push a pitch that he's not comfortable with. Since he likes to work with K's and infield pop ups and attack the upper half of the zone, the 2-seamer puts sink on the ball those upper half pitches. Meaning suckiness happens.

If he continues and sustains an ERA under 3 in AAA in July, that's trade value.

by TheMattWilke on May 2, 2007 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If Anderson has a flaw...

...he's too in love with the 2-seamer. It's a great pitch for some guys, but it's not a good fit for other pitchers.

by ubelmann on May 2, 2007 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Baker or Bonser

At first I thought you were talking about Bonser. But then I realized you were talking about Baker. And I totally agree on Baker. Yet, it seems Bonser is going through the same kind of adjustment. He's primarily a fastball/curveball pitcher and Andy wants him to be a sinker/slider pitcher with a curveball and an occasional four seamer. This year, he's struggled to throw the sinker for strikes, so he's getting behind hitters with it and relying on guile to get outs from behind int he count and to get out of jams, with inconsistent success.

I don't have a lot of confidence that Baker can make this adjustment. But I think Bonser can for two reasons. First, he has shown the ability to throw a sinking fastball; he just doesn't have command of it yet. Baker never showed the ability to get sink on his fastball last year. Second, Bonser has enough good stuff to get guys out from behind in the count and to get out of jams. Baker was a big inning machine last year.

If either one or both gain command of the sinker, they'll be fine with this organization. If not, they both could be trade bait.

Free Matt Garza.

by cmathewson on May 2, 2007 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Trade Value

His trade value couldn't get much lower. He isn't worth anything on the market now.

I'd liek to see him get a shot after Garza. I expect Garza to solidify himself in the rotation, and if/when we need another guy (hey, injuries happen) then I'd like to see Baker see what he can do for about five starts.

Baseball is great because you cant take a knee or kill the clock. You gotta put the ball over the plate and give the other guy his damn shot E Weaver abridged

by AdamOnFirst on May 1, 2007 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Baker's trade value

I don't think you can say he has no trade value. Coming into last year, he was on a par with Brandon McCarthy. McCarthy had a better year last year as a reliever and the return for him was John Danks, who's a better prospect than Perkins. I'm not saying Baker would return that, but leave him in AAA to continue to dominate for a half season and he could bring something useful for the stretch drive in return.

Free Matt Garza.

by cmathewson on May 1, 2007 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

McCarthy vs. Baker

In 2006, McCarthy had a 4.68 ERA, 3.5 BB/9, 7.3 K/9, and .55 HR/9 in 84 MLB innings.

In 2006, Baker had a 6.37 ERA, 1.73 BB/9, 6.7 K/9, and a .55 HR/9 ratio in 83 MLB innings.

Baker also had a 2.67 ERA, 2.67 BB/9, 7.3 K/9, and a .005 HR/9 ratio in 84 IL innings.

Other than ERA, Baker was not much worse than McCarthy last year. And the fact that Baker pitched very well in AAA evens the score.

Free Matt Garza.

by cmathewson on May 1, 2007 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think...

...Boof has any options left, thus, sending him down may not be an option.

I think that who gets called up will depend upon when the call is made. At this point, the call may go to Baker who has more major league experience and is pitching as well as anyone down there. It would also extend Garza another year before arbitration if they don't bring him up for at least another month and give him a chance to get into a nice 10 game groove.

Think that Slowey will stay there for at least half the season as they will want to get him more experience. This could be one tremendous staff in a couple years....especially if Liriano can return to anything near what he was.

by roger on May 1, 2007 3:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think you are correct...

...about Boof's options, Roger. It appears as if he was added to the 40-man roster at the same time as J.D. Durbin in November, 2003. That should make 2004, 2005, and 2006 option years, as far as I know, since he spent time in the minors each year.

by ubelmann on May 2, 2007 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

When/Whether

I think we can assume at some point the Twins will need a sixth starter. But it isn't going to be soon from Ponson's performance today.

by TT on May 1, 2007 9:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Longer Leash.......

Although it could have been 6-5 eaerly in the game.

And it's Tampa Bay.

by twintown on May 1, 2007 9:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tampa

Look closer. Tampa has one th the leauges best offenses.

Baseball is great because you cant take a knee or kill the clock. You gotta put the ball over the plate and give the other guy his damn shot E Weaver abridged

by AdamOnFirst on May 2, 2007 4:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Interesting

Ponson's good start tongith puts the Twins in an interesting place. We'll have to see where he goes from here. It will be interesting to see how the team responds to a poor but not disasterous start if that's what he puts up next.

Even more interesting, suddenly there has been a little bit of monkey passing. Suddenly, Boof has found himself nearer Ponson under the gun. If Ponson puts a couple more nice start together after this (which I don't particularily expect) we might see a youngster come up for yet another youngster.

The plt has thickened JUST so.

Of course, Ponson could very well blow all that with a bat start against the whitie tighties this weekend.

Baseball is great because you cant take a knee or kill the clock. You gotta put the ball over the plate and give the other guy his damn shot E Weaver abridged

by AdamOnFirst on May 2, 2007 4:14 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs