Tom Powers: Minnesota Twins won't win with this bullpen

It's become a rite of summer baseball here in Minnesota. Each season, when the temperature climbs and the mosquitoes buzz, the Twins dump many of the free agents who were signed the previous winter.

[Nora]

Thanks for stating the obvious. Twins are not going to win with this kind of 'relief' in the bullpen. Duh

[Aaron]

Right on... except that Mijares does not fall into the category of a reliever that can be trusted with a lead. It seems that he's been giving up a run every time he comes in lately. Liriano nasty slider would look good 3 times a week in the 8th inning. Swarzak can fill that spot in the rotation. Liriano's control isn't quite where he'd like it to be, but it's still better than any of the keystone cops in the bullpen.

[Rick]

Has Henn had an effective outing since he's been up?
I don't remember one that mattered. R.A. Dickey has
been effective but they leave him in the pen to mop
up while they throw these dogs in the hunt(Ayala &
Henn). This division is there for the taking and
we're still fiddling with minor league relievers.
Let's go get some help, gasp, even if we have to
pay them real money. This bullpen has thrown away
8-9 wins.

[Freedom]

Why did you bring him in Gardy?

[Client 9]

Bullpen is 8-12. Just think if they were 10-10 we would only be 1 game out. The time to do something is now, don't wait for the All-Star break. I noticed at the game last night they still have the Crain Train banner hanging from the upper deck, maybe they should lose that until he improves and they recall him.

[KingVegeta]

Dump Henn and bring back Morillo. Morillo at least throws some heat

[brachiosaurus]

Aaron wrote:

Right on... except that Mijares does not fall into the category of a reliever that can be trusted with a lead. It seems that he's been giving up a run every time he comes in lately. Liriano nasty slider would look good 3 times a week in the 8th inning. Swarzak can fill that spot in the rotation. Liriano's control isn't quite where he'd like it to be, but it's still better than any of the keystone cops in the bullpen.

Some great ideas from Aaron. The bullpen choked it away yesterday. Henn is a good young prospect but feeling the pressure of coming in with runners on late in a tight ballgame. Still, Gardenhire has no one to turn to since he used Guerrier the night before. Mijares is like Henn--not quite ready and fumbling under pressure. Aaron is right on the money. Mijares and Henn need a lot of honing.

That leaves Gardenhire with Dickey and Ayala. Ayala is undependable. He doesn't seem to fit with the Twins. He's a journeyman apparently without any team principle and a thick skull. Powers speaks the truth here. The Twins are just another team to Ayala. He's one of those guys who is in it for the check. Dickey has been outstanding. Therefore, besides Nathan, Gardenhire has only two solid relievers, Dickey and Guerrier, when the pressure is on.

Putting Liriano in the bullpen and placing Swarzak in the rotation is worth a try. Liriano could be very tough pitching full blast for an inning or two. Gardenhire would have to be very careful, however, with spacing Liriano's appearances. Otherwise, the Twins need to find a another solid, veteran reliever. Although the Twins hit Hawkins, his fastball reached 95 mph a few times, and he had decent control. He seems to be interested in the Twins. Certainly, he would be an improvement over Ayala.

[TheMaster]

The Twins made 27 Million in profit last year, 6th most in the league. They had a bullpen problem last year and spent nothing to try to fix it - it cost them the pennant. They have a bullpen problem this year and have spent nothing to try to fix it - it will cost them the pennant.

Please explain to me how this team bamboozled Minnesota into a stadium and the Vikings are not worthy? Pohlads are billionaires, they are freaking billionaires who cry poverty after a 27 million dollar profit last year. Unreal.

[1LT in 101st Airborne]

"101 pitches is entirely too many" for Scott Baker? Then what's he doing in the majors??? Seems to me that today's pitchers could use a little lesson in testosterone from Bert Blyleven's generation where complete games were the norm. Much as I agree the Twins need bullpen work, I think the current generation of starting pitchers in MLB need to find some cajones as well.

[CCJockey]

Ayala was a bust from the beginning. Mijares IS NOT a trusted reliever. Henn has not been as bad a Mijares though. He's had 13 appearances. In 6 of them he didn't even allow a baserunner. Ayala's had 28 appearances with only 6 times not allowing a baserunner. And Mijares has not allowed a baserunner 6 times, but in 24 appearances.

I was at the game last night and Hawkins looked like the LaTroy of old. He isn't the answer. Liriano in the bullpen and bringing back Swarzak is probably the best idea.

The biggest problem for the Twins isn't even their bullpen. It's hitting with runners in scoring position. Last night they were 1-6. Friday 2-7, Thursday 1-11, Wednesday 1-10 and so on this season. They were great last season and this year it's been horrible. That's where their biggest problem lies.

[Aaron]

1LT in 101st Airborne wrote:

"101 pitches is entirely too many" for Scott Baker? Then what's he doing in the majors??? Seems to me that today's pitchers could use a little lesson in testosterone from Bert Blyleven's generation where complete games were the norm. Much as I agree the Twins need bullpen work, I think the current generation of starting pitchers in MLB need to find some cajones as well.

I think he meant 'entirely too many' by the first out of the 7th inning.

[Murph]

Poor Gardy,maybe if he believed in rewarding his farm hands instead of retreads they would be blossoming now instead of stuck in the Twins farm system.It has to be as disheartening for them as it us to us fans.We don't need any triple A players,we need some real superstars in the making from double A and A ball with the possible exception of perhaps two at Rochester.Position players Like Hughes and Winfree have earned a call up when healthy.The rest should be given bus tickets and a "nice try,sorry"!!

[minor leaguers]

they could have put perkins in the bullpen and kept swarzak. http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/minorleagues/team_inde...

they don't have anyone pitching better than the players they brought up.

[yeah sure]

cut Ayala, bring Swarzak back up to start and put Franky Liriano in the pen.

[nstpaul]

Bring Swarzak into the starting lineup and put Liriano in the bullpen. This get rid of Alaya and work with Hann on this mechanics.

[1LT in 101st Airborne]

Aaron wrote:

<quoted text>
I think he meant 'entirely too many' by the first out of the 7th inning.

Touche', I stand corrected. I was going on 3 hours of sleep, lol.

[killerduck]

Minnesota definitely has to do some changes. This use to be a strenght but it isn't
now. I have been watching the Twins daily and i don't know who the best starting pitcher is? Lirano may be the longer reliefer the Twins are looking for.(At least till his pitching endurance improves. Bring up Swarzak and pick up some relief help in a trade.

A second baseman with some range and coachability would help too.(Punto's always hurt and hurts their roster flexibility.) Trade who?

The Twins better act now while the irons are hot or lose their team to free agency.
ESPN and money mongrels are already after the M pair.

[brachiosaurus]

Killer duck makes a great point about Mauer and Morneau. They're money makers for baseball but not allowing enough people to make enough of it playing in Minnesota. Fortunately, the Twins have Morneau for a while longer, but teams, especially the Red Sox, will be beating the door down for Mauer.

Someone said that the Twins could be America's team if management was willing to spend a bit more money and bring in a few more quality players. Outside Minnesota, however, few people see the Twins as a serious threat to make the play-offs, and even less of one to make it to the World Series. The Twins aren't so far away from challenging the best teams, but the ownership is always taking the bargain basement approach.

[TC Florida]

Placing Henn in that situation Sat night reveals the problem that is the Twins bullpen. He is a promising but inexperienced mlb pitcher. Needing him in pressure spots means Gardy has very little in way of options.

[TC Florida]

Great point about Liriano and Swarzak. The Twins will not get anything of real or lasting value in the free-agency market for the bullpen.

brachiosaurus wrote:

<quoted text>
Some great ideas from Aaron. The bullpen choked it away yesterday. Henn is a good young prospect but feeling the pressure of coming in with runners on late in a tight ballgame. Still, Gardenhire has no one to turn to since he used Guerrier the night before. Mijares is like Henn--not quite ready and fumbling under pressure. Aaron is right on the money. Mijares and Henn need a lot of honing.
That leaves Gardenhire with Dickey and Ayala. Ayala is undependable. He doesn't seem to fit with the Twins. He's a journeyman apparently without any team principle and a thick skull. Powers speaks the truth here. The Twins are just another team to Ayala. He's one of those guys who is in it for the check. Dickey has been outstanding. Therefore, besides Nathan, Gardenhire has only two solid relievers, Dickey and Guerrier, when the pressure is on.
Putting Liriano in the bullpen and placing Swarzak in the rotation is worth a try. Liriano could be very tough pitching full blast for an inning or two. Gardenhire would have to be very careful, however, with spacing Liriano's appearances. Otherwise, the Twins need to find a another solid, veteran reliever. Although the Twins hit Hawkins, his fastball reached 95 mph a few times, and he had decent control. He seems to be interested in the Twins. Certainly, he would be an improvement over Ayala.