Send Tai Walker down?

[seattlefan75]

So with the way Elias as been pitching do you guys think when kuma comes off the DL we should send Tai down to AAA? He has been getting crushed everytime he starts and it looks like the wild card races is gonna be rough this season with the way the AL Central teams are playing. We dont want to fall to far behind the astros in the race. Its heart breaking because we were all so excited to bring this guy up thinking he was going to be the next big thing but I think we should send him down once kuma gets healthy.

 

[NWinAZ]

that is a question for 2 months from now if you are waiting on Kuma. should have signed a free agent pitcher this off season like I said a million times before. rookie pitchers are bonuses and not what to be used as guarantees.

 

[SeattleCoug]

We are 2-7 with a run differential of -39 when Walker pitches.

18-16 with a +19 with everyone else.

At this point I wouldn't hate giving Germano or Montgomery a shot. We aren't in great shape either way. Maybe in AAA he can develop his other pitches better

 

[unlvmariners]

We are 2-7 with a run differential of -39 when Walker pitches.

18-16 with a +19 with everyone else.

At this point I wouldn't hate giving Germano or Montgomery a shot. We aren't in great shape either way. Maybe in AAA he can develop his other pitches better

I am on board with giving one of the AAA guys a shot. I don't think you loose much sending Walker down right now. Just the options are limited to replace him. Like you said Germano or montgomery are the likely options. Not great options but I also think you could get similar if not better results from them. Another guy I would take a look at is Forest Snow. Not a ton of starts in AAA yet this season but he has done well.

 

[NWinAZ]

I was thinking Montgomery myself. If he keeps you in it for 5 innings, you got a winner. At this point, nothing to lose.

 

[Anointed One]

that is a question for 2 months from now if you are waiting on Kuma. should have signed a free agent pitcher this off season like I said a million times before. rookie pitchers are bonuses and not what to be used as guarantees.

I agree... We should've signed another pitcher... Chris Young was available at the time... Wish we could've signed him... We can't count on Kuma coming back and being the pitcher we expect him to be... We should've gotten insurance by now... Can't count on Kuma at this point imo...

 

[NWinAZ]

I agree... We should've signed another pitcher... Chris Young was available at the time... Wish we could've signed him... We can't count on Kuma coming back and being the pitcher we expect him to be... We should've gotten insurance by now... Can't count on Kuma at this point imo...

Agreed. I really wasn't counting on him going into the season with his health issues and his play the ast half of last year. I truly believed that we got the best out of him and was hoping we cut bait and ran from him via a trade.

 

[unlvmariners]

I was thinking Montgomery myself. If he keeps you in it for 5 innings, you got a winner. At this point, nothing to lose.

Correct me if im wrong but wouldn't that make 4 of our 5 starters a LHP. Would that be a concern for anyone?

 

[NWinAZ]

Correct me if im wrong but wouldn't that make 4 of our 5 starters a LHP. Would that be a concern for anyone?

It would, but the one thing I agree with Lloyd about is that that a better LH vs RH (or vise versa) is still a better option. Always go with the better player. Platoon and RH/LH ratios only works when there is equality between the players.

 

[unlvmariners]

It would, but the one thing I agree with Lloyd about is that that a better LH vs RH (or vise versa) is still a better option. Always go with the better player. Platoon and RH/LH ratios only works when there is equality between the players.

Good point.

 

[NWinAZ]

Major League 2014 Batting Splits | Baseball-Reference.com

I had to look it up. Based on 2014 stats, players batted .253/.315/.389 off LH starters vs hitting .250/.313/.385 off RH starters.

 

[NWinAZ]

Prior to today's game:

Something to watch for with Walker today. What happens when runners get on base. With the bases empty opponents are hitting .231 off of him. With runner(s) on opponents are hitting .410.

 

[unlvmariners]

Prior to today's game:

Something to watch for with Walker today. What happens when runners get on base. With the bases empty opponents are hitting .231 off of him. With runner(s) on opponents are hitting .410.

Could be mental... Could be mechanical... Either way that is terrible.

 

[bksballer89]

So with the way Elias as been pitching do you guys think when kuma comes off the DL we should send Tai down to AAA? He has been getting crushed everytime he starts and it looks like the wild card races is gonna be rough this season with the way the AL Central teams are playing. We dont want to fall to far behind the astros in the race. Its heart breaking because we were all so excited to bring this guy up thinking he was going to be the next big thing but I think we should send him down once kuma gets healthy.

Even if the runner up of the AL Central gets one wildcard, the race for the 2nd WC should be crazy. Right now there is 3 good teams in the AL. Astros, Royals, and Tigers. Everyone else is mediocre or bad. I highly doubt the Twins can keep this up.

 

[AceKeptic]

His nickname needs to be extended somewhat.

May I suggest "Taijuan-ON"?

 

[NWinAZ]

Ya, I see what you did there...lol.

 

[seahawksfan234]

I noticed that Walker seems to melt down when there are guys on base. He looked good for a while against the Blue Jays, then just seemed to lose it.

 

[NWinAZ]

I noticed that Walker seems to melt down when there are guys on base. He looked good for a while against the Blue Jays, then just seemed to lose it.

I posted this on this thread on Sunday:

Something to watch for with Walker today. What happens when runners get on base. With the bases empty opponents are hitting .231 off of him. With runner(s) on opponents are hitting .410.

 

[SeattleCoug]

His nickname needs to be extended somewhat.

May I suggest "Taijuan-ON"?

I always liked Taijuan Leadoff Walker but that's great!

 

[Anointed One]

2 straight games he's pitched 8th innings... Glad we didn't send him down... Hopefully Montgomery does a solid job for us... We can't count on Kuma coming up and being the way he was prior to fall of '14...