By Thom Henninger
The bullpen looked like the Minnesota Twins’ weak link going into the 2009 season. The team had lost its eighth-inning guy, Pat Neshek, to Tommy John surgery last fall, and the free-agent answer was Luis Ayala, coming off a poor season with Washington.
April was a rough month for Minnesota’s relievers, who collectively posted a 6.14 ERA and gave up nine home runs in 22 games. With a few starters struggling as well, the pen assumed a heavy workload at the start of May, and gave up four or more runs in four of 14 games during the first half of the month.
Then there was a rough spot in mid-May, when the pen allowed 10 runs in a five-game stretch. Since May 20, however, the relievers have been far better.
Twins Bullpen, 2009
| Span | ERA | OBA | OSLG | Sv/Opp |
| Through 5/19 | 5.26 | .274 | .462 | 6/13 |
| May 20 & Since | 2.25 | .211 | .341 | 13/14 |
Since the magic began on May 20, Twins closer Joe Nathan hasn’t allowed a run in 15.1 innings. He’s given up just seven hits and a walk, fanned 22 and converted all 13 of his save chances. Nathan’s been terrific all year, but he’s been untouchable during the bullpen’s resurgence.
Nearly as impressive during this stretch are two right-handed relievers. Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey has been touched for only three runs and has a 1.25 ERA in 21.2 frames, during which he has allowed a .171 OBA. Matt Guerrier has given up just two runs in 13.2 innings, good for a 1.32 ERA, and has claimed two wins.
Meanwhile, Ayala talked his way off the team, complaining about how he was being used and stressing the importance of pitching in the setup role in a walk year. That didn’t play well with Twins skipper Ron Gardenhire, and Ayala was cut loose on June 23, despite pitching better himself during the bullpen’s turnaround.
Rookie right-hander Bobby Keppel, closing in on a decade in the minor leagues, surfaced as Ayala’s replacement on the roster, and he’s already given the Twins four innings of scoreless relief. Another rookie, lefty Jose Mijares, has been better during this stretch, posting a 2.53 ERA despite issuing eight walks in 10.2 innings.
It can’t hurt that a few of the starters have come around after slow starts. The pen hasn’t been getting as much work in the middle innings, and that could be contributing to its improved performance.
The young starters were expected to keep the Twins in contention in 2009, even if the lineup didn’t deliver the run production usually associated with a contender. Although Nick Blackburn and Kevin Slowey have been dependable all spring, Scott Baker, Francisco Liriano and Glen Perkins have been inconsistent for much of it.
All three are showing signs of getting back on track, and that is critical to Minnesota staying close to Detroit in the American League Central race. If the rotation continues to deliver, it becomes equally important that the bullpen can finish off fine performances.
That’s happening more consistently at the moment, but it’s by no means guaranteed that Twins relievers will sustain their current success. Trading for a legitimate eighth-inning guy would be a big help.
There’s been talk of the Twins acquiring LaTroy Hawkins to fill that role. The veteran right-hander, who was a key piece of the Minnesota bullpen early in the decade, is having a career year for the Astros. He has recorded a 2.62 ERA in 35 games, as well as 10 saves filling in for closer Jose Valverde in May and June.
As good as Guerrier and Dickey have been for the Twins, adding Hawkins could only help in recording key outs before turning leads over to Nathan.
