In a recent interview with Phil Mackey of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities, Minnesota Twins’ GM Terry Ryan had this to say about his closer situation:

It looks like Perkins won't be closing in 2012

“I think it’s a little bit early,” Ryan said, referring to Perkins’ experience level.

“History says you might want to have somebody with experience… Usually people pitch themselves into that position.”

Really? I could understand Ryan not wanting Perkins to close because he views him as more valuable in the seventh or eighth innings when the Twins are holding a one or maybe two-run lead, but that’s not the case here.

Ryan believes that Perkins shouldn’t be the closer because A. He isn’t ready and B. History says that you want someone with experience as your closer. Again, really?

What history is he referring to? Here are some closers and the number of saves they had before becoming their team’s full-time closer:

Joe Nathan = 1

Jonathan Papelbon = 1

Craig Kimbrel = 1

Heath Bell = 2

Neftali Feliz = 2

Brian Wilson = 7

For what it’s worth, Perkins had two saves in 2011, which already give him more “experience” than Kimbrel, Papelbon, and the Twins’ own Joe Nathan had when they became closers for the first time. So the whole experience excuse really doesn’t hold water.

Let’s take it one step further. Ryan also said that pitchers usually pitch themselves into that position. Well, if that’s the case, then Perkins has already done that.

Perkins pitched 33 innings in the eighth inning last season. Nathan pitched 29.2 innings in the eighth inning before he became the Twins’ closer. Brian Wilson only pitched in 12.2 innings in eighth inning before becoming the closer for the San Francisco Giants.

If you read between the lines, it just sounds like Ryan has no confidence in Perkins closing out games for the Twins in 2012. And based on his logic, it’s extremely shortsighted.

Perkins deserves a chance to close out games for the Twins in 2012. He’s proven himself, he can get lefties and righties out, and as history has shown, you don’t need experience to close out games in the Major Leagues.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like he will get the chance.

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By The Baseball Index