The Twins are taking Ricky Nolasco north as their fifth starter and demoting Tyler Duffey to Class AAA.
The Twins can rationalize this move. Duffey pitched lousy this spring. Nolasco pitched not quite as lousy. Nolasco has more big-league experience. Nolasco could justify his contract by helping the team win this year.
Fine. Sure.
But the Twins are violating my personal long-held belief that any judgements based on spring training performances will make you look foolish.
I have anecdotal proof, to coin an oxymoron.
One spring training, Carlos Silva got hit harder than any pitcher I've ever seen. I ripped the Twins for bringing him north after, during his last spring training outing, he pitched worse than any pitcher I've ever seen.
I was wrong. Once the regular season began, Silva pitched like Carlos Silva. No better, no worse.
Duffey was one of the Twins' best pitchers during the second half of last season. He displayed an innate feel for getting big-league hitters out. Nolasco has pitched horribly for two seasons. I think Duffey should get the benefit of the doubt because he recently got out big-league hitters. I don't think Nolasco deserves the benefit of doubt.
