Contemplating Randy Flores

This might be the best selling point for Randy Flores, the newest member of the Twins bullpen:

He was a LOOGY for a World Series winning team. A team managed, no less, by Tony LaRussa, who pioneered the current managerial obsession with LOOGYs.

Flores racked up an ERA of 5.62 that year (2006) for the Cardinals. But he is likely more remembered there for his work in the postseason: Six scoreless innings in seven appearances, including the win in Game 7 of the NLCS.

Shades of Dan Schatzeder of the 1987 Twins — 6.39 ERA during the regular season for the Twins, winning pitcher in Game 6 of the World Series.

Flores isn't a great pitcher. He's not even particularly good against left-handed hitters. (See that photo above? That's Garrett Jones, once a member of the Twins and a left-handed hitter, running out a home run earlier this month against Flores.)

Flores, as viewed from the stats, may not be worth adding. The Rockies dumped him for a reason. The argument for him, as voiced by manager Ron Gardenhire, is traditional scouting (and perhaps a bit of wishful thinking):

He knows how to pitch. I've watched video of him today already; he can locate. He can pitch inside on lefties, and he can spin it. He knows what he's doing.

Ron Mahay is done for the season (the Twins put him on the 60-day DL to make room for Flores on the 40-man roster). The prognosis for Jose Mijares is uncertain. Glen Perkins isn't a proven option against lefties. There's no southpaw in the minor league system capable/deserving of the chance.

So Flores it is.