As of May 3, 2011, the sainted Drew Butera had this set of stats for the Twins:

AB: 50

BB: 2

H: 5

2B: 2

R: 3

RBI: 4

BA: .100

OBP: .151

SLG: .140

OPS: .291

This morning, I see this for Trevor Plouffe 2012:

AB: 36

BB: 7

H: 4

2B: 1

HR: 1

R: 3

RBI: 2

BA: .111

OBP: .256

SLG: .222

OPS: .478

He's been basically five walks, and one double turned into a home run, better than Drew Butera.

Drew came back strong to finish with a .449 OPS. Trevor is already higher than this so can we hope for great things from here on out?

The way Plouffe has been jerked around, it is no surprise he is hitting like crap. Like many players, they need to give him extended time to show what he is. It seems as if there is no plan as to what direction to take the team. Sometimes they try this, then try that. What are they trying to do?

One of my biggest problems with the way is this team is run is the inconsistent handling of players. You have a guy like Plouffe who has was a 1st round pick out of high school, has killed pitching at AAA, was willing to learn a new position, and then you don't give him consistent at-bats? The team is going nowhere this season. All you can hope for is get improvement out of young guys and to find out what you have with certain players. We are at the point with Plouffe where we need to know if can produce as an everyday player or just part ways with him. In a losing season such as this, why would you not get him as many at-bats as possible?

I'm with you both on giving Plouffe more of an opportunity from the git-go. Still, being within a gnat's eyelash of parity with Butera at his very lowest point last year, seemed worth bringing up. It's not a good thing to be even in the same discussion with Drew Butera. Right now, this makes it hard for a manager to install him in RF and tell him "you're my guy, win or lose".

since 2007 I've been off the Plouffe band wagon

and have NEVER not even for a second hopped back on it.

He is what he is.... He's no good.... the fact he's in the Majors is a bit of a suprise to me.

Sure teams like the Twins, Mariners, Padres, and maybe Cubs (the bottom tier offenses) I guess i could see giving him a shot, but within 3 years he'll be playing in Japan or retired.

Look guys, (tiber Twins, ashbury John) he isn't any good, he's never really been any good at any point.... (other than 1 month at triple A)

and the fact remains i've seen NOTHING NOTHING to make me think he'll ever be any good.

Good ridance Plouffe. Nobody in the Majors will get to know you.

Not to straddle the fence or anything.... but I also agree with much of your point, shs. His AAA season at age 24 with OPS .730 looks an awful lot like an age 25 ballplayer putting up .697 in the majors - tougher league, a (last?) bit of incremental improvement in skill. The age 25 stint in AAA (1.000+ OPS) looks like a tease/mirage, or a "career half-year".

But he's a player out of minor league options, and given that the braintrust opted not to cut/trade him but put him on the 25-man roster, it seems like a make or break year for him, plus there was a good chance (at the outset) this would not be a winning season, and for that reason I would have expected him to see more plate appearances by now than he has. Try to build up his value, as a secondary piece in some trade later on. Capps plus Plouffe for some legitimate prospect? However, his results to date would put even a staunch supporter (which Gardy probably is not) in a pickle. As I said, being at all comparable to any portion of Butera's career, not to mention the very lowest point of Butera's career, is not a good thing, and for that reason is by itself noteworthy. The Twins gamble and (apparently) lose on him, somehow thinking that putting the chip only halfway onto the 00 square is better than solidly in there.

Anywho, I appreciate the comments.

I agree that it's hard to pencil a guy into everyday action when his numbers are that bad. I just don't think his numbers would be that bad if he got consistent at-bats. I am not saying I think he will stick as an everyday major leaguer if given the at-bats, I just think it is worth finding out instead of giving crazy playing time to Clete Thomas.

Plouffe has actually had good at bats since he started seeing regular playing time. They haven't translated into hits, but his AB's have been good.