Chris Herrmann Promoted

[Marta Shearing]

If they really want to keep Bartlett that bad, how about demote Florimon and make Bartlett SS until the next guy is ready. I'm completely Florimon'd out.

[jokin]

I think it is up in the air as to who would/will be sent down when Arcia is considered healthy. Herrmann could stay and Pinto could go, Herrmann could stay and Arcia could go or Herrmann could stay and Bartlett could go. Of course, if Herrmann is 0-10 or 1-20 and underwhelming as an defensive OF, it's easy to send him down. The Twins might want to send Arcia out for a short rehab assignment even if he's only out for two weeks because he never really got going in the regular season. The need is there for an outfielder and the lack of a backup to Hicks remains, but Herrmann does provide versatility.

 

I don't want to make it sound like an overreaction, but the announcement that Arcia is bothered in the same area of the wrist as he was last August and September could lead to revealing something worse than a sprain or bone bruise. I had a friend who had come-and-go pain after a wrist injury and play with it for four months, only to find out it was a broken bone that required surgery, a cast, and then out for 2 months. Probably undue caution on my part, but get this one nailed down 100% right away, guys. And it appears to be an all clear on Willingham, but ouch, that was a nasty sound when he got plunked.

[jokin]

He is not going to hurt you out there, but he is not "terrific" either. I liked what I saw at the plate in ST. So he has a chance to add some offense. Also, when both Arcia and Willingham's are healthy, I hope he stays ahead of Bartlett. Gardy says Bart can play anywhere. But I saw him in the OF in spring and today and it wasn't pretty.

 

Christy, Barty's ST OF had to be prettier than today's effort, right? Because no one would consider using him as a 4th OF if he had auditioned for the job playing at that level in ST, right? Today was nothing short of an embarrassment to the organization and unfair to Bartlett, for placing him in such a situation. It's a Godsent miracle that the Twins won the game, as they never would have heard the end of it had the score gone the other way.

[stringer bell]

I agree Jokin. I don't think either Arcia or Willingham are all-clear. It happens to all teams that injuries are originally diagnosed as minor and then there are new diagnoses after the swelling subsides. Given the Twins luck lately, I wouldn't be surprised if both guys are out for some time.

[cmathewson]

To me the most sense is colabello RF, kubel LF, Pinto DH.

 

Colabello hasn't played much OF in his career. That would give us the best offense. I just don't know how the defense would do.

[cmathewson]

Christy, Barty's ST OF had to be prettier than today's effort, right? Because no one would consider using him as a 4th OF if he had auditioned for the job playing at that level in ST, right? Today was nothing short of an embarrassment to the organization and unfair to Bartlett, for placing him in such a situation. It's a Godsent miracle that the Twins won the game, as they never would have heard the end of it had the score gone the other way.

 

I saw some plays like that. The one play he made in center started out like that, but he made a nice recovery, diving at the end. I don't think you can just learn to play outfield at age 34 without ever having played it, especially after being away from the game for 18 months. From what I saw in Spring, Bartlett maybe belongs as a reserve infielder. But he has no business in the outfield as a big leaguer.

[drivlikejehu]

The problem with Herrmann is that he can't hit. He's a below replacement level corner outfielder without a doubt. His only conceivable role is as a 25th man who can be the 3rd catcher and 5th outfielder. He may be the most overrated player in the organization at this point... it's just a strange phenomenon.

 

If he starts a game in LF, he will be the worst player to start a MLB game in LF all year.

[cmathewson]

I agree Jokin. I don't think either Arcia or Willingham are all-clear. It happens to all teams that injuries are originally diagnosed as minor and then there are new diagnoses after the swelling subsides. Given the Twins luck lately, I wouldn't be surprised if both guys are out for some time.

 

Wrists are the toughest things to diagnose. There are so many little bones and tendons and ligaments, it's tough to see anything conclusive in imaging. My hunch is, Arcia has a sprain. That should warrant a 15 day DL stint. Were it not for the Hammer contusion, they would have waited for the swelling to go down. But they can't be short two outfielders when the backup has played all of three major league innings in the outfield and he looked like Smalls prior to his first catch.

[LaBombo]

Obviously he is the third catcher by being on the roster, but he's most likely to start in LF if Arcia's on the DL and Willingham can't play. Once Willingham can play and until Arcia comes back, his value will again be in his versatility.

 

Outside of his ability to be a third catcher, how is Herrmann as versatile as Parmelee? And in what way is a third catcher not a waste of a roster spot for a dugout therapist to help Gardenhire cope with his phobia of catcher injury doomsday scenarios?

[DaveW]

 

If he starts a game in LF, he will be the worst player to start a MLB game in LF all year.

 

IF he starts a game in LF he might not even be the worst Twins player to start an MLB game in LF all MONTH

[Joe A. Preusser]

Colabello hasn't played much OF in his career. That would give us the best offense. I just don't know how the defense would do.

 

In this scenario is Kubel DH? If so then it makes a ton more sense to play Kubel in the field and DH Cola.

[Seth Stohs]

The problem with Herrmann is that he can't hit. He's a below replacement level corner outfielder without a doubt. His only conceivable role is as a 25th man who can be the 3rd catcher and 5th outfielder. He may be the most overrated player in the organization at this point... it's just a strange phenomenon.

 

If he starts a game in LF, he will be the worst player to start a MLB game in LF all year.

 

Just to note... he's actually the 26th man on the roster and only up because of an injury. I don't know what people expect from him. Why are we expecting greatness? He's a backup, used in a role, when there is need. Backups get starts once in awhile too to keep fresh. There's no overrating. I don't think anyone's claiming greatness.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

With Arcia and Willingham unavailable, I would like to see

Dozier 2b

Mauer 1b

Plouffe 3b

Colabello DH

Kubel RF

Pinto C

Hermann LF

Hicks CF

Florimon SS

 

bench

Arcia OF

Willingham OF

Escobar Inf

Suzuki C

[Reider]

Congrats to Chris Herrmann, I'm happy for him.

[Seth Stohs]

Outside of his ability to be a third catcher, how is Herrmann as versatile as Parmelee? And in what way is a third catcher not a waste of a roster spot for a dugout therapist to help Gardenhire cope with his phobia of catcher injury doomsday scenarios?

 

Parmelee can play RF and 1B.

Herrmann can play RF and 1B and 3B and LF and CF and Catcher.

 

He's also on the 40 man roster. Parmelee isn't.

[TheLeviathan]

Right move, probably overdue.

[lukingood]

Yes, good call!

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I think some people are being a little hard on Herrmann. He has some decent seasons in the minors. He's only 26 which by Twins standards is young.

[stringer bell]

Just to note... he's actually the 26th man on the roster and only up because of an injury. I don't know what people expect from him. Why are we expecting greatness? He's a backup, used in a role, when there is need. Backups get starts once in awhile too to keep fresh. There's no overrating. I don't think anyone's claiming greatness.

Herrmann's not a great hitter, he's serviceable both behind the plate and in the corner outfield spots and he hits left handed. He reminds me of Chris Gimenez who has bounced around the league for some time now. Gimenez has more power, less contact and probably poorer defense. To say Herrmann can play first or third is unproven. He played first for a couple innings and to my knowledge hasn't played third since college.

[jokin]

Herrmann's not a great hitter, he's serviceable both behind the plate and in the corner outfield spots and he hits left handed. He reminds me of Chris Gimenez who has bounced around the league for some time now. Gimenez has more power, less contact and probably poorer defense. To say Herrmann can play first or third is unproven. He played first for a couple innings and to my knowledge hasn't played third since college.

 

1 minor league game at 3rd. Not qualified. And CF? 11 games in A+ ball, in 2010. Not qualified.

[drivlikejehu]

Herrmann's career AAA line: .227/.297/.312

 

Herrmann's career MLB line: .189/.268/.297

 

And he was only moderately above average in AA, and if you consider his age it really wasn't noteworthy at all. The guy can't hit... he will continue to prove this over and over as called upon.

[LaBombo]

Parmelee can play RF and 1B.

Herrmann can play RF and 1B and 3B and LF and CF and Catcher.

 

He's also on the 40 man roster. Parmelee isn't.

 

Yes! Parmelee can play RF and 1B.

Herrmann has been used at RF and 1B and 3B and LF and CF and Catcher.

 

There's a huge difference. Bartlett put on a clinic regarding that subject today.

 

Also, you mentioned catcher in a way that made it sound like you believe having three catchers has value. Why?

[DaveW]

Just another thread clearly showing the Twins should be using these spots for quality guys like DeRosa.

[jokin]

Yes! Parmelee can play RF and 1B.

Herrmann has been used at RF and 1B and 3B and LF and CF and Catcher.

 

There's a huge difference. Bartlett put on a clinic regarding that subject today.

 

Also, you mentioned catcher in a way that made it sound like you believe having three catchers has value. Why?

 

just a hunch, but I'm guessing that Hermann ends up closer to Bartlett if there was a WAR measure strictly for versatility, than say:

 

a Mike Aviles,

let alone a Chris Parmelee,

let alone a Emilio Bonifacio,

let alone a Ben Zobrist.

 

There are successive levels and thresholds that Hermann has yet to prove he's even close to or can even realistically aspire to....right now, he's below replacement value, on a versatility scale or any other measure of value, until proven different.

[Shane Wahl]

Herrmann's minor league time in the outfield absolutely shows him to be an above average-to-good corner OF, and he likely really could fill in in an emergency in CF. This gives them more options with Pinto right now, and that is good. I would imagine tomorrow's lineup to be:

 

Dozier, 2B

Mauer, 1B

Colabello, DH

Plouffe, 3B

Pinto, C

Kubel, RF

Hicks, CF

Herrmann, LF

Florimon, SS

[jokin]

Herrmann's minor league time in the outfield absolutely shows him to be an above average-to-good corner OF, and he likely really could fill in in an emergency in CF. This gives them more options with Pinto right now, and that is good. I would imagine tomorrow's lineup to be:

 

Dozier, 2B

Mauer, 1B

Colabello, DH

Plouffe, 3B

Pinto, C

Kubel, RF

Hicks, CF

Herrmann, LF

Florimon, SS

 

I like it, but Gardy's guy, Zuke, gets the home opener. Kubel moves up to the clean-up spot.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Herrmann's minor league time in the outfield absolutely shows him to be an above average-to-good corner OF, and he likely really could fill in in an emergency in CF.

If I recall correctly, the Hermannator played a game or two at CF in relief of Clete last year

[stringer bell]

If I recall correctly, the Hermannator played a game or two at CF in relief of Clete last year

BBRef says Herrmann played 21 games right, three in left. No games in center field.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

BBRef says Herrmann played 21 games right, three in left. No games in center field.

I stand corrected. Regardless, I'm happy he's up, and the Twins have a back up outfielder/super utility guy who has proven ability to play the outfield. I don't care that he's a poor hitter, I was ok with Presley in the outfield 4th fielder guy who can't hit last year.

[cmathewson]

Let's not get ahead of ourselves on his versatility. He's a decent corner outfielder who can catch, in a pinch. He cannot play infield. And he has no business in center. His hitting is fair to middling. All that said, I think he's a better option than Bartlett in the outfield and at the plate. But they actually complement one another, because Bartlett is still a pretty good infielder. And of course there's the whole lefty/righty thing.

 

Still, the thought of both these guys on the bench makes me shudder. Neither will put fear in an opposing pitcher. Neither has enough speed to steal a base, though first to third and second to home are above average. Neither is a plus defender at any position. And we still don't have guy who can sub in center. I wonder what might have happened yesterday with Presley in left.