Article: Finding Room For Arcia

[Nick Nelson]

You can view the page at http://www.twinsdaily.com/content.php/2903-Finding-Room-For-Arcia

[frightwig]

Arcia last year: 6.1 BB%, 31.0 K%. To start this season: 5.3 BB%, 31.6 K%.

 

"Swinging out of his shoes" seems to be what he does. Although his slash lines throughout his minor league career have been impressive, by his performance in the majors it still looks like it would do him a lot of good to spend more time at AAA and really work on his plate discipline. And as long as Pinto, Kubel and Colabello are taking care of business in the Twins lineup, now's the perfect time for Arcia to do some woodshedding in Rochester.

[blindeke]

If some of the Twins' patient approach to at-bats would rub off on Arcia, that'd be awesome.

[jokin]

Arcia last year: 6.1 BB%, 31.0 K%. To start this season: 5.3 BB%, 31.6 K%.

 

"Swinging out of his shoes" seems to be what he does. Although his slash lines throughout his minor league career have been impressive, by his performance in the majors it still looks like it would do him a lot of good to spend more time at AAA and really work on his plate discipline. And as long as Pinto, Kubel and Colabello are taking care of business in the Twins lineup, now's the perfect time for Arcia to do some woodshedding in Rochester.

 

"Woodshedding" is about right! Amen.

[jokin]

(Arcia) headed to Rochester, where he began his rehab assignment by going 3-for-3 as the DH on Saturday. He played six more innings Sunday.

 

Is there anything to be read into Arcia getting pulled in both of his games after 3 PAs this weekend and not playing in the OF on Saturday ? Is he really 100% yet or not?

 

The Twins could use another LH bat, but Arcia wasn't delivering when he was active. I argued that he should have been sent down right when they broke camp. He still has a lot to work on, at the plate and in the OF. As long as there are other options producing, there's no need to rush. If anything, if they do need that additional LH bat, Parmelee might better fill the bill than Arcia at this point.

[Don't Feed the Greed Guy]

"Josmil Pinto has been one of the team's best hitters and he should probably stick mostly at DH for now, since his defense has been erratic and Kurt Suzuki has been very good all-around behind the plate."

 

I would tend to respectfully disagree for a couple of reasons:

 

1) Pinto's future is behind the plate. His defense can't be as atrocious as some of Colabello's miscues. Using Pinto as the DH effectively puts either Arcia, Kubel, or Colabello on the bench.

 

2) Suzuki has certainly not shown himself as an exemplary handler of Twins' starting pitching. He caught Kevin Coreia's abysmal start last Friday, when the starters' cumulative ERA ballooned to 6.32. Remember last year when Twins starters paced the AL by giving up 5.26 runs/game? Where's Ryan Doumit when you need him???

 

Seriously, Suzuki has started 16 games at the catcher position. Pinto has started seven games as the Twins backstop. I would like to see those numbers flip-flopped in May, thus providing more opportunities to put Pinto's bat (12.2 HR's/AB for 4th in the AL & 5th in the AL in BB) in the lineup--along with Kubel, Cola, and Arcia--with Kubel sitting against virtually every lefthander.

[mudcat14]

I think you can afford to let Arcia get going everyday at Rochester, until he forces your hand. The BoSox are getting desperate for OF offense. Maybe if Kubel is still hitting in a couple of weeks, he could pry someone from their deep farm system. For some season, I've always been a fan of Deven Marrero.

[Otwins]

Don't forget Willingham as your are working this puzzle. I think you have to send Arcia to AAA.

He can work on his defense and his approach at the plate. These things have a way of working themselves out. Someone will slump or get injured.

[Twins Twerp]

Good problem to have. How about arcia in center? Might be the worst defensive of ever...like in history...but they sure would hit some dingers like kent murphy #checkoutthisvideo

[howeda7]

Colabello's regression is already happening. I think the original plan of Kubel/Collabello platooning at DH is eventually the way to go. Hammer/Pinto/Suzuki/Collabello should play against lefties, Kubel/Arcia/Pinto and one of Collabello/Willlingham against righties.

[twinstalker]

Colabello's regression is already happening. I think the original plan of Kubel/Collabello platooning at DH is eventually the way to go. Hammer/Pinto/Suzuki/Collabello should play against lefties, Kubel/Arcia/Pinto and one of Collabello/Willlingham against righties.

I always love it when people forget who is managing.

[AlwaysinModeration]

Hey, the Twins hitters are learning a new patient approach....maybe Gardy can learn a new trick too?

[blindeke]

Hey, the Twins hitters are learning a new patient approach....maybe Gardy can learn a new trick too?

Anything is possible.

[Riverbrian]

Colabello's regression is already happening.

 

I'm sad about this news.

 

Waking up at 6AM and finding this out is gonna be a bad start to my day.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

I'd like to see Pinto take over primary catching, Colabello take over DH, and Arcia and Kubel in the outfield corners, until Hammer is ready to come back. Then send Arcia to AAA to work on the tutelage from Bruno until Hammer can be traded.

[kblack1011]

"Josmil Pinto has been one of the team's best hitters and he should probably stick mostly at DH for now' date=' since his defense has been erratic and Kurt Suzuki has been very good all-around behind the plate."

 

I would tend to respectfully disagree for a couple of reasons:

 

1) Pinto's future is behind the plate. His defense can't be as atrocious as some of Colabello's miscues. Using Pinto as the DH effectively puts either Arcia, Kubel, or Colabello on the bench.

 

2) Suzuki has certainly not shown himself as an exemplary handler of Twins' starting pitching. He caught Kevin Coreia's abysmal start last Friday, when the starters' cumulative ERA ballooned to 6.32. Remember last year when Twins starters paced the AL by giving up 5.26 runs/game? Where's Ryan Doumit when you need him???

 

Seriously, Suzuki has started 16 games at the catcher position. Pinto has started seven games as the Twins backstop. I would like to see those numbers flip-flopped in May, thus providing more opportunities to put Pinto's bat (12.2 HR's/AB for 4th in the AL & 5th in the AL in BB) in the lineup--along with Kubel, Cola, and Arcia--with Kubel sitting against virtually every lefthander.[/quote']

 

I agree that we need to see Pinto more behind the plate and this would open up AB's at DH. To activate Arcia, I would like them to send Hicks down. If anyone needs more time in AAA, it would be Hicks.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Arcia and Pinto need to play every day for development, Hammer needs to play every day to build trade bait, Colabello and Kubel have been the best hitters on the team, but their value comes only to this team in the here and now.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

I agree that we need to see Pinto more behind the plate and this would open up AB's at DH. To activate Arcia, I would like them to send Hicks down. If anyone needs more time in AAA, it would be Hicks.

Sure Hicks needs more development time in AAA, but then who's your back up center fielder? Fuld is fine as the 4th outfielder, and can take over starting CF duties for a DL stint, but he isn't going to hold up over a month or two. His hitting is a statistical anomaly.

[sorney]

I'd like to see Pinto take over primary catching, Colabello take over DH, and Arcia and Kubel in the outfield corners, until Hammer is ready to come back. Then send Arcia to AAA to work on the tutelage from Bruno until Hammer can be traded.

 

Wouldn't it be better to work WITH Bruno than sending him to AAA to work away from him??

[Mike Sixel]

Pinto behind the plate more, Suzuki on the bench more. Arcia is part of the future and present, they should really bench him for Kurt Suzuki? Really?

[jokin]

Wouldn't it be better to work WITH Bruno than sending him to AAA to work away from him??

 

Don't the Twins have access to Skype?

[sorney]

By that logic, why does Bruno even travel with the team then? He could just Skype all his players to watch their swings and hang out in Cali...I need to get on that plan

[Boom Boom]

It shouldn't be that hard to figure out... just send down corner outfielder Chris Herrmann.

[jokin]

Pinto behind the plate more, Suzuki on the bench more. Arcia is part of the future and present, they should really bench him for Kurt Suzuki? Really?

 

I can't believe that I am ending up siding more frequently with management, but I'm in the "Get Arcia Right" camp at this point. Arcia wasn't right in ST, and his first PAs in April before his trip to the DL was more of the same, along with his OF mis-adventures. Gardy was quoted by LEN3 as saying that he wants Arcia back soon, or even sooner, just as soon as he shows glimpses of himslef at his best last year. I'm willing to have him get a little time in Rochester before they make the move. I really like what he can offer to this team when he's at his 100% best.

 

The Pinto/Suzuki deal is a different kettle of fish. Give the Braintrust credit for scuttling the "Fryer for All-Star!" campaign and giving Pinto his well-deserved shot. And as we've seen, his play behind the plate is still a work in progress. This leaves the Twins in a classic case of being on the horns of a dilemma- and exacerbated with Gardy's anal obtuseness about the use of only 2 catchers on the roster. Both choices for who gets playing time, and how much, hurts the team in the present. Perhaps the best course of action is to let the situation evolve, eventually Suzuki will revert to his career norms or worse at the plate, and hopefully, Pinto is getting the 3-On-1 crash course in Catching 101 from Steiny, Mauer and Suzuki, meaning that gradually in the next few months the playing time ratios for Suzuki and Pinto get reversed.

[cmathewson]

I was going to say the same thing as Boom Boom. I know Gardy likes Hermann's versatility, but why have a .600 OPS guy who might catch 9 innings a month instead of an .800 OPS guy who will never catch?

[cmathewson]

I can't believe that I am ending up siding more frequently with management, but I'm in the "Get Arcia Right" camp at this point. Arcia wasn't right in ST, and his first PAs in April before his trip to the DL was more of the same, along with his OF adventures. Gardy was quoted by LEN3 as saying that he wants Arcia back soon, or even sooner, just as soon as he shows glimpses of him at his best last year. I'm willing to have him get a little time in Rochester before they make the move. I really like what he can offer to this team when he's at his 100% best.

 

The Pinto/Suzuki deal a different kettle of fish. Give the Braintrust credit for scuttling the "Fryer for All-Star!" campaign and giving Pinto his well-deserved shot. And as we've seen, his play behind the plate is still a work in progress. This leaves the Twins in a classic case of being on the horns of a dilemma. Both choices for who gets playing time, and how much, hurts the team in the present. Perhaps the best course of action is to let the situation evolve, eventually Suzuki will revert to his career norms or worse at the plate, and hopefully, Pinto is getting the 3-On-1 crash course in Catching 101 from Steiny, Mauer and Suzuki, meaning that gradually in the next few months the playing time ratios for Suzuki and Pinto get reversed.

 

He'll have his whole rehab assignment to get right. That's 20 games. At the end of that period, if he isn't raking, you can option him. I'd be very surprised if he isn't raking in 20 games. Arcia is a major league hitter. Hermann is a AAAA player. It's that simple.

 

Why is AAA always the answer when guys struggle? Guys have slumps at different times of the year. If they're good hitters, they'll find their way out of slumps. Arcia is a good hitter.

[jokin]

It shouldn't be that hard to figure out... just send down corner outfielder Chris Herrmann.

 

Not that hard, heh? Then you try explaining it to Gardy....

[Boom Boom]

I was going to say the same thing as Boom Boom. I know Gardy likes Hermann's versatility, but why have a .600 OPS guy who might catch 9 innings a month instead of an .800 OPS guy who will never catch?

 

Yep... despite Gardy's worst fears of losing his DH, Herrmann hasn't done anything except play corner outfield and come in as a defensive replacement there (!). Now with Fuld on the team there's really no reason to have one of those.

 

I know that Gardy wants to keep Pinto in the lineup, and so do I, but if he's not catching he shouldn't be DHing either. There's plenty of other guys on the team (Kubel, Arcia, and Colabello) that should be seeing more time at DH anyway.

[stringer bell]

The Twins' best defensive OF IMHO is Fuld, Hicks, Herrmann, but not by that much over Kubel, Hicks, Fuld. I don't think Herrmann's defensive "prowess" or his ability to catch are enough to keep him in the majors. I hope Arcia comes back at the end of his rehab as a more patient and disciplined hitter and also as someone who will focus on defense.

[jokin]

Yep... despite Gardy's worst fears of losing his DH, Herrmann hasn't done anything except play corner outfield and come in as a defensive replacement there (!). Now with Fuld on the team there's really no reason to have one of those.

 

I know that Gardy wants to keep Pinto in the lineup, and so do I, but if he's not catching he shouldn't be DHing either. There's plenty of other guys on the team (Kubel, Arcia, and Colabello) that should be seeing more time at DH anyway.

 

He'll have his whole rehab assignment to get right. That's 20 games. At the end of that period, if he isn't raking, you can option him. I'd be very surprised if he isn't raking in 20 games. Arcia is a major league hitter. Hermann is a AAAA player. It's that simple.

 

Why is AAA always the answer when guys struggle? Guys have slumps at different times of the year. If they're good hitters, they'll find their way out of slumps. Arcia is a good hitter.

 

Whoa, did I miss something here? Hermann should have been gone yesterday, no, scratch that, he never should have been called up in the first place. And the myth about him being an "excellent corner OFer" was pretty much shattered this time around, as well.

 

Regarding Arcia, I'm actually optimistic and hopeful that his stint in Roc. can be less than 20 games, and that all of his struggles thus far are wrist-injury-related. But that's not to say that as much potential that Arcia has, he doesn't still have a ways to go to prove himself worthy of the mantle, "major league hitter", not while he's carrying that 31% K-rate and going through his well-expected youthful crises at the plate. And AAA has always been a good answer as a place to work on things in a low-stress-environment, even good hitters use this option to get their timing down and stamp out bad habits.

 

Now if only Jack Goin can just sit Gardy down and explain the statistical likelihood of being forced to bat a pitcher one time this season due to 2 catcher injuries in the same game.....is less than the likelihood of being struck by lightning....