Article: Finding Room For Arcia

[denarded]

But, this is Gardy. I just wish the FO would put the best roster together and tell Gardy to manage what he gets. We've seen what happens when they give him too much authority over the roster. The irony of Castro over Bartlett coming around to Bartlett over Presley is just mind boggling. The FO needs to stabilize the roster and make Gardy do the job he's paid to do.

 

I like Gardy a lot, but this is a great point

[Thrylos]

If the Twins are smart, they are already shopping Colabello, but not to Koreia this time. Shop him to Baltimore, they need a 1B. The RBI leader should bring something back...

 

Having a bunch of 30 year old DHs (Kubel, Colabello, Willingham) starting ahead of the team's future (Arcia) does not make sense. Ditto with Suzuki and Pinto. And Colabello should not be at the outfield. He single-handedly lost a game with his glove last week.

 

Nice guy and everything, but you got to look for the future here...

[jokin]

If the Twins are smart, they are already shopping Colabello, but not to Koreia this time. Shop him to Baltimore, they need a 1B. The RBI leader should bring something back...

 

Having a bunch of 30 year old DHs (Kubel, Colabello, Willingham) starting ahead of the team's future (Arcia) does not make sense. Ditto with Suzuki and Pinto. And Colabello should not be at the outfield. He single-handedly lost a game with his glove last week.

 

Nice guy and everything, but you got to look for the future here...

 

I would wager that the marketing department already has multiple publicity campaigns set up for Cola, making a trade impossible any time soon.

[TheLeviathan]

I don't see how Pinto can be taken out of the lineup at this point. The guy has done nothing but rake since hitting the Majors.

 

You let that guy just keep on keepin' on.

 

Totally agree, the problem is that given the choice of playing Arcia, Kubel, Colabello, CF Guy or Pinto, Arcia, CF guy, Colabello/Kubel....

 

I'm not confident choice two will be the one our manager elects.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I would think that the odd man out is not Pinto. Just my 2 cents. I'm not too terribly worried about Gardy juggling Pinto, Suzuki, Mauer, Cola, Willingham, and Arcia. You can juggle those guys and make sure everyone is getting a day off here and there. If it's a real issue, Arcia will get optioned and then Willingham traded at the deadline.

 

The real issue is what to do with Florimon and Hicks. I would think that Fuld and Beresford would be pretty big upgrades right now...

[TheDean]

I don't see how Pinto can be taken out of the lineup at this point. The guy has done nothing but rake since hitting the Majors.

 

You let that guy just keep on keepin' on.

 

I agree. Furthermore, Suzuki hasn't done anything to be taken out of the lineup either. I know that Zukes isn't part of the "long-term plan," but sitting 1 GB, the fan in me wants to see the lineup that gives the best chance for a win. That means Pinto/Suzuki monopolizing C/DH till Zukes cools down. Likewise, Colabello continues to be an old dog being taught new tricks in RF until he cools down enough to combine into a Kubeabello super player. We've said it a lot: it's a good problem to have. I mean, how often do your bench injury replacements become the hottest hitters in the AL exactly when injuries occur to your projected starters?

 

For anyone suggesting a Hicks demotion, I just don't see it... I mean after the whole rigmarole with Toronto/Oakland, we finally got a net +2 on organizational CF depth (not to be confused with career SS trying to save MLB career, formerly acceptable 4th OFer with injury issues, nor athletic catcher who has played more games in RF in the bigs than in all his time in the minors combined). Now there are 2 competent OF defenders on the active roster. TWO! How exciting!

[Richie the Rally Goat]

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

Arcia needs to play every day, who do you bench? I would rather have Arcia in AAA playing every day, than on the Twins' bench

[Richie the Rally Goat]

If the Twins are smart, they are already shopping Colabello, but not to Koreia this time. Shop him to Baltimore, they need a 1B. The RBI leader should bring something back...

 

Having a bunch of 30 year old DHs (Kubel, Colabello, Willingham) starting ahead of the team's future (Arcia) does not make sense. Ditto with Suzuki and Pinto. And Colabello should not be at the outfield. He single-handedly lost a game with his glove last week.

 

Nice guy and everything, but you got to look for the future here...

Couldn't agree more, the most trade able players are the ones you don't want to leave.

[jokin]

I would think that the odd man out is not Pinto. Just my 2 cents. I'm not too terribly worried about Gardy juggling Pinto, Suzuki, Mauer, Cola, Willingham, and Arcia. You can juggle those guys and make sure everyone is getting a day off here and there. If it's a real issue, Arcia will get optioned and then Willingham traded at the deadline.

 

The real issue is what to do with Florimon and Hicks. I would think that Fuld and Beresford would be pretty big upgrades right now...

 

Fuld yes, but Beresford? If he was truly the answer at SS, why wouldn't he have been given a better shot at gaining the position when it was obvious that Florimon was ailing in Spring Training?.....and why hasn't he already been called up when Florimon was setting new records for hitting futility in April?.....why is he 4th in line behind Santana, Bernier and Nunez to play SS?..... and why would the organization go to all the trouble of trading for Nunez in the first place?

 

Color me skeptical on Beresford as anything but a Util guy at the major league level.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

I'm struggling with this, too. Pinto's arguably been our best hitter this year, bringing a little more power than Plouffe. He needs to be in the lineup as often as possible until something happens to show he needs a break.

 

I'm wondering if Suzuki isn't playing himself into getting traded, contingent on how close we stay to contention anyway. Assuming we want to keep Arcia and Pinto because of their age, he's got the most value between:

 

Willingham

Kubel

Colabello

Suzuki

You make a very good point, Colabello probably needs a larger sample size before he becomes tradeable. Zuke on the other hand, you know you're getting a .250 batting catcher who obviously has more gas in the tank. Suzuki is doing more by having a good defensive reputation to take away Pinto's (and Arcia's potential) at bats than Kubel or Colabello.

[Linus]

Aria definitely needs to go to Rochester so he can play everyday. I like him as a prospect but he hasn't shown much at this level. Bring him back when the logjam at the corners/dh is cleared up from a trade It also wouldn't hurt for him to show that he can actually stay on the field. He's starting to look like a bit of a china doll.

[jorgenswest]

Suzuki will have the trade value. Catchers are tough to find. Someone will lose a catcher and there will be little on the market. My fear is that instead of trading him, the a Twins will extend him into his decline.

 

The trio of DHs in their 30s will have little value even if they put up a couple of good months. There won't be enough certainty in their return. Teams are smart enough to know that first half stats don't predict second half stats. There will also be a supply of DH types that have had a poor first half that will be virtually free like Reynolds and Kubel last year. I am sure many will complain that the a Twins should have sold high, but the reality does not match that hope.

[LaBombo]

If the Twins are smart

http://vid.marketmenot.com/geico-pig-at-the-dmv-commercial/geico-pig-at-the-dmv.jpgNeeexxXT!!

[howeda7]

OK, so in the scenario where we have both catchers go down in the same game....we need to bake in the scenario where Mauer comes in for two innings and gets a real good shot in the head. He has almost 8,000 innings behind the plate.

 

Exactly. A: He'll probably never be needed. B: The odds of him getting a career-altering concussion during the 2 innings he catches per year are only slightly larger than those that he might get hit by a bus leaving Target Field.

[a-wan]

At this point why should the Twins worry about Willingham getting at bats? Besides injury currently, his season last year was atrocious and he has no real value to the team past this year. It would be great to think about how he's a power hitting DH but do the Twins need to play a 35 year old DH more than Pinto or Arcia? Unless he comes back from the injury absolutely rakes and can be traded for a living person he has no use past this year.

[cmathewson]

I agree with a- wan. This thread is about Arcia, who will be ready soon. Willingham isn't even swinging a bat yet. When he starts swinging next month, he'll need to go out on a rehab assignment for 20 days or so before joining the team. My guesstimate is late June for his return. A lot can happen in the intervening weeks.

[jokin]

I agree with a- wan. This thread is about Arcia, who will be ready soon. Willingham isn't even swinging a bat yet. When he starts swinging next month, he'll need to go out on a rehab assignment for 20 days or so before joining the team. My guesstimate is late June for his return. A lot can happen in the intervening weeks.

 

Yes but...How soon is now? (Always love The Smiths reference:o). The prior press reports were leading us to believe that Arcia was champing at the bit and he'd be ready in a matter of days, not weeks. Arcia has only gotten 3 PAs in each of his 3 games before being pulled. The Twins are clearly being very cautious. I'm wondering if this might be a chronic thing with the wrist, what with him having the same symptoms last August, and his violent swing? It now looks like he'll spend the full 20 days on rehab...and maybe more?

 

It would sure be a shot in the arm if Arcia could come back sooner rather than later, and pick up one of the regressing Twins hitters and displaying the exact impact he had when he debuted last year, but now I'm concerned.

[cmathewson]

Yes but...How soon is now? (Always love The Smiths reference:o). The prior press reports were leading us to believe that Arcia was champing at the bit and he'd be ready in a matter of days, not weeks. Arcia has only gotten 3 PAs in each of his 3 games before being pulled. The Twins are clearly being very cautious. I'm wondering if this might be a chronic thing with the wrist, what with him having the same symptoms last August, and his violent swing? It now looks like he'll spend the full 20 days on rehab...and maybe more?

 

It would sure be a shot in the arm if Arcia could come back sooner rather than later, and pick up one of the regressing Twins hitters and displaying the exact impact he had when he debuted last year, but now I'm concerned.

 

I think it's all part of the rehab. They don't want him to re-injure it, so they're being careful.

 

He's not there yet. His first game looks better in the box score than it was. He had an infield hit and another hit that should have been scored an error, according to observers. Since then, he's walked a couple of times, but hasn't hit the ball especially hard. He still needs to get his timing back and get into playing shape. This is like spring training II for him. I expect it to be at least a couple of weeks. I wouldn't be surprised if he uses the full 20 days of his rehab.

[stringer bell]

The rehab trip for Arcia is probably essential. He needs to get his swing going, and it wasn't going before his injury. If he isn't swinging well when the rehab time is over, I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him optioned. If someone else gets injured, I presume Arcia will be brought back right away. With all the rest the pitching staff is getting with the off days and postponements, they really don't need an eight-man bullpen. I know, I know, two short starts and they'll be short again.

[cmathewson]

I know, I know, two short starts and they'll be short again.

 

The problem isn't with the size of the pen but with the quality of the starters. When they swap out Pelfrey and Deduno and DFA Correia in favor Meyer, they will not need an eight-man pen. As long as they cling to sunk costs who can't complete five innings, they will need eight guys in the pen.

 

Arcia for Hermann is easy (when Arcia is ready). Willingham's spot will have to come at the expense of a bullpen arm. So they better have that starting pitching thing figured out by mid-to-late June. If they want to make room for Nunez, they'll have to make Escobar the starter and DFA Florimon.

[DJL44]

My fear is that instead of trading him, the a Twins will extend him into his decline.

 

I think Turner and Garver will keep any Suzuki extension short. I'm not sure Suzuki would want an extension when Pinto is breathing down his neck. I don't think he's ready to be a backup yet.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Fuld yes, but Beresford? If he was truly the answer at SS, why wouldn't he have been given a better shot at gaining the position when it was obvious that Florimon was ailing in Spring Training?.....and why hasn't he already been called up when Florimon was setting new records for hitting futility in April?.....why is he 4th in line behind Santana, Bernier and Nunez to play SS?..... and why would the organization go to all the trouble of trading for Nunez in the first place?

 

Color me skeptical on Beresford as anything but a Util guy at the major league level.

 

Don't get me wrong, I'm hardly a Beresford fan. The question is whether or not he's an upgrade over Florimon... right now, I'd think just about anyone is...

[twinsfaninsaudi]

Maybe bench Mauer.

[Shane Wahl]

Just commenting on this last page of comments. There is no evidence so far that Stuart Turner is going to be good. There is evidence for Garver, but it is at A ball. I am on the record for being disappointed with the Twins catcher draft selections last year. I really think they amount to little. Anyway, Beresford should absolutely be in consideration for promotion soon. Let Escobar take it for now.