Danny Santana

[Mr. Brooks]

You need to look beyond numbers. He survived on his raw talent alone but he was overmatched with terrible plate discipline and was swinging and missing a lot. His numbers looked okay because he connected with a ball every once in awhile but he needs to have a plan at the plate.

 

Okay, but what is the reason he can't work on that stuff at the MLB level, with Brunansky?

[jokin]

IMO, it doesn't say much good about Santana as a prospect if he gets called up to the big leagues, even due to a roster crunch, and not only isn't he the everyday SS, they have him taking fly balls in the OF.

 

Agreed, Twins managment has really learned nothing from having Bartlett and Colabello and their laughably, cringe-inducing, pale imitations of major league OFers, why would you double down on this experience? It's as unfair to the rookie presuming they can just plug him into CF, as it was to Bartlett to play anywhere in the OF ....and more than casting grave doubts about Santana's future as the Twins SS, I would add that it also doesn't say much good about the roster constructors who self-inflicted this so-easily-forseeable-roster-crunch wound.

[Shane Wahl]

IMO, it doesn't say much good about Santana as a prospect if he gets called up to the big leagues, even due to a roster crunch, and not only isn't he the everyday SS, they have him taking fly balls in the OF.

 

Well he isn't ready for MLB. He's about the only healthy good player near the MLB, however, who is worth bothering with for emergency CF, though.

[jokin]

Well he isn't ready for MLB. He's about the only healthy good player near the MLB, however, who is worth bothering with for emergency CF, though.

 

Moises Sierra or Juan Pierre could be claimed/signed instead? Or a trade engineered for a AAAA CFer?

[jorgenswest]

I have a hard time seeing how the week or 10 days he might spend being a utility bench player will either hurt his development or the Twins. He is here until either Hicks, Arcia or Willingham return.

[jokin]

I have a hard time seeing how the week or 10 days he might spend being a utility bench player will either hurt his development or the Twins. He is here until either Hicks, Arcia or Willingham return.

 

For a weekend, maybe, but longer than that? I couldn't disagree more. Santana showed both in ST and in Roc., that he has the talent and the tools, but is lacking the requisite reps, both in the field and at the plate, to earn a call-up. He needs to be playing every day, honing and refining his deficient areas, building and reinforcing his muscle memory- not suddenly thrust into some ethereal Team Chemist role.

[Guest USAFChief]

I have a hard time seeing how the week or 10 days he might spend being a utility bench player will either hurt his development or the Twins. He is here until either Hicks, Arcia or Willingham return.

i don't think many teams do that with someone viewed as a top prospect. If they really believed he is the SS of the future, I doubt they mess with that by sitting him, or messing around with other positions. He'd be the temporary full time SS, and only that.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Well he isn't ready for MLB. He's about the only healthy good player near the MLB, however, who is worth bothering with for emergency CF, though.

 

I agree with Chief and will say our favorite team seems to be in the middle of the dentity crisis that most people on these boards, on both sides of the issues, were predicting might happen.

 

Also, I'm starting to feel a cognitive dissonance with the quality of our farm system-- we are told it's the best in the majors, but we have no one who is MLB ready to call up? (Yeah yeah injuries to Sano etc). Hmmmm.

[DocBauer]

First, very glad to see Escobar finally get his chance. About time! Count me as one of those riding on the Florimon bandwagon. Love watching him play, teased by what he can/could do even if he hits just a little. I truly felt the Twins had a short term answer at SS for the next season or two, even if he only hit as well as last year, and presumably with experience, at least marginally better. But when you make NL pitchers look like dangerous hitters, you are virtually in panic mode.

 

Second, for whatever reason, I tend to miss games Escobar starts on the TV/net, usually only catching them on the radio. But his reputation coming up, and when traded for by the Twins, including comments from Gardy, was that he was a quality glove man with some speed, and SS was his best position. Even with some regression defensively, the team as a whole simply has to be improved with him there and a 9 hitter who is at least a mild threat.

 

Third, time to send Florimon down. (I am certain I've read where he has a option or two left) He has value at Rochester, insurance for the ball club, and who knows, maybe he gets his bat figured out to the point he could hit at least as well as last year. But he is a SS by trade, so what good is a backup SS who can't play other positions and only hits .100 going to do for our bench?

 

Fourth, I'm intrigued by Nunez. Very unfortnate he gets injured right after acquiring him. I'm by no means saying we got a steal here, but he was well regarded coming up through the minors, was targeted as Jeter's replacement, and seems to be a decent all around hitter with some pop and speed, at least for a middle inf/utility type. I have a hard time believing his glove is a iron-clad as some have stated, but no intimate knowledge here. Just find it difficult how he cold be regarded fairly higher, and as a Jeter heir, and yet be unable to play defense. Is this a case of undue pressure from expectation and future role, combined with intermittent playing time?

 

However, with Nunez out for the time being, it's time to bring up Bernier. Don't misunderstand me, Bernier is what he is despite a surprisingly strong start to his season offensively, and that is a replacement level player at utility. But you also don't hang around the game this long if you are inept. And he did show solid defense in his time with the Twins last season. The fact that he can apparently play other positions without flat-out stinking up the joint offers of some slight value. And once again, we're talking about replacing a one position playe who hits .100.

 

Lastly, I hope Santana doesn't just sit on the bench the entire time he's up. Even the opportunity to flail or fail can offer up lessons learned for him to take back to Rochester. I believe the reason he is up is because he has at least a bit of brief experience in the OF with Hicks on the 7 day, and being on the. 40 man means no immediate action has to take place.

 

To anyone annoyed that he isn't being brought up to start immediately in this tenure, I would remind you Esobar has pretty much just been handed the position. As such, I don't think you toss a rookie out there who isn't quite ready, and probably wouldn't have been called up until mid-season-ish just for the sake of putting him out there. You have a new SS that is playing decently, and I believe you stick with that decision for now.

[Brandon]

If Santana is not going to start much if at all, hopefully this will last a week or less so he can go back down and play everyday. If the promotion is for a week or less then it is a good first call up opportunity and learning experience for him so when he gets the call up to start he will know more of what to expect. If he plays everyday even better. If the promotion is for an extended time and he is going to be on the bench, the Twins would be better off with Bernier up.

[Craig Arko]

Sounds like Nunez is DH for Redwings today. Hopefully he can stick around now.

[Mr. Brooks]

First, very glad to see Escobar finally get his chance. About time! Count me as one of those riding on the Florimon bandwagon. Love watching him play, teased by what he can/could do even if he hits just a little. I truly felt the Twins had a short term answer at SS for the next season or two, even if he only hit as well as last year, and presumably with experience, at least marginally better. But when you make NL pitchers look like dangerous hitters, you are virtually in panic mode.

 

Second, for whatever reason, I tend to miss games Escobar starts on the TV/net, usually only catching them on the radio. But his reputation coming up, and when traded for by the Twins, including comments from Gardy, was that he was a quality glove man with some speed, and SS was his best position. Even with some regression defensively, the team as a whole simply has to be improved with him there and a 9 hitter who is at least a mild threat.

 

Third, time to send Florimon down. (I am certain I've read where he has a option or two left) He has value at Rochester, insurance for the ball club, and who knows, maybe he gets his bat figured out to the point he could hit at least as well as last year. But he is a SS by trade, so what good is a backup SS who can't play other positions and only hits .100 going to do for our bench?

 

Fourth, I'm intrigued by Nunez. Very unfortnate he gets injured right after acquiring him. I'm by no means saying we got a steal here, but he was well regarded coming up through the minors, was targeted as Jeter's replacement, and seems to be a decent all around hitter with some pop and speed, at least for a middle inf/utility type. I have a hard time believing his glove is a iron-clad as some have stated, but no intimate knowledge here. Just find it difficult how he cold be regarded fairly higher, and as a Jeter heir, and yet be unable to play defense. Is this a case of undue pressure from expectation and future role, combined with intermittent playing time?

 

However, with Nunez out for the time being, it's time to bring up Bernier. Don't misunderstand me, Bernier is what he is despite a surprisingly strong start to his season offensively, and that is a replacement level player at utility. But you also don't hang around the game this long if you are inept. And he did show solid defense in his time with the Twins last season. The fact that he can apparently play other positions without flat-out stinking up the joint offers of some slight value. And once again, we're talking about replacing a one position playe who hits .100.

 

Lastly, I hope Santana doesn't just sit on the bench the entire time he's up. Even the opportunity to flail or fail can offer up lessons learned for him to take back to Rochester. I believe the reason he is up is because he has at least a bit of brief experience in the OF with Hicks on the 7 day, and being on the. 40 man means no immediate action has to take place.

 

To anyone annoyed that he isn't being brought up to start immediately in this tenure, I would remind you Esobar has pretty much just been handed the position. As such, I don't think you toss a rookie out there who isn't quite ready, and probably wouldn't have been called up until mid-season-ish just for the sake of putting him out there. You have a new SS that is playing decently, and I believe you stick with that decision for now.

 

Has anyone credible ever said that Nunez was the heir apparent to Jeter?

Because looking through his minor league numbers, I don't see anything to have ever been excited about.

He was never once ranked on any top 100 lists, and though he flashed a couple of decent offensive seasons, he overall put up numbers in the mid .600 OPS range.

 

His defense has always been bad, even in the minors, so I don't see why it is hard to believe that it would still be bad in the majors.

[WLFINN]

"Is Arcia healthy or not?

If he's not, he shouldn't be playing in minor league games. If he is, why is he not ready? The guy missed 3 weeks, not 3 months.

Manny Machado missed 9 months and came back after 4 rehab games, I don't see why 4 or 5 games isnt enough when you have only missed 3 or 4 weeks."

 

Probably shouldn't post this til he is outta town but Methinks maybe he should have gotten some more at bats re-habbing....can only imagine what would be coming across these boards if Arcia comes up and struggles early to this extent.........

[Mr. Brooks]

"Is Arcia healthy or not?

If he's not, he shouldn't be playing in minor league games. If he is, why is he not ready? The guy missed 3 weeks, not 3 months.

Manny Machado missed 9 months and came back after 4 rehab games, I don't see why 4 or 5 games isnt enough when you have only missed 3 or 4 weeks."

 

Probably shouldn't post this til he is outta town but Methinks maybe he should have gotten some more at bats re-habbing....can only imagine what would be coming across these boards if Arcia comes up and struggles early to this extent.........

 

Well so far, he's yet to strike out, was robbed of at least a double by Fuld at the wall, hit a laser line drive off the top of the LF wall, has made a number of masterful defensive plays, and is rocking an .077 babip.

 

I would hope that the board would be thrilled if Arcia came up and had such a great, albeit unlucky, start.

[TheLeviathan]

"Is Arcia healthy or not?

If he's not, he shouldn't be playing in minor league games. If he is, why is he not ready? The guy missed 3 weeks, not 3 months.

Manny Machado missed 9 months and came back after 4 rehab games, I don't see why 4 or 5 games isnt enough when you have only missed 3 or 4 weeks."

 

Probably shouldn't post this til he is outta town but Methinks maybe he should have gotten some more at bats re-habbing....can only imagine what would be coming across these boards if Arcia comes up and struggles early to this extent.........

 

Wrist injuries are tricky and can really sap a player's ability to drive the ball. I'm far from defending the Twin's group of Nick Rivieras but this strategy shouldn't be criticized IMO.

[jorgenswest]

I have a hard time seeing how the week or 10 days he might spend being a utility bench player will either hurt his development or the Twins. He is here until either Hicks, Arcia or Willingham return.

 

I was wrong. Hicks returned and Santana is still here entering his third week.

 

Should they and him down though he is playing well? His situation is somewhat similar to Pinto. They both would benefit from playing more. They both help this team more from the bench than the options at AAA.

 

I think he will slump as everyone does and return to AAA. Meanwhile a versatile player to come off the bench and pinch hit or pinch run for a pitcher as part of a double switch will be valuable as they play in NL parks.

[kab21]

I disagree with this 'they would benefit with more AAA time' thought. They each have 3-4 full seasons of minor league ball and there are things to learn at the MLB level even if they don't play every day.