What to do

[diehardtwinsfan]

It's June 15. The Twins are 4 games out of first in an incredibly tight division. Every team in this division is flawed. I'd expect the winner to get bounced out pretty quick, but sometimes bad teams catch lightening in a bottle and do something. The front office has clearly decided they are going for it, but there's still room for improvement. My roster changes would be as follows:

 

Right now most of the changes need to be made in the pitching department.

 

Move number 1 to be made immediately: Deduno back to the pen where he was having success. Burton traded or DFAd. Call up Kris Johnson, May, or Darnell and let them start.

 

Move number 2 to be made immediately: Put Pelfrey on the 60 day DL and call up Achter or Pino and slot them into the pen. Begin making attempts to trade Guerrier while his stats look good enough to get a team with a weak pen to bite.

 

Move number 3 (near trade deadline): Dependent on how well move 1 worked out. If they are rotating in AAA pitchers on a somewhat frequent basis, then getting rid of KC isn't going to make a lot of sense, but given his performance, they can always put Deduno back in the rotation. If they called up in the first move does well, then removing KC in favor of one of the other two AAA guys on the 40 man makes sense.

 

On the offense side of things, I think for the most part they can stand pat. Hicks would go to Rochester as soon as he comes off the DL. If he has indeed figured it out, then he won't have too much time showing everyone in AAA that he belongs up here. Until then, Fuld is the primary CF with Santana occasionally backing him up (at least until his bat cools off). If they are still in contention at the deadline, a trade for a marginal CF might make sense.

[Craig Arko]

That's probably right, although the severity of the injuries to Plouffe and Nunez could put a wrinkle in this.

[stringer bell]

Oblique strain = 30 days on DL. That is my guess with Plouffe. If he was properly diagnosed and if he honest with the medical staff, Plouffe is going to the DL, and not just for two weeks. I suppose the team could roll with the trio of Nuñez, Escobar and Santana covering the left side, but there will be no infield depth to speak of if Plouffe is out.

 

I suppose the easy move is to move Deduno and designate Burton. I doubt there will be anyone claiming him. I don't see anyone on the roster who profiles as the seventh inning guy--unless Tonkin finds it again. The call-up choices to me are either May or Johnson.

[Joe A. Preusser]

Oblique strain = 30 days on DL. That is my guess with Plouffe. If he was properly diagnosed and if he honest with the medical staff, Plouffe is going to the DL, and not just for two weeks. I suppose the team could roll with the trio of Nuñez, Escobar and Santana covering the left side, but there will be no infield depth to speak of if Plouffe is out.

 

I suppose the easy move is to move Deduno and designate Burton. I doubt there will be anyone claiming him. I don't see anyone on the roster who profiles as the seventh inning guy--unless Tonkin finds it again. The call-up choices to me are either May or Johnson.

 

How awesome would it be if Sano were healthy and crushing AA right now?

[pierre75275]

if i was GM:

release Burton

Move Deduno to Bp

Promote T May

Move Gilmartin to AAA

Move Berrios to AA

Move Stewart to A

Move gonslaves to low a

[Craig Arko]

Oblique strain = 30 days on DL. That is my guess with Plouffe. If he was properly diagnosed and if he honest with the medical staff, Plouffe is going to the DL, and not just for two weeks. I suppose the team could roll with the trio of Nuñez, Escobar and Santana covering the left side, but there will be no infield depth to speak of if Plouffe is out.

 

I suppose the easy move is to move Deduno and designate Burton. I doubt there will be anyone claiming him. I don't see anyone on the roster who profiles as the seventh inning guy--unless Tonkin finds it again. The call-up choices to me are either May or Johnson.

 

If Joe wasn't in such a funk this would be the time for the Mauer at 3rd experiment. But the way things have been going with him messing with a new position seems like a bad idea. Unfortunate.

[DJSim22]

Deduno is not an option in the pen imho. Either give him more starts to get it figured out, or he is the guy you send backing. Darnell gets the first shot.

 

Fien is the 7th inning guy. We need a an 8th inning guy, unless Burton figues it out, we don't have one.

 

Arcia should be the DH, the kid is worse in the outfield than Willingham.

[DJSim22]

Deduno is not an option in the pen imho. Either give him more starts to get it figured out, or he is the guy you send backing. Darnell gets the first shot.

 

Fien is the 7th inning guy. We need a an 8th inning guy, unless Burton figues it out, we don't have one.

 

Arcia should be the DH, the kid is worse in the outfield than Willingham.

 

On cue, Arcia drops the ball. UGH.

[TheLeviathan]

I had been all over Arcia for his defense pre-season and then complimented him the other day.

 

So I think I'm to blame for this one today.

[Thrylos]

Oblique strain = 30 days on DL.

 

That is my guess with Plouffe. If he was properly diagnosed and if he honest with the medical staff, Plouffe is going to the DL, and not just for two weeks.

 

They said something like bruised ribs and it looked like that than an oblique stain by the way it happened and were he was grabbing himself after he plopped on the ground.

[Rosterman]

Deduno designated Pino Up

If Plouffe is out 30-days, let's designate Florimon and give a shot to Debinson Romero. Even if we lose Pedro, we still have Beresford and Bernier down there.

Move Pelfrey to 60-day.

Figure out what to do with Guerrier and Burton. Trade one and eat salary of other.

Duensing is tradebait.

There are relievers to promote.

If Pino falters, you have My, Johnson and Darnell in the pipeline.

If Correia has a good start or two, move him fast.

I would seitch out Vargas for Parmelee now.

[Thrylos]

I would seitch out Vargas for Parmelee now.

 

Big problem here. Vargas should not sit. Vargas is the better hitter, but his skill set is identical with that of Kendrys Morales. Kennys will be up here in Sept. and replace Kendrys in 2015. Also, this is the last contract season of the Twins-Rock Cats contract. They will move up the street in a 10K people ball park, the biggest in Eastern League. There are a lot in play there...

[jokin]

Big problem here. Vargas should not sit. Vargas is the better hitter, but his skill set is identical with that of Kendrys Morales. Kennys will be up here in Sept. and replace Kendrys in 2015. Also, this is the last contract season of the Twins-Rock Cats contract. They will move up the street in a 10K people ball park, the biggest in Eastern League. There are a lot in play there...

 

Vargas goes yard again today, it's going to be hard to keep him from going to where he's needed in the pennant race in Rochester, if not Minnesota.

[Fire Dan Gladden]

Deduno designated Pino Up

If Plouffe is out 30-days, let's designate Florimon and give a shot to Debinson Romero. Even if we lose Pedro, we still have Beresford and Bernier down there.

Move Pelfrey to 60-day.

Figure out what to do with Guerrier and Burton. Trade one and eat salary of other.

Duensing is tradebait.

There are relievers to promote.

If Pino falters, you have My, Johnson and Darnell in the pipeline.

If Correia has a good start or two, move him fast.

I would seitch out Vargas for Parmelee now.

 

Why the rush to move relievers that are somewhat productive? Middle relievers have zero value on the trade market (maybe a low grade "prospect") and with the crummy rotation, we need these guys.

 

I would not be in a rush to make any big changes on the offensive side, unless you can get great value for Willingham. Like it or not, we are not out of the race yet, and shouldn't destroy those chances

[curt1965]

Just for the sake of an argument, if Mauer goes to 3rd, who plays 1st?

[EephusKnuckler]

Just for the sake of an argument, if Mauer goes to 3rd, who plays 1st?

 

Morales and/or Parmelee.

[curt1965]

Really?

[alnewmanshomer]

Qytewrtgrfedrftged

[Guest USAFChief]

Qytewrtgrfedrftged

Welcome to the board!

 

Pithy and spot on first post, but you might consider punctuation to help put emphasis to your point.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

Pelfrey's not on the 60 day DL yet? What are they waiting for? Every report I have read about his recent procedure said the recovery time was 2 Months + , so why would he still be using up a 40-Man roster spot?

[Otto von Ballpark]

If Joe wasn't in such a funk this would be the time for the Mauer at 3rd experiment. But the way things have been going with him messing with a new position seems like a bad idea. Unfortunate.

 

Before Pinto was sent down, I suggested trying Mauer in corner OF spots as a means to get Pinto more DH reps, keep Morales in the lineup at 1B, and rest Willingham. Maybe take his mind off hitting for a bit.

 

3B is quite a bit more stressful defensively, so probably not recommended (although it could take his mind off hitting even more!).

 

I do wish they weren't quite so quick to give him a full-time position -- he could have easily been subbing at 3B and the OF all season. I know both he and the team might feel a little weird to have their "star" player bouncing around, and they all feel like he could become a defensive asset once he settles in at 1B, but I don't like the idea of going straight to the far end of the defensive spectrum full-time.

[jokin]

Before Pinto was sent down, I suggested trying Mauer in corner OF spots as a means to get Pinto more DH reps, keep Morales in the lineup at 1B, and rest Willingham. Maybe take his mind off hitting for a bit.

 

3B is quite a bit more stressful defensively, so probably not recommended (although it could take his mind off hitting even more!).

 

I do wish they weren't quite so quick to give him a full-time position -- he could have easily been subbing at 3B and the OF all season. I know both he and the team might feel a little weird to have their "star" player bouncing around, and they all feel like he could become a defensive asset once he settles in at 1B, but I don't like the idea of going straight to the far end of the defensive spectrum full-time.

 

Miguel Cabrera didn't have any problem bouncing around, although he was given the offseason to make the adjustments from LF...to 3rd...to 1st....to 3rd....and back to 1st.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Miguel Cabrera didn't have any problem bouncing around, although he was given the offseason to make the adjustments from LF...to 3rd...to 1st....to 3rd....and back to 1st.

 

Yeah, I was thinking, bouncing around in-season, which is a little tougher. But if he had prepared for it, taking reps at those spots in the offseason and spring training, it probably wouldn't be that bad. Like Ben Zobrist around the weaker side of the defensive spectrum. He could still have his regular position at 1B, but just be more capable of moving as needed.

 

I'm sure the Joe and the Twins want him to be an everyday asset at 1B, and they think he needs 100% reps to make that happen. But I think the odds of that happening, the 100% reps requirements, and the benefits of it are somewhat dubious. Seems the benefits could be easily outweighed by playing Willingham and Arcia in the OF corners everyday, not to mention several layers of lost offense when we have to give Willingham a rest (Parmelee/Nunez/Fuld would start in LF, and Morales would have to sit to get him at DH).

[Beezer07]

Cabrera also played 3B in the minors at at the beginning of his ML career. Every position that isn't C is another new position for Mauer to learn.

[Twins33]

Pelfrey's not on the 60 day DL yet? What are they waiting for? Every report I have read about his recent procedure said the recovery time was 2 Months + , so why would he still be using up a 40-Man roster spot?

When they 60 day someone they have to make a corresponding move immediately. They can't leave the spot empty, so I'm guessing they don't want to pick the wrong guy to add to the 40 man since so many guys are getting injured.

 

If they pick the wrong guy, then maybe multiple 40 man moves will need to be made instead of just the one. They'll use it when they have to.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

Makes sense - they are waiting for the day when they remove one of the current starting pitchers from the rotation to add a guy to the 40-man (and I'm guessing call that player up to the 25-man at the same time).

[Otto von Ballpark]

When they 60 day someone they have to make a corresponding move immediately. They can't leave the spot empty, so I'm guessing they don't want to pick the wrong guy to add to the 40 man since so many guys are getting injured.

 

If they pick the wrong guy, then maybe multiple 40 man moves will need to be made instead of just the one. They'll use it when they have to.

 

The only rule I've seen about it says the 40-man has to be full before you can put someone on the 60-day DL. I assume that means full before the move; perhaps it means full afterward too?

 

Could just be common sense. The only benefit of the 60-day DL is opening the roster spot, and there is no benefit to opening the roster spot early, you can instantly move Pelfrey to the 60-day anytime you need to.

 

I wonder if they are keeping the spot flexible in case they could add a CF should one become available (the 40-man is otherwise well-stocked with pitchers, catchers, and infielders, but is still rather short on real outfielders).

[jokin]

Cabrera also played 3B in the minors at at the beginning of his ML career. Every position that isn't C is another new position for Mauer to learn.

 

My response was more to the point of the alleged "indignity" of asking a star player moving around at all. I've never heard Cabrera complain one bit about all of his position movements.

[nicksaviking]

Big problem here. Vargas should not sit. Vargas is the better hitter, but his skill set is identical with that of Kendrys Morales. Kennys will be up here in Sept. and replace Kendrys in 2015. Also, this is the last contract season of the Twins-Rock Cats contract. They will move up the street in a 10K people ball park, the biggest in Eastern League. There are a lot in play there...

 

NB will soon enough be getting an even bigger star. Delaying a deserved promotion would not be in the teams best interest. NB surely knows Vargas won't be playing there next year. The NB deal will come down to factors from off the field, namely $$$$.

[Twins33]

The only rule I've seen about it says the 40-man has to be full before you can put someone on the 60-day DL. I assume that means full before the move; perhaps it means full afterward too?

Full disclose, I don't read over the MLB rules often, this is just something I have heard repeated about a million times (tv/radio-not just Twins, but other broadcasts). It could still be wrong. I don't think I've ever seen any team 60 day someone without immediately making a move to add someone, so what they have said has always seemed legit.

 

Then again, things get reported wrong and it happens repeatedly until someone says different so I don't know 100% for sure, but it's what I've heard my entire life.