September's Predicted Team

[ScottyB]

Here's what I'm guessing the Twins will look like on or about September 1 (when rosters expand):

 

Lineup:

Santana SS

Mauer 1B

Dozier 2B

Arcia RF

Vargas DH

Plouffe 3B

Suzuki C

Parmelee LF

Rosario CF

 

Bench: Escobar, Nunez, Polonco, Pinto, Fryer, Herrmann, Waiver Pickup OF'er or Hicks

 

Rotation:

Gibson

Hughes

Nolasco

May

Milone

 

Bullpen: LH - Perkins, Duensing, Theilbar, Johnson, Darnell

Bullpen: RH - Fien, Meyer, Tonkin, Swarzak, Pressly, Pryor, Pino

 

Gone via waiver/trade: Willingham, Colabello, Coriea, Deduno, Burton

 

This is one man's opinion.  It might give us a glimpse of the future.

[TheLeviathan]

You mean...I'd have reason to turn on the games at night?

[Lakeside]

Don't really disagree with you, but wow, is that a run-challenged line-up.  A guy hitting .230 batting 3rd and a guy hitting .215 batting 4th.  The only real speed you have is Santana (maybe Dozier) and the only real HR threat is the MLB un-proven Vargas.

 

Even with Buxton and Sano waiting in the wings it is evident that the Twins have to bolster the offense in the off-season.  Will they extend Willingham at a lesser salary - in his last 54 games since coming back from injurry he has ht HR's at a 33/year pace??  I'm guessing the Twins are having those thoughts.

 

I'm hoping Nolasco has a great August/September.  Then we can decide to keep him in the rotation or use his 3year/$36 M salary. . .which is reasonable if he is producing at his former rate. . . as a trade for a corner outfielder who could hit 20 HR/year.

 

I agree that they wojn't use Meyer much this season. . as much was said by Rob Antony in March. . .but he will be a big part of the rotation going forward.  I look at a rotation for next year as Gibson, Hughes, Meyer, May, and Milone (and/or Nolasco if not traded) with Berrios, Stewart knocking on the door in another year.  It is hard to fault the front office when you see that they have acquired 4/5 of the rotation for Span, Revere, and Fuld and an inexpensive free agent (Hughes) .. . .and theoretically, Span could be back here as a Free Agent in CF to join the team at the same time the pitcher we acquired for him (Meyer) is promoted.  If so, another good FO move. . .getting Meyer for a 2 year rental of Span when we weren't going anywhere.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[diehardtwinsfan]

Probably take issue with all the guys gone via waiver/trade.  I suspect that we won't lose that many.  Hammer I think will go.  KC might go.

[beckmt]

I think Santana will be in CF with Escobar as the SS. Most of the Twins affiliates will be in the playoffs, so we won't see any of the rest until mid-September. Think most of the players you think are gone will still be here, exceptions might be Correia and Willingham. It looks close to what will probably be.

[jorgenswest]

Hicks is earning a call up in September. Rosario is not close to showing he is a major league player. Escobar has earned the starting SS job.

[Mike Sixel]

I think Santana is your starting CF until Buxton is up. Rosario, imo, is not being promoted this year. He's scuffling in AA. 

 

Heck, and I know this is blasphemy, but if Santana is good this year and next, Buxton might be your LFer.........

[Mike Frasier Law]

I don't think we'll see Rosario this year. Otherwise, I can't argue too much.

[Oxtung]

I started to go through my own list.  Man this is hard.  I ended up with >40 guys who I thought could/should be there.  The bullpen is especially hard to figure out.  The Twins have basically 4 different types of players to consider; current regulars, prospects, 40 man/rule 5 questions, and rewarding minor league veterans.  The regulars are pretty obvious and so I won't go through those as are the the prospects.

 

40 man/rule 5 questions:

Pedro Florimon

James Beresford

Diebinson Romero

Chris Herrmann

Eddie Rosario

Levi Michael

Kris Johnson

Logan Darnell

Johan Pino

Sean Gilmartin

Mark Hamburger

Michael Tonkin

Stephen Pryor

Lester Oliveros

AJ Achter

Aaron Thompson

Deolis Guerra

Cole Johnson

Ryan O'Rourke

Alex Wimmers

 

Rewards:

Doug Bernier

Deibinson Romero

Wilkin Ramirez

Eric Farris

 

Miguel Sano and Alex Meyer will both require 40 man spots this off season.  A lot of tough decisions are going to have to be made.  I think this off season Colabello, Florimon, Herrmann, Fryer, and one or two of Pino, Darnell, Johnson, Gilmartin and a bunch of bullpen pieces are in trouble.  There are just too many people needing 40 man spots. I also fully expect a trade or two of our prospects; Hicks or Rosario wouldn't surprise me at all. 

 

It will be interesting to see what the Twins do with their veterans that probably won't be back next season.  Presumably Willingham will go somewhere on waivers.  I also wonder if one or two of Escobar, Florimon, Nunez get traded still.  With Danny Santana, James Beresford and Jorge Polanco all nearly ready that is a lot of middle infielders.  Burton, Correia, Swarzak, Deduno, Duensing, and Colabello are all expendable at this point.

 

Good post.  Lots of interesting decisions to be made.

[Linus]

I think Santana is your starting CF until Buxton is up. Rosario, imo, is not being promoted this year. He's scuffling in AA. 

 

Heck, and I know this is blasphemy, but if Santana is good this year and next, Buxton might be your LFer.........

Um, no way.  Not a chance.  Never in a million years.  Impossible.  I think that covers it.

 

Santana is the SS of the future however, and needs to start playing there, now.

[Oxtung]

Um, no way.  Not a chance.  Never in a million years.  Impossible.  I think that covers it.

 

Santana is the SS of the future however, and needs to start playing there, now.

 

I don't think Santana's future is in the OF but I don't think he's the SS of the future either.  At least not the long term future.  He is currently riding a BABIP of .396.  His K% is 23; his BB% is 4.6.  That BABIP is going to come back to earth at some point and those plate discipline numbers track his uninspiring minor league rates.  I think it is very unclear whether Santana is even on the 25 man roster in Sept of 2015.

[Linus]

I understand the peripherals but he is just getting his feet wet.  Plus, his speed is a real weapon - he makes things happen and puts pressure on the opposing team.  My opinion is that he is the best SS prospect in the Twins system not named Nick Gordon.  Polanco is not a MLB shortstop (maybe second base).

[Oxtung]

I understand the peripherals but he is just getting his feet wet.  Plus, his speed is a real weapon - he makes things happen and puts pressure on the opposing team.  My opinion is that he is the best SS prospect in the Twins system not named Nick Gordon.  Polanco is not a MLB shortstop (maybe second base).

Unless he can improve his K/BB rates he will always be a fringe player hanging on because of his defense and speed.  The fact that those numbers track his minor league numbers so closely is not a good thing.  Speed and defense can only do so much if you can't hit. 

 

Your point about nothing behind him in the minors is valid.  I wouldn't be surprised if we keep a rotation of SS's for the next several years between Santana, Escobar, players claimed from other teams, veteran journeymen, etc...

[Mike Sixel]

Um, no way.  Not a chance.  Never in a million years.  Impossible.  I think that covers it.

 

Santana is the SS of the future however, and needs to start playing there, now.

 

Why is that impossible? If you think he can hit enough to a be a SS, he can hit enough to be a CF. Who is your LF, if Buxton is in CF? Hicks? Rosario? Other?

 

I don't think it will happen, but to say impossible? Well, we disagree on the definition of impossible, I think.

[Tibs]

Why is that impossible? If you think he can hit enough to a be a SS, he can hit enough to be a CF. Who is your LF, if Buxton is in CF? Hicks? Rosario? Other?

 

I don't think it will happen, but to say impossible? Well, we disagree on the definition of impossible, I think.

I think it would be a big waste of Buxton's ability to put him in LF since that is supposed to be one of the easier defensive positions.

[Mike Sixel]

Only because teams have previously not valued range much......imagine if you had three great defenders in the OF, with your flyball staff, instead of Willingham, Parmalee, and Arcia......

 

Not saying I think it will happen, I don't. But I am also saying I don't see a good LF option in this system right now......

[Linus]

Then you address LF in a different way.  Center field is where you have your absolute stud.  Buxtion in left is a waste.

[DocBauer]

Nice post Scotty. Well thought out and some good ideas.

 

I'd argue Mauer will slide back to the 3 hole with Dozier in the 2 spot.

 

I believe Santana will continue to work in CF as well as SS, with Hicks probably getting some time in CF come September. Rosario is not ready, and there's no reason to burn an option. Hicks, however, has performed well at AA...which he'd damn well better do...and quite frankly, should be allowed to play August at Rochester to close out the year. His option has already been used this year, so why wouldn't you bring him up for September for another look-see?

 

I DO NOT understand the lack of love for Santana as shown by some. For the past couple of years, he's been an enigmatic but very talented young athlete who has shown glimpses. The Twins have been short of middle infield options, and get blasted by many fans for not promoting talented youngsters. So the Twins promote a talented, athletic, young middle infielder with potential before anyone ever expected and he actually plays and performs well. In fact, he plays WAY above expectation. And everyone waits for the other shoe to fall, and yet, it still hasn't! Even post injury, while not quite as lightning, he's still played well and hasn't turned in to a pumpkin yet.

 

All this kid has done is come up early, hit, battled the opposing pitcher, got some XB hits, stolen bases, taken extra bases, shown the ability to bunt, played completely out of position and actually shown improvement, and been a spark for the team.

 

But because nobody had him in a top 100 list, because he wasn't a 1st round pick, because he didn't skyrocket to the majors as a 19 yo prospect straight from A ball we should discount him? I don't get it.