Your Lineup/rotation The Rest Of The Way

[Nick Nelson]

The Twins obviously aren't going to be making a playoff push, so what regular lineup and rotation would you like to see from here on out to keep you interested? Here's what I'd like to see:

 

LINEUP

Santana (SS)

Dozier (2B)

Mauer (1B)

Willingham (LF)

Arcia (RF)

Plouffe (3B)

Vargas (DH)

Suzuki/Pinto ( C )

Hicks (CF)

 

ROTATION

Hughes

Gibson

Milone

May

Meyer

 

Notes:

 

* The Twins seem very skeptical of Pinto's defense, and Suzuki's extension serves as further proof of that. But his bat is clearly good and they've seen him behind the plate for less than 40 MLB games. Let him catch 1 out of every 3 games the rest of the way, getting a chance to work with the pitchers who will be here next year. If they're still convinced at season's end that he can't catch, go from there.

 

* Hicks coming straight back up from Double-A may be a little controversial, but he's killing it down there. Hopefully he's gained enough confidence to come up and have a strong finish. If he hits a wall once again, the Twins should head into next year with him not in the big-league plan.

 

* Notice no Correia in the rotation. I see no value in starting him every fifth day the rest of the way. Find a post-waiver taker, or DFA him. Let the young guys get some exposure to big-league hitting. When Nolasco is healthy, he can come in to replace whoever is struggling, hurt or reaches an inning limit. Or maybe go to a six-man rotation once he returns.

[jorgenswest]

What are your thoughts on keeping Willingham in the line up?

 

Escobar of 5th in OPS playing a key defensive position well. Other young guys haven't performed nearly as well. It might be wise to reward his performance with a spot in the line up.

[Nick Nelson]

If you can find a taker for an August trade, great. But he's good enough that I wouldn't DFA, and there's not anyone I'm dying to give his ABs to.

[GoGonzoJournal]

Lineup and rotation I'd like to see after the Aug. 31 waiver trade deadline.

 

Santana (CF)

Dozier (2B)

Mauer (1B)

Arcia (RF)

Vargas (DH)

Plouffe (3B)

Suzuki ©

Parmelee (LF)

Escobar (SS)

 

Nolasco

Hughes

Milone

Gibson

Meyer

May

 

[TheLeviathan]

Hicks needs to hit AAA before I'd want him anywhere near the big league club.  We've set this kid up for failure too many times by rushing him, I don't want him rushed back based on 150 ABs in AA.

[70charger]

 

* Hicks coming straight back up from Double-A may be a little controversial, but he's killing it down there. Hopefully he's gained enough confidence to come up and have a strong finish. If he hits a wall once again, the Twins should head into next year with him not in the big-league plan.

 

 

I think this is overall a great plan, but I do take issue with this one part. Hicks may be killing it in AA, but go compare his numbers in AA now to what his numbers in AA were two years ago, when his major league status was made inevitable by the Span and Revere trades. They're more or less the same; or at least, I don't find a 24 year old OPSing .876 to be any more impressive than a 22 year old OPSing 844 in the same league.

 

I'd like to see Hicks finish the year in the minors and demonstrate competence against AAA pitching for at least the first month or two next year before he comes back to the majors, hopefully for good.

 

Meantime, I'd keep Santana in center field, and I'd keep Escobar at short.

[Don't Feed the Greed Guy]

I really like your projected lineup, with the exception of Pinto's call-up. I want to see him catch every day through the Fall leagues and winter ball. Next spring he and Vargas can rotate as the Designated Hitter, with Vargas at first when Pinto DH's, and Pinto catching when Vargas is the DH..

 

Correia can move to the bullpen. I also like the six-man rotation, but I don't think it will happen.

 

Hopefully we can still get something for Burton, Correia, and the Hammer. I value two months of prospects' MLB playing time more highly than what we might get for all three.

[John Kelsey]

Santana (CF)

Mauer (1B)

Dozier (2B)

Arcia (RF)

Vargas (DH)

Plouffe (3B)

Suzuki/Pinto ©

Parmelee (LF)

Escobar (SS)

 

Hughes

Gibson

Milone

May

Meyer

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I'd also keep Santana in center and Escobar at short. Keep one or both at the top of the order.

 

Keep Dozier second or third, move Mauer permanently down to sixth - before long it won't be his team anymore  

[Mike Sixel]

Mike's impossibility:

 

CF: Santana (I think he's your CF next year, unless he fails this year)

2B Dozier

1B: Vargas (then Mauer if he returns)

3B Plouffe

C: Suzuki 

RF: Arcia

LF: Parms or someone/anyone, I guess

DH: Vargas/Pinto/Arcia/Wilingham/Mauer

SS: Esco

 

Hicks in AAA. Pinto up and catching 1/3 the time

 

Hughes

Gibson

Milone

May

Meyer

 

Nolasco takes Meyer's spot if he is on a pitch limit, or they just want to move Meyer to the pen. KC to the bullpen, or DFA/waived, traded. At this point, having KC start games just wastes opportunities for learning about all the guys that might be part of the future.

[Linus]

I mostly agree although I want Santana at short, but don't want to have Hicks in center.  He needs to finish the season in AAA.  I also want Parmelee to get regular at bats so we can find out once and for all if he should stay.  Guess this means Hammer gets moved in a waiver deal (same thing with Corriea).

 

No way should Meyer work from the pen.  He's never done it before and would only increase the chance of getting hurt.  Let him make his starts until his innings limit is reached and then shut him down.  Nolasco can take over then.

[Brandon]

_{Santana (CF)}

_{Mauer (1B)}

_{Dozier (2B)}

_{Arcia (RF)}

_{Vargas/ Colabello (DH)}

_{Plouffe (3B)}

_{Suzuki/Pinto ©}

_{Willingham/ Parmelee (LF)}

_{Escobar (SS)}

 

_Hughes

_Gibson

_Milone

_May

_Meyer

_Nolasco

_Pino

 

_{Obviously some of these starters will not get to pitch all the way this year.  I would be happy with May and Meyer getting 3 starts a piece this year.  I would like to see Pino get a few more stars and move to the pen for September.  Nolasco will miss a few more starts which lines up with Pino in terms of when he should probably go to the pen.}

 

_{As far as hitting goes the none of the "power hitters" deserve 100 of the time in their positions.  sof or LF, RF, DH, and some 1B should be rotated between Willingham, Arcia, Parmelee,  Colabello and Vargas (playing time should be divided not necessarily equally but the most AB should go to Willingham on down in the order I have them listed)}

[Otto von Ballpark]

Suzuki/Pinto ©

I was going to suggest this too, but it appears you have it copyrighted.

[Thegrin]

We have 2 months to go.

 

Nobody seems to want the Twins to pitch Correia or bat Willingham.  Let them play for 2 more weeks in the hopes of getting something for them in Trades. Correia had a quality start. If he gets 2 more in a row, the Twins can sit him down and other Teams will understand what they are getting. The same goes for Willingham, who has an .864 OPS since the All-Star Game.

 

Of course, nobody would want to sit them if the Twins were to go on a massive win streak and be relevant for a Wild Card spot.

 

We have 2 months. Parmalee, Dozier, Plouffe, Escobar, Santana and Arcia must be in the lineup every day.  2 months could make a big difference in their overall stats.

 

Mauer needs to be handled VERY carefully.  Anybody that has a bad back knows how much it affects everything in your life.  Mauer needs to be super diligent to do the things necessary to heal his back. If he does his back exercises, therapy & changes the way he does every day things to avoid another strain, it will make a big difference to the Twins in 2015.  Unless the Twins go on the previously mentioned winning streak, there is no reason to push Mauer.

 

However the Twins juggle the roster,  the Twins will need to be flexible with their rotation. There is no reason to give Darnell another start in 2014.  Meyers and/or May should only be brought in to get their feet wet.  Pitch Pino & Johnson until they eliminate themselves from contention.  Forget Nolasco for 2014.  The Twins will get their money's worth in 2015,2016 & 2017.

[DocBauer]

Nick, I don't know how I could really comment you hit it so perfectly.

 

Just a few additional comments:

 

Sorry Mr Fryer, but Pinto is coming up soon to catch a third of our games. He needs and deserves his shot, and we know what Suzuki brings.

 

Hicks goes to Rochester tomorrow, starts every day somewhere, and comes up in September. You've already used an option, bring him up to finish the year in September with no promises. Santana is the CF until then, plays a little SS, plays there a little more come September.

 

Willingham and Correia, I believe, are still gone via waiver trade.

 

I'm a proponent for a 6 man rotation in September, but feel we can also pull it off in August with a 6 man bullpen. It allows more opportunity to sort through various options for next year, and could allow both May, and potentially Meyer, to get real ML experience without pushing their IP limits.

[Kwak]

No need to be concerned about Mauer--he will likely spend the rest of this season recuperating (letting the magic bubbles of the hot tub do their thing.