Plouffe--Up or Down?

[stringer bell]

Plouffe hasn't homered since before the All-Star break and considering how many he hit in June and early July, one would have to consider this a drought. However, he is carrying a 16? game hitting streak and has fielded his position better and better (IMHO).

 

In my view, things are normalizing. He will hit home runs, but I doubt he'll approach 40 and he may not even hit 30. The batting average is going up and his OBP is remaining reasonable. Without home runs, of course, the slugging is decreasing, but I think he is now moving toward the reasonable range there, rather than the inflated number he had two weeks ago.

 

So far, the disappointing thing has been his performance with runners on base. I think he might be getting himself out too often and the pitchers aren't going to feed him a meat fastball. Overall, I think the Twins have lucked themselves into a good third baseman after the total disappointment of Danny Valencia #22.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I'm incredibly pleased with his post-breakout performance. I feared he might revert right back to a no-OBP, swing-at-everything hitter once pitchers started feeding him breaking stuff all day, every day. That hasn't happened. He's adjusting well and I think he'll return to hitting more homers once pitchers realize he'll lay off the breaking stuff if they can't get it over the plate. He's striking out a little too often but it's a manageable number.

[Mr. Ed]

Agreed. I like how he's working the outside pitch. The tendency would be to pull everything if you're ripping HRs.

 

He'll have to jump on mistakes. lost of off-speed.

 

But this is ok with me thus far. Again, with runners on, agreed, has to be better. The at bats don't seem like give-aways, or all/nothing.

[diehardtwinsfan]

pitchers are adjusting to him. He's getting a lot less FBs I'd assume, and I expect him to adjust. He's still hitting, which is good. I'm quite impressed, as its looking more and more like Plouffe could be an above average hitter on this team for most of this decade.

[JB_Iowa]

All we can ask if that he keep adjusting. We knew this was coming -- I'm just pleased with how he has responded.

 

And while he's not near perfection in the field, he does keep hustling.

 

A good learning season for him.

[Fire Dan Gladden]

Still too early, but you have to like that he is doing other things than trying to hit homeruns. Let's hope he doesn't revert back to the Plouffe of old...

[powrwrap]

pitchers are adjusting to him. He's getting a lot less FBs I'd assume, and I expect him to adjust. He's still hitting, which is good. I'm quite impressed, as its looking more and more like Plouffe could be an above average hitter on this team for most of this decade.

Agree with this.

[Guest USAFChief]

As someone who wanted Plouffe to get a full time shot somewhere, it's been very encouraging. He hasn't been overwhelmed, and hasn't been an easy out very often. He seems to have the infield chops to stick at third, and when throwing issues have shown up again, to me they seem to occur when he has TOO much time to think about it. When he throws on the move, or in a hurry, his throws are on the money and strong. That is also encouraging.

 

As for hitting, I could be wrong but it seems to me when he's been getting beat at the plate, it's been more on fastballs than breaking stuff. That is also somewhat encouraging, as it is something that should be easier to adjust too. Lay off the high heat and I think he'll be even a better hitter.

 

Not ready to declare this a success yet, but so far at least he's an upgrade over Valencia.

[stringer bell]

With Smalley in the booth lately, we've heard a lot about Plouffe needing to lay off the high fastball. This is true for a great majority of hitters, including Mauer Willingham. I think pitchers have seen where Plouffe is really dangerous and are avoiding those areas, so Trevor will get his long balls on mistakes, hangers and occasionally driving the ball the other way or to center. He's been getting his hits and a respectable amount of free passes and fielding his position. I am certainly liking what I am seeing in Trevor Plouffe.

[Mr. Ed]

Huge at bat early today with rbi double. GO PLOUFFE

[TheLeviathan]

Valencia is a good example for why we cant get ahead of ourselves. He has been extremely encouraging at the plate and in the field. With how fast this came on and how ir bucks the trend on his entire minors career we have to be cautious. Lets hope this keeps up.

[70charger]

Plouffe has been hugely successful this year. Even after his numbers normalize (and I assume they will), he's a solid player at a very low cost. If he cranks 20-30 home runs in a year on top of that, I've got no complaints.

[spideyo]

I think he's done well, and is earning a spot on the 2013 roster. At this point though, I wouldn't be prepared to hand him a starting job. Right now, we have pretty much zero better options at 3b, so there is no reason not to play him there every day. The more grounders he takes and AB's he has, the better able he is to adjust and grow (in theory).

 

If I were Plouffe though, I'd be spending the off-season working on 1B skills as well as 3B/OF. If we had another option at 3b that could hit, I wouldn't mind seeing Plouffe sub for Mourny against LHP.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I'd be spending my offseason preparing to go back up the middle. There are some potential options at 3rd and not much in the middle...

[Bark's Lounge]

Plouffe should remain at 3B. We all know he will make an E once in a while, but he has been for the most part good with his throws, has shown some decent range. His value is at 3B. He is Valencia's superior. He will get better and I predict he will be very good as a third baseman. Is there a need to keep dissecting this guy? Everyone should be happy with his performance. To me it appears that everyone acts like a selfish brat when they cannot have a perfect scenario or patience with a player developing. I am plain old fashioned tired of it and if someone throws me a metric stat to try to dissuade me I will simply take a piss on it.

[Badsmerf]

What are you guys smoking? The would Plouffe EVER think about going to another position? He is fielding great, hitting great, I'm sure he plans on staying at 3b for the rest of his career. Wow. Very few guys think "hey, if I learn to play other positions I can get shuffled around all season." Leave him at 3b. There are no options other than Valencia ready and I'm pretty sure the Twins are done with him.