What moves would you make right now?

[scottz]

There will be no sending Park to AAA until at least April 18 when they are doing a Park promotion at Target Field. If he's still struggling after that , they'll send him down for a bit - some time between April 25 and April 30.

 

In the meantime, Arcia against right-handers, Kepler into an everyday role the rest of the time he is here, Perkins to the DL to see if he can gain some velocity and replace him with whichever of the minor league bullpen arms we want to audition. At the end of Perkins DL, if Fien is still struggling, DFA Fien and either keep the same minor league arm up or try another auditioner.

 

edit: clarifying who i'd DFA

[tobi0040]

Here are my predictions in the next two to three weeks.  I don't know that we do much of anything right now.

 

Buxton and Park go to AAA.  

 

Sano to DH

 

Kepler goes to RF

 

The pen shake up begins.

 

Things that should happen but won't:

 

Murphy getting drastically more reps than Suzuki.  

 

A deeper pen shake up.

 

Also, I think it is a little unfair to fire Brunansky.  We have to consider the team he was handed here, the inexperience, and whiff rates.

 

Park - 0 MLB at bats with a 25% k rate in Korea.

 

Rosario - 470 MLB at bats, 25% k rate last year.

 

Buxton - 138 MLB at bats. 32% k rate last year and only 59 AB's above AA.

 

Murphy - 270 MLB at bats, 25% k rate.

 

And then you have two guys that even when productive are going to whiff a ton (Sano and Dozier).  Sano had a really productive 335 AB's last year but struck out 35% of the time.  Dozier had a pretty good season and still set the franchise mark.  But given the issues of the Park's, Buxton's, etc, we tally all the k's and these two could add to that tally while still having good years (I think they likely will aside from the first 7 games).

 

Here is a dark horse prediction.  If Sano continues to struggle, we will hear more rumblings about him being overweight.

 

[tobi0040]

 

There will be no sending Park to AAA until at least April 18 when they are doing a Park promotion at Target Field. If he's still struggling after that , they'll send him down for a bit - some time between April 25 and April 30.

 

Unfortunately, that is a great call.

 

And a terrible decision by the Twins.  

[Otto von Ballpark]

Casey Fien still has an option remaining, so you wouldn't have to "cut" him.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Also, I think it is a little unfair to fire Brunansky.  We have to consider the team he was handed here, the inexperience, and whiff rates.

 

Park - 0 MLB at bats with a 25% k rate in Korea.

 

Rosario - 470 MLB at bats, 25% k rate last year.

 

Buxton - 138 MLB at bats. 32% k rate last year and only 59 AB's above AA.

 

Murphy - 270 MLB at bats, 25% k rate.

 

And then you have two guys that even when productive are going to whiff a ton (Sano and Dozier).  Sano had a really productive 335 AB's last year but struck out 35% of the time.  Dozier had a pretty good season and still set the franchise mark

I'm not arguing for a Bruno firing -- but doesn't Bruno have a hand in all of those poor K rates, save for Murphy's and Park's?

[Mike Sixel]

 

Casey Fien still has an option remaining, so you wouldn't have to "cut" him.

 

Meh, I guess, but I don't want him on the roster anyway. He's older, and he's not good. He never should have been on the team in the first place. Either they believe in the "draft RP strategy", or they don't. 

[Loosey]

 

 

1) Park needs to see AAA pitching for a month or so.  At least get his confidence back.  He showed he could handle AAA and AAAA pitchers in spring trainging.  So that is the first thing I would do.

 

2) DFA Fien.  He really isn't good.  Shouldn't have been offered Arbitration to begin with. 

 

3) Sano goes to DH 3 of 4 games. Then plays 3rd base once a week.  Let him concentrate solely on hitting to get his biggest asset back.

 

4a) Arcia needs to play.  He can't be much worse that what we have seen so far from our outfielders.  Rosario has been bad.  Swings at everything and now the last two games has made some questionable decisions in the outfield.

 

4b) Kepler needs to play.  What is the point of having one of you prospects up if you just leave him on the bench to rot away.  He had the most professional at bat a Twins player has had all year on Sunday to get a walk and then he sits on the bench on Monday.

 

5)Tell Terry Ryan this is his last season.  He can announce he is retiring if he wants to save face.  But either way he will not be making decisions in 2017.

 

6) The more I think about it this terrible start may be a blessing in disguise.  It is almost the opposite of last May which was the worst thing that could have happened to this teams rebuild.  If the awfulness continues maybe the front office will start shipping out unneeded old parts and just go with a youth movement across the board and in the bullpen.  Nothing to lose at that point.

New Lineup Beginning in May:

 

Kepler - LF

Escobar - SS

Mauer - 1B

Sano - DH

Plouffe - 3B

Dozier - 2B

Arcia - RF

Buxton - CF

Murphy - C

 

Bench:

Polanco

Rosario

Suzuki

 

As good as Nunez has been at the plate, I think he is going to be dead weight going forward.  He is what he is.

 

 

 

 

[Loosey]

 

 

Casey Fien still has an option remaining, so you wouldn't have to "cut" him.

But you don't have to keep him either.  He is what he is.  They have better options in the minors.  Give Fiend the chance to grab on with another team.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Meh, I guess, but I don't want him on the roster anyway. He's older, and he's not good. He never should have been on the team in the first place. Either they believe in the "draft RP strategy", or they don't. 

Sure, but unless you immediately need the 40-man roster spot for his replacement (which probably isn't the case), you might as well keep him in the org at the moment. This bullpen looks like it could have a few other weak spots, might as well keep your options open.

[Loosey]

 

 

Here are my predictions in the next two to three weeks.  I don't know that we do much of anything right now.

 

Buxton and Park go to AAA.  

 

Sano to DH

 

Kepler goes to RF

 

The pen shake up begins.

 

Things that should happen but won't:

 

Murphy getting drastically more reps than Suzuki.  

 

A deeper pen shake up.

 

Also, I think it is a little unfair to fire Brunansky.  We have to consider the team he was handed here, the inexperience, and whiff rates.

 

Park - 0 MLB at bats with a 25% k rate in Korea.

 

Rosario - 470 MLB at bats, 25% k rate last year.

 

Buxton - 138 MLB at bats. 32% k rate last year and only 59 AB's above AA.

 

Murphy - 270 MLB at bats, 25% k rate.

 

And then you have two guys that even when productive are going to whiff a ton (Sano and Dozier).  Sano had a really productive 335 AB's last year but struck out 35% of the time.  Dozier had a pretty good season and still set the franchise mark.  But given the issues of the Park's, Buxton's, etc, we tally all the k's and these two could add to that tally while still having good years (I think they likely will aside from the first 7 games).

 

Here is a dark horse prediction.  If Sano continues to struggle, we will hear more rumblings about him being overweight.

I think Buxton's whiff rate will drop.  He seems to be taking better at bats the last few games in my opinion and yesterday actually made decent contact a few times. (Jeez - I am excited about our players making contact . . . .  This is going to be a long year isn't it?)

[USAFChief]

I think if I spent all winter assembling this team, and all spring training making decisions on what's the best current deployment, I'd give it more than a week before making big decisions.

 

Although, figuring out how to put more usable options in the pen might not be a bad idea immediately.  It's just "mind boggling" how they're to afraid to use a guy like Tonkin in a prominent role, for a couple years now, while simultaneously afraid he'll be claimed by another team, so he must be kept on the 25 man roster.

 

 

[Mike Sixel]

Right, you are terrified to put him in a game, but you also care if you lose him? wut?

[alarp33]

 

Right, you are terrified to put him in a game, but you also care if you lose him? wut?

 

Same goes for Arcia

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

New Lineup Beginning in May:

 

Kepler - LF

Escobar - SS

Mauer - 1B

Sano - DH

Plouffe - 3B

Dozier - 2B

Arcia - RF

Buxton - CF

Murphy - C

 

Bench:

Polanco

Rosario

Suzuki

 

As good as Nunez has been at the plate, I think he is going to be dead weight going forward.  He is what he is.

I agree with much of the lineup you've posted but what is the benefit of swapping Nunez for Polanco? So the guy gets to rot on the bench instead of getting regular PAs in Rochester? That seems like a foolish way to handle a prospect with upside.

 

Polanco has less than 100 PAs in AAA. Putting him in a bench role seems pretty short-sighted. The guy can use more seasoning.

[jokin]

 

I think Buxton's whiff rate will drop.  He seems to be taking better at bats the last few games in my opinion and yesterday actually made decent contact a few times. (Jeez - I am excited about our players making contact . . . .  This is going to be a long year isn't it?)

 

You're not as excited as DickNBert were... as they scrambled futilely throughout yesterday's drubbing in search of silver linings...

[Loosey]

 

I agree with much of the lineup you've posted but what is the benefit of swapping Nunez for Polanco? So the guy gets to rot on the bench instead of getting regular PAs in Rochester? That seems like a foolish way to handle a prospect with upside.

 

Polanco has less than 100 PAs in AAA. Putting him in a bench role seems pretty short-sighted. The guy can use more seasoning.

I agree with you and thought of that after I made my fake roster change.  It is essentially what they are doing for 3 games so far with Kepler.

[cjj td]

 

 

 

Kepler should be playing every day. Why he hasn't played much yet, is mind boggling. 
 

 

I don't think it's mind boggling at all.  He's been up for 2 games and appeared in 1.

 

Like the most annoying quarterback on this planet (and maybe some alien planets as well ;-), said... r  e  l  a  x. 

 

Everybody take a deep breath.  Young team - uneven results... it's going to be a theme that people need get used to.  Or you could go nuts I guess.  I love baseball, but I'm not going to lose any sleep over a rough start to the season.  Let's see how things shake out after a few weeks.

[Mike Sixel]

But it isn't a young team. Not even close.

[Vanimal46]

But it isn't a young team. Not even close.

Correct. The average age of the starting rotation is 30 years old... And the only young guys getting significant playing time is the OF - Rosario, Buxton, and Sano.

[alarp33]

 

Correct. The average age of the starting rotation is 30 years old... And the only young guys getting significant playing time is the OF - Rosario, Buxton, and Sano.

 

Eduardo Escobar just turned 27

[TheLeviathan]

I don't think you can do anything with the position players yet, I think it'll have to wait until May to correct the mistakes of this offseason.  When that happens we'll hopefully have a good read on Kepler.  I'd like to see this as soon as possible:

 

RF Kepler

SS Escobar

1B Mauer

DH Sano

2B Dozier

3B Plouffe

LF Rosario

C Murphy

CF Buxton

 

That's the best 9 this team can field both offensively and defensively.  The sooner we get to that - the better.  

[Vanimal46]

Eduardo Escobar just turned 27

And Brian Dozier is 28. Both have 3 years service time. I'd consider them established instead of young, inexperienced players, correct?

[lightfoot789]

Just saying...............
35 - HRs
31 - 2B's
5 - 3B's
71 - XBH's
127 - RBI
101 - RUNS
195 - SO's
PER 162 GAME AVERAGE (MiLB #'s)

 

I know I know - He would "probably" strike out even more than Sano, Buxton, and Park?  He "probably" wouldn't come close to touching MLB pitching if these guys are struggling?  I know one thing - When ABW II was on those stacked minor league teams with Sano and Buxton, his numbers were crazy good.  And I said CRAZY GOOD.  Do RBI's matter now folks?  I'm thinking DH opportunity couldn't provide  any worse production!  Do you know of anybody in minor league baseball who shares those above number comparisons?  Risk - Reward!  Time to take a Risk

 

 

[alarp33]

 

And Brian Dozier is 28. Both have 3 years service time. I'd consider them established instead of young, inexperienced players, correct?

 

I guess I'm just nitpicking.  Dozier will be 29 in a month though and has been a 3 year starter.  If we're talking about the "future" I think its fair to count Escobar in with the younger guys who may be around for awhile (I think Polanco takes over for Dozier or even Plouffe, and Gordon is 2-3 years away)

[Loosey]

 

Although, figuring out how to put more usable options in the pen might not be a bad idea immediately.  It's just "mind boggling" how they're to afraid to use a guy like Tonkin in a prominent role, for a couple years now, while simultaneously afraid he'll be claimed by another team, so he must be kept on the 25 man roster.

My 4 year old son can explain this very easily using some of his older toys as an example.  He doesn't play it anymore and doesn't like them.  But if I were to get rid of them he would be incredibly mad.  When I ask him why is he mad if I get rid of a toy he doesn't like or play with his reason is two-fold.

 

1) Because . ..

 

and

 

2) It's mine and I want to keep it.

 

Simple . . .

[tobi0040]

 

Just saying...............
35 - HRs
31 - 2B's
5 - 3B's
71 - XBH's
127 - RBI
101 - RUNS
195 - SO's
PER 162 GAME AVERAGE (MiLB #'s)

 

I know I know - He would "probably" strike out even more than Sano, Buxton, and Park?  He "probably" wouldn't come close to touching MLB pitching if these guys are struggling?  I know one thing - When ABW II was on those stacked minor league teams with Sano and Buxton, his numbers were crazy good.  And I said CRAZY GOOD.  Do RBI's matter now folks?  I'm thinking DH opportunity couldn't provide  any worse production!  Do you know of anybody in minor league baseball who shares those above number comparisons?  Risk - Reward!  Time to take a Risk

 

Literally the last thing this team needs right now is another k prone hitter with very little experience above AA ball.   We are littered with them.

 

 

[Vanimal46]

I guess I'm just nitpicking. Dozier will be 29 in a month though and has been a 3 year starter. If we're talking about the "future" I think its fair to count Escobar in with the younger guys who may be around for awhile (I think Polanco takes over for Dozier or even Plouffe, and Gordon is 2-3 years away)

I get where you're coming from. I agree Escobar can be included in the younger guys for the future.

 

The OP you replied to I was agreeing with Mike that this isn't a young team.. The OF is the only position players getting significant playing time with ~1 year of service time. The rest is full of veterans and 30 year old Park.

[tobi0040]

 

Although, figuring out how to put more usable options in the pen might not be a bad idea immediately.  It's just "mind boggling" how they're to afraid to use a guy like Tonkin in a prominent role, for a couple years now, while simultaneously afraid he'll be claimed by another team, so he must be kept on the 25 man roster.

 

Spot on observation. 

 

We should spend less time worrying about losing fringe players that don't contribute.  Like rule 5 players, mop up releivers, etc.  and spend a little time scouting other teams roster cuts to find guys that can help our team in the event someone like Tonkin is claimed.  Then field the best team we can.

[cjj td]

 

Correct. The average age of the starting rotation is 30 years old.

 In the games I've watched, the starting pitching hasn't been the reason we've been losing.  In the games I haven't watched, the box score tells me that..... starting pitching hasn't been the reason we've been losing. 

 

What I have seen, is that our young (or MLB inexperienced) players are having a hard time putting the bat on the ball (along with some veterans), coupled with a leaky late inning pen.

 

Specifically in my original post I was commenting (age-wise) on the offensive side of the ball.

[Mike Sixel]

The entire infield is veterans, not young at all. That is 5 of nine. And the DH is 29.