Buxton and Kepler

[Linus]

Sure liking how the outfield looks when these two guys are out there. I really hope they show enough not to go back to Rochester as that would really force some change. D. Santana, Sano, Arcia and Park could all be affected. I would option Park today and give Arcia a run at DH. When Sano comes back he rotates from 3rd to 1st and DH until Plouffe gets moved. At that point park and Arcia battle it out for DH.

[Platoon]

Or as long as you don't PH or basically use your bench anyway, have Park and Arcia platoon at DH. But that would be pretty innovative for this bunch. I love Arcia, somewhere he is going to make it. But I doubt it will be here. Either way, unless Kepler and Buxton are hitting under .100 they better not go down. It's time to move on. Someone, I think LEN3 wrote about Buxton looking better but still chasing balls dipping down on him? Torii Hunter was chasing them the day before he retired.

[diehardtwinsfan]

well, he's above the Mendoza line with this last callup.  That alone means he's hitting at a decent clip. 

[mikecgrimes]

 

 Someone, I think LEN3 wrote about Buxton looking better but still chasing balls dipping down on him? Torii Hunter was chasing them the day before he retired.

 

Exactly, as long as you're getting hit's often enough it doesn't matter how ugly your outs are, so far so good since the call up.  It amazes me how hard people get on kids if they aren't dominating the first call up or two. Can't wait to see this team once Buxton Sano and Kepler start to hit consistently.

[mudcat14]

 

Sure liking how the outfield looks when these two guys are out there. I really hope they show enough not to go back to Rochester as that would really force some change. D. Santana, Sano, Arcia and Park could all be affected. I would option Park today and give Arcia a run at DH. When Sano comes back he rotates from 3rd to 1st and DH until Plouffe gets moved. At that point park and Arcia battle it out for DH.

 

I agree with most of that.  I'd trade Park instead of optioning him.  The Mets are down both Wight and Duda.  Perhaps they'd have interest in Park or Plouffe or both.  Bottom line, FIRE SALE!

[Winston Smith]

I'd like to see Arcia get an extended look against RH pitching with Grossman against LH pitching. Find out if he is worth keeping. Kind of at the sh** or get off the pot time for Arcia and Ryan, imo.

[blindeke]

As the Royals (and lots of other teams) prove, good outfield defense is pretty valuable.

[jokin]

 

As the Royals (and lots of other teams) prove, good outfield defense is pretty valuable.

 

Still hasn't been proven valuable enough to a certain FO. When push comes to shove...  "better than the numbers indicate" is the words they seem to still live by.

[longstrangetrip]

 

I agree with most of that.  I'd trade Park instead of optioning him.  The Mets are down both Wight and Duda.  Perhaps they'd have interest in Park or Plouffe or both.  Bottom line, FIRE SALE!

I'm not just saying this because Park just hit a long home run, but I think it's way too early to think about moving him.  I thought that he would hit about .230 with 35 HRs, and while he is currently batting lower than .230, he's still on pace for about 35 dingers.  He's also 3rd on the team in slugging average, only a few percentage points behind Sano.  The guy is still adjusting to a different game and culture, and should get better. I'd like to keep running him out there at DH with occasional starts at 1b.

 

[birddog]

Buxton is notoriously slow out of the gate and his trip to AAA was just what he needed as he looks like a totally different hitter now. I like Kepler's aggressiveness as opposed to his first go round. He's ready to hit that first pitch if it's a strike. I do think sending Park down for a couple weeks would be in everyone's best interest even though I think he will become a very good hitter at some point with more experience against MLB pitching. I agree that we have to get more playing time to Arcia as a decision will have to be made who goes down/gets released once Santana and Sano come off the DL.

[kab21]

Why on earth is optioning Park (hitting .763 OPS) in order to play Arcia more (.671 OPS)?

 

This really doesn't make any sense.

[Badsmerf]

They could give park a few more days off vs rhp in favor of arcia. I very much dislike how molitor constructs line-ups. At least gardy was slightly capable of taking advantage of splits.

[S.]

Park deserves as much slack on transition time as any of our young players in my opinion. Not only is the transition for Korean ball to MLB just as big as a jump from the minors to the majors, he's also dealing with the cultural transition. Sure, I wish he was more consistent so far, but i'm not going to be too harsh on him yet. Give him time to see pitchers for the first and second time, different ballparks, etc. If at the end of the year he's still scuffling or it doesn't look like he's gonna be able to catch up to fastballs, then we can start worrying some. For now, it's no different than one of the kids having some struggles. Give him time to adjust. Plus, we stink, so I don't see any benefit to him being in the minors vs learning against MLB pitchers.

[kab21]

Park could be better and more consistent but there is no chance that I would take him out of the lineup other than an occasional day off. Out of all the problems that the Twins are having, Park isn't one of them.

 

So far there isn't any data that says he should be platooned either.

[Platoon]

It's never good when they issue an intentional walk to get to your 4 hitter. Even given the fact that the guy was Mauer, you just put another guy on base for your big power bat. Either the other manager was out of his mind, or you should look in the mirror and see what the opposition thinks of your lineup!

[Pitz]

 

As the Royals (and lots of other teams) prove, good outfield defense is pretty valuable.

 

Still hasn't been proven valuable enough to a certain FO. When push comes to shove...  "better than the numbers indicate" is the words they seem to still live by.

Well, yeah having great outfield defenders hasn't seemed all that necessary for the Twins. Anybody can turn and watch the ball fly out of the park.

[mudcat14]

I'm not saying Park has been a disappointment or anything.  I'd move him because he may have some value and we have younger, cheaper players to assume his AB's (Arcia, Grossman, Rosario & Vargas.)  One could argue that it would be nice to have an older, veteran leader around to mentor our young line-up, but that's not Parks role as a total newcomer to American baseball himself.  

 

As it sits right now, I would literally give away Dozier, Plouffe and Hughes/Nolasco/Santana to anyone who'd take them.  Perhaps Nunez or Park could net us someone capable of catching in the big leagues in the next few years.

[Mike Sixel]

I don't believe Rosario or Vargas will ever hit enough to be MLB starters. I did not understand the Park signing, given his age, but no way I trade him to make room for those guys.

[kab21]

 

I don't believe Rosario or Vargas will ever hit enough to be MLB starters. I did not understand the Park signing, given his age, but no way I trade him to make room for those guys.

I would certainly trade him for a really good prospect but he hasn't played enough to get anything significant back.

 

I am a little frustrated that some are trying to make the team worse than it already is. I could see if Arcia was really hot and he couldn't even get playing time in the OF but he has been fairly awful this year (39% K rate - <.700 OPS).

 

 

[HitInAPinch]

Man, can't believe I'm still reading this 'Buxton is a slow starter' stuff. 

In these last 6 games, Buxton has a .435 BA  .417 OBP .652 SLG 1.069 OPS

 

The days of excuses are over.  Buxton's really looking like he's here to stay.

 

Seriously, where would anyone play Vargas?  Rosario?  I don't know all the details of what he did, but he obviously did plenty to piss off Molitor.  And I didn't really think that possible. 

 

 

[Loosey]

 

I would certainly trade him for a really good prospect but he hasn't played enough to get anything significant back.

 

I am a little frustrated that some are trying to make the team worse than it already is. I could see if Arcia was really hot and he couldn't even get playing time in the OF but he has been fairly awful this year (39% K rate - <.700 OPS).

My argument to you on Arcia is when he gets consistent playing time he is significantly better than when he plays sporatically.  Yes, his numbers are lower than most would hope, but I don't want the Twins to give up on him yet.  We've seen what he can do when he plays every day.  We also have seen that Park can hit pretty well too. 

 

A trade candidate in my opinion, if he keeps hitting, would be Grossman.  He has been great so far but is this a SSS or is he a later bloomer (26 years old) ready to be good player for 5+ years?  I could see a contending team willing to find out.  I could also see the Twins be willing to find out if they have a new OF of Grossman, Buxton, Kepler for a few years.

[Loosey]

 

 

Man, can't believe I'm still reading this 'Buxton is a slow starter' stuff. 

In these last 6 games, Buxton has a .435 BA  .417 OBP .652 SLG 1.069 OPS

 

The days of excuses are over.  Buxton's really looking like he's here to stay.

 

Seriously, where would anyone play Vargas?  Rosario?  I don't know all the details of what he did, but he obviously did plenty to piss off Molitor.  And I didn't really think that possible. 

I think the slow starter stuff is in regards to his first stint up here. 

 

He has been pretty great since his recall.  K Rate is down to 26% and a .435 BA.  I hope this is a glympse of what to expect for the next 10+ years.

[HitInAPinch]

 

I think the slow starter stuff is in regards to his first stint up here. 

 

He has been pretty great since his recall.  K Rate is down to 26% and a .435 BA.  I hope this is a glympse of what to expect for the next 10+ years.

Honestly, the only thing he's missing is walks.  But right now, he's to busy hitting the damn ball     

[Vanimal46]

Very happy that Buxton's found his groove and doing well since the recall. Now I can only hope that Molly's man crush D Santana finds his way to the bench when he returns from the DL. 

[nicksaviking]

I'm really not for optioning Park; I'm OK with him learning up at the MLB level.

 

However, if a month from now we see that it did work for Buxton and Park is still struggling, I'm more than comfortable changing my approach to the situation.

[Rosterman]

Okay, Santana and Sano come back.

 

One of the moves means a pitcher goes, probably Pressley because he has options (or Rogers). Everyone else is pretty much stuck. Unless the Twins cut loose Jepsen.

 

Sano then complicates the matter. He plays right, Kepler goes down. Because we still have Arcia, Grossman and Santana as extra outfielders. Unless you quickly move Plouffe. Some player will have to go. I suppose you could send Santana back to the minors. Or make a hard decision on Arcia.

 

I would truly like to see Park at first base and Mauer DH, although my wife says that may destroy Mauer. See if Park improves with time on the field, rather than riding the bench most innings.

 

Of course, someone could make an offer on Nunez (shades of Luis Castillo when the clubhouse erupted). Hopefully, if someone does (like the Mets) the Twins can include a Nolasco or Hughes contract in the deal, too, to sweeten the prospects pot and make more roster openings.

 

[Mike Sixel]

If you include Nolasco or Hughes, you lessen the return, not increase it, right? They have negative value at those prices, don't they?

 

don't forget, Gibson should come back soon also.....so there is another pitcher.

 

We'll learn something, I think, when they need to send down a pitcher, will they send down a young player that might have a future, or will they cut Jepsen and stick with veterans that cost money?

[wsnydes]

 

We'll learn something, I think, when they need to send down a pitcher, will they send down a young player that might have a future, or will they cut Jepsen and stick with veterans that cost money?

Part of this may have already been foreshadowed by the fact that Molitor continues to trot Jepsen out there in the closer's role.  He's made no real adjustment there despite it clearly not working.  The fact that he has closer experience isn't exactly mattering at this point.  It's early June and nobody else has been given an opportunity.  

[alarp33]

 

 

Of course, someone could make an offer on Nunez (shades of Luis Castillo when the clubhouse erupted). Hopefully, if someone does (like the Mets) the Twins can include a Nolasco or Hughes contract in the deal, too, to sweeten the prospects pot and make more roster openings.

 

Nunez + Nolasco or Nunez + Hughes have 0 trade value. You couldn't even get a team to accept both of them, let alone give you a prospect in return.  

 

If you want the Pohlad's to get financial relief, you would have to attach a high end prospect to Hughes to get anyone to take on that contract. Why would anyone want this?

[stringer bell]

Okay, Santana and Sano come back.

 

One of the moves means a pitcher goes, probably Pressley because he has options (or Rogers). Everyone else is pretty much stuck. Unless the Twins cut loose Jepsen.

 

Sano then complicates the matter. He plays right, Kepler goes down. Because we still have Arcia, Grossman and Santana as extra outfielders. Unless you quickly move Plouffe. Some player will have to go. I suppose you could send Santana back to the minors. Or make a hard decision on Arcia.

 

I would truly like to see Park at first base and Mauer DH, although my wife says that may destroy Mauer. See if Park improves with time on the field, rather than riding the bench most innings.

 

Of course, someone could make an offer on Nunez (shades of Luis Castillo when the clubhouse erupted). Hopefully, if someone does (like the Mets) the Twins can include a Nolasco or Hughes contract in the deal, too, to sweeten the prospects pot and make more roster openings.

Aren't there plenty of pitchers to be sent down? Dean, Rogers, Boshers, Kintzler (pretty effective so far) and Duffey (three straight bad starts). IMHO, Duffey has been given more rope than Milone had. Pressly has had some good appearances lately, I truly doubt they would use his last option at this point.