Article: Three-Bagger: Kennys, New Guys & What The Hector

[Nick Nelson]

Over the weekend, Kennys Vargas was sent to the minors, the Twins called up two newly acquired pitching prospects, and Hector Santiago got rocked.

 

Read on for analysis of each development.* The Twins needed pitching reinforcements after Friday night's marathon contest in Kansas City extended past bar close. The unfortunate victim in the ensuing roster shuffling was Kennys Vargas, who hasn't done much during his time with the team to deserve a demotion.

 

Since coming up in early July, Vargas has posted a .955 OPS with six homers and 17 walks in 25 games, delivering both patience and power. The switch-hitter has cooled off here in August amidst sparse playing time. Therein lies the problem.

 

Joe Mauer is locked in at first. Miguel Sano is relegated mostly to DH as long as Trevor Plouffe is here and maybe beyond, given the elbow issues. This leaves no path to immediate playing time for Vargas, and that didn't figure to change any time soon. The 26-year-old's offensive profile looks good in the middle of the order, but there's not a fit for him here. The same was true for Oswaldo Arcia, who was designated for assignment by the Rays over the weekend.

 

Sometimes, being able to crush the ball simply isn't enough.

 

* In the corresponding move when Vargas was optioned, the Twins called up Adalberto Mejia, who came over in the Eduardo Nunez trade. The lefty had been fairly sharp in his first three starts with Rochester, but got pushed into the big-league fold sooner than anyone expected, out of necessity.

 

Mejia made his MLB debut in mop-up duty, handling the middle innings of a blowout loss. He didn't fare too well, yielding five hits and a walk over 2 1/3 innings, and was optioned following the game. It wasn't the most glamorous opportunity for his first chance, but the prospect did his thing and should be back in 10 days when rosters expand.

 

Replacing him on the staff is Pat Light, who was acquired by the Twins a few days after Mejia. Rob Antony and the front office are wasting no time getting a look at their new additions. Light made a couple of inauspicious appearances in the Red Sox bullpen this year before being swapped for Fernando Abad on deadline day. He was still waiting for his first extended chance in the majors.

 

Now, he should get it, albeit 10 days after it was supposed to happen. MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger explains the rookie's phantom call-up:

Light was nearly called up by the Twins on Aug. 11, when lefty Buddy Boshers was placed on the 15-day disabled list after the first game of a doubleheader, but Light's flight was ultimately cancelled. Light, though, took it in stride and was able to joke about the incident.

 

"That was a special day," Light said with a laugh. "I went to the airport in Syracuse and they kept delaying the flight. I ended up not being able to get there by game time. So it is what it is."

You can only imagine how frustrating the experience must have been for the hard-throwing righty, so this opportunity must feel redeeming.

 

Light has put up impressive numbers in Triple-A this year (2.37 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 9.9 K/9) so I'm eager to see what he's got.

 

* One player that has failed to impress in several chances for his new club is Hector Santiago. His horrendous outing at Kauffman Stadium on Saturday night paved the way for Mejia's long-relief outing. The veteran has been raked all over the yard whenever he has taken the hill for the Twins. His first impression feels similar to the one Tommy Milone gave after coming over from the West Coast two years ago.

 

Of course, Milone shook off the slump and reverted back to his old self the following year. In 2015, he put up a 3.92 ERA and 1.28 WHIP in 128 innings, perfectly respectable numbers. We can reasonably expect the same from Santiago. The problem is that, like Milone, Santiago at his best is essentially an average pitcher.

 

Do the Twins want to commit to such low-risk, low-reward gambles at a time when they need to be aiming high? Luckily, Santiago's contract status essentially gives Minnesota a team option for next year, so they can make that decision on its own merit.

 

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[theBOMisthebomb]

How can a team with one of the worst records in the league not have room for a guy with a .955 OPS? It's time to face reality and confront the option of sitting Mauer more often or benching him entirely. I'd rather see what Vargas can do these last 6 weeks as opposed to getting the same old Joe.

[mdonaghue]

Agreed. I can't believe they don't relegate Mauer and Plouffe to the bench. I get Sano's elbow issue but he needs to play every day. Everyone seems to forget what a horrible fielder Koskie was when he came up. If the ball wasn't hit right at him, he couldn't get to it. Mauer has become a tease with the stick - flashes of what he was but not consistent. Stick Vargas and Sano out there the rest of the season and see what happens.

[old nurse]

It is the battle of the small sample sizes. Vargas' July vs August numbers. Which numbers are a reflection of his true talent?

 

Love the Arcia reference. Yup, sometimes being able to mash a ball isn't enough. It isn't enough when it does not happen enough. It has to happen even more when when you can't catch the ball.

[Deduno Abides]

Why do you consider Santiago to be "low risk"? At next year's contract, he appears to be high risk. By advanced stats, his best year was 2013, when he won 4 games.

[troyhobbs]

It is the battle of the small sample sizes. Vargas' July vs August numbers. Which numbers are a reflection of his true talent?

 

Love the Arcia reference. Yup, sometimes being able to mash a ball isn't enough. It isn't enough when it does not happen enough. It has to happen even more when when you can't catch the ball.

 

Grossman and Santana better start mashing then. Arcia probs a better option than those 2, not to mention Buxton...

[ThejacKmp]

 

Why do you consider Santiago to be "low risk"? At next year's contract, he appears to be high risk. By advanced stats, his best year was 2013, when he won 4 games.

 

Wins mean nothing. Bad argument.

[ThejacKmp]

 

Grossman and Santana better start mashing then. Arcia probs a better option than those 2, not to mention Buxton...

 

I think the fact that Arcia was designated for assignment by the Rays negates him being a better option than those two. I don't love Grossman and Santana but Arcia provides very little. Power is nice but you have to do more.

[Nick Nelson]

 

Why do you consider Santiago to be "low risk"? At next year's contract, he appears to be high risk. By advanced stats, his best year was 2013, when he won 4 games.

I don't think there's ever much risk in signing a guy to a one-year deal.  It's not a hampering commitment. His strange struggles this month notwithstanding, Santiago has pretty consistently been the same guy over his five-year career. I say "low-risk" in comparison to someone with more upside and perhaps less of a stable track record. 

 

 

[ThejacKmp]

 

How can a team with one of the worst records in the league not have room for a guy with a .955 OPS? It's time to face reality and confront the option of sitting Mauer more often or benching him entirely. I'd rather see what Vargas can do these last 6 weeks as opposed to getting the same old Joe.

 

Because that's a really really soft .955 OPS. It's based on 85 at bats. In 285 at bats in AAA his OPS is .788. This screams small sample size. Don't get me wrong, I'm excited to see Vargas go - he's a switch hitter with pop from both sides of the plate. I'd love to see him as a bench player for the Twins next year when Plouffe being gone (one way or the other) puts Sano at 3B and leaves that 1B/DH picture a bit less crowded (well, still Park/Mauer/Vargas but that's a bit more open). But to say that he's earned a closer look is a bit much - he's not some elite prospect who is going to be a future star.

 

Right or wrong, Mauer isn't getting benched. Even though he is not the Joe Mauer of old, fans still get excited when he comes up. He still is a fan favorite (though not a TD favorite). When you have a bad team, they're not benching a guy who puts butts in seats.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Because that's a really really soft .955 OPS. It's based on 85 at bats. In 285 at bats in AAA his OPS is .788. This screams small sample size. Don't get me wrong, I'm excited to see Vargas go - he's a switch hitter with pop from both sides of the plate. I'd love to see him as a bench player for the Twins next year when Plouffe being gone (one way or the other) puts Sano at 3B and leaves that 1B/DH picture a bit less crowded (well, still Park/Mauer/Vargas but that's a bit more open). But to say that he's earned a closer look is a bit much - he's not some elite prospect who is going to be a future star.

 

Right or wrong, Mauer isn't getting benched. Even though he is not the Joe Mauer of old, fans still get excited when he comes up. He still is a fan favorite (though not a TD favorite). When you have a bad team, they're not benching a guy who puts butts in seats.

 

Don't you need a closer look at guys on the border, than guys that are future stars? You "know" the stars will be here, but it's the edge cases where you need more data....

 

Do people think Mauer is adding butts to seats anymore? 

[birddog]

Maybe female seats, but not baseball people.

[gocgo]

 

Do people think Mauer is adding butts to seats anymore? 

 

Yes.  My kids still get excited when he comes up.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Yes.  My kids still get excited when he comes up.

 

And, you go to more games than you otherwise would because of that? you buy more tickets?

 

how many tickets do you think the Twins sell because mauer is on the team, at this point?

[wsnydes]

 

And, you go to more games than you otherwise would because of that? you buy more tickets?

 

how many tickets do you think the Twins sell because mauer is on the team, at this point?

I think he's still a draw, but nowhere near what he was in his prime.  You still see plenty of Mauer jerseys and jersey shirts.  Absent another face of the franchise, I don't know that any single player is really a draw at this point.  Mauer is probably the closest they have to that yet with Sano gaining ground.

[Mike Sixel]

Wining is the only thing that will fix attendance at this point.

[gocgo]

 

And, you go to more games than you otherwise would because of that? you buy more tickets?

 

how many tickets do you think the Twins sell because mauer is on the team, at this point?

Do I?  No.  Just saying that kids still get excited when Joe comes to the plate.  Parents like happy kids.  Does that mean they buy tickets?  Dunno, but I can tell you that if their kids do not get excited about going to the park, they aren't buying tickets.

[TheTruth]

 

How can a team with one of the worst records in the league not have room for a guy with a .955 OPS? It's time to face reality and confront the option of sitting Mauer more often or benching him entirely. I'd rather see what Vargas can do these last 6 weeks as opposed to getting the same old Joe.

 

A team in a playoff hunt can't afford to experiment by giving young guys with potential more playing time.

[wsnydes]

 

Wining is the only thing that will fix attendance at this point.

Attendance for most of the games that I have been to this year have been largely buoyed by the visiting teams fans.  Most probably approach 50% attendance, but there are a handful of games where it was clearly a home game for the visiting team.  

 

Winning really is the only thing that will improve attendance at this point.  Ownership has to realize that.  I'm not sure a good April will help much, but if that good April spills into May butts could start filing the seats again next year.  If not, I'd expect another putrid season of baseball in a echo chamber where I can hear a guy in the opposite corner of the ballpark yelling at the umps as if he were sitting next to me.

[TheTruth]

 

It is the battle of the small sample sizes. Vargas' July vs August numbers. Which numbers are a reflection of his true talent?

 

Love the Arcia reference. Yup, sometimes being able to mash a ball isn't enough. It isn't enough when it does not happen enough. It has to happen even more when when you can't catch the ball.

 

That's why you play him full time, so the small sample size becomes a larger sample size.

 

...and how many hitters can succeed playing every 4th game? Yes Vargas has struggled recently but what else can you expect? Not only physically trying to keep your timing but what about mentally? You make a choice to work on your hitting by being more patient and taking a few pitches ...and it's working. You are getting on base way more often and pitchers are learning they have to throw you strikes. They can't get you out anymore by throwing pitches into the dirt. Result? Better BA/OBP and you are still hitting HRs. You show up to game 1 of a double header and hit 2 HRs ! ...and you are rewarded with a spot on the bench game 2 ...and the next 3 games.

 

Talk about messing with a guys head.

 

[birddog]

Vargas got caught up in a numbers crunch and since he couldn't pitch unfortunately had to go down; however, I hope he is with the team next year as I like his combination of power and patience at the plate. I hope a good pitching coach can correct Santiago's recent issues.

 

We all agree the Twins have many more questions than answers and hopefully a new GM will make the moves to expedite our move toward the top. I hope we can find the right guy. It seems all we have is hope.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Do I?  No.  Just saying that kids still get excited when Joe comes to the plate.  Parents like happy kids.  Does that mean they buy tickets?  Dunno, but I can tell you that if their kids do not get excited about going to the park, they aren't buying tickets.

My kid actually gets excited when Danny Santana comes to the plate.  (Seriously.)  I do not advocate keeping him in the lineup every day!

 

Would your kid get less excited about Mauer occasionally playing an outfield corner?  That would clear either 1B or DH for Vargas to start.  And Mauer would be positioned closer to the cheap seats!

 

Also, how about we give Mauer extra days off on the road?  That would also mean he comes to the plate in front of the home crowd the same number of times, but could give Vargas a viable opportunity to play too (especially when combined with my other suggestion above).

[TheTruth]

 

Wining is the only thing that will fix attendance at this point.

 

Agree...but if you aren't winning, then hope also creates interest. Hope as in the team has a plan. Hope as in the team is building a strong farm team and some exciting young players are on the way or are getting playing time in the bigs.

 

The worse thing is a stale team with no hope.

[South Dakota Tom]

Like many, I cannot for the life of me figure out why the Twins are not looking at their situation as a huge, rare (and hopefully non-repeating) gift.    It is obvious that this is the time to play youngsters, visualize next year's (and 2018's) team, put players in their strongest positions, and see what you have.    The team has done almost none of that.

 

Excuses/reasons/justifications:

1.  The team would like to see a .500 record, or close to it, in the season's final months.    That will be their mantra moving forward.    As Buck Turgidson said in Dr. Strangelove, "I think they've already invalidated that theory."

 

2.  They are showcasing players to move them.    As someone mentioned, having Plouffe play first base, allowing Danny Santana to get regular turns in the field and at the dish, failing to move Suzuki now, all seem destined to preserve the status quo but with a potential agenda.

 

3.  The team truly believes that winning right now and playing the recognizable names is the best way to put fans in the seats.    Trouble is, none of us (though many are not of the casual-fan variety) feel that is true.   

 

It is time, front office.    It is time to transition Trevor May to a starter, as we have an abundance of relievers in the pipeline, and relievers are easier to find on the open market.    It is time to whisper into Jose Berrios's ear that he will be on the mound every 5th day for the rest of his life.   

 

It is time to see ABWIII and Palka (well, September 1st).    It is time to play Sano every day at 3b, and decide if Polanco can play SS everyday (a decision that should have been anticipated at season's commencement - how he played 0 innings at SS all season is beyond unforgiveable).    I'd like to see Engelb Vielma play SS the last month of the season and put Polanco at 2b every day instead, maximizing positional potential.    Rotate Plouffe, Mauer, Park, and Vargas at 1b/DH, use Dozier as a DH while you see what Vielma/Polanco looks like.    With a stable OF of Rosario, Kepler and (in my opinion) Buxton, see what you have in potential back-up OFs with ABW and Palka and whether they can handle the duties of the corners.    Bring up both Garver and Murphy and play them every single day from September 1st forward.

 

Open auditions in the bullpen.    I want to see them all.  Every situation right now, frankly, is low-leverage.

 

Truth is, Dozier, Plouffe, Mauer, Escobar, DSantana, Grossman, Suzuki, can sit for a month.  Our draft position will hold in the top 2 or 3, we will be better in the long run, and for the first time in a half decade, we will put players where they ultimately belong.    I'm tired of waiting for long-term vision from this team.

[Mike Sixel]

It does seem odd that Polanco only played 2B all year....when they have Dozier...and he's out of options...and he seems like a legit hitting prospect that you'd want to keep around....

 

I would have had him in LF and CF and 3B and 2B. From here, it is hard to see the plan for how Polanco and Dozier co-exist.

[gocgo]

 

My kid actually gets excited when Danny Santana comes to the plate.  (Seriously.)  I do not advocate keeping him in the lineup every day!

 

Would your kid get less excited about Mauer occasionally playing an outfield corner?  That would clear either 1B or DH for Vargas to start.  And Mauer would be positioned closer to the cheap seats!

 

Also, how about we give Mauer extra days off on the road?  That would also mean he comes to the plate in front of the home crowd the same number of times, but could give Vargas a viable opportunity to play too (especially when combined with my other suggestion above).

I agree with that last paragraph.  The question was, who puts butts in the seats and obviously we don't care if the butts are in the seats in KC or Atlanta or wherever.  The reality is that we a locked in for Joe for the next two years and that isn't changing.

[ashbury]

It does seem odd that Polanco only played 2B all year....when they have Dozier...and he's out of options...and he seems like a legit hitting prospect that you'd want to keep around....

 

I would have had him in LF and CF and 3B and 2B. From here, it is hard to see the plan for how Polanco and Dozier co-exist.

Maybe they see him as better than a Danny Santana type.

 

Your last sentence is the key. Assuming Polanco continues to hit in September, his 2B play at AAA will seem less odd if Dozier is traded. Not trading Dozier is the move I will consider odd, at this point.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

My kid actually gets excited when Danny Santana comes to the plate.  (Seriously.)  I do not advocate keeping him in the lineup every day!

 

Would your kid get less excited about Mauer occasionally playing an outfield corner?  That would clear either 1B or DH for Vargas to start.  And Mauer would be positioned closer to the cheap seats!

 

Also, how about we give Mauer extra days off on the road?  That would also mean he comes to the plate in front of the home crowd the same number of times, but could give Vargas a viable opportunity to play too (especially when combined with my other suggestion above).

Love it.

[jimmer]

I'd love to see Mauer on the bench more just to see all the people then slam HIM for the amount of games missed at the end of the season :-)

[wsnydes]

 

 

 

Also, how about we give Mauer extra days off on the road?  That would also mean he comes to the plate in front of the home crowd the same number of times, but could give Vargas a viable opportunity to play too (especially when combined with my other suggestion above).

I agree with this completely.  You'd think that a guy that managers his hometown team would understand this concept a bit more.