Next Year's Needs Start With Outstanding Defensive SS and 2B

[jokin]

Carroll at SS and Dozier at 2B is the rather obvious defensive change that should happen RIGHT NOW, but Gardy . . .

 

Lets's hope Escobar is the real deal with the glove at shortstop. There is a place in baseball for elite defending shortstops batting ninth. I don't know if his performance will match his reputation.

 

Isn't the above arrangement for 2013 already about a 95% certainty?

 

Elvis Andrus or Kelly Johnson? About .00001%.

[one_eyed_jack]

I know it isn't widely popular, but how about meeting next year's needs- by starting with hiring new blood in the coaching and consulting areas? I advocated this last year, after Pudge Rodriguez appeared to be done with the Nationals and his son being drafted by the Twins, I will again now. A HOF catcher with a Latin background, known for his tough as nails, fundamentally sound, student-of-the-game approach would be a terrific hire. Add to that, with a former-catcher/Latin-coach in place, there could be a huge addition by subtraction of Latin-whisperer needs from Drew Bew. A well-respected guy in general who could help shape up the young pitching staff, but who would also carry especially extra weight with the current, and up-and-coming Latin prospects.

 

He's apparently available and waiting for his phone to ring and could certainly be easily motivated to sign on with Dereck in place in the organization, nice article:

 

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/page/martinez-120720/ivan-rodriguez-stays-student-game-even-retirement

---I think this whole 'Latin' thing gets overstated a little, just because 2 guys speak the same native language doesn't mean they are going to work well together.

 

But I am in favor of new blood in this organization. When you have the same people around for too long and always stay loyal to insiders, staleness will eventually set in.

 

If we were to go that route, Pudge would absolutely be worth a phone call, possibly even the first call.

 

So would Jose Oquendo, who has been very popular and well respected as the third-base coach in St. Louis and interviewed for a few managerial jobs that he's been turned down for.

 

Another guy I would call is Ken Oberkfell I became intrigued by him as a possible Gardy replacement after reading this article earlier in the year.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120205&content_id=26582426&c_id=mlb

[jokin]

---I think this whole 'Latin' thing gets overstated a little, just because 2 guys speak the same native language doesn't mean they are going to work well together.

 

But I am in favor of new blood in this organization. When you have the same people around for too long and always stay loyal to insiders, staleness will eventually set in.

 

If we were to go that route, Pudge would absolutely be worth a phone call, possibly even the first call.

 

So would Jose Oquendo, who has been very popular and well respected as the third-base coach in St. Louis and interviewed for a few managerial jobs that he's been turned down for.

 

Another guy I would call is Ken Oberkfell I became intrigued by him as a possible Gardy replacement after reading this article earlier in the year.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120205&content_id=26582426&c_id=mlb

Wow, great article, always liked him, and not one, but two Latins on the coaching staff, Jack? Love it! Especially as we prepare for the Sano, Rosario and Berrios era. I gotta think the "barrio" effect is a reality on many teams with Anglo/African-American-only coaching staffs. I'll scout around for some supporting evidence. I know it's an old story and things have changed some, but Clemente, Marichal and Cepeda felt pretty isolated and put-upon during their big league careers, and Ortiz and the Twins obviously had some communication problems.

[Craig Arko]

I'd be hoping something close to Dave Duncan.

That would be sweet. I also wonder if Terry Steinbach could be lured.

[jokin]

That would be sweet. I also wonder if Terry Steinbach could be lured.

If Pudge and Steiny could be talked into it, why not bring Tim Belcher out of retirement, too? Proven track record and knows the AL well.

[Thrylos]

The Twins' next manager would be either Scotty or Gene Glynn with the other serving as a bench coach... Done deal

[bird]

Everyone is on the same page about the pitching needs, so let's "assume" for the purpooses of our discussion, that there is a possibility of changes in MI personnel.

 

My gut tells me we get maybe one meaningful change in the MI. So, we either have to live with Dozier at SS, maybe at 2B if an outside fix at SS becomes available. But here's where I'm at: I can stomach either Casilla or Dozier as below-average stop-gaps for 2013. I get damn queasy thinking abouth both, and puke on my tennies thinking about Nishi, Escobar, Florimon, or Nishi playing every day. Do we get one meaningful upgrade in the infield over the winter? If we don't I'll be very dissilusioned.

[Top Gun]

Defense starts with spring training, Gardy better start practicing that.

[bird]

All of the concerns about being equipped to manage a more diverse workforce are of course legitimate. But this whole notion that we need a wholesale change in the ethnic composite of the organization because of language barriers and cultural insensitivities contains its own elements of racial and cultural bigotry. Show me direct evidence of a negative effect.

[jimbo92107]

Heck, just bring up Pedro Florimon and see what he's got. He's a great fielder, a switch hitter, and he's got a little pop in the bat. Oh, and he's cheap, compared to Casilla and Carroll.

[Thrylos]

puke on my tennies thinking about Nishi, Escobar, Florimon, or Nishi playing every day.

Have you ever watched Florimon or Escobar play? Or the second Nishi (whomever that might be?) Just asking out of curiosity

[jokin]

All of the concerns about being equipped to manage a more diverse workforce are of course legitimate. But this whole notion that we need a wholesale change in the ethnic composite of the organization because of language barriers and cultural insensitivities contains its own elements of racial and cultural bigotry. Show me direct evidence of a negative effect.

Who said wholesale change in ethnic composition? Shaking up the moribund thinking by bringing in quality guys with legitimate pedigree of any ethnicity has been the mantra in this thread. If one or two is Latino with high pedigree it just means value-added.

[jokin]

Have you ever watched Florimon or Escobar play? Or the second Nishi (whomever that might be?) Just asking out of curiosity

That's the thing about sequels, they're never as good as the original....

[Guest USAFChief]

I don't get the love for Casilla. As a second baseman, he's substandard when you add it all up. And he's already a proven failure as a SS (how quickly some people forget).

 

I doubt Carroll can hack it as an everyday SS anymore either.

 

The choices for SS for 2013 are Dozier, someone currently in the minors, a trade, or a FA. Might as well let Dozier play out the season and figure it out over the winter.

[Nick Nelson]

Assuming his glove is what it's cracked up to be, I think the best bet is to go with Escobar at short and bat him ninth, then figure out a 2B who can give you at least something with the bat. It's been a long time since the Twins have even had a steady defender at SS.

[jokin]

I don't get the love for Casilla. As a second baseman, he's substandard when you add it all up. And he's already a proven failure as a SS (how quickly some people forget).

 

I doubt Carroll can hack it as an everyday SS anymore either.

 

The choices for SS for 2013 are Dozier, someone currently in the minors, a trade, or a FA. Might as well let Dozier play out the season and figure it out over the winter.

My vote for the choice the Twins end up making is a MI consisting of Carroll, Dozier and "someone currently in the minors" (Escobar most likely), although it would be quite easy to trade a prospect for an equivalent or small upgrade to the latter two- at close to the same amount they're paying for the MI this year.