Now seems like the time, with a doubleheader, Garlick on the COVID list, Rooker injured, and Cave struggling. I don't know how the service time thing works, though. Is Kirilloff going to get called up tomorrow?

Yes. Kirilloff will get called up... eventually.

 

Maybe even tomorrow. It would make sense. But my impression is he isn't on the taxi squad, so they may call up one of them first?

 

Likely a position player, seeing as in theory. whole bullpen is well rested.

Personaĺy, I have NEVER thought service time was the issue. I have ALWAYS felt the FO was sincere that they believed in him and were honest when they stated they wanted him up for GOOD when ready. Unfortunately, and a major dent in their initial plan, he had a poor ST.

 

Arraez is, and always has been, despite their original reports, been a part of the LF plan. But the FO has always been planning on AK being part of this season as a corner OF and 1b option. And then be tanked ST. But at this point, with injury and illness, the time is NOW to promote him and let him show if he's ready or not. The offense needs a potential spark. Cave is a solid player but needs a demotion to get himself together, like early 2019, or get passed over and move on.

 

Kirilloff was SUPPOSED to be ready already. But we all know how best played out plans work. Which means tomorrow. Interesting how AK was brought up instead of an additional pitcher for the recent double header. Just stinks how Rooker and Garlick are both out to provide the best OF options right now. Let's hope Kirilloff is READY and has a chip on his shoulder to prove that he's ready to stick for good!

 

I don't know how the service time thing works, though. Is Kirilloff going to get called up tomorrow?

Kirilloff needs to spend 21+ days on "optional assignment" this year in order for the Twins to secure an extra year of control. He's very close, at 18 days already. And those days are cumulative, not consecutive -- so when he came up for the doubleheader last week, it just paused the count for a day rather than reset it.

 

So right now, Friday April 23 is the magic day when they could call him up after securing the extra year of control. If they activated him for the doubleheader today and returned him to the minors after, that magic date would simply be pushed back to Saturday April 24.

Considering he was left back in St Paul, I don't think he is on a flight to Oakland right now. 

I believe Rooker is eligible to come off the 10-day IL at this point. I haven't heard any updates on his status, but if he's ready, I imagine he would be the one to replace Garlick on the active roster since they are both right-handed bats. I certainly wouldn't mind seeing Kirilloff come up to replace Cave sometime soon though. The only problem would be losing a bit of defensive versatility, as Cave can play CF (kind of) but Kirilloff cannot.

 

I believe Rooker is eligible to come off the 10-day IL at this point. I haven't heard any updates on his status, but if he's ready, I imagine he would be the one to replace Garlick on the active roster since they are both right-handed bats. I certainly wouldn't mind seeing Kirilloff come up to replace Cave sometime soon though. The only problem would be losing a bit of defensive versatility, as Cave can play CF (kind of) but Kirilloff cannot.

I thought he was reinstated when Garlick went on the covid IL? Could be wrong.

 

I thought he was reinstated when Garlick went on the covid IL? Could be wrong.

There hasn't been an announcement regarding that. I'm guessing that will be the move, plus at least one more since another player tested positive, that we will learn about in a few hours.

 

There hasn't been an announcement regarding that. I'm guessing that will be the move, plus at least one more since another player tested positive, that we will learn about in a few hours.

I hope it's not Buxton, but with everything that happens to him ... sigh ... this whole thing is an unfortunate sigh.

I, too, believe that the FO was sincere in leaving Kiriloff off the opening day roster.  Cave/Garlick/Arraez rather than an inexperienced Kiriloff coming off a poor spring made sense.  Remember the rushing of Aaron Hicks and Buxton.     The biggest reason I don't think that service time was a key consideration is that I believe that it is almost certain that this loophole will be closed in the coming CBA.

 

Personaĺy, I have NEVER thought service time was the issue. I have ALWAYS felt the FO was sincere that they believed in him and were honest when they stated they wanted him up for GOOD when ready. Unfortunately, and a major dent in their initial plan, he had a poor ST.

Arraez is, and always has been, despite their original reports, been a part of the LF plan. But the FO has always been planning on AK being part of this season as a corner OF and 1b option. And then be tanked ST. But at this point, with injury and illness, the time is NOW to promote him and let him show if he's ready or not. The offense needs a potential spark. Cave is a solid player but needs a demotion to get himself together, like early 2019, or get passed over and move on.

Kirilloff was SUPPOSED to be ready already. But we all know how best played out plans work. Which means tomorrow. Interesting how AK was brought up instead of an additional pitcher for the recent double header. Just stinks how Rooker and Garlick are both out to provide the best OF options right now. Let's hope Kirilloff is READY and has a chip on his shoulder to prove that he's ready to stick for good!

As sincere as Falvey was when he stated that service time wasn't a factor in their decision with Buxton a few seasons ago? They didn't have to bring AK up for that double header. Even with Buxton out they still had 4 position players (5 if you count Astudillo) they could put in the OF. They simply were able to use him without affecting his service clock. Cave doesn't look like a major league hitter right now, and look no further than Kyle Garlick to see what a mirage ST is. It's painfully obvious what's happening here. 

Why does he have to stay up for good for it to be a good idea? Plenty of good players went back down for a bit after being up?

 

Cave, Rooker, and Garlick are not everyday MLB players. Kiriloff might be.

 

Kirilloff needs to spend 21+ days on "optional assignment" this year in order for the Twins to secure an extra year of control. He's very close, at 18 days already. And those days are cumulative, not consecutive -- so when he came up for the doubleheader last week, it just paused the count for a day rather than reset it.

 

So right now, Friday April 23 is the magic day when they could call him up after securing the extra year of control. If they activated him for the doubleheader today and returned him to the minors after, that magic date would simply be pushed back to Saturday April 24.

This one turned out to be the correct one, I think.

If there isn’t a roster move calling up Kirilloff and sending Cave to AAA on Friday or Saturday I’m going to be upset.

If there isn’t a roster move calling up Kirilloff and sending Cave to AAA on Friday or Saturday I’m going to be upset.

Until Kepler is back from the Covid list, who does that leave as backup in CF?

 

Until Kepler is back from the Covid list, who does that leave as backup in CF?

 

Someone that can hit better than him? Is expecting a red hot Byron Buxton to play 7 games in a row outlandish?

Someone that can hit better than him? Is expecting a red hot Byron Buxton to play 7 games in a row outlandish?

He has not been available to accomplish that feat as yet in 2021.

 

I don't like to borrow trouble, but catcher, CF and SS are positions where you simply have to have a Plan B at hand on a moment's notice.

 

 

And I am the very opposite of a Jake Cave woofer.

He has not been available to accomplish that feat as yet in 2021.

 

I don't like to borrow trouble, but catcher, CF and SS are positions where you simply have to have a Plan B at hand on a moment's notice.

 

If they don’t allow him the chance to do so I guess you’re correct. He won’t accomplish that feat. Wouldn’t hurt to try. If a backup CF is needed then substitute Cave for Rooker. He’s not exactly lighting it up either.

If they don’t allow him the chance to do so I guess you’re correct.

He missed three consecutive games before the Oakland series due to a tight hamstring, if I'm remembering correctly. No manager does that on his own, and certainly not on a whim.

 

He missed three consecutive games before the Oakland series due to a tight hamstring, if I'm remembering correctly. No manager does that on his own, and certainly not on a whim.

 

I saw in the game thread you missed the game today. Looked good. Strong. Healthy.

 

Step #1 in achieving the goal of playing 120+ games is, indeed, playing in the most amount of games he’s available.

Until Kepler is back from the Covid list, who does that leave as backup in CF?

 

Astudillo played CF a tiny bit in 2018, I think.

I will tone down the sarcasm on this post. There are 7 games between now and Kepler and Garlick eligible to come off the 10 day IL. Frankly, I don’t see a reason keeping a struggling Jake Cave on the active roster for the potential of needing him to fill in the rest of a game, or start 1-2 games in that time span.

 

I don’t want to put it out in the world why we would need him to fill in during a game. After that, the Twins could search the waiver wire for a temporary fill in like they have done in the past. Or call up Celestino for an emergency day or 2 on roster.

 

The opportunity cost of adding a potentially better bat in Kirilloff far outweighs keeping a capable defensive CF replacement who’s struggling to hit in Jake Cave.

 

And in regards to Buxton, the team benefits greatly every time he plays. We all want him to play as many games as possible. He should be able to pick up the slack while his other teammates are out of commission.

Kirilloff and Rooker can hit .150 as well as Sano and Cave, and are more the future of the Twins.

Kirilloff and Rooker can hit .150 as well as Sano and Cave, and are more the future of the Twins.

Rooker will never be as good as Sano. Not even close. I doubt he's ever a long term starter anywhere. Rooker might not be as good as Cave.

Astudillo played CF a tiny bit in 2018, I think.

A tiny bit, in the same sense that I can play Hamlet a tiny bit?

It is still April too early to panic but Cave has been below average for more than just this year. Time to give someone else an opportunity.  Delaying start for MiLB has hurt, no games. Hard to promote someone off to a hot start in MiLB if they haven't even started. Would like to see Kirilloff soon, Rooker has not impressed this year, how about Bruxton or Celestino-one of them should be able to hit at least .150 and backup all OF spots.

 

A tiny bit, in the same sense that I can play Hamlet a tiny bit?

The poster doth protests too much, methinks.

 

“Alas, poor Garlick! I knew him, Astudillo: A fellow of infinite OPS.“

 

Rooker will never be as good as Sano. Not even close. I doubt he's ever a long term starter anywhere. Rooker might not be as good as Cave.

Send down Cave and Rooker, call up Kirilloff and Broxton. That's what I'd do, but then my only GMing quals are fantasy baseball.

 

I will tone down the sarcasm on this post. There are 7 games between now and Kepler and Garlick eligible to come off the 10 day IL. Frankly, I don’t see a reason keeping a struggling Jake Cave on the active roster for the potential of needing him to fill in the rest of a game, or start 1-2 games in that time span.

I don’t want to put it out in the world why we would need him to fill in during a game. After that, the Twins could search the waiver wire for a temporary fill in like they have done in the past. Or call up Celestino for an emergency day or 2 on roster.

The opportunity cost of adding a potentially better bat in Kirilloff far outweighs keeping a capable defensive CF replacement who’s struggling to hit in Jake Cave.

And in regards to Buxton, the team benefits greatly every time he plays. We all want him to play as many games as possible. He should be able to pick up the slack while his other teammates are out of commission.

 

I agree with your thesis of "let's call up Alex," but I don't think the covid list is forced 10-day IL stay. It has to do with consecutive days testing negative, right?