Article: Building a Bench

[TheLeviathan]

At this point, there are a few corpses I'd take back on our bench if it meant the end of the third-catcher roster spot. So yeah, I'll take Thome.

[cmathewson]

On Thome, I don't think he has anything left. Even in 2010, he would have had limited value if Morneau had stayed healthy. There's a reason he's bounced around since. At this point, his deficiencies outweigh his benefits.

[cmathewson]

On Benson, he's probably the best player to take the spot previously used by a third catcher, but he needs to play everyday. So we go to Boggs, or Ramirez, or Clement, or Colabello; all of whom would be preferable to Thome. Herrman is another option, but, like Benson, he needs to play everyday and be ready in case of injury.

[jorgenswest]

Seriously? Jim Thome? How does Thome help your team rebuild? Every at bat and every inning for the 2013 season needs to be focused on rebuilding the team, not scratching out meaningless wins today. This should have been the focus for 2012 too, which we virtually wasted.

 

Instead of Thome getting major league plate appearances, give them to Joe Benson. Benson is 25 years old this month. If he can't hit major league pitching now, he never will be able to. Keep him on the roster as the 4th or 5th OF, give him at least 150 plate appearances in the first 81 games and see what he can do over an extended course of real major league competition.

 

If Benson fails, he fails, and we find a replacement just as Jim Eisenreich failed initially for the Twins. We found out that he could not handle the pressure in his home state and then found a replacement, Kirby Puckett. The lesson is that if the Twins would have sent Eisenreich back down to the minors in 1982 for more seasoning he would have still been standing in Puckett's way in 1984.

 

But if Benson plays well, then there is something to build on going forward. It is win-win all the way.

 

Count me in support of Benson.

 

I looked at his splits in AA from two years ago. He is better against lefties. Why not start him against all lefties in RF? Sit one of the left handed hitters from among Parmelee, Morneau, Mauer and Doumit (hits better left handed over career). Two benefits result. You have a good hitter in the bench to pinch hit. You have improved the defense in RF. While Benson is not starting, he serves as a defensive replacement, pinch runner, pinch hitter against lefties on the bench. If Morneau is traded midseason, he will be more ready to take on a larger role. If it is clear he is not capable, Arcia is next in line.

 

As for he other three spots, I don't care which of Escobar, Florimon or Dozier starts in AAA. One of the two that stay won't hit and the third will get the chance. There is no reason to keep 4 weak hitting middle infielders on the roster. Ideally Escobar's best entry role is a utility player. The Twins can select between Florimon or Dozier and start Carroll at he other spot.

[jorgenswest]

On Benson, he's probably the best player to take the spot previously used by a third catcher, but he needs to play everyday. So we go to Boggs, or Ramirez, or Clement, or Colabello; all of whom would be preferable to Thome. Herrman is another option, but, like Benson, he needs to play everyday and be ready in case of injury.

 

I like to see Herrmann and Benson both on the bench. It doesn't matter that Herrmann bats left handed. Butera would never be used as a pinch hitter. Herrmann could be used to pinch hit for a middle infielder against right handed pitching.

[jmlease1]

If the argument was 13 pitchers I would agree with you, but since most teams carry 12 pitchers it kind of blows your argument out of the water.

 

Not really. A stupid idea is a stupid idea no matter how many teams do it. an 11 man pitching staff gives the team a 5-man rotation, a closer, 2 primary set-up men, 2 middle relievers, and a long man. That should be enough for a well-stocked bullpen. Throw another guy into the mix and some of them probably aren't going to get enough work, unless, again the rotation is an utter disaster.

 

Having a 5-man bench allows the Twins to carry the 3rd catcher we know they will anyways, carroll as the utility inf, a 4th OF, and LH & RH pinch hitters (at least one of whom can play in the field). Whether they have the right candidates for the jobs is another question.

[jokin]

Not really. A stupid idea is a stupid idea no matter how many teams do it. an 11 man pitching staff gives the team a 5-man rotation, a closer, 2 primary set-up men, 2 middle relievers, and a long man. That should be enough for a well-stocked bullpen. Throw another guy into the mix and some of them probably aren't going to get enough work, unless, again the rotation is an utter disaster.

 

Having a 5-man bench allows the Twins to carry the 3rd catcher we know they will anyways, carroll as the utility inf, a 4th OF, and LH & RH pinch hitters (at least one of whom can play in the field). Whether they have the right candidates for the jobs is another question.

 

This makes terrific sense if the Twins had a SP staff chock-full of 200+IP Iron Men.

 

Unfortunately, the Twins have left themselves desperately short of "chock"- not only they are not full of those types, they have only one guy (Pelfrey) who has actually accomplished this feat, and we all know that he will begin the season as a big TJ question mark. Correia and Worley have a history of only being 5-6 inning guys, at best. Gibson is on restricted innings (and possibly a restricted pitch count?), Diamond is coming back from off-season surgery and is due for some sophomore regression. We all know that Hendriks and the rest are wild cards. The Twins also have 15 home games in April, including 9 of the first 15, increasing the chance for a make-up game backlog down the line. With the joined medical issues of the top 4 SPs even starting out the season in the rotation (Pelfrey, Worley, Diamond, Gibson) and experiential/talent question-marks of the other potential starters and depth men, what are the chances that they all make it through the season healthy and innings-eaters to avoid wearing out the Pen? Not good odds.

 

Bottom line, the Twins in 2013 will more likely make a temporary roster move or two to 13 pitchers, as the staff collectively becomes taxed, way before Gardy would ever feel comfortable dropping to 11.

[Guest USAFChief]

 

Bottom line, the Twins in 2013 will more likely make a temporary roster move or two to 13 pitchers, as the staff collectively becomes taxed, way before Gardy would ever feel comfortable dropping to 11.

Yup. I'd bet a lot of money against the Twins spending any portion of the 2013 season with an 11 man pitching staff.

[snepp]

Yup. I'd bet a lot of money against the Twins spending any portion of the 2013 season with an 11 man pitching staff.

 

The thought of an 11-man staff would probably give Gardy nightmares.

[ashbury]

The thought of an 11-man staff would probably give Gardy nightmares.

 

The thought of his rotation is the cause of that. The size of the relief crew is just a corollary.

[snepp]

The thought of his rotation is the cause of that. The size of the relief crew is just a corollary.

 

I think they carry a 12-man staff regardless of rotation quality.

[Guest USAFChief]

I think they carry a 12-man staff regardless of rotation quality.

When was the last time the Twins spent a significant amount of time with an 11-man staff?

[snepp]

When was the last time the Twins spent a significant amount of time with an 11-man staff?

 

Hell if I know, you're the one with the memory of an elephant.

[Shane Wahl]

A RH bat with pop is the ideal, and that would mean Wilkin Ramirez or Chris Colabello. Obviously a five-man bench would be best, but that won't happen in April, for sure.