Article: Why isn't Jamey Carroll playing?

[Seth Stohs]

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?r=1582-Why-isn-t-Jamey-Carroll-playing

[B Richard]

Thanks a bunch Seth, I've been wondering about this. I personally have no issue giving some young guys a chance to develop/prove themselves. As an older guy in a utility role, you have to understand that this is a possibility. Wish Jamey the best though, I really like the guy.

[StormJH1]

Great points, Seth. Still, I'm really not concerned about what they do with Carroll. We've arguably gotten everything and more we could have expected out of him, but he's a career utility guy and even if he were demonstrably better than Florimon/Escobar/Dozier, there's no reason to play Carroll as a starter and wear him down, when he can't be a part of the future. The three other alternatives likely won't be, either, but at least they have a chance of claiming a role as utility players here or elsewhere, as Carroll did for many years as a late bloomer.

[Thrylos]

Frankly, I am amazed that he still is with the team (and not traded.) The Twins are rebuilding, he is 39. He is just a luxury as a 39 year old utility player who makes close to $4 M a season for a team that went 99 + 96. Not much of a middle infield pipeline in the high minors (other than Beresford and Santana who are not ready, all middle infielders in AAA and AA are older minor league free agents,) but there are 3 UT guys already on the 25-man roster and I think that this team is better with Colabello on the bench instead of a 4th UT guy...

[SweetOne69]

In all fairness, Escobar as played in 9 games (mostly after Florimon has been PH for) with 3 starts and Carroll has played in 5 games with 2 starts. Considering they have only played 13 games that isn't enough of a difference to extrapolate anything.

[gunnarthor]

I think Carroll ends up playing a lot of second base but it's too early to give up on Dozier. For now, I don't have a problem with Escobar/Floriman getting most of the starts at short stop.

[johnnydakota]

I hope when his playing days are over ,management is smart enough to keep Jaime around as a coach.....Good player, good attitude, good guy,and according to Dozier already a good coach

[nicksaviking]

One would have to think the vesting option plays some part in the decision. His AB's could be suppressed now with the expectation that both middle infielders and Trevor Plouffe are far from proven. Unproductiveness or injury could press him into an every day job again at some point.

 

I wonder if the Twins have had any discussion with Toronto about Carroll? They have had injuries and defensive issues in their middle infield and they've been looking for SS help since Reyes went down. Of course it's possible the suddenly big pocket Blue Jays are setting their sights higher than Carroll.

[cmathewson]

I think he's kind of a player-coach at this stage, helping the other middle infielders learn the tricks of the trade when he's not playing. That said, he's also good depth in case of a complete implosion by one of the inexperienced guys. Considering their track records, I'd like to hang onto him for depth in addition to his mentoring role.

[jimbo92107]

I know one thing, I'd hire Jamey Carroll for darn near what he's making now to teach guys like Miguel Sano how to use that leather thing on their left hand to stop that little white ball from getting past them. Carroll's got one of the best gloves I've seen in awhile, and his overall baseball savvy reminds me of Nick Punto.

 

Guys like that should be paid good money to transfer their top-flight baseball knowledge to as many young pups as possible.

[Shane Wahl]

I think there is a simple answer to the original question. The other guys are in need of a trial whereas Jamey Carroll is Mr. Dependable. And they know they are going to depend on him at some point this year. It probably has nothing to do with 401 plate appearances and the obsession around here about this is laughable.

[Benchwarmerjim]

I think the snowouts have affected his playing time. Both have come on 'getaway' games where Gardy likes to insert some of his bench players into the starting lineup.

[Otto von Ballpark]

It probably has nothing to do with 401 plate appearances and the obsession around here about this is laughable.

Agreed. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the Twins exercised that 2014 option even if he falls short of 401 PA (assuming he wants to continue playing).

[ThePuck]

I think there's a reason those clauses are put into contracts and to say for 100% certain they're meaningless when it comes to determining playing time is laughable. If Ryan tells Gardy he doesn't want Carroll's option to vest, Gardy better make sure he isn't in the lineup long enough to reach the vesting goal.

 

I doubt that's what is going on here, but still...it's not out of the realm of possibility.

[Oxtung]

The Twins just cut $30+ million from their payroll. They chose to pursue cheap FA's (Pitching) or no FA's (cf, 2B, SS, 3B). Their reasoning was players were either too expensive or asking for to many years.

 

It seems to me that the Twins want control over whether to exercise Carroll's 2014 contract because of both the money and the length of contract. Perhaps there are on the field factors as well but it seems clear the money is a part of it too.

[cmathewson]

The Twins just cut $30+ million from their payroll. They chose to pursue cheap FA's (Pitching) or no FA's (cf, 2B, SS, 3B). Their reasoning was players were either too expensive or asking for to many years.

 

It seems to me that the Twins want control over whether to exercise Carroll's 2014 contract because of both the money and the length of contract. Perhaps there are on the field factors as well but it seems clear the money is a part of it too.

 

He's 39 years old. He's already a major outlier on the age/performance bell curve. Having an option on his 40th year seems prudent to me.

[nicksaviking]

If there is a concern with the vesting option on the Twins part, I'm sure it has nothing to do with money and everything to do with the roster spot. They have Escobar, Dozier and Florimon under control and on the team right now, they possibly will be looking at Santana next year and if Rosario goes the Arcia route, he'd be in the mix too.

[Twins Twerp]

Because they don't want to be on the hook for a broken hip surgery.

[Oxtung]

He's 39 years old. He's already a major outlier on the age/performance bell curve. Having an option on his 40th year seems prudent to me.

 

Agreed. I'm saying the Twins don't want it to turn into a player option. I think in addition to on the field reasons (like he's turning 40 and his production might very well dip accordingly) there are equally strong roster and monetary reasons for it.

 

If there is a concern with the vesting option on the Twins part, I'm sure it has nothing to do with money and everything to do with the roster spot. They have Escobar, Dozier and Florimon under control and on the team right now, they possibly will be looking at Santana next year and if Rosario goes the Arcia route, he'd be in the mix too.

 

How can you say this when the team has cut payroll by $30+ million and refused to sign decent FA's because of money concerns? I'm not saying money is the only reason but how can you think money IS NOT a reason?

[ashbury]

There are a lot of variables in play regarding Carroll's role, and Seth covered them well. I don't think any of them can be ignored, in particular the vesting clause, but no single one of them is a sole cause for anything either. He's in the mix, and it's still early in the season, that's all.

[Shane Wahl]

It's 2 million bucks. Full stop.

[Guest USAFChief]

The better question: "Why WOULD Jamie Carroll be playing?"

[snepp]

The better question: "Why WOULD Jamie Carroll be playing?"

 

Why, for the VP of course.

[Physics Guy]

Nice summary, Seth. The Twins are using Carroll exactly the way they should given the makeup of the roster. With all three of the young(er) guys on the roster, they should receive the majority of the time. Until Florimon or Dozier prove they shouldn't be starting, Gardy is doing exactly what he should, IMO. If one falters, I would think Escobar gets the next shot although I wouldn't blame Gardy for going with Carroll.

[Brandon]

Well it probably has more to do with Florimon and Escobar hitting pretty good so far. Dozier has started slowly and has been benched because of it and Carroll got a start. I don't think the 2 million option is that big of a deal considering it is a 1 year contract at that point and the Twins have tons of payroll flexibilty moving forward into 2014. Dozier and Carroll are on par to be about the same player, dozier with more power and Carroll an on base guy. Neither spectacular but both are solid as long as Dozier develops which is the key to Carroll's playing time. That and injuries to players. I wonder if Carroll could play some CF the next few weeks to spell Hicks some?

[ashbury]

Like most major leaguers, he "could" play CF, and has played an inning an emergency once, but this is not what should be considered a plan.

[jokin]

I hope when his playing days are over ,management is smart enough to keep Jaime around as a coach.....Good player, good attitude, good guy,and according to Dozier already a good coach

 

Wait. What? The little Leprechaun is actually a closet Mexican? Or are you outing Carroll's hitherto unknown bilingual skills?

[Oxtung]

It's a sad state of affairs when almost everyone agrees that our best middle infielder should be on the bench most games because an inferior player needs playing time. The fact that this is happening only 12 games into the season is just depressing. It's going to be a long year when there is little hope to be had 2 weeks into the season.

[Seth Stohs]

I believe that Carroll is a guy who, at some point, will step into a starting role again. I do like the idea of having that veteran on the bench, but as others have said, Carroll is the best middle infielder. That said, I agree with the Twins giving the younger guys an extended opportunity. I also agree that even if he doesn't reach 401 plate appearances, I would have no problem with them picking up the option.

[Jim H]

I believe that Carroll is a guy who, at some point, will step into a starting role again. I do like the idea of having that veteran on the bench, but as others have said, Carroll is the best middle infielder.

 

If, as you say Carroll is the best middle infielder, the Twins have a problem. I really hope that one of Dozier, Florimon and Escobar can be better than a career utility infielder who is nearly 40 years old. I actually hope that 2 of them can be respectable starters until somebody emerges from the minors.