Why the Heck Won't the Minnesota Twins Call Up Alex Kirilloff?

[Major League Ready]

42 minutes ago, baul0010 said:

All of them need days offs.  There's also DH.  With our pitching staff having another guy to drive in runs will be needed!

They can't just add him without sending out a player.  Someone needs to go.  They have a very nice problem ... Too many starting caliber infielders without considering that Steer is close.   They will need to trade someone eventually but that takes time to come together.   In the meanwhile, AAA gets used as an extended bench to cover injuries.  

[LA VIkes Fan]

The problem is whose ABs do you take away so that Kirilloff can paly at least 4 or 5 days a week? it makes no sense to bring him up and play him a couple of days a week. That will hurt his development, not help him. I think this boils down very simply - we have 5 guys for basically 3.5 to 4 roster spots , 1B, LF, half time DH, and DH/reserve OF.  Don't forget, we need to keep open the DH at least 3 days a week for a combination of Buxton, Correa and Sanchez (Sanchez for LH pitching). The 5 guys we have are Arraez, Celestino, Larnach, Garlick, and Kirilloff. Kirilloff is the odd man outright now.

Arraez gets a spot because he's by far the best hitter. The rest all have advantages and disadvantages. Celestino is the only one who can play CF (and Kepler in CF is a no go apparently), but his batting average is coming back down to earth and he has no  power, Garlick hits LH pitching very well, but can't hit righthanders and is an average at best fielder, Larnach was hitting, slumping now, and is actually a pretty good OF, and Kirilloff looks great in AAA but his MLB stats? ,242/.290/.393 (.683) and that includes the good part of last year.  Hardly awe inspiring but the injury MAY be the reason for that, or he might not be that good yet.  I actually think this is a very tough choice. 

I think there's 3 ways to get Kirilloff on the team. First choice is to option down Celestino IF we're willing to play Kepler in CF between Larnach and Kirilloff 3 days a week or Larnach or Kirilloff could play CF. Playing Gordon in CF is ok, but it doesn't create room for Kirilloff - you still have to bench somebody who is performing to shoehorn him into the lineup. The second option is to DFA Garlick, making us very vulnerable to LH starting pitching unless Kirilloff can hit lefties well. Option 3 is to send Larnach down and give Kirilloff his spot. Hard to like option 2 or 3. Maybe the best thing is to play Kirilloff in CF in AAA and see if he could take Celestino's spot. 

Bottom line is Kirilloff had a chance, didn't perform, and Larnach did perform and took his spot. Maybe it was an injury that sent him down but the reason is irrelevant - he didn't perform, someone else did, and he is outside looking in. I'd like to see him get a chance because he could be that middle of the order bat we need so Kepler can move to the 6 hole but someone who is performing has to go. Don't just say bring up Kirilloff, tell me who goes to give him a spot. 

[stringer bell]

With Garlick nearly ready to return, there already is a position player crunch. Assuming Soto goes down plus two pitchers when Gray, Ryan and Garlick are activated, who is demoted to bring up Kirilloff? Gordon and Garlick would likely be lost to the team. Larnach has done well and has played a good corner OF, Celestino is hitting well over .300 and is Buxton’s primary backup. Miranda has come on and provides an alternate at third and first against lefties. No easy choices. I do expect AK to return fairly soon. I expect a decent contributor once he gets here with plenty of at-bats. 

[mickster]

I agree that Soto is up due to both Polanco and Gordon nursing injuries.   When both are healthy Soto will be DFA 'd and Gordon should got to AAA.    Don't need him in the OF and Arreaz can move around the infield if needed.............I like Nick, but he is expendable and might be a throw in for a deal for a SP/RP

 

[baul0010]

10 minutes ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

The problem is whose ABs do you take away so that Kirilloff can paly at least 4 or 5 days a week? it makes no sense to bring him up and play him a couple of days a week. That will hurt his development, not help him. I think this boils down very simply - we have 5 guys for basically 3.5 to 4 roster spots , 1B, LF, half time DH, and DH/reserve OF.  Don't forget, we need to keep open the DH at least 3 days a week for a combination of Buxton, Correa and Sanchez (Sanchez for LH pitching). The 5 guys we have are Arraez, Celestino, Larnach, Garlick, and Kirilloff. Kirilloff is the odd man outright now.

Arraez gets a spot because he's by far the best hitter. The rest all have advantages and disadvantages. Celestino is the only one who can play CF (and Kepler in CF is a no go apparently), but his batting average is coming back down to earth and he has no  power, Garlick hits LH pitching very well, but can't hit righthanders and is an average at best fielder, Larnach was hitting, slumping now, and is actually a pretty good OF, and Kirilloff looks great in AAA but his MLB stats? ,242/.290/.393 (.683) and that includes the good part of last year.  Hardly awe inspiring but the injury MAY be the reason for that, or he might not be that good yet.  I actually think this is a very tough choice. 

I think there's 3 ways to get Kirilloff on the team. First choice is to option down Celestino IF we're willing to play Kepler in CF between Larnach and Kirilloff 3 days a week or Larnach or Kirilloff could play CF. Playing Gordon in CF is ok, but it doesn't create room for Kirilloff - you still have to bench somebody who is performing to shoehorn him into the lineup. The second option is to DFA Garlick, making us very vulnerable to LH starting pitching unless Kirilloff can hit lefties well. Option 3 is to send Larnach down and give Kirilloff his spot. Hard to like option 2 or 3. Maybe the best thing is to play Kirilloff in CF in AAA and see if he could take Celestino's spot. 

Bottom line is Kirilloff had a chance, didn't perform, and Larnach did perform and took his spot. Maybe it was an injury that sent him down but the reason is irrelevant - he didn't perform, someone else did, and he is outside looking in. I'd like to see him get a chance because he could be that middle of the order bat we need so Kepler can move to the 6 hole but someone who is performing has to go. Don't just say bring up Kirilloff, tell me who goes to give him a spot. 

I think one thing that is a great problem to have is that MAX is playing pretty darn good again.  I don't think anyone was sad that Kirilloff would be taking at bats from him.   He'll get his time.  We are lucky we have a logjam.  I read the article last night about former Twins....Thank goodness we are worrying about really good players getting time and not Astudillo and Refsnyder!

[curt1965]

To break the tie in this discussion, YES-Kirilloff is indeed untouchable! Anyone that has followed his career understands this kid can be special. People in this thread will look back in the years to come and wonder why this was even a discussion!

[James]

2 hours ago, MABB1959 said:

Manipulating service time comes to mind.  Twins hate paying the good ones and have no problem holding them back to make their already fat wallet even fatter.

Ugh.  Can we stop with the cheap Pohlad for one thread please?  This has nothing to do with saving money.  This is about making sure AK is fully healthy and there is a spot for him to get ABs (I also think there are ABs for him).  There is a small roster crunch, but these things work themselves out. Kirilloff is the casualty of that roster crunch at the moment.  The crunch will be over when (if?) they limit the rosters to 13 pitchers, or someone else gets hurt/starts playing poorly.  

I think he should be up as well, but giving him another week to show that the wrist is not bothering him isn't that big of a deal. 

[Mike Sixel]

1 minute ago, James said:

Ugh.  Can we stop with the cheap Pohlad for one thread please?  This has nothing to do with saving money.  This is about making sure AK is fully healthy and there is a spot for him to get ABs (I also think there are ABs for him).  There is a small roster crunch, but these things work themselves out. Kirilloff is the casualty of that roster crunch at the moment.  The crunch will be over when (if?) they limit the rosters to 13 pitchers, or someone else gets hurt/starts playing poorly.  

I think he should be up as well, but giving him another week to show that the wrist is not bothering him isn't that big of a deal. 

Plus, they literally started the year with AK in the lineup. Then put him back in right away the first time he came back from injury. The evidence is clear it isn't about service time.

[James]

11 hours ago, curt1965 said:

To break the tie in this discussion, YES-Kirilloff is indeed untouchable! Anyone that has followed his career understands this kid can be special. People in this thread will look back in the years to come and wonder why this was even a discussion!

I also think Kirilloff is going to be something special. I love my prospects as much as the next guy, and it would take a  heck of a deal to make me consider trading AK, but almost no one is untouchable, for the right price. 

[DJL44]

35 minutes ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

The problem is whose ABs do you take away so that Kirilloff can paly at least 4 or 5 days a week?

Nick Gordon and to a lesser extent Gio Urshela, with Arraez getting more starts at 3B. Versus lefties you want Miranda and Urshela in the lineup. I don't fault the Twins for hoarding depth considering how many injured players they have had so far.

[LA VIkes Fan]

I don't think losing Urshela or Gordon gets more at bats for Kiriloff unless you trade Urshela and make Arraez the everyday 3B with Kirilloff at 1B and Miranda playing a couple of days a week each at 1B and 3B. I don't see that happening because of the defensive downgrade. Arraez is not a good 3B with the glove. I really think you have to lose Garlick or Larnach to get ABs for Kirilloff right now. An injury can change all of that.  

[cheeseheadgophfan]

I don't understand why this is so difficult.  Kiriloff should be your primary first baseman.  Arraez has done an admirable job but AK has a very good glove and the right size to play the position.  Arraez can focus on what he does best.....DH and continue to hit the crap out of the ball.  He can also fill in at 1B and 2B when needed.  Miranda has been nice, but he's not Kiriloff who I think is one of those natural hitters that doesn't come along very often.  Miranda can split time with Gio and other places.  He may have trade value as well.

[jorgenswest]

He will be back up soon enough.

I thought he needed a long stretch in AAA to get his swing back from before the wrist injuries. I believe I said two months. Today is one month.

I am probably swayed by the small sample of that month but I would bring him up when the number of pitchers is restricted to a maximum of 13. I believe that is the end of this week.

[Seansy]

I know this may not be a popular suggestion but Gordon has barely played the infield this year. He's basically a good defensive outfielder that is a below average hitter. His defense isn't good enough to offset the lack of offense. Especially with Celestino playing well. Maybe his numbers will improve soon but if they need a spot for Garlick and AK then Gordon and Soto make the most sense for position players to be removed.

Otherwise just DFA Duffey to have 1 less arm in the BP.

[Linus]

2 hours ago, cheeseheadgophfan said:

I don't understand why this is so difficult.  Kiriloff should be your primary first baseman.  Arraez has done an admirable job but AK has a very good glove and the right size to play the position.  Arraez can focus on what he does best.....DH and continue to hit the crap out of the ball.  He can also fill in at 1B and 2B when needed.  Miranda has been nice, but he's not Kiriloff who I think is one of those natural hitters that doesn't come along very often.  Miranda can split time with Gio and other places.  He may have trade value as well.

This. Plus Miranda is not good in the field. Barely passable at third and lost at first. He needs to go to St Paul and learn to play 3rd base. Better yet trade high on this guy. 

[a-wan]

46 minutes ago, Linus said:

This. Plus Miranda is not good in the field. Barely passable at third and lost at first. He needs to go to St Paul and learn to play 3rd base. Better yet trade high on this guy. 

How can you say anything about Miranda at 3B? He's played 70 innings at 1B and over 160 innings at 1B in the majors this year.

[The Mad King]

Honestly I think they're waiting for someone to get injured so that sending someone back to St Paul isn't needed. 

[twins_89]

They sent Kirilloff down to get on track, and at this point I think it's hard to argue that he hasn't earned a promotion. Over the last 30 days (plus his ABs so far in today's game), Kirilloff has hit 10 HR with a 1.236 OPS in 95 ABs. That's an extended stretch of pretty clearly being too good for the level.

[Linus]

3 hours ago, a-wan said:

How can you say anything about Miranda at 3B? He's played 70 innings at 1B and over 160 innings at 1B in the majors this year.

I watch nearly every Twins game. Sometimes it’s hard to figure out a player sometimes it’s not. Since you seem skeptical of my opinion you could read scouting reports and bear in mind these were when he was at AA OR AAA. 

[mikelink45]

I do not know - but with the Twins playing so well, it is an interesting side story.  Kirilloff had a position and then had an injury, last year and this one - that is just the way it goes.  If there had been a Yankees Daily they would have been crying over Wally Pipp.  Kiriloff looks great, but so do the players he would replace.  Sorry Alex - keep hitting and your turn will come. 

[Vanimal46]

He is knocking loudly at the door to come across the river. I think it’s time to let him back in. 

[a-wan]

57 minutes ago, Linus said:

I watch nearly every Twins game. Sometimes it’s hard to figure out a player sometimes it’s not. Since you seem skeptical of my opinion you could read scouting reports and bear in mind these were when he was at AA OR AAA. 

Wow, touchy eh?

Miranda has a whopping 270 innings at 1B in the minors. Critiquing his defense at first is fine. since he's learning the position on the fly at the major league level.

But saying he needs to be send down "to learn" to play 3B after he’s  played 1800 innings at 3B in the minors is knee jerk. He’s kind of what he is at 3B in regards to defense, which is not as good as Urshela.

[jimbo92107]

Soto is getting his pro forma cuppa coffee because he's a long-time minor league veteran, so they are doing him a bit of respect. The only way he doesn't get DFA'd pretty quickly is if he hits home run after home run, a Twilight Zone scenario where he does a deal with a mysterious stranger in a darkened hallway. I hope he at least gets to play in a game or two...

Meanwhile, deep within the lead-shielded confines of their sanctum sanitorium, the FO's hivemind is bubbling over the same issues we are. After exhaustive statistical analysis and billions of computed probability scenarios, they will conclude on the previously mentioned platoon of Kirilloff, Larnach and Arraez. This will give the team plenty of DH's, and bats on the bench, while saving Sanchez from DH duties. 

Don't be surprised if Kirilloff is called back up within the week. Certainly in the next couple weeks...

[MGM4706]

Bring him up. Miranda struggles at first. Twins brought him in close yesterday to cut a run at the plate. Ball was hit to him and he hesitated, took a step toward 1st then threw home. Safe! Why did he think Twins had him in close? Larnach is back to waving at curve balls. Some AB's are available there 

[Danchat]

It's time - he's mashing and the Twins lineup could use a pick-me-up. We could easily deduct a reliever and be just fine, and with how often our hitters are getting hurt, there will be ABs for him. 

[SwainZag]

He has certainly earned a call back.  I think you gotta send down a pitcher and get him into the lineup.

[Rosterman]

What happens when Garlick comes back?

Miranda goes to the minors and plays more third base?

Do we swap out the slumping Larnach for the moment with Kirilloff, so we can keep the right-handed bat of Garlick around longer?

Is Arraez better in the field and batting than just being a DH?

Boy, can't wait for Sano to enter the mix!

[Major League Ready]

I am just really happy to see Kirilloff hitting and not just hitting but making a mockery of AAA pitching.  He can be a key player for this team for next several years and I was worried about his future so it's a relief to see him thriving.  He will be back soon.  They will probably have to decide between sending Miranda or Larnach down or I would think they could find a trade partner for Gordon.  

[LA VIkes Fan]

It actually looks to me like the move might be to swap out Kirrilloff for Larnach. I just don’t know what to sending Larnach down will do for his confidence. I think they’re going to wait another week or so to see if there is an injury and, if not, that’s the change I would expect.

[joefish]

Does anyone think Kirilloff will dh while Buxton sits on the bench? I don't. Kirilloff can play 1b every day. 

Unless Miranda starts pounding the ball I look forward to seeing AK handling 1b. Soon.