Article: Five Goals For The Second Half

[Nick Nelson]

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?r=2100-Five-Goals-For-The-Second-Half

[Don't Feed the Greed Guy]

Aaron Hicks, improvement at the plate. I'd like to see him at the top of the order again, just to see if he can handle it now.

[jm3319]

I agree 100% with not being afraid to lose. It's the ideal mental approach for the team and the fans, cheering for them to do well and develop players. Don't worry about wins and losses. It's still about the future.

[Mike Sixel]

I do not get the Parmalee decision, unless they have made up their minds already. The top goal should be to understand what he and other fringe players are. Oh, and trade anyone you can for help.

[Cris E]

Parmelee is likely to knock the rust off and get tuned up in Roch until Morneau's spot opens for him. He hasn't gotten many plate appearances lately and Calabello has earned some time in the majors. But I'm pretty sure everyone agrees that Parmelee has more of a future than Calabello, and when it's time to move on Chris will get the call.

[Dave T]

Parmalee hasn't shown enough to earn the job. If Morneau is traded, I would rather move Plouffe to 1B and bring up Sano.

[stringer bell]

Nice article Nick. I've said from the beginning that judging this season will be on the development of players who will be here when the team gets good again. Now that the Twins have acknowledged they are in sell mode, it makes sense that the team look to the future by adding players who might or will help, no matter what the record is for the balance of the season.

[TheLeviathan]

I'm curious...if Perkins is dealt (and hopefully guys like Burton and Fien too if the value is there) could we go the aggressive route and just plant Tonkin in the closers role right away?

 

I know he's been flying through the system, but I'd kind of like them to go with someone young the second half of this season. Then next year slide a veteran in there and hope in the first half they can generate some saves-related value.

[Boone]

I agree with pretty much all of this. One of the most important, I think, is "Don't be afraid to lose." Accomplishing the other 4 goals very much depends on not being afraid to lose.

 

I especially agree with limiting Mauer's innings behind the plate. In a lost season, there is no reason to have him behind the plate the majority of the time. As long as playing him at 1B/DH doesn't significantly limit the playing time of Hicks, Arcia, Willingham, Parm, and Plouffe, I would argue that the Twins should all but eliminate his catching duties in September. Not only would this reduce the tear on his knees, but it would essentially increase his off-season by a whole month.

[nicksaviking]

I think trading Ryan Doumit may be a necissary deed for accomplishing many of these tasks. If Mauer is going to play less catcher, it would probably be ideal for one of the potential future backups to get most of the left over playing time. Herrmann should get playing time, but perhaps later Pinto. If the youngsters are playing catcher, that leaves Doumit for OF/DH duties, but those spots and 1B should also be reserved for the future guys and Mauer. Even with a hypothetical Morneau trade, I don't see room for Doumit, except on the bench, when Herrmann, Parmelee, Colabello and Arcia are all back in the fold.

[BabyJesusBuxton]

Parmalee hasn't shown enough to earn the job. If Morneau is traded, I would rather move Plouffe to 1B and bring up Sano.

 

1. Plouffe has a combined 13 innings at 1st base in his career. 2. Sano hasn't even proved he can hit AA pitching yet.

 

I'm sure Plouffe could transition over to first base with some time to work on his footwork but that isn't my main problem. Let Sano develop. Once he shows he can consistently hit AA pitching then we can discuss whether he deserves a September call up. I am guessing this doesn't happen this year but I could see him getting time in the AFL.

[Willihammer]

Sounds like what this team needs is for Mauer to get Mono.

[AllhopeisgoneMNTWINS]

Great article. You have to believe that if Parmelee doesnt come up again when and if Morneau is traded that the Twins have lost all faith in him. Im sure excited to see Colabello to get his shot at the big league level. Im all for the Twins tanking in the 2nd half. I would rather be the worst team with the #1 pick than winning a few games more and being like the 5th or 6th pick. I mean Gardy doesnt know how to manage a bullpen anyway so that is a plus. Limiting Mauers innings is definitely a good idea and im sure the Twins staff are already planning on that. I have a gut feeling that Hicks will really start to get it going in the 2nd half as well but not in the top of the lineup, he already proved that it was too much pressure so why put that on him again? Hopefully the Twins can get some decent prospects through trades but everyone should not expect more than a bag of balls for Morneau or Carrol if they are traded.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

This is a pretty absurd comment on multiple levels. 1. Plouffe has a combined 13 innings at 1st base in his career. 2. Sano hasn't even proved he can hit AA pitching yet.

 

I'm sure Plouffe could transition over to first base with some time to work on his footwork but that isn't my main problem. Let Sano develop. Once he shows he can consistently hit AA pitching then we can discuss whether he deserves a September call up. I am guessing this doesn't happen this year but I could see him getting time in the AFL.

 

I couldn't agree more. Twins have zero depth between Plouffe and Sano. Sano is too valuable to the future to rush him now. Plouffe needs to stay at 3rd until Sano is ready in a year or two or three. On the other hand, there are several stop-gap solutions at 1 including Mauer, Parms, Collabello, all three of which could become longer term, to permanent (as permanent as can be anyways) and playing at 1 will not hurt the player's development into the future.

[cmathewson]

Aaron Hicks:

 

Last 28 games: .271/.327/.521/.858

Last 14 games: .265/.324/.588/.913

Last 7 games: .250/.333/.625/.958

 

When you bat 0.040 in your first 28 games, and that at the lead-off position, you never dig out of that hole.

[cmathewson]

Also on Mauer, he's had two historic slumps this year: One happened early when he tried to catch 5 days a week and his hands turned to mush; the other happened more recently when Doumit was hurt and Mauer had to catch everyday for a week. I think Gardy came up with the right formula for Mauer catching last year. No need to tinker with it.

[Don't Feed the Greed Guy]

Aaron Hicks:

 

Last 28 games: .271/.327/.521/.858

Last 14 games: .265/.324/.588/.913

Last 7 games: .250/.333/.625/.958

 

When you bat 0.040 in your first 28 games, and that at the lead-off position, you never dig out of that hole.

 

Great numbers for Hicks. Are you suggesting that he should stay at the bottom of the order? Since the Twins lack a legitimate leadoff threat, perhaps it would be better to try his hand at leading off again during this testing period (not afraid to lose over the second half) rather than next spring.

[howieramone1406390264]

Good job Nick!

[Kwak]

A better reason to leave Plouffe at 3B is that if he has a solid second half and a strong 2014 those hitting stats are far more valuable as a trading chip if Plouffe is a 3B rather than a 1B.

[troyhobbs]

Parmalee hasn't shown enough to earn the job. If Morneau is traded, I would rather move Plouffe to 1B and bring up Sano.

 

Parmelee is pretty much on the same development path as Plouffe. Until recently, Plouffe really only had one good month of MLB. Parmelee will be a decent player eventually, probably better than Plouffe.

[Rosterman]

Again, if Terry Ryan wows us like he did during the winter trading period, see him standing pat. But decisions do have to be made.

 

Is it better just to send players thru waivers in August and clear salary (yes, if they are no longer in the team's picture...maybe get a minor minor prospect). I can see the Twins putting Morneau, Roeincke, Carroll, Pelfry even names like Thomas and Ramierez, plus the time to send thru Wood and DeVries and remove them from the 40-man roster. I could also see Willingham being offered out there to see how far he goes. And Correia, too.

 

I would immediately have sent Diamond back to AAA to pitch two starts during the break to see if he can handle AAA hitters and then make the decision if he is a long-0relief guy and occasional starter, tradebait, or something.

 

Again, you can salary dump, hold the player back (and stifle game playing for the futre, or maybe do get a prospect in return...at the same level that you could probably get today.

 

Perkins is a great question mark. He would be 33 in his walk year, when the Twins may just be competing. But who knows how good he will be at that point. Him and Burton could both be traded out for the future. The Twins don't need no closer this year, or even next. Fein could probably suffice.

 

Duensing and Swarzak are also guys that should draw some interest and the Twins don't need them, salary wise, in their long-range plans. Let another team decide if they need them for more than a year or two.

 

Butera...gone!

 

With his wasted minor league seaosn, I see no reason for the Twins to even give Blackburn a look, unless they think they can lowball him for next season and truly want him back?

[snepp]

I'm going with.

 

1. Win baseball games.

 

2-5. Lather, rinse, and repeat.

[PseudoSABR]

could we go the aggressive route and just plant Tonkin in the closers role right away?

That's what I was hoping when I picked him up in my dynasty league.

[Major League Ready]

A better reason to leave Plouffe at 3B is that if he has a solid second half and a strong 2014 those hitting stats are far more valuable as a trading chip if Plouffe is a 3B rather than a 1B.

 

I have to agree. Ploufee will be a valuabale trade chip if he continues to improve his defense. His plate discipline has been getting better but still inconsistent. He could be a lot more valuable in a year. If not, he would be valuable as a DH / Utility player once Sano makes the big club.

 

How nice would it be in Collabello came up and played well. He could be a good bridge player for the next couple years or a trade chip. I am expecting him to drop-off just like Parmalee did but we can all hope.

 

Refining Arcia's approach is really important too. He could really be great or he could be Delmon 2.0. Yuk. Delmon drove me nuts. Arcia will be a stud if he makes pitchers throw it over the plate.

 

Next, give Albers a shot and hopefully get Worley in decent form. Let's see if Albers is crafty enough to pitch at the ML level. Now is the time find out.

 

#1 goal / hope is that we get something decent for Morneau and a haul for Perkins.

[TheLeviathan]

That's what I was hoping when I picked him up in my dynasty league.

 

Its unlikely but a few things to make this team fun to watch wold be nice.

[Sssuperdave]

Refining Arcia's approach is really important too. He could really be great or he could be Delmon 2.0.

 

When I first read this sentence I thought to myself "that's ridiculous, Arcia is totally going to be better than Delmon." Then, I looked at Young's minor league stats. Based upon things I had read in the past, I had always assumed Young was just rushed through the minors without regard to his actual production, but check this out...

 

In 2005 Delmon had 370 plate appearances in AA as a 19 year old (19!) with this slash line: .336/.386/.582 (.968) and 20 homeruns. Yup, 20 homeruns. For comparison, Arcia had 299 plate appearances in AA as a 21 year old with similar stats but a few less homeruns: .328/.398/.557 (.955) and 10 homeruns.

 

I'm still excited to watch Aricia and think he will be better than Delmon, but I guess this is example #956 that prospects, even those with great numbers in the high minors, don't always pan out.

[cmathewson]

Great numbers for Hicks. Are you suggesting that he should stay at the bottom of the order? Since the Twins lack a legitimate lead-off threat' date=' perhaps it would be better to try his hand at leading off again during this testing period (not afraid to lose over the second half) rather than next spring.[/quote']

 

I'd like to see him get on base at a higher rate before moving him back into the pressure cooker. But I also would like to get him some reps there before the end of the year so he can have confidence to do it next year. If his OBP continues on its current trend, maybe the last six weeks of the season would be a good proving ground at lead-off for next year.

[jmlease1]

Save Hicks' return to the top of the order for Sept, when the other call-ups arrive and the pressure's down a little. He's having some success now where he's at; let him build on it for a while. yes, it blows not having a decent leadoff guy right now, but Hicks' long-term development is more important than a couple of months of bad leadoff issues.

 

Parmelee was sent down for 2 reasons, I think. 1) get him some more consistent ABs, and 2) send him a message that he doesn't have a secured roster spot and he needs to turn it up. Here's my fear with Parmelee: if he doesn't get it going before the Sept call-ups, will we know what he is? My concern is that he's a 4A player without a singular skill that gives him enough value to stick. I'm rooting for him, but he hasn't seized the opportunities.

 

Arcia needs the time back in AAA to settle it back down and get his approach at the plate in order. I still think he's going to be just fine; he's awfully young and some early struggles are normal. Hicks' track record and skill set makes him a better candidate to work through his issues at the majors than Arcia, IMHO. I think we'll see Arcia back up in a few weeks or so.

 

One of my goals for the twins in the 2nd half is to find out a little more definitely who can be part of the starting rotation going forward and who can't. I want to see the guys who might be here after this season taking their turns through the rotation and the stop-gap guys (Mike Pelfrey, are your ears burning?) be the first choice to be a 5th starter. Let's find out if Diamond can get it straightened out, Deduno can sustain and improve, Gibson can adjust, etc.

[jimbo92107]

Chris Parmelee swinging the way he has lately will not dominate any league, much less AAA or the majors. Both he and Oswaldo Arcia are going down for the same reason: Get back the punch in their swing. Arcia and Parmelee both were starting to swing the bat like me waving a garden rake at a bumble bee. Both men need to break their swing down to the basics, get their feet right, their hands right, their stride right, etc.

 

This is the result of pitchers screwing up their timing so badly, they started to change their swing.

[raindog]

I really like the idea of limiting Mauer's innings at catcher. I hope the Twins are smart enough to do that.

When I first read this sentence I thought to myself "that's ridiculous, Arcia is totally going to be better than Delmon." Then, I looked at Young's minor league stats. Based upon things I had read in the past, I had always assumed Young was just rushed through the minors without regard to his actual production, but check this out...

 

In 2005 Delmon had 370 plate appearances in AA as a 19 year old (19!) with this slash line: .336/.386/.582 (.968) and 20 homeruns. Yup, 20 homeruns. For comparison, Arcia had 299 plate appearances in AA as a 21 year old with similar stats but a few less homeruns: .328/.398/.557 (.955) and 10 homeruns.

 

I'm still excited to watch Aricia and think he will be better than Delmon, but I guess this is example #956 that prospects, even those with great numbers in the high minors, don't always pan out.

Quit scaring me!