Article: What To Watch In September

[Nick Nelson]

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?r=2286-What-To-Watch-In-September

[Rosterman]

Collabello will be given every opportunity. Parmelee will come back just because he can and the Twins can use the depth. Whoever shines in their at bats will get first look next season.

 

Ramriez has shown what he can do, but probably not enough to remain as a 40-man. Mastro and Thoams and Presley will get the opportunity. None of them are special. Presley is probably the cheaper and most controlled at the moment.

 

Pinto just needs to show that he likes baseball (which Herrmann is also running on). Listen, play well, do you job, at least keeps you in the organization.

 

I don't think Hicks will be recalled. But it could also establish bad blood if he does shine (a la Liriano). It means money lost, jacking you around and such. Wish baseball was bigger than this, but it isn't.

 

Again, September is to really see what you do have....and I would walk way from players like Thomas and Bernier at the moment for sure, just to look at Beresford, Bigley and any other possible bench bat in the system. I would give DeVries and Hermsen innings to see if they deserve any more time with the team. I would bring up Santana. I would have May here for two weeks working out of the bullpen. He's on the 40-man, give him a taste of big league ball.

[beckmt]

Mauer will probably be our primary first baseman. The rest will be just depth. Doubt either Parmelle or Collabello are around past June of next year.

[stringer bell]

My take on Parmelee: 1) He failed when given a chance to establish himself this year. He will get a shot to make the team next year, in part due to failures by others, but that might mean he will be competing for a bench spot. He could get a lot of time in right field or if Mauer remains a catcher, he could get a shot at first. Chris needs to hit, it is that simple.

 

I am convinced that Colabello is a minor leaguer. He just doesn't make enough contact and his other skills are negligible. I don't have a problem with Chris C. getting lots of at-bats for the balance of 2013, but the results aren't pretty and I don't see any chance that they will change.

 

If Presley shows he can play, he could win a spot in center, especially if he shows good leadoff skills. I am hopeful that Pinto shows that he can handle being at least a part-time role and I do believe he will. It makes the transition to first for Mauer a lot easier to accomplish.

 

Did I do enough to reverse jinx Colabello? He just hit a grand slam, his second homer in the game.

[pierre75275]

I dont believe Hicks will be recalled but will battle for is job in SP. Ramirez and thomas will be optioned off the 40 man at the end of the yr.

[Danchat]

I want to see Arcia return.

 

Also, Collabello... I think he's a bench bat. He has so much potential to hit HRs. I could see him hit .200 with 20HRs. But that's a guy you want on a winning team, not a rebuilding one. And someone please teach Parmelee how to hit. He's done it before but now he doesn't know what to do and the coaches aren't helping (him)....

[ashbury]

Did I do enough to reverse jinx Colabello? He just hit a grand slam, his second homer in the game.

 

Please tell us your view about Mr. Colabello before tomorrow's game too. In fact I would love to read it, again and again. Until something ever changes.

[Jeff A]

I've heard they might try Plouffe or Herrmann at first. To me, that would be a waste of time. Since we're not going anywhere, let's play Colabello there and see what we see.

[Wookiee of the Year]

Good list.

 

[Presley] figures to compete with Darin Mastroianni for a job as fourth outfielder next spring.

If Presley and Mastroianni are competing for a fourth outfielder spot, who will be the starting center fielder? I can't imagine the Twins handing the job to Hicks again until he at least shows he can hold his own at AAA. I also can't imagine them signing an impact center fielder in the offseason, with Hicks a strong showing at AAA away from the majors--and with Buxton likely starting the season in AA. Shouldn't that mean the starting center field job is open for either Presley, Matroianni, or Clete Thomas to claim, at least to open the season?

[mnfireman]

I think Mauer needs to play 1B and DH the remainder of the season so we can see Herrmann and Pinto showcase their talents behind the plate. Hicks should be recalled as well. Arcia should be back shortly (the team keeps telling u so!) and should get RF. The rest is a crapshoot. Doumit and Willingham should play LF and DH. Presly, Mastro, Thomas & Ramirez are the same guy, 4th & 5th OF's. How they play in September is anybody's guess. The young arms from AAA should get some spot starts and/or long relief appearance to see what they got. But we all know that Gardy will march "his" guys out there.

[Seth Stohs]

If Presley and Mastroianni are competing for a fourth outfielder spot, who will be the starting center fielder? I can't imagine the Twins handing the job to Hicks again until he at least shows he can hold his own at AAA. I also can't imagine them signing an impact center fielder in the offseason, with Hicks a strong showing at AAA away from the majors--and with Buxton likely starting the season in AA. Shouldn't that mean the starting center field job is open for either Presley, Matroianni, or Clete Thomas to claim, at least to open the season?

 

I agree... I think Presley, Mastroianni and Hicks will be competing for the starting CF job coming out of spring training. Oh, and Buxton will likely be at big league camp as well. If I had to say, right now, who the favorite is for starting CF on Opening Day, I'd say Presley.

[Don't Feed the Greed Guy]

6. Who will the Pirates' PTBNL be?

[Thegrin]

Presley and Masrtoianni need to play full time for the rest of the season to give them a chance to win a place for 2014. Since Hicks has not shown enough improvement in AAA, don't recall him. Arcia should play full time once he is healthy. Let Willingham sit or DH except when the Twins play against a LH starter.

Let Colabello, Parmalee and Mauer rotate at 1B. Look towards a L-R platoon for 2014.

Leave the catching to Hermann and Pinto.

 

Here are the ages and birthdays of the players under discussion.

 

Colabello - 10/24/1983 30

Thomas - 11/14/1983 30

Mastroianni - 8/26/1985 29

Ramirez - 10/25/1985 28

Plouffe - 6/15/1986 27

Hermann - 11/24/1987 26

Parmalee - 2/24/1988 26

Presley - 12/15/1988 25

Pinto - 3/31/1989 24

[jm3319]

Morneau has been dealt and seems somewhat unlikely to re-sign in Minnesota during the offseason.

 

For his own sake, I hope it's HIGHLY unlikely he re-signs with the Twins. Listen, I love the guy and will miss him dearly, but he is only 32. He hopefully has 2-3 years in the tank as an average 1B or at least a solid platoon option. He had great years with the Twins and owes them nothing. WHY ON EARTH would he want to rush back to another 90+ loss season with the Twins after he has suffered 3 already??? I assume ( and I may be wrong which destroys my argument completely) that someone would offer him decent money and actually have a shot at playing meaningful baseball games past May 1st, unlike the Twins. As a fan of Justin, I hope he chases the money and joins a contending team for a few years, then maybe rejoins the Twins when he is 35 or 36 for one last hurrah with the twins as a bench bat or platoon option when the Twins are competitive again. No sense in him wasting what baseball he has left in him.

[Oldgoat_MN]

...

Presly, Mastro, Thomas & Ramirez are the same guy, 4th & 5th OF's. ...

 

Those are 4 names of young guys who are going to play their hearts out to prove you wrong.

 

Hope at least one of them succeeds!

[Mike Sixel]

Those are 4 names of young guys who are going to play their hearts out to prove you wrong.

 

Hope at least one of them succeeds!

 

Young guys?

 

This is their age at the end of this year:

Pressley 28

Mastro 28

Thomas 30

Ramirez 28

[nicksaviking]

This is a pretty said state of affairs, and I don't mean the lack of talent. Look at the crappy Astros, they are terrible but at least their oldest regular is only 27 and it's already pretty clear which guys will be asked to contribute next year.

 

What a jumbled mess we have in Minnesota. A bunch of older AAAA players fighting for jobs and declining vets still under contract next year. The Twins only have 6 players under 27 on the roster right now, one if them is Arcia who has played one game in two weeks and another is Pinto who has played one game total. This is unacceptable, why are we OK with a management that is bungling something as simple as a gut-the-roster rebuild? Why are these 28-year-old+ career minor leaguers even on the radar? One or two I could see but this many?

[Mike Sixel]

Six players under 27 for a rebuilding team. Ugh. Now, Gibson will beon their next year, and maybe Tonkin (though they keep acquiring relief pitchers in trades, so who knows). that is up to 8.....should be more than half the roster though.

[Dave T]

Now Nick, I read everything you write and I feel the same pain, but, I don't agree with this:

 

"It's a baseball wasteland."

 

The Twins just took 2 of 3 from Texas, right after taking 2 of 3 from Detroit. I gave up on the Houston game at 5-1, but came back for a really fun 8th and 9th inning. OK, I admit, it's like watching the Rochester Red Wings, except that the Twins ain't going to the playoffs! So let me look at this again from a different direction.

 

What's the Twins' no-doubt-about-it, number one problem? It's NOT who's going to play first base, or which AAAA players are going to win backup jobs in 2014? It's starting pitching. Against Texas, Twins starters gave up one run per game. Pelfrey: 7 innings, 1 run allowed. Correia: 7 innings, 1 run allowed. Hendricks: 6 innings, 1 earned run allowed. Now, I'm not putting that much stock in Hendricks's excellent outing -- one good game a year isn't enough. But Pelfrey and Correia seem to have turned a corner somewhere, and I'm looking forward to seeing if they can do it again. How about you?

[rickyriolo]

twins need to blow it up & rebuild. Enough with the 28-30 year old "rookies" getting their first taste of the majors. Go young and let the rebuild begin now. We are on our 3rd straight 90+ loss season in a row and it is not going to get any better next year.

[LaBombo]

Don't cry

 

Don't raise your eye

 

It's only baseball wasteland

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Uor1veyDL._SL500_AA280_.jpg

 

Very good list, although Diamond's AAA FIP of 4.20 probably gives a better idea what to expect than his ERA. What the h@ll, though, 5 good things sounds better than 4

[Kwak]

twins need to blow it up & rebuild. Enough with the 28-30 year old "rookies" getting their first taste of the majors. Go young and let the rebuild begin now. We are on our 3rd straight 90+ loss season in a row and it is not going to get any better next year.

 

I suggest that you pay close attention to Houston's players/team and project what the Twins would be with just 19-22 yr olds. As bad as the Twins have been the last three seasons--HOUS has been worse! I honestly can't project them out of their malaise for at least three more years. The Twins--yes I do think they will be relevant three years from now--though not much more than that.