Plouffe

[Badsmerf]

Now that Sano is not going to push for the 3b job for another year, what are peoples expectations for Plouffe? I'm really hoping we see him really take the job and run with it. A poor season would be frustrating. I'm really applauding the Bartlett acquisition right now. An OPS of .750 would be good for me, and likely ensure a starting spot in the MLB for the next few years for him.

[JB_Iowa]

Plouffe has a great opportunity ... we can only hope that he takes it and runs with it.

 

They've been playing Bartlett all over the place to ensure that he is truly a utility player ... infield or outfield. I think starting with the intrasquad game on Thursday, he has played short, outfield and 2nd (I could be wrong). I would expect to see them continue to rotate him through positions. If he can get his bat going even a little, that would be a good thing. Given how rusty he was, he had some decent AB's today.

[Halsey Hall]

Plouffe is the luckiest guy in the world. We should of picked up some competition for him in the off season.

[Badsmerf]

Plouffe is the luckiest guy in the world. We should of picked up some competition for him in the off season.

Why waste a 40-man spot? They have Sano and a host of utility guys (including Bartlett) to take time if Plouffe falls on his face.

[Thrylos]

I would not count Deibinson Romero out of the equation yet...

[ashbury]

I would not count Deibinson Romero out of the equation yet...

 

In an emergency, perhaps. I see him as hitting better than Florimon, and being a butcher in the field. I doubt Gardy will put up with him for long, and would install a no-hit glove man instead.

[jokin]

In an emergency, perhaps. I see him as hitting better than Florimon, and being a butcher in the field. I doubt Gardy will put up with him for long, and would install a no-hit glove man instead.

 

Waring looked pretty competent at 3B today. I wouldn't count him out on getting at least of cup of cofffee, ala Dinkleman/Bernier, should Plouffe happen to get nicked up or go on the 15 day DL... if he can hit a few bombs in ST and at Rochester..... and a roster spot opens up.

[Thrylos]

In an emergency, perhaps. I see him as hitting better than Florimon, and being a butcher in the field. I doubt Gardy will put up with him for long, and would install a no-hit glove man instead.

 

Do you remember who the starting third baseman was for Gardy for a good part of 2007 and 2008? Plouffe is a gold glover compared to him and Romero is better. Romero has good hands and his footwork is fine. His range is lacking, that's about it. Butcher he is not.

[Danchat]

Well, I hope Plouffe either A) Makes himself a starter (a la Dozier 2013) or Sucks so much it's consensus he's gone next year. I just hope not C) OK and probably will be here again in 2015 even though he's below average.

 

Can Escobar play 3B? Because I'd like to see him get some reps there. I'd prefer not Bartlett. He really isn't a part of the future, is he? Also, Romero doesn't have a good enough bat for the majors in my opinion.

[Halsey Hall]

Why waste a 40-man spot? They have Sano and a host of utility guys (including Bartlett) to take time if Plouffe falls on his face.

 

Sano they don't have! Waring may have a chance, since Plouffe is already on his face. Hopefully he'll surprise and have a decent season.

[jokin]

Sano they don't have! Waring may have a chance, since Plouffe is already on his face. Hopefully he'll surprise and have a decent season.

 

Wait. Did I miss the first Plouffe face-plant of 2014 already?

 

Bartlett, Bernier, Romero, Waring. Not a lot exciting alternatives @ 3B. Of course, now we're also talking about our designated starter at SS going on the DL to start the season, so there's yet another compelling reason to consider signing a FA for experienced infield depth and keeping Plouffe challenged..... DeRosa, Inge, Drew?

 

Or does Santana just jump right through the backlog of mediocrity, get the start at SS, w/ Escobar backing up everyone and Bartlett next on the utility depth chart?

[Guest USAFChief]

We all need to cross our fingers and hope Plouffe transforms himself into a competent third baseman. Sano is most likely out of the equation until 2016 and the alternatives are pretty bad. Awful actually.

[Thrylos]

Can Escobar play 3B? Because I'd like to see him get some reps there. I'd prefer not Bartlett. He really isn't a part of the future, is he? Also, Romero doesn't have a good enough bat for the majors in my opinion.

 

Escobar does play 3B but is his worst position. SS is his best. He is 5'9" in platform shoes. You don't really want him in the hot corner, even though Gardenhire insists...

[gil4]

Can Escobar play 3B? Because I'd like to see him get some reps there.

 

It's apparently the worst of the 3 IF positions he plays. SS is his best. I'd like to see him get a shot to beat out Florimon because he has shown some signs of being able to hit in the minors.

[johnnydakota]

deleted

[stringer bell]

Escobar was with the Sox for over a year and he played mostly third base. I think that is a function of the players in front of him there, but the Sox thought he was competent at third. I wouldn't object to him starting a few games at third against right handers and I would expect that he would be superior to Plouffe in the field.

 

I would think that Escobar is in front of Bartlett in any battle for a utility position, but if both Bartlett and Escobar can play a decent outfield, the team might now be able to go without a utility outfielder (assuming Hicks gets sent to Rochester).

[ashbury]

His range is lacking, that's about it. Butcher he is not.

 

Was going by the minor league stats, which is often iffy. I'll go with your scouting report.

[Physics Guy]

We all need to cross our fingers and hope Plouffe transforms himself into a competent third baseman. Sano is most likely out of the equation until 2016 and the alternatives are pretty bad. Awful actually.

 

I assume you meant 2015. Non-pitchers generally don't take 2 years to come back. That is unless you didn't plan on Sano being up at any point this year (prior to the injury).

[Guest USAFChief]

I assume you meant 2015. Non-pitchers generally don't take 2 years to come back. That is unless you didn't plan on Sano being up at any point this year (prior to the injury).

No, I was expecting a debut late in 2014, everyday 3rd baseman by 2015. I now expect a years delay on that. I dont see much chance of significant development in 2014.

[Shane Wahl]

Waring is not going to be a major leaguer. Romero could end up being a good candidate to fill in as bench bat later this season.

[Seth Stohs]

Plouffe is just fine. Only question is if or when he gets hurt. Who would play there. Escobar would be solid defensively. Waring may be solid and has good power. Romero would be just a lesser version of Plouffe, offensively and defensively.

 

The options the Twins have aren't exciting, but they are likely better than Inge or Derosa.

 

The infield is pretty set, barring injury. If Florimon starts the season on the DL, Escobar likely starts and maybe Bartlett becomes the utility guy, though there's still a lot to be seen to know if he's better than Bernier (I kind of doubt it), and Beresford (I'd like to see him get a shot).

[cmathewson]

Plouffe is just fine. Only question is if or when he gets hurt. Who would play there. Escobar would be solid defensively. Waring may be solid and has good power. Romero would be just a lesser version of Plouffe, offensively and defensively.

 

The options the Twins have aren't exciting, but they are likely better than Inge or Derosa.

 

The infield is pretty set, barring injury. If Florimon starts the season on the DL, Escobar likely starts and maybe Bartlett becomes the utility guy, though there's still a lot to be seen to know if he's better than Bernier (I kind of doubt it), and Beresford (I'd like to see him get a shot).

 

Sure, Bartlett needs to prove it. But there's no way either Bernier or Beresford can hit anywhere close to Bartlett. I'd like to see Beresford get a chance at some point. But I'm much more optimistic about Bartlett than you. You can't teach his contact skills. Neither Bernier nor Beresford have it.

[Riverbrian]

I should stay away from this thread... But... Too late now... I'm posting.

 

I think Plouffe has a ton of potential.. I think he's at least 30 HR power and I think he's at least .270 BA... I also think he could play better defense and even play it well above average.

 

He simply frustrates me more than any other Twin because I really believe he could be everything I think he could be. He needs to start getting more aggressive on D and less aggressive on O. Until he does... He's gonna bug me.

 

I absolutely believe the Twins should have brought in 3B competition this year just to push him. Sano getting hurt really sucks.

[Seth Stohs]

Sure, Bartlett needs to prove it. But there's no way either Bernier or Beresford can hit anywhere close to Bartlett. I'd like to see Beresford get a chance at some point. But I'm much more optimistic about Bartlett than you. You can't teach his contact skills. Neither Bernier nor Beresford have it.

 

I like Bartlett. Was always a fan. My concern is more that he was hurt so much and hasn't played in nearly two years. I just want to see what he's got left, if anything. I wonder if Bartlett can put up the numbers in AAA this year that Beresford or Bernier put up there last year.

[Jdosen]

I think this is huge for Plouffe. Best case scenario he has a nice, healthy season showing good pop against lefties and more competent defense at third as well as the ability to move around the diamond to first and the corner outfield. If he has a breakout-ish season a la Dozier 2013, he could build a little value and the Twins could possibly move him for something while making way for Sano in a year and a half.

 

I wrote about his subject and my thoughts on the impact on the orgainzation over at my blog today. Hate to be that guy but I think I did a good job here covering the moving parts to this injury, so I'm going to give myself the plug. http://troywilliamsonshands.blogspot.com/2014/03/miguel-sano-tommy-john-thoughts.html

[jokin]

Waring is not going to be a major leaguer. Romero could end up being a good candidate to fill in as bench bat later this season.

 

Yes, but. When has that stopped the Twins from promoting for need in the recent past?

[jokin]

Sure, Bartlett needs to prove it. But there's no way either Bernier or Beresford can hit anywhere close to Bartlett. I'd like to see Beresford get a chance at some point. But I'm much more optimistic about Bartlett than you. You can't teach his contact skills. Neither Bernier nor Beresford have it.

 

Huh. Bartlett, Bernier, Beresford. The Twins own new and improved version of the Filler-Bs?

 

Even though the apparent motivation to stage his comeback was that he was driving his kid's to soccer practice and driving his wife crazy hanging around the house all day....to get the 2nd utility job, all Bart-ie has to accomplish for Gardy this spring is show some slight semblance of his old self in order to preclude any consideration of the other "B's". Actually at this point, it's likely his job to lose, and with Florimon ailing, I think he's already unofficially penciled in.

[cmathewson]

I like Bartlett. Was always a fan. My concern is more that he was hurt so much and hasn't played in nearly two years. I just want to see what he's got left, if anything. I wonder if Bartlett can put up the numbers in AAA this year that Beresford or Bernier put up there last year.

 

Torn ACLs will derail careers, whether you are 18 or 34. But I often see a maturity after the long rehab that makes guys better. At least initially, his legs should be fresher and stronger than they were prior to injury.

 

As I said, he can hit. He's proven that. I'm more worried that he's lost a step from age than injury. I see him as a replacement for Caroroll with more power and speed. Beresford probably has the better glove. Bernier is a good story, but he's the very definition of AAAA.

[Don't Feed the Greed Guy]

Huh. Bartlett, Bernier, Beresford. The Twins own new and improved version of the Filler-Bs?

 

Grin

 

I'm hoping that a bulked up, healed up Plouffe can seize this opportunity. A little extra power and a healthy left wrist might help him turn on those inside pitches. I wish him well.

[diehardtwinsfan]

This was a make/break year for Plouffe and Parmelee. When you look at spots for the next core, DH really doesn't have someone in the short term, and if Hicks flops, there could be opening in RF. Either way, both of those guys need to step up. If they do, we have our DH, and we have some trade bait/insurance. Sano getting hurt has given Plouffe all of 2014 to figure things out, and possibly some of 2015. Prior to that, he was going to start feeling the heat come mid-season if Sano had come out swinging.