Article: Tuesday Notes from Hammond: Pelfrey Pranks and Impending Roster Crunch

[Parker Hageman]

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php/2778-Tuesday-Notes-from-Hammond-Pelfrey-Pranks-and-Impending-Roster-Crunch

[blindeke]

Bartlett? I'll believe it when I see it.

[PseudoSABR]

Sending Arcia down to make room for Bartlett's supposed versatility seems pretty fruitless to me. Bartlett shoudl be the next man up, and I really doubt he can find a major league job with the way he hasn't hit this spring.

[PseudoSABR]

And Pelfrey makes a horrible motivational speaker. I'm glad those weren't the real Shockers.

[ashbury]

"That's all ya got?!?" Pretty good stuff.

[LewFordLives]

What happened to "no more scholarships"? We'd all like Bartlett to recapture the magic, but it's not happening. If they keep Bartlett and/or Kubel at the expense of Arcia then you really gotta wonder whether anyone in the front office has a plan. If this team is going to be competitive this year, they'll need Arcia to keep making progress. That can't happen if he's at Rochester, where he has nothing to prove.

[gocgo]

http://www.southsidesox.com/2014/3/24/5541048/white-sox-roster-matt-davidson-service-time-conor-gillaspie-jordan-danks-konerko

 

One of the most honest and entertaining columns about spring training cuts that I have read all spring. Good to know it isn't just the Twins that leave fans scratching their heads.

[viking7766]

Bartlett, Kubel, Roefling, and Theilbar should go down, all of them will be there if needed, it's better than losing guys who haven't panned out as regulars, but haven't gotten a good look as a backup or bullpen guy.

[Dr. Evil]

I'm trying to figure out why they are considering keeping Bartlett and here is all I can seem to come up with. I may be way off base but it's a little different angle than what I have seen posted here. Maybe they are thinking that they might let Florimon and his .219 lifetime batting average go? Escobar's lifetime average is slightly higher, he is younger and has shown signs in spring training of taking the next step towards maybe being able to provide some offense from the shortstop position with Bartlett as the utility guy until later in the season when they maybe bring Santana up and return Escobar to the utility role and trade/release Bartlett? IDK

[twinsfan34]

Afraid of "losing Parmalee"....what are we losing again?

 

I hope that's only rumblings...vs actually happening.

 

And we're sending down Arcia...to make room for that?

 

Oye.

[MC23]

I can't find a reason for Bartlett to be on the opening day roster. Send him to the minors and if he finally shakes the rust off then consider bringing him up if there is an injury. The roster should have players who have a future on this team, not players that played for us years ago and aren't as good as they used to be.

[DuluthFan]

It will be very disappointing if Bartlett makes the team over Arcia.

 

As far as Parmelee and Diamond go, if they don't make the team, they don't make the team. If the Twins lose them because they don't have options left, well so be it. They had their chance to make the team. They lost their jobs because someone better took their jobs from them. Not all young players can play at the major league level. Not all prospects pan out.

[gocgo]

Kubel was told today that he made the team.

[zenser]

Kubel was told today that he made the team.

 

It also sounded like Arcia will be the everyday RF.

[Brock Beauchamp]

As long as they make room for Arcia, I don't care what happens to Kubel or Bartlett.

 

But if Arcia goes to Rochester...

 

*screams and kicks the cat*

[VandyTwinsFan]

That's a cool video. Mr. Perkins seems like a fun guy to have around.

Glen is a funny name without the Perkins behind it. It'd be cool it the fans could come up with a final strike of the game chant that integrates "Glen."

Here we go, Glen, here we go

Glen! Glen! Glen!

Glen thing! You make my heart sing! You make...

etc.

[ashbury]

That's a cool video. Mr. Perkins seems like a fun guy to have around.

Glen is a funny name without the Perkins behind it. It'd be cool it the fans could come up with a final strike of the game chant that integrates "Glen."

Here we go, Glen, here we go

Glen! Glen! Glen!

Glen thing! You make my heart sing! You make...

etc.

 

Maybe that wouldn't go over as a chant.

[viking7766]

It will be very disappointing if Bartlett makes the team over Arcia.

 

As far as Parmelee and Diamond go, if they don't make the team, they don't make the team. If the Twins lose them because they don't have options left, well so be it. They had their chance to make the team. They lost their jobs because someone better took their jobs from them. Not all young players can play at the major league level. Not all prospects pan out.

 

I agree, but the thing is, I don't think they have anyone better, sad to say. Diamond could go, but I'd rather see him in the pen for a bit before exposing him, just last year he would have been the opening day starter if not for an injury.

[troyhobbs]

I don't see what Kubel (or Bartlett even more so) brings to a team that is in full scale rebuilding mode. Even if they're "proven" and provide "veteran presence," there's no benefit to playing them over the young guys unless the Twinkies FO thinks Kubel is capable of adding another 20 wins to this team and making them a contender. With or without Kubel it's a bad offense so who cares how proven he is? If they want a good clubhouse guy that plays a sub par OF and can only hit RHP they should wait until they have a few more pieces in place.

[Halsey Hall]

No game day thread, so who's pitching? Gameday has Gibson. Pelfrey was supposed to pitch in the minors today, but that's all messed up with the rain. Infield dirt is mud, so guys just hit and go back to the dugout. Orioles didn't show so it's just A vs A and AAA vs AA. Perkings got hit hard, Duensing did ok. But no Pelfrey sighting.

[JB_Iowa]

Screwed up Wichita State's karma.

[old nurse]

The Twins ought to remember not to overvalue their players. With any player out of options the question should be "What has the player done recently that would cause someone to claim them?" If you have an answer for that question then ask why isn't that player doing it now.. They could send half of the position players through waivers without a claim.

[gocgo]

I agree. Where they are in our organization doesn't mean they would rank anywhere near there in another organization. To me, was anyone going to pick up Kubel? No. Not after his last year and he hasn't torn the cover off the ball in ST. However, we gave him a spot on the team. Parm looks to be the odd man out even though I would take him over Kubel at this point just because of upside. Interestingly enough, Chicago is in the same situation. They are in full rebuilding mode...and yet they resigned Konerko to put butts in the seats while they are forced to send players to the minors who deserve the spot on a rebuilding team.

[Dantes929]

I agree. Where they are in our organization doesn't mean they would rank anywhere near there in another organization. To me, was anyone going to pick up Kubel? No. Not after his last year and he hasn't torn the cover off the ball in ST. However, we gave him a spot on the team. Parm looks to be the odd man out even though I would take him over Kubel at this point just because of upside. Interestingly enough, Chicago is in the same situation. They are in full rebuilding mode...and yet they resigned Konerko to put butts in the seats while they are forced to send players to the minors who deserve the spot on a rebuilding team.

 

And yet I would trade Kubel for Konerko in a heartbeat.

[gocgo]

Well, Konerko may actually make sense on our team given our lack of offense, need of a DH, and a legitimate backup for Mauer. Kubel won't add anything on offense above Cola or Parm.

[LaBombo]

If anyone can even imagine an explanation for counting on Hicks as the Opening Day CF while demoting Arcia I'm dying to hear it, because those two decisions together appear utterly indefensible to me, even for an organization that's made plenty of questionable moves the past few years.

[Twins Daily Admin]

The argument for keeping Parmelee & Diamond over Arcia & Thielbar is straightforward enough - the organization doesn't want to lose guys who looked like real assets just a year ago. That's defendable. It's thin ice for those two, and I suspect it won't last even as long as April.

 

Here's the thing about Bartlett: if he wasn't done, he'd be a great 13th man. When Florimon needs a pinch hitter, Bartlett can come in without requiring another bench bat, and he's also right-handed. Again, I wonder if it will even take four weeks for the Twins to reconsider.

 

And Kubel? We'll see. He's a pretty good reason to not lose Parmelee, actually. If he flames out, Parmelee could take over his left-handed bat (maybe alternating with Pinto) or Arcia could bring his right-handed bat to DH.

 

Bottom line: some guys they hoped would bounce back haven't. All of these guys could have been cool comeback players, and I can understand wanting to give them a few more weeks, especially when all it does is send some guys down for a few weeks.

[stringer bell]

The argument for keeping Parmelee & Diamond over Arcia & Thielbar is straightforward enough - the organization doesn't want to lose guys who looked like real assets just a year ago. That's defendable. It's thin ice for those two, and I suspect it won't last even as long as April.

 

Here's the thing about Bartlett: if he wasn't done, he'd be a great 13th man. When Florimon needs a pinch hitter, Bartlett can come in without requiring another bench bat, and he's also right-handed. Again, I wonder if it will even take four weeks for the Twins to reconsider.

 

And Kubel? We'll see. He's a pretty good reason to not lose Parmelee, actually. If he flames out, Parmelee could take over his left-handed bat (maybe alternating with Pinto) or Arcia could bring his right-handed bat to DH.

 

Bottom line: some guys they hoped would bounce back haven't. All of these guys could have been cool comeback players, and I can understand wanting to give them a few more weeks, especially when all it does is send some guys down for a few weeks.

IMHO, these are tough calls, despite the Jasons' struggles in the spring. The Twins have pulled the trigger keeping Kubel, so there is really only one spot remaining among the position players. Send Bartlett and Colabello down and keep them ready for a vacancy from injury/poor play. On the pitching side, it seems pretty apparent that Diamond has lost out in the fifth starter derby. Gardy seemed to be indicating that the Twins think he's a major league starter (not a good fit for the bullpen) which would indicate DFA or a trade. I like how Diamond goes about his work, I do think he gets the most from his ability and with a big outfield and rangy defenders, he might again have success. It looks to me like that will be with a different team if it happens.

[birddog]

Twins have to start looking at who will sell some tickets. Arcia definitely will, Hicks will, if not for his defense alone, and Colabello should also if he can replicate his numbers of last year. If they feel a need to keep Parmelee, then Pressley should go down; however, why do we think someone will claim Parmelee? A 1b/OF who doesn't hit should not be considered a valuable commodity, especially when you look at our minor league system which is stacked with younger, more promising versions who will require 40-man roster spots in the near future. Parmelee had one great September, but has done nothing since to justify keeping him.

[troyhobbs]

Twins have to start looking at who will sell some tickets. Arcia definitely will, Hicks will, if not for his defense alone, and Colabello should also if he can replicate his numbers of last year. If they feel a need to keep Parmelee, then Pressley should go down; however, why do we think someone will claim Parmelee? A 1b/OF who doesn't hit should not be considered a valuable commodity, especially when you look at our minor league system which is stacked with younger, more promising versions who will require 40-man roster spots in the near future. Parmelee had one great September, but has done nothing since to justify keeping him.

 

Last year was really the only bad year Parmelee had in the organization. In 2012 he was sent down because he wasn't getting enough playing time and he raked in AAA. Not saying he won't flame out but I'd give hime 1 more shot.