The Twins are currently carrying 13 pitchers, almost unheard of in Major League Baseball, but will make a move if Nick Blackburn officially is declared healthy and makes his next scheduled start on Tuesday, as expected. Both Blackburn and Glen Perkins have been battling injury, which necessitated the need for temporary pitching depth.
Given the news that Scott Baker, perhaps the staff’s best pitcher when healthy, has undergone season-ending Tommy John Surgery, one would think the team would be struggling for arms. While the team’s pitching as a whole has been inconsistent, no individual pitcher is a clear candidate to be demoted. In fact, when Jason Marquis returned from a minor league tune up, the team went as far as to designate Luke Hughes for assignment, even though he was one of the team’s best players in spring training. That only leaves Trevor Plouffe as a backup middle infield option, though he has struggled with the infielder’s glove and has been groomed as an outfielder this Spring.
Ultimately, a couple of misplays at second base in Hughes’ limited playing time may have sealed the deal. On a team with so little margin for error, they would probably prefer the better-hitting Plouffe unless his defense was flawless.
Currently, the Twins are carrying only three reserve position players. Their backup catcher, Ryan Doumit, is also one of the team’s best hitters and has been getting the majority of time in right field. In truth, the team probably needs to bring up a third catcher and a middle infielder, both of whom would ideally be strong defensive players.
With Blackburn coming back, the Twins’ first decision will be whether to keep Liam Hendricks or Anthony Swarzak in the starting rotation. Swarzak is out-of-options, but Hendricks is perhaps the better pitcher. In fact, in his first outing of the season, Hendricks showed more command and pitching savvy than perhaps any pitcher on the staff. Swarzak, meanwhile, is more of a fastball pitcher that must rely on pitching aggressively and hard inside. He may be better suited as a reliever, and could potentially benefit by growing a beard, getting a tattoo, or other means of intimidation.
Assuming Hendricks wins the rotation spot, and Swarzak is sent to the bullpen, that leaves the team with a whopping eight relievers. One or two need to be cut, and likely lost through the waiver wire. Alex Burnett could be demoted without going through waivers, but hasn’t allowed a run all season and should be safe. Capps, Perkins, Duesnsing and Burton look to be safe as well. That leaves either Matt Maloney or Jeff Gray, both of whom the Twins like and have pitched decently. Gray is a ground-ball pitcher, good to bring in with runners on base. Maloney has been somewhat underused, but doesn’t deserve to be sent down either.
Prediction? I’ll say the Twins bring up third string catcher, Drew Butera, and try to sneak Swarzak trough waivers. It’s a risk, but he has lost all three starts this year and is 7-17 for his career. The Twins would still have Maloney and Duensing capable of long relief and spot starting, and Jeff Gray has proved he can pitch multiple innings if needed. It’s unlikely they could find many innings for Swarzak, and the older veterans might be better suited in most key relief situations. Francisco Liriano has a 11.91 ERA in three starts, but the Twins are generally very patient with him and should give him time yet.
Ideally, the team would eventually add another infielder, as Trevor Plouffe is risky in key defensive situations. That could eventually signal a return of Tsuyoshi Nishioka, although he’s only hit for a .200 average in AAA. Brain Dozier has played well, but with Alexi Casilla coming into form lately, there may be little opportunity of the young player. Unless Luke Hughes remains in the organization, Nishioka might be the best reserve option.
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d.anderson
April 19, 2012
Friday, April 20, 2012
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Lineup slowly coming into focus
During the first week of the season, the Twins have seemed to be holding their breath, waiting for something to happen. It’s a team with a large core of new players from outside the organization, perhaps more new players than any Twins team in recent memory, and it will perhaps take some time to gel.
One aspect that is developing slowly is the outfield, were it has become apparent that newcomer, Josh Willingham, has a powerful bat, but is simply atrocious in the field. Over the course of his career, he has consistently provided solid power numbers for mediocre teams, and one might wonder why such a good hitter has never player on a real winner. The answer might be that a winning team cannot afford balls consistently reaching the gaps, and weak, off-target throws to wrong bases. He may wind up statistically with a few outfield assists, but simply because his arm is so frequently challenged. Ultimately, the Twins need to find a way to fit him into the DH role over the course of his 3-Year contract, at least if they have any fleeting desire to make it back to the playoffs.
Originally, the Twins had hoped to put Willingham in right field and Ben Revere in left. But not long into spring training, the club realized that Willingham was so poor with the glove that he needed to be hidden in left, considered baseball’s least essential defensive position. Ben Revere is an outstanding center fielder and left fielder, but his arm is a huge liability in right field, a position that usually employs strong-armed right-handers. Additionally, with Justin Morneau as a DH, newcomer, Ryan Doumit had become the most-regular right fielder as way to get his bat in the lineup.
There was a thought that Revere would be a late-inning replacement for Josh Willingham, but it became apparent that Ron Gardenhire wasn’t willing to subtract Willingham’s powerful bat to protect his poor glove or slow feet. Indeed, in an extra-inning ballgame, it would be foolish to take out your team’s best power hitter in a situation where one big hit can win the game. While Ben Revere is one of the Twins’ better players, they simply didn’t have enough opportunities to play him.
Thus, when Detroit’s Clete Thomas came across the waiver wire, the Twins were quick to act. Having the worst record in the league, the Twins got first pick at him and made their claim. Although the Tigers would like to have kept him, he was out-of-options and the Tigers were getting so good that roster spots and playing time was hard to come by. Over a week of games, Thomas had yet to bat, only playing for defensive purposes.
Make no mistake about it, the Twins would never trade Ben Revere for Clete Thomas. That prospect is thought almost laughable. But, Thomas is an older, more experienced player who is above average at all outfield positions, has decent speed, and is experienced as a bench player. Just as it takes a certain talent to play every day, it takes another talent to play only in key spots. Young, talented players like Revere can get rusty and impatient on the bench, often not preforming well in limited roles. That’s why the team chose to send him down, over someone like bench veteran, Sean Burroughs, who had yet to have a hit in only five at-bats.
Additionally, the team can barely afford to play Willingham in left field, and definitely could not afford two liabilities. Out of all the options the team had for right field, it was a natural position for none: Ben Revere (center), Ryan Doumit (catcher/DH), Trevor Plouffe (SS), Sean Burroughs (3B), Chris Parmelee (1B). Clete Thomas is a very average player, but not a liability in the field, at the plate or on the basepaths. The team can feel confident that he’ll cut balls off in the gaps, hit the cutoff man, and not get the bat knocked out of his hands. In a sense, he’s someone like Jamey Carroll, who’s main job is to play fundamentally forgettable baseball. He doesn’t need to be the hero, just decent and consistent.
So far in 2012, Ryan Doumit has become a surprise leader on the field with fiery play and hustle. He has spent years as a lowly Pittsburgh Pirate, and it’s pretty clear that he’s used to playing a gritty style of ball against much better teams. Problem is, much like Josh Willingham, he is a liability in the field and would be much better served as a DH. Again, it may not be a coincidence that he’s never served as a DH, and never played on a winning team.
Chris Parmalee has played well as a rookie 1st baseman, and should be a productive major league player. That said, if the Twins want to be more than a second-rate team, they need to get Justin Morneu back out in the field or make a trade. The defense can’t afford to play both Willingham and Doumit in the field, but neither can the offense afford to take either one out of the lineup.
Hopefully, Morneau will be able to play 1B down the stretch. For now, this lineup looks pretty good and the defense is acceptable with the upgrade of Thomas in right.
1.) Span CF
2.) Carroll SS
3.) Mauer C
4.) Willingham LF
5.) Morneau 1B
6.) Doumit DH
7.) Valencia 3B
8.) Thomas RF
9.) Casilla 2B
Now, ultimately the team will want to fit Trevor Plouffe in the lineup, ideally as a right fielder. He has huge offensive potential, but still too untested to push veteran Ryan Doumit and is more raw than Clete Thomas. More vulnerable may be Alexi Casilla, who could potentially be supplemented by Plouffe or Brian Dozier, who has been hitting the cover off the ball in AAA. Soon, the Twins will need to adjust if they don’t start winning more games, and Casilla may find himself as a utility player.
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d.anderson 2012
One aspect that is developing slowly is the outfield, were it has become apparent that newcomer, Josh Willingham, has a powerful bat, but is simply atrocious in the field. Over the course of his career, he has consistently provided solid power numbers for mediocre teams, and one might wonder why such a good hitter has never player on a real winner. The answer might be that a winning team cannot afford balls consistently reaching the gaps, and weak, off-target throws to wrong bases. He may wind up statistically with a few outfield assists, but simply because his arm is so frequently challenged. Ultimately, the Twins need to find a way to fit him into the DH role over the course of his 3-Year contract, at least if they have any fleeting desire to make it back to the playoffs.
Originally, the Twins had hoped to put Willingham in right field and Ben Revere in left. But not long into spring training, the club realized that Willingham was so poor with the glove that he needed to be hidden in left, considered baseball’s least essential defensive position. Ben Revere is an outstanding center fielder and left fielder, but his arm is a huge liability in right field, a position that usually employs strong-armed right-handers. Additionally, with Justin Morneau as a DH, newcomer, Ryan Doumit had become the most-regular right fielder as way to get his bat in the lineup.
There was a thought that Revere would be a late-inning replacement for Josh Willingham, but it became apparent that Ron Gardenhire wasn’t willing to subtract Willingham’s powerful bat to protect his poor glove or slow feet. Indeed, in an extra-inning ballgame, it would be foolish to take out your team’s best power hitter in a situation where one big hit can win the game. While Ben Revere is one of the Twins’ better players, they simply didn’t have enough opportunities to play him.
Thus, when Detroit’s Clete Thomas came across the waiver wire, the Twins were quick to act. Having the worst record in the league, the Twins got first pick at him and made their claim. Although the Tigers would like to have kept him, he was out-of-options and the Tigers were getting so good that roster spots and playing time was hard to come by. Over a week of games, Thomas had yet to bat, only playing for defensive purposes.
Make no mistake about it, the Twins would never trade Ben Revere for Clete Thomas. That prospect is thought almost laughable. But, Thomas is an older, more experienced player who is above average at all outfield positions, has decent speed, and is experienced as a bench player. Just as it takes a certain talent to play every day, it takes another talent to play only in key spots. Young, talented players like Revere can get rusty and impatient on the bench, often not preforming well in limited roles. That’s why the team chose to send him down, over someone like bench veteran, Sean Burroughs, who had yet to have a hit in only five at-bats.
Additionally, the team can barely afford to play Willingham in left field, and definitely could not afford two liabilities. Out of all the options the team had for right field, it was a natural position for none: Ben Revere (center), Ryan Doumit (catcher/DH), Trevor Plouffe (SS), Sean Burroughs (3B), Chris Parmelee (1B). Clete Thomas is a very average player, but not a liability in the field, at the plate or on the basepaths. The team can feel confident that he’ll cut balls off in the gaps, hit the cutoff man, and not get the bat knocked out of his hands. In a sense, he’s someone like Jamey Carroll, who’s main job is to play fundamentally forgettable baseball. He doesn’t need to be the hero, just decent and consistent.
So far in 2012, Ryan Doumit has become a surprise leader on the field with fiery play and hustle. He has spent years as a lowly Pittsburgh Pirate, and it’s pretty clear that he’s used to playing a gritty style of ball against much better teams. Problem is, much like Josh Willingham, he is a liability in the field and would be much better served as a DH. Again, it may not be a coincidence that he’s never served as a DH, and never played on a winning team.
Chris Parmalee has played well as a rookie 1st baseman, and should be a productive major league player. That said, if the Twins want to be more than a second-rate team, they need to get Justin Morneu back out in the field or make a trade. The defense can’t afford to play both Willingham and Doumit in the field, but neither can the offense afford to take either one out of the lineup.
Hopefully, Morneau will be able to play 1B down the stretch. For now, this lineup looks pretty good and the defense is acceptable with the upgrade of Thomas in right.
1.) Span CF
2.) Carroll SS
3.) Mauer C
4.) Willingham LF
5.) Morneau 1B
6.) Doumit DH
7.) Valencia 3B
8.) Thomas RF
9.) Casilla 2B
Now, ultimately the team will want to fit Trevor Plouffe in the lineup, ideally as a right fielder. He has huge offensive potential, but still too untested to push veteran Ryan Doumit and is more raw than Clete Thomas. More vulnerable may be Alexi Casilla, who could potentially be supplemented by Plouffe or Brian Dozier, who has been hitting the cover off the ball in AAA. Soon, the Twins will need to adjust if they don’t start winning more games, and Casilla may find himself as a utility player.
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d.anderson 2012
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