Thread: Action Plan for the Second Half of 2012--Part 3

Originally Posted by rocketpig

I say you start grooming Chris to be the first baseman of the future and let the chips fall where they may. If Justin has a good season in 2013, yay. A win. If he doesn't, Chris is ready to start taking playing time from him and you start platooning the two players into the 1B/DH role at some point next season.

Worst case scenario is that you have performing first basemen in Minnesota and Rochester, which is a good problem to have. If neither performs, then you know you need outside help going forward.

The Twins have lots and lots of outfielders. They don't have any first basemen.

I agree that Parmelee's future is at 1B. I just don't see the downside of playing him in RF for the first half of the season (assuming a Span/Revere/Willingham trade). Unless Benson comes out swinging and gets back to AAA I don't think he's ready in May (and if he does then it's time to rethink things), do you? Hicks, Arcia, Sano, Rosario, etc... aren't ready for another year minimum (that's not to say someone won't get forced into action but the Twins shouldn't be counting on one of them next spring). I guess I'd rather see Parmelee in the lineup than any of the AAAA players we have stocked. So unless you're worried about playing in RF hurting Chris' play at 1B, I guess I don't understand what the problem is.

Originally Posted by Oxtung

I agree that Parmelee's future is at 1B. I just don't see the downside of playing him in RF for the first half of the season (assuming a Span/Revere/Willingham trade). Unless Benson comes out swinging and gets back to AAA I don't think he's ready in May (and if he does then it's time to rethink things), do you? Hicks, Arcia, Sano, Rosario, etc... aren't ready for another year minimum (that's not to say someone won't get forced into action but the Twins shouldn't be counting on one of them next spring). I guess I'd rather see Parmelee in the lineup than any of the AAAA players we have stocked. So unless you're worried about playing in RF hurting Chris' play at 1B, I guess I don't understand what the problem is.

Agreed. The Twins may need a RF in the short-term and they seem to believe Parmelee will hit. So why not give him some run out there? I'm sure he'll be pretty awful defensively but they've lived with Delmon/Kubel/Willingham etc in the past.

Originally Posted by Nick Nelson

Agreed. The Twins may need a RF in the short-term and they seem to believe Parmelee will hit. So why not give him some run out there? I'm sure he'll be pretty awful defensively but they've lived with Delmon/Kubel/Willingham etc in the past.

Haha....In another thread there was a puddle on the floor from the drooling over an OF with Hicks, Revere and Benson. Imagine what Willingham, Revere, Parmelee looks like!!!

Originally Posted by Nick Nelson

Agreed. The Twins may need a RF in the short-term and they seem to believe Parmelee will hit. So why not give him some run out there? I'm sure he'll be pretty awful defensively but they've lived with Delmon/Kubel/Willingham etc in the past.

Well, I'm becoming more convinced that a Torii Hunter farewell tour in RF is what the Twins should be aiming for in 2013. He won't cost much more than Span and we know what we'll get out of the guy. It's a good stop-gap measure until Hicks is ready.

I'd prefer to save Parmelee in case Morneau falters. Even if Justin doesn't falter, he can DH more often while Chris gets reps at first later in the season.

Basically, I don't see any reason to jump the gun and force Parmelee into a position he doesn't play well when it's not hard to find reasonably priced corner outfielders on the market.

Originally Posted by rocketpig

Well, I'm becoming more convinced that a Torii Hunter farewell tour in RF is what the Twins should be aiming for in 2013. He won't cost much more than Span and we know what we'll get out of the guy. It's a good stop-gap measure until Hicks is ready.

I'd prefer to save Parmelee in case Morneau falters. Even if Justin doesn't falter, he can DH more often while Chris gets reps at first later in the season.

Basically, I don't see any reason to jump the gun and force Parmelee into a position he doesn't play well when it's not hard to find reasonably priced corner outfielders on the market.

So you think the emotional and economic (selling tickets to see his fairwell tour) advantages of Torii in RF is greater than the future building of playing Parmelee there? Often times we as fans only look at the baseball side of things to the detriment of the business side (I am definitely guilty of that at times) and I can see there being a need to draw fans for reasons other than the competitiveness on the field. So that is a real question, I'm not trying to be a smart ***. If Parm/Morneau split 1B/DH reps where do Mauer/Doumit get their AB's (see stats in next 2 posts)?

***EDIT to add quip about next 2 posts***

To put some numbers to those AB's from 2012:

DH AB:
Doumit: 90 AB
Mauer: 88 AB
Morneau: 77 AB

1B AB:
Morneau: 175 AB
Parmelee: 87
Mauer: 50

Catcher AB:
Mauer 145
Doumit: 116
Butera: 62

As % of personal AB's:

Morneau
DH: 37%
1B: 63%

Mauer
DH:31%
1B:18%
C: 50%

Doumit
DH: 42%
1B: 0%
C: 49%
RF: 10%

***EDIT: Fixed Doumit's %****

Long term, Parmelee should be a 1B, but given what exists right now, if he is ready for the majors he will probably have to play RF. In the almost three weeks until the trade deadline, perceptions can change. Right now, I don't know if there is a functional replacement for Revere in RF. However, by the 31st we may have four or five guys knocking on the door. Long term, there are a lot of good prospects to fill the Twins outfield. One has to believe that enough of them will pan out to part with a pretty nice asset (Span) in order to strengthen the pitching. J-Dog, regarding the Twins' power and power hitters: They are near the bottom in team home runs. They are the only team in MLB with two players accounting for more than 50% of their home runs. Mauer and Doumit, despite having enough at-bats to qualify are in single digits in homers past the middle of the season and only in Minnesota can that be considered a power hitter. The Twins are carrying two guys who haven't homered in more than 500 at-bats (Carroll and Revere) and have Span and Dozier who don't project to get double digit homers in this season. They need more power from more places and I think RF is the most logical place to acquire/promote someone. BTW Oxtung, Doumit has 111% of his homers at DH, RF and C! Sorry, couldn't resist.

Originally Posted by Oxtung

So you think the emotional and economic (selling tickets to see his fairwell tour) advantages of Torii in RF is greater than the future building of playing Parmelee there? Often times we as fans only look at the baseball side of things to the detriment of the business side (I am definitely guilty of that at times) and I can see there being a need to draw fans for reasons other than the competitiveness on the field. So that is a real question, I'm not trying to be a smart ***. If Parm/Morneau split 1B/DH reps where do Mauer/Doumit get their AB's (see stats in next 2 posts)?

***EDIT to add quip about next 2 posts***

No, I simply think that Hunter will put butts in seats and that there's a good chance it won't retard Parmelee's progression as a player that much. I'd like to see Chris get as many reps at first as possible and IMO, there's little reason for him to join the team before next season.

Honestly, I kind of expect Morneau to fall on his face or be traded at some point before July 2013.

In addition, I'd like to point out that if Chris is killing it in AAA and Span is traded, I would not be against bringing Parmelee back up and giving him two months in RF. If he can hack it, maybe he can start there next season.

Basically, there are just so many variables in what happens in the next 2 1/2 months that it's hard to say anything for certain. I'm open to doing different things based on how events unfold.

Originally Posted by stringer bell

BTW Oxtung, Doumit has 111% of his homers at DH, RF and C! Sorry, couldn't resist.

Fixed that ... now he only has 101%

Originally Posted by rocketpig

Basically, there are just so many variables in what happens in the next 2 1/2 months that it's hard to say anything for certain. I'm open to doing different things based on how events unfold.

Isn't that the truth!!

Thanks for walking me through your thoughts

kind of odd in that this is a bit of a nice problem to have. Though I'm not quite sure Hunter is going to want to return here. He's commented before that he'd love to be back, but he's also commented unfavorably about MN since...

Have to wonder what the trade value comparison is now between Revere and Span. Might the Twins actually get more for Revere? Clearly he's cheaper than Span right now, but that is also an advantage in terms of making him trade bait.

I would want the Twins to keep Span until Hicks is ready (maybe at next year's trade deadline, at the earliest) at the very least. But I don't really like the idea of messing with the current Twins lineup too much.

Originally Posted by shanewahl

Have to wonder what the trade value comparison is now between Revere and Span. Might the Twins actually get more for Revere? Clearly he's cheaper than Span right now, but that is also an advantage in terms of making him trade bait.

I would want the Twins to keep Span until Hicks is ready (maybe at next year's trade deadline, at the earliest) at the very least. But I don't really like the idea of messing with the current Twins lineup too much.

Why not mess with the lineup? This team is going nowhere. For the team to have any chance of contending next year, they need more pitching. Trade the most expendible pieces and get pitching.

Originally Posted by shanewahl

Have to wonder what the trade value comparison is now between Revere and Span. Might the Twins actually get more for Revere? Clearly he's cheaper than Span right now, but that is also an advantage in terms of making him trade bait.

I would want the Twins to keep Span until Hicks is ready (maybe at next year's trade deadline, at the earliest) at the very least. But I don't really like the idea of messing with the current Twins lineup too much.

Revere is not a proven commodity by any means. He's had a nice run after an abysmal start, but lets be realistic, anyone can do that in a small sample. Teams should pay a decent price for Span. If Revere keeps doing it, he should fetch something nice when Hicks/Arcia/Benson are knocking at the door.