Berardino: Dozier Looks Slick at Second Base

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Originally Posted by FrodaddyG

with the "anything" in this case being a given Twins MI's chance of being useful.

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*sigh* Thanks for the reality check. It was a nice dream for the few minutes it lasted!

0^0 is not the same as 0*0 and for the record, I think MI production will be improved both in the field and at the bat.

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Originally Posted by twinsnorth49

I agree with that and the very fact there is a odds on chance of that actually happening is a mark against TR this off-season.

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carroll needs to have his plate appearances kept under 401. there is no reason to have his $2M option vest for 2014.

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Originally Posted by rnw24

carroll needs to have his plate appearances kept under 401. there is no reason to have his $2M option vest for 2014.

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If they aren't going to bother spending that money elsewhere it really doesn't matter.

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Originally Posted by SpiritofVodkaDave

He was a 3.2 WAR player last year and gets on base at a very good clip, he's obviously not a long term solution, but he should be the starting SS as long as the Twins are trying to "compete" Florimon and Escobar literally do nothing for me, I can't see either one becoming anything more then a "Meh, we will keep him around until we find something better, UTIL guy"

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Oh I agree, in the present situation, I'm not knocking Carroll but more should have been done to avoid the possibility of a 39 year old having to be an everyday player at SS. Leaving it at Florimon and Escobar is pretty much allowing it to happen.

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Originally Posted by jokin

Technically, this is not entirely correct, as there is one number where this is not true, and it fits the Twins to the Power of Zero Math perfectly.

Because, 0^0=Undefined.

Zero to the Zero Power -- Math Fun Facts

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As stated below by someone else, 0^0 =/= 0*0. I impressed my future favorite teacher ever by showing the math behind why 0^0 is undefinable during my 7th grade orientation visit to the high school. Or do you really want to take this into the realm of irrational, non-existent numbers?

Carroll has been a very useful player to the Twins. If he continues playing well, I hope his $2m option DOES vest for 2014 -- he earned it.

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Originally Posted by snepp

If they aren't going to bother spending that money elsewhere it really doesn't matter.

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Yeah, at the very least he provides a "veteran presence" who is at least better then the majority of your in house options.

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Originally Posted by SpiritofVodkaDave

Yeah, at the very least he provides a "veteran presence" who is at least better then the majority of your in house options.

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Yupper, they're not exactly loaded in the middle infield, and there aren't any immediate reinforcements knocking down the door.

No matter what happens with Carroll, I'm pretty sure the team has an option for 2014.

So, no, I hope his option doesn't vest. It means the Twins middle infielders failed, Dozier and/or Plouffe in particular.

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Originally Posted by Brock Beauchamp

Dozier and/or Plouffe in particular.

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What are you talking about? Dozier and Plouffe could become the next Cano and A-Rod (in his prime) and the Twins would still most likely have a huge hole at SS moving forward. Unless you somehow think Florimon or Escobar are a legitimate option moving forward.

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Originally Posted by snepp

Yupper, they're not exactly loaded in the middle infield, and there aren't any immediate reinforcements knocking down the door.

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Also the SS free agents next year are well.....wow...just awful.

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Originally Posted by beckmt

This is the season for the Twins to figure out what they have. Carroll will fill the hole that fails(hopefully no more than one). Twins are running auditions for next year and 2015. If they happen to be better than expected this year great, but finding what they have is the main mission. Floriman is just getting the first shot at SS, just as Dozier is getting the shot at 2B. Hope they both make it, but do not expect it. Dozier has an extremely short time to prove it as the next wave will be here by 2015.

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Wasnt that what we did in 2012?

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Originally Posted by johnnydakota

Wasnt that what we did in 2012?

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Rinse, lather, repeat....

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Originally Posted by SpiritofVodkaDave

Also the SS free agents next year are well.....wow...just awful.

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The Twins would never go that FA route for anyone meaningfully impactful, anyway. I would like them to try to repeat their trade with the Brewers in acquiring Hardy-

trade an excess OF for a proven-sure-fielding, albeit with power, yet value-diminished rehabilitating, mid-20s SS- from a team looking to shed a soon-to-be unaffordable asset.

I just don't expect much from Florimon, but as a fan I hope he proves me wrong. I think Carroll is our best SS option, but they're running the "kids" out there this year to see if any of them can hack it (pun semi-intended). I'd probably rather see Escobar get the start, with Carroll as the utility to start the season and Florimon in AAA, but all the talk makes that seem unlikely. Rumors of Escobar taking a little practice to be a possible emergency catcher make it seem near-impossible. Pretty sure you don't take a guy you think can start at short and have him work on playing catcher just in case.

The real thing to watch is does Danny Santana start the year at AA, and how does he perform? Not sure he's going to be any more of a hitter than Florimon or Escobar, but for now he seems like our best chance for a young, quality starting SS (i.e. not a utility or AAAA playing due to lack of better options) in the near future.

As for Dozier, I'm pretty hopeful about him at 2B. Good reports just add to it a little.