Thread: Rene Tosoni Demoted to AA

In a move that has me more than a little surprised, the Twins decided to send OF Rene Tosoni back to AA to make room at Rochester for Michael Hollimon (who is coming off of the DL). Tosoni had missed nearly a month with a lacerated finger, suffered in the season's third game on a play at the plate. He struggled in his comeback. He had just six hits in his first 61 at bats. Then last night, he went 5-5 for the Red Wings. Today, he is being shipped to New Britain.

Not totally surprising. It is a question of playing time needs, current ability of players and such. Just like some Twins need to go backwards to Rochester to work out some kinks,,,maybe some are currently overmatched at AAA and need to feel good et al. I think there is some pressure this year to actually try and win, amidst being a feeder for the Twins, at Rochester.

Wilken Ramirez, Matt Carson and Clete Thomas are ahead of him right now (not to mention Dinkelman who is still in the DL and Mastroianni.) So AA is about right for Tosoni to be fair to all...

The Twins acquired 3 new OFs the last 3 months (Mastroianni, Thomas and Komatsu) so (add Ramirez and Carson as FA earlier) it was obvious that some of the existing ones would drop in the depth chart. At least Tosoni did not drop as far as Dustin Martin did...

This is an organization in flux and we will see a lot of interesting things happening this summer I suspect.

Originally Posted by thrylos98

Wilken Ramirez, Matt Carson and Clete Thomas are ahead of him right now (not to mention Dinkelman who is still in the DL and Mastroianni.) So AA is about right for Tosoni to be fair to all...

The Twins acquired 3 new OFs the last 3 months (Mastroianni, Thomas and Komatsu) so (add Ramirez and Carson as FA earlier) it was obvious that some of the existing ones would drop in the depth chart. At least Tosoni did not drop as far as Dustin Martin did...

This is an organization in flux and we will see a lot of interesting things happening this summer I suspect.

Clete Thomas is not ahead of anyone. What the hell are you talking about? This is a bizarro move when a guy finally shows some semblance of waking up this year and being healthy. CLETE THOMAS keeps causing problems for this organization. It's a joke. It's Joe Thurstonesque. He showed have never been signed in the first place and now he is taking at bats away from prospects and has been for several weeks.

Hell, why don't they sign Chase Lambin again? Bring back Toby? Now BOTH Benson and Tosoni have to waste time in AA instead of AAA where they belong. Clete Thomas

That's a nice reward after going 5 for 5.

The Twins sure do have an awful lot of outfielders.

Originally Posted by shanewahl

Clete Thomas is not ahead of anyone. What the hell are you talking about? .

Clete Thomas is hitting .267/.313/.467 and Rene Tosoni .177/.282/.210 after his 5 for 5 day

Originally Posted by shanewahl

Hell, why don't they sign Chase Lambin again? Bring back Toby? Now BOTH Benson and Tosoni have to waste time in AA instead of AAA where they belong. Clete Thomas

Thomas is 28. The following in Rochester are 28 and older, in addition to Thomas (and the first 2 over 30) :

Sean Burroughs, Matt Carson, Ray Chang, Sam Deduno, Brian Dinkelman, Casey Fien, Mike Hollimon, Matt Maloney, Rene Rivera, Anthony Slama, J.R. Towles and Esmerling Vasquez.

If you think that Thomas is too old for AAA, then all of these are too. And Thomas is not Toby. He has a .780 OPS at this point, which Tosoni has yet to approach in AAA. Last season Tosoni's AAA OPS was .626 . He should have not been in the majors but unfortunately he was. That visit in the majors does not make him (or Benson) MLB-ready or even close to being ready. He is 25. That would make him younger that 8-10 of his new teammates in New Britain. It is where he belongs.

Yeah, I normally prefer prospects to play in AAA, but clearly they needed to go out and get these veterans because the prospects are now where they should be... AA. Benson's on the DL too, so that may have factored in. Also, the Twins kind of have 6 OF, so it's possible Mastroianni could be sent back down too (or Revere).

Too bad for Tosoni. I think you guys are right, though: there are a lot of outfielders at or above AA in this organization. There's a logjam of guys that are good, but not ready for MLB.

the Twins have a log jam of Average AA outfielders....

Originally Posted by Boom Boom

The Twins sure do have an awful lot of outfielders.

Is than "an awful lot of" or "a lot of awful" outfielders?

Maybe he was using 'lot' as in a collection of similar items?


"This lot of Twins outfielders is awful."

Originally Posted by snepp

Maybe he was using 'lot' as in a collection of similar items?


"This lot of Twins outfielders is awful."

Add Buxton and the lot looks a lot better.

Originally Posted by Boom Boom

The Twins sure do have an awful lot of outfielders.

Wasn't that Earl Weaver's old formula? Outfielding and three-run homers.

I'm a bit of a Tosoni fan, so this is disappointing. Clete Thomas needs to get the boot. He has no potential whatsoever in the major leagues.

Originally Posted by thrylos98

Clete Thomas is hitting .267/.313/.467 and Rene Tosoni .177/.282/.210 after his 5 for 5 day



Thomas is 28. The following in Rochester are 28 and older, in addition to Thomas (and the first 2 over 30) :

Sean Burroughs, Matt Carson, Ray Chang, Sam Deduno, Brian Dinkelman, Casey Fien, Mike Hollimon, Matt Maloney, Rene Rivera, Anthony Slama, J.R. Towles and Esmerling Vasquez.

If you think that Thomas is too old for AAA, then all of these are too. And Thomas is not Toby. He has a .780 OPS at this point, which Tosoni has yet to approach in AAA. Last season Tosoni's AAA OPS was .626 . He should have not been in the majors but unfortunately he was. That visit in the majors does not make him (or Benson) MLB-ready or even close to being ready. He is 25. That would make him younger that 8-10 of his new teammates in New Britain. It is where he belongs.

I know what the stats are. Clete Thomas has no future whatsoever with the Twins and rightfully so. Tosoni and Benson need to work out there issues at AAA and not be sent down to AA (after being with the TWINS last year, for crying out loud). Benson was great at New Britain last year. What else do they want from him there?

Also, Tosoni played for Rochester tonight. What's up with that? They made the decision too late in the day or something?

Originally Posted by thrylos98

Thomas is 28. The following in Rochester are 28 and older, in addition to Thomas (and the first 2 over 30) :

Sean Burroughs, Matt Carson, Ray Chang, Sam Deduno, Brian Dinkelman, Casey Fien, Mike Hollimon, Matt Maloney, Rene Rivera, Anthony Slama, J.R. Towles and Esmerling Vasquez.

If you think that Thomas is too old for AAA, then all of these are too.

The problem is that all those guys you mentioned are just roster fillers. Fillers get waived or see playing time disappear when real talent is present at their position. Tosoni and Benson are both ready for AAA and they absolutely need those ABs in order to improve. They have both spent enough time at the lower levels to be given a chance to continue rising or to fall flat on their faces.

I had been a big Tosoni fan but his lack of AAA production the last 2 yrs shows he may never be the player he was thought to be.
I had actually thought it was possible that Tosoni & Nishi are bothcandidates to be taken off the 40 man roster if the spots are needed, so Im surprised but not shocked.

Originally Posted by Boom Boom

The Twins sure do have an awful lot of outfielders.

How about "A lot of awful outfielders!"