Article: Pinto Needs to Play

[DJL44]

Jim Mandelaro tweeted that La Velle talked to Brad Steil who said that Herrmann...

 

...threw up at 31 flavors last night.

[jokin]

Jim Mandelaro tweeted that La Velle talked to Brad Steil who said that Herrmann has a sore wrist.

 

And there goes yet another depth chart "CF" down for the count. (Only in this case, thankfully, addition by subtraction).

 

2014....The Year of the Wrist

[Dr. Evil]

There should be more of a focus on evaluating, teaching and investing major league playing time in those that can or will be a part of the next planned "up-cycle" of this team. Your Willingham/Kubel/Suzuki/Fuld types should be in bench roles if at all. My lineup would be something like this-

 

OF Parmalee, Hicks, Arcia

C Pinto

3B Plouffe

SS Santana

2B Dozier

1B Mauer

DH Nunez

 

Bench - Kubel, Hammer, Suzuki, Escobar

 

If Hicks gets hurt throw Plouffe in center field for the rest of the game. Plouffe's future might actually be in the super utility role when Sano arrives anyway.

 

I would trade or DFA Kubel and Hammer sooner than later. I see no reason for having them around when someone else can do as good and will be part of the future potentially. Pinto needs to catch most games and Suzuki can shut his trap and grab some bench.

 

Yes Escobar is hotter than a pistol right now but if you are going to start him at short then send Santana down. I would argue that this success will not be longstanding and he will ultimately assume the utility infielder role. Put him there now and give Santana the reps in a season that really doesn't matter.

 

That's my take on this mess.

[troyhobbs]

I am not a Gardy basher, but there is no logic in this. Once or twice a year, maybe, you get caught without a backup catcher and this does not mean you lose those games. That means odds are very good you suffer zero consequences. Would it be safe to say there WILL be consequences from Pinto missing out on hundreds of at bats? In would say both long and short term consequences. This thickheadedness is Hardy's biggest flaw. Look at the stats man! Don't you want to win? Ugh. We all knew the incredible walk rates would drop and the runs as well. All the more reason put the best sticks in the lineup.

 

Gardy seems like a great guy but his baseball decisions seem to become more baffling each year. I wonder how much influence guys like Steinbach, Molitor, and Bruno have on him. I'd think one of those 3 along w/ Gene Glynn could make a nice improvement at manager, and being in-house options the Twins could still maintain their nice guy reputation while moving on. Gardy had a good run but I think it's time for a change.

[Riverbrian]

Well, the further he gets away from catching, the less he'll have the ability to jump behind the dish at a moment's notice. Catching is really, really hard. I could never do it. I think it's best to just write off Mauer as a catcher permanently and avoid the risks. This just isn't a big deal either way. Losing a DH for part of one game should be a non-issue.

 

It is hard. However after 10 years of catching in the majors... 3 years catching in the minors... High School... He'd be able to ride a bike again for 8 innings max.

 

I really hope Pinto isn't being benched because Gardy is afraid of losing the DH spot.

 

I'm hoping that Pinto is being benched because he Gardy forgot how to spell his name or something. Something that will make me go... Ok that makes sense.

[Dantes929]

I am not a Gardy basher, but there is no logic in this. Once or twice a year, maybe, you get caught without a backup catcher and this does not mean you lose those games. That means odds are very good you suffer zero consequences. Would it be safe to say there WILL be consequences from Pinto missing out on hundreds of at bats? In would say both long and short term consequences. This thickheadedness is Hardy's biggest flaw. Look at the stats man! Don't you want to win? Ugh. We all knew the incredible walk rates would drop and the runs as well. All the more reason put the best sticks in the lineup.

I read all 4 pages of comments and none of them said it better than the 1st one.

[Thrylos]

#1 – Name Kurt Suzuki the starting catcher. This has already done and we have seen it in action.

 

#2 – Name Josmil Pinto the primary designated hitter. This means he is no longer the backup catcher… in games that Suzuki starts at catcher.

 

#3 – Call up Chris Herrmann to be the backup catcher. I know. He’s been up twice already this year, and he has completely struggled with the bat. However, he can play three outfield positions (and could play first base, too) and be the backup catcher.

 

Simpler than that:

 

Suzuki has been hitting .189/.250/.324 the past 2 weeks (he is regressing to his norm). Have Pinto start at Catcher 4-5 days a week and DH 1-2 with Suzuki starting when Pinto is DHing. I have seen enough bad throws towards second base / center field from Suzuki recently, which makes me think that Pinto might actually be better back there.

 

I have no problem if the Twins replace Kubel (who has been not good) with Herrmann. I would have a problem if they replaced Nunez. Santana will play every day in Rochester when Fuld is back. I am one of the people who have thought for a while that Santana's ceiling is utility and have zero problem seeing him play CF. If there is a "Twins' SS of the future" in the organization right now, this is probably Polanco or Vielma. Heck, Escobar looks more like the SS of now and the immediate future (until on of the 2 aforementioned are ready maybe) than Santana.

[DocBauer]

Not going to bash Herrmam. I think that's unfair. Couple years ago Baseball America rated him our best milb C defensively. He's a good enough athlete, with experience at other positions, to develop in to a decent bench player. That being said, I don't want him up! He needs time at AAA to work on his hitting, which projects to decent with some contact and gap power with occasional HR power. But he can't develop in to much of anything if yo-yo'ed constantly. And unless I have just forgot something, in all the time Gardy has managed, and had Mauer and Redmond in the lineup, I recall a single game we had to uncover the DH.

 

Suzuki has done everything expected of him and much more. No reason for him to lose the starting gig at this point. But as Seth said, if playing 7 games, Pinto can catch 2 of them, DH at least 3 if not 4 of them.

 

With Hammer and Arcia back up, we actually have the makings of a regular, full time roster. Guys like Santana also have to play. But this thread is about Pinto. And Pinto is not only a part of our future, his not a AAA player. He is one of our top performers this season. It's downright negligent and ridiculous for him to not be in the lineup in once capacity or another most every day.

[Madre Dos]

I have nothing against Suzuki but...... Why can't multi bizzilionaire Mauer be mentoring Pinto between playing 1st base when he feels up to it and sitting on the bench when he needs to "rest". I m a huge fan of Josmil. He needs to be behind the plate.

[howeda7]

That's just it. If a catcher gets injured, the odds are it happens after 4 1/2 innings (the midpoint of the game). That means you play "NL ball" for 4 1/2 innings for a single game.

 

It's something NL teams do 162 times a season. It's not that hard for an AL team to patch together a string of pinch-hitters for half a friggin' game

 

This one time, in Chicago, Mark Redmond was catching and Joe Mauer was DH'ing. Redmond took a bat to the back of the head in the 1st inning. The starting pitcher had to bat! It was complete carnage! What if he'd pulled a hammy? Sure, the Twins won the game. But younger Gardy was forever scarred. He still wakes up in cold sweats several times a week. Have you no sympathy?

[snepp]

Can Pinto play a passable centerfield?

 

Passable? Not an outfield requirement these days.

[jimbo92107]

This really doesn't seem that difficult to sort out, but I think it involves jettisoning some dead weight from the roster. As much as I like Jason Kubel, I am really having a hard time coming up with a single reason why he should take even a single at bat away from any other player on this team going forward. He should be put out to pasture.

 

Arcia and Pinto should be playing essentially every day. They are a large part of the future. Obviously, you play Arcia in the outfield, and you would probably like to see a 50/50 spilt between Pinto and Suzuki behind the plate with Pinto DH'ing a fair amount in between. Let Suzuki DH some when Pinto is behind the plate if you need his bat in the lineup most games.

 

So then it comes down to finding playing time for Willingham and Parmelee. I think you play Willingham out in left to see what's left in the tank to try to showcase him for the trade deadline. Parmelee loses ABs for awhile in this situation, but he can fill in as a pinch hitter/4th outfielder/backup 1B/occasional DH. If Willingham can't be dumped at the deadline, then he's performing poorly enough that he can probably be replaced in the lineup by Parmelee anyway.

 

Bingo. Kubel's time in the majors looks to be about done, same goes for Willingham. Pinto, Arcia and Parmelee need to play. With very few exceptions, baseball is a young man's game. The Twins have no reason to stock up on aging veterans when young, strong, fast players are clearly on the rise. This club's policy of trying to field a respectable team of veterans (aka: other teams' castoffs) has netted two 90-plus loss seasons. What's the point? Might as well play the kids and let them accumulate game experience. Then in a few years we can have a core of _young_ veterans, not old ones.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I don't mind Herrmann as the 25th man so long as he's used as a 25th man; as a late inning substitution a couple times a week. No at bats if possible.

[Shane Wahl]

If there were any way to get back to an 11 man pitching staff there would be no issue and the Twins could avoid this weird paranoia about catcher injuries that Gardy is so plagued with.

 

Seems like Suzuki is cooling off, as expected. He and Parmelee get in where needed . . . but did you guys catch the Bremer-from-Gardy explanation for Parmelee not DHing . . . same catcher paranoid is at play at first base. Yes, at first base. That is, of course, the simplest position to play.

 

Anyway, for now, Willingham-Hicks-Parmelee or Parmelee-Hicks-Arcia with Arcia and Willingham DHing, respectively most of the time. The rest of the time Pinto DHs. That is, when he isn't the starting catcher, which should be four times a week. Save a good-ish overall batter like Suzuki for a pinch-hitting role more.

 

Now, one has to wonder how the Twins might be better served by being a 70-75 win team as opposed to a 75+ win team with regard to trading off (for whatever) some of this roster clutter or not doing it because of the wild card chase . . .

[jokin]

If there were any way to get back to an 11 man pitching staff there would be no issue and the Twins could avoid this weird paranoia about catcher injuries that Gardy is so plagued with.

 

Seems like Suzuki is cooling off, as expected. He and Parmelee get in where needed . . . but did you guys catch the Bremer-from-Gardy explanation for Parmelee not DHing . . . same catcher paranoid is at play at first base. Yes, at first base. That is, of course, the simplest position to play.

 

Anyway, for now, Willingham-Hicks-Parmelee or Parmelee-Hicks-Arcia with Arcia and Willingham DHing, respectively most of the time. The rest of the time Pinto DHs. That is, when he isn't the starting catcher, which should be four times a week. Save a good-ish overall batter like Suzuki for a pinch-hitting role more.

 

Now, one has to wonder how the Twins might be better served by being a 70-75 win team as opposed to a 75+ win team with regard to trading off (for whatever) some of this roster clutter or not doing it because of the wild card chase . . .

 

I missed that one, thanks for the heads up, reliable source- directly through the mouthpiece. Gardy has just set up the ultimate paranoia play to recall Hermann, not only is he the 3rd Catcher, 3rd Center Fielder (work in progress, apparently), now he can be our 3rd First Baseman, too.

 

It was just crazy not pinch-hitting Parmelee against RHP, he clearly gave the team the best chance to win over the singles-hitting right hand options, or Kurt Suzuki. Chris Hermann solves everything...and..."No Added Sugar!"

[Mike Sixel]

Wait, what? Gardy said parms doesn't DH because he's worried his 1B might get hurt? That can't be a real story.

[jokin]

Wait, what? Gardy said parms doesn't DH because he's worried his 1B might get hurt? That can't be a real story.

 

If Bremer said it, it's gospel.

[jokin]

It is hard. However after 10 years of catching in the majors... 3 years catching in the minors... High School... He'd be able to ride a bike again for 8 innings max.

 

I really hope Pinto isn't being benched because Gardy is afraid of losing the DH spot.

 

I'm hoping that Pinto is being benched because he Gardy forgot how to spell his name or something. Something that will make me go... Ok that makes sense.

 

I don't know if this will help, but......

 

"And starting tonight as your Twins DH, and going up for the first time against his former team, Eduardo Nunez."

 

1. Danny Santana (S) CF

2. Brian Dozier ® 2B

3. Joe Mauer (L) 1B

4. Josh Willingham ® LF

5. Oswaldo Arcia (L) RF

6. Trevor Plouffe ® 3B

7. Kurt Suzuki ® C

8. Eduardo Nunez ® DH

9. Eduardo Escobar (S) SS

[drivlikejehu]

It's amazing how people defend Gardenhire and the Twins for running out that lineup. It cannot be rationally justified. We're well outside the realm of opinion and argument. He is not competent.

[Shane Wahl]

If Bremer said it, it's gospel.

 

Yes, this was the other night. "Parmelee is the backup first baseman" so he is "not likely to DH." Not kidding.

[Shane Wahl]

Why not just go with Santana-Escobar-Mauer-Dozier-Arcia right now? It isn't like anything else really makes more sense at the moment.

[GCTF]

Chris Hermann solves everything.

 

If you don't mind I'm going to run with this as my sig for a while. Credit where credit is due of course.

[DocBauer]

Actually, I really like the lineup except for one thing, no Pinto!

 

I fully support the long standing Twins tradition of everyone playing. It keeps the whole roster involved and sharp. And I get Nunez playing against his former team.

But take Nunez out for Pinto, and I really like the way it sets up overall.

 

However, while not a bad move in general, I'm not sure about Dozier in the 2 spot. In theory it might provide him with more RBI opportunities, but he's doing so well at lead off I hesitate moving him from there. I still like him at 1, and mix and match Santana, Escobar, Hicks and even Nunez on occasion at 2.

[Riverbrian]

I think Dozier could use a night off. Put Nunez at 2B for game and slide Pinto into DH and the lineup tonight looks good.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

I think Dozier could use a night off. Put Nunez at 2B for game and slide Pinto into DH and the lineup tonight looks good.

The only Twin to play in all 52 games, Plouffe right behind him at 51 though he has DHed a couple times.

[jokin]

The only Twin to play in all 52 games, Plouffe right behind him at 51 though he has DHed a couple times.

 

Yeah, Plouffe has turned into Mr Durable. A real testament to his focus on offseason strength and conditioning and prehab workouts.

[DocBauer]

Agree strongly with the past few posts. Hate to take Dozier out of the lineup, but I think he might be due a day or two of rest here or there, whether that be on the bench, or a shot at DHing a day or two. We have the depth in the infield, as opposed to the OF, for Escobar or Nunez to fill in at 2B once in a while.

 

And a tip of the cap to Plouffe once again. We're not talking all star status, but what a switch in this kid this season! He's been a virtual ironman who has flipped a switch and is playing the best overall ball so far in his young career. I think he's gone from a fringe player to a cornerstone. Now, cornerstone meaning star/starter or valuable and versatile role player is yet to be determined.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Yes, this was the other night. "Parmelee is the backup first baseman" so he is "not likely to DH." Not kidding.

 

Ouch..

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Agree strongly with the past few posts. Hate to take Dozier out of the lineup, but I think he might be due a day or two of rest here or there, whether that be on the bench, or a shot at DHing a day or two. We have the depth in the infield, as opposed to the OF, for Escobar or Nunez to fill in at 2B once in a while.

 

Short and to the point, and I agree. Dozier should have a day off Sunday. Let's see one of those old fashioned Tom Kelly getaway day lineups tomorrow!

[LaBombo]

Why not just go with Santana-Escobar-Mauer-Dozier-Arcia right now? It isn't like anything else really makes more sense at the moment.

Positions are determined at random during pregame? Totally in.