Article: The Only Prescription is Less Kubel

[Cody Christie]

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php/3037-The-Only-Prescription-is-Less-Kubel

[Thrylos]

I think that Kubel is not taking the bat off Pinto's or Willingham's hands. Arcia and Parmelee are his main competitors and I think that at this point he is behind both of them. Potentially he is behind Herrmann as well... When Fuld returns the Santana vs. Kubel debate should begin because if Fuld replaces Santana, there is only Nunez as an infielder on the bench, and the days both him and Escobar start, nobody...

[Beezer07]

Good article. I agree with everything you said except Chris Collabello. Great story, really nice guy, but he's the RH version of Kubel--hot start, nothing since then.

[Brandon]

I wonder if a DL trip and minor league rehabilitation assignment might help Kubel get back on track. Otherwise it is about time to say good bye. I don't say much about Kubel or Hicks because they still have decent enough on base percentage and that contributes something on offense. But Kubel has been terrible for an extended period now and doesn't seem to be able to make the adjustments necessary. I guess we could also just designate Kubel for assignment and see if he is willing to go to AAA for a while.

[ScrapTheNickname]

I think Nunez should be squeezed out and Santana should stay. He's the future, and giving these young guys a feeling of camaraderie this year will help them perhaps win championships in a couple of years. Nunez is going nowhere, he's a stopgap measure all the way. And, of course, Kubel's time of designation, sadly, is coming very soon.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I think baseball needs an axe man like in football.

 

I think Gardy would have a really tough time breaking the news to Kubel personally, but my understanding is it's the managers job to do that.

[DAM DC Twins Fans]

No reason at all for Kubel or Nunez to be here or even on the 40 man roster. Pinto needs ABs. These two guys are taking them. DFA Kubel when Fuld is healthy. Keep Nunez for now as a backup in case of more injuries--until somebody in the minors earns a shot. Meanwhile DFA Matty G and bring up May.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

I think that Kubel is not taking the bat off Pinto's or Willingham's hands. Arcia and Parmelee are his main competitors and I think that at this point he is behind both of them. Potentially he is behind Herrmann as well... When Fuld returns the Santana vs. Kubel debate should begin because if Fuld replaces Santana, there is only Nunez as an infielder on the bench, and the days both him and Escobar start, nobody...

I think Kubel takes the most at-bats away from Pinto. Parms is going to spell Willingham in the OF, but that's far less frequent than that of Kubel DHing.

 

With as often as Santana has played CF this year and the situation the position is in, I'm with TheGrin, it might be Hicks vs. Kubel with Santana primary CF and Fuld 4th OF. Barring injury, if Escobar and Nunez starts Plouffe is on the bench or DHing, in a pinch move Santana from CF to IF and put in Fuld. Personally I'd rather it be Kubel vs Hermann/Fryer.

 

As little as Pinto has played lately, I'm ready to give Gardy his third catcher safety blanket. It's dumb, but I would rather Hermann or Fryer rot on the bench than Pinto.

 

i think Fuld becomes activated, Hicks goes to AAA, Santana becomes primary CF with Fuld as 4th OF. DFA Kubel, bring up Fryer. Lineup could look like this.

 

Dozier 2b

Escobar SS

Mauer 1b

Willingham LF

Arcia RF

Plouffe 3b

Pinto DH

Suzuki C

Santana CF

 

Parmelee reserve 1b/corner OF

Nunez reserve IF

Fryer reserve C

Fuld 4th OF

 

it'll give Gardy a good hitting lineup, flexible bench, the safety blanket, and an ok hitting bench as well. Pinto can spell Suzuki behind the plate and if the once a decade pinch at catcher happens, a Fryer is there without losing DH. That's what's happening now, right? Pinto is rotting on the bench because Gardy is afraid to lose his DH.

[Guest USAFChief]

The person most responsible for taking ABs away from Pinto is Ron Gardenhire.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I want Parmelee and Pinto playing every day. Kubel is getting in the way of that and has not been good for a while. Kubel's role right now should probably be a pinch hitter, and that's assuming that a reasonable amount of rest will make him competent. This is one of many things that really annoys me about Gardy, and the main reason why I didn't want him around this year. Parms and Pinto need to be in the line up most days, with the occasional rest day.

[Trevor0333]

Kubel & Collabello gave the lineup some really great depth to start the season when it was desperately needed. Great stories that unfortunately didn't last.

 

Arcia and Willingham have come back at the perfect time, hopefully Hammer doesn't fade as these two have.

[Brandon]

After going 4 for 4 today Kubel now has a .377 strikeout average (57K's in 151 AB). That's a pretty dominating performance by Kubel. Not too many players can strikeout that much.

[snepp]

After going 4 for 4 today Kubel now has a .377 strikeout average (57K's in 151 AB). That's a pretty dominating performance by Kubel. Not too many players can strikeout that much.

 

He moved into a 2nd place tie with Mark Reynolds for 'best' strikeout rate in the league.

[stringer bell]

I thought Kubel was done in spring training. He played surprisingly well, both at bat and in the field, early in April, but has been in free fall for a while now.

 

Bremer called his BA a soft .230. When an announcer, who works for the team bails on a player, they are probably done.

[howeda7]

Kubel is done. It couldn't be more painfully obvious. DFA him and get a 3rd catcher up here so Gardy will play Pinto.

[LaBombo]

Kubel is done. It couldn't be more painfully obvious. DFA him and get a 3rd catcher up here so Gardy will play Pinto.

Thanks to a late flurry of playing time, Pinto averaged one plate appearance per day over the last two weeks of May. Will be the first to admit that my fear that the Suzuki signing would empower Gardy to ignore Pinto was totally unfounded.

 

And when even fans who don't believe in three catchers want a third catcher to modify the behavior of the manager, well... new manager.

 

Or maybe they just need more Cowabello...

[Jerr]

the person most responsible for taking abs away from pinto is ron gardenhire.

 

bingo!!!!

[bear333]

I say keep whoever is contributing that means both Nunez and Santana and out with Kubel.

[Guest wabene]

Maybe there is something to Gardy's reliance on veterans were he does wear out these thirty something's. Kubel was going pretty good and Gardy played him a lot. He got a multi year contract play the young guys. I like Nunez's bat and would keep him around. Play the guys that are producing. A shorter leash

[howeda7]

Thanks to a late flurry of playing time, Pinto averaged one plate appearance per day over the last two weeks of May. Will be the first to admit that my fear that the Suzuki signing would empower Gardy to ignore Pinto was totally unfounded.

 

And when even fans who don't believe in three catchers want a third catcher to modify the behavior of the manager, well... new manager.

 

Or maybe they just need more Cowabello...

 

A new manager isn't happening at least for 6 weeks. Until then, having Hermann over Kubel or Collabello is of no great consequence and gets Pinto into the lineup.

[beckmt]

Time to end the second Kubel era in the Twin Cities. Good story but Kubel has nothing left in the tank

[hybridbear]

The person most responsible for taking ABs away from Pinto is Ron Gardenhire.

You're absolutely right. Perhaps in addition to DFA-ing Kubel the Twins need to fire Gardy and hire a manager that isn't stuck in the past.

[DJL44]

They've gotten into trouble just throwing away outfielders lately but I think when Fuld is back they need to DFA Kubel. They don't need Parmelee, Arcia and Kubel on the roster and Parmelee defends better than Kubel.