Article: When Will Josmil Pinto Be Sent Down?

[nicksaviking]

Gonna have to disagree with your police work there norm.

 

We have Trevor Plouffe, Aaron Hicks, Oswaldo Arcia and Brian Dozier on line two for ya. The Twins let plenty of young players take there lumps in the majors. .

 

While Hicks has certianly been taking his lumps, that clearly seems to be a case where the team's hand is forced due to a lack of CF options. I think it's pretty well believed that he'll be sent to Rochester as soon as the roster allows for it.

 

Plouffe and Dozier aren't exacly young, and they have been a big part of the team's success, I'm not sure why they would be considered for demotion. One could argue they Twins let Arcia take his lumps at the MLB level upon his return from injury, but again, they have no reason to demote him, he was crushing the ball and aside from OBP concerns, isn't exacly "lumped."

 

Pinto is really the only young player that is struggling, though I could see the same decision loom for Santana once his honeymoon is over.

 

Either way, in past year's, the Twins let Dozier and Plouffe work on their game at the MLB level and it seems to have paid off in spades both offensively and defensively. I'd prefer Pinto get the same treatment, though I understand the desire to keep the hot-hitting Suzuki in place for the sake of winning now.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Given the amount of time he's actually playing, sending him to Rochester in favor of Fryer isn't a bad thing. If I was Ryan, I'd be telling Gardy to play him more or I'm sending him down. I really don't care either day what happens, as playing more often (regardless of location) is the perscripiton.

[Kwak]

Given the amount of time he's actually playing, sending him to Rochester in favor of Fryer isn't a bad thing. If I was Ryan, I'd be telling Gardy to play him more or I'm sending him down. I really don't care either day what happens, as playing more often (regardless of location) is the perscripiton.

 

No, it isn't--sending him down in favor of Hermann/Fryer is far worse than a bad thing.

[StormJH1]

This move is exactly what I hated about the Morales signing. I love seeing Morales in a (sloppy, untucked) Twins jersey, and he's a professional hitter. But it's more complicated to say whether his addition actually makes us a better TEAM. You can't say that for sure when you know Mauer/Morales have 1B and DH covered virtually every game, which means that corner outfield is occupied by two out of the following: Willingham, Arcia, Parmelee, and perhaps Nunez and a bunch of other former shortstops. It guarantees that Pinto HAS to catch, or he can't play. And so far, he hasn't been able to catch.

 

(Mysteriously, I've heard the throwing out runners was the one thing he was GOOD at as a minor league catcher. So how do you "work" on that?)

 

I 100% admit that even a rusty, overweight Kendrys Morales is a better DH than Pinto. But it forces us to play a poorer outfield defense, and leaves no flexibility to get major league at-bats for young players. Didn't we know going into the year that Willingham, Arcia, and Pinto would require extensive at-bats at DH because they were question-marks in the field? I want to see the young guys play, fail, and succeed. Winning 75 games instead of 72 by adding a rental player is nice for Gardy's legacy/sanity, but ultimately irrelevant to this team's rebuild.

[Dave T]

Pinto sucks at catcher. He should work on his catching skills in Rochester.

[LaBombo]

The Twins are going for it this year. They can't go for it and develop struggling young players. Teams can't do both well. With no one running away in the central it makes some sense.

 

Admire your optimism. That being said, if the Twins are being operated under this philosophy, then my hope would be that Dave St. Peter not be allowed to finish the day in his office. Ideally he would be escorted from the building and have his personal effects sent to him.

 

The Tigers have the best rotation in the AL, and probably all of MLB. The Twins have one of the worst. The Tigers have arguably the best hitter in baseball and his 2.6 WAR at first base. Was a huge fan of Mauer the catcher, but the Twins have a replacement-level 0.1 WAR player at first. The rest of the lineups favor the Twins, but a healthy Austin Jackson will likely reverse that too.

 

And the Twins trail the team in line for the last wild card spot by a run differential of more than 50.

 

Pinto needs to split time with Suzuki for the rest of the month, and then become the starting catcher. That way, by the end of the season, the Twins will have some idea if they have a catcher when they contend for real, or if they need to find one elsewhere. And if they do send him down, it should be because he's over his head and incapable of learning at this level, not because they 'need' Suzuki in the lineup to be competitive.

 

PS By my count, Pinto had 4 years of full season baseball and 2 years in rookie ball prior to 2014.

[jorgenswest]

The Twins goal this year is to win. 75 wins isn't winning. It isn't progress either. It would only be progress if the players responsible for winning 75 games were a core of young players improving together.

 

If the goal is winning, the minimum bar must be 85 wins. Anything less than that really isn't a contender.

 

Failure to meet that goal should mean change of the on field and front office staffs.

 

 

I will acknowledge the goal may be to evaluate where the team is in 6 weeks. At that point, trading off decline phase veterans and handing the bulk of the playing time to younger players like Pinto. Meeting that goal means actually trading the decline phase assets and a manager willing to play the younger players even when presented with veteran options.

 

Goals need to be met. No excuses this year.

[Beezer07]

Have the Twins declared a goal other than "winning"?

[nicksaviking]

Pinto sucks at catcher. He should work on his catching skills in Rochester.

 

Wouldn't he learn more from instruction from Terry Steinbach and Joe Mauer? Two guys who caught at the MLB level for 24 years combined?

[stringer bell]

This move is exactly what I hated about the Morales signing. I love seeing Morales in a (sloppy, untucked) Twins jersey, and he's a professional hitter. But it's more complicated to say whether his addition actually makes us a better TEAM. You can't say that for sure when you know Mauer/Morales have 1B and DH covered virtually every game, which means that corner outfield is occupied by two out of the following: Willingham, Arcia, Parmelee, and perhaps Nunez and a bunch of other former shortstops. It guarantees that Pinto HAS to catch, or he can't play. And so far, he hasn't been able to catch.

 

(Mysteriously, I've heard the throwing out runners was the one thing he was GOOD at as a minor league catcher. So how do you "work" on that?)

 

I 100% admit that even a rusty, overweight Kendrys Morales is a better DH than Pinto. But it forces us to play a poorer outfield defense, and leaves no flexibility to get major league at-bats for young players. Didn't we know going into the year that Willingham, Arcia, and Pinto would require extensive at-bats at DH because they were question-marks in the field? I want to see the young guys play, fail, and succeed. Winning 75 games instead of 72 by adding a rental player is nice for Gardy's legacy/sanity, but ultimately irrelevant to this team's rebuild.

I mostly disagree. There are more players on the bench than Pinto. When Fuld is healthy, he will relieve the corner guys some and Nuñez has shown he can hit enough and field sufficiently to get some time around the diamond. Parm gave the team a spark when he was recalled and could do it again. Sure, I want to see Pinto develop. I believe he is the future catcher for this team for the next few years at least. But to do that, he has to improve as a catcher. A month or two in Rochester might do him good and a better defensive second catcher would be a good idea.

[LaBombo]

Mike Berardino @MikeBerardino · 30m

Josmil Pinto is 0 for 16 throwing out attempted basestealers. He has 5 errors, 3 passed balls and 6 wild pitches on his watch (18 games).

 

It would be interesting to see his numbers without the Deduno games. De Dude makes every catcher look bad.

[JB_Iowa]

• Rhett Bollinger ‏@RhettBollinger 53s
  Pinto optioned to AAA Rochester
   
   
  

[stringer bell]

Watching Gardy now. Hicks to the cities to get his arm looked at. Fuld will be playing tonight, I guess. I hope he goes 9 innings.

[JB_Iowa]

Watching Gardy now. Hicks to the cities to get his arm looked at. Fuld will be playing tonight, I guess. I hope he goes 9 innings.

 

Tonight is also known as Friday in Detroit since today's game is over.

 

Although I guess he could get another start in New Britain tonight. (My Bad.)

[ScrapTheNickname]

There is no way in hell I would bring Eric Fryer or Chris Herrmann to replace Josmil Pinto on the 25-man roster. Pinto playing more might actually help him.

 

Imagine that . . .

 

Where would he play on the Twins roster? Morales is the DH and a switch hitter to boot. I know you disagree, but Pinto to play, and improve, at AAA.

[Nick Nelson]

I'm not at all sure I agree that Pinto is heading to Rochester.

 

Oh yeah?

[stringer bell]

If Hicks is disabled and Fuld isn't ready--Rosario?

[stringer bell]

Tonight is also known as Friday in Detroit since today's game is over.

 

Although I guess he could get another start in New Britain tonight. (My Bad.)

And maybe Thursday too? Don't know if or when the Rock Cats play tomorrow.

[stringer bell]

Herrmann hasn't played since he hurt his wrist. I wonder if we'll see Fryer.

[jorgenswest]

When Pinto returns, there has to be a plan where he will be used regularly. There is no other solution long term for catcher.

[Mr. Ed]

And maybe Thursday too? Don't know if or when the Rock Cats play tomorrow.

 

Cats are in Reading Thursday night.

[Mr. Ed]

If Fuld isn't ready, I could see MN bringing Florimon back to play SS, Escobar/Nunez at 2nd,if Dozier is out for a bit, and Santana/Escobar as the CFs.

[jokin]

It would be interesting to see his numbers without the Deduno games. De Dude makes every catcher look bad.

 

Based on how many of Pinto's throws end up in CF, he must be inspired by Deduno's wildness.

[jokin]

I'm not at all sure I agree that Pinto is heading to Rochester.

 

Oh yeah?

 

Gotcha, Chief. And Spirit/Dave, too. Nice call, Nick.

[jokin]

Watching Gardy now. Hicks to the cities to get his arm looked at. Fuld will be playing tonight, I guess. I hope he goes 9 innings.

 

Fuldie looks to be fine. Looks like he'll be the 4th OF when/until Santana supplants Escobar, or another injury in the MI (hope Dozier is not serious, but he was definitely grimacing out there after the collision, which BTW, is on Santana, which means it's on Gardy).

[Thegrin]

Fryer will be up. He's a good defensive catcher and there is no urgency to use him often. Hermann needs to play and Pinto certainly needs to play as well.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

This should get interesting. Not a lot of days off before the all star break. Perhaps the Twins will trade for a veteran catcher to back up Suzuki. Not even joking.

[jokin]

Fryer will be up. He's a good defensive catcher and there is no urgency to use him often. Hermann needs to play and Pinto certainly needs to play as well.

 

Yup, Fryer once a week, on a day game after night game- basis works for me. Suzuki wears down, or the Twins fall out of contention, Pinto comes back to get more reps, better prepared for major league catching rigors.

[jokin]

This should get interesting. Not a lot of days off before the all star break. Perhaps the Twins will trade for a veteran catcher to back up Suzuki. Not even joking.

 

Or how about Henry Blanco? Retired last year. Or Pudge? They're both only 42 and probably could still go a game a week.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Or how about Henry Blanco? Retired last year. Or Pudge? They're both only 42 and probably could still go a game a week.

 

Mauer?