Breaking: Scott Diamond and Brian Dozier to join the Twins

[Top Gun]

Patrick Reusse of 1500ESPN.com reports that the Twins are trying to trade Danny Valencia.

 

They were already likely to demote him from an everyday role, as Jamey Carroll has been removed from his starting job at shortstop and slated to share time at second and third base. Valencia has been one of the worst major league regulars this season, batting just .224/.230/.341, and this is after he sported a .246/.294/.383 line in 2011. We can't imagine the Twins will find much of a market for him.

 

 

Source: Patrick Reusse on Twitter

[Mr. Ed]

On his show this morning, Gardy said that Dozier is his shortstop and that he will figure out the playing time at 2B between Casilla and Carroll.

 

I woudl also encourage everyone to have some control on their expectations for Dozier. He's got about a .720 OPS in AAA right now. If he can post an OPS of .680-700 this season in the big leagues and make the plays with the glove, I'll be very happy. I think an .800 OPS from Dozier would be best case scenario in a couple of years. But I do worry about how not only the Twins media but the Twins manager is touing him as a guy who is going to come up and be a huge difference maker and create all this offense.

 

I think he can be a good player, but I fear what people's expectations are for him.

This is a lost year. IF he struggles early, he can go back to AAA whenever Morneau gets back to being ready to play.

 

As LaVelle noted the Twins are now historically bad on offense. least # of hits over 4 games in modern MLB history. Dozier won't fix that by himself.

[Mr. Ed]

Patrick Reusse of 1500ESPN.com reports that the Twins are trying to trade Danny Valencia.

 

They were already likely to demote him from an everyday role, as Jamey Carroll has been removed from his starting job at shortstop and slated to share time at second and third base. Valencia has been one of the worst major league regulars this season, batting just .224/.230/.341, and this is after he sported a .246/.294/.383 line in 2011. We can't imagine the Twins will find much of a market for him.

 

 

Source: Patrick Reusse on Twitter

Sure, let's play Carroll/Casilla at 3rd. Honestly this organization keeps going backward. Sure seems like there isn't a plan in place for changing the direction . "Reloading" didn't happen. They just are not very good. Tough schedule or not, I don't see this year ending well. Multiple changes are required throughout the org.

[deanlambrecht]

Strib reporting Gardy sez Dozier = starting short stop, Carroll to be utility. http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/blogs/150343705.html

 

Same article has this lovely info:

UPDATE: The offensive failure is officially historic!

From the Twins' media notes about the four hits in nine games:

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, that is the fewest amount of hits over a four game span in modern Major League history (that is, since 1900)...Minnesota surpassed the previous four-game low of 10 hits, done by the California Angels in 1963 and again by the Cincinnati Reds in 1993.

 

[Alex]

On his show this morning, Gardy said that Dozier is his shortstop and that he will figure out the playing time at 2B between Casilla and Carroll.

 

I woudl also encourage everyone to have some control on their expectations for Dozier. He's got about a .720 OPS in AAA right now. If he can post an OPS of .680-700 this season in the big leagues and make the plays with the glove, I'll be very happy. I think an .800 OPS from Dozier would be best case scenario in a couple of years. But I do worry about how not only the Twins media but the Twins manager is touing him as a guy who is going to come up and be a huge difference maker and create all this offense.

 

I think he can be a good player, but I fear what people's expectations are for him.

 

This is a lost year. IF he struggles early, he can go back to AAA whenever Morneau gets back to being ready to play.

 

As LaVelle noted the Twins are now historically bad on offense. least # of hits over 4 games in modern MLB history. Dozier won't fix that by himself.

 

It could be argued that he struggled in AAA recently, though. I agree with Seth that expectation and perception are way too high for Dozier.

[twinsnorth49]

A lot of people getting what they've been asking for with Dozier coming up. I'll be very interested to see how long it takes some of his cheerleaders on this board to feed him to the wolves if he doesn't make the desired impact. The size of his impact should be measured, he's playing well at AAA but at this point, not so well that his call-up should have had most of us saying "what the hell have you been waiting for"? Luke Hughes had a great spring as well, I don't need to go further I'm sure.

 

I hope it's the right move that may spark the team, although I'm not a big believer in "sparks" winning ball games comes from execution and the Twins simply are not doing that. I'll be cheering for him, I'm a fan, it would be nice to see Revere get his chance after the Komatsu experiment fails, bring him in to platoon with Plouffe.

 

What's the deal with Kyle Waldrop? He looked as if he was going to make the 25 man coming out of spring but then his arm flared up, is he still rehabbing? Has he thrown some innings. I thought he looked somewhat promising, a lot better than Maloney and Gray.

[Alex]

A lot of people getting what they've been asking for with Dozier coming up.

...and this includes Gardy since last summer. I really hope I'm wrong but, as I said, I think Seth is right and that we should probably be happy if he posts an OPS in the high .600s

[ashbury]

At this point, almost any possible callup would feel like a good thing.

Unlike the other possibilities mentioned, like Mastroianni or Chang, which would have been a move just for the sake of filling a roster spot, this one is more strategic, and thus interesting. I didn't see the front office/manager ready to pull the trigger on it yet.

[spideyo]

I still don't get why they are clinging to Plouffe. He isn't very solid at any defensive position, he hasn't been hitting worth a crap, and his minor league numbers don't seem to indicate that he's suddenly going to turn into a fantastic player anytime soon. If Eric K can't hold down a starting job in RF and Dozier can hold his own in the IF, they should send Plouffe through waivers and let Revere have his shot at being a starter.

[snepp]

I gave them the benefit of the doubt on 13 pitchers when Blackburn and Liriano were skipped. But its gone on for weeks now and is just more evidence of how truly idiotic they can be regarding roster management. Major league teams do not intentionally handicap themselves to this extent. 13 pitchers, no Morneau for a week, AND Butera. Sheesh.

There are times that I love you Chief.

[Guest USAFChief]

There are times that I love you Chief.

Snepp! Good lord we thought you were dead. Welcome back.

[snepp]

Snepp! Good lord we thought you were dead. Welcome back.

No, not dead, just an extended self-imposed hiatus. Part to maintain my sanity, and part because I enjoy baseball considerably more when I'm not finding ways to bitch about it, and unfortunately the Twins have been providing too many opportunities for that.