Game 36 - Twins @ Detroit - 3/16/12

[Alex]

I don't remember saying anything about Casilla being a major league player....not sure why his name is mentioned here. But you can't seriously tell me that there's another team in Major League Baseball that would have Trevor Plouffe on its roster.

I think his point was simply that it's at least worthwhile to give Plouffe a couple more weeks. I think he used Casilla for comparison as is arguably a worse hitter (Aaron Gleeman mentioned that he is one of the ten worst Twins hitters in history with over 1000AB) and has a much bigger track record to prove it in the bigs yet people don't seem as upset about his being in the lineup. Even though we'd like the Twins to win more games, they're in a position where they can give Plouffe some more time, just in case before they cut ties with him.

[Alex]

Woah. Dick just used OPS.

[denarded]

We all like Jamie Carroll, but he's not going to be part of the next good Twins team.

very observant, very true, very sad. We're pining about a 'scrappy' 38yr old utility infielder. I don't want to bring up LNP, but weren't we bitching about the 'same' player 3 years ago?

[Guest USAFChief]

Pretty decent job by the already taxed bullpen tonight. No matter what happens in the 9th.

 

I've been upset by the 13 pitcher thing, but the reality is, the starting pitching has been so f'ing bad there's at least a reasonable discussion to be had that it's understandable.

[NorthwestTwinsFan]

You asked what he had to do to prove he's not a major league player. I provided an answer. Along with an example of a player who I feel HAS proven himself not to be a MLB player, yet is still hanging around and few people complain about.

 

As for Plouffe being on a major league roster, coming into tonight there were 4 regulars in the AL alone, each with significantly more PAs than Plouffe, with worse offensive numbers. Three of them are significantly older, one the same age. So yes, I believe there are other major league teams who wouldn't have cut bait on Plouffe yet, particularly considering he's out of options, and almost certainly would be claimed. I doubt he'll ever be an asset as an OFer, but there's at least enough of a chance that he'll hit enough to be an asset in the infield that a team looking at the realistic possibility of 100 losses ought to be finding out with more clarity what they have in a guy who was good enough to play SS in the minors for years. We all like Jamie Carroll, but he's not going to be part of the next good Twins team.

That's an interesting point. I just think we would be seeing at least glimpses by now of him being decent, and I haven't seen it yet. My initial post was made out of frustration I guess, and I should probably give him a little more time.

[adjacent]

I was about to write why on earth Gardy would put Butera instead of leaving Doumit, knowing that he was coming up to bat, and Butera hits a double. What do I know?!

[striker_86]

Pretty decent job by the already taxed bullpen tonight. No matter what happens in the 9th.

 

I've been upset by the 13 pitcher thing, but the reality is, the starting pitching has been so f'ing bad there's at least a reasonable discussion to be had that it's understandable.

Its coming in huge today. We have a nice looking bullpen leading up to Capps. Lets hope he can nail down a save!

[Top Gun]

Plouffe is the no.1 reason why the Twins will lose 100 and get Gardy fired!

[Guest USAFChief]

That's an interesting point. I just think we would be seeing at least glimpses by now of him being decent, and I haven't seen it yet. My initial post was made out of frustration I guess, and I should probably give him a little more time.

Fair enough.

 

We're all frustrated. I'm frustrated with Plouffe too. Losing sucks. IMO there's at least a small chance Plouffe can help with that somewhere down the road, and cheaply for a while.

[jokin]

Plouffe is the no.1 reason why the Twins will lose 100 and get Gardy fired!

Just further proof to the old adage- "Timing is Everything"...

[NorthwestTwinsFan]

Fair enough.

 

We're all frustrated. I'm frustrated with Plouffe too. Losing sucks. IMO there's at least a small chance Plouffe can help with that somewhere down the road, and cheaply for a while.

True. And right on cue, he hits a bomb and really makes me look like a horse's a**

[jokin]

That's an interesting point. I just think we would be seeing at least glimpses by now of him being decent, and I haven't seen it yet. My initial post was made out of frustration I guess, and I should probably give him a little more time.

Finally, the first "glimpse", now let's see if he can duplicate that sweet stroke a few more times and grow into a power bat role beyond just teasing the fans with glimpses (just like last year)

[Dumahim]

I quit watching earlier. Why did Butera hit for Doumit?

[deanlambrecht]

very observant, very true, very sad. We're pining about a 'scrappy' 38yr old utility infielder. I don't want to bring up LNP, but weren't we bitching about the 'same' player 3 years ago?

Are you out of your mind? Pull up the career stats of Carroll and Punto and do the comparison yourself. I'm not saying Carroll is an all-star or hof level player, but he's been a consistent and solid offensive and defensive player for a long, long time. I also appreciate what Punto brought to the game, as frustrating as he was at the plate. But there's no question that Carroll was, and remains, a much better player than LNP.

[NorthwestTwinsFan]

I quit watching earlier. Why did Butera hit for Doumit?

He was a defensive replacement in the 8th.

[Guest USAFChief]

True. And right on cue, he hits a bomb and really makes me look like a horse's a**

I think that made him 1 for 5...so nobody looks like a horse's a** based on one PA. He's gotta improve a lot.

 

Oh, and...Twins win!

 

For some reason, that was a pretty satisfying win.

[Montecore]

Dozier and Plouffe HRs, I'll take it.

[NorthwestTwinsFan]

For some reason, that was a pretty satisfying win.

I agree. Blackburn was pretty terrible, but the entire team seemed to come together to pick him up, and that's something we haven't seen much of this season.

[ashbury]

He was a defensive replacement in the 8th.

A line from the play-by-play we may not see too often:

- T. Plouffe homered to deep left, D. Butera scored

[Ultima Ratio]

I missed the game but just checked the box: 4 Tiger errors? Wow. They couldn't out hit their horrible defense tonight. Let's get 'em tomorrow too!

[striker_86]

Good job bullpen! And Plouffe homered!

[gil4]

Plouffe is the no.1 reason why the Twins will lose 100 and get Gardy fired!

He might crack the top 5, but no guarantees

[minn55441]

So does Plouffe's HR grant him a stay of execution? After he struck out with the bases loaded and only one out, I was ready to release him before he got back to the dugout.

 

I have always liked Plouffe and thought he would eventually come around, but I have given up on him, even with the latest HR.

[Top Gun]

A big win for the Twins, a statement game! It now get tougher with Plouffe & Butera both in the lineup, run Twins run.