Miller: Vargas has everyone with Twins smiling

[Seth Stohs]

Phil Miller has a tremendous article on Twins DH Kennys Vargas in the Star Tribune. I know that Miller had a one-on-one interview with Vargas on Saturday and it was more than 1/2 hour long. Though we couldn't hear the conversation in the hallway outside the door, you frequently could hear hearty chuckles from Vargas. He has made an impression on and off the field for the Twins. 

 

This Miller article is terrific. 

[Nick Nelson]

Sounds like Vargas has a good idea of what he needs to do to succeed. He's got a big and colorful personality so it'd be awesome to see him become a fixture in the lineup for years.

[gunnarthor]

Hope he does well.  He's the player I'm most concerned about but if he could actually raise his walk rates, he could be a real impact bat.

[kab21]

Of course I'm concerned about the plate discipline but I also think too much is made of a rookie's first two months.  It's a small sample size at a time when Vargas took a huge step from AA to MLB.  He also showed pretty good discipline in the minors. 

[jimmer]

Of course I'm concerned about the plate discipline but I also think too much is made of a rookie's first two months.  It's a small sample size at a time when Vargas took a huge step from AA to MLB.  He also showed pretty good discipline in the minors. 

I remember when everyone got really excited about Parmellee's first taste of the majors. So yeah, I agree, we should probably be cautiously optimistic.

[James]

I remember when everyone got really excited about Parmellee's first taste of the majors. So yeah, I agree, we should probably be cautiously optimistic.

I agree that we should be cautiously optimistic, but Vargas has shown some good plate discipline in the minors, so it looks like he knows how to take a walk.  By the sounds of it, he knows that he's going to have to be more disciplined to make an impact as well.

 

I think we can be a little optimistic than we were with Parmelee as well.  Vargas got about 3 times the plate appearances that Parmelee did in his first trip up.  Probably not enough to really make a decision on him, but it's at least a bigger sample to go on.    

[jimmer]

 

I think we can be a little optimistic than we were with Parmelee as well.  Vargas got about 3 times the plate appearances that Parmelee did in his first trip up.  Probably not enough to really make a decision on him, but it's at least a bigger sample to go on.    

yeah, but only the first month was really that good, no? I mean, yes, he hit 5 HR in Sept/Oct, but he also hit in the .220s with an OBP around .290.

 

I am not, at all, saying I expect him to bust.  He's fun to watch.  He could be the new Papi for all I know.

[Halsey Hall]

I couldn't help but chuckle yesterday as Vargas and conditioning coach Perry C worked on heartbreak hill.  They faced each other on the bottom of the hill and tossed a medicine ball back and forth as they went up the hill sideways.  Short little Perry and big Little Papi, quite a sight!

[Dr. Evil]

I predict Vargas will be really good this year and amazing in years to follow. I'm very high on him.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Hope he does well.  He's the player I'm most concerned about but if he could actually raise his walk rates, he could be a real impact bat.

I'm concerned about Vargas but I'm much more concerned about Santana. Vargas has a solid MiLB track record with sustained OBP success. Santana has none of those things.

[D. Hocking]

Reading articles like that makes you really want to cheer this kid on and hope he does succeeds.  It was well written and fleshes him out a bit as a person.  Hopefully he will improve the walk rate etc.

 

I am wondering if he going to alter the sideburns at all.

 

         “He’s my new barber,” Twins first baseman [and buzz-cut wearer] Joe Mauer said. “My haircuts are             pretty simple. But I know he’ll give me a good line in the back.”.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Fun article, and a great lead in. No big deal to me if he has to go back to Rochester at some point to hone his batting eye.

[Squirrel]

I couldn't help but chuckle yesterday as Vargas and conditioning coach Perry C worked on heartbreak hill.  They faced each other on the bottom of the hill and tossed a medicine ball back and forth as they went up the hill sideways.  Short little Perry and big Little Papi, quite a sight!

Halsey, you need to post pictures of these things, or video, or something.

[nicksaviking]

Vargas turning into a everyday player with good productivity might be a lot bigger deal than we thought simply because he does have such a big personality.  He could be the leader this team desperately needs, but that generally only works if you're a solid starting caliber player.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I think we can be a little optimistic than we were with Parmelee as well.  Vargas got about 3 times the plate appearances that Parmelee did in his first trip up.  Probably not enough to really make a decision on him, but it's at least a bigger sample to go on.    

I tend to agree, but I thought this was interesting.

 

First 21 MLB games:

Parmelee: 88 PA, .355/.443/.592, 1.035 OPS, 183 OPS+

Vargas: 93 PA, .329/.366/.553, .919 OPS, ~154 OPS+

 

Next 141 MLB PA:

Parmelee: .234/.305/.398, .703 OPS, ~97 OPS+

Vargas: .238/.284/.392, .676 OPS, ~90 OPS+

 

It's going to be important for Vargas to come out strong in 2015.

[Halsey Hall]

Halsey, you need to post pictures of these things, or video, or something.

If I can figure out how to post pictures, I really should.  This mornings happenings were really fun to watch and some photo's on here would of been great.  I'm thinking I should just start a Hammond stadium thread.  I know some readers get a kick out of what goes on here. 

[JB_Iowa]

If I can figure out how to post pictures, I really should.  This mornings happenings were really fun to watch and some photo's on here would of been great.  I'm thinking I should just start a Hammond stadium thread.  I know some readers get a kick out of what goes on here. 

 

That would be great.  And if anyone can post an easy step by step on posting photos, I'd appreciate it.  I can post them but I find my method cumbersome.

[Squirrel]

If I can figure out how to post pictures, I really should.  This mornings happenings were really fun to watch and some photo's on here would of been great.  I'm thinking I should just start a Hammond stadium thread.  I know some readers get a kick out of what goes on here. 

That's an excellent idea!  And update us on the construction and who's around doing what from players to coaches to FO personnel and grounds crew.  When I have time I'll send you a step by step how to post pictures and video.  It's much easier to do from a computer, so hopefully you can download photos to a computer.

[kab21]

One big difference with Parmelee is that his numbers and especially his power was on the decline as he progressed through the minors.  As a result he spent 2 seasons in low A, 1 season in high A and 2 seasons in AA.  His last 2 MiLB seasons he had an isoP in the low .100's.  that's great if you are a up the middle player but not if you have very little defensive value and aren't hitting .300+.  Vargas has maintained a solid .200 isoP as he has moved up.

[Seth Stohs]

I've said for a year or two already that Miguel Sano and Kennys Vargas can become superstars. They both have such big personalities and great charisma. I think Byron Buxton will be more like Joe Mauer. He'll be the best of the group, but he will be much more quiet and reserved. Obviously either way is OK, but Sano and Vargas, with their personalities, could be beloved.

[Thrylos]

Re: Vargas:

 

- His BB:K ratio in the minors has been 1:2, so it is likely that he will adjust.   He saw a steady diet of junk in the majors (only 49.7% of the pitches throwing to him were FB - last in the team save Morales.)  He will adjust

 

- His September decline is likely because he got tired.  He played 25 more games and had 150+ more PAs than any other season.  And he is not a conditioning monster.  Comparisons with Parmelee (other than with the glove - and Vargas is getting better) are not valid.  BTW, running out of gas late in the season is a common occurrence for Vargas, same thing happened in 2014.  Maybe he should hang out with Berrios a bit during the off-season.

 

- Has to be noted, because it is not common knowledge and not enough credit is given:  Vargas (from Puerto Rico, thus subject to the Rule 4 draft) was signed as an undrafted free agent by Bill Smith, same season with the Sano and Polanco signings.   To overcome that and become one of the Twins best prospects was pretty amazing.  Lots of love for Vargas after this season, but there was only one prospect list that had him on the top ten (he got as high as five there.)   I think that he has a monster future ahead of him, if he gets some conditioning.

[jokin]

Re: Vargas:

 

- His BB:K ratio in the minors has been 1:2, so it is likely that he will adjust.   He saw a steady diet of junk in the majors (only 49.7% of the pitches throwing to him were FB - last in the team save Morales.)  He will adjust

 

- His September decline is likely because he got tired.  He played 25 more games and had 150+ more PAs than any other season.  And he is not a conditioning monster.  Comparisons with Parmelee (other than with the glove - and Vargas is getting better) are not valid.  BTW, running out of gas late in the season is a common occurrence for Vargas, same thing happened in 2014.  Maybe he should hang out with Berrios a bit during the off-season.

 

- Has to be noted, because it is not common knowledge and not enough credit is given:  Vargas (from Puerto Rico, thus subject to the Rule 4 draft) was signed as an undrafted free agent by Bill Smith, same season with the Sano and Polanco signings.   To overcome that and become one of the Twins best prospects was pretty amazing.  Lots of love for Vargas after this season, but there was only one prospect list that had him on the top ten (he got as high as five there.)   I think that he has a monster future ahead of him, if he gets some conditioning.

 

Kudos to you for your #5 ranking last June 9. The Vargas supporters have been a pretty small group over the last few years. The national writers have either dismissed Vargas out of hand as an inevitable bust or gone so far as to demonstrate downright hostility towards him (as demonstrated by KLAW at the Futures Game, even as Vargas acquitted himself quite well). Some of us were even criticized when suggesting that Vargas be called up for a look-see in the wake of Colabello's collapse and Vargas showing strong plate discipline and OPSing @ .996 in May.

 

It will be very ironic if he is another Smith prospect who reaches his full potential- there might need to be a complete rewriting of the history of the Bill Smith era. 

[Secondary User]

yeah, but only the first month was really that good, no? I mean, yes, he hit 5 HR in Sept/Oct, but he also hit in the .220s with an OBP around .290.

 

I am not, at all, saying I expect him to bust.  He's fun to watch.  He could be the new Papi for all I know.

 

The September decline of Vargas is a lot being made out of very little.  His BA dropped a lot, yes, but his BB% increased while his K% actually stayed about the same compared to August and he also hit more home runs per plate appearance.  The biggest issue was that his BABIP fell to a horrendous .258 after being at a very high .400 in August.  Of course, more home runs takes away balls in play and causes your BABIP to typically drop.  But Vargas hits the ball too hard to sustain a BABIP below .300.  And while Vargas had a .233 batting average and a .290 OBP in September, he still OPS'd .737.  Although I will say that I hadn't broken it down like spycake did (though I do have some concerns about arbitrary end points)

 

Is he a sure fire can't miss guy?  Absolutely not.  But I do'nt think September really provided anything for people to worry about.  I mean, if we had a guy who put up 5 home runs a month and hit .233, you're looking at a guy hitting 30 home runs.  I would take that any day.

[Secondary User]

 

It will be very ironic if he is another Smith prospect who reaches his full potential- there might need to be a complete rewriting of the history of the Bill Smith era. 

 

Regardless of how the prospects pan out, the trades were always the big mark against him in my opinion.  The Santana > Gomez > Hardy > Hoey progression, the Ramos for Capps.......ugh

[ashbury]

Moderator's note: please let's not continue the Yet Another Retrospective On Bill Smith's Reign tangent in this thread.

[D. Hocking]

I've said for a year or two already that Miguel Sano and Kennys Vargas can become superstars. They both have such big personalities and great charisma. I think Byron Buxton will be more like Joe Mauer. He'll be the best of the group, but he will be much more quiet and reserved. Obviously either way is OK, but Sano and Vargas, with their personalities, could be beloved.

 

I have heard this from a few sources, that Sano is more outgoing and Buxton personality is more like Mauer's.  I listed to Buxton's Twinsfest interview, and I noticed when they asked him who he interacted most or who helped him at spring training, he said Joe.  Maybe a bit of a birds of a feather element there.

[Secondary User]

I have heard this from a few sources, that Sano is more outgoing and Buxton personality is more like Mauer's.  I listed to Buxton's Twinsfest interview, and I noticed when they asked him who he interacted most or who helped him at spring training, he said Joe.  Maybe a bit of a birds of a feather element there.

 

I'm ok with Buxton/Mauer comparisons

[Shane Wahl]

Most teams and most fan bases seem to be ok with players who mash, but strike out a lot. It blows my mind a little to see Twins' fans get out of sorts with worry about players like Vargas, Arcia, and Sano and whiffs. Just accept it.

 

That said, Vargas has been solid in the minors with regard to plate discipline, so I think he'll be fine. This was a great article.

[mikelink45]

With all the metrics in place I would see attitude as the big unknown, the measurement that cannot be quantified, but is extremely important.  Big Papi is a good example and this is what has me excited about Vargas.  His attitude will take him past the obvious valleys that will be part of growing in the majors and that can lead to stardom if the mechanics are already in place.