How Long for Pinto?

[Mike Sixel]

It sure looks like Josmil Pinto is healthy.......unless he had no idea how far back to set up when catching, why is he not up yet? Is there a rule of some kind? How long do you think the Twins will wait?

[mikelink45]

I was opening that the day off after the opener would be a day the Twins brain trust did some dramatic things that would spur interest.  What a concept that would be.  

[Danchat]

It depends on who's roster spot he's taking. For example, if Eduardo Nunez was getting axed, I bet Pinto would take his place. He would fit as a late-inning pinch hitter and sometimes start at DH.

 

If he's replacing Chris Herrmann, there's a problem here - does the coaching staff believe he can be a backup catcher? If they don't trust him at backing up Suzuki, I don't think he'll get called up.

[Mike Sixel]

How can you not trust him to back up Suzuki, one of the worst defensive catchers in the game? On a team that clearly doesn't value OF defense, they are going to keep a legit hitting catcher down?

 

Mind.

Boggling.

[gunnarthor]

Easy Mike, we don't know their plans yet so it's not worth going over the wall.

 

Frankly, I'd be ok if they brought him up to DH and let Vargas figure things out in AAA.  He's not ready.

[Mike Sixel]

I asked when in the first post....the second was a bit more judgmental I guess.......

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

There is a rule about recalling players from the 40-Man after being optioned out of Spring Training, butthe number of days required to wait (10) has now elapsed. A team can recall a player sooner if there is an injury, which is why Trevor May could be called up last week - Nolasco went on the DL.

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/library/principles/contract-details/player-options/

 

"Once a player is sent to the minors, they are must remain there for at least 10 days before being recalled (with the exception of if they need to return due to an injury). This is to prevent teams from bouncing one or two players up and down depending on the day of the week."

[iTwins]

I would hope not much longer. I think the team can keep Herrmann up, and call up Pinto as Herrmann can fill in at the corners, where someone like Nunez, (as proven on Sunday...again) cannot. The team needs more threatening bats - Pinto certainly provides that value. He needs to be up at the big league level.

[SweetOne69]

If they plan on bring him up they better do it before he is down for more than 20 days so the don't waste his option.  IIRC if a player is optioned for less than 20 days, the option is returned/retained.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

 

If they plan on bring him up they better do it before he is down for more than 20 days so the don't waste his option.  IIRC if a player is optioned for less than 20 days, the option is returned/retained.

yes - 20 days total in the minors for the whole season uses up an option year. So, if he is sent to AAA again, the days he's already spent there still count towards the 20.

[MileHighTwinsFan]

I think it is too early to DFA Nunez.  I think he is a legitimate pinch hitter.  I like Herrmann as a utility guy and believe he deserves more at bats and time in the outfield.  Bringing Pinto up allows Herrmann to be a true utility player 

 

Arcia is another option.  He might have fought off a demotion with yesterday's bomb, but if he doesn't show progress, he could go down.

 

If they were to make a move, my vote would be to send down Vargas.  He really just a DH and he's not hitting right now.  If he doesn't get on track soon, a stint in AAA would do him some good.

 

[jokin]

 

I think it is too early to DFA Nunez.  I think he is a legitimate pinch hitter....

 

and pinch runner.

[MileHighTwinsFan]

 

 

If they were to make a move, my vote would be to send down Vargas.  He really just a DH and he's not hitting right now.  If he doesn't get on track soon, a stint in AAA would do him some good.

 

Well there you go.  A bomb today and he shows signs of life.

[Otto von Ballpark]

If they plan on bring him up they better do it before he is down for more than 20 days so the don't waste his option. IIRC if a player is optioned for less than 20 days, the option is returned/retained.

If the Twins need to option him again next year at age 27, then he probably isn't terribly valuable anyway.

[notoriousgod71]

Get rid of one of Robinson. He serves no purpose.

 

Santana can back up CF just fine.

 

Or get rid of Hermann. He serves no purpose on any team in that he can't hit or field. His versatility is overrated as he doesn't play any position well. He is pretty much like Parmelee except he can supposedly catch.

 

At least Nunez can hit and run.

[Hrbowski]

 

Get rid of one of Robinson. He serves no purpose.

 

Santana can back up CF just fine.

 

Or get rid of Hermann. He serves no purpose on any team in that he can't hit or field. His versatility is overrated as he doesn't play any position well. He is pretty much like Parmelee except he can supposedly catch.

 

At least Nunez can hit and run.

I think that Nunez is blocked by Escobar, so if they decide to bring up a third catcher Nunez will go down.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

 

1) Hermann played one game at the bigs as a catcher last year

2) Hermann was listed as an outfielder by the Twins until a couple weeks ago

3) the Twins obviously need a fifth outfielder more than a second utility infielder as evidenced by both Eduardos playing the outfield already, and both sucking badly at it.

4) Pinto is a far better hitter than Nunez

5) Hermann is a far better outfielder than either Eduardo and similar hitter to Nunez, but admittedly slower.

 

Seems pretty obvious to me, DFA Nunez, move Hermann back to the OF, bring up Pinto, and when Rosario/Hicks/Buxton is ready to come up, send Hermann back to AAA. He does have an option left, that's his primary value.

[kab21]

I find it frustrating to read that Pinto needs to be up but that Arcia or Vargas need to be sent down to make it happen.

 

 

[stringer bell]

I think there are plenty of at-bats for Pinto, Vargas and Arcia if Pinto is recalled.  If Pinto is up, it should be for Herrmann or Nuñez.  My vote still goes to Herrmann.  Nuñez is out of options and if he were DFAed and claimed, who is the utility infielder in the event of one injury?  Bernier, Beresford?  They do less than nothing for me.  IMHO, Nuñez is far superior to them.  In the outfield, if an injury or demotion were to occur, the Twins have Rosario and Hicks on the 40-man at AAA.  They have a guy in Daniel Ortiz who is a better player with much more upside than Beresford and Bernier.

 

BTW, Pinto was 2-2 today, with three walks.  He's 10-24 with 6 walks and 3 Ks.  I think he hits enough to make up for his supposed deficiencies as a catcher.   

[jokin]

 

I think there are plenty of at-bats for Pinto, Vargas and Arcia if Pinto is recalled.  If Pinto is up, it should be for Herrmann or Nuñez.  My vote still goes to Herrmann.  Nuñez is out of options and if he were DFAed and claimed, who is the utility infielder in the event of one injury?  Bernier, Beresford?  They do less than nothing for me.  IMHO, Nuñez is far superior to them.  In the outfield, if an injury or demotion were to occur, the Twins have Rosario and Hicks on the 40-man at AAA.  They have a guy in Daniel Ortiz who is a better player with much more upside than Beresford and Bernier.

 

BTW, Pinto was 2-2 today, with three walks.  He's 10-24 with 6 walks and 3 Ks.  I think he hits enough to make up for his supposed deficiencies as a catcher.   

 

 

This is really well-stated-   while you're not going to get much from either Hermann or Nunez, Nunez will    most likely be claimed if DFA'd  (Hello, Toronto!);    he's bench speed as well as a bench bat, and the Twins are hamstrung in middle infield depth should an injury arise in the infield or if they have to temporarily put Santana back in CF- up and until they are fully confident that Polanco is ready as emergency depth in the infield, they need to retain Nunez. Herrman's remaining options just makes it a no-brainer.

 

And yes, after seeing him play, both LF and RF in 2014, Danny Ortiz could potentially make a very acceptable major league 4th OFer at some point, if/when necessary.

[Mike Sixel]

He's still not up? 

 

Mind.

Boggling.

[Mike Sixel]

Look, Herrmann and Nunez are NOT part of the future. Pinto MIGHT be......let's, you know, try to build for the future, please, pretty please.

[Mike Sixel]

185.......

[Thrylos]

Herrmann and Nunez are the hottest bats with the Twins right now, and Herrmann's play has been exemplary both with the stick and the glove.  I think that Pinto will have to wait until the Twins are done with Suzuki (which is somewhat of a shame.)   Pinto is served better by catching most days in Rochester than sitting most days in Minneapolis.

[Thrylos]

 

Look, Herrmann and Nunez are NOT part of the future. Pinto MIGHT be......let's, you know, try to build for the future, please, pretty please.

 

Are you sure that Herrmann and Nunez are not part of the future?  I am not.

[Hrbowski]

 

Look, Herrmann and Nunez are NOT part of the future. Pinto MIGHT be......let's, you know, try to build for the future, please, pretty please.

 

If we replace Herrmann and Nunez we should call up Brock Peterson, he deserves it. (he can also pitch)

[GP830]

I'm still a bit unclear as to what his deficiencies behind the plate are. Is it a framing issue? Is it his quickness to 2nd on a throw? I can't believe that this still an issue. Wouldn't it be prudent for the Twins to help him hammer down his defense (Even if he'll never be great, can't hammering down the fundamentals make him useable?), or start getting him reps at first or 3rd and use him as trade bait? I just don't understand what the hold up is. 

[Physics Guy]

I would vote with DFA Nunez.  Yes he is the backup utility guy, but Bernier would be fine as a stopgap until if Nunez is claimed.  If Esco or Santana gets hurt, the other should play nearly all of the time anyways.  You just need Bernier to play good defense for a spot start to keep them fresh.  Escobar is getting more than Utility AB right now because he has earned them.  The additional AB that would have gone to Nunez if he becomes the utility guy end up with Pinto, which I am more than happy with, or Herrmann, which I am fine with as well.

[jorgenswest]

The Twins assessment on Pinto should not have changed. They should have expected Pinto to hit well in AAA. This is their last shot at making him a catcher. Let him get 25 games at catcher and make an assessment. If they believe in his catching, call him up for good and give him a start at catcher in every series.

[GP830]

Exactly! He is what he is. He isn't going to transform all of the sudden into a GG catcher. Fish or cut bait.