Article: Josmil Pinto And His Bat

[Ted Schwerzler]

Through the early part of the season, the Minnesota Twins knew they were going to be without the services of Josmil Pinto. After taking three swings to the back of the head in a spring training game, there's no doubt the time lost due to injury was going to cost him a roster spot. After a largely unimpressive 2014, Pinto needed to earn his way on, and time simply ran out. Knowing that it's his bat that will carry him at the next level, the promotion is coming, but what will it look like when it does?Currently, the Twins have a two-man catcher rotation with Kurt Suzuki splitting time with Chris Herrmann. Suzuki was signed to an extension a season ago, but even by backup standards, it remains a relatively modest deal. After being a prime candidate for offensive regression, the former Athletics backstop has failed to break the Mendoza Line for much of the season. Hardly a defensive whiz in his own right, it's fair to say that the Twins were hoping for more from Suzuki in 2015.

 

On days where Suzuki rests, and there haven't been many, Herrmann has slotted in behind the plate. While hitting for a respectable average, he hasn't had the plate appearances to put much weight into his numbers. Serviceable behind the plate, it was just a season ago that neither the Twins nor Herrmann himself saw catcher as his most valuable role to the team.

Out of the gate in Rochester, Pinto has gotten it done at the plate. Although the power numbers haven't been what the Twins would have hoped, he's hit for average and gotten on base. Behind the plate, he's made strides in both his ball receiving and his controlling of runners on the base paths. It was probably unfair to speculate how long the Twins would go without what would appear to be at least their second best catching option, but it seems as though the door is quickly opening.

 

With the calendar turning to the second month of the season, Pinto's role with the big league club should be quickly defined. As has always been the case, his bat should once again prove to be his most valuable asset. The catching situation is something I ran through above, but unlike his comrades, Pinto should see time solely as a hitter through DH at-bats. Kennys Vargas has struggled mightily in his second big league season, and as of now, there doesn't appear to be an end in sight. Whether or not the Twins send Vargas to Rochester with Pinto making the return trip or not, losing at-bats is something the switch-hitting slugger is now becoming prone to.

With both Pinto and Vargas being young hitters, confidence remains as one of the most vital aspects to their success. Although Herrmann filling a roster spot isn't ideal, the best practice may be to allow both Pinto and Vargas to gain confidence to their advantage. Kennys crushing some Triple-A pitching could ignite the spark, and Josmil employing an already hot bat on a team looking for an offensive jolt would be a nice reward. It would seem fair to argue the Twins are reaching decision-making time, and Josmil Pinto's bat is probably going to be at the center of the discussion.

 

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[h2oface]

Didn't Pinto get hit in the head with a bat on a swing again since he has been in Rochester?

 

[Paul Pleiss]

When Pinto came up in 2013 he lit the world on fire. He stroked the imagination of Twins fans who were looking for the heir apparent for Joe Mauer with a line of .342/.398/.566 (.963) that included 4 HR and 5 doubles in just 21 games.

 

When Pinto was with the club in 2014, things cooled off considerably. He was still league average with the bat (98 OPS+), but his line looked a little disappointing .219/.315/.391 (.705). His true talent is likely somewhere in between.

 

His receiving, all reports suggest, continues to improve, which is going to be important if Pinto wants to do more than just DH. Even has a backup catcher, he needs to be a decent receiver. Last season we heard Glen Perkins be openly critical of his receiving skills after he got sent down.

 

But you are correct, his path to the big legue will be paved wit his bat. If he can be more of the 2013 guy than the 2014 guy, the Twins will have a respectable bench bat with serious pop, or a DH that can drive in a bunch of runs.

 

My question, Mr. Baggy, is what do you expect from Pinto when he gets the call?

 

Can he hit .250/.350/.450? Or is that too much hope and not enough reality?

Career MiLB numbers .276/.354/.440 (.794)

[Shane Wahl]

.240/.330/.420 is more like it. And that would be very good for a backup catcher/part-time DH.

[Shane Wahl]

In about 175 plate appearances as of right now in 2015, the trio of Vargas, Escobar, and Schafer have a combined OPS of about .470-.475. 

[Shane Wahl]

And dropping. There are plenty of at bats for Pinto. And Suzuki himself isn't overwhelming at the plate or behind it. 

[troyhobbs]

Pinto has nothing to prove at AAA and I never liked that the Twins bought high on Suzuki. That made no sense to me, if Pinto is healthy he should be catching/DH in the big leagues.

[Platoon]

Suzuki was described in the Trib, by I think LE3 as the Twins emotional leader, or something to that extent after he got whacked by Oswaldos foul ball. Now a snarky commentator would mention that he thought that position was Torii's, but since I am not snarky I would never do that. Kurt sees to be viewed as having a value behind the plate above and beyond his numbers. Combine that with their well earned reputation of not sitting a veteran without his permission, means Pinto would have to be the second coming of a younger Mauer to move him out of there this year, or sadly next year also.

[Paul Pleiss]

I'm not calling for Pinto to be the everyday C, that's not a move that many people would call for. I am, however, calling for him to be brough up to the big leagues to fill the back up C/DH/bench bat.

 

Let's see his bat play against the big boys.

[Shane Wahl]

Either promote him or trade him. I am sick of this.

[Thegrin]

Hermann has done nothing to deserve demotion. Lets wait until Pinoto's power returns.

[Kwak]

Anybody remember that Mauer was the regular catcher?  I must have read a 100 posts to move him to 3B, and to the OF, how about Catcher?

[Shane Wahl]

 

Hermann has done nothing to deserve demotion. Lets wait until Pinoto's power returns.

 

Pinto could replace Vargas, who might need a month away from The Show to work on stuff. Also, Jordan Schafer now doesn't even steal bases anymore, so his value is negative. I would pinch hit for Schafer in innings 7-9 with Pinto in every single game that Pinto didn't start.

[Steve Penz]

Herman does not need to deserve a demotion. Who is the best option for the team? Pinto. He hits and it seems to be the concensus that his defense is on the level of our two current catchers. He can dh with vargas, pinch hit late in the game and take more time from Suzuki who I feel is playing too much. Even if Suzuki were hitting better history has shown what happens to a catcher's numbers when they play too much. Bring up Pinto.

[Ted Schwerzler]

Vargas was promoted directly from AA and right now that is showing at the major league level. He missed AAA which is where you face more pitchers that can effecitvely spin a ball. He's chasing all over the plate. Recent returns have been better, but I think it may be best for his long term prospects to go down and refine things.

 

An immediate swap of Pinto and Vargas could be made. Pinto is more than capable of handling the every day DH duties. I think a .265/.330/.440 slash line is probably fair to expect, and that would be a welcomed addition to this Twins lineup. While a better fit long term than Herrmann, Chris isn't really deserving of a demotion at this point. Not to mention, he has positional flexibility and could play 1B when Mauer is in need of a break.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

While a better fit long term than Herrmann, Chris isn't really deserving of a demotion at this point. Not to mention, he has positional flexibility and could play 1B when Mauer is in need of a break.

Herrmann has never played 1B professionally (well, B-Ref shows one game at 1B in the minors, with zero chances).  Pinto doesn't have much experience at the position either, but B-Ref says he played a couple games there over the winter.  Outside of Vargas, I think Plouffe is the backup 1B, which makes sense since we have 2 utility infielders on the roster already who could easily cover 3B (and probably 1B, for that matter).

 

Herrmann's positional flexibility has resulted in 1 inning away from catcher over the season's first month.  I don't think it's that important.

 

In any case, I am not sure that a fringe player needs to "deserve" a demotion, at least any more than already indicated by Herrmann's .655 season OPS, .556 career OPS, and his limited use at catcher (it's been his combined MLB/MiLB minority position the past two seasons).  Waiting for such players to "deserve" a demotion is how you wind up holding more interesting players in AAA too long, and/or have W-L records like the 2011-2014 Twins.

[Ted Schwerzler]

 

Herrmann has never played 1B professionally (well, B-Ref shows one game at 1B in the minors, with zero chances).  Pinto doesn't have much experience at the position either, but B-Ref says he played a couple games there over the winter.  Outside of Vargas, I think Plouffe is the backup 1B, which makes sense since we have 2 utility infielders on the roster already who could easily cover 3B (and probably 1B, for that matter).

 

Herrmann's positional flexibility has resulted in 1 inning away from catcher over the season's first month.  I don't think it's that important.

 

In any case, I am not sure that a fringe player needs to "deserve" a demotion, at least any more than already indicated by Herrmann's .655 season OPS, .556 career OPS, and his limited use at catcher (it's been his combined MLB/MiLB minority position the past two seasons).  Waiting for such players to "deserve" a demotion is how you wind up holding more interesting players in AAA too long, and/or have W-L records like the 2011-2014 Twins.

 

To a certain extent, I agree with you. I guess a secondary reasoning in my thought process is there is less for Chris Herrmann to gain from being sent down than there is Vargas. If Vargas can control the plate against players who can pitch at the AAA level, and then use that at the MLB level, he needs to do so.

 

Herrmann is what he is, and isn't a long term cog in this organization. While he's contributing, you might as well continue to exploit that for what it's worth. Maybe deserve wasn't the right word.

[Shane Wahl]

Well, Jesus H., someone needs to replace Jordan Schafer, minimally. Pinto can do it as having Herrmann allows for both Pinto's use as a DH/pinch hitter and another OF. Nunez and Robinson will be turning into pumpkins soon enough as well. 

[Steve Penz]

We need to get these call ups done so we can stop complaining about who is still at AAA and start to address who they should trade!  That thread will be about 47 pages of comments.  

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

To a certain extent, I agree with you. I guess a secondary reasoning in my thought process is there is less for Chris Herrmann to gain from being sent down than there is Vargas. If Vargas can control the plate against players who can pitch at the AAA level, and then use that at the MLB level, he needs to do so.

That's fair.

 

However, it seems that some would use that as a justification for waiting to bring up Pinto until they are ready to demote Vargas.  I would say, don't wait.  Pinto can get take Herrmann's starts at catcher now, and spell Vargas a couple days a week too.  We all thought that was the plan before Pinto's concussion, so I see no reason why not to try it now.  (I suspect the Twins don't want to "rock the boat" during this hot streak, but Herrmann backup catcher is a minimal part of said streak.)

 

If and when you determine that Vargas needs to go to AAA, you can recall Herrmann is he's still the best fit for the roster.

[Ted Schwerzler]

 

That's fair.

 

However, it seems that some would use that as a justification for waiting to bring up Pinto until they are ready to demote Vargas.  I would say, don't wait.  Pinto can get take Herrmann's starts at catcher now, and spell Vargas a couple days a week too.  We all thought that was the plan before Pinto's concussion, so I see no reason why not to try it now.  (I suspect the Twins don't want to "rock the boat" during this hot streak, but Herrmann backup catcher is a minimal part of said streak.)

 

If and when you determine that Vargas needs to go to AAA, you can recall Herrmann is he's still the best fit for the roster.

 

I'd definitely be in agreement with this as well. I think Vargas could immediately benefit from going down, but the Twins seem reluctant to shake his confidence. Vargas collecting hits over the past couple of games only complicates things. I'd agree however that Herrmann hitting in a small sample size shouldn't allow him to stick on a roster he wasn't expected to make in the first place.