Vargas going forward

[drjim]

Now that the voices crying in the wilderness have been heard and Vargas has triumphantly returned to propel the lineup onward to its destiny, what do people think is an acceptable triple slash for him going forward?

 

I think an absolute bare minimum of 250/310/420 is needed considering what little other value he brings to the table. This would be a decent jump from his current season line of 248/295/362, but a slight decrease from last season of 274/316/456.

[ashbury]

Too much more of this catering to the masses and Terry Ryan's going to be fired for dereliction of duty.

 

As for "acceptable" offense, the bar's pretty high for a 1B/DH. Try .260/.330/.450. He's young so I won't throw a fit if he comes up a little short but is seen as making progress.

[h2oface]

This is the second Vargas thread started since about 2:30 today.......

[drjim]

 

This is the second Vargas thread started since about 2:30 today.......

 

Well he is the big news today and they cover completely different aspects of the situation, but I wouldn't be offended if they were merged.

[DaveW]

Thank RocketPig, it's about time!

[USAFChief]

They've gotten .247/.304/.328 from the DH spot through Saturday, how about anything better than that?

 

And that number includes some Hunter and Mauer time at DH.

 

I don't particularly care how much the DH contributes defensively, although Vargas can spell Mauer once a month and perhaps help that way, too, without needing to move Plouffe to first and inserting another utility infielder bat into the lineup.

[gunnarthor]

I think Vargas is actually on a relatively short rope - if Arcia starts to hit and he's not, I think the team will make the switch. 

[twinsnorth49]

Triumphantly returned to propel the team to its destiny?

 

A little sore are we?

 

I'll say he goes. 315/.435, not that he needs to in order to better the DH spot.

 

Also agree that it could be short lived if he doesn't get it going and Arcia does in AAA. I don't really care as long as it's one of them, a little competition like that is what this club needs.

[Platoon]

I won't claim this as an original thought, but it has been suggested that Vargas' arrival puts Hunter back in RF full time. You get rid of Escobar in LF though. A toss up? And I still will maintain, much to others chagrin, that if you want to be a contender, Escobar should not be your SS, for too long.

[drjim]

 

Triumphantly returned to propel the team to its destiny?

A little sore are we?

 

Question to ponder - why would I possibly be sore? The opening line was a little bit (ok lot bit) of hyperbole to match the spirit of the forum surrounding this move. Seemed only appropriate.

 

Regarding the move, just because I think Vargas needs more time to develop and that overall this move won't do much and will likely cause other problems, it doesn't mean I'm the least bit upset about it. In fact I look forward to being really, really wrong.

[Craig Arko]

Well, it beats Vargas going backward.

[twinsnorth49]

 

Question to ponder - why would I possibly be sore? The opening line was a little bit (ok lot bit) of hyperbole to match the spirit of the forum surrounding this move. Seemed only appropriate.

 

Regarding the move, just because I think Vargas needs more time to develop and that overall this move won't do much and will likely cause other problems, it doesn't mean I'm the least bit upset about it. In fact I look forward to being really, really wrong.

For me too. 

 

I don't actually believe you're sore, I know you're a fan of this team as much as anyone. Just giving you a little stick about your opening line.

 

[JB_Iowa]

 

I won't claim this as an original thought, but it has been suggested that Vargas' arrival puts Hunter back in RF full time. You get rid of Escobar in LF though. A toss up? And I still will maintain, much to others chagrin, that if you want to be a contender, Escobar should not be your SS, for too long.

 

Am I missing something?  Won't they still have Rosario-Hicks-Robinson for the outfield, Hunter at DH and Vargas as a genuine power threat off the bench?

 

Plus, as we hit some heat, I think Molitor will be careful to give Mauer and Hunter a little more rest.  Vargas can sub for Mauer with Hunter at DH.  When Mauer is at DH, Hunter in RF and Vargas at 1st.

 

If Kennys can hit, this could work out well

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I won't claim this as an original thought, but it has been suggested that Vargas' arrival puts Hunter back in RF full time. You get rid of Escobar in LF though. A toss up?

Why would it put Hunter in RF full-time?  Hunter gets a day or so a week at DH and/or a full day off, and did so even when Vargas was still in the lineup at the beginning of May.

 

I think Hunter's increased time at DH, the past week primarily, was due to the realization of just how weak our DH options really were.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Am I missing something?  Won't they still have Rosario-Hicks-Robinson for the outfield, Hunter at DH and Vargas as a genuine power threat off the bench?

I sure hope they didn't bring Vargas up as a bench player.  Insert Robinson as a defensive replacement when necessary but he doesn't need to start.  He's the backup OF.  And Escobar/Nunez should be EMERGENCY outfielders, not primary backups (which would be the case given your configuration and our current roster).

[SwainZag]

 

Am I missing something?  Won't they still have Rosario-Hicks-Robinson for the outfield, Hunter at DH and Vargas as a genuine power threat off the bench?

 

Plus, as we hit some heat, I think Molitor will be careful to give Mauer and Hunter a little more rest.  Vargas can sub for Mauer with Hunter at DH.  When Mauer is at DH, Hunter in RF and Vargas at 1st.

 

If Kennys can hit, this could work out well

 

I will take a downgrade of Robinson to Hunter in the field if it means we can upgrade Robinson to Vargas in the lineup everyday.  That trade off is very worth it IMO.

[JB_Iowa]

I was responding to the following:  Vargas' arrival puts Hunter back in RF full time

 

I don't see Molitor putting Hunter in RF Full time.

 

I see him putting him there about 4 games/week.  Sometimes that will leave 2 games for him to DH or have an off day.  Sometimes it will leave 3 (but he might play him in RF 5/7).

 

I also see him giving Mauer some rest on occasion by DH'ing him or giving him an off day.

 

My point was that Hunter doesn't HAVE to play RF full time.  Robinson can replace him part of the time.

 

Molitor's goal is going to be to utilize his line-up as fully as possible while still keeping his 2 older players (Hunter and Mauer) fresh and rested.  It's a long season -- especially when you turn 40.  And Molitor probably has some understanding of that.

 

It will depend on what the weather's like, who's slumping plus a lot more factors.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I was responding to the following:  Vargas' arrival puts Hunter back in RF full time

 

I don't see Molitor putting Hunter in RF Full time.

 

I see him putting him there about 4 games/week.

I can see that.

 

Although coming out of spring training, for the first month of the season, Hunter indeed was "full-time" in RF (outside of being on the bench for a game a week or so).  Hunter's first DH start didn't come until May 2, by which point they were already preparing to send Vargas down (had benched him 3 games in a row in late April for Nunez).  The majority of Hunter's DH starts have come in Vargas' absence.

[JB_Iowa]

 

I can see that.

 

Although coming out of spring training, for the first month of the season, Hunter indeed was "full-time" in RF (outside of being on the bench for a game a week or so).  Hunter's first DH start didn't come until May 2, by which point they were already preparing to send Vargas down (had benched him 3 games in a row in late April for Nunez).  The majority of Hunter's DH starts have come in Vargas' absence.

 

I suspect Hunter likes playing in the field and prefers it to DH.

 

But I also think the manager has to be realistic about the hot summer, etc.

 

Just watch, I'll be totally wrong and Hunter will play right 6 or 7 games a week.    I love the unpredictability of baseball.

Even on off-days, Hunter makes a pretty good cheerleader.

[gocgo]

What the move does is anchor's Plouffe at 3rd base.  Mauer can be given a break with Vargas at first, but if Esco is SS, we no longer have a utility infielder.  So, something has to give in the near future to get a utility guy up.

[jorgenswest]

Hunter still needs time at DH and will get it with Vargas on the bench or at 1B. 

 

Plouffe, Dozier and Escobar will play nearly every day. If somehow two go down they still have Nunez and Rosario (at 2B). They can make it through a game.

 

Even with Vargas up they still need another position player to replace the 13th pitcher. I am hoping for Buxton, but maybe Arcia will get hot. Finding another outfielder that can hit would help.

 

It is really up to Vargas going forward. He has an opportunity to take a regular spot in the line up and not let go of it.