Call up Arcia?

[tobi0040]

 

If one of Sano/Arcia is in the OF, you think it will be Sano?

I'd bet a lot of money against that.

 

From what I have seen, Sano is much faster and athletic than Arcia. The Twins think Sano has good instincts at 3B, so I would guess they would carry to the OF 

 

When Arcia chugs after a ball I want to yell "unhook the plow"

[spinowner]

If the Twins continue to insist that Mauer won't go back to catching maybe Arcia can go behind the plate.

Seriously, though, I think if (or, more accurately, when) Arcia comes back up it will be Robinson's time to leave. I'm sure the plan was for him to be here for no more than a year all along. I doubt Buxton will be back in the majors before September. He'll need time to get back up to speed after his injury and we all saw that he was a bit overmatched at the plate. Keep in mind it's doubtful that he'd have been called up in the first place if Hicks hadn't gotten injured. Then next spring we can have our four-outfielder squad for the next several years ready to go: Arcia, Buxton, Hicks and Rosario.

[jorgenswest]

Consistency can only be seen with a skilled eye watching and working with a player daily.

 

If data were the judge, no player in baseball would be consistent in the sample size used above. It would just be expected variation. The same consistent approach can lead to significantly varied results in partial season samples.

 

Does Rosario have a a consistent approach that will lead to continued success over time? The Twins staff seeing him every day can make that call.

 

I do think there will be combinations of Twin starter and opposing starter where Arcia would give the Twins a better chance of winning than Rosario. The same can be said of Arcia and Hunter.

[Kwak]

Arcia is a September call-up only--used for PH and emergency fill-in duty only.

[drjim]

I didn't realize his k and bb rates were so bad. I'm much more pessimistic than I thought.

[Shane Wahl]

Just bizarre comments. Bizarre.

[drjim]

 

Just bizarre comments. Bizarre.

 

We just need more of your enlightenment. You haven't led us astray yet.

[jokin]

 

Arcia is a September call-up only--used for PH and emergency fill-in duty only.

 

7:45 PM..... Arcia just hit 7 HR in the month of July, plus a double  (that's 7 HR, 2 doubles in 41 ABs).  It's hard to ignore that kind of ridiculous production outbreak from a LH bat just a phone call away.  I have a feeling that he may be called up as soon as the end of the All Star break.

[kab21]

 

It's easy to say people need days off, because it's true.  As Mike said, there are plenty of ABs for everyone to avoid giving Nunez, et al, too many of those available ABs.  Arcia might not start every day, and he shouldn't be hitting against most LHP regardless, but he can be inserted into most every game to PH in which he's not starting.

 

 

Here's how the "magic fix" has gone for Arcia the past 3 seasons:

 

Arcia's 12-game July demotion to AAA in July, 2013:   .375/.490/.725/(1.215)

 

Arcia's first 12 games after MLB call-up in Aug, 2013:   .298/.353/.660/(1.013)

 

 

Arcia's last 11 dates before MLB call-up in 2014:   .317/.378/.756/(1.154)

 

Arcia's first 11 dates after MLB call-up in 2014:    .378/.378/.733/(1.111)

 

 

Arcia's last 11 dates at AAA in 2015:   .354/.392/.771/(1.163)

 

Perhaps there's a possible pattern worth pursuing here?

Despite this Arcia has not been able to sustain any success at the MLB level.  I don't see how this last 10 games is anything different. 

 

We have time and time again that young players that aren't starting don't get consistent playing time. Why would Arcia be different especially when you say he should be out against all LH's?  You know very well that the reality is that Nunez is still going to get occasional AB's and not all of the bench AB's are going to Arcia.  This isn't my suggestion but that is the reality of the Twins managing.

 

If Arcia is called up then Rosario should be sent down and Arcia should be playing with a regular spot and not occasionally filling in. 

[darin617]

Hitting HR's doesn't mean you are dominating AAA. Pull up his stats for July and look at all the k's and just a few walks. I think it would be a waste just to bring him up and be a bat off the bench.

The biggest thing against him is all the prospects that seem to be DH's. Kennys Vargas,Oswaldo Arcia, and Miguel Sano. 

He will be the next David Ortiz when the Twins can't figure out how to get the most out of him.

[jokin]

 

Despite this Arcia has not been able to sustain any success at the MLB level.  I don't see how this last 10 games is anything different. 

 

We have time and time again that young players that aren't starting don't get consistent playing time. Why would Arcia be different especially when you say he should be out against all LH's?  You know very well that the reality is that Nunez is still going to get occasional AB's and not all of the bench AB's are going to Arcia.  This isn't my suggestion but that is the reality of the Twins managing.

 

If Arcia is called up then Rosario should be sent down and Arcia should be playing with a regular spot and not occasionally filling in. 

 

 If ir was construed that I suggested that Arcia should be out against all LHPs, that was not my intent.  For his career, Arcia has just about an equal split against both LHSP and RHSP. My hope would be that he be called up with the intent to play approximately 2 games in the OF/wk, DH 1-2/wk, PH/Bench bat 2-3 games/wk.

 

And I think there's room for both Rosario and Arcia for now (with Santana going down and Escobar back to SS).  When Buxton returns. a decision would have to be made- let's see if Rosario can get out of this short-term funk and force the manager to make a decision on Robinson.

 

As far as Nunez goes, I fear you're right, but I would hope that Arcia gets a ton of obvious PH opportunities against RH- he's career .807 OPS vs. all righties and only .614 vs. all lefties.  

 

 

[jokin]

 

Hitting HR's doesn't mean you are dominating AAA. Pull up his stats for July and look at all the k's and just a few walks. I think it would be a waste just to bring him up and be a bat off the bench.

The biggest thing against him is all the prospects that seem to be DH's. Kennys Vargas,Oswaldo Arcia, and Miguel Sano. 

He will be the next David Ortiz when the Twins can't figure out how to get the most out of him.

 

Arcia drew 2 walks tonight- and 7 HR in 10 days with a .366 BA and a 1.365 OPS qualifies as dominating in any league, Arcia has basically done this type of yo-yo gig between AAA and MLB for the third time now, and the previous two times he had immediate impact upon call-up.  Let's play the odds on the hot hand here.

 

You're right though, it would be a waste to just be a bench bat.  I would hope that Molitor and Ryan would be a little more imaginative than that.

 

As far as current DH status goes 

 

 

Vargas- DH in Siberia (er, Chattanooga).

Sano- DH in name only currently and temporarily, due to positional need.

Arcia- DH job opening available to him- on a split-time, 50-50 basis playing corner OF the other 50%.

 

Problem solved once Santana is sent down.

[AlwaysinModeration]

I would like Arcia up for Robinson. Start him in RF 2-3 days a week for Torii vs RHP, and have him take one start a week from Rosario, and one from Mauer, and you are set.

[jorgenswest]

 

He certainly struggled regaining his swing after the hip injury. Hips are so important to hitting and an injury can mess with timing and plane. I think his last stretch shows he is healthy. I would be interested in his chase rate the last two weeks to see if he is staying in the zone.

 

He doesn't need to be solely a bench player. He can get plenty of at bats starting in half the games. If he does well, he earns more. it is possible that 10-15 plate appearances in the majors every week is better than 20-25 AAA plate appearances for his development.

[jimbo92107]

Twins need a lefty power bat behind Miguel Sano when they're facing a right handed pitcher. Nobody's claiming that Oswaldo Arcia is a great outfielder, or even a great lefty power bat. It's just that at the moment, he looks like the best option in the system to protect Sano from getting junk pitches from an average right handed pitcher.

 

Cy Young winners like Justin Verlander will get Arcia out, too. But an average rightie could be in trouble against him. That's all we want from Arcia, and that's actually a pretty good piece of the puzzle.

 

Is Nick Swisher available? Whoops, I mean Nick Swisher from three years ago...

[HitInAPinch]

Hmm, Arcia has really heated-up in Rochester, still strikes out alot, and people here want him on the bench or in a couple days a week rotation?  That really makes little sense to me.  I'd treat him just like Molitor has treated other callups:  play him fulltime and play him now.  Hunter makes more sense as a guy that can handle pinch hitting and occasional days in OF/DH.

 

Arcia batting behind Sano to give him protection?  IMHO, no.  Reverse it.  Better/proven MLB hitter behind the callup to provide protection.

 

Based on past history, Buxton will not go directly from DL to Twins.  Down to AAA to test out that left hand.  I still have serious doubts that Buxton will enough hit in MLB.  If memory serves [which is frequently in doubt with me  ] Buxton was more of an emergency callup move.  

[jokin]

 

 

Based on past history, Buxton will not go directly from DL to Twins.  Down to AAA to test out that left hand.  I still have serious doubts that Buxton will enough hit in MLB.  If memory serves [which is frequently in doubt with me  ] Buxton was more of an emergency callup move.  

 

Buck might spend a week or so on rehab at AAA.   And if you really believe that Buxton won't make it at the major league level based solely on his brief MLB debut, I would say you have not appreciated the circumstances of his first MLB PAs (facing very tough pitching right out of the chute), plus the manner in which Buxton adjusts to the next competitive level (usually takes about a month to really get rolling). 

 

He won't be a bust, he won't be just an OK MLB hitter, he'll be good, to very good, at the plate.   Add that to his elite defense and speed, and you'll have one of the top players in the game.   Just give it a little more time than just the handful of games played thus far. 

 

(In actuality, Buck's biggest hurdle to achieving MLB stardom will be staying healthy, not his hit tool).

[jokin]

Via Bollinger:  Molitor quote on any thought of a pending Arcia call-up:

 

 

"You try to think about fit and where would he get an opportunity to play up here," Molitor said. "I think we've been pleased with our outfield play. It's hard to see unless we got into more of a platoon. Does he have enough value to be a bench player here? Possibly. Those are things that you have to consider, but for him the main thing is to keep doing what he's doing, so when his name does get called, he's ready to go."

 

Not exactly the endorsement that Sano received when in mid-June that Molitor mentioned that Sano could be called up in as early as two weeks.   Sounds a lot more like a depth option at this point (but leaving himself an "out" should it become more obvious that an additional LHB is needed?).   Do the Twins really want to continue with the status quo offensively and not look for a post-ASG power-hitting upgrade?   Looks like the answer to that question is "Yes", at least for the time being.

 

 

[DaveW]

No room to bring him up, no reason to bring him up and have him only play 1-2 times a week.

 

Keep him in AAA until someone in the OF struggles big time or gets hurt. Once sept rolls around you call him up, if you make the playoffs you consider having him on the roster just for PH potential. (You don't need as many pitchers in the playoffs , so you can still keep Buxton as well for a speed guy/defense guy assuming his hitting hasn't come around)

[kab21]

 

Arcia drew 2 walks tonight- and 7 HR in 10 days with a .366 BA and a 1.365 OPS qualifies as dominating in any league, Arcia has basically done this type of yo-yo gig between AAA and MLB for the third time now, and the previous two times he had immediate impact upon call-up.  Let's play the odds on the hot hand here.

 

You're right though, it would be a waste to just be a bench bat.  I would hope that Molitor and Ryan would be a little more imaginative than that.

 

As far as current DH status goes 

 

 

Vargas- DH in Siberia (er, Chattanooga).

Sano- DH in name only currently and temporarily, due to positional need.

Arcia- DH job opening available to him- on a split-time, 50-50 basis playing corner OF the other 50%.

 

Problem solved once Santana is sent down.

Your inconsistent playing time schedule (that won't happen) is one reason that prospects struggle.  You are basically setting him up to fail a 3rd time.  That is why I disagree with calling him up now.  If he gets called up it should be as an every day player.

[jokin]

 

Your inconsistent playing time schedule (that won't happen) is one reason that prospects struggle.  You are basically setting him up to fail a 3rd time.  That is why I disagree with calling him up now.  If he gets called up it should be as an every day player.

 

Not sure how starting in games up to 4-5 times per week, plus assurances that he get into the rest of the games he doesn't start,   is legitimately categorized as "inconsistent play time".  That schedule is pretty close to the best possible compromise of playing time for upgrading the net team offensive attack between multiple player options.  (But I can see where Molitor has some reservations- the OF defense is vastly improved since Arcia's demotion).

 

 

[HitInAPinch]

 

Buck might spend a week or so on rehab at AAA.   And if you really believe that Buxton won't make it at the major league level based solely on his brief MLB debut, I would say you have not appreciated the circumstances of his first MLB PAs (facing very tough pitching right out of the chute), plus the manner in which Buxton adjusts to the next competitive level (usually takes about a month to really get rolling). 

 

He won't be a bust, he won't be just an OK MLB hitter, he'll be good, to very good, at the plate.   Add that to his elite defense and speed, and you'll have one of the top players in the game.   Just give it a little more time than just the handful of games played thus far. 

 

(In actuality, Buck's biggest hurdle to achieving MLB stardom will be staying healthy, not his hit tool).

 

Snark on

 

If only we had a place where Buxton could go to fact tougher pitching before hew ent to the majors.

Wait, there is!  It's referred to a Triple A. 

 

Snark off

[jokin]

 

Snark on

 

If only we had a place where Buxton could go to fact tougher pitching before hew ent to the majors.

Wait, there is!  It's referred to a Triple A. 

 

Snark off

 

No need for snark.   And there's no need for Buxton to use AAA, except for his rehab ABs. 

 

(News flash----  The pitching in fact, isn't really tougher at AAA vs. AA, give a healthy Buxton a week or two's worth or so of the typical AAA journeyman junkballers and their heavy doses of offspeed stuff...  and then get your game-changing defender and speed merchant, and   your most athletic player back up to   help the Twins in the midst of trying to win a pennant.) 

 

I love what Sano's doing since his call-up, but Buxton would have fared better than his first frustrating results had he hit against the same caliber of pitcher that Sano has faced thus far.

[Shane Wahl]

Buxton and Arcia up for Robinson and Santana (even though maybe Danny is slowly getting the kinks out of his bat? In which case, Nunez . . .) is pretty obvious. Rosario-Buxton-Hicks-Mauer-Plouffe-Sano-Arcia: 7 legit MLB players for six starting spots.

 

You want to win in 2015 right now? Best bet, by far.

You want to develop for 2016 and beyond? Best bet, by far.

 

Edit: clearly Torii is involved here too, though in a smaller and smaller role.

[Shane Wahl]

Also, as the season goes on, Dozier is probably going to need some time to rest too. Rosario as the backup second baseman 3-4 games the rest of the year (coming into 2015, TR or Antony has indicated that Rosario would get 2B time in the minors, so it isn't out of the question).

[jokin]

 

Buxton and Arcia up for Robinson and Santana (even though maybe Danny is slowly getting the kinks out of his bat? In which case, Nunez . . .) is pretty obvious. Rosario-Buxton-Hicks-Mauer-Plouffe-Sano-Arcia: 7 legit MLB players for six starting spots.

 

You want to win in 2015 right now? Best bet, by far.

You want to develop for 2016 and beyond? Best bet, by far.

 

Edit: clearly Torii is involved here too, though in a smaller and smaller role.

 

Nice call, you've nailed the Twins strategic sweet spot.

Nice call on the edit, too.   Hunter is still a critical component in this pennant run.

 

Also, as the season goes on, Dozier is probably going to need some time to rest too. Rosario as the backup second baseman 3-4 games the rest of the year (coming into 2015, TR or Antony has indicated that Rosario would get 2B time in the minors, so it isn't out of the question).

 

Great call, again.   I'd completely forgotten about that option.   Huge benefit, especially if some of Dozier's "off days" could keep his bat in the lineup @ DH, and yet another way to get Arcia a couple more starts. 

 

I wonder if Rosario has been taking regular infield gb's and reps? 

[Vanimal46]

I've been on the Anti-Arcia bandwagon since he got hurt, but I'm starting to come around. He could certainly replace Robinson on the active roster and find his way into a couple of games.

 

Long term I still envision a Buxton-Rosario-Hicks-Hunter (if he comes back) - Kepler OF. Since Arcia's out of options in 2016, they need to be certain he can stick for an entire season, or else see what his trade value is in July.

[kab21]

 

Not sure how starting in games up to 4-5 times per week, plus assurances that he get into the rest of the games he doesn't start,   is legitimately categorized as "inconsistent play time".  That schedule is pretty close to the best possible compromise of playing time for upgrading the net team offensive attack between multiple player options.  (But I can see where Molitor has some reservations- the OF defense is vastly improved since Arcia's demotion).

I don't know what you have seen from the Twins that suggest this kind of lineup shuffling will happen with Arcia especially with Hunter getting that many days off.  They certainly didn't do it with Vargas and that was at a time when they didn't even have a DH.

 

It is easy to type up a plan that says this guy will get a day off and then this guy will get a day off and then this guy will get a day off and then this guy will get a day off and then assurances that this guy will get PH appearances if he doesn't start but that it is another to actually carry it out.

[DaveW]

I don't know what you have seen from the Twins that suggest this kind of lineup shuffling will happen with Arcia especially with Hunter getting that many days off. They certainly didn't do it with Vargas and that was at a time when they didn't even have a DH.

 

It is easy to type up a plan that says this guy will get a day off and then this guy will get a day off and then this guy will get a day off and then this guy will get a day off and then assurances that this guy will get PH appearances if he doesn't start but that it is another to actually carry it out.

The twins are in the middle of a playoff race, they shouldn't be benching superior overall players to get guys like Arcia at bats. The only guy who shouldn't be playing every day is Hunter due to his age, sometimes you take Rosario out against tough LHP, but Arcia sucks against LHP as well.

 

If someone gets hurt, bring him

Up, if not, let him mash AAA for now.

[blairpaul715]

 

The twins are in the middle of a playoff race, they shouldn't be benching superior overall players to get guys like Arcia at bats. The only guy who shouldn't be playing every day is Hunter due to his age, sometimes you take Rosario out against tough LHP, but Arcia sucks against LHP as well.

If someone gets hurt, bring him
Up, if not, let him mash AAA for now.

I tend to disagree with you most of the time Dave ..........but i think this makes alot of sense, as if we dont have good playing time for Arcia, might has well have him get his reps in at AAA , wait for an injury or poor performance..............we are playing well right now, dont rock the boat.