In a Perfect World

[HitInAPinch]

Arcia LF,

Rosario CF

Sano RF

 

4th OF - Santana, Buxton and a stretcher and oxygen tank for Rosario.  A guy who's gonna cover 2/3rds of the outfield is gonna need a lot of extra help and O2      

 

Bench Bat - Arcia

DH - Park

[zenser]

Serious question and I will probably get ridiculed for it but why all the love for Benson?  I don't get it.  IMO, he has done nothing to deserve a spot of the 40 man let alone a spot on the opening day 25.  Is it because he would just be a 4th OF and hardly play?

[Pardon My Dinger]

 

*Mastrioni hits similar to Benson

 

 Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa...whoa, hold on. The Maestro is back? That can't be right.

[Vanimal46]

 

Serious question and I will probably get ridiculed for it but why all the love for Benson?  I don't get it.  IMO, he has done nothing to deserve a spot of the 40 man let alone a spot on the opening day 25.  Is it because he would just be a 4th OF and hardly play?

 

I think it's just fans re-living their irrational prospect love for Benson 5-6 years ago. I agree with your assessment that he's done nothing to deserve this praise and a spot on the 40 man roster. 

[dgwills]

 

Serious question and I will probably get ridiculed for it but why all the love for Benson?  I don't get it.  IMO, he has done nothing to deserve a spot of the 40 man let alone a spot on the opening day 25.  Is it because he would just be a 4th OF and hardly play?

I don't remember who said it, but someone on this board once called him "The toolsiest tool to ever tool" So the answer is his tools. Personally I doubt he ever makes any contribution to the MLB team.

[DaveW]

 

I think it's just fans re-living their irrational prospect love for Benson 5-6 years ago. I agree with your assessment that he's done nothing to deserve this praise and a spot on the 40 man roster. 

I would hardly call it irrational prospect love, in 2010 and 2011 he had two really nice years (27 HR in one, .870 OPS or higher in each of them as well)

 

He of course "washed out" which sucks, but the "love" towards him was not irrational.

[DaveW]

 

 

I don't remember who said it, but someone on this board once called him "The toolsiest tool to ever tool" So the answer is his tools. Personally I doubt he ever makes any contribution to the MLB team.

Yeah, I don't get why they even brought him back this late, he hasn't done anything in AAA or the majors the last 5 years to deserve a shot IMO. I'm hoping for the best that he "clicks" and can stick for a little bit in the majors, always nice to see someone who doesn't give up earn a few bucks.

[KidBro]

 

I don't remember who said it, but someone on this board once called him "The toolsiest tool to ever tool" So the answer is his tools. Personally I doubt he ever makes any contribution to the MLB team.

 

Are Plungers considered tools???

[Don't Feed the Greed Guy]

Sano clicks in RF with a cannon arm that converts well to the OF, reminding everyone of Dave Parker in 1979, when he throws out Bryce Harper at 3rd and Ryan Braun at home, earning the 2016 All-Star MVP.

 

Buxton in CF, and Rosario in LF, not RF. Arcia is the DH while Park and Kepler get their chops in at AAA. Benson is the surprise of Spring Training as a 4th OF who spells Sano as a defensive replacement in the late innings, pinch runner, and right-handed bat off the bench!,But Arcia and Benson have to go in June/July to make way for Kepler and Park who are on fire in Rochester.

 

Benson and Arcia are traded before the All-Star break for a stud Ace who anchors the Twins rotation for the next three years.

 

How's that for creative writing? Fantasy? Remember, "In a Perfect World..."

[GMinTraining]

 

Sano clicks in RF with a cannon arm that converts well to the OF, reminding everyone of Dave Parker in 1979, when he throws out Bryce Harper at 3rd and Ryan Braun at home, earning the 2016 All-Star MVP.

 

Buxton in CF, and Rosario in LF, not RF. Arcia is the DH while Park and Kepler get their chops in at AAA. Benson is the surprise of Spring Training as a 4th OF who spells Sano as a defensive replacement in the late innings, pinch runner, and right-handed bat off the bench!,But Arcia and Benson have to go in June/July to make way for Kepler and Park who are on fire in Rochester.

 

Benson and Arcia are traded before the All-Star break for a stud Ace who anchors the Twins rotation for the next three years.

 

How's that for creative writing? Fantasy? Remember, "In a Perfect World..."

Not bad for creativity.  I actually see the Twins doing exactly what you posted minus the luck of trading for an Ace .  I do see a trade for a reliever or C / B prospect for Arcia and _____ by mid season.

[TwinsTerritory]

Rosario: LF

Buxton: CF

Sano: RF

 

DH Park

 

Bench Bat that plays 3 days a week against righties only: Arcia

Utililty: Santana

[DaveW]

 

Rosario: LF

Buxton: CF

Sano: RF

 

DH Park

 

Bench Bat that plays 3 days a week against righties only: Arcia

Utililty: Santana

Wouldn't they be facing RHP 5-6 times a week on average?

[TwinsTerritory]

 

Wouldn't they be facing RHP 5-6 times a week on average?

Sure, doesn't mean he has to start every game against a righty, just don't want to see him starting against a lefty.

[Physics Guy]

 

Not trying to start an argument, but who was the last prospect to show a benefit from getting AAA ABs and what happened to them shortly thereafter?  Truly curious.  I know that's the traditional thing to do, but who in the system has truly benefited in recent memory?  Colabello? Arcia? Vargas? Santana? Parmelee? Benson?  Mastranoni?  -  Just being the devils advocate here.  I'm talking Twins system only.

 

I think all of them need MLB ABs to understand MLB pitching.  Not see saw reps at both (AAA / MLB) when they faulter.  Hasn't helped.  Curious what they do with Sano if he faulters like Arcia did last year?  (not likely, but what if?)

For not trying to start an argument, you sure seem to be argumentative.    Hunter, Cuddyer, Dozier and probably Plouffe all benefited from being sent back down to AAA after spending parts of a season with the Twins. 

[Dr. Evil]

But who fills that big void Buxton leaves?

we have zero center fielders that can make up for their defensive deficit compared to Buxton with their hitting

[GMinTraining]

I think all of them need MLB ABs to understand MLB pitching.  Not see saw reps at both (AAA / MLB) when they faulter.  Hasn't helped.  Curious what they do with Sano if he faulters like Arcia did last year?  (not likely, but what if?)

 

 

 

For not trying to start an argument, you sure seem to be argumentative.    Hunter, Cuddyer, Dozier and probably Plouffe all benefited from being sent back down to AAA after spending parts of a season with the Twins. 

 

 Kind of my point.  You named 2 retired players with Dozier and a probable (Plouffe) over the last 20 years (how long Hunter has been in league).  That's not a great track record for systematic success.  Do like you did with Sano  and Buxton and learn on the fly so you can learn to adjust mentally in the off season.   Buxton only went to AAA as a rehab assignment, and despite his success in AAA, it had no showing on his return to MLB at end of season.  I suspect his MLB expereince will help him this year however.

[Physics Guy]

 

 Kind of my point.  You named 2 retired players with Dozier and a probable (Plouffe) over the last 20 years (how long Hunter has been in league).  That's not a great track record for systematic success.  Do like you did with Sano  and Buxton and learn on the fly so you can learn to adjust mentally in the off season.   Buxton only went to AAA as a rehab assignment, and despite his success in AAA, it had no showing on his return to MLB at end of season.  I suspect his MLB expereince will help him this year however.

Here's another way to look at it.  Not including the current crop of early twenties guys, those are four of the top 6 everyday players to come up through the system in this millennium.  Only Mauer and Morneau didn't need additional time in AAA.  Mauer was 21 and Morneau 23.  Yes, Buxton may be ready, but it's not going to hurt him to spend some time in AAA either.

[Loosey]

 

Here's another way to look at it.  Not including the current crop of early twenties guys, those are four of the top 6 everyday players to come up through the system in this millennium.  Only Mauer and Morneau didn't need additional time in AAA.  Mauer was 21 and Morneau 23.  Yes, Buxton may be ready, but it's not going to hurt him to spend some time in AAA either.

Actually I seem to recall Morneau getting sent back down to AAA briefly.  Am I imagining this or was it a rehab thing?

[GMinTraining]

 

 Buxton may be ready, but it's not going to hurt him to spend some time in AAA either.

 

Can't argue that.  Not saying it's not possible to get better in AAA, just saying it's not probable either based on Twins recent history with AAA success carry over.  IMO only

[Physics Guy]

 

Can't argue that.  Not saying it's not possible to get better in AAA, just saying it's not probable either based on Twins recent history with AAA success carry over.  IMO only

I really don't have a problem with it either way.  If the coaches judge that he isn't quite ready, send him to AAA for a month or so.  I think we can get by with Rosario and Santana in CF if we don't sign anybody.  If the bat is ready, then it will be great to have his D in CF.

[Physics Guy]

 

 

Actually I seem to recall Morneau getting sent back down to AAA briefly.  Am I imagining this or was it a rehab thing?

Best that I can tell is that he played about 30 games in June/July of 2003 and then spent Aug in AAA before being recalled in Sept.  In 2004 his game log starts in May, so I would assume he spent the first month in AAA.  He hit about .220 in his first stint.  He went down to AAA for Aug 2003 and Apr 2004 then hit well enough that the Twins traded Dougie in 2004.  It appears he benefited from some AAA seasoning as well.

[Don't Feed the Greed Guy]

 

 Kind of my point.  You named 2 retired players with Dozier and a probable (Plouffe) over the last 20 years (how long Hunter has been in league).  That's not a great track record for systematic success.  

 

Aaron Hicks

 

                     avg  obp  slg  ops

2013:  MLB .192 .259 .338 .597

           AAA  .222 .317 .333 .650

2014   MLB  .215 .341 .274 .615

    AA- AAA  .291 .387 .441 .828

2015   AAA  .342 .405 .544 .948

           MLB  .256 .323 .398 .721

 

Vargas, Arcia, Santana... TBD.

[Loosey]

 

Best that I can tell is that he played about 30 games in June/July of 2003 and then spent Aug in AAA before being recalled in Sept.  In 2004 his game log starts in May, so I would assume he spent the first month in AAA.  He hit about .220 in his first stint.  He went down to AAA for Aug 2003 and Apr 2004 then hit well enough that the Twins traded Dougie in 2004.  It appears he benefited from some AAA seasoning as well.

On Baseball Ref it look like he started with the Twins then went down to AAA again in May and then came back in July.  I don't remember if that was an injury thing or not.  Didn't he hurt his wrist or something early on in his career here?  I vaguely remember that.

[Physics Guy]

 

On Baseball Ref it look like he started with the Twins then went down to AAA again in May and then came back in July.  I don't remember if that was an injury thing or not.  Didn't he hurt his wrist or something early on in his career here?  I vaguely remember that.

This is what his transaction log for 2003 & 2004 looks like:

 

07/16/2004  MIN  Called Up From Minors
06/02/2004  MIN  Sent To Minors
05/21/2004  MIN  Called Up From Minors
03/26/2004  MIN  Sent To Minors
02/27/2004  MIN  Signed - ( 2004)
09/02/2003  MIN  Called Up From Minors
07/27/2003  MIN  Sent To Minors
06/10/2003  MIN  Called Up From Minors
03/14/2003  MIN  Sent To Minors