Oswaldo Arcia

[ryanschroeder2]

Does anyone know if he played winter ball this year at all

[ShouldaCouldaWoulda]

I've also been wondering if there is any more insight on him. What do the team insiders have to say about him last season. Was there an injury or mechanical issue? Has he been doing anything different in the offseason? Do we see him at all part of the future, or are we looking to give up on him, burry him, or sell super low on him?

[shs_59]

don't burry him, wasn't he 22 years old last year?

 

he's 23-24

 

and like many many of our guys was rushed to Big leagues a bit.

 

Last year was a huge dissapointment no doubt, but all this tinkering with his mechanics (Bruno, ect.)

Did him no good at all, (only further damaged him)

 

Let him get back to what he used to be, (high K % , moderate contact/ low contact, high  power%) and he'll find his own way.

 

 

 

[gunnarthor]

I thought he wasn't playing winter ball but I guess I don't know for sure.  Even if he isn't paying winter ball, I'm sure the Twins had some sort of offseason plan for him that (hopefully) he worked on.

[Cody Christie]

According to Baseball Reference, he hasn't played any winter ball this year.

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.cgi?id=arcia-001osw

[stringer bell]

Halsy reported that Arcia was in Fort Myers and working hard. It is time for a thread to offer opinions on him IMHO.

 

Through his minor league career, Arcia was always young for his age, but always a good hitter. The power numbers weren't overwhelming, but he sported good batting averages and got more than his share of extra base hits. He arrived with the Twins and seemed to transform into an "all or nothing at all" hitter, with the strikeouts increasing dramatically. I have been of the opinion that he needs to stop trying to hit the ball 500 feet every time and be a better overall hitter, as he was in the minors.

 

Since he arrived in Minnesota, Arcia has been an emotional player, wearing those emotions on his sleeve. I doubt he could ever carry Mauer's demeanor, but moderating his approach might make him productive again.

 

There is talent there that the Twins need to salvage. I hope he gets consistent plate appearances in the spring and early in the season and I hope he thrives.

[drjim]

He won't get regular at bats at the beginning of the season, but I predict the opportunity will present itself multiple times. Up to him if he is going to run with it.

[notoriousgod71]

 

He won't get regular at bats at the beginning of the season, but I predict the opportunity will present itself multiple times. Up to him if he is going to run with it.

 

This and we'll turn to Mastroainni instead because we can't have any emotion in the clubhouse.

[sane09]

Last year was a huge dissapointment no doubt, but all this tinkering with his mechanics (Bruno, ect.)

Did him no good at all, (only further damaged him)

It is seldom (never?) the batting coach who wants the batter to hit 600-ft homers.

It is often (always?) the batter himself who wants to get the attention.

After all, when "chicks dig the long ball", it's not batting coach who gets that love.

[gunnarthor]

 

He won't get regular at bats at the beginning of the season, but I predict the opportunity will present itself multiple times. Up to him if he is going to run with it.

Yeah, this.

He'll probably be the first DH option after Park.

[Thrylos]

 

 

 

He arrived with the Twins and seemed to transform into an "all or nothing at all" hitter, with the strikeouts increasing dramatically. I have been of the opinion that he needs to stop trying to hit the ball 500 feet every time and be a better overall hitter, as he was in the minors.

 

 

 

Is it me, or have the Twins been transforming more into "all or nothing at all" (even Mauer has been having career highs in K%) since Brunansky got the hitting coach position?   And Bruno was exactly that kind of a hitter.

Just something to throw out there...

 

As far as Arcia goes, he (and Vargas) are the only players who are power threats from the Left side.  The team needs at least one of them in the lineup, so I guess it will be Arcia.

[drjim]

On another thought, does it seem the 13 position players are pretty much settles going into spring training?

 

Murphy, Suzuki

Mauer, Park, Dozier, Escobar, Plouffe, Nunez, Santana

Rosario, Buxton, Sano, Arcia

 

I have thought they should add a veteran OF, but not sure who I would want him to replace, assuming none of the tendered guys are going anywhere

[DrNeau]

This and we'll turn to Mastroainni instead because we can't have any emotion in the clubhouse.

Love Arcia's emotion, but he will see more playing time if he demonstrates he will both keep his head in the game and run everything out. For some reason, both are a major challenge for him.

[stringer bell]

 

On another thought, does it seem the 13 position players are pretty much settles going into spring training?

Murphy, Suzuki
Mauer, Park, Dozier, Escobar, Plouffe, Nunez, Santana
Rosario, Buxton, Sano, Arcia

I have thought they should add a veteran OF, but not sure who I would want him to replace, assuming none of the tendered guys are going anywhere

Injuries could occur and Buxton isn't a certainty to start the season in Minnesota. If either of those scenarios come to pass, my best guess is that Sweeney makes the club as an extra OF and
DanSan is more OF than IF.

[stringer bell]

 

 

Is it me, or have the Twins been transforming more into "all or nothing at all" (even Mauer has been having career highs in K%) since Brunansky got the hitting coach position?   And Bruno was exactly that kind of a hitter.

Just something to throw out there...

 

As far as Arcia goes, he (and Vargas) are the only players who are power threats from the Left side.  The team needs at least one of them in the lineup, so I guess it will be Arcia.

I agree it seems to be a trend. The Twins' hitters were pretty successful in '14 and the additional K's were regarded as the price for more long balls and aggressive hitting, but last year the walks decreased, the strikeouts increased and the run-scoring, despite a high BA with RISP, decresed.

[Halsey Hall]

 

On another thought, does it seem the 13 position players are pretty much settles going into spring training?

Murphy, Suzuki
Mauer, Park, Dozier, Escobar, Plouffe, Nunez, Santana
Rosario, Buxton, Sano, Arcia

I have thought they should add a veteran OF, but not sure who I would want him to replace, assuming none of the tendered guys are going anywhere

Terry Ryan mentioned this morning there are 8 outfielders out there that are available and he is looking.  Asked about Span and he mentioned his health problems they are looking into. 

[jorgenswest]

The Twins need a left handed power bat. They need Arcia.

[sane09]

The Twins need a left handed power bat. They need Arcia.

They NEED Barry Bonds.

They GOT Arcia.

[Monkeypaws]

I think I told this story before, but the season before last, I scored front row seats in the right field overhang. I kept yelling encouragement to Oswaldo. But I caught his attention during a lull, and said "hit one up here Oswaldo!" He gave me a nod, but his next at bat he whiffed and broke his bat over his knee. I took responsibility....

 

I like the kid. That's why he replaced Willie Norwood as my avatar.

[TheLeviathan]

 

The Twins need a left handed power bat. They need Arcia.

 

This, we are really right-handed heavy. 

[Twodogs]

I can't see Sano being an everyday player in the OF, I know on fantasy squads it would be a great thing.  But right now by the looks of it Arcia or Kepler should be the best option behind Buxton and Rosario

 

Just my opinion.

 

Mauer, Sano, Park, and Vargas are all competing for two spots?

[DocBauer]

The best thing to happen to Arcia in 2015 was to see it end. There is no question the team really needs him. And there is no question he is way too young and way too talented to consider not having around.

 

But opportunity is a 2-way street. Aria needs to work hard in all phases, keep his head in the game, and stop swinging for China with ever swing. He has more than enough natural power that he can stop the windmill imitation.

 

On the Twins side of things, they have to let him play consistently, not ride the bench for days and then expect him to perform. They also have to live with some bad days; he is the type who will go 0-4 with 3 strikeouts one day, and hit 2 HR and drive in 5 the next. They also need to play him in RF, not LF, when he plays the field. He is much more comfortable there and has the arm for it. (For goodness sake, just play him back a step or step and a half)

[DocBauer]

Is it me, or have the Twins been transforming more into "all or nothing at all" (even Mauer has been having career highs in K%) since Brunansky got the hitting coach position?   And Bruno was exactly that kind of a hitter.

Just something to throw out there...

 

As far as Arcia goes, he (and Vargas) are the only players who are power threats from the Left side.  The team needs at least one of them in the lineup, so I guess it will be Arcia.

FWIW, I have a good feeling about Vargas. The odds are stacked against him to begin the season, but I predict by mid season there will be chatter about how to find room on the ML roster for him.

[sftwinsfan]

While it would be nice to see Arcia take that step forward this spring, my guess is he's cut in spring training.  I think his best shot at a starting spot next year was DH and the Park signing reduced the odds of that happening significantly.  If Arcia decides he'd rather be a baseball player than a bodybuilder at some point he may be alright.  He just needs to drop some bulk and get back to what got him to the big leagues.

[stringer bell]

 

While it would be nice to see Arcia take that step forward this spring, my guess is he's cut in spring training.  I think his best shot at a starting spot next year was DH and the Park signing reduced the odds of that happening significantly.  If Arcia decides he'd rather be a baseball player than a bodybuilder at some point he may be alright.  He just needs to drop some bulk and get back to what got him to the big leagues.

I agree that Arcia has to do something this spring, but I really doubt they will just let him go unless he's dreadful this spring. He might get tendinitis somewhere some other type of injury, but I can't see the club just letting him go.

[tobi0040]

 

I agree that Arcia has to do something this spring, but I really doubt they will just let him go unless he's dreadful this spring. He might get tendinitis somewhere some other type of injury, but I can't see the club just letting him go.

 

I don't see the fit here.  Mauer and Park are locked in at 1B and DH and I think the Twins are at a point where Arcia's bat isn't good enough to put up with his OF defense

[nicksaviking]

If Mauer performs as he did last year, the team really needs Arcia to produce because there really aren't any other lefties to put anywhere near the heart of the lineup and the job will default to Joe due to the dearth of left-handed production.

[kab21]

I have a sneaky suspicion that Arcia has worn out his welcome with the FO/staff.  I hope that I am wrong and he turns it around because he has amazing raw ability.

[HitInAPinch]

My guess is Arcia needs to have a heck of a Spring Training to make the team. 

[Major League Ready]

 

While it would be nice to see Arcia take that step forward this spring, my guess is he's cut in spring training.  I think his best shot at a starting spot next year was DH and the Park signing reduced the odds of that happening significantly.  If Arcia decides he'd rather be a baseball player than a bodybuilder at some point he may be alright.  He just needs to drop some bulk and get back to what got him to the big leagues.

I hope not.  Our current situation is the ideal scenario to give Arcia one last shot.  Buxton probably spends April and at least part of May at AAA.  Kepler might be more prepared than Buxton for ML pitching at this point but after pushing both Hicks and Buxton, hopefully, they make sure he is ready.  They also are not going to want to start his service clock.  So, why not give Arcia a chance?  We have reinforcements very close in the pipeline if Arcia does not make the grade.

 

I am wondering if he is in Fort Myers early because they had the same conversation about conditioning (getting leaner) with Arcia as they did with Sano.  Obviously, Arcia is not as big a guy as Sano but it would not hurt Arcia’s defense if he was leaner by spring.  If nothing else, it would be a good sign of maturity if Arcia is making this type of commitment and effort.  I will be rooting for an ever better version of the guy we were so high on two years.

 

How good would the best version of Oswaldo Arcia look hitting between Sano and Park?