The Outfield Crapshoot

[DocBauer]

Let's dispense with the easy cuts first: Benson hasn't been able to stay healthy and has not had success against AAA pitching. He is not longer a fuzzy-cheeked youngster. I expect him to get some PAs early, but be an early casualty. Mastoianni is now over 30 and hasn't had appreciable success since his first season with the Twins (2011), another early reassignment to the minors.

 

Quentin is even older, again without much success in several years. Given his All-Star past and recent inactivity, I expect the Twins will hang onto him a bit longer before assigning him to the minors. Walker will get a look and since pitchers are getting their work in early, I figure he'll have some success, but he's not a serious candidate to make the team. Kepler is in the same position, but has a sliver of a chance, so he'll get a bit longer look than Walker.

 

That will leave six candidates for five positions:   Locks--Rosario and Sano. Out of options--Santana and Arcia. Veteran Sweeney and top prospect Buxton. If everyone performs well, Sweeney is the odd man out. If Buxton or one of the out-of-options guys struggle mightily, Sweeney is my pick to make the club. Finally, if there are disabling injuries, perhaps Sweeney ekes his way onto the team.

Yep. In different words, exactly what I stated earlier. There really isn't a "crapshoot" per say. It's more about Buxton from day 1, or someone else filling for a time. (My money is still on Buxton)

 

The crunch is at AAA. I LOVE the Benson signing! I believe he is still only 27, he still possesses a great deal of skill, and if fully healthy, his only real issue appears to be between the ears. Not an insult, but we have heard for years about his football mentality as a competitor and multi-sport talent. If he can/has/continues to work on and learn to deal with the daily grind, and failure, (2/3 of the time), along with success, he could still emerge as a quality ML OF. I see a little better Lew Ford.

 

With time...and a degree of failure and frustration...much wisdom may be gained. Benson would be an excellent 4th OF to join Rosario, Buxton and eventually Kepler. And speaking of Kepler, he should be playing ever day at Rochester in RF, occassionally in CF and 1B, (though 1B is pretty much spoken for) Benson should play often if not every day. Walker should play every day as well.

 

The issue is Mastroianni and Quentin for me, as I see Sweeney as a given and smart signing. There is absolutely no room for 6 OF at AAA. Barely room for 5. So unless Walker begins the season back at AA...possible for the first month due to numbers crunch and a chance to Polish a few things...someone has to go. On any level, Mastroianni at least offers speed and defense, while Quentin offers nothing more than a "maybe" bench and occassional platoon bat. Ick.

[Platoon]

I absolutely have not given up on Buxton. He will be a stud! And should be going north. And frankly the worse Sano looks in RF, the more likely it is he goes north. Someone will have to cover that gap. That might impact the decision as much as Buxtons ST performance. If Arcia was not out of options, I would guarantee one of the "Usual Suspects" would go north. I still think one will, but Arcias status is the wild card. It's remarkable that a team with this many set positions, and arguably a contender, has a roster with this many kerfuffles!

[stringer bell]

I absolutely have not given up on Buxton. He will be a stud! And should be going north. And frankly the worse Sano looks in RF, the more likely it is he goes north. Someone will have to cover that gap. That might impact the decision as much as Buxtons ST performance. If Arcia was not out of options, I would guarantee one of the "Usual Suspects" would go north. I still think one will, but Arcias status is the wild card. It's remarkable that a team with this many set positions, and arguably a contender, has a roster with this many kerfuffles!

I see zero kerfuffles amongst the position players--Murphy and Suzuki at C, Nuñez and Santana backing up the infielders, Park at DH and Arcia behind the outfielders (also Santana).

[TNLooky2015]

What does one accomplish in AA that one can't accomplish in AAA?  What is expected to be learned early in AA I should say that won't be seen in AAA?