Max Kepler Promoted, Danny Santana to DL

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Two

 

Two games is an obsession? Come on folks, this isn't Gardy and Nick Punto yet.

The 2015 season Molitor fell in love with Danny Santana who was terrible, but stuck by him until almost August. So no, not two games, 95 games. Not exactly statistically significant sample size, but big enough to see the similarities

[Kwak]

Rosario will sit.  Kepler isn't with the Twins to be Arcia the 2nd.  (BTW, do we need Arcia at all?)

How many games did Kepler play at the AAA level anyway--enough to get his creditials established at the level?  Because if he got his AAA card punched, they don't need to send players through there for more than a week!

[Platoon]

This is not meant to be critical, but TR continues to amaze. I would have bet an all expense paid trip to the Chipotle nearest you that Kepler was not the one. Since it is an avowed policy not to sit a promising prospect on the bench, who sits? And what of the service time clock? He can't be past that mark yet. Since Santana was a sub, I truly expected Mastro. Again, I am not critical, it's an aggressive move. Just confused.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Spot on, I'm already there..

 

Buck's K% is now sitting at 67%. He must be the all-time leader in 0-2 pitch count percentage. He's probably got 15 days to figure things out or time to figure things out in a Red Wings uni for a spell.

 

In the meantime, this is the opportunity of a lifetime for Kepler, and puts Arcia on notice and with a sense of urgency that now's the time to put up or shut up (and Rosario as well).

 

Gotta give the Twins some credit here, in the recent past they just as easily might have activated a Mastroianni, Schafer or Beresford to take D-San's spot in this situation. Polanco's actually on the roster, and has been called up previously on just such occasions- Nunez becoming the extra outfielder, not this time.

i saw D-San to the DL before knowing his replacement and just assumed it was Beresford. I was shocked and a bit excited that Kepler is coming up. I hope he can make the most of it.

[Platoon]

Santana is a much better athlete than Sano. For one thing he's about 100 lbs lighter. When he went down you know that Mollies first reaction was, "Oh, no, poor Santana." You can just bet your bottom dollar his second thought was about the reaction if it had been the potentially best hitter on the team that gone down, instead, because he was playing him in a position he had absolutely no business being.

Now the question is what to do with The new roster? They have to play Max every day or they would never have taken him out of Rochester. In my opinion they must use this as the moment to get Sano out of the outfield. With Park, Mauer and Sano parked at 1b and DH what do you do? Sending Buck or Rosario down and keeping Sano in right is the absolutely worst solution.

Good luck, Mollie. Now you earn your salary.

Didn't the Angels or someone just lose their 3rd baseman? Could they now trade Plouffe and find out once and for all if Sano can play the hot corner?

I more or less concur, except for the playing time part. I think a lot of GM tell field staff who they want on the field. Not necessarily setting the lineup, but the manager is made fully aware of his bosses choices. They don't HAVE to send anyone down, but I am kinda intrigued by how this plays out. As Sgt. Schultz would have said, "Verrrrry interesting"

[kab21]

Great job guys.  It has been 5 games and you are ready to jerk around 2 young (and very talented players) for a shiny new toy.  

[TheLeviathan]

I don't like it, but I do think Buxton is the one on the hot seat with this move.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

This is not meant to be critical, but TR continues to amaze. I would have bet an all expense paid trip to the Chipotle nearest you that Kepler was not the one. Since it is an avowed policy not to sit a promising prospect on the bench, who sits? And what of the service time clock? He can't be past that mark yet. Since Santana was a sub, I truly expected Mastro. Again, I am not critical, it's an aggressive move. Just confused.

I'm amazed too, but I think he'll only gain 14 days of service time, assuming DSan comes right back.

 

He was a September call up, so the clock is already ticking.

[Bill Brown69]

Too many good players has never been a real problem in the history of baseball and I don't see it changing with this move. Right now show me 1 who is on his way to an All-Star season. Yes, I know the season is young but this should be looked at as a message to everyone because there is a way to shuffle this lineup so anybody except Dozier and EE is the odd man out if Kepler can force his way onto the field.

 

7 guys for 6 positions does not equal a playing time issue. There it is, one guy is out every 6 games, NO BIG DEAL.

 

Hand wringing here about playing time and then wonder why we never beat the Yanks back in the day. One year they had Lance Berkman as a bench bat until someone got hurt. Lance freaking Berkman sitting on the bench and we are wondering about playing time for these guys?

[Bill Brown69]

To add on, Molly should write out the lineup 6 ways with 1 of the 7 off every day and say this is what we are going with for the next 6 games just to make sure the guys are on notice that their position is in jeopardy if they don't start hitting. Some rise to pressure and some wilt. Just as well find out who does what now rather than wait for postseason.

[jokin]

 

This is not meant to be critical, but TR continues to amaze. I would have bet an all expense paid trip to the Chipotle nearest you that Kepler was not the one. Since it is an avowed policy not to sit a promising prospect on the bench, who sits? And what of the service time clock? He can't be past that mark yet. Since Santana was a sub, I truly expected Mastro. Again, I am not critical, it's an aggressive move. Just confused.

 

Yup, me too. very un-TR-like... I applaud it. 

 

Now, how about some similar chances taken on bullpen prospects?

[Platoon]

Too many good players has never been a real problem in the history of baseball and I don't see it changing with this move. Right now show me 1 who is on his way to an All-Star season. Yes, I know the season is young but this should be looked at as a message to everyone because there is a way to shuffle this lineup so anybody except Dozier and EE is the odd man out if Kepler can force his way onto the field.

 

7 guys for 6 positions does not equal a playing time issue. There it is, one guy is out every 6 games, NO BIG DEAL.

 

Hand wringing here about playing time and then wonder why we never beat the Yanks back in the day. One year they had Lance Berkman as a bench bat until someone got hurt. Lance freaking Berkman sitting on the bench and we are wondering about playing time for these guys?

How old was Lance? I doubt he was a 23 yr old prospect?

[stringer bell]

 

I'm amazed too, but I think he'll only gain 14 days of service time, assuming DSan comes right back.

He was a September call up, so the clock is already ticking.

The clock only ticks when the player is on the major league roster during the regular season. Kepler got 15 days or so upon his recall in September, after Chattanooga won their league. He needed about a month in Rochester to give the Twins an additional year of control.

[Vanimal46]

Odd. Nunez now the only spare infielder. No reason to have Kepler up to sit on the bench, and you're not sitting Sano, Buxton or Mauer.

 

So...

 

Grab some bench, Rosario. Might as well send him to AAA and call up someone who can sit on the bench and play SS and 2b.

That's what I'm confused about with this move. We were talking the majority of ST that the Twins value position flexibility on the bench. Now they have just Nunez as the lone backup infielder...

 

I'm excited to see Kepler play (hopefully today!) But I wonder why Arcia isn't getting his shot first and Polanco wasn't called up instead?

[stringer bell]

As for promoting Kepler, Santana made three straight starts in the outfield, basically replacing three different players, correct (Park, Buxton, Sano)? This makes Santana more outfielder than infielder, so it would figure that Kepler could be considered. Plus, Kepler is on the 40-man, while Mastro and Beresford are not.

 

Playing time:   I expect Kepler to get starts for all three outfielders in his time with the Twins and he most likely will sit against LH starters. Park, Buxton, Sano and Rosario could all get days off and keep Max in the lineup.

 

I think the plan will be for Kepler to return to Rochester when Santana is ready to return. It could be that his time will be extended with a Santana rehab assignment and if he is clearly superior to Buxton or Rosario in his trial, he could stay up while someone else gets sent down.

[jokin]

 

That's what I'm confused about with this move. We were talking the majority of ST that the Twins value position flexibility on the bench. Now they have just Nunez as the lone backup infielder...

I'm excited to see Kepler play (hopefully today!) But I wonder why Arcia isn't getting his shot first and Polanco wasn't called up instead?

 

Not calling up Polanco means this is strictly an OF move, it seems like everyone's on the hot seat. Arcia didn't exactly help himself any in the field on Saturday, perhaps the Twins think he can pass through waivers should Kepler shine in this "tryout". Buxton's struggles at the plate seem to suggest best being addressed in AAA- hopefully over the very short term.

[Vanimal46]

Not calling up Polanco means this is strictly an OF move, it seems like everyone's on the hot seat. Arcia didn't exactly help himself any in the field on Saturday, perhaps the Twins think he can pass through waivers should Kepler shine in this "tryout". Buxton's struggles at the plate seem to suggest best being addressed in AAA- hopefully over the very short term.

I was at a wedding yesterday and only saw the game recap on MLB.tv. Arcia made a bone headed play in the OF yesterday? I agree with you that it seems like everyone is on the hot seat - As they should be. Someone needs to create a spark for this offense, and hopefully it's Kepler. I'm just surprised they didn't try Arcia first with his natural power/out of options situation.

[David HK]

 

One of them will probably be "due" for a breather tomorrow. My guess is we see him in the lineup tomorrow.

Seems like Rosario needs to breathe a lot lately...

[Bill Brown69]

 

How old was Lance? I doubt he was a 23 yr old prospect?

 

 

2010 Houston traded him to the Yanks as a bench bat at the deadline.

[brvama]

The one caveat is that the young kids are getting a chance, which will likely make this an interesting, possibly even disappointing year reord-wise. If this move is truly an indicator of this year's philosophy by TR then in another month or less the BP will likely follow suit.

[TKGuy]

First of all, we started 1-5 last year, so by all means, the season is not over. I am also thinking that Mr. Beresford may finally get his chance to be in the big leagues, especially if Arcia doesn't prrform

[Richie the Rally Goat]

The clock only ticks when the player is on the major league roster during the regular season. Kepler got 15 days or so upon his recall in September, after Chattanooga won their league. He needed about a month in Rochester to give the Twins an additional year of control.

so he would be a potential super 2? it seems like he's the injury sub on the shuttle from Rochester

[Halsey Hall]

With an 0-5 start and another game against the World Champs today the pressure is mounting on management. You can't spot the rest of the division that kind of start and expect to get near 81 wins. It wouldn't surprised me at all to see some very uncharacteristic moves and soon. TR's been very high on Kepler all off season, so no surprise he gets the first call. However I can see someone being removed from the 40 man, and Beresford being called up. Buxton and Sano both will be sent down sometime and Buxton probably very soon.  The Arcia trial should last another month to see what's there. But he's got to get off the bench. It'll be interesting to see just what is going to shake out, and TD'ers will have much to debate the first couple of months. 

[DaveW]

There is absolutely zero reason to send down Sano. Zero.

 

Yes, he has had a rough 4 games, but a dude with a lifetime .900+ ops in the majors needs to stay on the major league team!

 

Buxton on the other hand....I have said all along I would prefer he start out in AAA, his 67% k rate just furthers that IMO

[OrangeKicks]

Kepler called up and promptly benched...

[OrangeKicks]

Plouffe also not playing, but Sanó is still in RF...

[Seth Stohs]

Easy move to make. Assuming it's a real 2-week only  thing, no sense in taking someone off the 40 man roster to add someone like Mastroianni. Then the options really are only Walker, Kepler and Polanco. Kepler makes the most sense of that group.

 

He'll likely play 4=5 times a week and spell Sano and Rosario a couple of times a week on defense, and Buxton maybe once too. 

 

Surprised no one in 3 pages of comments has mentioned that if he stays up, he becomes a free agent a year sooner. Then again, I don't think he'll stay up the rest of the year, but it is another example that the Twins aren't worried about that stuff...

[kab21]

 

Plouffe also not playing, but Sanó is still in RF...

I wouldn't expect Sano to get spot starts at 3B.  He wasn't a great defender there and he has been playing it very little if at all with his move to the OF.

[spinowner]

Like Chief and Vanimal, I don't really follow this. I just now found out about this move so I haven't read any details about Santana's prognosis. If he's going to be out for only the bare 15-day minimum they can probably get by with Nunez as their only backup infielder for now, especially if you figure Sano can play third if a second backup is needed. (At least I think I remember that he has played there, hasn't he?) But if it's longer than that I don't think an outfielder should have been called up, especially since we have Arcia on the roster. That said, of course I hope Kepler does well, but I don't expect anything noteworthy. IMHO almost everyone on this site has highly inflated expectations about him.

[OrangeKicks]

 

Easy move to make. Assuming it's a real 2-week only  thing, no sense in taking someone off the 40 man roster to add someone like Mastroianni. Then the options really are only Walker, Kepler and Polanco. Kepler makes the most sense of that group.

 

He'll likely play 4=5 times a week and spell Sano and Rosario a couple of times a week on defense, and Buxton maybe once too. 

 

Surprised no one in 3 pages of comments has mentioned that if he stays up, he becomes a free agent a year sooner. Then again, I don't think he'll stay up the rest of the year, but it is another example that the Twins aren't worried about that stuff...

Is it that they aren't worried about that stuff, or they have no intentions of allowing him to stay up longer than is needed to cover Santana?