Article: Which Hitter Will The Twins Call Up?

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

However, the fact that Duffey took the line drive off of his shoulder means that the Twins couldn’t just send him back to Rochester without making sure he was OK.

 

The rules page that I linked above indeed says "An injured player cannot be optioned to the minors" so that general idea is not in dispute.

 

However, I believe you are wrong about the sequencing.  Optioning a player has never required an absolute determination of health first, or every player getting optioned would need to undergo a thorough physical examination, every time.  That is clearly not the standard practice.

 

A quick Google search turned up what I think is the more likely process:

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-tony-clark-will-watch-cubs-closely-20150227-story.html

 

"The Cubs fell under scrutiny last summer when they optioned rookie reliever Neil Ramirez, who had a sore shoulder. But Ramirez's option to Triple-A Iowa was rescinded because injured players cannot be optioned, and he was placed on the major league 15-day disabled list."

 

So, the Twins could definitely option Duffey.  But if he was found to be unhealthy enough to play at AAA, he would be required to retroactively go on the MLB disabled list.  The Twins do not have to roster Duffey until his arm is deemed fully healthy.

[Darius]

"No need for a catcher right now," is highly debatable. Suzuki and Murphy are providing the Twins with nothing on either side of the ball at this point. Neither should be getting a meaningful amount of MLB at-bats/innings behind the plate.

 

There may not be great replacement options (because of poor planning), but there is most definitely a "need," for a catcher, IMO.

[tobi0040]

 

Maybe so.

And maybe that's an example of how and why an organization sits at 6-14, loses 390 games in a four year stretch, and has won one playoff series in two decades under the current GM.

This is the major leagues. It's a zero sum game, and some organizations are only too happy to get the W at your expense if you run around thinking otherwise.

 

I really wish I could argue with you. 

 

This is a very competitive game and the decisions the Twins don't seem to value add up over time.  A table roll over to the better poker players.

 

Like not signing a quality reliever or two this off-season.  Really a meager investment that we passed on.  The results, May will likely never start again and our 40 man is a total mess because going quantity over quality kind of hurts you here.  This bleeds over to our 25 man as well, giving your manager no bench options over a period of time.

 

We were years behind in defensive shifting.  Other teams were doing it because it works.  We have never devoted a position to a platoon. 

 

I am sure we could come up with more.  The reality is it is not the head coach, or the hitting coach, it is the culture.  The culture here is one that lags many years behind the league and constantly plays catch up.  Culture can only change from the GM on down. 

 

 

 

[Platoon]

I really wish I could argue with you. 

 

This is a very competitive game and the decisions the Twins don't seem to value add up over time.  A table roll over to the better poker players.

 

Like not signing a quality reliever or two this off-season.  Really a meager investment that we passed on.  The results, May will likely never start again and our 40 man is a total mess because going quantity over quality kind of hurts you here.  This bleeds over to our 25 man as well, giving your manager no bench options over a period of time.

 

We were years behind in defensive shifting.  Other teams were doing it because it works.  We have never devoted a position to a platoon. 

 

I am sure we could come up with more.  The reality is it is not the head coach, or the hitting coach, it is the culture.  The culture here is one that lags many years behind the league and constantly plays catch up.  Culture can only change from the GM on down.

 

You might have to higher than that. Can anyone give a legitimate example of the Pohlads making an obvious, and legitimate effort to win. I mean WIN, as in being competitive enough to beat any team. You might not necessarily do it, but you should have the ability and chance. Even when we were winning those coveted AL Central titles, we were cannon fodder for the East. Ugh!

[Steve Lein]

While I'm with Seth and would love to see Beresford in the big leagues, not so sure this would be the right time for it.

 

Mastro does nothing for me.

 

I kind of like the idea of Levi Michael, however. But that's also something the Twins would never do given their ultra-conservative history with guys like him. When he's healthy, he gets on base at a very solid clip and now has a ~.800 OPS in his career in almost a full season of AA ball.

[SweetOne69]

There are a few complaints on here about the lack of a plan that "forced" the team to carry 14 pitchers.

 

With E. Santana being pushed back to to a stiff back, the plan was to call up Duffey to pitch on Sunday on send him back down after the game.  With D. Santana set to come of the DL on Monday they optioned Polanco to bring in Duffey and were planning to do a Duffey/D. Santana swap after the game.

 

2 things happened that changed that plan.

First, Duffey got hit by a line drive and can't be optioned until it is determined that he is healthy enough to pitch his next turn.

Second, the game went 16 innings and several of or BP arms will be unavailable for the entire Cleveland series.

 

The 2 unexpected events that occurred on the same day forced this dilemma.  They'll get down to 13 pitchers once it is determined whether Santana needs to go on the DL and/or Duffey is deemed healthy enough to be sent down.  They'll get back to 12 when Plouffe gets activated next week.

[Mr. Brooks]

There are a few complaints on here about the lack of a plan that "forced" the team to carry 14 pitchers.

 

With E. Santana being pushed back to to a stiff back, the plan was to call up Duffey to pitch on Sunday on send him back down after the game. With D. Santana set to come of the DL on Monday they optioned Polanco to bring in Duffey and were planning to do a Duffey/D. Santana swap after the game.

 

2 things happened that changed that plan.

First, Duffey got hit by a line drive and can't be optioned until it is determined that he is healthy enough to pitch his next turn.

Second, the game went 16 innings and several of or BP arms will be unavailable for the entire Cleveland series.

 

The 2 unexpected events that occurred on the same day forced this dilemma. They'll get down to 13 pitchers once it is determined whether Santana needs to go on the DL and/or Duffey is deemed healthy enough to be sent down. They'll get back to 12 when Plouffe gets activated next week.

The first part is not true.

They can send Duffey down and if it turns out he is too hurt to pitch they can retroactively put him on the mlb DL.

 

They also could put one of them on the DL. Either one is fine.

All I ever hear is that we have a ton of SP depth and it takes 7 or 8 starters to get through a season.

If that is true, then why are we afraid to put one of these guys on the DL?

In Ervins case, he'd only miss one more start.

 

Second, I don't think Plouffe is anywhere near returning. This is typically a 6 to 8 week injury, and while everyone heals at a different rate, I don't think I've heard any reports of him swinging a bat.

[Seth Stohs]

 

While I'm with Seth and would love to see Beresford in the big leagues, not so sure this would be the right time for it.

 

Mastro does nothing for me.

 

I kind of like the idea of Levi Michael, however. But that's also something the Twins would never do given their ultra-conservative history with guys like him. When he's healthy, he gets on base at a very solid clip and now has a ~.800 OPS in his career in almost a full season of AA ball.

 

Only concern with Michael is that he can only really play one position, 2B. Or at least that is all he has played the last couple of years. Then again, maybe he's a guy they were hoping to add later in the year so could now.

[Tibs]

 

The Twins really screwed this up by demoting Polanco.   Seems like Plouffe will go for a short rehab assignment any day now and will be ready to come up 5/3.

 

They need Mastroianni and his .575 AAA OPS as much as they needed D. Murphy and his .562 AAA OPS.

I'd go to AA and grab Levi Michael.  He deserves it more than Beresford and Tovar, has an actual ceiling and is hitting .293/.406/.362 after 2 seasons in a row of 800+ OPS in AA. 

 

It's about time that Dozier and his .287 OBP ride some pine.

I wouldn't be against this. Dozier has been struggling at the plate and could maybe use some days off. Levi Michael may have turned things around when it comes to the plate.

 

Otherwise I'd go with James Beresford. The only thing I see Mastroianni doing for the Twins is taking playing time away from Sano, Rosario, and Arcia.

[Pardon My Dinger]

I'm starting to feel as though we shouldn't just throw the term 'hitter' around. 

[tobi0040]

 

There are a few complaints on here about the lack of a plan that "forced" the team to carry 14 pitchers.

 

With E. Santana being pushed back to to a stiff back, the plan was to call up Duffey to pitch on Sunday on send him back down after the game.  With D. Santana set to come of the DL on Monday they optioned Polanco to bring in Duffey and were planning to do a Duffey/D. Santana swap after the game.

 

2 things happened that changed that plan.

First, Duffey got hit by a line drive and can't be optioned until it is determined that he is healthy enough to pitch his next turn.

Second, the game went 16 innings and several of or BP arms will be unavailable for the entire Cleveland series.

 

The 2 unexpected events that occurred on the same day forced this dilemma.  They'll get down to 13 pitchers once it is determined whether Santana needs to go on the DL and/or Duffey is deemed healthy enough to be sent down.  They'll get back to 12 when Plouffe gets activated next week.

 

I think this fails to see the forest.  Our closers have blown more saves than they closed out.  Fien and Jepsen can't get anyone out and Perkins is hurt again.

 

Lastly, Trevor May is striking out over 14 guys per 9 innings and he is slated to pitch only 60-70 innings this year.

 

The construction of the pen and lack of foresight about the back end has been the issue, causing us to keep a zillion mediocre pitchers to fill the void.

[spanman2]

 

Yeah, you are right. But my therapist is the guy who hit the comebacker, and never lets me hear the end of it.

IALTO...

[DJL44]

Michael Bourn would have been a good fit. Find any veteran who can field to sit on the bench for a few days. Then cut them when Plouffe returns. Will Venable has a May 1 opt-out with the Phillies.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

First, Duffey got hit by a line drive and can't be optioned until it is determined that he is healthy enough to pitch his next turn.

Likely not true.  See my reply to you on the other thread for numerous examples of teams rescinding options to retroactively put players on the MLB DL:

 

http://twinsdaily.com/topic/22174-article-roster-shuffle-buxton-and-kepler-out-meyer-and-santana-in/page-7?do=findComment&comment=469999

Edited April 26, 2016 by spycake

[alarp33]

 

Likely not true.  See my reply to you on the other thread for numerous examples of teams rescinding options to retroactively put players on the MLB DL:

 

http://twinsdaily.com/topic/22174-article-roster-shuffle-buxton-and-kepler-out-meyer-and-santana-in/page-7?do=findComment&comment=469999

 

Yeah, Berardino didn't understand how that works which seems to be leading to all this confusion. Duffey could be sent down now

 

They had plenty of ways to NOT have a 2 man bench, but chose not to

[Outside the Box]

 

For a bench player, Mastro. He can pinch run, and play defense. I don't think Plouffe will be back quite as soon as some think. There is no sense to bring up Vargas or ABW. the Twins are overloaded with corner IF and OF players, and even if ABW were on the bench, Kurt would still hit with the bases loaded and down 4, two outs in the ninth!

That's why we have a losing record.  Expecting different results by doing the same thing.  You would leave in Susuki in that situation before giving ABW a chance to tie things up.  Wow

Why not take a flier on kid who is a proven run producer?  Could he be any worse than ............................................

[sane17]

Plus your current therapist  needs a therapist!

Everybody, get off the couch!

Your fifty minutes are up!

[Blackjack]

 

Everybody, get off the couch!
Your fifty minutes are up!

If the Twins keep losing a lot of the TD posters are going to start needing two hour appointments!!

[sane17]

If the Twins keep losing a lot of the TD posters are going to start needing two hour appointments!!

It's good to know that psychiatric help is always available from our Twins Daily un-licensed therapists. I'm sure that if we are qualified to help Terry Ryan, we can certainly help each other.

[dxpavelka]

Needs to be a leadoff hitter.  Dozier is NOT a leadoff hitter.  Is Dan Gladden available?  Lou Brock?  Ricky Henderson?

[sane17]

Needs to be a leadoff hitter.  Dozier is NOT a leadoff hitter.  Is Dan Gladden available?  Lou Brock?  Ricky Henderson?

We could just concede the first out and THEN have Dozier bat.

[Seth Stohs]

Appears to be true that position doesn't matter in the regular season in terms of the 10-day wait.

[operation mindcrime]

I would really like to see James Beresford & Darin Mastroianni out of the organization! \m/