The youth movement must start now because it has already started

[Riverbrian]

I want to be clear that I would never advocate throwing in the towel in Mid May no matter the record and the teams current record and play is not the reason for this post. 

 

I also firmly believe that committing to youth at a large scale is committing to a rough year. I believe this because nearly every team that does it has rough years.

 

I also believe that after last year... the team should have tried to enhance the squad and improve their chances with talented vets but the front office didn't do this... it chose to get even younger so now it must continue walking in that direction and finish that job.

 

The 40 Man Roster is filled with talented high upside youth and I assume that more talented high upside youth will need to be added to the 40 man next year to protect them from rule 5 vultures... (hopefully Seth or someone who watches this stuff closer could shed light on who will need to be protected).

 

Adding more youth to this already young 40 man roster is going to make the situation even more difficult to manage and the pressure behind that wall is already non functional. We already need to call up Kepler and Polanco to sit on the MLB bench because we lack suitable bench options when injuries occur. The youth we have been waiting for is here and at some point you have to tear down that wall and let them rush through or you have to trade them and that just doesn't seem like the Twins way. 

 

Might as well start the youth movement now because it has already started.  

 

 

 

 

[nytwinsfan]

Indeed. Including Alex Meyer as a starter.

[DaveW]

I would move Hughes to the pen until he figures it out, I would trade Nolasco and pick up 80% of his salary, I would trade Plouffe for anything.

 

I would send may to AAA to get stretched out, bring him back as a starter, let Meyer start, Sano to 3rd, recall Buxton. Trade Nunez, put in Polanco.

[nicksaviking]

Polanco should be playing, but aside from that, there probably isn't too many complaints about the offensive youth movement unless one is of the mind that Buxton/Kepler should be working out their issues at the MLB level.

 

The pitching is a different story. This Santana/Hughes/Nolasco roadblock is troublesome. I'm not sure what the front office thought would happen when they gave these guys four year deals with their best pitching prospects were in A+ through AAA. It almost seems like there wasn't a plan, they just thought the situation would work itself out.

[Comrade Bork]

I would move Hughes to the pen until he figures it out, I would trade Nolasco and pick up 80% of his salary, I would trade Plouffe for anything.

I would send may to AAA to get stretched out, bring him back as a starter, let Meyer start, Sano to 3rd, recall Buxton. Trade Nunez, put in Polanco.

Yep. I would trade Plouffe for anything right now. With Plouffe gone everything about this lineup shakes out so much nicer.

[Mr. Brooks]

When is the magic date that teams can stop pretending they can still make the playoffs?

 

Do they have to wait until they are mathematically eliminated?

Because even the worst team in baseball is usually still mathematically in it into September.

 

So many unwritten rules in baseball. It's hard to keep track of them.

[alarp33]

 

I would move Hughes to the pen until he figures it out, I would trade Nolasco and pick up 80% of his salary, I would trade Plouffe for anything.

I would send may to AAA to get stretched out, bring him back as a starter, let Meyer start, Sano to 3rd, recall Buxton. Trade Nunez, put in Polanco.

 

I agree with all of this.  And when I recall Buxton I tell my manager that if Danny Santana gets more than 1 start per week he is going to be out of a job.  Or I just trade Santana for whatever I can get so he doesn't even have the option

[Mr. Brooks]

Polanco should be playing, but aside from that, there probably isn't too many complaints about the offensive youth movement unless one is of the mind that Buxton/Kepler should be working out their issues at the MLB level.

 

The pitching is a different story. This Santana/Hughes/Nolasco roadblock is troublesome. I'm not sure what the front office thought would happen when they gave these guys four year deals with their best pitching prospects were in A+ through AAA. It almost seems like there wasn't a plan, they just thought the situation would work itself out.

What issues do Kepler need to work on?

I'm not saying he doesn't have any. I'm certain he will. But he's never been given a chance to play in the MLB.

Sitting on the bench 5 of every 6 games doesn't count.

[sane17]

The 40 Man Roster is filled with talented high upside youth and I assume that more talented high upside youth will need to be added to the 40 man next year to protect them from rule 5 vultures... (hopefully Seth or someone who watches this stuff closer could shed light on who will need to be protected).

Born Signed

Ryan Eades RHP R / R 6' 2" 200 12/15/1991 6/28/2013

Stuart Turner C R / R 6' 2" 220 12/27/1991 6/19/2013

Aaron Slegers RHP R / R 6' 10" 245 9/4/1992 6/28/2013

Brian Gilbert RHP R / R 6' 1" 224 8/9/1992 6/19/2013

Mitch Garver C R / R 6' 1" 220 1/15/1991 6/19/2013

C.K. Irby RHP R / R 6' 1" 200 5/6/1992 6/19/2013

Brandon PetersonRHP R / R 6' 1" 190 9/23/1991 6/19/2013

Zach Granite CF L / L 6' 1" 175 9/17/1992 6/19/2013

Ryan Walker SS L / R 6' 1" 157 3/26/1992 6/19/2013

Jared Wilson RHP R / R 6' 4" 210 4/26/1990 6/19/2013

Alex Swim C L / R 6' 0" 185 3/26/1991 6/19/2013

Chad ChristensenOF R / R 6' 3" 205 10/6/1990 6/19/2013

[Riverbrian]

It doesn't have to be a flat out flood initially. 

 

But I think it starts with the realization that sitting Polanco is probably pointless at this point. 

[theBOMisthebomb]

Pick a young arm or two and start finding your next closer. Jepsen and Perk are not the answer, short term or long term.

[Oldgoat_MN]

Even if you insist on continuing to play Dozier every day why can't you move him and his .222/.305/.376 (.681) line down the order?

[Platoon]

I don't think it should be a flood either. Since this collapse was quicker and more extensive than even some of us more pessimistic types thought, it's going to take some patience. (I know, I am tired of that word also). But you still need to be smart as well as proactive. That said, the FO spent 5 years telling us that the farm system was flush. It's time to find out. Nothing short of a complete tear down and overhaul will resurrect this team. It's either that, or a ceiling of endless .500 ball. That might sound inviting to some, but not me.

[bluechipper]

 

Born Signed
Ryan Eades RHP R / R 6' 2" 200 12/15/1991 6/28/2013
Stuart Turner C R / R 6' 2" 220 12/27/1991 6/19/2013
Aaron Slegers RHP R / R 6' 10" 245 9/4/1992 6/28/2013
Brian Gilbert RHP R / R 6' 1" 224 8/9/1992 6/19/2013
Mitch Garver C R / R 6' 1" 220 1/15/1991 6/19/2013
C.K. Irby RHP R / R 6' 1" 200 5/6/1992 6/19/2013
Brandon PetersonRHP R / R 6' 1" 190 9/23/1991 6/19/2013
Zach Granite CF L / L 6' 1" 175 9/17/1992 6/19/2013
Ryan Walker SS L / R 6' 1" 157 3/26/1992 6/19/2013
Jared Wilson RHP R / R 6' 4" 210 4/26/1990 6/19/2013
Alex Swim C L / R 6' 0" 185 3/26/1991 6/19/2013
Chad ChristensenOF R / R 6' 3" 205 10/6/1990 6/19/2013

I think Felix Jorge and probably Lewis Thorpe will need to be added, along with Daniel Palka. I'm not a big fan of Engelb Vielma, but he would be considered too.

[nicksaviking]

 

What issues do Kepler need to work on?
I'm not saying he doesn't have any. I'm certain he will. But he's never been given a chance to play in the MLB.
Sitting on the bench 5 of every 6 games doesn't count.

 

I don't know that he has issues but he's only just now faced AAA pitchers. His biggest problem is that he's not being blocked by movable vets, we still need to figure out a way to get Sano, Arcia, Rosario and Buxton at bats.

[Mike Sixel]

Ya, I have no issues with Kepler in AAA right now......

[ShouldaCouldaWoulda]

With Braves losing yesterday, we now have the worst record in the entire MLB...so #1 pick in '17 hopefully is some almost ready college beast that would help with the current young team to maximize the timing. Drafting a HS kid won't help us too much with this young crop.

[Loosey]

 

Born Signed
Ryan Eades RHP R / R 6' 2" 200 12/15/1991 6/28/2013
Stuart Turner C R / R 6' 2" 220 12/27/1991 6/19/2013
Aaron Slegers RHP R / R 6' 10" 245 9/4/1992 6/28/2013
Brian Gilbert RHP R / R 6' 1" 224 8/9/1992 6/19/2013
Mitch Garver C R / R 6' 1" 220 1/15/1991 6/19/2013
C.K. Irby RHP R / R 6' 1" 200 5/6/1992 6/19/2013
Brandon PetersonRHP R / R 6' 1" 190 9/23/1991 6/19/2013
Zach Granite CF L / L 6' 1" 175 9/17/1992 6/19/2013
Ryan Walker SS L / R 6' 1" 157 3/26/1992 6/19/2013
Jared Wilson RHP R / R 6' 4" 210 4/26/1990 6/19/2013
Alex Swim C L / R 6' 0" 185 3/26/1991 6/19/2013
Chad ChristensenOF R / R 6' 3" 205 10/6/1990 6/19/2013

I thought I read that Alex Swim decided to retire from baseball.  So there is one more spot.

[Pardon My Dinger]

 

I tell my manager that if Danny Santana gets more than 1 start per week he is going to be out of a job.  

In the past, when I've taken that approach with my managers, I've tended to get fired.

[howieramone2]

 

I don't think it should be a flood either. Since this collapse was quicker and more extensive than even some of us more pessimistic types thought, it's going to take some patience. (I know, I am tired of that word also). But you still need to be smart as well as proactive. That said, the FO spent 5 years telling us that the farm system was flush. It's time to find out. Nothing short of a complete tear down and overhaul will resurrect this team. It's either that, or a ceiling of endless .500 ball. That might sound inviting to some, but not me.

Actually, all it will take is for Sano and Buxton to play up to their potential.

[Don Walcott]

I ended last season and began this season as a big fan of Rosario, and I thought he'd even improve this year.  However, he has some real problems at the plate.  Maybe he needs some time in AAA to work on plate discipline, and we can see how Kepler does against MLB pitching for a while.

[TheLeviathan]

 

Actually, all it will take is for Sano and Buxton to play up to their potential.

 

Well that's just demonstrably untrue on a number of levels.

[howieramone2]

 

Well that's just demonstrably untrue on a number of levels.

I've got nothing better to do, demonstrate it to me.

[Pardon My Dinger]

 

I've got nothing better to do, demonstrate it to me.

For one thing, they would sure have a lot of ground to cover. 

[sane17]

I thought I read that Alex Swim decided to retire from baseball.  So there is one more spot.

You're right.

Alex Swim retired on Monday.

[Taildragger8791]

 

I've got nothing better to do, demonstrate it to me.

 

Unless they can also pitch, catch, and play SS they're going to need to be awfully herculean to lift this team on their shoulders.

[nokomismod]

Hughes becomes the closer and Nolasco the 8th inning guy. Our bullpen just became expensive, but it should be better.

I know it's a really horrible idea.

[DocBauer]

 

With Braves losing yesterday, we now have the worst record in the entire MLB...so #1 pick in '17 hopefully is some almost ready college beast that would help with the current young team to maximize the timing. Drafting a HS kid won't help us too much with this young crop.

So you're saying we're #1 in something?

[nokomismod]

 

I ended last season and began this season as a big fan of Rosario, and I thought he'd even improve this year.  However, he has some real problems at the plate.  Maybe he needs some time in AAA to work on plate discipline, and we can see how Kepler does against MLB pitching for a while.

Me too. I still like him, but those that pointed out his lack of plate discipline were right. I am hoping he turns it around because he's a special athlete.

[Platoon]

Actually, all it will take is for Sano and Buxton to play up to their potential.

I beg to differ. But I will play along. So let's say Sano and Buxton do that? What of the SP, the BP, the catching, the mediocre defense? Sano and Buxton? Miggy and Trout could not have this team playing .500 ball.