Unanswered questions, tough decisions loom for Twins

[Brandon Warne]

Hey guys I wrote about the litany of unanswered questions and (possibly) difficult decisions around the Twins right now.

 

Feel free to give it a read. As you might expect, it is lengthy: 

 

http://www.todaysknuckleball.com/minnesota-twins/unanswered-questions-tough-decisions-loom-twins/

[Mike Sixel]

Agree with all of that. The part I most agree about is "see what you have". They look likely to repeat the Tonkin/Arcia mistakes with Polanco this year, and refuse to either play or part with Arcia. It seems so plan free to me.

[ashbury]

Agree with all of that. The part I most agree about is "see what you have". They look likely to repeat the Tonkin/Arcia mistakes with Polanco this year, and refuse to either play or part with Arcia. It seems so plan free to me.

They do the "see what you have" with a Pat Dean and his 87-MPH heater, but not with a Tonkin and his mid-90's. I don't get it.

[MileHighTwinsFan]

While Polanco slots at 2nd, I would be interested in seeing a Sano, Polanco, Dozier, Mauer infield.  Likewise, a Kepler, Rosario, Buxton outfield would be great.  

 

I want to see Nick Gordon in September.  

 

I would hate to part with Nunez - for all his faults, he plays the game hard and seems to be a key veteran presence for this team moving forward.  

 

Plouffe needs to go and Dozier may need to as well, but he will be saved because of his contract.  

 

Gibson needs to come back and become the anchor of this rotation until Berrios, Stewart, Gonzales and/or Jay stake their claim.  

 

For crying out loud get J.T. Chargois in the bullpen.  Yes, it has been only 10.00 innings in AAA but he is averaging almost 2 Ks per inning and has only given up one run.   

[wsnydes]

Great read.  The "see what you have theme" is something they should have been pursuing a good chunk of last year.  Polanco in particular has suffered from the lack of direction.  They've exhausted his options without even finding out what he can do at the MLB level.

[KirbyDome89]

I'm not sure if my response to seeing the words "Nunez," and "future," together in the same article was fear or anger. Hopefully this organization can sell high for once and cash in. I'll be annoyed if he is on the roster after the trade deadline (assuming he keeps playing playing well and has actual value). I'm actually worried the Twins would try to extend him. That would be the most "Twins," move the team could make; extend a guy during a career stretch only to have him turn back into the pumpkin that he is....

[70charger]

+1 in favor of "see what you have." I for one would be far more interested in watching the rookies develop - win or lose - than watching the veterans lose anyway.

 

I will say though, that in my opinion the Plouffe move is key. and if this were a ranking situation, I'd put moving Plouffe at 1, 1a, and 1b. One single guy moved clears up the logjams at several positions. We can play Kepler every day in right, or give Arcia some leash at least. We can move Sano to third finally and see if he can actually hack it. We can free up DH/1B even more because there's no real push to have Sano DH'ing when he has 3B to himself. I just think Plouffe is key.

 

Frankly, I'm not expecting much back; I think the spot is the biggest return. On the other hand, I would 100% take a lottery ticket like a Palka or a Walker-type. Chances are neither of those two ever really make it, but they have a standout skill that means that if they do, the upside is huge. Or, I would take a lower-minors upside guy in the mold of Alex Meyer. Granted, Span was worth a lot more than Plouffe is so a Meyer-type isn't really realistic, but if it takes going into prospects in the low minors to get upside, I say do it. We don't need to swap one 25-man-clogging piece for another. 

[70charger]

 

I'm not sure if my response to seeing the words "Nunez," and "future," together in the same article was fear or anger. Hopefully this organization can sell high for once and cash in. I'll be annoyed if he is on the roster after the trade deadline (assuming he keeps playing playing well and has actual value). I'm actually worried the Twins would try to extend him. That would be the most "Twins," move the team could make; extend a guy during a career stretch only to have him turn back into the pumpkin that he is....

 

Agreed. Move Nunez if he has a buyer, because if he goes back to the old Nunez he won't have a buyer ever again. It's not like he's young. This isn't even him peaking - this is a fluke.

 

Besides, we can use the Nunez playing time for Polanco, and I really want to see what we have there.

[Winston Smith]

 

They do the "see what you have" with a Pat Dean and his 87-MPH heater, but not with a Tonkin and his mid-90's. I don't get it.

Terry has a hard time seeing mid-90's, 87 is much closer to his speed.

 

All these things make sense but it doesn't seem like the guys is charge have a plan or any idea of what to do going forward.

[Platoon]

They do the "see what you have" with a Pat Dean and his 87-MPH heater, but not with a Tonkin and his mid-90's. I don't get it.

If you dont get it, you haven't been following the Twins operation philosophy over the last twenty years. But I know you have, and I know you get it. So it was likely a rhetorical question.

[70charger]

 

Terry has a hard time seeing mid-90's, 87 is much closer to his speed.

 

Wouldn't it be weird if Terry Ryan were our version of Ricky Vaughan?

[ashbury]

If you dont get it, you haven't been following the Twins operation philosophy over the last twenty years. But I know you have, and I know you get it. So it was likely a rhetorical question.

Who would ask a rhetorical question?

[Mike Sixel]

 

Who would ask a rhetorical question?

 

Wait, wait, I know this one......

 

edit: this is the game thread, right?

[Platoon]

The Twins seem to have an extremely hard time moving a veteran. I know that's not news to anyone, but is it caused by the same originisational philosophy that is prevelant in the management ranks. Bill Smith, and Gardy are the two most visible. Fired, and handed make up jobs. Constantly resigning ex players. Maybe other teams do it, I cannot say. But it seems very common here. i am board with waiting through the trading deadline to make the most productive moves possible, and agree that who we can trade for a return is likely out of Ryans control, the market will set that. But I fear we will find Nunez extended, hey we can't trade our only AS, and Dozier still pulling foul balls against the limestone. Plouffe? A toss up, but I do think Arcia will be gone. For one thing we don't platoon, and won't. And he doesn't really fit the stereotype of a Twins player. Plus it is going to be like pulling teeth to get Robbie off the field. He is the OF version of Kurt Suzuki, and if you cannot recognize the limitations Suzuki brings to the game, you won't see them in LF either.

[OldTimeTwinkie]

Gardy did not want to take his new position with Twins. Ryan really wanted it not Gardy.

[Rosterman]

Yes, you always have to look at those decisions (which the Twins failed to do last year with Arcia) as to what to do with players who run out of options. Is Polanco a part of the future? Is he a starter? Is he a bench guy? Answering those questions and you make moves.

 

Dozier, like Plouffe, should be dangled any opportunity you can at the moment, when another team has an opening. If the Twins can't move Plouffe to the Mets for something, anything...then there is a system failure. Right now, they run the risk of his value plummeting and then having no options but to release him or pay him $10-or-so-million next season. If the Mets would rather have, say, Nunez...make them take someone else...be it Nolasco, Hughes, Milone or another salary, and give you an additional prospect to go with a better prospect.

 

The Twins don't need major league guys back in trades. They need non-protected minor league prospects at the High-A or, at the most, AA...no one that demands to be placed on the 40-man roster if possible.

 

And if someone needs a second baseman, you dangle Dozier. He's a better deal than, maybe, Lowrie. But, again, that's only if you think Polanco has a future with the organization, and probably at second.

 

The Twins will pull the plug on Suzuki, just watch. But it would help if Murphy was producing a tad more in the minors. I wish Garver or Turner were a tad more seasoned, but if the Twins can turnover to a younger rotation, why not let them grow.

 

And on a rebuilding team, it is not uncommon for rockie pitchers to get clobbered, or end the season with a 6-15 record. It is a crime to have veteran highly-paid starters end a season with an 7-12 record and a 5.50 ERA, though.

 

Arcia needs to play for two reasons. Do the Twins feel he can produce, and can they increase potential trade value. If you wish to keep Arcia around for another year or two as a bench bat...although we don't see him right now being used as a Randy Bush or Gene larkin, then do so. Otherwise, move on...and hope for Ryan Walker happiness.

 

Buxton still needs more time at AAA. When Santana returns, he goes back down. And watch, Kepler will start tearing the cover off the ball and become this year's Santana. Hopefully he will keep playing into next year and not suffer the sophomore doldrums. Grossman may be a surprise. He could make it a battle for a job between him, Rosario and Santana in the future. Of course, if Santana plays his cards right, he could be the Twins shortstop for a couple of seasons (moving Escobar back to super-sub and maybe giving Beresford a chance at major league play, too).

 

The Twins need to make a hard decisions on some of the older relief pitching draft signees. Let them come up here and REALLY learn and take their bumps, or never draft bullpen again. Let Reed, Burdi, Bard come north and see how much they like major league life and money. Otherwise, let them know that Westphal, Hildenberger and others will make them future indy ball players, and the Twins blogosphere will yell and scream at the scouting department.

 

The team is going thru changes. Big changes. We can get excited about Duffey and Dean and Grossman and even Nunez (a veteran presence?). These guys have every chance and opportunity to create and keep major league careers. In the scheme of things, they probably won't be longterm answers to Twins production. But let's keep enjoying their work and hope the Sano, Buxton, Stewart, Gonzalves, Berrios, Walker, Polanco, Blankenhorn, Gordon, Kepler, Turner brigade DO come thru and give us even more entertaining baseball in the years ahead.

 

 

 

[Kwak]

​Unanswered Questions  only deals with Twins' players. More pressing is who will chart the course of the team to recover from "TSF"? If the decision to retain the same front office then we can expect little or no change from the recent past. Ryan will cling to his "chosen" unless he receives a  "blow away offer". Status quo is worshipped by this team provided payroll is controlled and dirty laundry isn't shown to the public .  

 

Play this guy, that guy, or whoever is controlled by necessity to provide as many "options" as practicable for Ryan to insert on the active roster, the OF, the IF, the bullpen, and the 40-man roster. Retain everybody that might actually contribute--until said "failed player" might cause the loss of an "option". Yikes!  If new leadership isn't forthcoming, the rest is just a shuffling of chairs.  ​

[DocBauer]

All great points and I agree with all of them. To echo everyone else, "find out what you have" should be the mantra for the rest of the year. What are you going to do? Not find out and maintain the status quo in hopes of losing 99 games instead of 105???

 

Plouffe, Dozier and Polanco are all tied for 1st for me. Sano has the ability to play 3B, has shown he can do so, and will probably get better. The hard part is Dozier. If he makes some adjustments, we've seen he can be a fine player and better than league average. And he's young enough to still be part of the future. How awful do you feel if you move him and he continues to be better than ,eager average and maybe even goes to another All Star game or two?

 

BUT, if Polanco is what we all think he can be, you might really have something there!

 

If you trade Plouffe and Dozier, I'd keep Nunez. He, Escobar and Beresford offer depth until Gordon is ready. I know this version of Nunez is probably a mirage, but he offers a decent offensive package with positional flexability. Career year or not, unless a contending team is really hurting for INF help, I just don't know that his trade value is worth more than his value to the Twins.

 

Yes to Centeno. I just wish there was SOMEONE to bring up, sign or trade for to make Suzuki replacable. I respect Suzuki very much, but he's toast. His experience might make him valuable to a contending team that suffers an injury. Otherwise, it sure would be nice if Dozief, Plouffe, Nolasco, or some various combination could bring back just a good, solid backstop to work with Centeno and just move on from Zuke.

[mikelink45]

Can we trade our FO?  Can we bring in some young executive and see what they can do?  Can we move on from the Vets who clog the braintrust?  Everything you wrote made sense to TD readers, but we can do nothing but express our angst on these threads.   It is now June and all we have done is pick up a minor league outfielder that could not make it with the Brewers.  There is no rotation any more.  There is no reliable bullpen - just guys hoping to have as many good outings as bad.  

 

How do you sweep out all of the players and managers who are clogging these arteries?

[nicksaviking]

The Twins need to take advantage of their silver lining. They have to start trading now while teams like the Angels, Tigers, Brewers, A's, Rockies, Phillies and Astros still hem and haw about contending.

[AlwaysinModeration]

 

The Twins need to take advantage of their silver lining. They have to start trading now while teams like the Angels, Tigers, Brewers, A's, Rockies, Phillies and Astros still hem and haw about contending.[/quote

 

I absolutely agree. And I absolutely will not believe it until I see it. There is a very long track record of minimal trading activity.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Not quite sure now is the time to trade Dozier, but I do think that an option to give Polanco some time does make a ton of sense.  Dozier needs to start working on handling those outside pitches or he's going to be like this permanently.  If that's an attitude thing, then AAA might be what he needs (though at this point he's still getting paid).  Pass on Milone.  Yes to Arcia/Kepler.  With Buxton, I'm fine playing him every day, but this is a short term callup, so unless he's made massive strides, I'd send him back down.

[Oldgoat_MN]

Dozier's attitude is hurting him and his team. If he won't take outside pitches to right field let him not take them to right field in AAA. Enough of his childish foolishness. Almost as stubborn and foolish as continuing to bat Dozier at the top of the order.

 

You cannot hope to get rid of Plouffe and Dozier and also let Nunez go. Who are you, Terry Ryan? Think roster management.

 

Polanco needs to play. I agree that going into next year not knowing whether he is MLB material would be an agregious error.

 

Bat Arcia against RHP only. If he fails then you know that, but again...

 

FIND OUT WHAT YOU HAVE.

 

 

[HitInAPinch]

I think the Twins already know what they have in Arcia.  Not sure why that's keeping him on the team...

[jorgenswest]

I don't think Arcia and Molitor are a good match. Arcia shows a lot of emotion and passion. Molitor stays even and probably gives more respect to players that can do the same. It is possible that the return of Sano and Santana will lead to the DFA of Arcia. The Twins will be gambling that Grossman's future will be better than Arcia's. They can not afford to lose on this bet.

[Riverbrian]

Lots of talk about trades that need to be made.

 

I don't like being this harsh but I honestly don't trust the room of people in charge of making these trades. 

 

When this many mistakes have been made... the lack of confidence that follows is only natural.

 

I still like Terry Ryan. I think he's a stand up guy from what I can tell.  He has my respect but not my confidence.

 

I think more damage can still be done and I'm more comfortable with them being hands off until a new leader can be handed the keys. 

 

I think it's real simple. Play all the players and let the players help determine the course. If Molitor doesn't trust Arcia to give him playing time... I will answer that with... I don't trust Molitor to determine if he should trust Arcia because I assume that Molitor was in the decision making room. 

 

Why should I simply trust any of them going forward? And what happens going forward is crucial starting yesterday. 

[twinsnorth49]

If Trevor Plouffe is anywhere near this team next spring, I swear to god!

 

I don't care if this team loses 120 games at this point, just find out what you have, agreed.

[TheLeviathan]

Every day Trevor Plouffe remains on this roster is the continuation of a mistake.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Not quite sure now is the time to trade Dozier, but I do think that an option to give Polanco some time does make a ton of sense. Dozier needs to start working on handling those outside pitches or he's going to be like this permanently. If that's an attitude thing, then AAA might be what he needs (though at this point he's still getting paid). Pass on Milone. Yes to Arcia/Kepler. With Buxton, I'm fine playing him every day, but this is a short term callup, so unless he's made massive strides, I'd send him back down.

im with you on Milone. Something tells me TR/PM gave him a choice of starting in Triple A or long man in the bigs and he chose triple A.

[Pius Jefferson]

 

If you dont get it, you haven't been following the Twins operation philosophy over the last twenty years. But I know you have, and I know you get it. So it was likely a rhetorical question.

 

Most the Twins young bullpen prospects are hard throwers. Many of them suck or are injured but the ideal scenario is they get better or healthy and the Twins have mostly power arms in the bullpen.