Adalberto Mejia Recalled, Vargas Optioned

[Seth Stohs]

After another long game with a short start due to weather, the Twins needed another pitcher. So, the Twins have called up recently-acquired Adalberto Mejia and optioned 1B/DH Kennys Vargas to Rochester.

[stringer bell]

Not fair to Vargas, but I'm sure he'll be back on September 1. When Plouffe returned, I thought Vargas was the logical candidate, but it ended up being Buxton. The way Santiago has been been going, Meija will get his chance in long relief today. I don't know when he last pitched, however.

[Thrylos]

 

Not fair to Vargas, but I'm sure he'll be back on September 1. When Plouffe returned, I thought Vargas was the logical candidate, but it ended up being Buxton. The way Santiago has been been going, Meija will get his chance in long relief today. I don't know when he last pitched, however.

 

Today was Mejia's turn for Rochester.  So if Santiago fails again, they can easily switch in 5 days

[Gagne Fan]

Should have been Wimmers or Baxendale

Both have been bypassed by others even though they have earned it and those others are being called up because they are on the 40 man. Just like Vargas shouldn't have been the one sent down but was chosen because he has options. The business of baseball winning out against promotion/demotion being about performance.

[h2oface]

It seems like it is better to be new in the organization than to be developed by it. They sure seem to get preferential treatment when it comes to MLB promotion and playing time. Not a judgement, but an observation.

[Mr. Brooks]

I think Vargas has hit really well since coming back up. And I think there is a decent chance we'll regret it if we ultimately move on from him.

But, I guess the FO doesn't have too much choice when the manager completely refuses to play him for some strange reason.

[jorgenswest]

Wimmers and Baxendale pitched on Thursday. Twins needed someone who could give them multiple innings today. I don't think it has anything to do with earning or how long a player has been in the organization. Mejia was the guy on the 40 most able to give them multiple innings today.

[jud6312]

Thankfully Pat Dean's spot on the 25-man is secure. It'd be a shame if they actually based promotions and keeping your roster spot based on merit.

[Gagne Fan]

My point exactly

Pat Light pitched last night, bet you he is in KC tomorrow

[Riverbrian]

Vargas... They just sent down the team leader in Slugging and OBP. So... I guess he had it coming. 

 

Only 85 AB's but the team leader in slugging and OBP. 

 

I realize that they have an emergency need for an arm and I realize that the choices of those who can be sent down is limited. 

 

I also realize that Vargas has cooled considerably and has gotten less and less playing time but I also realize that this less and less playing time is not his fault and is at the hands of Paul Molitor. 

 

I realize all of this but in the end... they just sent down the team leader in slugging and OBP.

 

I feel pretty confident in saying that Vargas didn't deserve the lack of playing time or this little trip down to AAA.

 

You ask a player to prove himself on the field and yet when he does... that chance to prove yourself is still taken away. 

 

Look out Rochester... Here comes a big dude with a .955 OPS. 

[Gagne Fan]

Wimmers and Baxendale will have to pitch tonight in AAA anyway because their pitching is depleted

[Mr. Brooks]

Vargas... They just sent down the team leader in Slugging and OBP. So... I guess he had it coming.

 

Only 85 AB's but the team leader in slugging and OBP.

 

I realize that they have an emergency need for an arm and I realize that the choices of those who can be sent down is limited.

 

I also realize that Vargas has cooled considerably and has gotten less and less playing time but I also realize that this less and less playing time is not his fault and is at the hands of Paul Molitor.

 

I realize all of this but in the end... they just sent down the team leader in slugging and OBP.

 

I feel pretty confident in saying that Vargas didn't deserve the lack of playing time or this little trip down to AAA.

 

Look out Rochester... Here comes a big dude with a .955 OPS.

He may lead the team in slugging and getting on base, but those aren't important.

Does he get after it?

Does he battle his tail off?

Is he lovable?

Those are the things this organization values. Of course, that might have something to do with being one of the worst teams in baseball the last 6 years.

[jud6312]

 

 

Those are the things this organization values. Of course, that might have something to do with being one of the worst teams in baseball the last 6 years.

You forgot to mention the overrated years when they were hanging banners instead of winning trophies. Mediocrity is acceptable if you try really hard.

 

[Riverbrian]

 

He may lead the team in slugging and getting on base, but those aren't important.
Does he get after it?
Does he battle his tail off?
Is he lovable?
Those are the things this organization values. Of course, that might have something to do with being one of the worst teams in baseball the last 6 years.

 

Nah

 

We are clearly log-jammed and when you have all these players performing at the level they are performing... there is just no room for a player with a .955 OPS. 

 

 

[Riverbrian]

Was sending down O'Rourke not an option? 

 

 

[LaBombo]

 

Vargas... They just sent down the team leader in Slugging and OBP. So... I guess he had it coming. 

 

 

This is right up there with Bartlett being sent down to work on his 'quarterbacking' of the infield according to Gardenhire, and perhaps his special teams play as well, for all we know.

 

Yes, the situations are different because with Bartlett it was a perceived weakness and with Vargas it's a roster crunch, but still... what the bleep?

 

Chalk another roster folly up to inexplicable, dysfunctional hoarding. At this point, almost every questionable roster decision can be diagnosed by playing a game of 'Six Degrees of Why the Hell Is Trevor Plouffe Still Here?'

[Platoon]

Was sending down O'Rourke not an option?

 

No? Hmm that's maybe a double negative? So was that a yes? Or a no? Maybe?

[KirbyDome89]

 

I think Vargas has hit really well since coming back up. And I think there is a decent chance we'll regret it if we ultimately move on from him.
But, I guess the FO doesn't have too much choice when the manager completely refuses to play him for some strange reason.

Trevor has to get his ABs, they can't just sit a mediocre veteran in order to evaluate talent during a lost season, that would make waaaaay too much sense. Also how can a team that is about to be 25 games below .500, and is rocking the worst team ERA in the AL, not have a long reliever who can spot start? 

[TheLeviathan]

Can we please just see this lineup all of September:

 

2B Dozier

SS Polanco

1B Mauer

3B Sano

RF Kepler

DH Vargas

CF Rosario

LF Grossman

C Whoever

 

And if you want to wedge in Buxton, fine.  Just take out Grossman.  Either way, freaking play Vargas.  Every damn day.

[alarp33]

I'm not a Vargas fan, I think he's a AAAA player. That being said. It's absurd the way playing time is being split up right now. Vargas in AAA, Sano on the bench, and Plouffe+DSan in the lineup, ridiculous

 

What is the harm in playing Vargas everyday through end of year? Maybe he hits and has a little trade value this offseason

[DocBauer]

This move just makes me ill! Nobody...nobody could be sent down but Vargas? I don't care if he's cooled a bit lately, he's still producing. And he's producing in such a way that he deserves to play.

 

You're a young player with talent and you progress, work and develop, produce, and your reward is to be sent down?

 

I'm po'd and ill.

[DirtyHonky]

I feel like everyone in this organization needs to go.  Pohlads need to sell. The fact that Molitor still has a managerial job is laughable; if I was as incompetent as he is, I would have lost my job months ago.  Pitching has sucked for years, yet nothing has been done to improve it. The 40 million a year sunk in Hiughes, Santana (even though he is pitching well), and Nolasco/Santiago could have been used to sign TWO TOP PITCIHING TALENTS.  The front office has set this organization back at least 10 years with the lack of power pitching starters and the inability to assess talent at the minor league level.  The lack of obvious trade (even if players were traded for PTBM or money) like Suzuki (this year), Plouffe (over the winter), could probably have traded Buxton in a package for whatever pitcher they wanted (which you always trade prospects for proven MLB'ers), and just the general lack of starting pitching upgrades in the last 10 years.  Even when the Twins were good, the Boys never went out and got what they needed, a bonafied starter; because, they didn't want to give up their prospects. Enough is enough.  Fans need results.  Can't wait for nothing to happen this winter and to hear from management that this is a playoff team.  

 

Go Twins, make us proud!

 

Signed,

Fan since 2000.

[birddog]

How many times this year have we fans just shook our heads in disbelief after decisions made by the front office? We so badly need a new GM from outside of the organization, but who is going to take the job knowing he can't name his manager and seeing what has transpired this season?

 

Vargas has to be shaking his head wondering what else he has to do--while wondering why a player with absolutely no future with this club has taken his job.

[twinsnorth49]

This is obviously the only thing the Twins could have done........obviously.

[70charger]

 

I'm not a Vargas fan, I think he's a AAAA player. That being said. It's absurd the way playing time is being split up right now. Vargas in AAA, Sano on the bench, and Plouffe+DSan in the lineup, ridiculous

What is the harm in playing Vargas everyday through end of year? Maybe he hits and has a little trade value this offseason

 

Sadly, I agree with this. (Though I think Vargas has a chance to be more than AAAA, but probably not for the Twins.)

 

Plouffe is the easiest non-tender candidate we have, and D. Santana is proving to be simply bad at baseball. Rotations through 3B, 1B, and DH can easily include playing time for Mauer, the steady veteran, and Vargas, Sano, and Polanco, the up-and-coming rookies.

 

There you go. Plenty of playing time for everyone that we need to evaluate, and everyone else who is actually competent and/or here next year. Easy stuff.

[alarp33]

Sadly, I agree with this. (Though I think Vargas has a chance to be more than AAAA, but probably not for the Twins.)

 

Plouffe is the easiest non-tender candidate we have, and D. Santana is proving to be simply bad at baseball. Rotations through 3B, 1B, and DH can easily include playing time for Mauer, the steady veteran, and Vargas, Sano, and Polanco, the up-and-coming rookies.

 

There you go. Plenty of playing time for everyone that we need to evaluate, and everyone else who is actually competent and/or here next year. Easy stuff.

The fact that this is the manager they've chosen to lead them through a rebuild is scary

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Mejia was just optioned. Who's the call up?

 

Pat Light?

ByungHo Park? are my guesses

 

Might be fun to see ABWIII, too. He can't be much worse in a corner than what we're rolling with now, and it would be nice to take a look.

[EddieMatthews]

It sounds like the Arcia fan club has adopted a new faux hero in Vargas.  He leads the Twins in OPS.  SSS.  He needs to continue developing and July is history.

 

Face it.  Kennys has tapered off.  His OPS is half what it was on July 10.  He is 2 for August.  He is trending in the wrong direction.  He needs to play every day and it won't happen in Minnesota. There is a crowd at First Base right now.  Plouffe needs to play to showcase his value for an August trade.  This pushes Sano to DH.  Plouffe may play an occasional 1B too.  Mauer, even with tired quads will play 1B and DH.  Not much room for Kennys.  He has options.  He needs to find that July consistency for a season.  I wish him the best, the Twins will need him in 2017.

[jokin]

 

Was sending down O'Rourke not an option? 

 

THISsssss!!!

[jokin]

 

How many times this year have we fans just shook our heads in disbelief after decisions made by the front office? We so badly need a new GM from outside of the organization, but who is going to take the job knowing he can't name his manager and seeing what has transpired this season?

 

Vargas has to be shaking his head wondering what else he has to do--while wondering why a player with absolutely no future with this club has taken his job.

 

Based on how Vargas was mis-handled one year ago in May- a month during which in the offensively challenged teams' line-up, he was the Twins best hitter by far... he was summarily demoted and likely banished from any future consideration as an integral part of the club, (You Can't Make This Up- Vargas' May 2015 batting slash/line-

 

.366/.395/.561/(1.056) wOBA .412 OPS+ 164)....

 

I honestly believe the Twins at that moment wrote him off as far as being any part of their future plans. His success this year after his emergency call-up likely came as an uncomfortable shock to both the manager and management and had to be nipped in the bud.

 

Extremely unlikely that he'll be with the organization in 2017.