25-Man Power Rankings

[twins_89]

Your rankings point out that something needs to happen with the bullpen. I'm beginning to wonder how long we'll have to wait before the Twins start making changes. The Twins need to move on from Haley and Wilk and to a lesser extent Belisle. It really seems like there are better options in the minors that should to be given a shot with the big league club.

 

Right now at AAA Busenitz and Hildenberger look like they're pitching well and are ready. I'd guess Chargois and Reed would also be due a promotion except they've been on the DL. At AA there are a number of big arms that can't be far from moving up (to AAA or the majors) that include Burdi, Melotakis, Rosario, and Curtis (with Jay just back from the DL). I'm getting anxious to see what we have with some of our high end reliever talent.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

This being my point exactly.  And I'm not trying to "compare" Vargas to Sano.  Sano is at All Star/MVP level.  Vargas is at guy-who-should-be-playing-everyday level.

Given the roster and the fact the Twins are in contention, I can't call for him playing every day but he should be in the lineup at least four times a week.

 

If Mauer wasn't playing like vintage Joe Mauer right now, I might feel differently... and there's a good chance that doesn't last, which makes the decision to play Vargas easier. But given the fact the Twins are currently rostering Grossman, Mauer, and Vargas, none of them should be an every day regular. There are enough plate appearances to get them all reps multiple times a week and optimize the lineup based on opposing pitcher.

 

In short, I want the Twins to win as many games as possible and getting Vargas somewhat regular playing time is a good way to get there but if Grossman and/or Mauer line up better against any single starter, I'm okay with sitting Vargas that day. The same goes for Mauer and Grossman, too.

[Willihammer]

#5. Robbie Grossman. Wow. Released by the Indians, signed by TR, then backed up by Falvine as the starting DH. Interesting. Anyways, happy to have him here, critical part of the offense really. I'm a fan.

[Thrylos]

 

Right now at AAA Busenitz and Hildenberger look like they're pitching well and are ready.

 

Devil is in the details.  Both of them, and esp. Hildenberger who lost a couple of ticks in his FB this season, btw, are vulnerable against LHBs with ERAs in the 4s for both.  This does not translate well in the majors and the Twins would let them pitch against them, as well...

 

Burdi on the other hand, is lights out against both lefties and righties...

[twins_89]

 

Devil is in the details.  Both of them, and esp. Hildenberger who lost a couple of ticks in his FB this season, btw, are vulnerable against LHBs with ERAs in the 4s for both.  This does not translate well in the majors and the Twins would let them pitch against them, as well...

 

Burdi on the other hand, is lights out against both lefties and righties...

 

The point I was trying to make is that there are a number of bullpen arms in AAA/AA that we need to start trying out at the major league level. Obviously there will be guys who aren't successful (at least in their initial stint with the Twins), but we'll never know until we drop dead weight guys like Haley and Wilk and start giving the young guys a chance.

[Thrylos]

 

 

 

 

But given the fact the Twins are currently rostering Grossman, Mauer, and Vargas, none of them should be an every day regular.

 

.302/.405/.460:  Mauer's slash line the last 4 weeks

 

Looks like the line of an every day regular in any position in any team from here, given his above average D at 1B (according to pretty much every measure out there)

 

Vargas and Grossman have had defensive issues, but they are also hot with the bat.  I'd love to see them platooned at DH (with Grossman against LHP right now, plus taking half starts at LF).   Rosario has cooled off and approaching DanSan levels and has an option left, but the Twins have really not much of an option in AAA (Palka .726 OPS, Granite .697 OPS).  Wade is hitting .296/.424/.437 in 'nooga, but is that too much of a leap of faith? 

 

So, you kinda have to play all three, but Mauer does deserve it at this point.

[yarnivek1972]

You said "why isn't Vargas getting the same chance to bounce back from a sophomore slump?" The obvious reason is because he doesn't have the ceiling Sano does. He also happens to be much older than Sano, plays a far less important defensive position and didn't have the same rookie track record.

Can make the same parallel with Rosario. Biggest difference is that so far Rosario has regressed in his third season from where he was at as a rookie.

[Thrylos]

 

 

The point I was trying to make is that there are a number of bullpen arms in AAA/AA that we need to start trying out at the major league level. Obviously there will be guys who aren't successful (at least in their initial stint with the Twins), but we'll never know until we drop dead weight guys like Haley and Wilk and start giving the young guys a chance.

 

I agree with this regarding Burdi.   However I do not think that the Twins can afford to throw players out there until they stick in a season they compete.  And they are competing right now.  Also agree that having both Wilk and Haley makes no sense.  Their role is that of a mop up pitcher, in case eg. Hughes or Gibson leaves after 3, but you really need only one of those...

 

[Jham]

Not to derail the thread, but why do we use OPS so much when on base and slugging are not the same? wOBA seems to be a better stat for comparing players with different skills like Grossman and Vargas. Many posters prefer to separate obp and slg anyway. So why combine them in the first place?

[Willihammer]

 

Not to derail the thread, but why do we use OPS so much when on base and slugging are not the same? wOBA seems to be a better stat for comparing players with different skills like Grossman and Vargas. Many posters prefer to separate obp and slg anyway. So why combine them in the first place?

I think its just vernacular. "Weighted on base average" sounds too much like on-base percentage, and the values are too similar to OBP. Its a better stat but less intuitive than OPS which does a decent enough job measuring the same thing.

[Brandon Warne]

 

Can make the same parallel with Rosario. Biggest difference is that so far Rosario has regressed in his third season from where he was at as a rookie.

 

Totally agree. He should be losing playing time to Grossman in LF, thus opening time for Vargas at DH. No gripes there.