Mauer to DL, Granite up, Vargas up

[JustinCB]

But at the expense of whom? His having success at the MLB level this year is dependant on the failure or injury of Rosario, Buxton or Kepler (well, I suppose Grossman or Mauer too).

Could just be for the rest of the wknd til Mauer is back after the break with some combo of Kepler and Vargas at first? Been a lotta up and down this year.

[DJSim22]

 

robbie grossman is currently getting on base in nearly 38% of his at bats. he should be hitting in front of sano basically every day

 

Grossman is exactly the guy who should be hitting at the top of the order. 

 

Happy for Granite and I understand no need for a #5, but Granite does not fit this roster.  He's Buxton's backup without the power or arm.

[Oldgoat_MN]

As each of the outfielders are hitting as well as they have all season, it seems an odd time to bring Granite up. Nonetheless, I hope they find a way to play him.

This should be fun!

[jimbo92107]

This is a very wow thing. Zach Granite is the fifth outfielder, so I expect him to give one of the others a break, plus provide good speed and a good bat off the bench. Whoever is hot will play more and more. One thing is certain: Granite has earned this shot.

[beckmt]

This could be for a few days to give the outfielders each a break, or Mauer may not be ready in Houston, so he could play against a tough rightly and sit Buxton for a day.  It will be interesting.  Maybe move Kepler to 1B and spell Vargas.  Just the time of year to give players a day off here or there until Mauer comes back or a fifth starter is needed.

[Squirrel]

On his way....you heard it here first

Congrats...well deserved !!

Okay, I want to know your source as we indeed heard it from you first, long before anyone in the media had it. Well done!

[Squirrel]

At least my post will exist for a few minutes before someone else decides to take it over and bury mine in their new post.

Actually, Gagne Fan posted this news long before anyone had an inkling, so some assumed he heard the news incorrectly, but he was right ... and hours before the rest of us.

[Squirrel]

This leads me to believe that Mauer's back is more serious of a problem than we might believe and Kepler will be splitting time at 1b with Vargas, and Granite will be playing a decent amount of RF

Or while Vargas is playing first, Grossman is DHing and Granite will be the 4th outfielder.

[Otto von Ballpark]

FWIW, the Twins didn't really have a rested reliever they could add today without making a 40 man move, except Randy Rosario again. So if they knew the could option Jorge, then Granite or another position player was really the only move they could make.

 

That could change soon, though --

they will need to add Haley back in the near future, and they might inexplicably want to add back Breslow too. Pressly and Boshers could still go back down, we'll see.

[yarnivek1972]

Turley threw 68 pitches on the 4th.  If the Twins really thought they needed a guy, it could have been him.

 

Other than Hildenberger, everyone else should be able to pitch today and most likely tomorrow.

[drjim]

Twins knew they were going to option Jorge after the game, if they wanted a reliever they would have held one back.

 

Outside of Hildenberger everyone should be good to go today.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Turley threw 68 pitches on the 4th. If the Twins really thought they needed a guy, it could have been him.

Like it or not, Turley is still starting, so who knows whether he was even considered. And he basically started on Tuesday, which would be cutting it a little close for Saturday availability. He has only once appeared with less than 4 days rest this year, and that was after a 12 pitch relief appearance.

 

I think Granite has a chance to stick around a little longer, but I was just pointing out there weren't really any other options for the next 2 days either. If they don't want to bench anyone for Granite, they could send him back in a few days too.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Twins knew they were going to option Jorge after the game, if they wanted a reliever they would have held one back.

It is not a matter of holding one back, there just aren't any more available relievers on the 40-man.

 

And I am not criticizing the decision at all, I am excited to see Granite and they have plenty of relievers for the next 2 days. I was simply responding to the discussion about how long Granite is likely to stay in MLB on this call-up. Hard to tell at this point.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Seth brings up a good point in today's minor league recap thread -- Granite was already named as a starter for the AAA all-star game. Happens during the MLB break too. It would be pretty un-Twins-like to pull him from that for a MLB bench assignment.

[drjim]

I hope Granite stays until at least Mauer is back. That's a better honor than a AAA all star game.

[notoriousgod71]

 

This leads me to believe that Mauer's back is more serious of a problem than we might believe and Kepler will be splitting time at 1b with Vargas, and Granite will be playing a decent amount of RF

 

Everything is always more serious with Mauer that we might believe.

[Riverbrian]

Welcome to the Bigs Zack Granite.

 

Any manager worthy of one of 30 major league jobs will be able to figure out playing time. Every team should strive for 12 or 13 position players who can all perform. No player should collect dust on the bench ever. 

 

I believe that in order to play everyday... you have to perform like a player that needs to play every day. Sano is the only player who has performed at that level this year. Everybody else can take a day off on occasion and the world will not come to an end. Honestly... Even Sano has been below average the past month or so. 

 

I also continue to believe that you don't belong on the 25 man roster if the manager will not play you at least once a series. Adrianaza is the only player that fits that description. 

 

Welcome to the Bigs Zack. 

 

 

[USAFChief]

I doubt Granite is here for long, and I doubt he gives a **** about missing the AAA All Star Game if it means he's in Minneapolis.

[jorgenswest]

Rest is coming soon. No one needs a rest. Molitor needs to put the line up on the field that he believes gives the Twins the best chance to win the game.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I doubt Granite is here for long, and I doubt he gives a **** about missing the AAA All Star Game if it means he's in Minneapolis.

Agreed, although he wouldn't necessarily be in Minneapolis, as it would be the MLB all-star break too.

[beckmt]

There could be another possibility.   Polanco looks totally lost at this time, so if he has an option left you could send him down and keep Granite here for a while, using Escobar and the other backup infielder to play shortstop for a few weeks.  At the current time Polanco is hurting the team with his hitting and needs to regroup.

[drjim]

There could be another possibility. Polanco looks totally lost at this time, so if he has an option left you could send him down and keep Granite here for a while, using Escobar and the other backup infielder to play shortstop for a few weeks. At the current time Polanco is hurting the team with his hitting and needs to regroup.

No options left for Polanco. He's not going anywhere.

[Cornholio]

Was Granite already on the 40 man roster, or was there a corresponding move?

[ashbury]

robbie grossman is currently getting on base in nearly 38% of his at bats. he should be hitting in front of sano basically every day

That's his season average, but for the past six weeks or so Robbie has been scuffling at the plate and is getting on base much less often - .319 OBP since May 30 - and on top of that with lower BA and power numbers than before - adding to an OPS of .626 in that span.

 

Currently he's not hitting well enough to DH, and doesn't field well enough to support his batting numbers. Robbie needs to turn things around soon or Granite stands next in line to take over all of his playing time, the latter having a more traditional skill set for fourth outfielder.

[drivlikejehu]

 

No options left for Polanco. He's not going anywhere.

 

He may as well just assume his long-term role of utility player . . . no reason to send him down. He can't hit, but his defense has been better than expected.

[DJSim22]

 

That's his season average, but for the past six weeks or so Robbie has been scuffling at the plate and is getting on base much less often - .319 OBP since May 30 - and on top of that with lower BA and power numbers than before - adding to an OPS of .626 in that span.

 

Currently he's not hitting well enough to DH, and doesn't field well enough to support his batting numbers. Robbie needs to turn things around soon or Granite stands next in line to take over all of his playing time, the latter having a more traditional skill set for fourth outfielder.

 

So he's slumped some.  Give Granite some of his time to give Grossman a few days off and Granite a shot.  I'll buy you case of your favorite beverage if Granite's OPS or OBP is at Grossman's come August...

 

[Danchat]

 

Was Granite already on the 40 man roster, or was there a corresponding move?

Yep, he was added to the 40 man roster over the offseason.

[drjim]

 

He may as well just assume his long-term role of utility player . . . no reason to send him down. He can't hit, but his defense has been better than expected.

 

It's a little early for that. Just last year he was a league average hitter over 270 ABs. I don't see that as an unreasonable expectation based on his track record.

[Rosterman]

Sp, you have to add back Breslow, Haley. Someday Perkins. You need another starting pitcher. Who goes back? Pressly should go for sure. But would you send Boshers (lefty) or Hildenberger? At what point do the Twins quit on Breslow, Haley and Belisle? Who is the 5th starter? Will Dillon Gee or Nik Turley get the call? When do you cut Hector Santiago? Bartolo Colon needs to be added to the 40-man? How about Byung-Ho Park? And Phil Hughes is doing what?

 

Lots and lots of roster decisions to make when the Twins come out of the chute following the All-Star game. You'd think they would send Granite back down if he is in the AAA all-star ganm...no need to pay players to have a vacation if they aren't staying on the team. Heck, I would send 4-5 guys down to an already crowded Rochester to keep getting work.

 

Which brings up the other issue: Crowded Rochester, equally crowded Chattanooga, with lots of players pushing for advancement from Elizabethton (soon) to Cedar Rapids to Fort Myers to Chattanooga. 

 

Who will be released from the upper levels of the minor leagues. Doesn't Rochester have, like 15 pitchers on their roster right now?

[USAFChief]

They really could use RH hitting.  I'm just not at all sure Garver is it.