Article: MIN 11, MIL 4: Twins Slug 5 Home Runs

[SweetOne69]

Hopefully the have Gee start in Mejia's place and slide Santiago into the long relief role.

 

Right now I don't think Santiago has the stamina to go more than 3-4 innings.  He has been on the shelf for a while and I don't think his rehab outings were very deep.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Looks like our old friend Kennys Vargas is the callup to replace Mejia on the active roster.  That means Gee is the starter Sunday. He's the best choice based on performance and I think he deserves the start. He's only 31, not that old for a pitcher, and could be a rotation piece as a 5/6/7 starter next year.  Looks like Tim Melville may be the same. Now is the time to find out on both guys.

 

I'm not quite sure why Vargas instead of Garver who is hitting much better, but it looks like Garver will not get a look until September. Probably about maintaining options. I think Vargas is gone after this year, at least to another organization.  It might be to Korea or Japan since he is out of options unless a bad team wants to give him an extended run. 

 

options? On a 26 year old?

 

ugh. this is frustrating, greatly frustrating*

 

*I mean, as frustrating as a decision about a backup/bench player can be.

[the blade]

 

If Mejia can't go Sunday, I hope Gee gets the start.

Or Tim Melville!  Hey why not?

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

It seems like Gee had to finish the game last night. After Gee comes Aitch, and we don't have him on the active roster.

Next, you were going to say: "and if Aitch can't pitch, I would be willing to step in."

[drjim]

 

Looks like our old friend Kennys Vargas is the callup to replace Mejia on the active roster.  That means Gee is the starter Sunday. He's the best choice based on performance and I think he deserves the start. He's only 31, not that old for a pitcher, and could be a rotation piece as a 5/6/7 starter next year.  Looks like Tim Melville may be the same. Now is the time to find out on both guys.

 

I'm not quite sure why Vargas instead of Garver who is hitting much better, but it looks like Garver will not get a look until September. Probably about maintaining options. I think Vargas is gone after this year, at least to another organization.  It might be to Korea or Japan since he is out of options unless a bad team wants to give him an extended run. 

 

Not sure options have anything to do with it.

[drjim]

 

Curtiss and Reed

 

I could maybe go for either of them (but they weren't mentioned). Perhaps Melville too. Any of those guys could potentially be fine middle guys in September.

[ashbury]

Actually, I don't know who.  There are too many "you-know-who's" on the 40-man. 

Also "who-he?"s.

[jmlease1]

I'm surprised they're not giving Garver a shot, especially since he has more positional flexibility, but maybe they're figuring they just don't have room for him to catch right now. I am happy to see them adding another damn bat, though. this 13 pitchers on the roster bit is absurd.

[Mike Sixel]

 

I'm surprised they're not giving Garver a shot, especially since he has more positional flexibility, but maybe they're figuring they just don't have room for him to catch right now. I am happy to see them adding another damn bat, though. this 13 pitchers on the roster bit is absurd.

 

he can play first. He can play the OF if they have to PH. He can just PH. He can catch if they want to, you know, pinch hit for a catcher at some point.....

[yarnivek1972]

 

Looks like our old friend Kennys Vargas is the callup to replace Mejia on the active roster.  That means Gee is the starter Sunday. He's the best choice based on performance and I think he deserves the start. He's only 31, not that old for a pitcher, and could be a rotation piece as a 5/6/7 starter next year.  Looks like Tim Melville may be the same. Now is the time to find out on both guys.

 

I'm not quite sure why Vargas instead of Garver who is hitting much better, but it looks like Garver will not get a look until September. Probably about maintaining options. I think Vargas is gone after this year, at least to another organization.  It might be to Korea or Japan since he is out of options unless a bad team wants to give him an extended run. 

 

Why would the Twins call up a starting pitcher on Wednesday for a game to be played on Sunday?

 

Gee might be the starter Sunday. but it is just as likely to be Hector Santiago.  Last I heard (it's been awhile since I checked) he was about as ready as he is ever going to be.

[John Kelsey]

 

he can play first. He can play the OF if they have to PH. He can just PH. He can catch if they want to, you know, pinch hit for a catcher at some point.....

 

He's also probably a better hitter than Vargas, so he can just DH. 

[drjim]

 

I'm surprised they're not giving Garver a shot, especially since he has more positional flexibility, but maybe they're figuring they just don't have room for him to catch right now. I am happy to see them adding another damn bat, though. this 13 pitchers on the roster bit is absurd.

 

I imagine this is the reason. They don't see much of a reason to call up Garver ahead of Vargas if he isn't going to catch. And I'm doubtful they would put Garver out there behind the plate ahead of those two right now.

[Dantes929]

"The Brewers took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on a squeeze bunt. How adorable."

Love that line.  Reminds me of when my golf opponent hits a good drive but mine is farther and I tell him "Nice little drive".    Doesn't matter if I out drove him by 3 feet or 30 yards and the most important part is that it is after the fact.    The way we had been hitting the last month, the adorable squeeze bunt could well have been the difference in the game.    In retrospect only we get to mock it.

[drjim]

 

He's also probably a better hitter than Vargas, so he can just DH. 

 

Not sure that's true.

[hugelycat]

 

It seems like Gee had to finish the game last night. After Gee comes Aitch, and we don't have him on the active roster.

 

I've been hoping we trade with the Cardinals for Seung-hwan Oh. Then we just need to find a guy named Em, and our bullpen can be Oh-Em-Gee.

 

Then again, it kind of already is this year!

[Mike Sixel]

 

Not sure that's true.

 

me neither, but we are reasonably sure that Vargas isn't good/great at this point. And Vargas offers ZERO positional flexibility. 

[drjim]

 

me neither, but we are reasonably sure that Vargas isn't good/great at this point. And Vargas offers ZERO positional flexibility. 

 

They don't especially need a body that can stand in lf, they have that with Grossman. They need a bat and very occasional 1b.

 

I guess I don't really have a problem with Garver getting catching reps at AAA rather than playing on occasion in the bigs, and likely not catching.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I'm not quite sure why Vargas instead of Garver who is hitting much better, but it looks like Garver will not get a look until September. Probably about maintaining options.

It has nothing to do with "options" (assuming you are referring to minor league optional assignments remaining).  Garver is already on the 40-man and thus "burned" an option when he was sent down out of spring training.

 

Although since it is Vargas' last option year, maybe they are trying to "get their money's worth" out of him?   You would figure we already know what we have in Vargas, and it isn't particularly good or versatile...

[gheggs42]

I don't think Garver gets the call until Gimenez is traded this month and I don't know if they even trade him if we are still in the race. 

[DocBauer]

Not knocking Kintzler, or his contributions, but really, Gee ended up as an "acquition" to replace him.

[SweetOne69]

 

Looks like our old friend Kennys Vargas is the callup to replace Mejia on the active roster.  That means Gee is the starter Sunday. He's the best choice based on performance and I think he deserves the start. He's only 31, not that old for a pitcher, and could be a rotation piece as a 5/6/7 starter next year.  Looks like Tim Melville may be the same. Now is the time to find out on both guys.

 

 

Not Necessarily.

 

Even without Mejia they have 12 pitchers on the staff.  They could've called up Vargas as an extra bench bat for the 2 NL games in Milwaukee and they make another move or 2 by Sunday when Mejia's replacement is needed.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Not knocking Kintzler, or his contributions, but really, Gee ended up as an "acquition" to replace him.

Hopefully we give him a lot more 3 inning save opportunities!

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

That means Gee is the starter Sunday. He's the best choice based on performance and I think he deserves the start. He's only 31, not that old for a pitcher, and could be a rotation piece as a 5/6/7 starter next year. 

FWIW, Gee is likely a free agent after the season.  Just needs 30 more days service time the rest of the year, which seems fairly likely at this point.

 

He should still be signable for 2018, but if he shows anything down the stretch, he only gets more expensive, primarily in terms of a guaranteed roster spot and perhaps assurances about his role.  (Meaning, he might not want to sign here to be the 7/8 starter if he has a chance at 4/5 somewhere else.)

 

Gee can also refuse an any optional assignments to the minor leagues, so he may not be stashable in AAA (although he has apparently consented to being optioned this season).

 

Melville would have all 3 minor league option years remaining, although he will be eligible for minor league free agency this winter if not added to the 40-man roster.

[USAFChief]

Not knocking Kintzler, or his contributions, but really, Gee ended up as an "acquition" to replace him.

They could have Gee AND Kintzler.

[bighat]

 

"You know who" has to be Gibson

 

I assumed he meant Colon.

 

 

I meant Santiago. :/

[Tom Froemming]

 

I meant Santiago. :/

Silly me, this whole time I was sitting here thinking you were talking about Lord Voldemort. 

[yarnivek1972]

They could have Gee AND Kintzler.

Give it a rest already. You don't like that the Twins "sold". We get it. Do you need to bring it up in every single thread?

 

Move on.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Give it a rest already. You don't like that the Twins "sold". We get it. Do you need to bring it up in every single thread?

Move on.

Some of us think they should still be buying even now

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I don't think anyone has the illusion that Vargas is the next Big Papi anymore, but I think Vargas would be an ideal bench player. To back up Mauer competently, and take some at bats occasionally. True, no position flexibility, but Fangraphs actually likes Vargas in the field, for what that's worth.

 

Vargas is probably not on the team next year but he can still help this year more than the 8th relief guy.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Great to see Polanco getting on base again