Plouffe = Valencia part 2

[mk]

I am worried that a small sample size is giving Twins fans false hope that they've found the 3B of the future. Is he just the 2nd coming of Danny Valencia?

[IdahoPilgrim]

I see him as a temporary measure until a better option (Sano?) can be developed or acquired.

[greengoblinrulz]

are some parallels for sure but Plouffe has shown solid power (ISO of .191 vs Danny's .133). At least there is something to 'hang your hat' on with trevor. If he doesnt stick at 3B, he's shown the ability to play other positions, something Danny didnt.

[Rosterman]

He has sown power. Now just needs consistency. If nothing else, he will be a modestly expensive utility guy until he reaches free agency and the Twins may have other choices by then.

[TheLeviathan]

Too soon to say. But this much is for sure - one month sure looks like a case of "which of these months is not like the others" game. I don't think we need Sesame Street to figure out which one.

[joeboo_22]

He has said his thumb isn't 100%, its clearly not 100%. I don't think he was ever considered a Valencia type of player. He is more of a .250 ba with 30 HR's then a guy who was going to hit .290 with 15 HR's. Plus he had more of a minor league track record then Valencia and has had highs and lows to some point before between AAA and the majors, both things that Valencia never really had. Now thats not to say he is going to be an All-Star plug him in at 3B for the next decade type of player. But I just don't see him as a Valencia type of player.

[ShaeTwins]

I didn't even want to click on this thread because I'm so afraid that this is exactly what's going to happen. I don't think we're going to see much more from Plouffe this year because of the two-day injury which still seems to be affecting his swing at the plate, but that's fine. Let's wait till next year until we make an official judgment on the kid.

[drjim]

I doubt Terry Ryan is convinced Plouffe is the 3B of the future.

[70charger]

I'm not "convinced" he's the 3B of the future. I am optimistic though - I think it will happen. He's a good player, and he can really square up on the ball. Add in Target Field's almost surprising friendliness to right-handers of his ilk, and I think he has a solid future. On top of that, add in the fact that he can play shortstop and outfield in a pinch, and I think that, worst case, if he's not the 3B of the future, he'll stick on the roster for a long while. Of course, he's got to stay healthy.

[Riverbrian]

I'll give Plouffe more rope then I'd give Valencia. He plays the game or appears to.

 

That month wasnt just a hot streak... It was barely human and I don't think Plouffe was conscious while it was happening. However, if someone gets that hot... Keep trotting him out there because it might happen again.

[old nurse]

I'll give Plouffe more rope then I'd give Valencia. He plays the game or appears to.

 

That month wasnt just a hot streak... It was barely human and I don't think Plouffe was conscious while it was happening. However, if someone gets that hot... Keep trotting him out there because it might happen again.

I would agree with Riverbrian. I would also agree that Ploufe is a completely different player than Valancia and the thumb is not well right now. Kudos for trying as best he can. Another year will tell if he can play regularly. If not, then they can trot out Romero for a half a year and make another frequent contributor happy someone got a chance though they will be another bust.

[SpantheMan]

I am worried that a small sample size is giving Twins fans false hope that they've found the 3B of the future. Is he just the 2nd coming of Danny Valencia?

They are different types of players. Plouffe has more power and a lower BA.

since he was a middle infielder with a strong but erratic arm i think he will have at least average defense.

He has a stronger minor league track record and He was a first round pick so he does have good tools

[gunnarthor]

One thing I like about Plouffe was that, even before the season started, Ryan thought his bat would play in a corner position. I trust Ryan on that sort of thing so let's see how he does when he's healed up.

[Alex]

Plouffe is playing hurt. This is what happens when players play hurt.

[Top Gun]

Most players don't even miss a game, he was out a month for nottin.

[Cody Christie]

Plouffe was a first round pick so the expectations have been high for him since the beginning. He also showed some promise during his time in the minor leagues.

 

Valencia was a 19th round pick and he had some good seasons in the low minors that helped to get hopes up surrounding his future. But his slugging dropped significantly the higher he moved up the ladder.

[silverslugger]

At this point there are simply too many other holes to fill. Plouffe needs to be our 3b for 2013. What we get is what we get, better defense than Valencia with more power and similar ba/obp. We'll have to live with it and hope the starting pitching, middle relief, and middle infield are addressed.

[snepp]

Most players don't even miss a game, he was out a month for nottin.

 

What?

[Land Of 10,000 Beasts]

I like Plouffe's attitude so much more than Valencia's. He is humble and hardworking, something that I don't think Valencia had. Besides, he isn't completely healthy. Give it time. His hot streak wasn't a fluke; we haven't seen the end of Plouffe.

[mk]

This is a dumb thread. Plouffe has been very unlucky this season with a low BABIP, high LD rate his average should be much better. Things will normalize at some point. When Dozier comes back up he will get some more time off and I bet that will help. Plouffe will be fine.

 

I hope I'm wrong but I just don't see it. Other than a good 50 games at AAA in 2011, Plouffe's minor league numbers don't seem impressive and a track record of the other 780 games are not as good as Valencia's.

[diehardtwinsfan]

with the holes this team has, Plouffe is pretty far down on my list of things that need "fixing" this offseason. At worst he's earned his job for at least the first half of next year, and at best, he's a late bloomer that is going to be a very valuable asset for a while. It's quite possible that starting next year he's Danny Valencia part 2, but I don't think the front office can really worry about this for the time being.

[jeffk]

You can statistically fluke your way to a high BA for a few months. It seems less likely that you can fake your way to 10 HRs in 22 games or whatever his crazy tear consisted of. A home run just isn't an accident. He clearly has something. Even if he were half the player he was during June and July he'd still be a permanent solution at 3B.

[SpantheMan]

Most players don't even miss a game, he was out a month for nottin.

 

What?

 

Most players playing non demanding defensive positions need a day every week or two. infielders (not first base) and catchers need more

[SpantheMan]

When a high draft pick starts producing incredible power numbers in the majors, it isn't a fluke

[mk]

Is Plouffe still suffering from a sore thumb or a low BABIP?

[pab]

Plouffe is the 3B of the present, NOT the future. Sano is very clearly the 3B of the future,

no one should have any question about that.

[DaveW]

Plouffe is merely a placeholder at 3rd base until next June.

It's 100% up to him to prove he is worth giving significant playing time at another position (OF, 1B) I wonder if they could have him work some innings at SS again?

[stringer bell]

Someone needed to (re)start a thread about Plouffe. He has been dreadful (I read somewhere 6-60) for quite a while. I have heard differing opinions about his work ethic and attitude, but the production hasn't been there lately. I think he should be given the rest of the year to see what his numbers can be, but if he continues to struggle, he has to be a candidate for a non-tender. I am presuming he is arb. eligible this winter.

[Rosterman]

I don't think Valencia was considered the third baseman of the future. He got lucky and then got a sophomore chance and failed. Plouffe was never considered the Twins third baseman of the future., He was a shortstop, and they decided he was far from perfect there, and switched him to the outfield. But then they needed someone at third, and he is adequate and gives them some power, but is so inconsistent. He is, at best, a bench bat and utility guy, which isn't what you expect a first rounder to be...but again, many first rounders never make the majors. The bigger question will be: is there any value in him now or in the future, or will he be forever a journeyman player, Again, someone the Twins should've maybe moved in the offseason or earlier this season. I don't see him starting in 2015...not even at first base.

[Oldgoat_MN]

Trevor Plouffe OPS by month: (thank you Baseball-Reference)

April .681

May .842

June .879

July .523

Aug (so far) truly horrible in 24 at bats

 

Either May & June (131 PA) stats are a sign of what he can really do or the AL pitchers have figured him out and are throwing pitches he cannot hit.

 

Get that figured out and the answer regarding his future will reveal itself.