Article: Competition for Plouffe?

[Seth Stohs]

You can view the page at http://www.twinsdaily.com/content.php?1220-Competition-for-Plouffe

[whosafraidofluigirussolo]

For all of the struggles, that hot stretch in June and July is encouraging and exciting. Still just 26 years old, Plouffe still has a chance to improve.

 

This is the key. There's no reason for a team that's going to lose a lot of games anyway to not give a player like Plouffe a chance - keep coaching him on his defense and give him a chance to build on those flashes of hot hitting when he's healthy and rested. Having a backup is fine, but the backup shouldn't be taking development time away from Plouffe.

[Willihammer]

I like Hannahan. There's a chance his true platoon split is greater than his career averages would indicate. At worst, he's about league average vs. RHP and should be a better glove over there.

[Fanatic Jack]

Seth,

 

I know you disagree with me but infielder Jack Hannahan is a very under-rated, not appreciated (In Cleveland, Seattle, Oakland) player. Being from St. Paul, MN it would be a great thing. Not sure if it will happen or not.

[spideyo]

I like hannahan, but if we only sign one infielder, I'd rather get someone who can also play SS. Escobar and Florimon seem to be our best two options there and that scares the hell out of me. A really solid SS would help cover for a middling 3b too

[sorney]

Not saying Plouffe is the be all end all at 3b, but on a team going nowhere in 2013, give the dude 600 at bats and see what happens.

[Craig in MN]

If it's a minor league deal, then it's fine. I wouldn't mind having him on the team if the need arose. But he's not really a short term solution to anything or a long term solution to anything.

 

Looking at his stats, I'm a little surprised that he's never made even an emergency appearance as a corner outfielder. He doesn't have the bat to play there in reality, but he profiles a bench player and having him as an option as plausible 5th OF would give him some extra marketability for some teams.

[DaveW]

I don't get the Hannahan love. Other then him being from Minnesota I don't see any real reason to bring him to the club. The guy is a career .671 hitter (.234 avg .314 OBP) at what should be an offensive position.

 

If you are signing him to just be a "depth" defensive replacement guy I guess you could toss him a minimum deal, but if you truly want "competition" for Plouffe at third base, Hannahan isn't the answer.

 

Give me a guy like Jed Lowrie, Ty Wigginton, Eric Chavez or Keppinger over Hannahan.

[Seth Stohs]

For all of the struggles, that hot stretch in June and July is encouraging and exciting. Still just 26 years old, Plouffe still has a chance to improve.

 

This is the key. There's no reason for a team that's going to lose a lot of games anyway to not give a player like Plouffe a chance - keep coaching him on his defense and give him a chance to build on those flashes of hot hitting when he's healthy and rested. Having a backup is fine, but the backup shouldn't be taking development time away from Plouffe.

 

This is my opinion too. I'm hoping the Twins can win 75 or so games in 2013, and with all the pitching needs, and some reason for hope with Plouffe, it would not be a priority for me at all... Which is kind of what makes Ryan's insistence upon a quality backup kind of surprising.

[DaveW]

For all of the struggles, that hot stretch in June and July is encouraging and exciting. Still just 26 years old, Plouffe still has a chance to improve.

 

This is the key. There's no reason for a team that's going to lose a lot of games anyway to not give a player like Plouffe a chance - keep coaching him on his defense and give him a chance to build on those flashes of hot hitting when he's healthy and rested. Having a backup is fine, but the backup shouldn't be taking development time away from Plouffe.

 

This is my opinion too. I'm hoping the Twins can win 75 or so games in 2013, and with all the pitching needs, and some reason for hope with Plouffe, it would not be a priority for me at all... Which is kind of what makes Ryan's insistence upon a quality backup kind of surprising.

 

Reading between the lines it seems like Ryan is trying to use this to motivate Plouffe. Trevor has always been that guy in the minors who's production never really lived up to the talent (other then his breakout in AAA), now that he has made it to the majors Ryan and co probably don't want him to get to comfortable and want to make sure he continues to work on his game and improve.

 

I think Plouffe has the potential to be a very solid 3B for us and has all the talent in the world to do so. Now it's on him to make the adjustments needed (since the league learned how to pitch to him a bit after his absurd HR run)

[ThePuck]

' But he has to realize he has to play both sides of the game. I think he's capable."'

 

 

Is it my imagination that the above comment made by Ryan about Plouffe only seems to apply for this team when it's defensive side that's lacking? How many completely worthless offensive players have we thrown out there over the years and given significant time to because they had a good glove? How many players have we held in the minors due to 'defensive issues'?

[Rick Niedermann]

I'm not a Hannahan fan. But I guess the Pagliarulo-Leius platoon worked pretty well in 91, so maybe it would work again.

[Chance]

I don't believe they think Plouffe will stick at 3rd. they might want to move him to 2nd. I wouldn't want a single player other than pitcher who can't play the middle. those are more urgent. Even if Plouffe bats .200 he will at least have some power. The other guys in the infield (not Dozier) have very little upside and if they slump at all could bat .160 with no power. Yuck.

 

Get pitching and if there is a couple million left, sign a quality bat for SS or 2nd.

[Chance]

We DON'T have the luxury to be looking for competition when we have roster spots empty.

[Shane Wahl]

I don't understand why the Twins would be seeking a 3B unless it was a splash signing like Youk or Reynolds.

[johnnydakota]

Would texas take justin Morneau and our #7 prospect hHarrison for olt , maybe even throwing in aceldo or hudson boyd?

My thought is adding a piece to the puzzel or the future,even if is not pitching,with reports on Sano saying he will probally need to move to 1b or become a corner outfielder, why not try and get Olt?

[DaveW]

Would texas take justin Morneau and our #7 prospect hHarrison for olt , maybe even throwing in aceldo or hudson boyd?

 

No.

[woody_knows_all]

Plouffe maybe needs a little more playing time to see, but his home run stats are a little inflated in my mind. Wasn't 20 of his 24 homeruns solo shots. And how many of those were home runs after the 7th inning with the Twins behind 7-2.

[Seth Stohs]

I can't help but think that Plouffe will be told to bring his 3B glove and an OF glove to spring training.

[ThePuck]

I can't help but think that Plouffe will be told to bring his 3B glove and an OF glove to spring training.

 

I imagine they make sure everyone on the team has multiple gloves available....with Gardy's constant need to move people around all over the diamond. :-)

 

I'll share a post by someone else I found funny:

 

'Well IMO, keeping Buttera indicates a good chance that Morneau will be traded. Parmalee will be platooned with Mauer at 1B. Mauer will be platooned with Doumit at C. Buttera will be main backup at C. Dozier and Carroll will be platooed at 2B, Florimon, Dozier and Carroll will be platooned at SS. Poofe and Carroll will be platooned at 3B. Willingham, Doumit, and Mauer will be platooned at DH. Willingham and Doumit will be platooed in LF. Revere and Mastroanni will be platooned in CF. Mastroanni and Parmalee will be platooned in RF. Tardy will be so overjoyed that he'll be able to have a different lineup for all 162 games of the season that he'll have the Hap, Hap, Happiest Christmas since Danny Fnnn Kaye!'

[h2oface]

With Gardenhire (it is so hard for me to capitalize his name) managing, there is always going to be a couple of guys to "back up" Plouffe. Utility utility utility. I sure hope they give him the chance to settle in free of injury. He is getting better and you just can't deny those 6 weeks and not give him a shot on a horrible team to take third and shine.

[rickyriolo]

i think this statement is mostly true. Gardy loves tinkering with his lineup, whether it is needed or not.

[ThePuck]

i think this statement is mostly true. Gardy loves tinkering with his lineup, whether it is needed or not.

 

What was it last year, 18, 19 different lineups in the first 20 games of the season?

[YourHouseIsMyHouse]

I'm completely sold on signing Youkilis and moving Plouffe (again).

[YourHouseIsMyHouse]

i think this statement is mostly true. Gardy loves tinkering with his lineup, whether it is needed or not.

 

What was it last year, 18, 19 different lineups in the first 20 games of the season?

 

Not sure. He may have gotten the perfect 20 for 20.

[Kwak]

Ryan is on record that an "infielder will have to fall in our lap", so I don't expect anybody but "a pulse" to compete with Plouffe. They might as well run him out there at 3B and hope that he hits enough to overcome his fielding limitations. Perhaps with another year (or two) of ~25 HRs he could be traded for quality pitching--even one of those "high ceiling Class A guys".

[greengoblinrulz]

Other than Hanahan/Chavez....who will now go back to NYY....who else is there? They wont spend on Youk/Reynolds as Gardy isnt an OBP guy but rather an old school BAve guy.

Ryan also said Tue that our 4 current middle infielders are the ones that Mn will go to spring training with. arghhhhh!!!!

[ThePuck]

We have no infielders (3B, SS, 2Bs) on our roster that have proven they are capable major league starters. That includes Carroll, the best of the bunch, who I like but is more suited to super utility.

 

Can any other team in baseball say that?

[DaveW]

Other than Hanahan/Chavez....who will now go back to NYY....who else is there? They wont spend on Youk/Reynolds as Gardy isnt an OBP guy but rather an old school BAve guy.

Ryan also said Tue that our 4 current middle infielders are the ones that Mn will go to spring training with. arghhhhh!!!!

 

What does Gardy have to do with anything? You think he would turn down having Youk on this team?

[Alex]

It would be a huge mistake to bring someone in someone that they would honestly consider playing in front of Plouffe. I have no problem if they tell him it's his spot for a single year, but there's no reason not to give him that chance.