Article: For Better or Worse: Trevor Plouffe

[Nick Nelson]

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?r=1328-For-Better-or-Worse-Trevor-Plouffe

[jimbo92107]

I sure hope Trevor Plouffe hasn't reached his precipice, because that denotes a Nishioka death spiral into the canyon of failure and despair, and a possible airplane ride to Japan. Instead, I hope Plouffe is reaching the apex, the tip top of a large, massive mesa of a 40-plus home run career stretch.

 

In fact, I predict he will start swinging the bat just the way he did during his amazing 2012 hot streak. What's to stop him? If his hand is fully healed, then it's just a matter of remembering what he was doing, which is certainly on video. He studies the video, talks it over with the hitting coach, gets the feel of that swing back, and get ready to blast some baseballs.

 

Of all the many 'ifs' this coming season, Plouffe getting his swing back is one thing I'm pretty sure will happen. The guy can pulverize baseballs. Pitchers beware.

[Ultima Ratio]

Guy has got to be better. He's had the entire year and offseason to work on one defensive position now (so the defensive must get better), and as long as the thumb is healed, I think he can OPS ~.775 just by bring is BA up to .250-.260, which is where I think he'll be while hitting fewer HRs.

[lee_the_twins_fan]

He'd better hit better, because his defense was not good last year. I don't like the inconsistency – hot and cold. Many players cool off, or get lukewarm, but Plouffe it seems is either turning water into a gaseous state, or he's freezing methane. Consistency, consistency, consistency.

[ashbury]

I'll put him down for better. Steadier on defense, more consistent on offense. Not an all-star, but solid. Let's hope.

[minn55441]

Nice write up Nick. I have always been a big Plouffe guy, but he has disappointed me every time. Was last years outburst just a mirage? I think so, put me down for a worse and hope that I am wrong.

[mako83]

He and mauer should have a heart to heart about the importance of OBP.

[pitchtocontact]

I think the team's decision to bring in Bruno as a hitting coach could be of great benefit to Plouffe. Seems like the guy can bring the best out of young power guys (see Parmelee).

[Jeremy Nygaard]

Using the "Ponder got better after he got married rule", plus knowing that CP and TP are friends, I'm saying Plouffe will be better since he just got married.

[josecordoba]

I would define a league average 3B as between 2 to 3 WAR. If Plouffe puts up his projected numbers according to Fangraphs and Bill James he falls on the short end of the stick. Although according to Fangraphs he's projected as a 1.9. I think it's somewhat possible he outperforms these numbers especially since he had a .600 Plus slugging percentage at Triple A in 2011. I can't comment on how much his wrist effected him but he has developed big time power.

 

I also hold out hope as a fielder considering his background. I never expect him to be good but at least playable at third base.

 

I figure Plouffe's long-term projection is league average starter (2-3 WAR). The Twins should be happy with this.

[Blackjack]

What I don't understand is why did it take so long for them to move him to third base?? He failed miserably at shortstop once he got to the majors, why didn't they see that sooner??!!! More games at third in the minors would probably make him a better defender now.

[Brock Beauchamp]

What I don't understand is why did it take so long for them to move him to third base?? He failed miserably at shortstop once he got to the majors, why didn't they see that sooner??!!! More games at third in the minors would probably make him a better defender now.

 

Because the Twins are so woefully short on middle infielders at every level. You have to see if the guy can stick at a middle infield spot (though I agree that they took too long to reach the conclusion that he cannot play short).

[twinsnorth49]

If he can learn to control the strike zone and lay off some bad pitches there is no doubt he will be better. The bat speed and power are there, no debating that, if pitchers make mistakes he'll punish them. I think he'll be serviceable at third, he made some fine plays last year, just need him to be consistent and make the routine ones.

[ThePuck]

What I don't understand is why did it take so long for them to move him to third base?? He failed miserably at shortstop once he got to the majors, why didn't they see that sooner??!!! More games at third in the minors would probably make him a better defender now.

 

He's only had like 50 something starts at shortstop in the majors...how much sooner do you think they should have seen it? I think they just hoped it'd click once he came up, cause it's not like he was very good at shortstop in the minors either.

[Game163]

I want the Plouffe!

YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE PLOUFFE!

[roger]

Great analysis Nick, thanks!

 

I have my fingers crossed that he will be better. I expect we will see a performance not as good as he was during those two months, but better overall during the season with another 25 or so home runs and a higher average. If Plouffe can do that, one of the young outfielders steps up by early June and a few of the many starters vying for the rotation pitch relatively well, this team can be competitive.

[Blackjack]

it's not like he was very good at shortstop in the minors either.

 

I rest my case.

 

Play him for years in the minors at SS, find out he can't throw, then move him to third in the majors, so he has to learn at the highest level. Head shaking...

 

Hopefully he can just show some consistency with both the bat and the glove, make the plays he should make, and hit 20+ home runs.

[ThePuck]

I rest my case.

 

Play him for years in the minors at SS, find out he can't throw, then move him to third in the majors, so he has to learn at the highest level. Head shaking...

 

Hopefully he can just show some consistency with both the bat and the glove, make the plays he should make, and hit 20+ home runs.

 

They didn't want to throw away a former #1 pick...he was out of options...they needed to find a spot for him

[diehardtwinsfan]

I'd hope that he could be better. His overall numbers weren't exactly mind blowing. You can argue that his first month or so of the season struggles were due to inconsistent PT... and the last 2 months due to that injury... Here's to hoping that's the case. Not sure he'd do a .638 SLG over the course of the season, but if he could get the average up to .270 while hitting 30 or so home runs, he'd be quite the asset...

[fairweather]

Plouffe is a low average power hitter. He reminds me of Joe Crede in that way. I have no doubt that he's going to improve offensively this coming season but the guy should not be allowed to play the infield. I think he'll end up in RF like Cuddyer before him. Parmalee will end up at 1st after Morneau is traded mid season. The only way Morneau isn't traded is if the Twins are still in it at the All-Star break. LOL We all know that isn't going to be the case. Pelfrey and Correia do not make this rotation better but they make it older and worse. Both are right handed sinker ballers. Shall we revisit Rick Anderson track record with right handed sinker ball pitchers? I won't because you already know that they will be worse than they've ever been in their respective careers. Vavra and Anderson need to go like 5 years ago!

[LewFordLives]

Put me down for "better". I can live with the inconsistency at the plate if he just improves his defense. The left side of the infield was once again a complete mess in 2012. However, I do believe experience really counts when it comes to defense, which is why I think he'll be better in 2013. He reminds me in some ways of Cuddyer. Is/was very inconsistent at the plate but seemed to settle down once he found a permanent position in the field.

[jimbo92107]

I think the team's decision to bring in Bruno as a hitting coach could be of great benefit to Plouffe. Seems like the guy can bring the best out of young power guys (see Parmelee).

 

I forgot, Bruno is coming in as hitting coach. Yeah, I agree that he's been very, very good for Parmelee, and I think he can do the same for Plouffe and maybe even Florimon. Twins need a hitting coach that's not afraid to let 'em bash the ball when the time is right.

[ashbury]

If he can learn to control the strike zone and lay off some bad pitches there is no doubt he will be better. The bat speed and power are there, no debating that, if pitchers make mistakes he'll punish them.

 

This is the key. It's not like he suddenly "developed" power, the power was there, he just seemed (for a brief glorious time) to be able to lay off the pitcher's pitch and get one to his liking. And then it went away - due to the wrist, due to "the book" on him getting updated, I don't know, but if it's the latter then he and Brunansky have some work to do this spring. I also liked the comment about him and Mauer having a heart-to-heart, in the same spirit of *recognizing* and laying off the pitch you don't want, and turning on the pitch you do.Since baseball's a game of constant adjustments, I am cautiously optimistic.

[tjsyam921]

I think the team's decision to bring in Bruno as a hitting coach could be of great benefit to Plouffe. Seems like the guy can bring the best out of young power guys (see Parmelee).

 

I totally agree and hope this is the case.

[rukavina]

Feel like the Twins didn't like his work ethic on defense, hence the need to bring in competition. They seem to be telling him third is his if we works at it.

[DaveW]

Personally I'd still like to see if he could handle 2B. He played decently enough at SS in the minors where he stuck for that long. I think he has the potential to at least be league average at 3B, but if he could at least play an average 2B defensively....you could be looking at a true asset at the position if he continues to mash a bit.

 

Not that it matters a whole lot now anyways, the Twins legit depth at 3B/SS/2B in the minors is utterly terrible overall considering the top two prospects at those positions Sano/Rosario each have at best a 50% chance of sticking at those said positions.

[jokin]

Personally I'd still like to see if he could handle 2B. He played decently enough at SS in the minors where he stuck for that long. I think he has the potential to at least be league average at 3B, but if he could at least play an average 2B defensively....you could be looking at a true asset at the position if he continues to mash a bit.

 

Not that it matters a whole lot now anyways, the Twins legit depth at 3B/SS/2B in the minors is utterly terrible overall considering the top two prospects at those positions Sano/Rosario each have at best a 50% chance of sticking at those said positions.

 

Plouffie's worth a try there, but that would require filling the vacated hole and getting Inge, Kennedy or Bartlett to play 3B, so what would be the net gain? OTOH, this scenario would be the perfect way to try Mauer out at 3B, platooning with an Escobar or Dozier to still give Mauer his 70 games or so behind the plate.

 

Regardless, Plouffe appeared to break out at the plate and lose his "happy feet" in the field when he got settled in at Third pre-injury.

[Mike Sixel]

Better on defense, more consistent across the year on offense, with a bit better output on offense.

[Badsmerf]

First of all, it was a thumb injury (to a nerve to be specific). Second, it was almost a month that was lost. And third, his defensive woes in the field were due to throwing from SS more than anything. At third he was actually pretty good. He had a few stretches of incompetence, but he passes the eye test from my perspective. Plus, if he can hit who cares if he is below average defensively? Another little fact about 2012 is he was extremely unlucky with BA, he had a nice line-drive rate, and his FB to HR ratio was pretty high. I expect .250 avg with 25-30 HR's.

[Joe A. Preusser]

Plouffe is a low average power hitter. He reminds me of Joe Crede in that way. I have no doubt that he's going to improve offensively this coming season but the guy should not be allowed to play the infield. I think he'll end up in RF like Cuddyer before him. Parmalee will end up at 1st after Morneau is traded mid season. The only way Morneau isn't traded is if the Twins are still in it at the All-Star break. LOL We all know that isn't going to be the case. Pelfrey and Correia do not make this rotation better but they make it older and worse. Both are right handed sinker ballers. Shall we revisit Rick Anderson track record with right handed sinker ball pitchers? I won't because you already know that they will be worse than they've ever been in their respective careers. Vavra and Anderson need to go like 5 years ago!

 

My best guess is .260, 25 HR, 80 RBI, .750 OPS. This coupled with average defense will give us our best 3rd baseman since Koskie. I haven't seen anything to tell me that he can't be that solid, average 3rd baseman we need, so pushing him into the outfield where we are already very full seems premature. As for Morneau, I am surprised how few people think we have a shot to resign him. He clearly loves playing with Mauer, and if he comes all the way around the concussion corner, why not offer him something in the neighborhood of 27/3? I won't argue about the pitching, but I will say I'm willing to see how it all plays out with our young guys by the end of the year.