Neal: Plouffe and Twins Want Him To Stay At One Position

[John Bonnes]

La Velle E Neal busts out his writing chops with a story on how the team is viewing Trevor Plouffe this year:

 

Glove representatives will be disappointed to learn that Trevor Plouffe doesn't need your business the way he used to. He will sign up for that third baseman's glove, but he will no longer need to keep a glove for nearly every position.

Drafted as a shortstop, tried in the outfield, looked at as a second baseman and now playing third, Plouffe played at least one inning at six positions last season.

 

FWIW, I think we can add Twins fans to the list of people that would like Plouffe to stay at a position. What has stopped him has been fielding competently at any one (infield) position. So make it happen, Trevor.

 

Settled at one position, Twins' Plouffe hopes he sticks | StarTribune.com

[glunn]

Thanks for posting this. Please add me to the list of people who hope that Plouffe can stick at third base.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I'd like to see him stick there for now and get comfortable at the plate... If the Twins have a 3B propsect pressing at the door in the near future, they can discuss a move to 2nd... but for now, let him learn 3rd.

[Riverbrian]

Health is my only concern about Plouffe... If healthy... I really think he will play an above average 3B... Hit .240 to .260 with around 35 homers.

 

We will all be happy with that kind of production. No legitimate options to play third besides him. The eggs are in the Plouffe Basket.

[Thrylos]

I'd like to see Plouffe stick at third. The parallels with Cuddyer are not even funny for the ones who watched the Cuddyer saga since it started (when he was moved all over the infield and at the end ended up at RF) The interesting part in the comparison is that at the same age, Cuddyer did not even have half of Plouffe's power. Will be fun to see his development

[John Bonnes]

I'd like to see Plouffe stick at third. The parallels with Cuddyer are not even funny for the ones who watched the Cuddyer saga since it started (when he was moved all over the infield and at the end ended up at RF) The interesting part in the comparison is that at the same age, Cuddyer did not even have half of Plouffe's power. Will be fun to see his development

 

Nor did Cuddy ever have a run of success like Plouffe did already this season. I wonder if the move to RF actually helped Cuddyer, or just happened to be where he was playing when he started hitting. I wish I would have asked him that when he was here.

[Willihammer]

Trevor's June 2012 was almost as good as Delmon's July 2010.

[Physics Guy]

I'd like to see Plouffe stick at third. The parallels with Cuddyer are not even funny for the ones who watched the Cuddyer saga since it started (when he was moved all over the infield and at the end ended up at RF) The interesting part in the comparison is that at the same age, Cuddyer did not even have half of Plouffe's power. Will be fun to see his development

 

Half his power? If you are talking strictly HR, then you are correct. 24 HR at age 26 for Plouffe, 12 for Cuddyer. OPS was .756 for Plouffe, .752 for Cuddyer. OPS+ 107 Plouffe, 97 Cuddy. Half his power might be a bit of hyperbole. We can only hope Plouffe can replicate Cuddyer's age 27 season in '06: 100+ runs and RBI, 41 2B, 24 HR and an .867 OPS (124 OPS+).

[Jim H]

Plouffe looks like an all or nothing type. Occasional hot streaks with long periods of nothing. People like homeruns, so if he hits enough of them, the low average will be overlooked. He does need to field, however. I also agree with the above poster, if he can be close to what Cuddyer did with the bat we should be happy. Cuddyer was a much better minor league hitter, although he was up and down. He was a streaky big league hitter as well, but he generally managed a decent average, had good doubles power, and actually was a better right fielder than most will concede.

[sorney]

Health is my only concern about Plouffe... If healthy... I really think he will play an above average 3B... Hit .240 to .260 with around 35 homers.

 

We will all be happy with that kind of production. No legitimate options to play third besides him. The eggs are in the Plouffe Basket.

 

 

Happy with that production?!?!

Estatic with that production.

[stringer bell]

Plouffe or a light-hitting utility guy (Carroll or Escobar) at third this year. I'll take my chances with Plouffie. I would say that Plouffe has this year to establish himself. He has established his power, he needs to hit better with runners on base, play better defense and avoid horrendous slumps. His success or lack of it will have a lot to do with the success or lack of it for the Twins this year.

[twinsnorth49]

Plouffe just needs to improve his approach and discipline at the plate, make the plays he's expected to at 3rd and the rest will follow. I think he'll be fine.

[FrodaddyG]

Plouffe just needs to improve his approach and discipline at the plate, make the plays he's expected to at 3rd and the rest will follow. I think he'll be fine.

So he just has to get better on offense and defense and he should be better. Careful out on that limb.

[twinsnorth49]

So he just has to get better on offense and defense and he should be better. Careful out on that limb.

 

Well, thanks for that but I'm really just saying it's not like he has that far to go for this to work out. His deficiencies at the plate are minor, not as if he has to re-tool his whole swing or develop one and he just needs to be acceptable in the field, not be an all-star for everyone to be quite happy.

 

Anyway, speaking of tools..... http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/fighting/kick-in-the-balls.gif

[ThePuck]

Well, thanks for that but I'm really just saying it's not like he has that far to go for this to work out. His deficiencies at the plate are minor, not as if he has to re-tool his whole swing or develop one and he just needs to be acceptable in the field, not be an all-star for everyone to be quite happy.

 

Anyway, speaking of tools..... http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/fighting/kick-in-the-balls.gif

 

okay, where did you find that animation?

[Twins Twerp]

So he just has to get better on offense and defense and he should be better. Careful out on that limb.

 

How is this an appropriate comment? I do not see how this moves the conversation along or does anything but make you look small.

 

To move the converation along, more than frodaddy G ever does, I would like to talk more about this power surge. That month of June was sick. Then the injury came and he really was not even close to the same. I hope that this surge was the rule and not the exception. I am afraid that this may be a little bit of a mirage. His defense shoud indeed improve. The guy has played everywhere and even started out last year as a utility player mostly in the outfield.

[snepp]

How is this an appropriate comment? I do not see how this moves the conversation along or does anything but make you look small.

 

Moving a conversation along isn't a requirement, and there wasn't anything inappropriate about it. What is inappropriate was the unnecessary shot you took in your comment.

 

If you have a problem with someone's posts, use the report function or message an administrator.

[LoganJones]

Moving a conversation along isn't a requirement, and there wasn't anything inappropriate about it. What is inappropriate was the unnecessary shot you took in your comment.

 

If you have a problem with someone's posts, use the report function or message an administrator.

Well, considering you are a moderator and don't see anything inappropriate about the comment, what would be the point of reporting it to you?

[Brock Beauchamp]

Sometimes, it's okay to just say something funny instead of "furthering the conversation". After all, the poster basically said "if Plouffe plays better, he'll be a better player".

 

We're not running a monastery and this is not the town from Footloose, folks. Lighten up a little.

[ThePuck]

Well, considering you are a moderator and don't see anything inappropriate about the comment, what would be the point of reporting it to you?

 

It would have made it so the moderators made the call instead of a poster coming on here and erroneously calling it an inappropriate post...

[twinsnorth49]

Now hold on a minute here, Snepp is no mere moderator, he's a super moderator, let's get it right.

 

Having cleared that up, there was really nothing to moderate, Fro's comment was pointless (maybe mine was too, if you choose the simpleton interpretation), but it wasn't inappropriate. Let's not turn into the mod police.

[snepp]

Well, considering you are a moderator and don't see anything inappropriate about the comment, what would be the point of reporting it to you?

 

My point, which I didn't do a very good job of making, is that there is a "Report Post" function available at the bottom of every post (the little icon with the exclamation point). This will bring any potentially problematic posts to the attention of the entire staff, and is much preferable to starting what could easily turn into a pissing match. Report the post, move along, and allow the admins to determine if any action is necessary.

 

 

It would have made it so the moderators made the call instead of a poster coming on here and erroneously calling it an inappropriate post...

 

Thank you, that's exactly what I meant.

[twinsnorth49]

okay, where did you find that animation?

 

There's some classics on here, my personal fave is the guy setting himself on fire. I'm waiting until the season starts to use it....or until Lightfoot posts something again.

 

http://www.sherv.net/fighting-emoticons.html

[ThePuck]

There's some classics on here, my personal fave is the guy setting himself on fire. I'm waiting until the season starts to use it....or until Lightfoot posts something again.

 

http://www.sherv.net/fighting-emoticons.html

 

That's funny! Thanks for the link

[LoganJones]

It would have made it so the moderators made the call instead of a poster coming on here and erroneously calling it an inappropriate post...

Mhm. Since the mods and the twerp seem to differ on what's appropriate and not, oh never-mind.

[ThePuck]

Mhm. Since the mods and the twerp seem to differ on what's appropriate and not, oh never-mind.

 

I got what you were saying...I'm not sure you got where snepp was going with his instruction. True, twerp wouldn't have gotten his way had he simply reported it...but there still would have benefit overall...that benefit being that his post wouldn't have been posted in the first place.

[Craig Arko]

Of course, if people would stop and think for 30 seconds and try moderating themselves before hitting that old reply button...

 

We'd have Satchmo singing "What a Wonderful World."

[FrodaddyG]

Mhm. Since the mods and the twerp seem to differ on what's appropriate and not, oh never-mind.

Well, I'm going to side with the ones who are trusted to enforce the forums rules on this one.

 

I guess I'm not sure what exactly I did that made the Twerp respond like such a, well, twerp to most of my posts. Probably commented on a joke that went over gangbusters at the old MENSA meeting, but fell flat on the forum.

[LoganJones]

I got what you were saying...I'm not sure you got where snepp was going with his instruction. True, twerp wouldn't have gotten his way had he simply reported it...but there still would have benefit overall...that benefit being that his post wouldn't have been posted in the first place.

Haha, good point.

[ThePuck]

Of course, if people would stop and think for 30 seconds and try moderating themselves before hitting that old reply button...

 

 

Or if people would stop looking for inappropriateness when it's not there just cause they don't agree with the post to begin with...