Article: And Then There Were Two: Joe Benson Optioned To Rochester

[John Bonnes]

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?r=1476-And-Then-There-Were-Two-Joe-Benson-Optioned-To-Rochester

[DaveW]

At this point its pretty obvious that Hicks has the starting CF job locked down. Mastro will make a nice 4th OF and a defensive sub/PR late in games.

[fairweather]

I'm very interested to see if Pedro Hernandez can stay healthy as a starter this season. He could be another "diamond in the rough".

[stringer bell]

I thought those who said Hernandez should be in the bullpen had miscast him. He has been a starter through his career, correct? On a club with only one lefty starter (who will start the season on the DL) Hernandez offers some hope for a bit of balance. On Benson, he has the tools, but any OF has to hit and Joe didn't hit in spring training. I hope he makes it back this summer.

[Don't Feed the Greed Guy]

Good. This allows Benson and Hicks to play in centerfield every day--with Rochester and Minnesota. Both players can develop their talents within the Twins organization.

[stringer bell]

If Hicks struggles and Benson thrives, they might switch places at some time. That is no sure thing. I hope Benson rakes in AAA and forces a recall. Too much talent to give up on Joe.

[spideyo]

I think that lost ball yesterday finally sealed the deal for him. He definitely has talent, he just seems so raw sometimes.

[Rosterman]

Interesting, almost thought Hernandez might come north out of the bullpen after his strong spring, but the team definitely wants him to start. Perdomo put up good spring numbers. Looks like the Twins may be playing Gray/Maloney all over again and we'll see optionless Roiencke and Wood getting a chance out of the early season bullpen...at least one will e gone when Swarzak returns. Be interesting to see what does happen with Deduno. He's one of those guys that if you add to the 40-man, then option him out, you might lose him.

[YourHouseIsMyHouse]

Mastroianni deserves a lot of playing time too. He actually had a better spring than Hicks and a good season in 2012. An outfield of Willingham-Hicks-Mastroianni probably gives the Twins the best chance to win, but it seems like everyone is assuming Parmelee is the starting RF.

[Badsmerf]

Had to be expected by Benson. Last night I liked his approach at the plate so hopefully he can continue to improve and have some success.

[SweetOne69]

It looks like the outfield is set since Willingham, Hicks, Mastroianni, and Parmelee are the only OFs left on the roster.

 

With only 29 players on the active roster, they have 4 moves to make to get down to the Opening Day Roster. With 2 of those moves being Diamond and Swarzak to the DL that only leaves 2 moves yet to be decided. Hopefully 1 of those is Drew Butera.

 

Looking at who's left on the active roster, it looks like they almost have to open up a spot on the 40-man roster and add a bench bat. Right now there are 16 pitchers left on the active roster. Assuming that they go with 12 that means they need to remove 4 (counting Diamond and Swarzak). That would leave a bench of Mastro, Carroll, Escobar and Butera. That isn't very encouraging. While Mastro and Escobar are okay as PR, there isn't much offensive potential.

[Rosterman]

I expect Mastro will play rightfield some, with Parmelee being a DH or bench bat, in the early days of the season. The question is Butera or a non-roster guy. Plus who makes the cut from Deduno or Walters, bother non-roster guys, and Wood/Roiencke. The Twins have no 60-day DL candidates. They have three potential candidates who are minor league free agents, but no spot for them. Pressly looks like he may stick. The Twins also could remove Fien. But there isn't a lot of wiggle room. And then, if you add Walters, Ramierz and Deduno, and if you decide not to keep them, they have to go thru waivers.

[ashbury]

Mastroianni deserves a lot of playing time too. He actually had a better spring than Hicks and a good season in 2012. An outfield of Willingham-Hicks-Mastroianni probably gives the Twins the best chance to win, but it seems like everyone is assuming Parmelee is the starting RF.

 

Mastro put up a 90 OPS+ at age 26, and he doesn't have any minor league track record of power to allow hope of a better future. He can be one of the better 4th outfielders in the league if he continues to improve, but a team making him a starter is probably not one destined for a winning record. Parmelee could well fizzle, but he's the only one with the upside that can be above average, and he needs to get that chance now.

[Physics Guy]

Thanks for the update. No real surprises here. I was a little surprised last night when one of the announcers let Benson off the hook for the drop down the line. They used the excuse that he was near the fence and wasn't used to it since he normally plays CF. I don't buy it. Yes, he is normally a CF, but that catch wasn't that difficult and should have been made. He later dropped a ball during the transfer from the glove. Maybe we can chalk it up to end of spring training nerves.

[Kwak]

It appears that Benson doesn't actually have as many tools as advertised. Consider the 2011 callup--strike 1; all of 2012--strike 2; so far 2013 is shaping up as strike 3. There are just too many OF prospects in the franchise to "Casilla" Benson.

[CC7]

cool

[mako83]

I still have no faith in parmalee to hit the ball before august or september. So it wouldn't surprise me to see both in the field together. The question with Hicks do you let a rookie leadoff. Mastronni can leadoff.

[jokin]

It may be nothing, but might there be some significance in the Twins FO supplying Brian Dozier and Mastro as the "voices and faces" of the Twins for in-game half-inning-long interviews against the Yankees last night? ("Get to Know Em!")

[jokin]

At this point its pretty obvious that Hicks has the starting CF job locked down. Mastro will make a nice 4th OF and a defensive sub/PR late in games.

 

Hold on there! While this is the pretty obvious move, many things aren't always what they seem in Twinsland. Gardy chimes in on the "controversy", from the article:

 

We're not anointing anybody right now," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "But I think we've all seen with our eyes that Hicksie can do this. But we believe Mastri can do this right now. He can do some things. So we'll let you know as we go along here who is going to be the starter."

 

Both have the official Gardy annointment with pet names, but who gets mentioned last- and can do this"right now"?

[Thrylos]

Done deal. Per the MLB Network the Twins announced that Hicks is it... (Did not help that Mastro let 2 balls drop in front of him today I bet)

[Guest USAFChief]

"Hicksie." It's official.

[jokin]

Done deal. Per the MLB Network the Twins announced that Hicks is it... (Did not help that Mastro let 2 balls drop in front of him today I bet)

 

Good news, if/when confirmed on Twins' website (what's the hold-up?).

 

Hopefully, this is the philosophical turning of the page away from the recent past, and we can soon make way for the in-season arrival of Arcia and Gibson.

[kab21]

Mastroianni deserves a lot of playing time too. He actually had a better spring than Hicks and a good season in 2012. An outfield of Willingham-Hicks-Mastroianni probably gives the Twins the best chance to win, but it seems like everyone is assuming Parmelee is the starting RF.

 

I have it before but Mastro will be fan favorite as a reserve and he will be hated as a starter. Similar to Punto. He just isn't good enough to be an everyday player. I have also said it before but Mastro will play plenty. Mauer/Morneau/Doumit//Parmelee/Willy/Hicks will need days off so he'll play.

[TheLeviathan]

Well, there goes one guy (Benson) I was really trying to be positive about this offseason.

[lee_the_twins_fan]

I watched on TV when Hicks caught that drive and threw a strike to 1B to double-off the runner. Even though the play was recalled (because of a balk) it was a great play. Hicks can make plays that many others can only think about. He's the real deal. Mastro will be a vg 4th outfielder, but Hicks will start the season in CF.

[Seth Stohs]

I'm actually very happy with Joe Benson's spring as well as how the Twins handled it. The front office/Gardy talked him up as if he was in the running for the CF job and he got playing time. Considering that he was hurt ALL of 2012 (even when he did play, he was hurt), and that he couldn't do baseball activities until February because of the microfracture surgery, I thought was fine. Because of those things, there should be no surprise that he struggled early. But he did play quite well later in the spring. Not enough to say he's ready to start for the Twins, but enough to say he needs to keep playing every day. I hope he can be healthy because he certainly has the talent, offensively and defensively.

[YourHouseIsMyHouse]

Mastro put up a 90 OPS+ at age 26, and he doesn't have any minor league track record of power to allow hope of a better future. He can be one of the better 4th outfielders in the league if he continues to improve, but a team making him a starter is probably not one destined for a winning record. Parmelee could well fizzle, but he's the only one with the upside that can be above average, and he needs to get that chance now.

 

I don't see any real chance of Parmelee being an above average outfielder. He's not mobile enough and even though it's right field, defense is still required. Willingham is a bad defender and Parmelee doesn't look much better shape wise. Doumit was also really killing us in the outfield value wise. His build just isn't suitable for the outfield.

 

Mastroianni is slightly below average overall with the bat, but you're disregarding the huge speed gap and difference in fielding which very likely eliminates Parmelee's advantage with a potentially higher OPS. Parmelee has potential as a 1B and a DH. The Twins are giving him the spot in RF, so they can see how he bats. And I agree that we have to find out if he can hit here. Mastroianni in right would make the Twins better in the short term, and if the Twins can fit Parmelee into the lineup via 1B/DH more often than right, it won't hurt them in the long term either.

[YourHouseIsMyHouse]

I have it before but Mastro will be fan favorite as a reserve and he will be hated as a starter. Similar to Punto. He just isn't good enough to be an everyday player. I have also said it before but Mastro will play plenty. Mauer/Morneau/Doumit//Parmelee/Willy/Hicks will need days off so he'll play.

 

Playing devil's advocate, but when has he had a chance to start everyday in the MLB? He's probably not good as a starter, but he won't be bad either as long as he's consistently around what he did last year. Perhaps, he's even improved slightly too. I'm not sure. Players like Darin always have a chip on their shoulder and I really liked when he brought up the comments he was told saying he would never get to this point. I mean the Blue Jays sort of gave up on him. So I'm a fan, but I think he'll be reliable at least unlike Punto.

[PeanutsFromHeaven]

I realize that the center field thing is the big reveal in this roster move, but--since he's my adopt-a-prospect--I'll say what I've always said: There's nothing wrong with Luis Perdomo that a little hypnosis can't cure!

[kab21]

Playing devil's advocate, but when has he had a chance to start everyday in the MLB? He's probably not good as a starter, but he won't be bad either as long as he's consistently around what he did last year. Perhaps, he's even improved slightly too. I'm not sure. Players like Darin always have a chip on their shoulder and I really liked when he brought up the comments he was told saying he would never get to this point. I mean the Blue Jays sort of gave up on him. So I'm a fan, but I think he'll be reliable at least unlike Punto.

 

Tell me about how his offense projects? He has very little power. He strikes out quite a bit. I think you're looking at a .275/.340/.375/.715 player tops. Downside is .250/.310/.325/.635. His defense is not extraordinary in CF but it is very good in the corners. If it's me then I look for more out of a starter.