Miranda, Larnach Optioned, Nine More Reassigned to Minor League Camp

[Otto von Ballpark]

18 minutes ago, sthpstm said:

Is Rooker injured? I can’t seem to find him in the box score for the last week.

Yes, Rooker had a shoulder strain.

This update was in the Pioneer Press on Saturday:

Baldelli said Brent Rooker (right shoulder strain) is doing well but the team is going to give him another day or two before he restarts baseball activity.

[ashbury]

9 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

Is the rule about requiring 13 position players still there? To my knowledge it is so I don't think they even have the option to go to 12 position players. I think they'll carry 15 pitchers for the first month and then drop 2 of them while having the same 13 position players until injury and/or performance dictate a callup from the minors.

I was just thinking that 3 catchers is a reasonable luxury for a 28 man squad but not for 26.  But, when you get down to the nuts and bolts, it's not even as simple as that.

Part of my dilemma is not viewing Sanchez as a catcher.

[ashbury]

2 minutes ago, Otto von Ballpark said:

Yes, Rooker had a shoulder strain.

AAA would be a splendid, splendid place for the poor fellow to recuperate and make sure there are no lingering effects.

[LA Vikes Fan]

I think Godoy makes the team as a 2nd/3rd Catcher while they decide if Sanchez can field the position well enough to play him behind the plate.  That's probably why Sanchez is seeing significant time behind the plate during spring training. After the 1st month of the season, if Sanchez is hitting he stays as a right-handed bench bat/occasional catcher with Jeffers and Godoy doing most of the catching. I think this actually makes the most sense because no one is really being blocked; Larnach, Rooker and Miranda all need regular at bats to prove they belong and they won't get them on this roster. I think Larnach and Miranda are back up reasonably soon due to an injury and the ineffectiveness of someone else, I don't think much of Rooker as a long-term player for this team. 

That still leaves open the question of who's going to be the 4th outfielder/right-handed bat to be a reserve and replace Kepler if he once again can't hit left-handed pitching. It's starting to look more and more like Garlick will be that player but I'm hopeful that someone better will become available through waivers or a minor trade as we get closer to the start of the season and teams struggle with issues regarding their 40 man roster spots. Gordon is the backup centerfielder with Celestino playing CF every day in AAA until Buxton hits the injured list.

Finally, I like Winder a lot but I think there is no room at the inn for him to be in the starting rotation. I think he goes AAA as the "6th starter" and is the 1st 1 up. I think they want to build up his innings as a starter and not put him in the bullpen since none of the 5 in the rotation are likely candidates for a "piggyback" situation. I would actually like to see Smeltzer make the team given his performance in spring training after last year's injury issues. We are going to need long relievers at the beginning of the season and he looks like the best one we have. Jax also makes the opening roster for the same reason. If I'm counting right, that means two of Stashack, Moran and Duran go down - my guess is Duran and Moran. 

[LA Vikes Fan]

5 minutes ago, ashbury said:

I was just thinking that 3 catchers is a reasonable luxury for a 28 man squad but not for 26.  But, when you get down to the nuts and bolts, it's not even as simple as that.

Part of my dilemma is not viewing Sanchez as a catcher.

I agree, I don't see Sanchez as anything more than an occasional catcher, backup 1B, and DH. How much he plays depends entirely on how much he hits and he gets to DH a lot if he its, not catch. Godoy is the 2nd catcher - LH hitter, good defender.

[4twinsJA]

If Garlick, Smeltzer make Twins, who gets bumped off 40 man? I see Twins considering these depth players at AAA, call up in case of emergency.

[h2oface]

Catching is still a mess. I would rather see Miranda now. Get rid of the damn Yankees. Never wanted them anyway.

Yankees and cheaters. Just look the other way..........

[Seth Stohs]

2 hours ago, wsnydes said:

I imagine this means that Larnach hasn't clearly won a starting spot where he'd get consistent, any plentiful, plate appearances.

I don't know that there were any spots available assuming Sano and Kirilloff were both healthy. 

[Seth Stohs]

1 hour ago, roger said:

Question about your comment that Palacios will be the Saints primary shortstop.  Wasn’t Lewis optioned to the Saints?  If yes, won’t he be their shortstop?

I've heard mixed reports on Lewis. Just because he was optioned to St. Paul doesn't mean he has to play in St. Paul. That said, I have heard that he very well might, and if he does go to St. Paul, obviously Palacios will then be a utility guy there. 

[Seth Stohs]

1 hour ago, Mill1634 said:

I too am upset about Larnach being sent down. I didn't expect him to come North with the team, but there is no reason to send him down already. He was crushing the ball and Jake Cave is still with the team. Zero reason for that. 

Already? The first Saints practice at CHS Field is on Sunday... 

Jake Cave isn't on the 40-man roster. they need some extra guys for the rest of spring training. 

[Seth Stohs]

1 hour ago, Mill1634 said:

They mentioned on the radio broadcast today that Toby said Royce will be the Saints starting SS and Palacios will move around the diamond. 

Welp, I missed that today... and Toby would certainly know! 

[wsnydes]

42 minutes ago, Seth Stohs said:

I don't know that there were any spots available assuming Sano and Kirilloff were both healthy. 

True, with Sanchez on the roster.  Which continues to baffle me for that very reason.

[Seth Stohs]

4 minutes ago, wsnydes said:

True, with Sanchez on the roster.  Which continues to baffle me for that very reason.

Which is fine. After his struggles last season, it certainly won't hurt Larnach to get a 2-3 month AAA run to really get it going. 

[wsnydes]

1 minute ago, Seth Stohs said:

Which is fine. After his struggles last season, it certainly won't hurt Larnach to get a 2-3 month AAA run to really get it going. 

Definitely agree there.  It would be nice to have him in a better mental state confidence-wise too.  

[Otto von Ballpark]

1 hour ago, 4twinsJA said:

If Garlick, Smeltzer make Twins, who gets bumped off 40 man? I see Twins considering these depth players at AAA, call up in case of emergency.

If Garlick makes the team, Rooker could probably be waived to make room. Also, Nick Gordon is out of options.

On the pitching side, I would have guessed Jhon Romero would get waived again, but Seth seems intrigued by him.

[jimbo92107]

Winder should stay. Larnach should play in St Paul. Boy, are the Saints going to be a stacked team this season!

Come to think of it, I said that last year. Oddly, they didn't fare that well...

[Dman]

Not sure who the Twins are going to send down for Pitchers.  I see four potential guys they could move Down, Stashak, Moran, Winder and Duran.  My hunch is they send both Duran and Winder down.  Duran to make sure his confidence level is high and make sure they can ease his arm in to start the year.  Winder to make sure his struggles at AAA were of the tired arm variety and not kinks in his pitching to be worked out.

Still Stashak has looked very shaky this spring and I don't know if they want to rely on him and his lack of control early in the year and Moran is a bit of an enigma.  He can strike out the side or give up lot's of runs never know which guy he is going to be.  Might want to start him at AAA and build his confidence to make sure he is ready.

So it is a role of the dice for me on the pitching side.  I think keeping both Winder and Duran makes the most sense IMO and sending down Stashak and Moran shouldn't hurt the big club.  Still time this spring for Stashak and Moran to look better but it seems hard to believe they can look better than Winder and Duran have this spring.

Since Larnach has already been moved back down I think it is just Celestino left to move down and they should have their 28.

[Dman]

24 minutes ago, Otto von Ballpark said:

If Garlick makes the team, Rooker could probably be waived to make room. Also, Nick Gordon is out of options.

On the pitching side, I would have guessed Jhon Romero would get waived again, but Seth seems intrigued by him.

Yeah Romero has pitched 3 innings this year with 7 K's and a .50 or under WHIP.  While certainly a tiny sample size I don't think that is a guy that is going to get through waivers and I don't think that is a guy you want to give up on early.  The Twins might have gotten a deal there I think they should wait and see what they have or don't have first.

[Mike Sixel]

2 hours ago, Seth Stohs said:

I've heard mixed reports on Lewis. Just because he was optioned to St. Paul doesn't mean he has to play in St. Paul. That said, I have heard that he very well might, and if he does go to St. Paul, obviously Palacios will then be a utility guy there. 

And what of Martin? Because he can actually hit and should be in AAA.

[Doctor Gast]

Why is Cave still around and playing CF yet!? When will they wake up? Cave isn't a CF, can him and get a for real CF to back up Buxton!

[nicksaviking]

Miranda should have stuck. He’s one of the team’s best shots at the new rookie opening day lineup draft pick compensation bonuses.

And as far as roster construction goes, he + Urshala + Arraez + Kirilloff would have meant the rest of the roster could have been really, really flexible 
 

 

[tony&rodney]

49 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

one of the team’s best shots at the new rookie opening day lineup draft pick compensation bonuses.

Hmmm. One wonders if someone forgot about that. Tough to bench both Arraez and Urshela for Miranda if the rookie has a poor glove. I'm not sure what the Twins think about Miranda. He looks good at the plate.

[Seth Stohs]

2 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

And what of Martin? Because he can actually hit and should be in AAA.

I've heard he's going to AA, but I have zero confirmation of that. 

[Mike Sixel]

58 minutes ago, Seth Stohs said:

I've heard he's going to AA, but I have zero confirmation of that. 

Crazy. He can hit, dominated AA already. What has Lewis done? I don't understand. 

[wabene]

1 hour ago, Mike Sixel said:

Crazy. He can hit, dominated AA already. What has Lewis done? I don't understand. 

He didn't dominate AA. First half in AA would be my choice then move him up. It was a rush job to have him start his pro career in AA in the first place.

[KFEY93]

15 hours ago, Mill1634 said:

They mentioned on the radio broadcast today that Toby said Royce will be the Saints starting SS and Palacios will move around the diamond. 

I too am confused why Cave is still signed by the team, he does literally nothing well. 

[DJL44]

I still think there is a spot in the lineup everyday for either Miranda or Larnach. Kirilloff will fill either 1B or LF on a daily basis. That leaves the other spot open. I don't know how much longer Miranda needs to beat up on AAA before they give him a shot in the infield. Play the kid at first base.

[DJL44]

11 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

And what of Martin? Because he can actually hit and should be in AAA.

But he shouldn't play SS

[nicksaviking]

8 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

Crazy. He can hit, dominated AA already. What has Lewis done? I don't understand. 

He can't hit for power though. If I had to choose between the two prospects, I'd still tie my horse to Lewis because his ceiling tends to be the type of player harder to replace in free agency. Martin's skillset appears to be Luis Arraez with a handful more HR. 

Plus, I don't think this front office would have many qualms about calling up a competent hitter from AA. They've done it with incompetent hitters.

[rv78]

Every year I wonder why they play spring training games. If a young player (Larnach) has a good spring you still get sent down. It's not like the Twins can't use him on a regular basis in Left Field so he would get his at bats and not be sitting on the bench. Play Kirilloff at first, Put Sano at DH and run with it. Arraez and Urshela can split time at 3B. Sanchez can platoon at DH with Sano and catch every 3rd or 4th day. Gordon fills a bench spot for Infield and Outfield. Dump/Cut at least 2 of Cave, Rooker, and Garlick. No way any of those 3 should get a spot over Larnach.