Welcome to The Show, Jose Miranda!

[Trov]

Unless he comes out crushing the ball I bet he is only here until Gray is ready to come back into rotation. This is not some sign of him coming up for good.  Remember last year we had guys get called up and not even get an at-bat before being sent back. 

[RpR]

Just now, raindog said:

Terry isn’t on the 40 man and isn’t much of a prospect. 
 

Miranda will platoon with Arraez at 1st and occasionally play 3rd/DH. Once Sano is back he likely goes back to AAA. 

Thank you.

How does it work with rookies who show strength in AAA but are not on the 40, doomed to minors forever?

[raindog]

1 minute ago, RpR said:

Thank you.

How does it work with rookies who show strength in AAA but are not on the 40, doomed to minors forever?

If they show enough or if the team really needs them, they can always be added to 40 man and called up. The Twins just have a really stacked 40 man currently.

[Doctor Gast]

I'm excited for Miranda, his RH bat will be very welcomed platooning w/ Arraez . Also Miranda is athletic enough where he could play some corner OF spot if he had some experience there, his RH bat would be welcome there also. 

Also agree that Smeltzer should be called up because 1st he deserves it and 2nd he's a veteran where he doesn't any more time in the minors. He could go long relief and spot start in a bind

[RpR]

Just now, Doctor Gast said:

I'm excited for Miranda, his RH bat will be very welcomed platooning w/ Arraez . Also Miranda is athletic enough where he could play some corner OF spot if he had some experience there, his RH bat would be welcome there also.

Maybe he is another speeder on the bases like Buxton and Celestino, that might give the twins a base stealing ability again.

[tony&rodney]

Miranda is a bat first infielder who could learn to become a better defender in time. He is competent now. He does not have the wheels to slot into the outfield. Gordon is athletic and has worked to become proficient in the outfield. We should look for Miranda to be an aggressive hitter who also has a good idea of the strike zone. 

As the season progresses the Twins will be keeping an eye on Royce Lewis. Lewis has wheels, can play infield or outfield, and has been taking solid swings in AAA. From watching his at bats on milb.com, Lewis looks much improved/ comfortable in the batter's box. There is always a spot for someone who can hit and field.

[nicksaviking]

20 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

It is hard to believe he only has 1 XBH at this point.....his D has been very good, but his O is not stellar so far. 

I don't know if I'd cut bait on him already though.....but IF they could turn him into an elite RP (who the heck has one that would trade for a 3B?), I'd do that...and there just aren't many trades at this point.

Yeah, I wouldn't cut bait on him, he's definitely a very useful player. When the Twins traded for him I just thought his versatility was going to be his biggest asset to the team. I envisioned another Arraez/Eduardo Escobar kind of player you could move around the diamond as needed.

[wabene]

20 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

Yeah, I wouldn't cut bait on him, he's definitely a very useful player. When the Twins traded for him I just thought his versatility was going to be his biggest asset to the team. I envisioned another Arraez/Eduardo Escobar kind of player you could move around the diamond as needed.

Yes nice glove and we should give him a break on the .627 ops, we have faced many leftys recently.

[whosafraidofluigirussolo]

2 hours ago, IndianaTwin said:

Doesn't Miranda play 1B as well? 

So we could see Arraez get lefty at bats there and Miranda Rights?

(And when your catchers are both batting .200, it might make sense to lessen the DH role ABs for one of them.)

I have some opinions about who gets playing time when, but I'm going to remain silent about them

[chpettit19]

1 hour ago, Trov said:

Unless he comes out crushing the ball I bet he is only here until Gray is ready to come back into rotation. This is not some sign of him coming up for good.  Remember last year we had guys get called up and not even get an at-bat before being sent back. 

The Twins currently have 14 pitchers and 12 hitters on their roster. I'd be beyond shocked if they send Miranda down when Gray comes back and go with 15 pitchers and 11 hitters. And the guys who got called up and never got an AB before being sent back down were not prospects expected to ever be a real part of the major league team. I thought they should've gotten them on the field during a lost season, but they're not comparable to Miranda and what the team is hoping/expecting out of him.

[PDX Twin]

4 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

The Twins currently have 14 pitchers and 12 hitters on their roster. I'd be beyond shocked if they send Miranda down when Gray comes back and go with 15 pitchers and 11 hitters. And the guys who got called up and never got an AB before being sent back down were not prospects expected to ever be a real part of the major league team. I thought they should've gotten them on the field during a lost season, but they're not comparable to Miranda and what the team is hoping/expecting out of him.

My understanding is that they must carry no more than 14 pitchers, so this move is not an option. Is this correct?

[chpettit19]

12 minutes ago, PDX Twin said:

My understanding is that they must carry no more than 14 pitchers, so this move is not an option. Is this correct?

I know they extended the time they could have more than 13 pitchers to the end of May basically (29th maybe?), but I'm not sure if that came with a rule that they could only carry 14. The normal rule is you have to have at least 13 hitters on the roster so that will be the rule after the end of May.

[chpettit19]

Miranda playing 3B and batting 6th tonight!

[twins_89]

I'm hoping that in a couple of weeks the Twins will have a really tough decision on what to do with Sano.

[Game7-91]

Points out the pending logjam when Lewis comes up as well....what to with Urshela and/or Sano. Something will have to give and I'd bet on Sano finding a new home by the trade deadline, even if they have to take back salary. Miranda and Lewis deserve some extended time on the 26 to acclimate and evaluate. Urshela at least brings stable D and have to believe he will start hitting again. It just feels like we are reaching the end of Sano's time here by the force of circumstances, and his uninspiring level of play.

[mnfireman]

I would like to see Miranda play well enough for the team to DFA Sano and to put Arraez back into a utility role. Sano is totally lost at the plate and is a liability defensively. Take away Arraez's two best games and he is slashing .224/.307/.293 for the season, not the GREAT offensive player many make him out to be, and is also a defensive liability.

[MMMordabito]

3 hours ago, Fatbat said:

Its time to trade Sano for a high leverage role RP. 

If we can get Pedro Cerrano's locker setup in the clubhouse and then somehow get Bernie Madoff's spirit to possess Falvey, we just might be able to pull that off.

[Unwinder]

I'm very sure that the plan is for Miranda to get a taste while Sano heals up and hopefully finds his swing, and this is probably going to happen even if he rakes. I'm still going to enjoy the next few games though, I've been excited to see this guy get a shot at the major leagues since I attended his Saints debut last year.

[AlwaysinModeration]

1 hour ago, chpettit19 said:

Miranda playing 3B and batting 6th tonight!

And I’ll be in attendance for his debut with my 10-year son. We’re sitting in the LF bleachers, as we plan on catching one each of Buxton and Miranda’s homers.  Need a good Hamilton quote…don’t give up your shot, Jose!

[chpettit19]

9 minutes ago, AlwaysinModeration said:

And I’ll be in attendance for his debut with my 10-year son. We’re sitting in the LF bleachers, as we plan on catching one each of Buxton and Miranda’s homers.  Need a good Hamilton quote…don’t give up your shot, Jose!

That's awesome! With the crowds the Orioles draw you should have some space out there to move about and grab those homerun balls. Looks a cool stadium there and hopefully the Twins can provide a good show for you tonight!

[AlwaysinModeration]

42 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

That's awesome! With the crowds the Orioles draw you should have some space out there to move about and grab those homerun balls. Looks a cool stadium there and hopefully the Twins can provide a good show for you tonight!

The Twins hit six home runs in the game we went to last year…so a repeat would be just fine.

[wabene]

24 minutes ago, AlwaysinModeration said:

The Twins hit six home runs in the game we went to last year…so a repeat would be just fine.

You're hired!

[CRF]

I just read that the Bal-delli Lama said Sano's knee might need surgery. They'll figure out what to do in the next few days. He might be out a while. 

[Richie the Rally Goat]

1 hour ago, CRF said:

I just read that the Bal-delli Lama said Sano's knee might need surgery. They'll figure out what to do in the next few days. He might be out a while. 

 

[IndianaTwin]

5 hours ago, whosafraidofluigirussolo said:

I have some opinions about who gets playing time when, but I'm going to remain silent about them

Good choice. Anything you say could be held against you in a future Game Thread. 

[IndianaTwin]

1 hour ago, AlwaysinModeration said:

The Twins hit six home runs in the game we went to last year…so a repeat would be just fine.

Let’s hope they don’t hit homers in moderation, Always. 

[stringer bell]

Late to this thread, but 14 pitchers is the maximum for teams from yesterday until May 29, at which point the maximum drops to 13. So if there are no more injuries, Gray would have to displace another pitcher. 

The reference to players being recalled and not getting a chance refers to Drew Maggi, a career minor leaguer, recalled for three days because Simmons wasn't allowed to go to Canada. Not the same thing as Miranda, a top 100 MLB prospect.

Sano will be out awhile, perhaps a long while, so Miranda should get a real good shot to see if he's ready for the show. I am pretty sure neither Arraez or Miranda will get any outfield time. I'm hoping, with Miranda's recall, that neither Urshela or Sanchez will have to play first base. 

Urshela's numbers looked very good when the Twins started their road trip. Unfortunately, he was 0 for Tampa Bay. Numbers bounce up and down this early in the season, ask Kepler or Correa. Worst case scenario, is that Urshela is a valuable utility guy, best case is that he hits lefties well and is the semi-regular third baseman. 

I've mentioned this in other threads, the thing that stands out to me is that Baldelli and his staff still have legitimate major league players (or in Miranda's case a legitimate prospect) to choose from. He's not choosing the lesser of two evils to DH or having to decide which sub-Mendoza line infielder to play. This is with three position players on the Injured List. The depth is depleted in the outfield and first base, but these are still major leaguers to choose from.

[stringer bell]

22 hours ago, IndianaTwin said:

Doesn't Miranda play 1B as well? 

So we could see Arraez get lefty at bats there and Miranda Rights?

(And when your catchers are both batting .200, it might make sense to lessen the DH role ABs for one of them.)

Absolutely. I would expect Miranda to be the starting 1B against left handed pitching. Yesterday, he played third and I would expect some job-share (not a true platoon) with Urshela. DH at-bats should be available, as well. 

[DJL44]

21 hours ago, raindog said:

Once Sano is back he likely goes back to AAA. 

On the radio they were discussing the possibility of knee surgery for Sano. He's not going to be back for a while.

[LA Vikes Fan]

Sorry to hear about Sano, but this really does give an opportunity to Miranda, and maybe even to Arraez to establish himself as the team's primary 1B. It's probably about time to move on from Sano given his inconsistency and now we're being forced into it.