Ramirez and Doumit

[spideyo]

With Arcia proving that he can hit MLB pitching and Plouffe at risk of shifting from starting 3b to right handed bench bat, what's going to happen to these guys when Mastroianni and Butera heal up?

 

I'm sure Ramirez is just thrilled to be on the club, but they don't have a really good backup option for CF, and he could easily be the one cut loose when Mastroianni comes back.

 

Doumit on the other hand, isn't going to be happy being a benchwarmer for long. When he has played, he hasn't been hitting well. If they are going to have a backup catcher that hardly ever plays, Butera isn't a bad choice, and they could probably flip Doumit for something.

 

Thoughts? What would you do?

[DaveW]

I doubt Plouffe loses the 3rd base gig anytime soon, if they are ultimately ever "done" with him they will ship him off ala Valencia (note: I don't think they are even close to that point people just read to much into a temp benching)

 

Ramierez is depth at best and Mastro is a 4th OF who shouldn't be starting more than once or twice a week anyways.

 

They absolutely should NOT ship off Doumit as Mauer is probably only going to catch 120 games max this year. Those other 42 need to be started by Doumit...not Butera, you are probably talking about at least a loss or two difference in that alone.

 

Also Doumit will be fine...it's still early.

[DaveW]

Also what does "butera getting healthy" have to do with anything? At any time have they talked about wanting him on the roster? The only way we see Butera is if Mauer/Doumit get banged up for a game or two (or DL)

[Riverbrian]

Arcia is either sent down for more seasoning or Wilken is let go.

 

If Wilkin is let go.... They will find enough at bats for everyone to get a decent amount of playing time.

 

If they can't find enough at bats for all the quality players on this club... There will be no argument for keeping Gardenhire any longer.

[fairweather]

I find it hard to believe that so many fans are putting so much stock in April stats.

[spideyo]

I'm not really putting that much stock into the April stats. Just speculating what could happen.

 

As far as "Butera getting healthy", I'm basically working under the assumption that even if they had any intention on moving Doumit, or if he were to ask for a trade or something, nothing would actually happen until Butera was available to be the backup catcher.

 

Basically, my thinking is that there will be a market for trading Doumit if/when they decide they want to trade him. If they don't play him as the everyday DH, can we get something for him that'd be more valuable to the team long term than him sitting on the bench 5-6 days a week. This is assuming that Arcia/Parmelee/Willingham are all hitting better than him (which they currently are), to the point where they would rather keep those three in the lineup every day. A big IF I understand.

 

Ramirez on the other hand, is in a much more tenuous place. He isn't getting many at bats as it is, and Arcia is KILLING the ball. He certainly doesn't look like he needs much more seasoning, and he is adding excitement and entertainment to the game. It doesn't make sense to send him down. You could send Arcia down, but that assumes that Mastroianni is going to be able to perform better than him, and it still leaves you without a real CF backup. Ramirez and Mastro are both out of options, and could get swiped. I think Parm might have an option left, but I doubt they'd send him down. It's a tricky situation to be sure.

[ThePuck]

I like Arcia as much as the next guy, in fact he was the prospect I was most looking forward to seeing, but how has he proven he can hit MLB pitching? Is it his 2 HR? Cause he's batting under .200 and his OBP is mid .200s

[Guest USAFChief]

With Arcia proving that he can hit MLB pitching and Plouffe at risk of shifting from starting 3b to right handed bench bat, ?

I don't think either of those things are "proven" just yet. Quick quiz: who's OPS is currently higher, Trevor Plouffe or the proven MLB hitter Oswaldo Arcia?

[Thrylos]

 

Ramirez on the other hand, is in a much more tenuous place. He isn't getting many at bats as it is, and Arcia is KILLING the ball..

 

Arcia is hitting .194/.242/.387. Other than the isoP, that is Buterrible. I know that he needs reps and that he will be better. This is not a comment about Arcia, but a comment about the KILLING part...

 

Ramirez is hitting pretty well and has only one less PA than Carroll...

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[Shane Wahl]

Arcia will be the guy sent down first. That is clear.

[Rosterman]

Arcia and Hicks both need to see seasoning time. When Mastro returns, he may be a regular for a month or so. I see the bigger question being what to do with Morneau and do we stay with Parmelee as a stopgap, future guy.

[DaveW]

Arcia and Hicks both need to see seasoning time. When Mastro returns, he may be a regular for a month or so. I see the bigger question being what to do with Morneau and do we stay with Parmelee as a stopgap, future guy.

Hicks has been starting to turn a corner over the past 10 games or so... he may end up ok.

 

Arcia certainly needs to goto AAA, I like him but he is obviously more "raw" at this point then Hicks (which isn't a knock on him)

[spideyo]

I guess I've only seen the few games lately where he has hit. Forgive me, I've been working too many nights.

[Riverbrian]

I guess I've only seen the few games lately where he has hit. Forgive me, I've been working too many nights.

 

I'll defend ya Spidey... His numbers don't suggest Killing it but the hard contact he makes does.

 

I really think Arcia is a small sample size right now. If he keeps hitting it hard(killing it). Those numbers may rise real quick and make the decision to send him down a difficult one.

[Shane Wahl]

The Twins have come up with some formula to manage a 12-10 record. Oh wait, Gardenhire didn't figure out a way to get a righty and lefty ready in the sixth tonight . . . . still 11-11. While I believe Arcia is the first to go down when Mastro returns (which is when??), I don't think that I want to see that because I think that both Arcia and Hicks are going to get to the "law of averages" and even if that means .230 (H), .250 (A)/ .320 (H), 310 (A)/.340 (H), .380 (A), I am ok with that since they are going to be better from here on out this season and be better prepared for the future.

 

I am thinking that Mastro may have an extended rehab and that things will work themselves out.

 

Doumit is going to see his time . . . because MAUER NEEDS A DAMN DAY OFF (how is that NOT OBVIOUS this manager by now). People like the idea of Mauer catching 120+ games. I don't. I see disaster in that. I like the number 100 for him.

[snepp]

I don't think we have to worry about seeing Mastro any time soon.

[kab21]

You can't flip Doumit for anything until he starts hitting and even then he won't bring back a lot. It's better to keep as the backup catchup, occasional DH and PH.

[Anorthagen]

Doumit in my opinion is overrated, he gets out with runners in scoring position, he bad at framing, and fails to keep a high average. Either trade him or keep him as a power bat off the bench.

Ramirez is only here because he has some pop in his bat so he can stay, but if Arcia is going to stay up here, ramirez might go down due to lack of playing time.

Again IN MY OPINION sit Doumit and send down Ramirez.

[kab21]

I also think Doumit is overrated. His defense isn't good enough to catch a lot and his bat really isn't good enough to be a full time DH. This is of course why he was a cheap FA. The reality is that you aren't going to be able to trade him for much so his value is catching 1-2 days/wk, spot starting and PH'ing. It's always nice to have that legit bat off the bench instead of some AAA scrub.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I also think Doumit is overrated. His defense isn't good enough to catch a lot and his bat really isn't good enough to be a full time DH.

 

I see this repeated constantly and I don't understand it. Only ~15 guys qualified last season and played significant time at DH.

 

Ryan Doumit was ninth on that list. He's just fine as a DH and slots in around league average with an OPS in the .770-780 range.

[jun]

Hicks is going to be sent down when Mastro comes back. Ramirez is going to stay as long as he hits. Doumit would get his playing time as a part time catcher, DH and RF. What's the problem?

[kab21]

I see this repeated constantly and I don't understand it. Only ~15 guys qualified last season and played significant time at DH.

 

Ryan Doumit was ninth on that list. He's just fine as a DH and slots in around league average with an OPS in the .770-780 range.

 

I don't think that is the Ryan doumit going forward.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I don't think that is the Ryan doumit going forward.

 

It's possible but that's a pretty steep cliff to fall off. His last three seasons are .738, .830, .781. As long as he's somewhere around .750, I'm okay with him at DH.

[kab21]

.750 is pretty much the minimum acceptable number for a hitter with zero defensive value. And even then I look for a replacement.