Roster Crunch? Who stays, who goes?

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

10 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

Oh right. Totally forgot Larnach had pneumonia. I think Hosken’s suggestion has merit. Try one less pitcher. Although, until Pagán is put on the IL we are already down one 

Thanks. Missed most of the game today (José Berríos, too many nerves, nice day and other things to do) but yeah if Pagan left the game with an arm injury today, that seems like a no-brainer 10 day IL stint that can be made right after the game. 

Edited May 29, 2023 by Hosken Bombo Disco

[Squirrel]

1 minute ago, Hosken Bombo Disco said:

Thanks. Missed most of the game today (José Berríos, too many nerves, nice day and other things to do) but yeah if Pagan left the game with an arm injury today, that seems like a no-brainer 10 day IL stint that can be made right after the game. 

They said it was a hip flexor injury. But don’t know how serious 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

3 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

They said it was a hip flexor injury. But don’t know how serious 

Ok, thanks. I was misinformed by the internet. This article says arm.

https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/twins-emilio-pagan-suffers-apparent-arm-injury/

[Squirrel]

3 minutes ago, Hosken Bombo Disco said:

Ok, thanks. I was misinformed by the internet. This article says arm.

https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/twins-emilio-pagan-suffers-apparent-arm-injury/

That was what they said in the game. Maybe I got that wrong. But whether arm or hip flexor, not sure he can stay off the IL

[twins_89]

I feel kind of bad for Wallner, he goes 6-6 at the plate with 2 BB and a HR over the last 2 games and still gets sent down.

[D.C Twins]

34 minutes ago, twins_89 said:

I feel kind of bad for Wallner, he goes 6-6 at the plate with 2 BB and a HR over the last 2 games and still gets sent down.

....and it's not like hitting isn't a desperate need for the team or anything 🙄

,,, what a S- Show

[ashbury]

2 hours ago, Squirrel said:

Although, until Pagán is put on the IL we are already down one 

We're already down one when Pagan is available for duty.

[howeda7]

2 hours ago, Squirrel said:

That was what they said in the game. Maybe I got that wrong. But whether arm or hip flexor, not sure he can stay off the IL

It's not exactly a huge blow. 

[stringer bell]

Kepler (I think) is now only a right fielder, much like Buxton is only a DH. Kepler and his mediocre offense and good defense, is a roster problem. He’s a major league veteran with a lot of time on this team, but it sure looks like his time is almost up. 
 

It’s easy enough to say “send him to center field” or use him as a fourth outfielder, but I doubt it’s that easy in practice. 
 

Wallner and Julien (and Castro) have all shown ability and also made misplays that cost the team. The experienced players that could/will supplant them most likely make fewer mistakes, but maybe don’t add production that these guys might provide. 
 

It’s far better to have the likes of Julien, Lewis, Wallner and maybe Miranda ready to step in than a bunch of AAAA players. 

[Squirrel]

18 minutes ago, howeda7 said:

It's not exactly a huge blow. 

Not suggesting it is. Just trying to figure out how that fits in the moves to come if he moves to the IL

[Squirrel]

14 hours ago, Squirrel said:

That was what they said in the game. Maybe I got that wrong. But whether arm or hip flexor, not sure he can stay off the IL

I posted this in the injuries update thread, but it’s pertinent here, too. Looks like no IL trip for now. But this tweet also signals they aren’t likely to go with 12 pitchers as @Hosken Bombo Disco suggested. If they do end up putting him on the IL not sure who there is to take his place. Trades need to happen, yet is it too soon for that?

 

[stringer bell]

Does anyone know if they brought an extra pitcher with them to Houston? With Pagán unavailable and an IL possibility, it makes sense to have sn extra BP arm on site. 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Kepler had some run in center field in 2019 after Buxton went down, and then Kepler started 19 games in center in 2021. I can only guess that they asked Kepler and he said no, or they didn’t ask at all. 

Playing Kepler in center for a short time would have allowed Wallner to remain in right field against some right handed starters this week and see if his bat stayed hot. It’s just an idea, and not a bad one, in my opinion. 

[Squirrel]

1 hour ago, Hosken Bombo Disco said:

Kepler had some run in center field in 2019 after Buxton went down, and then Kepler started 19 games in center in 2021. I can only guess that they asked Kepler and he said no, or they didn’t ask at all. 

Playing Kepler in center for a short time would have allowed Wallner to remain in right field against some right handed starters this week and see if his bat stayed hot. It’s just an idea, and not a bad one, in my opinion. 

Bottom line ... I don't like losing those who are hitting any more than the next person. I can't say how or why what decisions are made ... well above my pay grade ... doesn't mean I always like them, either. The only thing I can think is they didn't feel Wallner would get every day playing time (again, don't know why because I don't know the plan) and maybe they want him playing every day in St. Paul, knowing he will be back up soon? (When someone goes ... someone has to.) Just searching for rationale.

[Riverbrian]

8 hours ago, Squirrel said:

Bottom line ... I don't like losing those who are hitting any more than the next person. I can't say how or why what decisions are made ... well above my pay grade ... doesn't mean I always like them, either. The only thing I can think is they didn't feel Wallner would get every day playing time (again, don't know why because I don't know the plan) and maybe they want him playing every day in St. Paul, knowing he will be back up soon? (When someone goes ... someone has to.) Just searching for rationale.

Options... Wallner has them. Kepler doesn't... this means that Wallner has to be significantly better than the player who doesn't have them and it's hard to be significantly better when hot streaks are stopped at management's request. 

Kepler sending Wallner down was in the script. 

That's why we are not surprised. 

 

 

 

[Squirrel]

8 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

Options... Wallner has them. Kepler doesn't... this means that Wallner has to be significantly better than the player who doesn't have them and it's hard to be significantly better when hot streaks are stopped at management's request. 

Kepler sending Wallner down was in the script. 

That's why we are not surprised. 

 

 

 

Oh yeah, I get it ... as I said somewhere, not sure this thread of another ... it's not surprising. But I am disappointed for Wallner. Just hope Kepler hits enough to make us forget this ... hope springs eternal, etc ... 

[stringer bell]

5 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

Oh yeah, I get it ... as I said somewhere, not sure this thread of another ... it's not surprising. But I am disappointed for Wallner. Just hope Kepler hits enough to make us forget this ... hope springs eternal, etc ... 

Kepler has an okay OPS so far this year, fueled by both an uptick in power and a fair amount of walks. He still makes a lot of outs and his upside must now be mid-.200s batting average and an above average OPS+.

There has to come a point where a change of role occurs. I know some others have said that Max shouldn't be guaranteed a spot in the lineup. OTOH, Larnach and Wallner (or Kirilloff for that matter) haven't proven they will be better and Kepler is regarded as a plus defender.I suppose the manager makes the call to change a role and has the most information about when to make that move. Wallner did very well in a very small sample. His numbers at St. Paul were good, but not really enough to force himself to the big club. They'll also have Larnach, probably in a week or two. Kirilloff, Gallo, Kepler, Larnach, Kepler and Larnach for three spots is too many. I also believe their best first baseman is playing left field, which is another case of deferring to veterans.

[Squirrel]

23 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

I also believe their best first baseman is playing left field, which is another case of deferring to veterans.

Heh ... today as I watched parts of the game, I kept thinking, Gallo is really good at first base. I don't think Kirilloff is really that much better, but perhaps Gallo is a far better outfielder. I think that's more the case than the other. I wonder if Gallo's leg was more banged up than we realize? Otherwise, not really sure why that is the call there.

[Rosterman]

So if and when Madea and Polanco come back, who do the Twins cut to St. Paul - Julien and Varland?

[stringer bell]

43 minutes ago, Rosterman said:

So if and when Madea and Polanco come back, who do the Twins cut to St. Paul - Julien and Varland?

Pretty certainly Julien would be optioned to make room for Polanco. 
 

I think we’ll know more about Maeda during and after his rehab. It isn’t apples to apples, but Varland’s numbers are better than Maeda’s. 

[Riverbrian]

9 hours ago, Squirrel said:

Just hope Kepler hits enough to make us forget this ... hope springs eternal, etc ... 

I was thinking about that exact thing watching Kepler have a pretty rough game yesterday. 

I was thinking that Matt Wallner in just 2 games almost reached one third of Max Kepler's entire season of offensive production.

I was thinking that it's possible that Max will be signing a minor league deal next year but not before he gets in the way for one last time. 

Honestly... I didn't think about Kepler that much because Royce Lewis gave me something else to think about. 

Watching Lewis I started thinking. Our youth has led the way in the past 3 wins as the vets did very little. 

Then I started thinking... when Polanco gets back, we will be healthy again with vets all over the place. 

 

 

[Riverbrian]

9 hours ago, stringer bell said:

Kirilloff, Gallo, Kepler, Larnach, Kepler and Larnach for three spots is too many.

True

And yet... not enough. 

 

I substituted Wallner for that 2nd Larnach. 

[umterp23]

If Maeda comes back soon enough, send him to the bullpen.  Allow him to get back up to strength vs 3-4 inning start in the rotation.  

 

[stringer bell]

2 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

True

And yet... not enough. 

 

I substituted Wallner for that 2nd Larnach. 

Thanks, that what I meant!

[Major League Ready]

8 hours ago, Rosterman said:

So if and when Madea and Polanco come back, who do the Twins cut to St. Paul - Julien and Varland?

I sure hope they don't replace Varland with Maeda.  Valand is an important part of the future.  Let's find out if we can count on him now.   Send Sands down and put Maeda in the BP.

Julien for Polanco makes sense.  Julien needs to play every day to work on his defense.  Perhaps they should give him some reps at 1B so that he has some positional flexibility.  That would make it easier for him replace Solano.

[Riverbrian]

As unenthusiastic as I am about Kepler's return and as much as I hate management stopping a little hot streak by decree. 

I also don't see an alternative move for the front office to make. 

Wallner had to go down for Kepler. We have 3 hitters on the 40 man down in St. Paul. We are still in the month of May, it's too soon to put acute pressure on the 40 man roster.  

Correa, Buxton, Gallo, Kepler, Polanco and Taylor have to be better. 

[wsnydes]

11 hours ago, Squirrel said:

Heh ... today as I watched parts of the game, I kept thinking, Gallo is really good at first base. I don't think Kirilloff is really that much better, but perhaps Gallo is a far better outfielder. I think that's more the case than the other. I wonder if Gallo's leg was more banged up than we realize? Otherwise, not really sure why that is the call there.

I would say that Gallo is a much better outfielder.  I haven't seen him or Kirilloff enough personally to say much about which is better at 1B.

And if Gallo has a bum leg or whatever, it makes sense to keep him at 1B as much as I dislike it.  Kirilloff's bat needs to be in the lineup.

[Squirrel]

23 minutes ago, wsnydes said:

I would say that Gallo is a much better outfielder.  I haven't seen him or Kirilloff enough personally to say much about which is better at 1B.

And if Gallo has a bum leg or whatever, it makes sense to keep him at 1B as much as I dislike it.  Kirilloff's bat needs to be in the lineup.

Agree with Kirilloff's bat, and don't think that is in question (at least I hope not). As I indicated above, perhaps not clearly, I'd switch them because I think Gallo is the far better outfielder, and not because I think Kirilloff is the better 1B, because I'm not sure he is, by much, anyway.

[wsnydes]

3 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

Agree with Kirilloff's bat, and don't think that is in question (at least I hope not). As I indicated above, perhaps not clearly, I'd switch them because I think Gallo is the far better outfielder, and not because I think Kirilloff is the better 1B, because I'm not sure he is, by much, anyway.

I see.  I misinterpreted what you said.  I'd much rather see them switched too, but I can understand why they're not if Gallo is banged up.

[Major League Ready]

2 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

As unenthusiastic as I am about Kepler's return and as much as I hate management stopping a little hot streak by decree. 

I also don't see an alternative move for the front office to make. 

Wallner had to go down for Kepler. We have 3 hitters on the 40 man down in St. Paul. We are still in the month of May, it's too soon to put acute pressure on the 40 man roster.  

Correa, Buxton, Gallo, Kepler, Polanco and Taylor have to be better. 

I agree that we can't just be cutting players at this point in the season, especially based on literally two good games for Wallner.  However, I would like to see Wallner or Larnach take Kepler's roster spot over the course of the season.  They are unlikely to just DFA Kepler so this could take until July or even the deadline.  The versatility of Lewis / Castro / Farmer and Gallo will provide plenty of options in terms of how they manage the transition of the roster in general. 

While the main guys need to be better, the others guys also need to contribute a little.  Vasquez has been horrendous lately.   His wRC+ for May is 14.  MAT is not much better at 34.  These black holes in the lineup have killed a lot of opportunities.  

Buxtons wRC+ for May is 90.  That has little value as a DH so if this continues, he needs to play CF and MAT goes to a 4th OFer and defensive replacement role.  Perhaps Julien becomes a semi-full-time DH.