Roster Crunch? Who stays, who goes?

[FlyingFinn]

7 minutes ago, SwainZag said:

Like chpettit said above, how do you make room on the 40 man for him?  If you can 60 day IL Alcala, then great.  If he plans to return this season, someone is going to have to be DFA'd.

Alcala to the 60 day or DFA Henriquez (the "he's young" talk has gotten "old").

[nicksaviking]

27 minutes ago, SwainZag said:

Like chpettit said above, how do you make room on the 40 man for him?  If you can 60 day IL Alcala, then great.  If he plans to return this season, someone is going to have to be DFA'd.

I don't think I'd want Alcala returning even if he was able to. A rusty reliever who already has sketchy control sounds like a bad addition for the stretch run. 

But as far as DFA's go, I'd probably do Jovani Moran. He is the square peg in a bullpen comprised of otherwise very good control. I'm also on board with removing Henriquez. I wouldn't necessarily give up on him, but his transition to relief came a year too late and his struggles this year won't allow him to contribute. Oliver Ortega looks like the current taxi-squad reliever du jour.

Of course if it was my call, none of those guys would be DFA'd before Gallo or Luplow.

[Mike Sixel]

27 minutes ago, SwainZag said:

Like chpettit said above, how do you make room on the 40 man for him?  If you can 60 day IL Alcala, then great.  If he plans to return this season, someone is going to have to be DFA'd.

DFA Gallo? DFA luplow? 

[Mike Sixel]

Just now, nicksaviking said:

I don't think I'd want Alcala returning even if he was able to. A rusty reliever who already has sketchy control sounds like a bad addition. 

But as far as DFA's go, I'd probably do Jovani Moran. He is the square peg in a bullpen comprised of otherwise very good control. I'm also on board with removing Henriquez. I wouldn't necessarily give up on him, but his transition to relief came a year too late and his struggles this year won't allow him to contribute. Oliver Ortega looks like the current taxi-squad reliever du jour.

Of course if it was my call, none of those guys would be DFA'd before Gallo or Luplow.

This. All of this.

[Riverbrian]

1 hour ago, chpettit19 said:

Selfishly I hope they keep Lewis in AAA through Saturday cuz I'm going to the game and would really like to see him and Lee play next to each other. Beyond that I think it would come down to how long he's really expected to be out for. How bad is the injury? Where's Alcala at on his return? Can we 60-day him and give one of the older AAA guys who aren't on the 40-man a tryout for a couple weeks? Which of them can play 1B so are even an option? I just don't like that this likely leads to more Gallo.

If we don't want more Gallo.

It needs to be Gallo who makes room. 😉

These types of issues... goes back to something I talk about often and that's preparation for these moments. 

Solano can't play 1B because of injury.

Nobody else has been getting first base reps so now you got to put someone at 1B who hasn't been getting reps and it happens late in the year with the playoffs on the line.  

You don't let your left handers face left handed pitchers so now you got to let your left handed hitter face left handed pitching because nobody else has been getting 1B reps. 

You keep Chris Williams type hitters out of consideration early in the year while you let other hitters hit under .200 and you never find out what Chris Williams can give you at the major league level but... now... now you got to see what he can do because nobody has been getting 1B reps and left handers haven't been allowed to face left handers.

Early in the year... you see what others can do. Once you find out what others can do... now you can lock in... once the roster is set... platoon to your hearts content... the players have told you what they can do by doing it or not doing it. You don't have to quickly convert someone to first base because earlier in the year you've actually played someone else at 1B. 

We do a bad job of prepping for these moments and these moments happen every year. 

Martin Perez stays in the rotation until the very end of the season and then doesn't make the playoff roster and Randy Dobnak is thrown to the wolves to pitch game 2 of the playoffs. 

Kyle Garlick doesn't face right handed hitting early in the season... ever really... and then come last August... injuries come around and now we need Garlick to hit right handers.  

I heard somewhere that Julien has been taking reps at 1B. We all knew Polanco was coming back? Why hasn't he been taking reps earlier? 

We don't prepare for things that happen a lot. 

We paint ourselves into corners of needing Solano. We paint ourselves into corners of being in dire straits if Michael Taylor gets hurt. 

I'm not anti-platoon, I don't believe that we should just anyone into any position but early in the year... let's do some prep for late in the year please. 

[chpettit19]

5 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

If we don't want more Gallo.

It needs to be Gallo who makes room. 😉

These types of issues... goes back to something I talk about often and that's preparation for these moments. 

Solano can't play 1B because of injury.

Nobody else has been getting first base reps so now you got to put someone at 1B who hasn't been getting reps and it happens late in the year with the playoffs on the line.  

You don't let your left handers face left handed pitchers so now you got to let your left handed hitter face left handed pitching because nobody else has been getting 1B reps. 

You keep Chris Williams type hitters out of consideration early in the year while you let other hitters hit under .200 and you never find out what Chris Williams can give you at the major league level but... now... now you got to see what he can do because nobody has been getting 1B reps and left handers haven't been allowed to face left handers.

Early in the year... you see what others can do. Once you find out what others can do... now you can lock in... once the roster is set... platoon to your hearts content... the players have told you what they can do by doing it or not doing it. You don't have to quickly convert someone to first base because earlier in the year you've actually played someone else at 1B. 

We do a bad job of prepping for these moments and these moments happen every year. 

Martin Perez stays in the rotation until the very end of the season and then doesn't make the playoff roster and Randy Dobnak is thrown to the wolves to pitch game 2 of the playoffs. 

Kyle Garlick doesn't face right handed hitting early in the season... ever really... and then come last August... injuries come around and now we need Garlick to hit right handers.  

I heard somewhere that Julien has been taking reps at 1B. We all knew Polanco was coming back? Why hasn't he been taking reps earlier? 

We don't prepare for things that happen a lot. 

We paint ourselves into corners of needing Solano. We paint ourselves into corners of being in dire straits if Michael Taylor gets hurt. 

I'm not anti-platoon, I don't believe that we should just anyone into any position but early in the year... let's do some prep for late in the year please. 

Love it. Agree with it all. And, to add to it, Julien was taking reps at 1B on his own, not at the behest of the team.

[LA Vikes Fan]

Chris Williams has a 37.5% strikeout rate in 2023, 35.7% in the AAA potion of 2022. Average at AAA is 23.2%. That percentage generally goes up when they move to the MLB level by about 5%. In short, Williams is presently a AAA whiff machine liley to become a MLB SO king.  Having Williams and Gallo share 1B will lead to a minimum of 2 SOs a game from that position, usually 3.  Love the guy, hope he matures to cut that SO rate down below 30%, but right now he isn't likely to help, he's more likely to make our SO problem worse. Better call is to move up Lewis early, and have Polanco or Julien move to 1B. 

[Mike Sixel]

2 minutes ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

Chris Williams has a 37.5% strikeout rate in 2023, 35.7% in the AAA potion of 2022. Average at AAA is 23.2%. That percentage generally goes up when they move to the MLB level by about 5%. In short, Williams is presently a AAA whiff machine liley to become a MLB SO king.  Having Williams and Gallo share 1B will lead to a minimum of 2 SOs a game from that position, usually 3.  Love the guy, hope he matures to cut that SO rate down below 30%, but right now he isn't likely to help, he's more likely to make our SO problem worse. Better call is to move up Lewis early, and have Polanco or Julien move to 1B. 

An awful lot of people said Wallner struck out too much in the minors to get a shot. We'll never know, if they can play if they never get a shot. Gallo is terrible, we know that. We don't know if Williams, Larnach, Prato, Severino are.... All of whom should be practicing at first. 

[LA Vikes Fan]

Mike, if the choice is bring up Williams and DFA Gallo, I am right there with you. I would do that TODAY.  I just think the question is who plays 1B for the next 2-5 days before we bring back Lewis. I'd rather it be Polanco or Julien than Gallo or Williams.  If Solano goes to the Il (I think likely), I'd be most happy with a Gallo DFA, Williams call up, Lewis call up and Polanco or Julien at 1B. 

[nicksaviking]

10 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

An awful lot of people said Wallner struck out too much in the minors to get a shot. We'll never know, if they can play if they never get a shot. Gallo is terrible, we know that. We don't know if Williams, Larnach, Prato, Severino are.... All of whom should be practicing at first. 

Yeah, I'd guess Williams will strike out too much, but I also had that opinion about Wallner, so I'd give Williams a shot before I write him off. Both have strong BB%, which should help offset the strikeouts.

If we want to limit the strkeouts, Prato is obviously the guy this team should be trying to fit onto the roster. Or I suppose there'd be few objections to Brooks Lee. Other than those that want to manipulate service time.

[mnfireman]

Gallo and Luplow gone, Larnach and Lewis up. Martin looks like he's starting to heat up, next man up on the injury replacement and/or roster expansion. Just my thoughts.

[FlyingFinn]

8 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

If we want to limit the strkeouts, Prato is obviously the guy this team should be trying to fit onto the roster. Or I suppose there'd be few objections to Brooks Lee.

Let Lee get used to AAA before calling him up with a .111 batting average. I'm just saying to be patient with Lee.

[Mike Sixel]

26 minutes ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

Mike, if the choice is bring up Williams and DFA Gallo, I am right there with you. I would do that TODAY.  I just think the question is who plays 1B for the next 2-5 days before we bring back Lewis. I'd rather it be Polanco or Julien than Gallo or Williams.  If Solano goes to the Il (I think likely), I'd be most happy with a Gallo DFA, Williams call up, Lewis call up and Polanco or Julien at 1B. 

I hope this isn't another situation where they play short handed for five games, then IL a player.....

Polanco to first, Farmer to third for now. 

[LA Vikes Fan]

You called it. That's tonight's lineup. Probably don't make a decision until later tonight or tomorrow on Solano depending on the MRI. Call up for Friday's series in Philly if he goes on the IL. 

[nicksaviking]

17 minutes ago, FlyingFinn said:

Let Lee get used to AAA before calling him up with a .111 batting average. I'm just saying to be patient with Lee.

That BA is only through four games. I'm fine being patient with him, because there are other, non-heralded prospects who should get extended looks but won't if Lee comes up and stays, but the team can and should still win this division even if they do start doing their homework on these young guys to build next year's 26-man roster. I do not think they can win a championship by continuing to sign and trade for these low ceiling vets to fill up half the roster. I would like to see done to the offense what was done to the rotation last offseason, but the free agent bats are terrible next year. Try to find out which ones can be strong contributors next year, and which one's should be traded for strong contributors.

[nicksaviking]

22 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

I hope this isn't another situation where they play short handed for five games, then IL a player.....

Polanco to first, Farmer to third for now. 

To their credit, they've been much better about this lately.

[jorgenswest]

51 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

An awful lot of people said Wallner struck out too much in the minors to get a shot. We'll never know, if they can play if they never get a shot. Gallo is terrible, we know that. We don't know if Williams, Larnach, Prato, Severino are.... All of whom should be practicing at first. 

A good example…

Through May Wallner’s strike out over 33%. In June/July before he was called up it was 22%. Strike out stabilizes early so the change is significant. It seems like he did the work to earn that opportunity.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

2 hours ago, chpettit19 said:

Selfishly I hope they keep Lewis in AAA through Saturday cuz I'm going to the game and would really like to see him and Lee play next to each other. Beyond that I think it would come down to how long he's really expected to be out for. How bad is the injury? Where's Alcala at on his return? Can we 60-day him and give one of the older AAA guys who aren't on the 40-man a tryout for a couple weeks? Which of them can play 1B so are even an option? I just don't like that this likely leads to more Gallo.

How’s Polanco at digging short hoppers at First?

[chpettit19]

Just now, Richie the Rally Goat said:

How’s Polanco at digging short hoppers at First?

I'd like to find out in a game!

[jorgenswest]

5 minutes ago, jorgenswest said:

A good example…

Through May Wallner’s strike out over 33%. In June/July before he was called up it was 22%. Strike out stabilizes early so the change is significant. It seems like he did the work to earn that opportunity.

To add…

Severino’s strike out rate has dropped quite a bit also. In July it was 24% where it started in the mid 35s. He also earned his recent promotion.

[jmlease1]

43 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

I hope this isn't another situation where they play short handed for five games, then IL a player.....

Polanco to first, Farmer to third for now. 

I wonder if Farmer at 1B isn't more likely? But even with Kirilloff on the IL I'm ready to be done with Gallo, who is an auto-out against anyone who can throw strikes.

I also think the Twins need to to think harder about only carrying 12 pitchers. I don't think we need two guys who only pitch once a week in the bullpen. Winder or Headrick; having both of them seems redundant. DFA Gallo. Send down Headrick or Winder. But I doubt the twins will even consider cutting Gallo while Kirilloff is out or go more than a few days with 12 pitchers.

[Mike Sixel]

5 minutes ago, jmlease1 said:

I wonder if Farmer at 1B isn't more likely? But even with Kirilloff on the IL I'm ready to be done with Gallo, who is an auto-out against anyone who can throw strikes.

I also think the Twins need to to think harder about only carrying 12 pitchers. I don't think we need two guys who only pitch once a week in the bullpen. Winder or Headrick; having both of them seems redundant. DFA Gallo. Send down Headrick or Winder. But I doubt the twins will even consider cutting Gallo while Kirilloff is out or go more than a few days with 12 pitchers.

Farmer is a much better fielder.... But it's moot. Gallo starts again. 

[jmlease1]

24 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Farmer is a much better fielder.... But it's moot. Gallo starts again. 

no one does sunk costs like the MN Twins.

[nicksaviking]

57 minutes ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

How’s Polanco at digging short hoppers at First?

Hopefully he's as good at digging them as he is at throwing them.

[SwainZag]

The quicker everyone realizes that Gallo isn't going anywhere until AK comes back to this team the better.  The team isn't going to DFA Gallo to field a team without a player on the roster who doesn't have much playing time at 1B.  Farmer with his 171 innings at 1B isn't some huge upgrade against RHP than Joey is.

I know every post must include DFA Gallo somewhere, but it's really not going to happen until AK is back on the roster.

[Sutter50]

17 minutes ago, SwainZag said:

The quicker everyone realizes that Gallo isn't going anywhere until AK comes back to this team the better.  The team isn't going to DFA Gallo to field a team without a player on the roster who doesn't have much playing time at 1B.  Farmer with his 171 innings at 1B isn't some huge upgrade against RHP than Joey is.

I know every post must include DFA Gallo somewhere, but it's really not going to happen until AK is back on the roster.

A wise and sensible post, finally 

[SwainZag]

3 minutes ago, Sutter50 said:

A wise and sensible post, finally 

I am tired of seeing him in the lineup as well, but almost every topic is being over-run with DFA Gallo.  It's almost worse than the Kepler talk of May-June.  Just trying to be realistic about it.  If they haven't gotten rid of him yet for an inexperienced AAA player yet, they aren't going to do it now when the rest of the 1B depth is banged up.  It also isn't a video game where any player can pick up a 1st baseman's glove and be fine defensively out there.  

[Vanimal46]

6 minutes ago, SwainZag said:

It also isn't a video game where any player can pick up a 1st baseman's glove and be fine defensively out there. 

I would argue just about any professional baseball player can pick up a 1B mitt and ramp up quickly to play passable defense. We just witnessed it last year with Gold Glove award winning 1B Luis Arraez. 

[stringer bell]

1 minute ago, Vanimal46 said:

I would argue just about any professional baseball player can pick up a 1B mitt and ramp up quickly to play passable defense. We just witnessed it last year with Gold Glove award winning 1B Luis Arraez. 

Nominated, did not win.

[Vanimal46]

2 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

Nominated, did not win.

Ah that’s right. He got robbed by Vladdy Guerrero Jr.