Bolstering the Lineup: A Creative Thought

[YourHouseIsMyHouse]

My suggestion for the Twins to increase our chances of winning now is to move Trevor Plouffe to 2B. Plouffe has a .989% Career Fielding there (in a limited ~150 innings albeit) and his defense would likely be less of an issue there. Two different case, but consider that Brian Dozier was an even worse SS than Plouffe and now he's an elite 2B. Although Dozier's practice and preparation obviously helped, I think Plouffe could get the hang of things fairly quickly. His bat at 2B would be a HUGE advantage for us, especially since he would essentially be replacing Brian Dozier's miniscule .593 OPS.

 

So now we need a third baseman. I would like to call up Deibinson Romero to fill the void there, instead of relying on utility men Jamey Carroll and Eduardo Escobar. He's consistently OPSed over .700 for 3 years of New Britain and up and could provide some needed pop. The problem is his fielding. While he's been a poor fielder in AA-AAA, I don't think it's unreasonable to think he could do just as well as Plouffe's .954%. Perhaps he could provide a little more range at the corner. Romero is 26 and really isn't a prospect, but why not give him a chance? We know Dozier, Escobar, and Carroll have no future and can't provide much of anything hitting wise.

 

Who do we drop? We need 1 40 man spot and 2 25 man spots. I would put Chris Herrmann back in Rochester, remove B.J. Hermsen from the 40 man, and option Escobar to Rochester. We get something like this that could possibly get us closer to .500.

 

SS Pedro Florimon

C Joe Mauer

2B Trevor Plouffe

1B Justin Morneau

LF Josh Willingham

DH Ryan Doumit

3B Deibinson Romero

RF Chris Parmelee

CF Clete Thomas

 

It may be somewhat risky, but it could work out. This gives the Twins more power threats.

[greengoblinrulz]

what does getting to .500 do tho.....you're not winning the division or gonna contend with the 90 win wildcards.

I dont mind moving Plouffe to 2B next spring when Sano takes over 3B but oops......I guess Eddie Rosario gonna have that spot. Trev's spot with this team is gonna be a super utility guy who can hit HRs

[YourHouseIsMyHouse]

what does getting to .500 do tho.....you're not winning the division or gonna contend with the 90 win wildcards.

I dont mind moving Plouffe to 2B next spring when Sano takes over 3B but oops......I guess Eddie Rosario gonna have that spot. Trev's spot with this team is gonna be a super utility guy who can hit HRs

 

Personally I like winning and we need to build off something to contend next year. The race for the division is close at the moment too. I wouldn't throw away trying for that. We should use all the resources we have and do the best we can

[ashbury]

Deibinson Romero's age-25 2012 at NB translates to approximately the minuscule level of offense that Dozier currently provides, and with (as you state) poorer defense. I don't see him as bolstering anything except Starbucks stock price, for the cups of coffee they will be catering.

[howieramone1406390264]

You'll get a hernia trying to fit the pieces together to get a winning team. Like another poster said, we have just enough talent available at this time, to keep selling $7.00 beers and $5.00 hot dogs.

[greengoblinrulz]

Personally I like winning and we need to build off something to contend next year. The race for the division is close at the moment too. I wouldn't throw away trying for that. We should use all the resources we have and do the best we can

Nothing wrong with winning, but making drastic changes or playing retreads that dont do anything for the future is just spinning your wheels IMO.

I would rather lose 90 games but be better prepared for next year....but thats just me.

[LaBombo]

Sounds ok to me. The only thing they risk is the small chance that Dozier's offense will catch up with his defense, and at his age, it's hard to project much growth there. Rosario is the only impact bat at second in the minors, and he's not exactly a lock to stick there given the Twins' fetish for middle-infield leather.

 

Also, if I were Plouffe and I wanted to remain a Twin, I'd want to play anywhere but where the Twins think that Sano will land when he reaches the majors.

[drjim]

I say we put Willingham at SS. Much easier to find a corner OF than a SS and he would have one of the highest OPS in the game for a SS.

[YourHouseIsMyHouse]

I say we put Willingham at SS. Much easier to find a corner OF than a SS and he would have one of the highest OPS in the game for a SS.

 

Hmm... except my point was actually realistic since Plouffe has played 2B in the MLB.

[Mike Sixel]

Trade Morneau, and put Plouffe at 1B, call up Romero, see what you have. It can't hurt anything.......It does not matter what they get for Justin, if the goal is to see if Plouffe or Parmalee can be your starter, starting next year.

[nicksaviking]

I'd be OK with moving Plouffe to 2B, but for a different reason. As has been said, Sano and Rosario will hopefully be manning 3B and 2B in the near future pushing Plouffe to the bench. He'd be a much more useful bench/utility player if we could count on him being 2B capable as well.

[silverslugger]

The obvious and biggest issue with this suggestion is that Gardy has probably fallen in love with Dozier's defense at 2b. I have to admit, it's been admirable. Problem is, at the plate he's beyond atrocious! I'm just not sure Plouffe could get it done at 2b to please either Gardy or Ryan. He looks like a statue at third!

[Willihammer]

what does getting to .500 do tho.....you're not winning the division or gonna contend with the 90 win wildcards.

I dont mind moving Plouffe to 2B next spring when Sano takes over 3B but oops......I guess Eddie Rosario gonna have that spot. Trev's spot with this team is gonna be a super utility guy who can hit HRs

 

http://i.imgur.com/hsK3xjs.jpg?1

[kab21]

We are doing all of this so we can swap Dozier for Romero? This really doesn't make sense at all. Maybe if it was swapping Dozier for Sano in a year but there is practically zero benefit to get Romero into the lineup.

 

Additionally Plouffe seems to have all the wrong skills to play 2B. I don't get to see many Twins games in Taiwan but his agility seems to be below average. That's going to be further exposed turning double plays. His arm is strong but he has an accuracy problem. At 3B he can usually step and throw towards his target but at he will have to catch, turn and avoid baserunners on double plays. He will also have to take a little off of his throws or else the 1B man will have to handle rockets and taking a little off can create more accuracy problems.

 

I think Plouffe slides an OF spot in a year or two as a tolerable starter (placeholder) until something better comes along. I don't think 2B is in his future at all unless it's as a once/week fill-in.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Plouffe's injury has made it difficult to see what future he has on this team. I'm not against moving him to second, and honestly if he continues to hit, I wouldn't be surprised to see him return to SS (I suspect the arm issue in his first season was due more to nerves than anything else). He wouldn't be blocking anyone there and at this point, he's established as a hitter and can worry just about his defense.

 

Romero is an interesting case. Let's see how he does in AAA. His problem is Sano is knocking at the door. Honestly, the best thing that can happen with him is that he gets called up and gets off to a hot start in MLB so that he builds trade value. With Sano behind him, Romero doesn't have a future in this org. He's trade bait. If he can hit, I can see Ryan swinging a deal to get something value for him.

[stringer bell]

I think Plouffe has matured into a corner guy and couldn't be more than an emergency replacement at second or short. I think he has the necessary skills to be a good 3B or 1B. I don't know how he would play in right or left, but he has enough speed and arm. If Sano remains at third, his place on the Twins could be first or perhaps as a regular fill-in at first, third or an outfield corner. I wouldn't abandon Plouffe at third until it is clear that Sano is going to be the Twins third baseman for sure.

[johnnydakota]

3 friggin hits for the 3rd of 4th games , hey terry (curly) Ryan your a fraud a bum and shoulf go back to selling used cars you friggin hack thanks for another wasted season as you stuff ownerships pockets and fleece the fans , i hope 1 day you woander south of the border , your butt will belong to me bieoth

[snepp]

3 friggin hits for the 3rd of 4th games , hey terry (curly) Ryan your a fraud a bum and shoulf go back to selling used cars you friggin hack thanks for another wasted season as you stuff ownerships pockets and fleece the fans , i hope 1 day you woander south of the border , your butt will belong to me bieoth

 

Wrong thread?

 

http://twinsdaily.com/sports-bar/5677-official-drunken-rambling-thread.html

[twinsnorth49]

3 friggin hits for the 3rd of 4th games , hey terry (curly) Ryan your a fraud a bum and shoulf go back to selling used cars you friggin hack thanks for another wasted season as you stuff ownerships pockets and fleece the fans , i hope 1 day you woander south of the border , your butt will belong to me bieoth

 

Seriously, you can't make s**t like this up. I love this site.

[fairweather]

I don't think now is the time to relieve Plouffe of his 3B duties. This team needs more offense from Parmalee, Morneau, Mauer, Doumit, Willingham, Plouffe ect ect. but the defense has been a surprising strong point of this squad. Moving people around now wouldn't be prudent. Not gonna do it.