Roster Utilization Thread

[Riverbrian]

Buxton sitting for the 2nd straight day? 

I haven't heard of any injury. Anybody heard anything? 

[stringer bell]

Lee for Miranda. It’s possible that the Twins might go with more regulars and less platooning.

Outside of the catcher alternation, Baldelli has France Julien, Correa, Lee, Larnach, Buxton and Wallner and Castro to start in the eight other positions with Bader able to step in for someone. It leaves Keirsey Jr. with pinch-running and defensive replacement duty and maybe Gasper as a short-side platoon option.

The three switch hitters are probably pretty much in the lineup against lefties along with Correa, Buxton and France, but there would be room to use one or two of the lefty hitters against southpaws. 

[jaimedude]

I get activating Lee. But why demote Miranda and keep Mickey Gasper. Miranda had a blunder today, but Gasper check swings with runners in scoring position to tie and win Fridays game and wrnt 0 for 4 ss the DH. Struggling or not if you had between picking between the guy who has power at DH and the 5 ft 8 guy who blew a play at 1st base and a key out against the Royals. I'm nit spending anymore money on the Twins with a no talent AAA guy Gasper on the roster DH'ing. Why continue waste at cat's on a 29 year old never was player even if they are a back-up 27th roster no count. No wonder the Twins are an S show they are rostering a AAA guy that would not make another MLB roster. Rocco sure likes to make guys like Miranda a whipping boy but his pets can do no harm. 

[yeahyabetcha]

8 hours ago, jaimedude said:

I get activating Lee. But why demote Miranda and keep Mickey Gasper. Miranda had a blunder today, but Gasper check swings with runners in scoring position to tie and win Fridays game and wrnt 0 for 4 ss the DH. Struggling or not if you had between picking between the guy who has power at DH and the 5 ft 8 guy who blew a play at 1st base and a key out against the Royals. I'm nit spending anymore money on the Twins with a no talent AAA guy Gasper on the roster DH'ing. Why continue waste at cat's on a 29 year old never was player even if they are a back-up 27th roster no count. No wonder the Twins are an S show they are rostering a AAA guy that would not make another MLB roster. Rocco sure likes to make guys like Miranda a whipping boy but his pets can do no harm. 

With the pecking order being Castro, Lee, Julien, Miranda or Gasper, how much playing time would you expect the 4th name on this list to get?

[jaimedude]

1 hour ago, yeahyabetcha said:

With the pecking order being Castro, Lee, Julien, Miranda or Gasper, how much playing time would you expect the 4th name on this list to get?

DH spot would much rather have Miranda as the choice than Gasper. I view Gasper as a minor league only player. He is 29 and isn't gonna develop any further. He isnt gonna hit. If your losing I would move on from Castro and Gasper and try to develop younger guys.  Floundering or not Miranda could develop. I would rather see him do that in MLB than AAA. 

[yeahyabetcha]

13 minutes ago, jaimedude said:

DH spot would much rather have Miranda as the choice than Gasper. I view Gasper as a minor league only player. He is 29 and isn't gonna develop any further. He isnt gonna hit. If your losing I would move on from Castro and Gasper and try to develop younger guys.  Floundering or not Miranda could develop. I would rather see him do that in MLB than AAA. 

Gasket’s role should be that as an emergency catcher with an occasional emergency or spot start, any thing more than that is overuse.  I prefer Julien as the dh over Miranda and I have no desire to see Miranda start over Castro at this point.

[Riverbrian]

On 4/12/2025 at 8:27 PM, stringer bell said:

Lee for Miranda. It’s possible that the Twins might go with more regulars and less platooning.

Outside of the catcher alternation, Baldelli has France Julien, Correa, Lee, Larnach, Buxton and Wallner and Castro to start in the eight other positions with Bader able to step in for someone. It leaves Keirsey Jr. with pinch-running and defensive replacement duty and maybe Gasper as a short-side platoon option.

The three switch hitters are probably pretty much in the lineup against lefties along with Correa, Buxton and France, but there would be room to use one or two of the lefty hitters against southpaws. 

I took some time off of this thread to see how things adjusted to the Lee promotion. 

Your guess above would have been exactly my guess. I think they would have primarily went with 9 players to fill 8 spots and I would have bet on a rotation of all 9 until the next 26 man roster adjustment.  I also think that Gasper and Keirsay would have been utilized exactly how you explain above. 

Of course we really didn't get a chance to find out. 

The roster has moved into sudden injury flux and it's going to take some time to sort all of this out. We have an off day today and we don't know the health status of Correa and Castro. All we know so far is that OF Matt Wallner has hit the DL and he has been so far possibly replaced by a corner IF from outside the organization. 

Over the next week or so. I think we will learn more about the organization's thoughts on Keirsay while Wallner spends his time on the IL.

If Keirsay still gets limited playing time over the next week. If Rocco immediately favors a 29 year old Jonah Bride with 600 major league AB's and a career .640 OPS over a 27 year old Kiersay... when the injury was in the OF. The Twins organization will make a pretty loud statement on their thoughts on Kiersay. 

In other words.... this should be Kiersay's moment. This should be his opportunity to get some playing time and show that he has major league value. If Keirsay is not given that opportunity under these conditions... If the Twins chose not to give him opportunity under these conditions... when could he ever get opportunity? 

One way or another... we are about to find out if Keirsay belongs. We will find out either by actual performance or we will find out by lack of faith in him demonstrated by his supervisors. 

 

[stringer bell]

4 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

I took some time off of this thread to see how things adjusted to the Lee promotion. 

Your guess above would have been exactly my guess. I think they would have primarily went with 9 players to fill 8 spots and I would have bet on a rotation of all 9 until the next 26 man roster adjustment.  I also think that Gasper and Keirsay would have bene utilized exactly how you explain above. 

Of course we really didn't get a chance to find out. 

The roster has moved into sudden injury flux and it's going to take some time to sort all of this out. We have an off day today and we don't know the health status of Correa and Castro. All we know so far is that an OF Matt Wallner has hit the DL and he has been so far possibly replaced by a corner IF from outside the organization. 

Over the next week or so. I think we will learn more about the organization's thoughts on Keirsay while Wallner spends his time on the IL.

If Keirsay still gets limited playing time over the next week. If Rocco immediately favors a 29 year old Jonah Bride with 600 major league AB's and a career .640 OPS over a 27 year old Kiersay... when the injury was in the OF. The Twins organization will make a pretty loud statement on their thoughts on Kiersay. 

In other words.... this should be Kiersay's moment. This should be his opportunity to get some playing time and show that he has major league value. If Keirsay is not given that opportunity under these conditions... If the Twins chose not to give him opportunity under these conditions... when could he ever get opportunity? 

One way or another... we are about to find out if Keirsay belongs. 

 

Yep. Keirsey should be getting some starts in the coming days with Wallner on the IL. With Castro and Correa at least nicked, I'm presuming Bride will get plenty of playing time to see whether his start this year is the outlier or whether he is a major league hitter as he was in 2024. Despite reverse platoon splits, he should be the choice over Gasper against left handed pitching for the platoon role at second base. 

Bader will probably be pretty close to full-time and he provided both offense and defense against the Mets. It would appear that Lee will get third base unless he is needed at shortstop and that Castro will continue to get most of his time in the infield. Despite a pretty deep slump, Larnach would seem to be the primary DH against right handed pitching.

[Riverbrian]

5 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

Yep. Keirsey should be getting some starts in the coming days with Wallner on the IL. With Castro and Correa at least nicked, I'm presuming Bride will get plenty of playing time to see whether his start this year is the outlier or whether he is a major league hitter as he was in 2024. Despite reverse platoon splits, he should be the choice over Gasper against left handed pitching for the platoon role at second base. 

Bader will probably be pretty close to full-time and he provided both offense and defense against the Mets. It would appear that Lee will get third base unless he is needed at shortstop and that Castro will continue to get most of his time in the infield. Despite a pretty deep slump, Larnach would seem to be the primary DH against right handed pitching.

Castro's health is going to be a huge wild card. SS health is a wild card but Castro has that ability to move around. 

If Correa and Castro both need rest. Lee is locked in at SS and can't move. 

I imagine the club is waiting for the injuries to calm down or flare up before making assessments on the severity of them. We will have to take a look at the 26 man on Friday to see just how interesting it's going to be. 

[Parfigliano]

1 hour ago, Riverbrian said:

I took some time off of this thread to see how things adjusted to the Lee promotion. 

Your guess above would have been exactly my guess. I think they would have primarily went with 9 players to fill 8 spots and I would have bet on a rotation of all 9 until the next 26 man roster adjustment.  I also think that Gasper and Keirsay would have been utilized exactly how you explain above. 

Of course we really didn't get a chance to find out. 

The roster has moved into sudden injury flux and it's going to take some time to sort all of this out. We have an off day today and we don't know the health status of Correa and Castro. All we know so far is that OF Matt Wallner has hit the DL and he has been so far possibly replaced by a corner IF from outside the organization. 

Over the next week or so. I think we will learn more about the organization's thoughts on Keirsay while Wallner spends his time on the IL.

If Keirsay still gets limited playing time over the next week. If Rocco immediately favors a 29 year old Jonah Bride with 600 major league AB's and a career .640 OPS over a 27 year old Kiersay... when the injury was in the OF. The Twins organization will make a pretty loud statement on their thoughts on Kiersay. 

In other words.... this should be Kiersay's moment. This should be his opportunity to get some playing time and show that he has major league value. If Keirsay is not given that opportunity under these conditions... If the Twins chose not to give him opportunity under these conditions... when could he ever get opportunity? 

One way or another... we are about to find out if Keirsay belongs. We will find out either by actual performance or we will find out by lack of faith in him demonstrated by his supervisors. 

 

I'm betting Bride gets the starts over Kiersay.  I really really hope I'm wrong.

[DJL44]

On 4/13/2025 at 8:40 AM, yeahyabetcha said:

Gasket’s role should be that as an emergency catcher with an occasional emergency or spot start, any thing more than that is overuse. 

That is not worth carrying on the 26 man roster.

[Riverbrian]

On 4/13/2025 at 8:40 AM, yeahyabetcha said:

Gasket’s role should be that as an emergency catcher with an occasional emergency or spot start, any thing more than that is overuse.  I prefer Julien as the dh over Miranda and I have no desire to see Miranda start over Castro at this point.

I have no idea what Gasper could or will be. He hasn't looked that good thus far but it's awfully early yet. 

I will say this. 

Tampa right now has a 29 year old rookie in Mangum and a 27 year old rookie in Misner playing pretty well right now. 

Neither of them were highly ranked prospects in the Rays system. Who knows if Misner or Mangum will continue to be success stories as the year goes on. Who knows what there future will be. 

In the end... Gasper's age of 29 doesn't concern me. It's really going to come down to hitting the ball when he is sent to the plate. 

The key will be... how often will be sent to the plate going forward. 

[LA Vikes Fan]

3 hours ago, stringer bell said:

Yep. Keirsey should be getting some starts in the coming days with Wallner on the IL. With Castro and Correa at least nicked, I'm presuming Bride will get plenty of playing time to see whether his start this year is the outlier or whether he is a major league hitter as he was in 2024. Despite reverse platoon splits, he should be the choice over Gasper against left handed pitching for the platoon role at second base. 

Bader will probably be pretty close to full-time and he provided both offense and defense against the Mets. It would appear that Lee will get third base unless he is needed at shortstop and that Castro will continue to get most of his time in the infield. Despite a pretty deep slump, Larnach would seem to be the primary DH against right handed pitching.

I think you have this right if Castro and Correa don't go on the IL - Julien is the primary 2B subject to sitting against a LH starter in favor of Bride or Castro, with Correa, Lee, Bride, and Castro handling SS and 3B. If one of Castro or Correa goes on the IL, then Julien plays 2B every day with Bride part of a 3 man team at SS and 3B with the remaining two since both Lee and the remaining one of Castro and Correa can man SS. If both Correa and Castro have to go on the IL, Lee is the SS, Bride the 3B, and they probably have to bring up Fitzgerald as the backup to both spots so they have a second SS. All of this takes Castro completely out of the OF mix except in a late inning emergency so Buxton and Bader play every day, Kiersey plays most days, and Larnach is an occasional LF and primary DH.  

[yeahyabetcha]

3 hours ago, DJL44 said:

That is not worth carrying on the 26 man roster.

What are your expectations of the last guy on the bench?

[yeahyabetcha]

3 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

I have no idea what Gasper could or will be. He hasn't looked that good thus far but it's awfully early yet. 

I will say this. 

Tampa right now has a 29 year old rookie in Mangum and a 27 year old rookie in Misner playing pretty well right now. 

Neither of them were highly ranked prospects in the Rays system. Who knows if Misner or Mangum will continue to be success stories as the year goes on. Who knows what there future will be. 

In the end... Gasper's age of 29 doesn't concern me. It's really going to come down to hitting the ball when he is sent to the plate. 

The key will be... how often will be sent to the plate going forward. 

I agree that if Gasper can not show at least something of a pitch hitter/average defender than he is not filling his role.  It probably isn’t easy to sit on the bench for 5 days and get called on to take an at bat 

[tony&rodney]

3 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

I have no idea what Gasper could or will be. He hasn't looked that good thus far but it's awfully early yet. 

I will say this. 

Tampa right now has a 29 year old rookie in Mangum and a 27 year old rookie in Misner playing pretty well right now. 

Neither of them were highly ranked prospects in the Rays system. Who knows if Misner or Mangum will continue to be success stories as the year goes on. Who knows what there future will be. 

In the end... Gasper's age of 29 doesn't concern me. It's really going to come down to hitting the ball when he is sent to the plate. 

The key will be... how often will be sent to the plate going forward. 

I get the age comparisons and i could care less how old someone is when they get their opportunity, however, Gasper is not comparable to the athletic Misner or Mangum. Gasper seems like a good story until you realize that he still doesn't have a legitimate base hit in 45 plate appearances. Both "hits" were errors if we are fair (saw both routine plays). Gasper also does not have a position he can play nor can he run. Reality sucks some times. While I feel for the guy and know he has several fans among Twins Daily folks, I just don't get him on an MLB roster.

[DJL44]

47 minutes ago, yeahyabetcha said:

What are your expectations of the last guy on the bench?

They have a role they can play where they're a better option in a matchup. Keirsey can pinch run and play defense better than a starter which gives him a role.

[yeahyabetcha]

4 hours ago, DJL44 said:

They have a role they can play where they're a better option in a matchup. Keirsey can pinch run and play defense better than a starter which gives him a role.

Everyone knows Gasper has shortcomings.  Likely the reason he made the roster was only due to injuries and the shortcomings of his potential replacements.  His role has the third catcher has already come into play.  Will he be on the 26 man all year? I hope not.  Will he be able hit enough and play some passable defense?  I don’t know.

Who exactly would you replace him with as 13th position player?

[jorgenswest]

Jonah Bride’s platoon splits (versus right/left)

Career in majors

.711 in 384 PAs/ .522 in 228 PAs

Majors and Minors combined last three years.

2024: .890/.735

2023: .959/.648

2022: .797/.719

How would you utilize him on the roster?

[Riverbrian]

On 4/20/2025 at 9:27 AM, jorgenswest said:

Jonah Bride’s platoon splits (versus right/left)

Career in majors

.711 in 384 PAs/ .522 in 228 PAs

Majors and Minors combined last three years.

2024: .890/.735

2023: .959/.648

2022: .797/.719

How would you utilize him on the roster?

i wouldn't platoon... that's for sure but Rocco is going to throw him on the short side. 

Since they signed him and since we have multiple players hitting well below average. I would let him compete for playing time but that's not going to happen either. 

Based on his utilization. The correct answer is not sign him in the first place. 

 

 

[Riverbrian]

On 4/17/2025 at 1:14 PM, tony&rodney said:

I get the age comparisons and i could care less how old someone is when they get their opportunity, however, Gasper is not comparable to the athletic Misner or Mangum. Gasper seems like a good story until you realize that he still doesn't have a legitimate base hit in 45 plate appearances. Both "hits" were errors if we are fair (saw both routine plays). Gasper also does not have a position he can play nor can he run. Reality sucks some times. While I feel for the guy and know he has several fans among Twins Daily folks, I just don't get him on an MLB roster.

He's back in St. Paul and sending the ball out of the park. 

I agree that he looked awful in his limited Twins opportunities. Sending him down made perfect sense.

We will probably see him again before the year is out. 

[stringer bell]

3 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

He's back in St. Paul and sending the ball out of the park. 

I agree that he looked awful in his limited Twins opportunities. Sending him down made perfect sense.

We will probably see him again before the year is out. 

Maybe today. Castro to IL, Gasper recalled. 

[Riverbrian]

2 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

Maybe today. Castro to IL, Gasper recalled. 

Before the year is out. Well... I guess I called that one. 

 

[jorgenswest]

On 4/20/2025 at 7:27 AM, jorgenswest said:

Jonah Bride’s platoon splits (versus right/left)

Career in majors

.711 in 384 PAs/ .522 in 228 PAs

Majors and Minors combined last three years.

2024: .890/.735

2023: .959/.648

2022: .797/.719

How would you utilize him on the roster?

I guess they want him to sit around until there is an opportunity to use him to pinch hit for Julien against a left handed pitcher. 

[Riverbrian]

Utilization update. Pre and Post Foul Tip.

Since Vazquez took that foul tip to the hand. Jeffers has become the primary catcher by a large majority.

Since the foul tip. Vazquez has managed to make two starts behind the plate, while Jeffers had made 7 straight starts (6 at C and 1 at DH) before resting yesterday, 

Since Vazquez has caught two games since the foul tip. It's hard to say if this severe change in what used to be a 50/50 rotation is injury driven or performance driven. 

Jeffers seems to agree with the extra playing time... at least offensively. 8 for 24 with 4 doubles over this stretch. Jeffers had a pre foul tip OPS of .492. It has since risen to .682 with this regular playing time. 

Vazquez has done better for himself playing less post foul tip. In what is of course a small sample size. His two for three yesterday raised his OPS from .365 Pre Foul Tip to .467 Post Foul Tip. 

[Riverbrian]

With the injuries... We basically have a starting 9. 

Vazquez, Bride, Keirsay and Gasper appear to be watching with Vazquez and Keirsay getting some starts on occasion.

Bride appears to be waiting for a left hander. We haven't seen a left handed starter since Saturday and the next scheduled left hander is tomorrow night against Kikuchi. 

Batting order means something. It doesn't mean everything but in regards to who the manager believes in... batting order has to say something. 

Keashall is batting third. 

Correa 5th

France 6th

Jeffers 7th 

Bader 9th

Buxton 2nd

Batting order doesn't mean everything but... could that be a ranking of how Rocco is feeling currently about our right handed hitters? It is certainly debatable. While you all debate that... Mainly... I just wanted to point out that Keaschall with 6 games major league experience... is batting THIRD. Does that speak to how good Keaschall has been in those 6 games or does it speak to how poor our offense has been?  

 

[Richie the Rally Goat]

On 4/10/2025 at 9:48 AM, Riverbrian said:

I am happy. I have no complaint with when he has utilized a pinch hitter, I have no complaint with when he didn't utilize a pinch hitter. I have no complaint with his pinch running or defensive replacement moves. 

And I really love the spacing of left handers on the lineup card. 

The removal of this simple philosophy has opened doors. 

After two years of complaining about the utilization of left handers.  

I currently have no complaints. Just a lingering lament of the two years of development lost in regards to Wallner, Larnach and Julien.

This much needed adjustment can pave the way for Emma and Jenkins in the future. Paving the way for Emma and Jenkins will pave the way for not needing a Margot in the future. Not needing a Margot in the future can pave the way to signing a significant free agent in the future as opposed to the low level free agent.

This adjustment can curb the urge to looking specifically for right handed bats in a right handed pitching world. It can open the doors to having more left handed hitters on the roster. 

 

That’s a lot of Pavement

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QTTgpTeb0Z8&pp=ygUWcGF2ZW1lbnQgY3V0IHlvdXIgaGFpctIHCQmECQGHKiGM7w%3D%3D

[Riverbrian]

52 minutes ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

That’s a lot of Pavement

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QTTgpTeb0Z8&pp=ygUWcGF2ZW1lbnQgY3V0IHlvdXIgaGFpctIHCQmECQGHKiGM7w%3D%3D

I found a 7 step process for Ashpalt paving

Step one actually says that you have to get rid of Manual Margot types first.  

1. Demolition and Removal of Manual Margot types. 

2. Grading and Sloping

3. Prepare the Sub Base

4. Proof Roll, Undercutting and Sub Base Repair

5. Binder and Surface Course

6. Install New Asphalt Surface

7. Butt Joints and Transisitions

I don't understand steps 2 through 6 but I assume they all pertain to the process of developing players that are better than the Margot types.

Step 7 the final step... I don't understand that one either but since it mentions "butt joints". I can only assume that it has something to do with the injury history of Buxton and Lewis.  

[Richie the Rally Goat]

22 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

I found a 7 step process for Ashpalt paving

Step one actually says get that you have to get rid of Manual Margot types first.  

1. Demolition and Removal of Manual Margot types. 

2. Grading and Sloping

3. Prepare the Sub Base

4. Proof Roll, Undercutting and Sub Base Repair

5. Binder and Surface Course

6. Install New Asphalt Surface

7. Butt Joints and Transisitions

I don't understand steps 2 through 6 but I assume they all pertain to the process of developing players that are better than the Margot types.

Step 7 the final step... I don't understand that one either but since it mentions "butt joints". I can only assume that it has something to do with the injury history of Buxton and Lewis.  

That may lead one to believe that an automatic Margot might be preferable, but that assumption would be false. All types of Margot’s must be demolitioned from the area before surface prep.

[stringer bell]

It will be interesting to see what Rocco does to replace Keaschall in the lineup given the options that remain. The eight starters against a right hander would be Catcher (2/3 Jeffers), France, Julien, Correa, Lee, Bader, Buxton and Larnach. That would leave one spot open. Keirsey Jr. could start on a corner with Larnach moving to DH, Gasper could start at second (Julien DH) or DH or it could be Clemens starting at second or DH. Finally, Bride has pretty severe reverse splits. He started today at third base, with Lee moving to second. 

That apparently would mean that if Bride and Lee are in the game together that Lee is the preferred second baseman while Bride would get third. I don't know if the scenario is the same for Clemens who has also played both second and third in the majors. 

Gasper has played more first base than any other position in the minors. Who would give France a day off at first? Gasper, Clemens or Bride? 

Bride's reverse splits really make it so that the pieces don't fit together well at this point. It would seem that all of Wallner, Castro and Lewis are at least a week away so the Twins really don't have much else for options.