Walker Jenkins

[Cory Engelhardt]

Curious, if he is to debut soon, there is a path with Roden just going back to aaa.

If he plays well, AND Buxton is ready to go, how do you give regular playing time to Larnach, Buxton, Jenkins and Keaschall?

How do you see the outfield setting up over the next couple of months? Do you move on from Bell at some point and just have Larnach DH? Do you not bring up Jenkins? Do you think Buxton is out longer?

[Mike Sixel]

1 minute ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

Curious, if he is to debut soon, there is a path with Roden just going back to aaa.

If he plays well, AND Buxton is ready to go, how do you give regular playing time to Larnach, Buxton, Jenkins and Keaschall?

How do you see the outfield setting up over the next couple of months? Do you move on from Bell at some point and just have Larnach DH? Do you not bring up Jenkins? Do you think Buxton is out longer?

Larnach to DH. Keaschell subs for Buxton every few days, and PHs and PHs runs at times. 

I bet Buxton is fully healthy for less than half the remaining games. The question is, how many games do they carry him while he's not healthy. 

I bring up Jenkins, but I think they wait 2 weeks, then it depends on what the record is.

[USAFChief]

I need to see Buxton healthy before I worry about any of this.

But assuming he is, space isnt an issue. Gray is an obvious roster move, and Roden is an easy one too.

Finding ABs for hitters is pretty easy. The problem is finding hitters. If they do call up Jenkins, and Buxton is on the roster, Larnach can get ABs at DH. As can Buxton some days, for that matter. Keaschall isnt someone that needs to be in the lineup every day either.

And there's always the chance someone ELSE is injured.

Jenkins up and hitting would be a nice problem.

Not a guarantee he'll hit, of course.

Edited 3 hours ago by USAFChief

[Cory Engelhardt]

27 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Larnach to DH. Keaschell subs for Buxton every few days, and PHs and PHs runs at times. 

I bet Buxton is fully healthy for less than half the remaining games. The question is, how many games do they carry him while he's not healthy. 

I bring up Jenkins, but I think they wait 2 weeks, then it depends on what the record is.

I know Keaschall is still learning on defense in the outfield. But after a slow start of April, he arguably is their best hitter. Almost 300 average with 400 on base and over 400 slugging. I don't see a way that he isn't playing every day. Just have to find a spot where his defense hurts the least, but I still like his defense more than Larnach's.

And yeah, maybe it is a thing that Buxton just isn't 100% in the field again this year. That certainly makes this answer interesting.

 

[Cory Engelhardt]

1 minute ago, USAFChief said:

I need to see Buxton healthy before I worry about any of this.

But assuming he is, space isnt an issue. Gray is an obvious roster move, and Roden is an easy one too.

Finding ABs for hitters is pretty easy. The problem is finding hitters. If they do call up Jenkins, and Buxton is on the roster, Larnach can get ABs at DH. Keaschall isnt someone that needs to be in the lineup every day either.

Jenkins up and hitting would be a nice problem.

Not a guarantee he'll hit, of course.

I'd argue Keaschall's bat should be in the lineup every day. Since May 1, 287/396/409 with an 11.8% walk rate and a 14.7% k rate. Wish he could stick at 2B too, but it appears to be Clemens spot now unless you just want to make Clemens your super utility.

 

[USAFChief]

Just now, Cory Engelhardt said:

I'd argue Keaschall's bat should be in the lineup every day. Since May 1, 287/396/409 with an 11.8% walk rate and a 14.7% k rate. Wish he could stick at 2B too, but it appears to be Clemens spot now unless you just want to make Clemens your super utility.

 

Just so little power. But he's been hitting, for sure.

Can't see him at 2nd though. Bah-roo-tl.

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

I don’t even understand this front offices motives anymore. I am as confused as the other general managers about what the Twins are and will do. 
 

[USAFChief]

4 minutes ago, Hawkeye Bean Counter said:

I don’t even understand this front offices motives anymore. I am as confused as the other general managers about what the Twins are and will do. 
 

Confused?

I can understand not agreeing with the moves they've made. But what's confusing? They've stated clearly they believe they're in contention for the postseason and made moves to strengthen a clearly weak bullpen. They didn't remove anyone from the 26 man. 

Seems pretty straightforward. 

[Vanimal46]

13 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Just so little power. But he's been hitting, for sure.

Can't see him at 2nd though. Bah-roo-tl.

Hitting is needed in the lineup. We don’t need 9 swinging for the fence players in the lineup. 

Agreed on him at 2B that ship has sailed this season. Who knows what the future holds. He will need a full offseason of taking ground balls to the chest like Roger Dorn. 

[USAFChief]

OK Im in. Keaschall needs to be in the lineup. **** should have dumped Larnach.

Wait...Jenkins isnt up yet. Never mind. 

[Vanimal46]

The beauty of a Falvey, now Zoll philosophy is that anyone can play anywhere. Maybe Walker Jenkins is our next 3B superstar player one game. 

[Cory Engelhardt]

And maybe this is a bigger thing before next season. Maybe it just plays out for this year and we go from there.

I just figure, Jenkins probably will be up soon, and the hope also is that Buxton is back and can be what he was to start the year. Those things might not happen

[mnfireman]

Unpopular opinion, Gonzalez, Mendez, and Rodriguez - in that order, unless Rodriguez returns to the line-up tomorrow, then he jumps to the head of the line - are the next OFs called up.

Jenkins may get called up if the team falls out of contention, but probably not until September. The other 3 are on the 40-man and their option years have started (unless he gets a 4th option year, Rodriguez will be out of options in '27).

[Mike Sixel]

12 minutes ago, mnfireman said:

Unpopular opinion, Gonzalez, Mendez, and Rodriguez - in that order, unless Rodriguez returns to the line-up tomorrow, then he jumps to the head of the line - are the next OFs called up.

Jenkins may get called up if the team falls out of contention, but probably not until September. The other 3 are on the 40-man and their option years have started (unless he gets a 4th option year, Rodriguez will be out of options in '27).

That would not surprise me. And yet, it hasn't happened and we have three catchers and Gray.....

[mnfireman]

1 minute ago, Mike Sixel said:

That would not surprise me. And yet, it hasn't happened and we have three catchers and Gray.....

I started to address this in the post you quoted, but it turned into incoherent babbling.... I cut it back to just address the OF.

[HarmonK03]

1 hour ago, USAFChief said:

Confused?

I can understand not agreeing with the moves they've made. But what's confusing? They've stated clearly they believe they're in contention for the postseason and made moves to strengthen a clearly weak bullpen. They didn't remove anyone from the 26 man. 

Seems pretty straightforward. 

When a front office calls Gray back up after his dismal performance it is pretty easy to be confused by their actions.  That move does not strengthen a team in contention.

[Permanent Twins Fan]

We need to have Jenkins up with the big league club. Jackson should have been traded today so we could get something for him. The Twins should promote Jenkins and DFA Jackson right away. I understand people saying we should keep him around in order to have him as the backup for next year, but it is not worth the shortened bench until then. If Tom Pohlad is really willing to invest in the Twins he will have no trouble getting a backup catcher for next year that is as good if not better than Jackson is. A potential difference-making offensive bat in Jenkins will be crucial for the stretch run. 

 

[Permanent Twins Fan]

Step One: Call up Jenkins, DFA Jackson ASAP

Step Two: When Culpepper is fully healthy, call him up and DFA Tristian Gray

Step Three: Call up E-Rod, Mendez, or Houston as part of September Roster Expansion

Step Four: Win World Series

Step Five: Rightsize the Business

[Cory Engelhardt]

51 minutes ago, mnfireman said:

Unpopular opinion, Gonzalez, Mendez, and Rodriguez - in that order, unless Rodriguez returns to the line-up tomorrow, then he jumps to the head of the line - are the next OFs called up.

Jenkins may get called up if the team falls out of contention, but probably not until September. The other 3 are on the 40-man and their option years have started (unless he gets a 4th option year, Rodriguez will be out of options in '27).

Super unpopular to me, at least with regards to Mendez and Gonzalez. Their lack of defense, or at least it not being a strength of theirs, makes it so they absolutely don’t get called up. Rodriguez, sure, I can see it if he is healthy. But he needs a lot of time to get back in the swing of things before that were to happen.

Jenkins is the easy call up for me though of everyone you mentioned because he a) is hitting really well, and b) would provide solid centerfield level defense, along with speed on the bases. Both Gonzalez and Mendez’s best defensive home is probably DH, so I don’t see a way that they jump the line 

[mnfireman]

4 minutes ago, HarmonK03 said:

When a front office calls Gray back up after his dismal performance it is pretty easy to be confused by their actions.  That move does not strengthen a team in contention.

Who else are they going to call up to sit on the bench? Jenkins and Culpepper are not ready, and gain nothing by sitting on the bench until Buxton returns. The candidates for recall are all OFs, Gonzalez, Mendez, and Rodriguez, who recently had a setback. The team shows no confidence in Fedko, Sabato, or Wallner, and there are no other options at AAA. We may be stuck with Jackson and Gray for awhile...

[mnfireman]

9 minutes ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

Jenkins is the easy call up for me though of everyone you mentioned because he a) is hitting really well, and b) would provide solid centerfield level defense, along with speed on the bases. Both Gonzalez and Mendez’s best defensive home is probably DH, so I don’t see a way that they jump the line 

Jenkins is not hitting really well at AAA, he is actually hitting worse than Wallner, Fedko, Sabato, and Roden did at AAA (by a lot) and the team shows no confidence in any of them, though Roden is starting to get semi-regular playing time.

I think Jenkins will have a great MLB career, I just don't think he's ready to start it just yet.

[DJL44]

Tristan Gray has 2 at bats since his call up. He might get a couple more before Buxton returns. Lots of consternation over a few at bats.

[Primetime82]

1 hour ago, USAFChief said:

Confused?

I can understand not agreeing with the moves they've made. But what's confusing? They've stated clearly they believe they're in contention for the postseason and made moves to strengthen a clearly weak bullpen. They didn't remove anyone from the 26 man. 

Seems pretty straightforward. 

The loss is going for it vs trading players that would have gotten you value for next year and beyond.

 

[HarmonK03]

1 minute ago, DJL44 said:

Tristan Gray has 2 at bats since his call up. He might get a couple more before Buxton returns. Lots of consternation over a few at bats.

It's a wasted roster spot so you are playing short.

[mnfireman]

1 minute ago, DJL44 said:

Tristan Gray has 2 at bats since his call up. He might get a couple more before Buxton returns. Lots of consternation over a few at bats.

Most of it is over the short bench limiting late-inning moves. This is not little league, everybody doesn't get to play every game, but having speed for late inning pinch running moves would be nice.

[bean5302]

Jenkins Jenkins Jenkins. If only hype won baseball games and not production at the plate. He's barely holding his own at AAA right now.

[bean5302]

I would expect Emma to be the next one up mid August if he doesn't look absolutely ice cold in AAA when he gets there in a couple days.

[DJL44]

5 minutes ago, HarmonK03 said:

It's a wasted roster spot so you are playing short.

Is it? You can only bat 9 players. Gray is the only backup infielder in case of injury, unless they move Keaschall back to the infield.

[DJL44]

1 minute ago, bean5302 said:

I would expect Emma to be the next one up mid August if he doesn't look absolutely ice cold in AAA when he gets there in a couple days.

I thought he re-injured his thumb.

Culpepper is absolutely ice cold since returning.

[mnfireman]

17 minutes ago, Primetime82 said:

The loss is going for it vs trading players that would have gotten you value for next year and beyond.

 

I don't think anybody would have liked the cost of those trades...