Article: Looking For Clues In September

[Willihammer]

Arcia's arm is strong. Haven't seen a lot of chances to throw out runners yet so I'm not sure how the accuracy is. Mobility is Delmonesque

[jokin]

How did they do that, I ask? The verdict is in on Parmelee and Colabello, then?

 

It seemed like they were focused on getting a verdict primarily on Dozier, Florimon and strangely enough (and specifically relating to Parm and Cola), Doumit.

 

Drjim is wildly overstating his case if he really believes that the Twins have "exactly figured out" who will help going forward. "Exactly"? Really? For every question answered (MI), it seems many more are still unanswered (corner IF, corner OF and CF, Starting Rotation).

[jokin]

Double post.

[Mr. Ed]

Keep in mind that there is value in taking the salary from Milwaukee. I would start with Travis Harrison, DJ Baxendale, and Luke Bard.

 

Those would be players to start with. Perhaps Levi Michael, Summers as well.

 

Agreed, taking on salary has a pretty big value these days in trades.

[Mr. Ed]

Well someone has to play RF on a regular basis, or LF post Buxton-Hicks being together (unless Arcia improves significantly). I do think that Parmelee and Colabello are going to be bench guys, but I would still like to see them playing for the Twins on a regular basis. Somehow the Twins weren't willing to just pay Morneau's damn contract and trade him (no excuse for this).

 

I didn't get that either. Pay the salary anyway. Get something back.

[Shane Wahl]

It seemed like they were focused on getting a verdict primarily on Dozier, Florimon and strangely enough (and specifically relating to Parm and Cola), Doumit.

 

Drjim is wildly overstating his case if he really believes that the Twins have "exactly figured out" who will help going forward. "Exactly"? Really? For every question answered (MI), it seems many more are still unanswered (corner IF, corner OF and CF, Starting Rotation).

 

There you go. Doumit. What is the love affair there? I respect him and I respect that he *loves* the Twins (so does Pelfrey . . . dear god), but that OPS has dropped 80 points from last year, his catching defense is still declining, and his OF defense is Kubelesque. Not to mention that AGE thing.

[jokin]

(unless Arcia improves significantly).

 

Is there some hope for him to improve on defense, though? I don't get to watch many games living where I live, so I'm not sure how his arm is, but I'd think his speed and mobility in the field would be an OK base to build from, considering his age and that he was playing CF a few years ago.

 

Any description concerning Arcia's mobility (and to a lesser extent, speed) must include the qualifier, "or lack thereof". It's hard to believe he ever played CF except in an emergency, he is very poor at judging, or getting a good jump on, fly balls. His arm is plenty solid enough, though.

[drjim]

It seemed like they were focused on getting a verdict primarily on Dozier, Florimon and strangely enough (and specifically relating to Parm and Cola), Doumit.

 

Drjim is wildly overstating his case if he really believes that the Twins have "exactly figured out" who will help going forward. "Exactly"? Really? For every question answered (MI), it seems many more are still unanswered (corner IF, corner OF and CF, Starting Rotation).

 

Colabello and Parmelee are not solutions. Neither is Plouffe. Maybe bench players. This is clearly answered.

 

I agree the Twins still have long term holes in the positions you suggested. This season was useful for finding out who won't be part of that solution.

[drjim]

Keep in mind that there is value in taking the salary from Milwaukee. I would start with Travis Harrison, DJ Baxendale, and Luke Bard.

 

Can we add Duensing and Adam Walker?

[Shane Wahl]

Colabello and Parmelee are not solutions. Neither is Plouffe. Maybe bench players. This is clearly answered.

 

I agree the Twins still have long term holes in the positions you suggested. This season was useful for finding out who won't be part of that solution.

 

Well they messed around significantly with Parmelee pre-2013 and then gave up on him in favor of players like DOUMIT this year. Also, I do think that it is quite possible that a Parmelee/Plouffe platoon in RF or at 1B next year could be part of the solution. Plouffe hits lefties exceptionally well, and Parmelee hits righties acceptably at the moment. It's feasible that they combine for an .780-.800 OPS next year in a platoon.

[Nick Nelson]

But one way the Twins could continue to build for the future would be to trade some relievers. The Twins already look like they have four impact relievers – Glen Perkins, Jared Burton, Caleb Thielbar and Casey Fien. Seeing Tonkin in the majors could make them more comfortable shopping one of these guys, though trading relievers in the offseason (when there are so many free agent arms available) doesn’t seem especially profitable.

 

I'd add another name to this list: Brian Duensing. In fact, I'd move him to the front of the list of trade candidates in the bullpen. Thielbar's emergence essentially makes him expendable, and Duensing has really revived his value with an unbelievable month of August (11.1 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 16/0 K/BB).

[Shane Wahl]

Can we add Duensing and Adam Walker?

 

The salary, Duensing, and two of the first three would likely do it.

[Mike Sixel]

Ellsbury, Ellsbury, Ellsbury....he is CF until Buxton, then LF with Arcia splitting time in RF, DH, 1B.....

[howieramone1406390264]

Parmelee and Colabello are going to be Bensoned. Hammer, Doumit, and Plouffe will be continuously on the block until traded, probably for starting pitching prospects. Arcia and Hicks are part of the core. As the OP stated, many questions have been clearly answered.

[Mr. Ed]

Parmelee and Colabello are going to be Bensoned. Hammer, Doumit, and Plouffe will be continuously on the block until traded, probably for starting pitching prospects. Arcia and Hicks are part of the core. As the OP stated, many questions have been clearly answered.

 

Speaking of Joe Benson, looks like another year with not much to show.

 

Joe Benson Stats, Bio, Photos, Highlights | MiLB.com Stats | The Official Site of Minor League Baseball

[Mike Sixel]

so the answers we got were pretty much all bad answers, other than Arcia? I mean, there is value in eliminating options, but then you have to do something to fill those holes....

[TheLeviathan]

There you go. Doumit. What is the love affair there? I respect him and I respect that he *loves* the Twins (so does Pelfrey . . . dear god), but that OPS has dropped 80 points from last year, his catching defense is still declining, and his OF defense is Kubelesque. Not to mention that AGE thing.

 

This is incredibly unfair to Kubel.

[howieramone1406390264]

so the answers we got were pretty much all bad answers, other than Arcia? I mean, there is value in eliminating options, but then you have to do something to fill those holes....

 

Very good point mike. I knew some day we would agree on something. The position player cavalry will arrive sometime in 2014, and the starting pitching cavalry in 2015.

[ThePuck]

Very good point mike. I knew some day we would agree on something. The position player cavalry will arrive sometime in 2014, and the starting pitching cavalry in 2015.

 

Unless, of course, most of those turn out to be bad answers as well...

[drjim]

so the answers we got were pretty much all bad answers, other than Arcia? I mean, there is value in eliminating options, but then you have to do something to fill those holes....

 

Dozier is a potentially good answer.

 

This is what a rebuilding team has to do.

[drjim]

Unless, of course, most of those turn out to be bad answers as well...

 

Well sure. If most of the prospects fail the Twins will most definitely have to wait on the next wave.

 

The debates we have been having will be rendered moot if the team can't develop a core.

[ThePuck]

Well sure. If most of the prospects fail the Twins will most definitely have to wait on the next wave.

 

The debates we have been having will be rendered moot if the team can't develop a core.

 

Problem is, all of our eggs are in the prospect basket...and we have to hit big on most of them and that doesn't happen every often.

[Craig Arko]

You can always take up playing the concertina as an alternative hobby.

[drjim]

Problem is, all of our eggs are in the prospect basket...and we have to hit big on most of them and that doesn't happen every often.

 

Mauer? Plus a few other pieces and payroll flexibility.

 

Very few teams can buy cornerstone players. They start as prospects either developed or traded.

[ThePuck]

Mauer? Plus a few other pieces and payroll flexibility.

 

Very few teams can buy cornerstone players. They start as prospects either developed or traded.

 

yes, of course Mauer...what else? We have Mauer now. Seems you forgot what the discussion is about.

 

On top of that, payroll flexibility doesn't help if you don't use it. Oh and when did we trade prospects for proven players?

[Mr. Ed]

JMO, payroll flexibility is whatever they believe it needs to be. A payroll that was over 100 million at one point will have all kinds of flexibility next year. Had it already this year. And decide not to spend, even though the Pohlads say management can increase the payroll. Allegedly.

[Mike Sixel]

Dozier is a potentially good answer.

 

This is what a rebuilding team has to do.

 

Agreed, with the potentially word in there, agreed.

[stringer bell]

I'm fine with waiting for a couple of the top prospects in baseball to become cornerstones of the position players. However, the continual roulette of a starting rotation needs to be fixed. I was hoping the Twins would have three guys written in ink for 2014 and that simply isn't true. I hope they sign a good free agent (Hughes or better), trade for somebody else (comparable to acquiring Vanimal though that didn't work out), and see what happens with the corps of middle rotation guys. In reality, they had several guys who had succeeded for at least a half season (Diamond, Worley), plus guys who had pedigrees (Hendriks--minor league domination in '12, Gibson) and none of them have succeeded this year.

[howieramone1406390264]

I'm fine with waiting for a couple of the top prospects in baseball to become cornerstones of the position players. However, the continual roulette of a starting rotation needs to be fixed. I was hoping the Twins would have three guys written in ink for 2014 and that simply isn't true. I hope they sign a good free agent (Hughes or better), trade for somebody else (comparable to acquiring Vanimal though that didn't work out), and see what happens with the corps of middle rotation guys. In reality, they had several guys who had succeeded for at least a half season (Diamond, Worley), plus guys who had pedigrees (Hendriks--minor league domination in '12, Gibson) and none of them have succeeded this year.

 

Completely agree. My guess is Ryan is looking for stability in the rotation for 2014 and not a whole lot more. In other words, he wants 5 starters who will take the ball every fifth day. Correia and Gibson are locks and I'm hoping September auditions yield a third. Ryan will pick up a second tier FA for the fourth and as a another posted said, a thumb wrestling contest will be held during spring training for the fifth.

 

This could change obviously. Hopefully our scouts find someone they like in Japan or is Cuban etc. But I think 5 stable arms is the floor for 2014.

[S.]

How does a rotation of Correia, Gibson, two other pitchers we already have, and one second tier FA make for 5 stable arms?