Arcia to First & 2015 Opening Day

[Spicoli]

That team wouldn't be very good lol, theres no veteran influence other than Mauer lol. Everyone else is either rookies or 2nd year players.

[jokin]

Agreed. No proof Arcia can field short hop throws from the infield, and we already know Mauer and Colabello are good at 1B. I figure they'll start playing Mauer in thirds at C, 1B, DH. Colabello 2/3rds at 1B, then DH. Arcia will be RF, occasional DH. Not sure how they'll handle the middle infield with Rosario coming up. Dozier has gotten so good at 2B and is batting so well, now it seems stupid to change what ain't broke, unless you give Dozier another shot at SS with Rosie at 2B. Pinto looks like a nice, fresh, unbruised noggin for catcher.

 

Meanwhile, it looks like Plouffe has petered out. He seems done with the Twins. Maybe it's because he sees Sano's name on the bathroom wall, like it's a done deal. Watch him and Parms go to Boston and start whacking homers for ten years.

 

Besides the Sox, the Orioles have a pretty good line on that type of action, as well.

 

Either way, Plouffe in his upcoming first arb year, is a goner, either in the offseason or sometime in 2014.

 

How flamed am I going to get if I ask about Mauer moving to 3B?

 

For the record, Joe Torre started phasing out his catching duties at age 28, and permanently stopped catching at age 30. The next year, at age 31, he played 161 games at 3rd and was the NL MVP. (And this "Joe" wasn't near the athlete that Mauer is, Mauer would be much better than Torre defensively). I say platoon Mauer at 3B with Plouffe, making Plouffe more of a lefty-option super-utility specialist. This will help drive up Plouffe's value in trade (he's putting up All Star numbers against lefties this year [.304BA/.852OPS] and his career split against lefties is nearly identical to 2013), and give Mauer enough games to qualify for the All Star game as a Catcher- thus keeping Joe more happy in his new role. It also takes the pressure off Sano on coming in mid-season and having to be annointed as the only available option at 3B, like Hicks was in CF. Should he falter, Sano can DH more often, take Arcia's place in RF, or take a return trip to AAA in a worst-case scenario. I know the Twins have invested a lot in Sano at the hot corner, but as another poster pointed out, the defensive infield would actually be better with Mauer at 3rd and Sano at 1st.

[CGNikolic]

2015 lineup:

C: Pinto (Not great defensively, but he's better than Doumit or Herrmann)

1B: Mauer (permanent by this point)

2B: Rosario (Trade Dozier within next calendar year)

SS: Santana or possibly Polanco. (Insert Dozier here if prospects falter)

3B: Sano (Stays at third barring a sudden capability to not be able to throw to first)

LF: Hicks (Rough first year, but he will be fine and defensively should be a great LF)

CF: Buxton (slightly hopeful, but you can't doubt this kid anymore)

RF: Arcia (Jason Kubel comparisons are perfect; keep him here and his bat will take care of the rest)

DH: Parmalee/Vargas/FA (Plouffe will be gone by this point, and unless he steps up Parmalee could be gone too. Obviously Mauer is a better athlete/defender than Vargas, so putting him at DH at 24 really is not a big deal. FA would also fit here too if we found an older, immobile player who can still hit.)

Bench:

C/OF: Herrmann (His versatility is key here)

IF: Beresford

IF: Escobar

OF: Pressley

Starting Pitching:

Crap. Shoot. (As of right now)

[BabyJesusBuxton]

2015 lineup:

C: Pinto (Not great defensively, but he's better than Doumit or Herrmann)

1B: Mauer (permanent by this point)

2B: Rosario (Trade Dozier within next calendar year)

SS: Santana or possibly Polanco. (Insert Dozier here if prospects falter)

3B: Sano (Stays at third barring a sudden capability to not be able to throw to first)

LF: Hicks (Rough first year, but he will be fine and defensively should be a great LF)

CF: Buxton (slightly hopeful, but you can't doubt this kid anymore)

RF: Arcia (Jason Kubel comparisons are perfect; keep him here and his bat will take care of the rest)

DH: Parmalee/Vargas/FA (Plouffe will be gone by this point, and unless he steps up Parmalee could be gone too. Obviously Mauer is a better athlete/defender than Vargas, so putting him at DH at 24 really is not a big deal. FA would also fit here too if we found an older, immobile player who can still hit.)

Bench:

C/OF: Herrmann (His versatility is key here)

IF: Beresford

IF: Escobar

OF: Pressley

Starting Pitching:

Crap. Shoot. (As of right now)

 

1. Mauer will still be catching in 2015. I would bet my house on it.

2. I don't see Dozier being traded within the next year. Rosario is yet to play at AAA and with Dozier playing like this there is no reason to fast track him especially with how well Dozier has been defensively. It will be a nice problem if both continue to put up the numbers they have recently.

3. If Dozier isn't playing short I wouldn't be surprised if Florimon is still playing there in 2015 although that could be the transition year to someone else.

 

IMO the lineup you listed is more realistic for the end of 2015/start of 2016.

[stringer bell]

I can't see Mauer as a full-time catcher next year. His bat is too important to the Twins to let him absorb any more foul tips, to say nothing of the beating that catchers take every day. With no incumbent 1B and the presence of a likely above-average offensive catcher, I think the move will be made next year, at least by midseason.

[BabyJesusBuxton]

I can't see Mauer as a full-time catcher next year.

 

I agree he likely won't be catching full time from here on out but I think he will still be behind the plate for more games than he's not. If I were to set an over/under for games caught next year I would go with 90. An argument could be made for either side of that line IMO. **Assuming he avoids the DL**

[StormJH1]

I can't see Mauer as a full-time catcher next year. His bat is too important to the Twins to let him absorb any more foul tips, to say nothing of the beating that catchers take every day. With no incumbent 1B and the presence of a likely above-average offensive catcher, I think the move will be made next year, at least by midseason.

 

I'm of the same opinion. I don't know if I'd go as far as saying we've seen Mauer catch his last game (or even the end of him as a starting catcher), but that may be closer to the truth than people expecting business as usual for next year. Lemme get this straight, we don't want to "risk" Doumit catching mop-up games in September, but we'll throw Mauer behind the plate for some post-concussion meaningless "parade" games?! I don't think so...

 

This organization has experienced concussions several times over and knows what they are capable of doing to a career. Even 5 years ago, the idea that foul tips to the mask could cause permanent brain damage would have been viewed as laughable to most. Now, if it's even an outside possibility, what really is the point of throwing $184 million behind the plate?

 

The "positional scarcity" crowd is technically right when they say Mauer is more valuable at catcher, or that Arcia is less valuable at 1st base, but that argument presupposes that you're (a) a competitive baseball team where just a little bit more production could have postseason implications; and ( a potent lineup where you presumably have more than 9 quality hitters available to fill out a lineup card. In other words, if keeping Mauer at catcher is necessary to free up 1st base for...a platoon of Colabello and Parmelee, then you really aren't benefiting from Mauer's ability to catch. Mauer/Colabello may be slightly better than Pinto/Mauer, but it's not like it's the difference between Pinto/Mauer and Mauer/Prince Fielder or Mauer/Chris Davis.

[Rosterman]

What about Dozier becoming the third baseman if we have better choices at 2B/SS, assuming the Sano is not set for that place and would be better suited at 1st or DH or OF. Arcia needs a mentor on the team, as will Sano. The Twins need some coaching changes.

[Winston Smith]

What about Dozier becoming the third baseman if we have better choices at 2B/SS, assuming the Sano is not set for that place and would be better suited at 1st or DH or OF. Arcia needs a mentor on the team, as will Sano. The Twins need some coaching changes.

 

I would like them to bring in Orlando Cabrara next year. He had some fire in his belly, he was a very good infielder and had a winning attitude.

He is still young enough to relate to young players and could be very useful with all the young latin players we have coming up.

[stringer bell]

I would like them to bring in Orlando Cabrara next year. He had some fire in his belly, he was a very good infielder and had a winning attitude.

He is still young enough to relate to young players and could be very useful with all the young latin players we have coming up.

Bringing in a Hispanic coach would be a very good thing to do. I think it is time and the current group might not make it to October 1, although I don't put much blame for this season at their feet.

[cmb0252]

With Buxton and Hicks in the same outfield the other corner outfielder could be Jim Thome and we would still have an above average defensive outfield. Arcia should be fine in RF.

[LaBombo]

I agree he likely won't be catching full time from here on out but I think he will still be behind the plate for more games than he's not. If I were to set an over/under for games caught next year I would go with 90. An argument could be made for either side of that line IMO. **Assuming he avoids the DL**

Sounds about right.

 

The opening at first should have exactly zero to do with how the Twins handle Mauer's future. If first base is not the best place for Mauer in terms of the future of the franchise, then you don't put him there just because you lost Morneau to free agency. You replace Morneau and move on.

 

Mauer should catch less with the team not competing, but he doesn't need to play first to do so. The Twins burned up 166 designated hitter plate appearances on Doumit, who hit .224/.271/.375 as a DH, and just .240/.310/.385 overall. That's terrible.

 

It's pretty safe to say the Twins and Mauer could both benefit from having him DH more. And Gardenhire's ridiculous phobia about not using him there more is just one more reason to show him the door to his new office.

[Shane Wahl]

Arcia is not going to be a first baseman. Really, Sano being able to play third is a HUGE possibility. It opens up the DH spot and eventually Arcia can become a RF/DH half/half when the Twins are good again. I am hoping for JD Williams to continue to be successful as a Williams-Buxton-Hicks defensive OF would be ridiculous.

[Shane Wahl]

By the way, I will be happy as a clam if the Twins, by opening day, have traded Willingham and Doumit (with likely some other minor leaguers) for some kind of pitching. That's all I really want outside of at least one solid FA SP signing in the offseason.

 

Games:

 

Mauer 70, Pinto 70, Herrmann 22 at catcher

Mauer 60, Parmelee 60, Colabello 42 at first (Plouffe could alter this)

Dozier 90, Rosario 72 at second

Florimon 100, Dozier 62 at short

Sano 100, Plouffe 62 at third

 

and then figure out the OF with Hicks, Parmelee, Mastroianni, Herrmann, Rosario (a bit), and eventually Buxton

[LaBombo]

By the way, I will be happy as a clam if the Twins, by opening day, have traded Willingham and Doumit (with likely some other minor leaguers) for some kind of pitching. That's all I really want outside of at least one solid FA SP signing in the offseason.

 

Games:

 

Mauer 70, Pinto 70, Herrmann 22 at catcher

Mauer 60, Parmelee 60, Colabello 42 at first (Plouffe could alter this)

Dozier 90, Rosario 72 at second

Florimon 100, Dozier 62 at short

Sano 100, Plouffe 62 at third

Looks like a good plan, but it's hard to see Gardenhire going along with a platoon or timeshare anywhere except catcher. If the Twins go with what you suggest because they have a new manager, then I like your plan even more.

 

It would be nice if they could trade Willingham for value, but at this point Doumit just needs to be moved for nothing to open up a roster spot.