What should the Twins do with Jose Miranda?

10 hours ago, Jocko87 said:

Another option is an IL stint with rehab.  The shoulder isn't right. It's the thing that makes the most sense to me. He's hurting but still a better option than Solano, Castro, Gordon, Julien etc.

Farmer being out put them in a bind. No way Miranda should still be leading the team in plate appearances. He and Correa have been and will be playing everyday until Farmer gets back because the other options kinda suck.

I think taking a step back and seeing some minor league pitching would be very beneficial for Miranda. He tore it up in spring training, but just hasn't gotten going yet. Some time apart would do both parties well.

10 hours ago, GKuehl said:

Option 3. Call up Brooks Lee and install him as the everyday 3rd baseman.

He’ll provide good defense and potentially bring a bit of a spark to our listless offense. Even if he shows he’s not quite ready, he’ll learn a lot. Royce Lewis is only than a month or so away, so let’s see what Lee can do for a few weeks — if Lee struggles, we can insert Lewis in at 3B. 

I personally believe it's too early for Lee. They have to allow him time to develop. Rushing him to the majors could hinder his development. There are other options that will provide an increase in production at third base without having to bring up Lee.

4 hours ago, Squirrel said:

While I hope to see Lee sometime this year, I don’t think he’s the answer for right now. For one, as much promise as he shows, he’s still only had about, what, 400 AB in his entire professional career, and none above AA. That’s a big leap and we’ve seen others make that leap and struggle mightily. Two, he’s not on the 40-man, so who do you remove? Then who do you remove when Lewis is set to come off the 60-day in two weeks? Maybe there are obvious choices to you, but for me, I’m a bit more wary about losing two players so easily. I might easily remove one, but two is more iffy for me at this point in the season and I’d rather reserve that move for Lewis.

I think the only solution for Miranda right now, if not injured, is to demote him to AAA when Farmer is reinstated. Farmer can manage 3B starting duties for a couple weeks until Lewis is ready. When Lewis ready, he plugs in there and Farmer goes back to backup/utility for SS, 2B and 3B. At that point I think it’s good-bye to Solano or Gordon, or maybe Castro, to make room on the 40-man.

If Miranda does go down and gets himself reset, I’m not sure of his path back up. Whoever isn’t gone of the trio I mentioned above may be the next on the list. But if Miranda gets sent down, I’m inclined to leave him in AAA for a chunk of time,

I think if they send him down, it will be until he shows that he is coming out of his rut. If he goes on a tear in AAA, the Twins should happily add him back. He could also be brought back in the event of an injury like we saw last year during his one-day demotion. There are a few different factors, but I don't believe this will be a permanent thing.

2 hours ago, Nashvilletwin said:

He’s a square peg in a round hole at the moment. Miranda is not playing the position for which he is best suited - not only given his particular talents, but also given his future fit with the Twins.  Lee or Lewis are our future at 3B and that future is rapidly approaching. Although right-handed, Miranda has the glove skills to be an above average fielding first baseman.  That is where he should be getting 2/3s to 3/4s of his ABs (with Kiriloff getting essentially the rest while being primarily one of our starting corner outfielders).

I must admit though that I’m getting worried that Miranda, Kiriloff, Larnach and, yes, both Gordon and Jeffers, are stalling out on their development, particularly as hitters.  That’s a huge blow to this organization for which something quickly needs to be done and someone needs to be held accountable.  Let’s hope we put the right people and systems in place to make sure it doesn’t happen to Lee, Lewis, Julien, Rodriguez, Wallner, Martin and Miller.

 

It's worth noting that Miranda spent most of his time at first base last year and was really bad defensively. I agree that the future third baseman will be either Lee or Lewis (and eventually Correa), but I don't think first base is the best landing spot either. We may be looking at a guy who will end up as a DH only if he can't figure out how to play some defense.

1 hour ago, mikelink45 said:

With Gallo, Correa, Castro, Solano, Vasquez all slumping - I do not think Miranda is their biggest problem.  Play the young man and give him a good batting coach. 

As I noted, Miranda is really really hurting the team. The other guys have brought positives to the table that Miranda has not. Every metric agrees that Miranda is the biggest problem on the team at the moment. Ranks 18th on the team in Win Probability Added and dead last in Wins Above Replacement at -0.5. I know there are other people slumping, but I think Miranda needs to see inferior minor league pitching in order to get going and return to the Twins.

1 hour ago, Karbo said:

Miranda has the same problem hitting as so many others on this team. Swing for the fences and hope you square it up. I for one and getting tired of watching these guys swing at so many high and out of zone pitches. And lately they seem so anxious, they jump out at the 1st pitch no matter where its thrown. Hitting coach needs to step up and get these guys to be a little more patient, and a lot more selective IMHO.

The approach desperately needs to improve. There was a stretch there during that home stand when the whole lineup came to the plate with excellent approaches and looked really locked in. That's not the case at the moment. Teams go on slumps like this, it's frustrating, but it's the name of the game. The important part is coming out of it and going on a hot streak.

1 hour ago, tony&rodney said:

The jury is still out on whether Alex Kirilloff will hit like we hope he does in MLB. Thus far this year, he looks really good, taking walks after good at bats and hitting line drives. His glove is good, superior to any other option. If AK hits like we expect he might, then first base is only open 10-20 times per season.

Miranda was brutal at first base: not understanding the footwork, struggling with receiving throws, and not knowing where to go when due to inexperience. If Miranda still has a bum shoulder and it affects his hitting and/or fielding, then it is time for an IL stint to get healed.

This is exactly right. Miranda was awful at first base. That is not the ideal landing spot for him. I'm starting to wonder if he's not destined to be a DH only. He still has time to improve, but he's got a lot of work to do at both corner spots if they want him to play defensively.

44 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

I wasn’t suggesting it would be permanent. It’s a reset. ‘His path back’ was referencing when and how he will return. If/when he’s raking they will find a way. Injury, too, is a way. I don’t know the path back, but there will be one when he pushes it.

Absolutely! Great point!

UPDATE: Twins optioned Miranda and reinstated Farmer. Hope he gets going down there.

1 hour ago, John Belinski said:

He certainly should not be the starting 3rd baseman and since he is not hitting should probably not be on the current team at this time.  Bring up another player who is having a good year in St. Paul. I think his shoulder may still be a problem. If he has a future with the Twins it would be at 1st base and he would need to become a better hitter. Maybe the manager in St Paul can work with him so he can become a better hitter.  He needs to stop swinging at so many bad pitches, but the same could apply to several other Twins hitters.  

See, I think the hitting is the part that will be good. His hitting profile suggests that he'll hit in the MLB if he makes the proper adjustments. He's had success in the past. The defense I can't guarantee. He was awful at first last year which is a problem because he's equally awful at third. He needs to improve defensively in order to avoid being a lifetime DH.