Otto von Ballpark

That would be changing the very definition of the strike zone, which would be a much bigger deal than the umpire effects of pitch framing, IMHO.

Not my intent. Just disputing the notion that pitch framing implies bad calls. I'll delete the offending paragraph(s).

That's not the "idea" at all. It's that pitches are fast, the strike zone is small, and there are a lot of borderline pitches, whether called by man or machine. And around any margin, there are different ways to interpret what is observed, and different factors that contribute to that interpretation. Nothing inherently bad about it.

Agreed. Hypothetically, if we had better set-up options, maybe we're more likely to move Pelfrey or Milone to a bullpen role, for non-setup work, rather than May. (In fact, we did briefly plan to move Pelfrey to the pen this spring, when we presumably thought our set-up options would be better than they turned out to be.)

I'm not sure an emergency 5th outfielder is the best use of a roster spot in that scenario, especially if Molitor continued to give him at least a start a week to "keep him fresh".

Hurts nothing? What's more useful? A) Hunter, Hicks, Rosario, or Buxton available to start, pinch hit, pinch run, or be defensive replacements (all but Hunter on the latter two) or B ) Hunter, Hicks, Rosario, and Robinson available to start (preferably not Robinson), pinch hit (all but Robinson), pinch run, or be defensive replacements (again, all but Hunter on the latter two) Keep enough guys around on the bench or in the bullpen who "hurt nothing" by themselves, can, in fact, hurt. I don't mind Buxton getting a few more reps in AAA at the moment but there's no question he would make the team better.

I think it could have been for both reasons. Initially they didn't use him as a leverage guy, but the past few weeks he has been in the mix for those appearances (although we've had so many blowout losses, those appearances are few and far between). Might have still happened with a better pen, although it could have happened a little differently -- maybe they keep him stretched out better for return(s) to starting in 2015.

True, his initial numbers in AAA look pretty good so far. Still would be nice to get him a little further on his MLB acclimation path this year, but it's shaping up that we'll have to choose between that and another Arcia MLB evaluation this September, barring injury.

I think that might be giving Perkins a little too much credit here. He was openly skeptical of Pinto already in the offseason when we first signed Suzuki, when he had barely even thrown to Pinto. I think he latched on to the framing thing as a numerical justification of his preconceived beliefs (which he sort of admitted in a quote here). Not that Pinto is any great shakes, but I don't think pitch framing was ever really in the top 3 reasons Perkins didn't like throwing to Pinto.

It's not so much development. I obviously don't think a few weeks in MLB is going to fix Arcia or fully acclimate Buxton. But both could/should be parts of the 2016 opening day roster, and both have a TON of question marks about them in that regard. I'd rather try to answer some of those questions now, rather than kick that can down the road, which could throw off our offseason priorities (do we sign a FA OF starter, or risk going without one?) and in Arcia's case, could make for a very uncomfortable roster crunch next spring since he is out of options.

Really? That's how you read this? Doesn't sound like he'd be terribly OK with that. Sounds more like the inn is full to me.

Many would be shocked because it didn't happen -- Hicks did get a MLB call up last September. He didn't in 2013, but he wasn't sent down until August then either, so he already had 4 months of MLB time that season. Arcia had a month this year, and Buxton had 2 weeks. If the Twins can't get either of them more than a token MLB appearance yet in 2015, and Hunter "going out the right way" was a big reason why, that would be a pretty bad decision.

Well, I doubt that more than 1 or 2 odd posters actually suggested a full benching or cutting of Hunter, and Bonnes seemed to be directing his statements towards the community at large. If you want to leave out the "unhinged" statement, fine. But Bonnes has also explicitly argued there isn't room for Buxton right now. THAT is not a extreme minority viewpoint around here at all.

Well, the thread starter and site founder has repeatedly asserted that a reduction in Hunter's playing time is "bordering on unhinged". Between that and Sano, Hicks, and Rosario, it certainly sounds like the OF/DH inn is full at the moment. And we're very near the point where Arcia and Buxton should be getting MLB reps regardless of their AAA performance (and actually, AAA will not be a 2015 option for either of them anymore in less than a month).

If May stays in the pen the rest of 2015, and his pen usage is consistent with the last couple weeks, he will finish with around 120 IP total for the year. This after 144 IP in 2014, and a pro high of 165. Are we going to hear next year about how we have to control *his* innings? Or look for him tiring down the stretch in 2016? May in the pen is a win now move for 2015, but I wish we were prepared to move him back yet this year once "win now" is no longer a concern.

We're pretty close if some are arguing there aren't enough opportunities for Buxton and Arcia right now...

Like Buxton, Berrios will only burn an option if he's sent back down for 20 or more days in 2015. So if he started Saturday, was optioned out Sunday, we could recall him on or before September 4th and not burn an option. (Not perfect, as the Rochester season goes through Sep. 8, but we could keep him around for a few more days before optioning him too -- I notice Achter is still on the active roster...) For guys who figure to be in the mix for next year's opening day roster anyway, it's a great idea to get them MLB experience when opportunities are available beginning in August.

Sure, if they do that it doesn't matter much. But they could have left him on rehab until August 27th. And either way, barring injury they would have to demote someone for 3 days to get Buxton back here before roster expansion. (And I wonder if that person could be recalled again before the 10 day period? Not sure it applies in September...)

Well, a September 1st recall would unnecessarily burn an option year, when they could have left him on rehab and optioned him August 13th and kept the option year at the cost of 3 service time days. So my teeth-gnashing would remain totally on point.

In fairness, Buxton's initial call-up was timed with a Hicks injury. It's possible that the team thought he was close to ready so they called him up for a few weeks MLB action, and planned to send him back down to AAA when Hicks returned. They didn't really have that option until now.

Fair enough. My fear is that by optioning him rather than letting his rehab play out, they may have longer-term "protection" of Buxton in mind...

He can't be protected on a longer rehab assignment in AAA? He has to be optioned to AAA to be protected?

John, this does come off as somewhat insulting. "Extreme"? "Nearly detached from reality"? "Fringe"? "Borderline untethered"? You are framing the situation to make it seem that way. First, your reference to the team as "suddenly competitive, still a handful of games from a Wild Card spot, past the trade deadline, a game under .500 and experiencing a renewed interest in the team after four years of abysmal results..." ignores their massive recent slide and more-or-less punting at the trade deadline (and arguable punting of a game against their biggest wild card rival in Toronto by debuting Duffey). Your only reference to Hunter is as "a $10 million free agent who has been a productive player and who also is a crowd favorite and AND as recently as Friday night was celebrated as a game-winning, team-rallying hero." Ignoring that he is also: - a 40 year old signed to a one-year deal by a rebuilding club looking for mentorship - on pace for his fewest starts in the field for a full healthy season in his whole career - his lowest OPS since his last minor league stint 15 years ago - his 4th consecutive season of declining OPS Then, your description of Buxton is "a 21-year-old coming off a thumb injury who had previously skipped AAA and gone directly to the majors (and didn't have immediate success)". No mention of - top 1-2 prospect in baseball for 2-3 years running - best Twins prospect since Mauer - important enough to get called up immediately after the likely Super 2 deadline passed in June - a clear candidate to be an opening day starter in 2016 but could benefit from more MLB experience, having only received 39 MLB PA so far Also, I am not sure that many reasonable posters here are calling for a full benching of Hunter, just that he and his OF caddy Robinson cede the most playing time of our current OF to audition (and mentor!) the #2 prospect in MLB for a starting spot in 2016. I also suggested that maybe Mauer, with by far the lowest OPS of his career, should be reduced from his career-high pace of games started and plate appearances to assist in this endeavor, with Sano getting some reps at 1B and adding a few more DH games for Hunter. I am curious to see how you will mischaracterize that suggestion as "nearly detached from reality." Your framing of this situation is closer to the post-and-run Adam Brett Walker boosters here than an honest, accurate assessment. EDIT TO ADD: Not that my assessment above is any more accurate, but I have no interest in this kind of selective fact presenting to paint other people's views as extreme.

Yes. If Meyer is injured anytime between now and before he is optioned in spring training 2016, he would need to open the 2016 season on the MLB disabled list. He can't be optioned in spring training unless he is healthy. It's probably happened to a pitcher out there somewhere. From a quick Google search. Nick Kingham of the Pirates is a current example -- he was on the 40-man roster but in AAA when he had TJ surgery earlier this season. If he's still not ready next spring, he will need to go on the MLB disabled list at that point. Gibson 2013 is almost identical to the current Buxton situation. He was added to the 40-man in June 2013, then optioned in August. Then Gibson had a minor injury while at AAA and missed the remainder of the season, so he wasn't recalled for September (whether they planned to do that or not, it could have just been a paper transaction meaning he wouldn't have to pitch) and burned an option year. He was activated, as all disabled players are, when the MLB season ended in October, because his injury and roster status at that point did not matter, other than that he was still our protected property on the 40-man roster.

Yes, that is the estimated cutoff for players to be eligible following this season. But the trend is clear. The Super 2 group size increased from 17% to 22% in December 2011, so last year's Super 2 arbitration eligibles already had their entire careers under the new system. And the cutoff then was 133 days. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/04/projected-super-two-cutoff-3.html http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/04/projected-super-two-cutoff-5.html I don't think any elite prospect recalled in June in recent years has ever become eligible for Super 2, so teams know what they are doing. Most Super 2's are lesser players (Plouffe) and/or players in very different circumstances (Harper, Bryant).