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Otto von Ballpark

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Everything posted by Otto von Ballpark

  1. Otto von Ballpark
    Yeah, I know May isn't a great prospect, but he's definitely #2 in upside among our high minors starters right now, and has a great case for #1 in current performance, he's not real young or on any kind of innings/pitch limit... yet it seems we want to cycle through a bunch of other guys first. (I know Darnell and Johnson were brief promotions, but Deduno/Pino are two 30 year old journeymen and have collectively had a regular rotation spot most of the season).
  2. Otto von Ballpark
    Garza made the majors in just over a year, true, but Baker and Slowey made it within 2 years (and Gibson was on track to do the same when he started scuffling at AAA and eventually needed surgery). All college guys, of course. Liriano was pushed pretty hard. Promoted to AA 3/4 of the way through his age-20 season (like Berrios this year, Liriano was 7 months older BUT was also coming off an age-19 season lost to injury), then promoted to AAA halfway through the next season, with a cup of coffee in MLB that September. Liriano debuted in MLB ~2 months before his 22nd birthday. On that track, Berrios would debut about opening day 2016 (so a late season cup of coffee in 2015 wouldn't be out of the question either).
  3. Otto von Ballpark
    Of those 3 infielders, only one was even in MLB to begin the season. The fact that they all seem critical to our roster now speaks a bit about how well our roster plan has worked out, even without injuries.
  4. Otto von Ballpark
    Parmelee has had good micro stretches before, longer than this one even. Heck, he had one when he was first called up this year, and there were several in 2013, each time prompting threads and discussion about him turning a corner and being part of the future again. I'm pretty much done discussing good micro stretches with this guy now. Thanks to P-Flo, he's not the worst position player on the 25 man, so he shouldn't get cut at the moment, and he's worth some ABs as long as other outfielders are slumping and injured (or as we fall out of the race). But he's still a spare part with a tenuous future on this roster, and I don't think that status is open for re-evaluation until the offseason at least.
  5. Otto von Ballpark
    2000 was actually an unmitigated disaster at the position (as bad as 2011 when Mauer was out), until AJ emerged at AA/AAA then came up in mid-August. A lot of scrambling around and wasted PAs with inadequate defenders and AAA rejects. The Twins would have been much better off trusting their doubts about LeCroy's catching abilities, and convincing Steinbach to stay another year (or finding a similar vet). 1982-1983 is an interesting comp, although it should be noted that the Twins had at least two MLB ready youngsters going into that period (Laudner and Engle, adding Salas a few years later) both of whom they trusted with the starting job at one time or another. Unless someone else emerges quickly, Pinto looks to be about it, and right or wrong, the Twins already seem to view his defensive future at the position closer to LeCroy than that of a full-time catcher.
  6. Otto von Ballpark
    If Pino slots back into Rochester's rotation Monday, they would have to flexibility to promote just about anyone after that for a Saturday July 5th MLB start. FWIW, Darnell would be on 10 days by that Saturday, Johnson 8, and May 7 (plus Meyer 5). Gordon is ahead of Buxton by virtue of going straight to Elizabethton, but neither Buxton nor Mauer advanced to A ball in their draft (half) seasons. Would be very surprising for a HS player.
  7. Otto von Ballpark
    I assume the article's listing Gilmartin as probable starter for today is incorrect, then? May tonight, then Gilmartin tomorrow?
  8. Otto von Ballpark
    Suzuki made $6.45 mil in his last arb year, plus a $0.65 mil option buyout, so essentially $7 mil. The option on his first FA year was valued at $8.5 mil, and actually would have vested at $9.25 mil if he had been a starter all of 2013. Given that he fell to backup status over 2012-2013, he almost certainly won't get that salary in 2015, but he could come close in free agency, with a 2 year deal similar to Martin's, if he finishes 2014 strong. Would be very interesting to see what kind of discount the Twins could get by signing him right now, though. 2/10? 2/12?
  9. Otto von Ballpark
    They didn't just use the option, though -- they used it in March when they reassigned him to minor league camp. They similarly already used an option year for Vargas, who I suspect we should see in September.
  10. Otto von Ballpark
    Not to pile on after GCTF but... Just because forum posts don't give full context for every comment does NOT mean the context doesn't exist. I would be surprised if anyone would object to the Twins rostering three catchers who can both hit and get regular playing time (or even two catchers who meet that criteria, plus a third for strictly backup C duty, like the late 2009 Twins with Mauer, Jose Morales, and Mike Redmond). I will echo the sentiment about checking basic facts before posting. Vogt was only recalled on June 1st. Since then, all three catchers have been playing regularly, to the tune of 370-480 PA full season paces. During that time, Vogt has been their primary RF and Jaso their primary DH.
  11. Otto von Ballpark
    Why was this moved to the minor league forum? Hicks is still on the MLB disabled list, correct?
  12. Otto von Ballpark
    Don't know how this misinformation started, but the Twins offer to Torii was only 3/45. The White Sox offered 5/75, before the Angels signed him for 5/90.
  13. Otto von Ballpark
    Behold my prognostication skills!
  14. Otto von Ballpark
    Went to the Twins official site for confirmation, and one of the top featured articles was "Nunez declares himself ready to return to lineup". Sorry Eduardo! Guess I should just default to Twitter for such things now.
  15. Otto von Ballpark
    Looks like Perk picked a bad day to get the flu
  16. Otto von Ballpark
    I wouldn't read too much into lining up spots yet, particularly for KC. As I mentioned upthread, Rochester has zero days off and two doubleheaders between now and July 14. However spots are aligned right now, they will be aligned differently by next Monday (Twins off day).
  17. Otto von Ballpark
    In my opinion, Darnell might be the least deserving of the Rochester starting five right now. In addition to the runs and FIP and walk rate and low IP/GS, he has yet to pitch beyond 6.1 innings in a start this year. I think all of the other starters (excluding Meyer and his pitch limit) have gone deeper into games. I might prefer Darnell as bullpen help at the moment, rather than a starter replacement.
  18. Otto von Ballpark
    Yes. But listing him as a starter, and listing his combined rate stats in the same table as the other starters, is a little misleading. AAA swingmen are generally viewed more as MLB bullpen options, I think; I doubt Pino would be viewed as a real option for a spot MLB start, even if he was on the 40-man roster.
  19. Otto von Ballpark
    Any optioned player would have to stay down 10 days, which is why I though Parm or Nunez moves were more likely. If they are just looking for an extra pitcher, though, I'd almost rather seem them make the move immediately for a reliever and let Deduno start on Thursday. Parmelee or an unable to play Nunez aren't going to help this team the next two days, and an extra pitcher Thursday thru Sunday isn't as valuable as one Tuesday thru Sunday.
  20. Otto von Ballpark
    I forgot about Diamond... but maybe it's best to do that anyway. Rochester will need the 6th guy on Saturday, so if we take someone from them, Diamond will have to start then. Doesn't look like a great opportunity for a quick guest start, unless we want to disable Nunez or we're ready to cut Parmelee. And if we're ready to do that, they could just call up Darnell now anyway as an extra arm out of the pen for awhile and leave Deduno alone (that's what they did with Darnell earlier in the year).
  21. Otto von Ballpark
    Careful with his stats -- Darnell has allowed the most unearned runs on the Rochester staff (10). His RA this year would be 4.37, which is the highest of any Rochester started not named Diamond. His FIP is the highest of that group too. Plus he is barely averaging 5 IP per start, and has a BB/9 almost as high as Meyer's supposedly problematic one (and not nearly as many K/9). Not that he is a terrible option, but Darnell is perhaps the least exciting of the AAA starters to me right now. (Although he is notably younger than Johnson and Pino, I suppose.)
  22. Otto von Ballpark
    Cross-posted from the main forum: Rochester looks like they are in a brutal stretch of games. No off days between June 11 and July 14, with two doubleheaders in there (including one this coming Saturday). 34 games in 32 days. It would not surprise me if they went with a 6 man rotation, or at least kept 6 starters on staff for awhile (if Pino slides back to the pen next week). Any thoughts from the TD minor league gurus?
  23. Otto von Ballpark
    Rochester looks like they are in a brutal stretch of games. No off days between June 11 and July 14, with two doubleheaders in there (including one this coming Saturday). 34 games in 32 days. It would not surprise me if they went with a 6 man rotation, or at least kept 6 starters on staff for awhile (if Pino slides back to the pen next week).
  24. Otto von Ballpark
    Seth's article says this: Sounds like Pino is just getting bumped back? If Deduno starts Thursday, they could skip him with their off day next Monday and not need that spot again until Saturday June 28.
  25. Otto von Ballpark
    Seth: I am a Pino fan too, but it should be noted his K/9 rate is only 6.9 while starting this year. He's been his most effective, strikeout-wise, out of the pen (although his control and run prevention have been consistently good across both roles). He might be a better bullpen/swingman option than permanent starter (maybe taking Swarzak's spot?).
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