Kwak

My conclusion is: CF is not a possible position for Santana except for the situation of completing only one game.

Those head-first slides are risky--I'm not surprised if that was the reason.

As opposed to the actual Johan Santana trade?

"Clutch" hitting doesn't exist? I guess a definition of "Clutch" is required to have any meaningful discussion. Maybe include something like "hitting with men on base"--too broad but seems like it belongs somewhere in "clutch". Hitting when the lead changes--perhaps a bit too narrow, but seems like that should also be in the definition somewhere. Oops, the dreaded RBI may be in there someplace--a bit too broad because some "runs" are more useful than others. Exception: those who believe RBI's are unimportant because the randomness of hitting is exposed as less important. "Clutch" hitting--some hits are more useful than others. That violates the the law that OBP and OPS are supreme measures of hitting because they lump all hits together, the useless, the useful, and the critical. I game I sometimes play: look at a team's box score and adjust all the hits, walks, HBPs, opponents errors, even useful outs, and place them (as best as permissible) in the same inning. Players with multiple hits, walks etc. would be moved to a separate inning. Then count up all of the runs that team could have scored--if they had only bunched everything into one (or two) innings. The run totals are impressive. This is sort of a back door method to define (or at least explain) the concept of "clutch" hitting. In short, not all hits should have the same value assigned--sort of like how SLG illustrates that extra-base hits are generally more useful than singles, thus exposing the time-honored statistic of BAVG as a less useful measure of the quality of a hitter than newer statistics. Thus, "clutch" hitting does exist--but "clutch" hitting needs to be defined in order to measure it. The lack of a rubric for "clutch" hitting doesn't render "clutch" hitting non-existent.

Does this mean he won't be HOF in his first year of eligibility? Based on Bust-on's experience, should we restrain our enthusiasm for an immediate promotion of Sano?--Or, given Sano's ueber (I don't have an umlaut) athleticism will he replace Buxton in CF?

People still use AOL?

I'll check again, but if the Twins choose to "option" Milone next year, I believe he can decline--and declare free agency. The point of FA is minor and misses the gyst of the argument--too many pitchers next year! Retaining Pelfrey would only increase the problem. A trade(s) are needed.

Let's see: 7 pitchers this year: Three (Hughes, Nolasco, and Santana) under contract; Two (Gibson and May) under team control; and Two (Milhone and Pelfrey) free agents at year end. Barring a trade, the first five names will be around next year. Then, there's Berrios not just banging on the door, but knocking it off its hinges. And you say: "Offer Pelfrey $16 MM to stay another year"? That's an offer that can't be refused. Thus, who are you trading to keep Pelfrey around? Not to mention holding back the charging Berrios? If you really thing that much of Pelfrey, two years at double his pay will keep him around--and if you don't think so highly of him--then trade him in July. Even package him with others to make a run at another Catcher.

Why? They had to convince Mauer to leave catcher for that oh so safe position of 1B (Morneau)? But it must be fine for others to take the risk at catcher?

I like Rosario--but then I liked how well Santana hit last year (not his CF defense though). This year? Is Rosario 2015's Santana? Then does he become next year's 2015 Santana? Hmm. Panic (like every year) and rotate several players in the OF? Ugh. The Mauer problem can be solved by...splitting duty at Catcher next year with Suzuki. Spot play at 1B and DH to ensure he plays every home game and plenty of road games. Concussion issue? Wait! Wouldn't everybody have a concussion issue at Catcher? Besides there are only three years left (after 2015) on his contract. That seems like an acceptable risk of injury to me. Back to the OF discussion. NO to Mauer, Sano, Santana, Escobar, and the rest of the infielders. There simply are plenty of options (OK, not perfect options) to man the OF--use them. Yes to (first Arcia). I know he can't defend any better than an Iron Mike, but it's just too soon to give up on him. That time will also permit Kepler, and the rest of the MiL gang to "age" some more and see which of them should be the first to replace Arcia should (when?) he fails. Hicks is my #4 OF. Did I forget Hunter, Shafer, and Robison? Yes. I sang each of them my rendition of "Happy Trails to You".

Trade Nolasco?--he's injured. Even if he returns no one would touch a "damaged pitcher" without the Twins paying most of his salary. Trade Pelfrey or Milone? The rest of BB knows this is a forced "dump"--I doubt if a Drew Butera-type Catcher could be had for either of those two. Rest assured, unless those two are extended for at least two years--each will walk away after this season.

Six-man rotation? It seems everybody has forgotten Nolasco. He will return soon. It's time to start making trades.

Frame this quote about Mauer's mistake(s) at 1B--then move it to any of the Sano threads. Include a discussion about the difficulty of playing Catcher and the skills required there and how well that would translate to another infield position.

Apparently the Twins have believed that for decades.

The line-up? It's not that Molitor has a "salad bowl" line-up--the problem is that those expected to be middle-of-the-line-up hitters are batting early (1,2, or 3) or are such liabilities in the field that playing them is actually a negative. The "earlies" are the guys producing the runs. Sadly, they are there because those at the bottom of the line-up "can't hit, get on-base enough" to justify batting first or second. So the RF and 1B (on most teams in the middle) aren't because the rest of the team is so bad. Dovetail that with guys like Arcia (Vargas and some already departed) and the #5 hole is manned by somebody who doesn't belong there. One added point to whose batting 5th--the Escobar/Santana deal. Molitor wanted Santana to be his SS and Ryan wanted Escobar--so they compromised and played Escobar in LF. LF is a position often associated with a middle-of-the-line-up post, but it was manned by Escobar and the bench players. Leaving [who] to bat 5th?

He hasn't even "learned" one yet.

Another thought about Sano in RF--ball hit to the gap, Buxton running fast, tracking the ball--and here comes the baby elephant at his full speed colliding into Buxton... . Collisions between Gomez and Span, though all too frequent, were at least mild--this one won't !!

I shake my head when posters who have railed about "defense matters" take a 180 when Sano is mentioned. Sano was "moved" (rolled?) from SS to 3B because: defensively he was the worst option, it was considered that the Twins "were deep" in OF talent (or is it "in deep"?), Mauer "had to be moved" from C to reduce the concussion risk, thus filling 1B (or DH). The Twins have typically considered the DH "position" to be part-time for regulars (especially those that actually can play defense somewhere). 2B is filled, no way would the Twins consider Sano to be a Catcher--so 3B was all that was left. Sorry Plouffie. Talk to AJ if you need a shoulder. The "Point" ?-- Sano and 3B defense aren't there [yet]. So, either he stays in the minors to improve defensively or he is the primary DH for the Twins. No way, does he serve as a part-time player for the Twins (except as a September callup). He plays 9 days of 10--or he stays in the minors. As a full-time DH, then its decision time for Hunter, Arcia, and Vargas. Part-time for all three of these--bad idea.

Plouffe can be traded in July--if the Twins are willing to accept the risk that Sano isn't a 3B for more than the rest of the 2015 season. That dovetails nicely with Ryan's earlier statements of "... Sano [up] in August...".

The Twins should for the most part--just wait until the AS break. The exception is the addition of Erwin Santana to the pitching staff. My guess--ES begins in the pen and is used "to extend his pitch-count" as a preparation to be added to the rotation. Who does he replace? Wait. Things will likely be much clearer in 5-6 weeks concerning the rotation. After the AS break? Well, where are the Twins with respect to the rest of the division? Near the top? Or has time sent them spiraling to oblivion? Make changes based on that information--not on what is known today, in the middle of June.

My guess is that Hicks goes to the IR. It also avoids the awkwardness of Friday's game-deciding hit to CF, Buxton's promotion to starting CF, and the Twins' losing streak/probable collapse.

Where's Mike? This is the type of threads to which I referred.

Well, once in Texas has shown: " When it rains, it pours--then it floods".

...that new thread about the starting pitching... . Poor timing. Jinx?

I don't think ryan will have trouble trading Duensing this July.