MUST SEE: Kennys Vargas Murder-Death-Killing A Baseball

[Parker Hageman]

If you were at last night’s game (and judging by the attendance, you weren’t), you probably saw Kennys Vargas murder-death-killing a Hector Noesi fastball. If you missed this, you should probably watch (and listen) to the ball coming off of Vargas’s bat:

 

VIDEO: KENNYS VARGAS MURDER-DEATH-KILLS A FASTBALL

 

Vargas has been very good since joining the Minnesota Twins, specifically at hitting baseballs hard. During the series in Oakland, Vargas hit a ball that was registered at 120 miles an hour off the bat. That, according to Trackman’s 100,000 batted ball database, was the hardest hit ball ever. EVER. Meanwhile, Vargas’s home run last night came off the lumber at a brisk 108.6 miles an hour (according to HitTrackerOnline.com) before it caromed off the facing of the second deck in right-center field. Based on the True Distance measurements, the ball would have ricocheted off of Ramp B had the grandstand not impeded its flight.

 

 

 In short, Vargas is Liam Neeson and baseballs are the guys who tried to kidnap his daughter.

 

Of course, regular contact has been an issue for the big man. He made some changes to his timing mechanism in efforts to increase his contact but his pitch selection needs refining. He is swinging and chasing a lot at breaking balls resulting in a grotesque amount of strikeouts. In fact, his 36 K’s in the month of August is a new franchise record for most strikeouts in that month. For a rookie who is making the jump from Double-A ball, this is nothing out of the ordinary – he is supposed to swing and drive the ball. As he matures and grows more comfortable at the plate, the walk rate should increase. In the minors, Vargas maintained a respectable 10.4% walk rate but that skill has evaporated at the game’s highest level as he struggles to recognize the plethora of breaking and offspeed pitches being twirled in that direction. 

[Mike Frasier Law]

We do have some big swingers. The hardest hit homerun by a Twin this year was by Arcia: http://m.mlb.com/video/v35069371/?c_id=mlb

 

That one was 116.5 mph off the bat with a true distance of 468.

 

Pinto's in second at 114 and 459: http://m.mlb.com/video/v32236589/?c_id=mlb

 

It's fun to watch these young guys hit the ball hard.

[twinsfan34]

Frasier hit the nail on the head. Pinto and Arcia as well...other than the year and a half we had with Jim Thome - there's more power in those 3 guys than we've had in a LONG time. Willingham hit a few homers, but not the distance/power factor. Not Hunter, Koskie, Jones, etc of the mid 2000's. I honestly am not sure if the 80's - Gaetti, Brunansky, et al had the same muscle as those three. I could be mistaken.

 

Then there's Miguel Sano...add him to the mix.

[Parker Hageman]

I would love to see Vargas, Arcia, Pinto and Sano in the same lineup together. I get the impression, however, that eventually there will be a trade. After all, there is only one Designated Hitter and Joe Mauer is entrenched at first for the near future. 

 

So, question, if you had to trade one, who do you trade and why?

[Monkeypaws]

I would love to see Vargas, Arcia, Pinto and Sano in the same lineup together. I get the impression, however, that eventually there will be a trade. After all, there is only one Designated Hitter and Joe Mauer is entrenched at first for the near future. 

 

So, question, if you had to trade one, who do you trade and why?

That's easy, trade Mauer 

[big dog]

Not if I'm in charge.  I reject the question!  Hah!  My game plan?  Pinto catching, Sano at 3rd (hey, Harmon did it), Arcia in right, Vargas at DH.  Dozier, Mauer, Buxton, etc.  Then I try to win games 10-6, with quality pitching doing the best it can under the circumstances and settling for some weak fielding.

 

That would be a lot like the Twins of the late 70s, when they were not bad- hitters like Bostock, Hisle, Ward, Carew, and some fielding challenges.  Ideally, we will have several pitchers at least as good as Dave Goltz.

 

If I have to, absolutely have to trade one, I wait at least a year and see what their best possible fielding position is, and how it fits with plans.  I'm not ready to give up on Pinto behind the plate, not yet by any means.

[Parker Hageman]

If I have to, absolutely have to trade one, I wait at least a year and see what their best possible fielding position is, and how it fits with plans.  I'm not ready to give up on Pinto behind the plate, not yet by any means.

 

 

To be sure, I don't think the Twins are interested in trading any of that group yet, either. 

[PeanutsFromHeaven]

I made the mistake of looking at my phone when Vargas was at the plate in front of me last night. I'd never heard quite that sound and by the time I looked up it seemed to have vanished into thin air.

 

The word "pulverized" comes to mind.

[EephusKnuckler]

He did it again tonight, this time from the right side. Upper deck, no doubt when it left the bat. Huge powerful swing

[Trautmann13]

A lineup with Sano, Arcia, Vargas, and Pinto in it should be a lot of fun

[Mike Frasier Law]

He did it again tonight, this time from the right side. Upper deck, no doubt when it left the bat. Huge powerful swing

 

Yes, yes he did. Let's watch!

 

http://m.mlb.com/min/video/topic/0/v35935381/?c_id=min

 

I could watch that all day.

[Monkeypaws]

KV is becoming my fast becoming one of my favorite Twins. He doesn't look out of his element at all.

[iTwins]

I would love to see Vargas, Arcia, Pinto and Sano in the same lineup together. I get the impression, however, that eventually there will be a trade. After all, there is only one Designated Hitter and Joe Mauer is entrenched at first for the near future. 

 

So, question, if you had to trade one, who do you trade and why?

 

I reject your reality and substitue my own.

 

As previously mentioned, I think Pinto (catching), Arcia (RF), Sano (3B) and Vargas (DH) can all exist on the same roster.

 

If Pinto's defense never develops and he cannot catch - he's the one I trade. But I won't like doing it.

[Platoon]

Last night was fun to watch, I imagine it was a teaser tho, and the A team will be back on the field tonight.... Note that Arcia ripped two balls to the left side, and these were off legitimate go with the pitch situations. No matter what, it has been a long time since this club had the potential for this kind of power, and I might add, athleticism!