monsterpile wrote:Anyone have thoughts on who gets those last position player spots on the bench?
Tough question, monster. Unfortunately, Arcia and Santana are out of options and are having terrible springs...puts Terry Ryan in a terrible box, especially with Sweeney, Quentin and Mastrionni all outplaying them. I still think Terry gives Arcia and Santana one more chance, and they join Murphy and Nunez as the 4-man bench. Sweeney can decline a demotion, so I think he will be gone. Quentin can't opt out until June, so I think the Twins send him down to Rochester with a promise to recall him if Park falters or if Arcia sucks in the early going and they decide to give up on him. Mastro is gone, despite a very nice spring. Kepler is certain to start in Rochester as the center fielder, but would be the first guy to be recalled if Buxton continues to struggle with big league pitching.
It's not going to be an easy decision for Terry though.
Part of me would like to see Buxton and Kepler in AAA to get things sorted out before coming up to the bigs. I really am concerned about Sano in RF. I think Mauer would have been a better choice in RF. Sano is a pillar to this teams future.
Thx for that, bleedspeed. I'm on record as not being concerned with an athlete like Sano learning to be a good outfielder, but having said that, I did see him misplay a slicing liner this past weekend...didn't look good. I think we need to be patient with Miguel. He's just learning how to play the OF, so some misplays like last weekend are expected in the early going. But Sano is athletic, fast and has a big arm, so I think his learning experience will be pretty quick.
Part of me would like to see Buxton and Kepler in AAA to get things sorted out before coming up to the bigs. I really am concerned about Sano in RF. I think Mauer would have been a better choice in RF. Sano is a pillar to this teams future.
I agree with that roster also. The Twins like Santana and he can play a lot of positions so I would think they are gonna give him a shot. I just looked up Arcia and I had thought he was doing well but the numbers say yeah he is struggling. I wouldn't lose sleep over losing Sweeney or Mast even though I like both guys. One of them might be willing to play at AAA knowing they are likely the first guy up if they need an OF option that can actually play all the spots. I just read Mast wants to stay in the area after he is done playing because his wife is from there so I would think that would make him consider sticking with the organization but obviously if another team offers him a job in the majors he isn't likely to turn that down.
bleedspeed177 wrote:Had no idea that plouffe actually has started games at RF, SS, and LF in the majors. This makes the move of Sano to RF even dumber in my eyes.
Possible scenario...in 2019 opening day Plouffe will be a few months away from turning 33 and starting at 3b and Sano will be just starting his first full season playing 1b.
I hope not. I wonder if he comes out and is slumping bad at the plate if they will try to move him to DH strictly again. It will be interesting to see how the season unfolds. Has Parks played the field at all in spring training?
bleedspeed177 wrote:I hope not. I wonder if he comes out and is slumping bad at the plate if they will try to move him to DH strictly again. It will be interesting to see how the season unfolds. Has Parks played the field at all in spring training?
Yeah he has but what really matters is the dude is raking.
Arcia with 2 HRs in the game maybe he gets rolling.
bleedspeed177 wrote:Had no idea that plouffe actually has started games at RF, SS, and LF in the majors. This makes the move of Sano to RF even dumber in my eyes.
But he wasn't very good the few innings he played outfield, bleed, and that was when he could still run a little. Now he's about half as fast as Sano and would be a terrible liability in the outfield. Meanwhile he is playing stellar defense at 3b and actually improved last year. Moving a slow guy 30-year-old like Plouffe to the OF would have been a blunder, I think , especially when he is so reliable at third. I don't know if Sano is going to be a competent outfielder or not, but Ryan's logic of converting an athletic 22 year old guy t the outfield seems sound to me.
Yeah, 2 bombs for Arcia today...I think that pretty much assures he will be in the 25 on opening day.
