Ponson Out

by Twins Territory on May 13, 2007 5:24 PM EDT

This is from my blog, but it looks like Poson is done with the Twins:

La Velle is reporting that it looks as if Sidney Ponson has pitched his last game for the Twins. In his post, he mentioned that Ponson's locker is cleared out, and that he was talking with Terry Ryan at the time of the post. What would most likely happen is him getting designated for assignment so the Twins can trade him if there is a taker. Also according to La Velle, he has indicated that he might return to Florida and sit out the rest of the season.

With this move, the Twins will need to call somebody up, and that may be a tough decision with all of the great young arms available. I don't think it would be Perkins, because I think he needs more time, especially as a starter. That leaves Garza, Baker and Slowey, and all three are good options in my opinion. The one thing with Slowey is that he isn't on the 40-man roster so the Twins would need to add him before being able to call him up.

If they don't go with Perkins, I expect him to be sent to AAA so the Twins can have another bat before interleague play. If they do go with Perkins, we'll probably see Casilla get Ponson's roster spot.

Whatever happens, check back later for my take and an update. Also, check La Velle's blog often as he will have the quickest update.

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I'm

If we bring Perkins in, my guess is Tolbert will be our interleague bat. If we bring up Baker in Ponson's spot, there is an even chane Perkins goes down to be stretched and Tolbert comes up.

I see about 3 to 1 odds of Tolbert coming up over Rodriguez.

Baseball is great because you cant take a knee or kill the clock. You gotta put the ball over the plate and give the other guy his damn shot E Weaver abridged

by AdamOnFirst on May 13, 2007 5:30 PM EDT reply actions

E-3

Should say "Tolbert comes up over Casilla."

Baseball is great because you cant take a knee or kill the clock. You gotta put the ball over the plate and give the other guy his damn shot E Weaver abridged

by AdamOnFirst on May 13, 2007 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Jones...

Yeah, we have Jones down in AAA playing well too. But I'd be hapyy with either player, look at these numbers:

Tolbert:
.391 avg \ 2 HR \ 19 RBI \ 4 3B

Jones:
.305 avg \ 5 HR \ 23 RBI \ 9 2B

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by Twins Territory on May 13, 2007 5:35 PM EDT reply actions

I think I've mentioned it...

But I'd like to bring ALL of Tolbert/Jones/Baker or Slowey up, and send LRod/Perkins down (Ponson cut).

LRod doesn't serve any purpose that LRod can't, and Perkins can be stretched out longer in AAA to compete with Baker/Slowey, and Garza.

And Jones gives us a look to see if we can get a real DH for a stretch until RWhite comes back.

Not saying it will happen (it probably won't), but I'd like to see that.

by djskilbr on May 13, 2007 5:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Perkins...

...pitched four innings yesterday and has done well at this level. He is on track for the start 5 days down the road and could certainly be expected to give them the same 4-5 innings they would have gotten from Ponson. The following start he should be able to go 5-6 innings.

Venafro is gone, so there isn't anyone to bring up for another lefty in the pen...unless they would consider Barrett who is just back from the DL or Jason Miller. Baker had a less impressive outing yesterday, but Slowey has been great all spring and Garza was decent at best prior to his great start a couple days ago. Should be interesting.

by roger @ Twinkie Town on May 13, 2007 5:53 PM EDT reply actions

Venafro

Wow! Venafro traded to Toronto (home of a few ex-Twins minors guys at AAA - Wolfe, Kemp to name two).

Did they get anyone for him?

Luver of Twins history, cards and the minor leagues.

by twintown on May 13, 2007 7:10 PM EDT up reply actions

It has been reported...

...that they got $1. There may or may not be more to the deal. It may have been Ryan doing what is best for the player. Venafro accepted the assignment to Rochester when he did not have to...this may have been Ryan keeping his word to move him if he hadn't made it to the Twins by now.

by roger @ Twinkie Town on May 14, 2007 7:44 AM EDT up reply actions

That's

That's probably the case. i wish him lots of luck. he pitched really well for us in his time outside of one disaster AAA outing and he didn't have to accept that assignment, but he did. I hope he has a couple more good years for tams out there.

Baseball is great because you cant take a knee or kill the clock. You gotta put the ball over the plate and give the other guy his damn shot E Weaver abridged

by AdamOnFirst on May 14, 2007 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions

The interesting question...

...is who is going to Rochester. They will certainly be bringing at least one player up which will put Rochester either 3 or 4 under the team limit. There has to be some movement from either EST or New Britain to Rochester. That should open up some spots for promotions to New Britain, and Ft. Myers, etc.

by roger @ Twinkie Town on May 13, 2007 5:58 PM EDT reply actions

Ya...

I was thinking the same Roger. That's partly why I'm really hoping for one of Baker/Slowey. Then you can move a guy up from NB, and hopefully move MANSHIP up to NB!

by djskilbr on May 13, 2007 6:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Suspensions

I wonder if Peterson can be called up to Rochester if he's under suspension in the Eastern league.

Free Kevin Slowey.

by cmathewson on May 13, 2007 6:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Peterson...

...is a player like Jones, but he is hitting only .225Ave at New Britain. Maybe they will send Matt Allegra up to Rochester or perhaps Winfree...although he is just coming back from injury and doesn't have a lot of at bats at AA. Rochester has to get some players, I don't know if they can even field a team anymore.

by roger @ Twinkie Town on May 13, 2007 6:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Just checked...

...Rochester now has 10 position players, including Matt LeCroy. So shall we say that Cliburn's moves are limited. Expect we could see any number of players move up from New Britain, likely chosing from Allegra, Winfree, Molina Velazquez or even Garrett Guzman. Molina probably deserves the chance as he should have been moved up at the start of the year, but with Tolbert and Casilla at Rochester he isn't going to play. The same goes for Velazquez. My guess is that it will be Allegra, who has had AAA experience in the A's organization.

by roger @ Twinkie Town on May 13, 2007 6:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Also Buscher

He's paid his dues at AA. He could move up.

Free Kevin Slowey.

by cmathewson on May 14, 2007 12:13 AM EDT up reply actions

Jones Called Up...

UPDATE: The Twins have announced that they have designated Sidney Ponson for assignment and now have ten days to trade, release or send him to the minors. To take his spot on the roster, the Twins have called up Garrett Jones who has batted .305 with 5 homeruns and 23 RBI. There is still no word on who will take his place in the rotation later this week, but I'd be surprised if they went with Perkins over Garza or Slowey.

Also, Baker gave up four runs today.

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by Twins Territory on May 13, 2007 6:05 PM EDT reply actions

I'd

Okay, so we know what bat we got. Trying to add that power. Worth a shot I suppose.

Since Perkins didn't get moved around, my guess is he is getting the start. it id possible though, that they'll keep him up here for 3 or 4 more days for his arm in the pen, and then switch him the night before the game for Baker/Slowey. If Slowey came up, my guess is they would just flat out pull Ponson from the 40 man.

But I put pretty good odds of Perkins being the guy.

Baseball is great because you cant take a knee or kill the clock. You gotta put the ball over the plate and give the other guy his damn shot E Weaver abridged

by AdamOnFirst on May 13, 2007 6:17 PM EDT up reply actions

If they...

...bring either up, they would then likely send Perkins down. I suspect that it will be Perkins and they will try to get 5 innings out of him. It is good that Jones is getting his chance.

by roger @ Twinkie Town on May 13, 2007 6:18 PM EDT reply actions

It is being reported...

...that Gil Velazquez has been sent up to Rochester. Not the top hitter at NB, but is older with experience at AAA.

by roger @ Twinkie Town on May 13, 2007 6:45 PM EDT reply actions

I notice....

that Glenn Williams is on the disabled list. Plus, Ken Harvey lasted one game. Moses at third. Tolbert at short. Alexi at second. LeCroy at first. Deeds/Span/Oeltjen in the outfield. Morales catching. Watkins sub. Is that it for Rochester? Whew? Opps, now Velazquez. Who's DHing.

Luver of Twins history, cards and the minor leagues.

by twintown on May 13, 2007 7:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Williams...

...is back and off the DL. Williams plays some first, Watkins was in left field the other day. Look for Velazquez, Williams, and Watkins to play everywhere. Casilla and Tolbert have been switching with each playing games at both second and short. Probably best for development of both players.

by roger @ Twinkie Town on May 14, 2007 7:41 AM EDT up reply actions

My guess

is Perkins to get the second lefty in the rotation but we wait to see what the triumvirate will decide. The good news is it's not a month down the road like last year.

"hi everybody" Herb Carneal Hall of fame baseball announcer.

by firstatbat61 on May 13, 2007 8:51 PM EDT reply actions

I just don't see Perkins at all...

He's too valuable for the pen right now.

I think after today Slowey MAY have moved ahead of Baker on the pecking order, but otherwise it'll be Baker. Garza will take over for Silva before too long. Or even Boof if he won't start trusting his curve more. Seriously, the pitch is nasty; use it!

by djskilbr on May 13, 2007 10:12 PM EDT reply actions

Why

Why is Perkins so valuable? He's gotten very few meaningful innings all year. He hasn't been used against critical lefty hitters, so waht handed he is is irrelevant. He's a mop-up man now. Anybody could do that.

Baseball is great because you cant take a knee or kill the clock. You gotta put the ball over the plate and give the other guy his damn shot E Weaver abridged

by AdamOnFirst on May 13, 2007 11:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Yay

So nice to see the Twins just straight-up hammer someone after these last few games. The expulsion of Pig Unit must have energized their pink bats.

Replace Nick Punto.

by rayken on May 13, 2007 11:47 PM EDT reply actions

The Twins are not done making moves

They just replaced Ponson with a bat now, but I expect they'll make a pitching move when they need a starter. If you have 11 pitchers, you need every starter to be capable of going six innings. Perkins could maybe go five if all goes well, but that's not enough. With Andy's comments (that Perkins needs to be stretched out), I expect them to swap out Perkins and Slowey toward the end of the week. The only reason why they're waiting is they can use Perkins in at least one more game in the big leagues before shipping him back to Rochester to start.

Free Kevin Slowey.

by cmathewson on May 14, 2007 12:17 AM EDT reply actions

I tend to agree...

and the comments seem to suggest it will be either Baker or Slowey, NOT Perkins, taking the reigns. I agree with that logic. In fact, Perkins should stay in the pen this year if you ask me, unless Slowey (and eventually Garza) really implode, which I don't expect. I see Perkins offering a nice little competition to Boof in spring next year for the 5th starter job (I'm hopeful winter ball will be good to Cisco), and I expect Baker gone one way or another before then as well.

I also expect Mijares or Barrett to replace someone in the pen (either Rincon/Crain in a trade, or Reyes) by the end of the year.

Anyway, just my take. Can't wait until Mauer/White get back. I expect both to REALLY help this team.

And even though Ponson was definitely not even our main problem thus far, I can't help but have the same feeling I had at this juncture last year, that it's just a huge reliever/justification to the baseball Gods and now they will let us play to our capability and really start to play ball. Guess we can hope.

Anyway, all is right with the world today. Go Twins!

by djskilbr on May 14, 2007 3:30 AM EDT up reply actions

Please not Baker

We've been through why some of us want Baker to keep flourishing in AAA and not getting coached about the 2-seamer with Rick Anderson. I just wanted to state my concern that it will be Baker that gets the call.

Gleeman stated Baker's case this morning, and I couldn't disagree more. Right now, Slowey's got the command and is likely to have the mental toughness to get MLB hitters out.

by TheMattWilke on May 14, 2007 1:41 PM EDT reply actions

I agree

I understand the desire to give him one more shot. But I think it's a mistake, unless he has learned how to get a sinker working. The only way he will succeed is by doing it Anderson's way. And he has not shown the ability to pitch Anderson's way to us yet. Perhaps he has learned in AAA. But I would be surprised if he has. If he hasn't, he's more valuable as trade bait in AAA than in the majors.

Slowey is the prototypical Anderson pitcher, so he has a better chance of working out.

Free Kevin Slowey.

by cmathewson on May 14, 2007 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Baker

I actually agree with Gleeman (I find myself having to admit that more frequently of late). And not just for the reasons laid out by Gleeman. If you look at Baker's minor league numbers as well as his performance as a fill-in starter for the Twins in '05, last year looks like the outlier. Add the fact that he is older, more experienced than Garza and Slowey and it means the time has come to give him another shot. The other two have higher ceilings, of course, but I feel that Baker has at least as much chance of success in the short term.

by adam @ Twinkie Town on May 15, 2007 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Rebuttle

Pssssh!!!!

No seriously, I get that age, service time, and numbers make a case for Baker, and I tend to agree with Gleeman a lot myself. The case for Baker undoubtedly exists.

But I don't see Baker as a long-term future component of this team, especially if we re-sign Santana. There's really no room for him in the rotation in next few years as we'll hopefully have Santana, Liriano, Garza, Slowey, Bonser/Perkins till at least 2010. Even then, Manship, Burnett, and maybe Swarzak to name a few will be nipping at those guys' heels. Since Baker's 4 or 5 starter potential and the ensuing development of that potential is just less important to the Twins, I'd prefer using him as a trading chip and letting his AAA reputation build. Let's let those AAA numbers stack up and use him to get a better CF or 3B prospect than the ones we're currently working with. It's really going to hurt his trade value if he tanks again. And I really see that move as the biggest gamble for the Twins at this point.

by TheMattWilke on May 15, 2007 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions

I see your point

But I tend to feel that in the long term Baker can be better than Bonser and maybe even Perkins.

That's not really what I would stake my case on though. My concerns are that Slowey may be too green yet (having just a few weeks in AAA) and also that Baker's trade value may never increase significantly by staying in AAA. Bringing him up to possibly tank is a risk, but I feel pretty confident he will put it together and establish himself. And I feel the potential trade value gained by GMs seeing him perform in the majors is enough to be worth the risk of him tanking and losing his current trade value.

I also feel slightly more confident in Baker for the short term.

That's a lot of "I feel"s. Clearly this is speculative. It is a wonderful thing that none of the options are bad ones.

by adam @ Twinkie Town on May 15, 2007 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Re:

"My concerns are that Slowey may be too green yet (having just a few weeks in AAA)....."

49 IP, 44/3 K/BB

Those numbers on a pitcher that doesn't rely on overpowering hitters, more on hitting spots and outsmarting hitters, I'd say get his ass in a Twins uniform on Saturday night at 6:10 please.

But that's just me....

by TheMattWilke on May 16, 2007 6:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Later this week...

Ryan said that the team will call somebody up to start later this week. They don't want Perkins to start because they want him to stay in the bulpen for now. I'd say that is why Venafro was traded, becuase Perkins is staying in the bulpen and they want him to have a chance somewhere else.

Visit my blog at Twins Territory. http://www.twins-territory.blogspot.com/

by Twins Territory on May 14, 2007 8:25 PM EDT reply actions