Dead Weights

by 33MorneauMVP on Jul 31, 2008 11:47 PM EDT Comment 18 comments

Twins have a few dead weights that they can cut. Those dead weights are: Mike Lamb - .227 avg, 1 HR, 28 RBI. Adam Everett - .177 avg, 1 HR, 7 RBI. Craig Monroe - .202 avg, 9 HR, 29 RBI.

That is only the position players. So who would replace these guys on the bench?

Randy Ruiz - .320 avg, 17 HR, 68 RBI in AAA - replacing Mike Lamb

Matt Macri/Matt Tolbert - replacing Adam Everett

Pridie/McDonald/Jones/Waiver Wire - replacing Craigsy

Ruiz is especially the guy who should be up here. He can replace either Craigsy or Mike Lamb.

Pitching staff could also use a little fat trimmed. According to La Velle, the Twins are going to cut Hernandez to make room for Liriano. That cuts a lot of fat *wink*. Also, though, Bonser and Bass could use a little demotion. Who replaces them?

Liriano replaces Hernandez

Korecky replaces Bass

Gomez replaces Bonser

Lets get it done Twins!! Cut at least Hernandez, Everett and Lamb. Call up Liriano, Ruiz and Macri/Tolbert.....GET IT DONE!!!!

Poll

Cut?

Hernandez, Everett, Lamb

11 votes

Bonser, Lamb, Monroe

0 votes

Bass, Everett, Hernandez

8 votes

Lamb, Bonser, Hernandez

2 votes

other (specify)

1 votes

22 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 18 comments

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Comments

Matt Tolbert Wont Be Playing till about September dude, Hes coming off of Surgery on the Tendon in one of his Fingers, Keep Everett Around till then

I Like Ruiz for Lamb Chop.

Darnell McDonald is out for the Season with a broken wrist, Keep Monroe.

Ive Watched alot of Film on Mariano Gomez, Looks Like he will Fail against Major League Hitters. I would call up Korecky for Bass, I would Keep Boof untill the end of the season and Trade him in the off-season.

The Livan Hernandez for Fransisco Liriano Swap is So Repetative, you already know my Feelings LOL.

by Tony_O on Jul 31, 2008 11:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

What makes you say that?

I’m curious as to why. I don’t watch minor league baseball at all, so all I have to go on are stats and other people’s perspectives. What did you see?

by snolls on Aug 1, 2008 8:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Looks like His Fastball Tops out barely above Livan’s, 88 MPH is what i saw last time i saw him, gave up 6 runs in 4 innings pitched against major league hitters in spring training, thats what i base my opinion on.

by Tony_O on Aug 1, 2008 10:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tolbert just started swining a bat, so late-August would probably be the earliest. We’ll see…

by Twins Territory on Aug 1, 2008 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hmm

Livan’s fastball tops out at 84. Craig Breslow does pretty well with an 88 MPH fastball and an assortment of breaking pitches. I’ve done soe research, and it seems Gomez’s fastball is often clocked in the low 90s. Guys typically add a few MPH after spring training.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Aug 1, 2008 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Liriano

He’ll be up, it’s just a Boof or Livan question.

None of the other moves makes any sense, and some aren’t even possible. You can’t “demote” Bass or Bonser. Ruiz can’t field. Korecky isn’t getting AAA lefties out. Even if McDonald were healthy, you wouldn’t bring him to the major leagues to play Monroe’s role.

by Sev on Aug 1, 2008 1:01 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Not Boof

I think the Twins were shopping Boof. When they didn’t get any reasonable offers, they went to Plan B: DFAing Livan. I expect an announcement this weekend. And the really telling thing is who the starter is for Rochester tonight. It’s Liriano’s turn. If he’s held out of the start (as expected), he’ll be up tomorrow for a bullpen prior to his Monday night start (Livan’s turn).

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Aug 1, 2008 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I dont

exactly see Mike Lamb in the field anymore so your point that Ruiz cant field just doesnt make sense. He would fill the role of Lamb: pinch-hitter, occasional DH. or else if you want, DFA Monroe and call up Ruiz because we certainly dont see Monroe in the field and he only DHs against LH and pinch hits in the ninth inning.

Ruiz splits are:

vs. LH: .315 avg, 111 AB, 4 HR, 17 RBI, .881 OPS
vs. RH: .321 avg, 305 AB, 13 HR, 51 RBI, .909 OPS

I think Ruiz would fit nicely with the Twins. And what do you mean that Korecky isnt getting AAA lefties out….neither is BASS! so that point isnt valid.

by 33MorneauMVP on Aug 1, 2008 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

But how do the Twins see Mike Lamb?

I think Ruiz would fit nicely with the Twins. And what do you mean that Korecky isnt getting AAA lefties out….neither is BASS! so that point isnt valid.

You would be the only person not in Ruiz’s immediate family to think he fits with the Twins. And even his family would know that he’s soon-to-be 31-year-old career minor leaguer who has played exactly one game professionally at third base. He’s not even a good first baseman.

His stats this year in AAA mean nothing. He’s 30. He’s got more than 3,500 minor league at-bats. He can succeed at the plate in a weak minor league. He can’t play at the big-league level. It is unllikely that he will ever play in the major leagues. He will almost certainly never have 100 big-league ABs.

Now that you know he’s a 30-year-old, career minor leaguer who can not field, do you think he’s still a good fit for the Twins?

As for the Bass – Korecky comparison, Korecky is in the minor leagues and Bass is facing big-league hitters. I don’t particularly care for Bass, but if you would check some numbers you would find big-league hitters are batting .275 vs. Bass from the left side. Minor leaguer lefties are batting .300 against Korecky. So that point is valid.

by Johnny Safron on Aug 1, 2008 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

is he coming up to field?

NO! Ruiz is a hitter not a fielder. Prince Fielder is a hitter not a fielder…..I think YOU are the only person here that thinks that he doesnt belong up with the Twins. Its sounding like Monroe will be DFAed and Ruiz will be called up so your “He will almost certainly never have 100 big-league ABs.” will be smashed into the dirt. If Ruiz does get the call up and if he hits like he has been in AAA, I will be checking back with you to see if you hold the same opinion.

Korecky has the pitches to get hitters out. Bass does not. Bass has a fastball and a slider which generally he cant throw for strikes. Korecky has the stuff, Bass does not.

by 33MorneauMVP on Aug 1, 2008 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Korecky

Just blew is ninth save last night. He is not better than Bass. I’m not a huge Bas fan either, but I can think of four or five guys in the minors that would likely do better than Korecky.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Aug 1, 2008 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, a guy that is blowing nine saves at AAA probably is going to help any more than Bass does.

by Twins Territory on Aug 1, 2008 6:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

DH

I can’t argue with this move if he’s replacing Craig Monroe. He is almost guaranteed to hit better against lefties than .138/.219/.230—Monroe’s current line against lefties.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Aug 1, 2008 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oldsters

It doesn’t happen very often, but another former Phillies farm hand-Chris Coste-made it to the bigs as a 33 year old and he’s been a very useful player for the Phils. It can happen. It would be another great story if Ruiz could do it as well. At least we can give him a month to show us what he can do against big-league pitching, starting tonight.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Aug 1, 2008 5:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Everett

He’s kind of an X-factor for the Twins in my opinion. He can’t hit and we all know that but it will be interesting to see how his defense is from this point forward. Can he make a strong throw from short finally? If he is actually healthy then I like having him at the very least be a bench player defensive replacement guy. Especially since we don’t have a decent player to replace him IMO. When Tolberts healthy maybe he’s the guy. Is Macri much of a defender at 2B or SS? I would think if he was he’d be up here already and I’ve barely seen him play anything other than 3B.

By the way did anyone see Everett last night? I was watching the game out of the corner of my eye most of the night as I was preoccupied with friends and beer. I saw a couple of throws that looked a lot better than he did earlier in the year. Other than that did anyone see anything that might at least give us hope that he’ll be the defensive guru we thought we were getting?

Peyton's good but have you ever heard of Jeff George?

by halfchest on Aug 1, 2008 1:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Tolbert

I think Everett got a reprieve of two weeks tops when Casilla went down. When Tolbert is ready, Everett is the odd man out. One game doesn’t mean all that much, but he didn’t look any better last night than he did earlier in the season. He’s still the guy who kind of lolligags around at shortstop. He lolligags around at the plate. And he lolligags around on the bases (if he gets on base). He’s a lolligagger, which is in sharp contrast to Tolbert, who’s a hustler.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Aug 1, 2008 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's dissappointing

There was a part of me that was hoping he might be a surprise boost to the team at least on the defensive front. Here’s to hoping Tolbert can be that man instead.

Peyton's good but have you ever heard of Jeff George?

by halfchest on Aug 1, 2008 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I say

When Cuddyer is healthy out goes Monroe
Bring in Liriano and out goes Hernandez
When Tolbert is healthy out goes Everett
Bring in Macri and out goes Lamb

We can probably wait until September call ups before we add Ruiz and Korecky, but that could change if there are any more injuries or the DL players do not make it back as predicted.

richman

by anderson800 on Aug 1, 2008 1:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs