Help From Unexpected Places

by Jesse on Jul 6, 2008 10:25 AM EDT in Quick Hits

The offense has needed you.

With slow seasons from a couple of key players, youth and inexperience abounding and very little power, from Opening Day the Minnesota offense looked better on paper than it was on the field. Luckily, there's been some help from unexpected sources this season, and those performances have helped off-set disappointing performances from others.

You know who they are.

Name	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG
Alexi Casilla	165	26	53	10	0	4	34	13	17	.321	.366	.455
Brian Buscher	66	12	22	3	0	1	17	4	6	.333	.361	.424
Denard Span	46	9	14	3	0	0	4	7	9	.304	.396	.370

The three of them have combined for a .321/.377/.433 line, including five homers and 16 doubles in 277 at-bats. A 3:4 walk-to-strikeout ratio is pretty good, too.

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Casilla et. al.

While it’s probably too early to say on Span and Buscher, Casilla looks like he has established himself. He has already (in less than 200 PAs) driven in more runs than Punto did all last year. With the excellent selectivity he has shown, plus the surprising power, I believe he’ll be a fixture well past the opening of the new ballpark.

Buscher has made (and so far won) a case to at least be a platoon 3B. He’s been okay, this trip, as a fielder and better than okay as a hitter. I doubt his average will stay where it is, but I also doubt that he would drift into Lamb’s territory either. Span is making a case to stay in the majors. Being a lefty hitter with the three regulars all RH hitters gives him a shot at getting a lot of at-bats even if all three regulars are healthy.

I liked what I saw of Macri, as well. Even though he was sent down due to a numbers crunch (curse you Mike Lamb!), he did okay fielding his position and he hit quite well. I have liked what Macri had to offer since he came into the Twins organization. I can see a position battle between him and Harris next spring, with Macri having these advantages: 1) better defense at second and third 2) more power potential 3) cheaper and 4) younger.

by Alexi Casilla All-Star on Jul 6, 2008 11:57 AM EDT reply actions

Agreed.

Personally I’d like to see the Twins cut some dead weight and try to move forward with some younger guys. Macri looked decent in very limited time, and I think he makes Harris redundant.

by Jesse on Jul 6, 2008 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions

I take it Harris will be up for abritration next year?

With the guys on field and in the wings, it really doesn’t make sense to keep him beyond this year. I hope Smith has a bit more shrewdness and employs less emotionality into the dealings of these type of players. With Lamb, Everett and Harris I hope Smith learned a quick lesson in settling for mediocrity in his dealings.

Gardenhire's major league career: Banjo hitting, futility infielder who couldn't lick it.
Rick Anderson's major league career: Strikethrower who never made it happen with his sub 90's fastball.
Really gives a new definition to living vicariously through other people, don't it?

by caseintheface on Jul 6, 2008 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions

The thing is...

...there’s nothing wrong with mediocrity when it’s an upgrade, and it should have been…defensively at short and offensively at third. That didn’t pan out. Neither Everett or Lamb have achieved mediocrity this year, unfortunately, and that puts the sting into those veteran signings. If they’d been what we thought they were going to be, it wouldn’t have been such a big deal.

Sometimes it’s okay to go to the vet bin to bring in a guy or two. The Twins didn’t make horrible decisions with Lamb, Everett or Hernandez…they were just short-term solutions. It just hurts when you’re relying on those vets to do so much, and they fall short. The only thing I’m hoping Smith does, is cut bait. Paying struggling veterans a salary when they aren’t playing for you sucks…but it’s better than paying the struggling veterans to take the field for you and stink.

by Jesse on Jul 6, 2008 1:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Macri and Harris

Harris isn’t exactly old or expensive so he doesn’t have to be cut. He does have more experience which should lead to fewer errors and bone headed plays (that is not a guarentee.) I think they have both done a solid job. Harris hasn’t been great by any means. I personally would like to see the Twins go a different direction at SS this comming offseason.

by doofus on Jul 6, 2008 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Span/Gomez

How soon before Span gets to hit leadoff? I think he’s clearly earned it, if only for his ability (or willingness) to take a walk.

And is there any chance at all that upon Cuddyer’s return, they send Gomez down in favor of Span? Honestly I think it could do Gomez a lot of good. I think he needs more polish, and I like the idea of sending him down until the September call-ups.

by JopeX37 on Jul 6, 2008 6:37 PM EDT reply actions