Pirates @ Twins

by Jesse on Mar 31, 2009 12:00 PM EDT in Game Threads

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Do the Twins need a DH?

Preety big news from an AL Central competitor:

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by montanatwinsfan on Mar 31, 2009 4:37 PM EDT reply actions

Sheffield is done

He was done last year (.225/.326 /.400). Plus, he’s a cancer in the clubhouse. No thanks.

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

by cmathewson on Mar 31, 2009 4:57 PM EDT reply actions

well

he had a significant injury last year (and the year before) which is likely to happen when a player ages and stops taking steroids, but which would be significantly reduced as a DH.

by montanatwinsfan on Mar 31, 2009 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions

That's really the way I feel too...

I look at it in relative terms. I think Sheffield is still good enough to be a productive #5 or #6 hitter with the continued real threat of the long ball. But he is a continuous clubhouse cancer and team distraction. Therefore, I don’t think he is significantly better in 2009 than our current DH, Jason Kubel, given Sheffield’s downside.

Last year I thought Barry Bonds in 2008 would be a significant enough improvement over a 2008 Kubel that I thought it would be worth it to sign Bonds as a veteran minimum DH – despite his baggage. But this year Sheffield and his baggage can’t beat out Kubel.

by montanatwinsfan on Mar 31, 2009 5:27 PM EDT reply actions

+1

I don’t think Sheffield would even replicate last year’s numbers if the Tigers kept him. Whereas, I think Kubel is primed for a breakout season this year. I wouldn’t be surprised by a 900 OPS with 25 HRs.

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

by cmathewson on Mar 31, 2009 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Bonds

I’ll take Bonds over Sheffield or Kubel. And, honestly, Sheffield can probably still hit pretty well. his last line was largely injury focused, but his ISO of .175 aint bad. If his OBP recovers to over .350, he’d still make a pretty decent DH and pinch hitter.

by snolls on Apr 1, 2009 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Sheff's shoulder

One of the reasons they released him is his shoulder has never really healed. It’s amazing he was able to hit 19 homers with a shredded shoulder. I recall that the Tigers wanted to have him cut on last year so he could come back this year. He declined. So his injury is still there, and he’s a year older.

The other problem is the Twins only have four bench spots. Each bench guy needs to be able to play at least two positions, except for the catcher. Sheff can’t play any positions with his shoulder. That, BTW, was the main problem with Bonds as well.

And I don’t think Bonds would do anything near what Kubel can do, in part because he hasn’t played in over a year and in part because he’s like 75 years old, in steroid years.

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

by cmathewson on Apr 1, 2009 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions