Twins sign 5th outfielder?
by TheBlackFreighter on Feb 16, 2010 11:20 PM EST
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According to SethSpeaks.net, the Twins have signed long-time minor leaguer, Charlton Jimerson.
"The Rochester Red Wings announced tonight that the Twins have signed Charlton Jimerson to a minor league contract. The outfielder played in 31 big league games from 2005 through 2008 accumulating just nine at bats. He went 4-9 in those at bats, including two home runs. He spent 2009 with the Independent Newark Bears where he hit .335/.387/.567 with 27 doubles and 21 home runs in 103 games. This is a great signing. The Red Wings needed another outfielder. Jimerson can play all three outfield positions. And, when it comes to potentially needing a fifth outfielder, I would much rather the Twins go with Jimerson than Jacque Jones, Brandon Roberts or Dustin Martin. Again, he isn’t a difference maker, but the 2010 Twins don’t need a difference maker. I like this signing."
Good speed, decent defense and some power sounds like a solid 5th outfielder to me.
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I don't get it.
Why hasn’t this dude been given a legitimate shot in the majors?
Not a bad pick up at all.
Wow
He must have character issues in order for someon not to sign him. . .
I love Twins Baseball and Minnesota Vikings Football.
by Percy Harvin My Fav! on Feb 16, 2010 11:48 PM EST reply actions
The issue is
he can’t hit. He never really hit in 9 seasons in the minors except one year at AA in 2007 when he was 27 years old.
He spent 6 years in the Astros organization, got to AAA without really distinguishing himself, had that one good year in the Seattle organization, then failed in AAA for Seattle the next 2 years before this year in indy ball.
He’s minor league filler.
by Eric in Madison on Feb 16, 2010 11:57 PM EST reply actions
But he's a career .444/.444/1.111 hitter!
And he’s a +10.6 career UZR outfielder!
I say put him in cf, and make Span the 5th outfielder.
"Pinch-bunters don't have a ton of value, even with the Twins"
by Steven Ellingson on Feb 17, 2010 12:20 AM EST up reply actions
Um...
Bench Span? Really?
"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
"All morons hate it when you call them a moron." -Holden Caufield
by less cowbell, more 'neau on Feb 17, 2010 12:31 AM EST up reply actions
Thats where the sarcasm font comes into play
Thanks a bunch for your reply
"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
"All morons hate it when you call them a moron." -Holden Caufield
by less cowbell, more 'neau on Feb 17, 2010 12:49 AM EST up reply actions
Thats where the sarcasm font comes into play
Thanks a bunch for your reply
"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
"All morons hate it when you call them a moron." -Holden Caufield
by less cowbell, more 'neau on Feb 17, 2010 12:49 AM EST up reply actions
Honestly?
You needed the font to decipher that “thinly” veiled sarcasm???
by TheBlackFreighter on Feb 17, 2010 1:19 AM EST up reply actions
Oh gimme a break.
I’ve read crazier comments here.
"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
"All morons hate it when you call them a moron." -Holden Caufield
by less cowbell, more 'neau on Feb 17, 2010 2:11 AM EST up reply actions
Yikes.
I’d expect that reading the Strib comments, but not here.
by TheBlackFreighter on Feb 17, 2010 2:17 AM EST up reply actions
Look up one of the old "Fire Justin Morneau" threads for fun
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Feb 17, 2010 8:34 AM EST up reply actions
only thing more funny
are the sign Punto comnments from a fews back… I’m only guessing those actually happened…
It’s still Nick Punto month right?
AAA career stats
.250 .283 .444 in >800 PA. There are MLB castoffs that will be more likely to contribute.
Limitations
Like I mentioned in the post, he’s got great speed, a decent glove and power. Nobody will confuse him with a starter, but for a guy coming off the bench he has 3 great assets… pinch runner, defensive sub late in the game or a possible pinch hitter when looking for a homerun. What more do you want?
There’s no hurt in the signing and I agree with Seth that he is a better fit than any of the other possibilities.
by TheBlackFreighter on Feb 17, 2010 12:36 AM EST reply actions
Marcel projects a .774 OPS for him
that’s almost certainly very optimistic.
But if he can play CF I’ll take a chance on him for sure. If he somehow did manage to hit like that he would seriously endanger Delmon’s playing time.
Marcel doesn't take into account minor leagues IIRC
so it’s basically projecting based on 9 PA’s.
"Pinch-bunters don't have a ton of value, even with the Twins"
by Steven Ellingson on Feb 17, 2010 11:07 AM EST up reply actions
Not a bad pick-up...
…but, I figured comparing to a former option would be appropriate:
Jimerson – .250/.283/.444 (AAA – 4 years) OPS .727
Pridie – .277/.315/.434 (AAA – 3 years) OPS .748
sub-.300 OBP? Yuck! His last year in AAA (2008) he had a sub-.700 OPS? Ugh!
I’m not too optimistic.
Pridie
The comparison is appropriate, but not under the circumstances.
The fifth outfielder will start maybe 5-10 games all year, if that. I would expect this person to maybe grab 50-75 at bats. This person will not be a difference maker at the plate by drawing walks or an occasional single. For the 5th outfielder to be effective, they need to be able to play all 3 outfield positions defensively. Jimerson can do that. He also has speed which is a big deal when you have Jim Thome pinch-hitting late in the game. Finally, the guy can hit an occasional homerun, so that’s certainly a nice attribute. Pridie was not his equal in any of these qualities.
by TheBlackFreighter on Feb 17, 2010 1:17 AM EST up reply actions
Not appropriate?
Not sure what you mean by that.
Defense: Pridie had much more AAA experience in all 3 outfield positions.
Speed: Pridie stole 62 bases (19 CS, 76.5%) in 322 AAA games – or .19/game. Jimerson stole 50 bases (16 CS, 75.8%) in 202 AAA games or .24/game. I’d consider that very comparable.
Power: Jimerson definitely has shown more (31 HRs or 1 HR/26.3 plate appearances vs Pridie’s 32 HRs or 1 HR/44.5 PA), the problem is, he also strikes out at nearly twice the rate of Pridie: 1 K/2.8 PA vs 1 K/5.0 PA. The disparity is also shown in their OPS.
I’m not a proponent of Pridie – I was pretty indifferent to him being our 5th OF, prior to being placed on waivers. However, I believe the comparison to be not only appropriate, but the case could be made that Pridie was a better option.
I don't like it at all!!!
Why bring someone in when we have 5 non-roster outfielders already ivited to camp. Give your drafed minor league players the shot, not some cast-off.
Did they invite him to major league camp?
My guess is he’ll need to go to minor league camp and earn his way up a la Brian Harper.
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
Sabotaging prospects
If they give the fifth outfielder job to, say, Ben Revere, that means that 1) he is not playing every day in the minors to develop his skills, and 2) he is accumulating major league service time during a time when he’s not really contributing much to the major league club. The Twins simply don’t have much in the high minors in terms of homegrown prospects who you can expect to contribute at the major league level, which is why they’re looking to try out some AAAA-type guys.
Part of this decision depends on whether they’re actually going to carry the extra OF on the active roster – if they’re keeping him in Rochester until they absolutely need him, then it’s not as big a deal to name an actual prospect as the emergency fifth outfielder.
"There are only two things that are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein
He's there.....
Like Jones, he is battling for a minor league roster spot, at best.
The Twins are always happy to hold back prospects. He can play, shine or explode, and be gone by mid-season when the Twins can advance a prospect or two honing their skills at New Britain.
The Twins are pretty weak at Rochester in the 1b/DH/veteran area. The question is, ultiamtely, who’s roster spot does he take? Remember, the Twins also have Matt Macri floating around Rochester. Do they need him (with Valencia, Plouffe and the loser of the Twins utility job manning the big infield spots).
A nice signing. Probably saved the Twins some bucks as he’s not on the 40-man and doesn’t need a split contract.
Visit www.TwinsCards.com and check out "rosters" to see my collection!
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