Due Diligence: Charlton Jimerson
by Jesse on Feb 17, 2010 12:15 PM EST
in News
40 comments
I'll piggyback on TheBlackFreighter's FanPost, which pointed us to Seth's which pointed us to the Red Wings.
Like Jack said at FanGraphs, Ichiro Suzuki isn't about to be your backup outfielder. So when we talk about backup outfielders, we're looking for specific skill sets that compliment (and make up for deficiencies in) our current outfielders. For the Twins this means speed, versatility and cost efficiency more than anything else.
So when the Rangers nabbed Endy Chavez and the Nationals scooped up Willy Tavarez, well, I wasn't exactly surprised but I was holding out hope.
Instead the Twins went to the list of minor league free agents, and found another option in journeyman Charlton Jimerson.
Jimerson was a fifth-round draft pick by the Astros in 2001, and as a 21-year old in Houston's low a-ball affiliate displayed the profile that follows him to this day: the kid had power, and the kid struck out like it was going out of style. 22 of his 46 hits went for extra bases, earning him a very respectable .442 slugging percentage as a kid getting his first taste of professional ball. His .304 on-base percentage made him look like Joe Crede, however, and his 79 whiffs in 197 at-bats made him look like Adam Dunn. In some ways those comparisons could be promising, but he never matched Crede's defense nor Dunn's ability to strike fear into opposing pitchers.
Before joining the Newark Bears of the Independent League in 2009 (where he led the squad with 21 bombs), Jimerson collected 3403 at-bats over eight seasons in the minor leagues and hit .258/.312/.456. He also struck out 1177 times (34.6% strikeout rate) and walked just 236 times. For anyone who's counting, Craig Monroe has hit a similar .252/.301/.441 in his major league career. Expectations of upside should be tempered pretty severely.
What makes the Jimerson signing attractive is that he does fit a number of desireable attributes. He's cheap, we don't have to find room for him on the roster, he plays all three outfield positions and the man is fast--236 stolen bases over his career, with just 63 caught stealings (78.9% success rate).
He's not perfect, but reserve outfielders never really are. If only for the fact that he gives the organization one more option to look at, it's a fine pick up. In one extreme, he probably appears in 10 or 12 games for the Twins, picks up a hit or two and spells our boys. In the other, he ends up back in the Independent League where he can tear it up along with Carl Everett and Rob Mackowiak. More likely he's going to land somewhere in between.
Signing Jimerson is a risk-free move. He gives the organization another look and is a guy who can give them what they need in what amounts to a fifth outfielder's role. It is what it is.
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Is he invited to major league camp?
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
I haven't seen anything that says he is.
So he probably won’t be in the mix to go north with the team at all, but mid-season if the Twins decide they need another OF, he’ll be an option.
It wouldn’t surprise me to see him go back to the IL at some point this spring.
Strictly a bench player
He’s still not Span insurance, which is what they really could use.
He can play CF....
So in a situation where Denard would only need two or three days off, he’d be more serviceable than Cuddyer or…god forbid…Punto.
This signing tells us several things...
…1) They really do not have Dustin Martin in their plans for help on the Twins, or even as a starter/go to guy at Rochester;
2) They believe Ben Revere isn’t ready, although he may be ready by late summer;
3) There isn’t anyone else at Rochester (Brandon Roberts) who they feel can fill-in at center if needed for more than a couple games.
4) They now have Jacque Jones and Jimerson, both of whom can play center field and both of whom will need a huge spring to break camp with the Twins. They will likely keep only four outfielders on the roster (Young, Span, Cuddyer and Kubel). If Span needs a replacement during a game or a game of rest, it will likely be Punto or Tolbert in center, if Tolbert is with the team. If Span goes down for more than a game or two, they will have Jones and Jimerson in Rochester. If Span goes down for a long time……they will be very active in the trade market to pick up someone that can be a reasonable fill-in for a month or longer, or until Revere is ready.
I like everything that you just said,
and I couldn’t agree more.
With Casilla, I hope they do give him a shot in center just to see what he can do. The kid’s got skills, it’d be a shame to see them go to waste.
I agree
Casilla has many skills and still has potential. I think the Twins should try him out in CF, he certainly has the speed, and it will be interesting to see what type of jumps he can get on balls. Who knows? Casilla could actually be a A- outfielder in terms of defense. I would not be at all surprised if Casilla turns out to be a really good defensive outfielder. Sure, he may not have the bat to become an everyday outfielder, but if he has the glove, he could slid into the 2009 Gomez role – replacement outfielder/pinch runner.
My personal beliefs about Gomez should not really be brought up here, but I am certain that now that Gomez will get constant playing time and the fact that he has moved to the NL, he will shine in Milwaukee..not only with the glove, but be a good hitter as well.
"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any of us." - Kirby Puckett
by 33MorneauMVP on Feb 17, 2010 2:21 PM EST up reply actions
Let's just hope a change of scenery
is as good for Hardy
agreed
we dealt from excess to their excess. We did not have a SS, they had two. We had a A+ CF and a B+ CF and we dealt the A+ for an A+ SS. Its a fairly good trade. And I really hope that Gomez catches fire – I like that kid a lot and I still wish he was a Twin.
But, on the other hand, I really like Hardy…I just wish that we would have dealt Delmon and kept our defensive outfield.
"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any of us." - Kirby Puckett
by 33MorneauMVP on Feb 17, 2010 2:24 PM EST up reply actions
The disappointing fact about Gomez...
…was that he again could not win a starting job in the D.R. Winter League. Just like last year, he played sporadically and hit, well not all that good!
due to playing
sporadically. If he can manage to play everyday, I think his bat will improve. It is strange that he was not a starter at DR, especially considering his defense and speed.
"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any of us." - Kirby Puckett
by 33MorneauMVP on Feb 17, 2010 3:08 PM EST up reply actions
Wishcasting
Gomez has terrible strike zone judgement and pitch recognition. I don’t know if he ever hits.
+1
Young has gotten everyday at bats, how much better has he gotten? Still waiting, but I like his upside more then Gomez. Defensive outfielders are called back-ups.
by b1 on Feb 17, 2010 8:36 PM EST up reply actions
Upside?
I can’t say that Young has better upside. Gomez would grow on both sides, hitting and with the glove. Young has probably peaked as a hitter…and would decline as a fielder.
I disagree
I thing Young has performed better than Gomez and still has more upside. .290avg 25Hr’s 85Rbi’s is within his reach. Gomez ? 220 avg 10Hr’s 30Sb’s time for a new CF.
Gomez
A+ Glove
Young:
D- Glove
Furthermore, avg, HR, sb’s, RBIs are nothing to judge a hitter by. I learned that the hard way. RBI’s are regulated by those players who get on base in front of the hitter who obtains the RBI; no runner, no RBI unless a HR. OBP is more important than avg and I believe, without going back to look at the stats, that Gomez and Young’s obp is very similar.
"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any of us." - Kirby Puckett
by 33MorneauMVP on Feb 17, 2010 11:20 PM EST up reply actions
I'm old school
I want someone to knock in a run. Punto 337obp, Young 308, Harris 310, Redmond 299, Crede 289 by obp you would want Punto up, not me, I’ll take any of the others to knock a run in. Hitting with men on base is important (rbi’s) by the way Gomez 287obp as a leadoff hitter thats pitiful. Span 392obp There was a reason why Gomes batted 9th.
sure
Gomez has/had a D- bat. Due to inconsistent playing time, he could never improve on this. Young’s bat prior to July/August/September/October is a D- as well.
Gomez is the best defensive player the Twins had, not named Joe Mauer. Mauer has an A+ glove for his position, and Gomez, if you look at defensive metrics, ranks in the top 3 of defensive outfielders in the game = A+ glove.
"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any of us." - Kirby Puckett
by 33MorneauMVP on Feb 18, 2010 11:27 AM EST up reply actions
wrong
if you have men on base to knock in, of course we want the Mauer, Morneau, and Kubel, and Thome’s up at the plate. But it isn’t going to do a lot of good when there are no men on base – therefore: Span, Punto, Hudson should be up.
Way to take Gomez’s leadoff hitter obp…what class! Gomez, batting 9th, has a .337 OBP. Furthermore, 9th spot in the order is nothing to sneeze at. 9th spot ends up being the first leadoff hitter in a lot of situations. Gomez was a significantly better batter in the 9th spot – and in terms of the number of ABs – the spot he struck out the least!
"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any of us." - Kirby Puckett
by 33MorneauMVP on Feb 18, 2010 11:25 AM EST up reply actions
I agree
I think Gomez has more physical tools, but Young is a better hitter and he has plenty of upside with the bat.
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
oh I do not
doubt Young’s ability with the bat. Yet, with Gomez already being the best defensive CF in the league, and still young, if he can get his bat going to a tune of a .340 OBP, he would be an extremely valuable player…much moreso than Young – who can only improve his defense by so much.
"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any of us." - Kirby Puckett
by 33MorneauMVP on Feb 19, 2010 11:52 AM EST up reply actions
Playing sporadically?
You’re saying that about Carlos Gomez? The guy was the opening day center fielder and leadoff man in 2008, starting there all year, and he was starting four or five days a week for the first month or so of 2009, until he was basically relegated to defensive replacement status because of his poor hitting. His hitting skill (or lack thereof) hasn’t been dependent on his playing time thus far in his career.
"There are only two things that are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein
No, but any time
you remove opportunities to learn while you play, it’s not necessarily a good thing for your development either.
It goes both ways. He wasn’t playing because he wasn’t earning the playing time, but he couldn’t get better because he wasn’t playing.
Oh, I agree
Gomez’s development probably would’ve been better served playing every day, whether with the Twins or with Rochester.
I’m just saying that the “he didn’t hit because he didn’t play regularly” excuse only goes so far for Gomez – he was an unquestioned everyday starter for an entire season, and he was a terrible hitter for the bulk of that same season.
"There are only two things that are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein
I'll let it ride from here
The sad part is neither has played up to expectations. I’ll take Young you can have Gomez and time will tell. The fun of reading the talent.
by b1 on Feb 18, 2010 5:27 PM EST up reply actions
Sometimes.......
it’s the odd guys that get some playing time with the Twins during the season.
Anyone remember Darnell McDonald?
What is truly amazing is the number of reserve outfielders that used to be in the Twins system, from Alex Romero and Trent Oeltjen to Michael Restovich, Dustan Mohr, Michael Ryan, Jason Tyner, Ryan Radmanovich, Lew Ford to just name a few.
I 4th/5th oufielder is just that…4th/5th outfielder…replaceable as time goes on.
The exception is Denard Span, who was a prospect, maybe just a replacement outfielder, and showed that he truly was a prospect and now a starter and possible long-term outfield star for the Twins.
Visit www.TwinsCards.com and check out "rosters" to see my collection!
I'm ready to stop talking about 5th outfielders
and start talking about Joe Mauer signing the biggest contract in franchise history. I’m really starting to worry that it hasn’t gotten done yet.
P’s and C’s report Sunday. It better be done before that. That’s all I’m sayin’.
Why would you want Jimerson or Jones
at AAA. Both are probably out of options and would olny be call up only if a injury occured. Martin and Roberts have their options and can both catch balls in CF if needed. Why do we keep going outside the farm system to give lossers a shot only to see why they were not on someone else’s roster. We Don’t need them!!! Jones I get giving a S.T. invite to.
I think what Roger said was very accurate.
The front office doesn’t believe that guys like Roberts or Martin are ready or capable to step in and give the team what they want. There’s no other reason for the Jones/Jimerson moves, and it makes perfect sense.
The team needed options, now they have them. They’re not ideal, but we’re talking about 5th outfield options here, nothing’s perfect.
TR's legacy
We remember the acquisitions from the low minors who worked out, such as Liriano. We forget all the failures: Justin Jones, Martin, Roberts, Macri, Butera, etc. The last two years, TR lost his touch with veteran free agents and fringe prospects. The fact that we got so little for Castillo was as hard to swallow in 2007 as the fact that we traded him when we were still within five games of the division lead.
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
The Santana trade
did’nt go so well either. Lets hope the Gomez trade works, I’m still 50-50 on the Bartlett, Garza trade. Right now the Rays look better on that one.
I'd give Garza/Young a 25/75
If it was just Garza for Young, I might say it’s 50/50, assuming Young progresses as I expect him to. But Bartlett is so much better than anything the Twins got in return, that makes it a clear win for the Rays.
Put it another way, if you don’t make the Garza trade, and you make the Santana trade, you’ve got an ace pitcher in Garza, a shortstop and number 2 hitter in Bartlett and a great defensive center fielder in Gomez. The team is better now without the Garza trade, and that was even more true in 2008 and 2009.
Now, they made the most of the situation by getting Hardy. And I’d rather have Hardy than Bartlett. But I’d rather have Gomez than Young. And Garza’s absence is just a hole in the organization that we have to patch with the likes of Pavano.
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
+1
Jones and Jimerson might be better. I just hate seeing the young players get to AAA, right on the edge of making the pro team, to have them bring in a older player that can’t hang on to the 40man roster with someone else. I favore the young guys and like to see them get a shot at the pros. Our farm system was ranked #1 buy BA. getting guys to the pros. I can’t wait to see how Valencia,Slama,Delaney,Ramos, do against Pro teams, also Manship, Duensing, and Swarzak again.
by b1 on Feb 18, 2010 9:41 AM EST up reply actions
Where did you find that
The Twins farm system didn’t rank in the top 5 for 2010 rankings. Texas has topped the list 2 years in a row.
1) Rangers
2) Rays
3) Giants
4) Phillies
5) Indians
I glanced at it in Jan? Top Farm System of the decade
The artical was about how many solid prospects the Twins brought up from 2000-2009. Someone should recall the artical or look it up, I can’t find it. Baseball America.
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