Hey Alexi, Jacque Wants Your Roster Spot

by Jesse on Mar 27, 2010 9:17 AM EDT in Speculation

Last Thursday I asked if Alexi Casilla had the final roster spot locked up. It turns out 65% of you agreed with me that, yeah, the spot was pretty much his. But now, with Opening Day just nine days away and Casilla still adrift in the open seas of competition, maybe being out of options isn't enough.

It seems, at least to me, that over the last few days the competition for the final roster spot has become a legitimate one. For most of the month I've basically dismissed the "competition" as nothing more than lip service--Casilla was out of options while others weren't, still others weren't on the 40-man roster and, finally, the Twins like to carry two backup infielders. For all intents and purposes the "competition" was over before it began.

Enter: Jacque Jones. Last night Jones homered off Baltimore starter Chris Tillman and doubled off Cla Meredith, adding to an already impressive spring training line. Of course it would be easy to look Casilla's production this spring (.162/.262/.243, 37 AB, 3 2B, 8 K, 4 BB) and compare that to Jones' (.344/.400/.625, 32 AB, 3 2B, 2 HR, 7 K, 3 BB) as an easy way to say "Game On", but there's more to it than that.

Jones has been playing like he means it, like he wants the job. You could point to last week when he ran over Dioner Navarro in a spring training game in an effort to score. You could point to the fact that playing well is a good way to take advantage of the opportunities you're being given. You could also point to the fact that he's been getting a lot of playing time recently, and to how much he looks like he's enjoying himself.

It's always easier to look like you're enjoying yourself and like you love your job when you're doing well, but this is it for Jacque. And he knows it.

There's something on the line for both of these guys, but while the worst-case scenario for Casilla includes being claimed on waivers as a 25-year old with something to prove, for Jones there is nothing else. He turns 35 in less than a month, is four years removed from being Jacque-as-Jacque, three years removed from being a decent player and just two years removed from not playing his last game in Major League Baseball.

Jones knows what this is, so do the Twins and so do we. Latching onto the team who drafted you is a last resort. That isn't to say Jacque doesn't want to be here (because he does) or that the Twins don't want him here (because they do), but it is what it is.

What makes this such a great story, and what makes it compelling to talk about, is the fact that he's part of the core that helped turn Minnesota back into a competetive club, and the fact that he's playing as well as he is. It wouldn't be convenient, but he's forcing the organization to at least think about his role. The same organization that isn't exactly enamored with Casilla right now.

Jacque has to force the team's hand in order to make the trip north. It won't happen unless the team think it's the right thing to do. But if it does happen? That would be a great story.

And it's hard not to root for Jacque.

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Comments

I say bring Jacque...

…sure we likely lose Casilla, but I don’t think that will hurt too much. Sure, Jacque bats lefty and we already have eleventy billion left handed bats. Sure, we don’t really know if he can be more than a stopgap in CF. But if our season truly comes down to whether Jacque is better than Alexi… well we’re in more trouble than any of us are thinking right now.

by archie2227 on Mar 27, 2010 10:02 AM EDT reply actions

the problem

is who becomes the low cost option at 2nd in 2011? We will need some cheap players around for several positions next year. Maybe Hughes or Plouffe can make it there. But Casilla next year gives the club more options.

I would prefer Jones come north with the club. I didn’t like it when he left originally.

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by doofus on Mar 27, 2010 10:16 AM EDT reply actions

I'm happy, but...

Jesse points out the real problem:

" is four years removed from being Jacque-as-Jacque, three years removed from being a decent player"

You’re absolutely right — it’s hard to root against him and it’s easy to see that he’s having fun. But, how much do you make of 32 at bats?

Now that I think about it, though, the biggest problem is positions. If Jones played second or short, no more competition. Now, you and I might be comfortable with one bench infielder. Will Gardy? We know Gardy (and I like the guy, so this isn’t a slam, just pointing out his tendencies…) gets hives with only one backup catcher. How much Gold Bond Powder is he going to go through with only one backup infielder?

Take this scenario. Brendan Harris (starting at third) takes a foul ball off the shin. Punto subs for him. Fast forward to a high-leverage situation late in the game with everyone’s-favorite-whipping-boy at the plate. Pinch hit for Thome (or Jones)? Ah, but then who plays third in the 9th?

I have great memories of Frenchy, and I’d love to see him make the team. But really, the competition isn’t with him and Casilla. Jones’ competition is Thome, and he’s not going to win that one.

by gbg on Mar 27, 2010 11:04 AM EDT reply actions

You know what happens then?

Thome DHs, Kubel goes to right, and Cuddyer plays 3rd. Ouch.

by ckb on Mar 27, 2010 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions

I think no matter which way you go, this bench is pinched.

Whether it’s because we signed Thome on a four-man bench or just because we don’t go with a five-man bench, we’re strapped. The issue we have with infielders is the same issue we have with outfielders when Kubel is a DH.

So it’s less about Thome—we all know he’s making the roster. It all depends on, like you mentioned, how comfortable Gardy would be with one infiedler…or, conversely, no backup outfielders. In either situation there are guys who can play in a pinch. It’s about that last roster spot…and who the organization thinks can help the team the most.

It should also be said that the Twins have more to lose by bringing Jones north. If they do that, Casilla’s gone. The other way around, Jones is still in the wings in Rochester.

by Jesse on Mar 27, 2010 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions

Does everybody really believe Casilla will be gone?

In another year, yes definitely, but this year?

What has me wondering is how weak the infield free agent market was this year. There were tons of players out there, but very few teams were looking. Every team seemed to be full up on infielders.

I think it’s possible Casilla might be able to make it through waivers.

by sploorp on Mar 27, 2010 11:42 AM EDT reply actions

After this spring, I'm not sure Casilla is such a huge loss

I used to think his hot streaks represented his upside, and if he could just develop some consistency…. That was in 2008. Last year, he went backwards to the point where I now think those hot streaks were just that: Hot streaks brought about by the league not knowing him and throwing him a lot of fastballs with Mauer behind him. I now think his upside is meh. He’s athletic in the field, but he really is not much of a hitter. His lack of power turns would-be singles into out and would-be doubles into singles. So, how great a loss is he? Not much.

I say, take the best 25 guys and if Casilla is not one of them, so what?

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

by cmathewson on Mar 27, 2010 12:22 PM EDT reply actions

I'd prefer Casilla, only for...

his speed. I don’t know how Jacques legs are looking this year, but he was never a burner before, as far as I remember. I’d rather have Alexi’s legs available to pinch run late in the game. Especially with Thome PH-ing, we need a compliment PR to put in.

by San Diego Viking on Mar 27, 2010 12:56 PM EDT reply actions

The 12-man pitching staff is bad news when Thome is one of your bench guys. They are going to be short of flexibility one way or the other. Ultimately it comes down to the fact that its easier for an infielder to temporarily play outfield than vice-versa. I think Casilla remains a lock as a result. If he struggles, Valencia could be called up, with Hughes and Plouffe being possible but less likely.

by drivlikejehu on Mar 27, 2010 3:30 PM EDT reply actions

The gamble......

million dollar question…can Alexi make it thru waivers? If he does…Rochester has a second baseman and you don’t need to worry about him until Setpember when you can add him back to the 40-man and start the whole thing over again! Plus, you take him out of an arbitration year, right?

Visit www.TwinsCards.com and check out "rosters" to see my collection!

by rosterman on Mar 27, 2010 4:17 PM EDT reply actions

Jacque is on the Rochester shuttle

The Twins told him coming in that his role was to shuttle back and forth to Rochester for depth and Jacque was fine with that. What are the odds Jim Thome plays a season with no time on the DL at his age? I think that’s absolutely the right move. Jacque Jones is certain to pass through waivers if he comes up to replace an injured player and they need to cut him when that player comes off the DL.

by DJL44 on Mar 27, 2010 8:17 PM EDT reply actions