Twins Roster Updates
by Jesse on Aug 15, 2010 8:15 PM EDT
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PrintCan you name all 25 guys on the active roster right now? Are you sure?
- Nick Punto was activated after the game this afternoon. He'll rejoin the team for the series with the White Sox on Tuesday.
- Matt Tolbert has been activated, but was optioned to Rochester for the time being. With Punto returning, Alexi Casilla playing reasonably well, Danny Valencia playing very well and both J.J. Hardy and Orlando Hudson (currently) healthy...there just isn't room. At this point I think he might even have to prove he deserves the next callup more than Trevor Plouffe.
- To make room for Punto, Jose Morales was sent back to Rochester. While I understand the desire for three catchers while the soreness in Joe Mauer's shoulder faded, it doesn't change the fact that he didn't play...which is good news, in some sense. But he did appear in just five games, and he received just five plate appearances. I'm sure it was frustrating, but hopefully he takes something away from it.
- It doesn't sound like Justin Morneau will be back this month, if Sid Hartman is to be believed. Disappointing, but it's not like anybody wants Justin to rush back.
- The current "You Didn't Start the Year On the MLB Club" list: Matt Capps, Ron Mahay, Jeff Manship, Glen Perkins, Danny Valencia, Jason Repko. It could be worse.
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But, but... I WANT MORE!
J/K. Seriously, this is awesome. It is good to step back and realize how good this club has been doing despite it all. That said, they can’t let up now. Keep it up, boys!
Let's Go Twins!
Minnesota Wild Off-season: In Fletch We Trust.
I want 2/3 from the White Sox at home
They need to keep beating on the White Sox, those wins count double.
Definitely what I prefer.
But all I really care about is taking the series. We took two of three from them in their house…as long as they don’t take the series from us, that’s what matters. If we beat them in their home, we should beat them in ours.
Manship and Perkins?
I didn’t really realize that. That’s a lot of long relief, no?
The roster
Currently (with Punto), the roster has one too many utility infielders and could use a RH bat. Starting Kubel and/or Thome against some lefthanders is giving away outs, not to mention clogging the bases. I don’t see anyone at Rochester who can help, so maybe the Twins can acquire somebody before the 8/31 deadline.
On the mound, the Twins right now essentially have two long men—Manship and Perkins—and only one left for late innings—Mahay—and late inning lefty is not really Mahay’s ideal role. Acquiring a lefty, maybe Downs or Tallet from Toronto, could help this team down the stretch. The starters have been fine lately and I think the acquisition of Capps is looking a bit smarter right now than it did two weeks ago.
by Alexi Casilla All-Star on Aug 15, 2010 9:56 PM EDT reply actions
I'm not worried
Hardy is banged up and Valencia can be that RH bat on the days he gets off. Two is not too many utility infielders.
I suppose if Morneau is not coming back this year they could pull the trigger on someone like Xavier Nady or Ty Wigginton.
The last few days have shown
just how useful it would be to be able to pinch-hit for Kubel late in the game when he’s getting LOOGYed.
+1
Would love to have Downs. Even though Punto’s back I think he should ride the bench, the infield is excellent without him and I love how quickly Valencia has proven his worth. The Capps trade is looking good too. I think everyone was originally pissed off about it just from gauging the names exchanged, but Smith knew it would pan out. I love Big Bad Jon, but I think we were all getting a little anxious at the thought of him “making it interesting” in playoff games.
My only concern now is Morneau. I think he and the team are making all the right decisions so far and keeping him safe for a return, but the lack of a timetable has me worried.
by MarshalltheIrish on Aug 16, 2010 1:49 AM EDT up reply actions
Getting pessimistic on Morneau
He may have had previous concussions from his hockey days, and now he’s got some real things to work through. Hopefully he’ll be back next year, but this could be career-ending. What a great player he was.
"What a great player he WAS?"
Dude, He’s not dead yet! He’ll be back! Sheeesh!
"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
"I CAN SURE KILLEBREW, BUT I PREFER SODA POP" -WordUpThome
by less cowbell, more 'neau on Aug 15, 2010 11:30 PM EDT up reply actions
I wouldn't totally write him off
I also wouldn’t count on him any time soon. I think Morneau already had a concussion when he was beaned by Ron Villone (I want to say in ’06) and missed considerable time.
by Alexi Casilla All-Star on Aug 15, 2010 11:19 PM EDT reply actions
That one hit him in the same spot--right temple
Plus, I’m sure he took a few off the noggin when he was a goalie. It really doesn’t matter how hard your mask and helmet are when the puck travels faster than a Ron Villone fastball.
I played hockey through high school and I can say concussions were part of the game. Coach put you back in there if you could stand up without puking. Fortunately, those days are over and coaches are required to be a lot more conscientious. But Morneau played old school hockey.
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
concussions add up over time
Tne fact is, he didn’t take a really hard shot to the head this time, but is still out for over a month and counting, with no return on the horizon.
The reality is, my favorite player on the Twins, Justin Morneau, probably shouldn’t and won’t return to baseball.
by medicineball on Aug 16, 2010 7:30 AM EDT up reply actions
Whoa
Concussions are relatively rare in baseball. Nobody has suggested that Morneau retire, just that he get healthy.
The talk is more and more about how Morneau probably won't be back this year,
and in the last few days I’ve heard ‘career threatening’ for the first time. Well, probably he will come back even if it’s not this year, but what if he doesn’t?
Would the Twins move Cuddy to first and go with an outfield of Young/Span/Repko?
"'Over'? Did you say 'over'? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell, no!"
by rubberbiscuit on Aug 16, 2010 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions
Career threatening is definitely approporiate
Nobody knows how a player will bounce back from a concussion, and perhaps more importantly, how they’ll bounce back from their next concussion. Morneau could never recover completely from THIS injury, and even if he does, will he decide its worth risking his long-term health if he gets another one.
He rightfully has to consider his life after baseball as well, and decide how much he’s willing to risk. Retirement is a real possibility in my book.
Unrec'd
Morneau will be back.
"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
"I CAN SURE KILLEBREW, BUT I PREFER SODA POP" -WordUpThome
by less cowbell, more 'neau on Aug 16, 2010 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions
The sad truth is
I CAN name everyone on the roster right now. But I’m proud of it.
by MarshalltheIrish on Aug 16, 2010 2:24 AM EDT reply actions
I'm not feeling like we need to add anyone
At this point. (Who is not already in our system) We have a lot of talent. I say we let it ride and see where it goes. The team is playing with swagger again, like in April, and it makes sense since the team is almost all healthy.
It was GREAT to sweep Oakland. We should have and we did. The Twins have, at times, really let worse off teams give them trouble, and this series just seemed different. I’m thinking 2 of 3 from the Pale Stockings will set us up for a solid finish.
WIN TWINS!
I always loved that one.
by FoulJack on Aug 16, 2010 2:40 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
twins need a lefthanded relief rental anyway
mahay is now the twins no.1 lefthanded reliever. he has been good, but he doesn’t have the shutdown stuff that you need to win late against guys like josh hamilton, carl crawford, robinson cano, nick swisher, and carlos pena are at the plate. in fact, jose mijares wouldn’t be that guy, either.
the twins could really use morneau’s bat against lefthanded pitching, because that opens right field to cuddyer. but the twins’ lefthanded bats have been getting some big hits against lefthanded relief, and wigginton and nady have been only marginally better vs. LHP than thome or repko. i would rather see our right handed farm bats on the roster sep 1 instead.
Like who?
Plouffe?
There isn’t anything down in Rochester that’s better than just using Repko or Valencia.
Pitchers that can shut down Josh Hamilton are few and far between. I think people have unreasonable expectations for relief pitchers. Not everyone is going to be Mariano Rivera automatic. There are no “shutdown” relievers, even the best ones will give up a run every 3rd or 4th outing.
the sox have at least 5 shutdown relievers
meaning guys that average 1 strikeout per inning or better. the yanks have 3, rays have basically 4, rangers have 4-5.
the twins have crain and capps. they need another to match playoff opponents.
as for sep 1, twins have plenty of bats to bring up – revere, roberts, benson, parmelee, peterson, dinkelman, i don’t care. if twins clinch division early or get into blowout games then these guys should get some at-bats. if it stays close, then they wouldn’t, that’s all.
Those aren't bats
Those are minor leaguers. Revere is hurt, Roberts is demonstrably worse options than Repko as are the other guys. All of those players require dumping someone else off the 40 man roster. In addition it starts their arbitration clock ticking for no reason. You do realize that minor league players don’t get BETTER production when you promote them to the majors, correct? That would imply that AAA is harder than MLB.
There are 2 options for a RH bench bat in AAA – Morales and Luke Hughes. Neither one of them hits better than Repko.
I'm not trying to pick a fight but,
some players do get better at the Big League level. Right now, Valencia and Manship. In the long run Span,Mauer I think, Justin,Nathen??? just some thoughts. It’s been noted before that many of the best players were young at AAA so they got better with age in the Pro’s
by b1 on Aug 16, 2010 9:30 PM EDT up reply actions
Small sample size
Players get better with age and practice, but not instantly.
I like how this month is turning out
Crucial series vs. Chicago though….Here’s how our lead will be affected…
We sweep – Twins up 6 games
We win 2/3 – Twins up 4 games
We win 1/3 – Twins up 2 games
They sweep – We’re ties for 1st
The beard abides.
by Jason Kubel's Beard on Aug 16, 2010 10:57 AM EDT reply actions
Then do it again in Chicago
2/3 here gives us a cushion and 2/3 there mid-September would pretty much wrap up the division.
I don't Think So
I seen stranger things happen in baseball. By the time we get to September, the Tigers could be nipping on our heels.
Right-Handed Hitting
I agree w/using Repko as RH pinch-hitter off the bench. While he’s cooled off at the plate during the past week, he appears to have the baseball instincts to adjust quickly. His stats at AAA Rochester confirm that he knows how to hit consistently.
Certainly he’s an “upgrade” defensively at any outfield position, and jack-rabbit fast. I’m hopeful the regular starters have taken notice…I’m confident that Gardy and Bill Smith appreciate what Repko brings to the stadium.
Donuts?
“I’m confident that Gardy and Bill Smith appreciate what Repko brings to the stadium”
Does Repko stop at Wuollet’s on the way to Target Field?
Seriously though, Morales will be up again in 2 weeks when rosters expand. They might need a RH pinch hitter once, maybe twice in those 2 weeks. That’s not worth trading for.
Do we have any RH outfield bats?
Benson? are their anymore RH bats? Hughes,Plouffe Right now I’d just say Hughes on the 40man
by b1 on Aug 16, 2010 9:33 PM EDT up reply actions
I see Hughes name mentioned
He is out for the season with groin/sports hernia surgery. He has never stayed healthy a whole year and is a best marginal as a defensive player. His hitting stats in triple A have also been underwhelming. I think the odds of him playing another major league game are no better than 50-50.
by Alexi Casilla All-Star on Aug 17, 2010 8:38 AM EDT reply actions
I knew about the surgery
Didn’t know he’d be out till the end of Sept.
It didn't sound that way
I did hear about the surgery, but it sounded like it was possible he would be ready in September.
And I’d still like to see him come up here and give it another try.
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