MacPhail:"this week we would put the finishing touches on" the roster."

[Old#5fan]

I see Reimold as Luke Scott playing 140 games a year.

I don't see how anyone here including me or you can know what Reimold will do this season (or not do). I personally don't think he is going to be an All Star but I also think he could easily be better than the ridiculously streaky Scott who I still wonder why they haven't traded for a minor league prospect like they did Huff. Surely he would fetch that much at the least.

[Stotle]

I'm not excited at all about MacPhail's approach to 1B/3B. I just hope Snyder and Bell get their shot by July at latest.

So, really, we're hoping that Snyder and Bell don't lay an egg in April...I agree the approach to 1b/3b SEEMS haphazard and not well thought-out. But I defer to the guys with more info in the front office until the wheels actually come off. If it's July and Snyder is struggling and Bell is still working on switch-hitting (and struggling from the right) and the 1B/3B is still a disaster at the ML-level, that will be disappointing.

[EL_Coyote]

So, really, we're hoping that Snyder and Bell don't lay an egg in April...I agree the approach to 1b/3b SEEMS haphazard and not well thought-out. But I defer to the guys with more info in the front office until the wheels actually come off. If it's July and Snyder is struggling and Bell is still working on switch-hitting (and struggling from the right) and the 1B/3B is still a disaster at the ML-level, that will be disappointing.

Great Post!

yeah, we can sit and play arm chair GM all we want. If 1B/3B turns into a situation like SS of 08...

OMG I don't even want to think about that.

[Stotle]

Great Post!

yeah, we can sit and play arm chair GM all we want. If 1B/3B turns into a situation like SS of 08...

OMG I don't even want to think about that.

To be clear, I agree with everything I've read from Frobby in this thread -- I've just been heavy-handed with some of my critiques this off-season so I'm trying to be clear that I'll give the FO the benefit of the doubt until it actually blows up in their face. But I tend to think the odds of failure are better than the odds of success if we are talking about an Atkins/Crede 1b/3b...

[NCRaven]

There's a reason that Trembley, like 99% of managers, plays his starters most of the time - the starters are better than the backups. If Trembley, Crowley and MacPhail decide, over time, that Pie is one of the 3 best outfielders, he'll become a starter and get more playing time. For now, they obviously believe that Reimold is a step above. When he or Reimold prove them wrong, they'll make a change.

Until then, it makes perfect sense to put the three best outfielders (in their opinion) on the field most of the time.

[Going Underground]

What Crede made last year:

Any contract would likely be a one-year deal with similar incentives from his last contract. His last deal had incentives that could bring his $2.5 million salary close to $7 million based on performance and playing time.

November 10, 2009

Off-Season Blueprint: Letting Go (The Joe Crede Edition)

Not even a year ago, the Twins signed Joe Crede to be a one-year stopgap at third base while the organization waits for Danny Valencia to make his way up. The deal was a great opportunity for Crede to prove to other ball clubs that he was fully healed from back surgery and and worthy of a long-term contract.

Unfortunately, things didn't quite work out the way either side wanted. Valencia isn't quite ready and Crede hurt himself, eliminating any chances he had of joining another team with a multi-year deal. And although one would expect that the Twins and Crede would part ways, the contrary seems to be likely. The Twins and Crede could both use one another for yet another season.

Many believe that Valencia could probably handle the starting job right out of Spring Training, but the Twins' ultra-conservative approach with position prospects makes that a pipe dream at this point-in-time. That leaves an possibility for the Twins and Crede could be able to find a way to keep the 31-year-old in Minnesota for another year.

Any contract would likely be a one-year deal with similar incentives from his last contract. His last deal had incentives that could bring his $2.5 million salary close to $7 million based on performance and playing time.

Crede seemingly enjoyed his time with the Twins and he was a good clubhouse fit. With a team that is likely to lose veterans such as Mike Redmond and Orlando Cabrera (among others), the Twins need to keep some of the clubhouse charisma that it has. When Crede was able to play, he proved to be a very valuable defender while putting up a putrid .225/.289/.414 hitting line. But on a brighter note, he did have 16 doubles, 15 home runs and 48 RBI in 333 at-bats.

Crede underwent back surgery at the end of September and has supposedly felt very good at this point in the recovery. But when he's had three procedures on his back since 2007, it's a huge risk in any way, shape or form when dealing with a guy like him. Thankfully, he has expressed interest of staying in Minnesota and would probably accept a similar deal that brought him here in the first place.

[Stotle]

Here is approximately what I would do:

RF: Markakis 156 games, Reimold 6 games

CF: Jones 140 games, Pie 22 games

LF: Pie 90 games, Reimold 72 games

DH: Scott 100 games, Reimold 33 games, Wieters 20 games

That equates to approximately 669 PA for Markakis, 601 for Jones, 480 for Pie, 476 for Reimold, 429 for Scott, and 86 for Wieters. Like I said, the allocations aren't set in stone, it would depend how well the various players were performing.

Even if Trembley chooses to give less rest to Markakis and Jones (which seems consistent with his tendencies), it still isn't that hard to get 400 PA for each of Pie, Reimold and Scott.

This is not intended to offend the skipper, but in no way do I think "creative use of bench" when I think "Trembley"...

[Stotle]

There's a reason that Trembley, like 99% of managers, plays his starters most of the time - the starters are better than the backups. If Trembley, Crowley and MacPhail decide, over time, that Pie is one of the 3 best outfielders, he'll become a starter and get more playing time. For now, they obviously believe that Reimold is a step above. When he or Reimold prove them wrong, they'll make a change.

Until then, it makes perfect sense to put the three best outfielders (in their opinion) on the field most of the time.

Assuming all OF's perform consistently, regardless of situation, I agree. But it's likely the optimal use of the four/five OF/DH involves juggling around the lineup depending on the pitching, stadium, and work load. Shrug -- it's something I'd expect BAL to be looking into, so we'll see how they handle it. In all likelihood, there will be enough injuries to make Trembley's job easy in finding ABs for people. If not, my money is that some production is left on the table.

[NCRaven]

If 1B/3B turns into a situation like SS of 08... OMG I don't even want to think about that.

The difference is that we had no one at SS in the minor league system even remotely close to the talent of Bell or Snyder. When the crap SS's of '08 failed there was no young talent ready to step in and seize the opportunity, hence the eventual signing of Izturis. Now, both Bell and Snyder could totally flop, but so far, the appear to be legitimate major league prospects and they will both likely start the season a three hour drive from the bigs in AAA.

[Stotle]

The difference is that we had no one at SS in the minor league system even remotely close to the talent of Bell or Snyder. When the crap SS's of '08 failed there was no young talent ready to step in and seize the opportunity, hence the eventual signing of Izturis. Now, both Bell and Snyder could totally flop, but so far, the appear to be legitimate major league prospects and they will both likely start the season a three hour drive from the bigs in AAA.

My issue is that neither have shown that are are LIKELY early call-ups in 2010. There is potential, sure. The same was true of Reimold last year, but he had to show he had improved in certain areas (contact) before he was to be given an opportunity. I have to think that as talented as Bell/Snyder are, it's unlikely both put up a "force-the-issue" start of the season that Reimold put up, and it's then likely we'll be looking at "meh" placeholders for a chunk of the season.

As I said, I'm not going to freak out about it until it actually happens, but it seems like the equivalent of moving all-in on a fourth street flush draw. It isn't a long shot, per se, but the odds are not in your favor.

[DrungoHazewood]

There's a reason that Trembley, like 99% of managers, plays his starters most of the time - the starters are better than the backups. If Trembley, Crowley and MacPhail decide, over time, that Pie is one of the 3 best outfielders, he'll become a starter and get more playing time. For now, they obviously believe that Reimold is a step above. When he or Reimold prove them wrong, they'll make a change.

Until then, it makes perfect sense to put the three best outfielders (in their opinion) on the field most of the time.

Is Reimold a better player than Pie against a tough right-hander in a game where the O's are starting a flyball pitcher like Tillman? Like Stotle said, "better" isn't something that applies equally across all situations, it's something that should be evaluated on a day-to-day basis.

[NCRaven]

Assuming all OF's perform consistently, regardless of situation, I agree. But it's likely the optimal use of the four/five OF/DH involves juggling around the lineup depending on the pitching, stadium, and work load. Shrug -- it's something I'd expect BAL to be looking into, so we'll see how they handle it. In all likelihood, there will be enough injuries to make Trembley's job easy in finding ABs for people. If not, my money is that some production is left on the table.

I do agree that there may be a marginal advantage to matching up a specific batter to a specific pitcher in some games, but I also think it may be a bit overstated, much like the argument that it doesn't matter where a batter hits in the order.

If the argument is how to get the most productivity out of Loewenstein and Roenicke, a platoon makes perfect sense since neither was a particularly productive full-time player. But, Reimold, at this point, looks like he's perfectly capable of producing against both left and right-handed pitchers.

I also agree that, in all likelihood, things will come up during the season, injuries, slumps (see picture of Luke Scott in the dictionary), etc., that will make this a moot point.

[Ruzious]

Everyone seems to be assuming Crede will be signed - with Tejada as the only fallback - and ignoring this AM quote in Zrebiec's article:

"Crede is an option, but in our view, he's not the only option," MacPhail said. "We've primarily talked to free-agent [third basemen]. We're not completely out of the trade business, and we're still also very much involved in the first base market as well."

[clapdiddy]

Everyone seems to be assuming Crede will be signed - with Tejada as the only fallback - and ignoring this AM quote in Zrebiec's article:

I really don't know why...and I'm not an insider by any stretch of the imagination...but I think a big trade is going to happen.

[NCRaven]

Everyone seems to be assuming Crede will be signed - with Tejada as the only fallback - and ignoring this AM quote in Zrebiec's article:

If we didn't jump to conclusions, we'd get no exercise at all. Typing doesn't burn too many calories.