2013 Twins Spring Training Battle Dashboard 2.0, pre first cuts edition

It is already two weeks into Spring Training games for the Twins, so it is time for the second version of the dashboards.   You can find all 2013 Spring Training dashboards here, for reference.

Again, you can find explanations of the measures and the colors of the dashboards to quantify Spring Training performance of the combatants in both the position player and pitching battles in these two links.   

The dashboard includes last night's game.

Here is the position player dashboard:

Few Observations:

• Aaron Hicks and Eddie Rosario have been given many accolades, but for me the surprise of Spring Training for the Twins so far has been Danny Rohlfing, the Twins' 23 year old AA catcher who for all practical purposes has been regarded as organizational depth.  However, with his performance in front of the Twins' brass, added to his excellent defense at catcher and versatility (can play 1B and OF as well), he has to be into the conversation regarding Twins' Catcher prospects
• Aaron Hicks has taken the lead for the Center Field starter position
• The other 2 OF positions (RF and bench) are wide open, with Darin Mastroianni returning today from a hamstring injury-caused week's hiatus and Wilkin Ramirez performing consistently well and steadily leading Chris Parmelee who really has not found himself and is also ailing.   I would not be surprised if Parmelee started the season in AAA.
• The infield battle and the bench battles are wide open.  None of the infielders fighting for the 2 positions has been ahead of the pack at this time.

Here is the pitcher dashboard:

Few Observations:

• He is starting today again, but Cole DeVries has been pretty consistent and effective as a starter so far,  and I think that he is on his way to earn either a starter or the long reliever position, depending on other pitcher's health
• Speaking of health, despite what it has been reported, I will be surprised if Anthony Swarzak, Rafael Perez and Scott Diamond start the season in Minnesota on April fools'
• PJ Walters' performance has been pretty steady as well, but unlike DeVries, he has been used as a reliever and been facing lesser competition.  He still has possibilities for a pen or even a starting role, based on health
• Kyle Gibson has had ups and one horrible game.  The jury is still out.
• Alex Burnett and Tyler Robertson have been as disappointing on the pitching side as Chris Parmelee on the position player side.  I would not be surprised if they started the season in AAA.
• Ryan Pressly, the Twins' Rule 5 pick has been the most consistent reliever; other than a horrid game, Tim Wood has been great; Mike Tonkin has been surprising good and Josh Roenicke had ups and downs, but he has been trending up.  Could these four pitchers win the four bullpen spots?  Time will tell, but it will be a huge surprise if Tonkin does, since the highest level of play he saw has been a half season at Fort Myers with the Miracle.

The next version will be after the cuts.  Speaking of the cuts, I think that:  Bryan Augenstein, BJ Hermsen, Trevor May and Alex Meyer from the pitchers and Kyle Knudson and maybe James Beresford might be it for position players.   The World Baseball Classic has decimated the numbers of the Twins position players available,make it hard to field 2 teams in split squad games, so I do not foresee many position player cuts before other Twins return from the WBC.

Why did the Twins claim Darin Mastroianni?

Today the Twins announced via their official twitter that the have claimed outfielder Darin Mastroianni off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays. As a first reaction, this move might not make much sense: Three of the Twins' top 5 prospects, Arcia, Hicks and Benson, are outfielders, and there are seven outfielders counting Trevor Plouffe on the Twins' 40-man roster at the moment. Mastroianni has to be added to the 40-man roster, which is full, so expect a corresponding move (waiving Jeff Gray or Matt Maloney? a trade?) to happen soon. (Update: The Twins cut Esmerling Vasquez to open a spot on the 40-man roster) At first sight it does not make much sense, but lets examine what the Twins gain by this move:

• Speed on the Bench (if he makes the Twins). Ron Garderhire has suggested that his starting OF will be Revere, Span and Willingham (L to R.) This leaves Plouffe, Luke Hughes (both out of options) and Nishioka on the bench; all of them have some speed, but not to match Mastroianni's. In five seasons in the Minors he stole 282 bases, including 70 in 2009 for Dunedin (A+, Florida State League) and New Hampshire (AA, Eastern League.)


• A scrappy Gardy-type of bench player. The only Ron Gardenhire Twins' team that did not have a diminutive (Mastoianni is listed at 5'11") outfielder on their bench (Revere does not count because he was a starter) was the 2011 team. And we all know what happen last season. Not to say that it is because the lack of that type of player (preferably named "Jason",) a role that was filled by Repko, Pridie and Tyner in the past, but certainly Gardenhire has an affinity for these players. Mastoianni has a MiLB career slash line of .279/.370/.742, a 62/78 BB/K ratio in 2011 and can lay a bunt, either for a sacrifice or for a hit.


• No Butera in the majors (if he makes the Twins.) There is only space for 4 bench players. Plouffe and Hughes are locks (no options left.) If Mastroianni makes the teams, this means that one of Nishioka and Butera will be in Rochester. Pick your poison. Could it be the handlebar mustache? Could it be that he looks like Mike Pagliarulo (the lucky charm of 1991?) Who knows?


• A centerfielder for Rochester(if he does not make the team). The conventional wisdom is that Benson will be the centerfielder in Rochester, but the Twins might think that he is better suited to be a corner outfielder with Aaron Hicks coming up soon and Span and Revere already in the organization. Mastroianni is a bona fide centerfielder. Also Rochester needs a lead off hitter and Mastroianni will fit the role well...


• Less likely, but I have to mention it: a second baseman of the future. Mastroianni came up as a second baseman, and played the position until 2008. Could the Twins think about converting him back (they do not have much prospect depth in that position)? Who knows?

An interesting factoid: Darin Mastroianni played a single game (started at CF and went hitless) for Toronto last season and the reason he was because the newly acquired by the Jays Kelly Johnson had forgotten his passport and had to return to Arizona to get it. Mastoianni is 26 this season and his minor league career compares well with that of Rajai Davis (other than having more walks and fewer strikeouts than Davis). I would probably say that this is Mastroianni's ceiling with higher OBP. Also of note is that Mastroianni led the Blue Jays system in hits, runs and stolen bases each of the past 2 seasons.