Torn In 3 At 3rd
The Twins have been relatively busy compared to early in the offseason,
as in the past 2 weeks they've agreed with a 2 year deal to Jason Kubel (and possibly keep him in Minnesota for
an extra year with a 2011 option), agreed to terms with arbitration eligible reliever Matt Guerrier, and signed free agent right hander Luis Ayala to bolster the late innings. The latter 2 being in consecutive days. Could they go 3 days in a row?
The Twins have been linked on and off this past offseason with free agent 3B and Twin killer Joe Crede, and the rumors have been heating up big time the past few weeks between the 2 parties. Multiple sources are implying that the Twins, by default, are the frontrunner mainly because the several other teams previously linked to Crede have now backed off.
The debate should be raised though, is Joe Crede really an upgrade over the 2 players expected to share time at the spot this season? Let's compare:
Brian Buscher-
Buscher has been a very skilled hitter in the minors the past few seasons, as he was the Twins Minor League Player of the Year in 2007, and hit .319 before being called up to join the Twins in June of 2008. In exactly 300 Major League AB's, Buscher has hit .280 with 6 homers driving in 57 runs with an impressive OBP at .335. The Twins like Buscher a lot, but he just hasn't seemed to be exactly what they're looking for, considering his defense isn't good ... at all, and that he doesn't mash left handed pitching. If the Twins don't acquire Crede, Buscher is expected to split time with another candidate and platoon against right handed pitching.
Buscher vs. RHP:
246 AB, 73 H, .297 AVG, 10 2B, 6 HR, 49 RBI, .61 BB-K, .354 OBP, .411 SLG%, .764 OPS, 116 OPS+
His numbers against right handers have been very impressive as you can see, almost polar opposites from his splits against left handers. Most of his success has come in 2008 when he had a great half season with a .316 average against righties and an OPS .035 points higher than his career splits. Nonetheless, very solid stats against right handed pitchers, though with little experience.
Brendan Harris-
Harris was traded from Tampa Bay to Minnesota in the 2007 offseason in that blockbuster deal that pretty much fleeced the Twins... In Harris' first season as a Twin, he struggled a bit. He had many ups and downs in limited AB's changing positions many times and gaining experience at every infield spot, including 1B. Harris is of course Buscher's counterpart, and Harris also has some interesting stats against lefties AND righties, as well as playing pretty solid defense. Harris, being a right handed hitter, is expected to take the bulk of duty against lefties, unless of course Crede is a Twin...
Harris vs. LHP
325 AB, 96 H, .295 AVG, 27 2B, 6 HR, 30 RBI, .48 BB-K, .360 OBP, .440 SLG% .800 OPS, 117 tOPS+
Compared to right handed pitching, Harris' stats are torn. Against lefties, he has a great OBP (.360) and a .440 SLG% giving him that solid OPS and OPS+, which is park adjusted. He hits for a high average, compared to his career average of .269 and his .258 average against righties. Now, the problem is, are his power stats really comparable? He hit 16 of his 22 career homers against right handed pitching, though in 415 more AB's. That equates to 1 HR every 46.25 AB vs. righties. And against lefties, he has 6 HR in the 325 AB listed above, which gives him about a homer every 54.2 AB's. That's not an alarming difference, just something to consider. Perhaps a reason may be a lack of experience against lefties? Let's hope so, otherwise the Twins power search at 3B won't improve.
Joe Crede-
All Twins fans should know that Joe is a Twins killer that will likely be out of the AL Central this season with the quite possible exception, Minnesota. Let it be known, Crede starts fast and falters, and also hits for a pretty low average, while striking out a lot and not drawing very many walks. He does have power and a lot of it, but remember, he's established himself as a White Sox, and all Twins fans should consider the Cell and its dimensions.
Joe Crede Career:
2768 AB, 712 H, .257 AVG., 143 2B, 125 HR, 422 RBI, .42 BB-K, .306 OBP, .447 SLG, .753 OPS, 93 OPS+
The stats are obviously not very impressive to say the least, but when healthy Crede is a fit as he provides power and great defense, which is what the Twins are looking for. Surely the Twins are looking for power, and would be willing to sacrifice OBP for homers at the bottom of the order. Though, healthy is the term. Crede's back has hampered him the past 2 seasons limiting him to just 146 games the past over that span. According to his Agent, Scott Boras, Crede is ready to go and healthy after his minor surgery in the offseason, and we have reason to believe so, or hope so. My personal belief is that Crede has long had this, and now with 2 corrective surgeries, he has to be good to go.
And with all of this, there are 2 more options out there: one being internal and one being on the West Coast. There has been a lot of talk about moving Michael Cuddyer back to 3rd once again, though the Twins have been hesitant and quiet about that possibility. Cuddyer broke free at the plate once he moved from the infield to the outfield and the Twins obviously don't want one of their main power inputs going awry. Though on the bright side, Spring Training is always a time for expirementing... The other option, being Kevin Kouzmanoff of the Padres. Kouz had shoulder surgery this offseason, though his numbers might be comparable to Crede's, he hits in a much tougher park in San Diego.
It
all really depends what the Twins want from the position. Obviously,
power in the lower half of the order and great defense is always nice,
but do they also want to continue their success of high OBP and getting
on base, even if it sacrifices an extra 15 homers? I know the fans are
clamoring for some power, but this is something to consider. I'm all
for pursuing Crede and giving Morneau a better chance to carry this
team and see more pitches, but who knows what they could gain from a
full season with Kubel and Cuddyer.
With only a week to go until pitchers and catchers report, a decision could be looming.
The Twins have been linked on and off this past offseason with free agent 3B and Twin killer Joe Crede, and the rumors have been heating up big time the past few weeks between the 2 parties. Multiple sources are implying that the Twins, by default, are the frontrunner mainly because the several other teams previously linked to Crede have now backed off.
The debate should be raised though, is Joe Crede really an upgrade over the 2 players expected to share time at the spot this season? Let's compare:
Brian Buscher-
Buscher has been a very skilled hitter in the minors the past few seasons, as he was the Twins Minor League Player of the Year in 2007, and hit .319 before being called up to join the Twins in June of 2008. In exactly 300 Major League AB's, Buscher has hit .280 with 6 homers driving in 57 runs with an impressive OBP at .335. The Twins like Buscher a lot, but he just hasn't seemed to be exactly what they're looking for, considering his defense isn't good ... at all, and that he doesn't mash left handed pitching. If the Twins don't acquire Crede, Buscher is expected to split time with another candidate and platoon against right handed pitching.
Buscher vs. RHP:
246 AB, 73 H, .297 AVG, 10 2B, 6 HR, 49 RBI, .61 BB-K, .354 OBP, .411 SLG%, .764 OPS, 116 OPS+
His numbers against right handers have been very impressive as you can see, almost polar opposites from his splits against left handers. Most of his success has come in 2008 when he had a great half season with a .316 average against righties and an OPS .035 points higher than his career splits. Nonetheless, very solid stats against right handed pitchers, though with little experience.
Brendan Harris-
Harris was traded from Tampa Bay to Minnesota in the 2007 offseason in that blockbuster deal that pretty much fleeced the Twins... In Harris' first season as a Twin, he struggled a bit. He had many ups and downs in limited AB's changing positions many times and gaining experience at every infield spot, including 1B. Harris is of course Buscher's counterpart, and Harris also has some interesting stats against lefties AND righties, as well as playing pretty solid defense. Harris, being a right handed hitter, is expected to take the bulk of duty against lefties, unless of course Crede is a Twin...
Harris vs. LHP
325 AB, 96 H, .295 AVG, 27 2B, 6 HR, 30 RBI, .48 BB-K, .360 OBP, .440 SLG% .800 OPS, 117 tOPS+
Compared to right handed pitching, Harris' stats are torn. Against lefties, he has a great OBP (.360) and a .440 SLG% giving him that solid OPS and OPS+, which is park adjusted. He hits for a high average, compared to his career average of .269 and his .258 average against righties. Now, the problem is, are his power stats really comparable? He hit 16 of his 22 career homers against right handed pitching, though in 415 more AB's. That equates to 1 HR every 46.25 AB vs. righties. And against lefties, he has 6 HR in the 325 AB listed above, which gives him about a homer every 54.2 AB's. That's not an alarming difference, just something to consider. Perhaps a reason may be a lack of experience against lefties? Let's hope so, otherwise the Twins power search at 3B won't improve.
Joe Crede-
All Twins fans should know that Joe is a Twins killer that will likely be out of the AL Central this season with the quite possible exception, Minnesota. Let it be known, Crede starts fast and falters, and also hits for a pretty low average, while striking out a lot and not drawing very many walks. He does have power and a lot of it, but remember, he's established himself as a White Sox, and all Twins fans should consider the Cell and its dimensions.
Joe Crede Career:
2768 AB, 712 H, .257 AVG., 143 2B, 125 HR, 422 RBI, .42 BB-K, .306 OBP, .447 SLG, .753 OPS, 93 OPS+
The stats are obviously not very impressive to say the least, but when healthy Crede is a fit as he provides power and great defense, which is what the Twins are looking for. Surely the Twins are looking for power, and would be willing to sacrifice OBP for homers at the bottom of the order. Though, healthy is the term. Crede's back has hampered him the past 2 seasons limiting him to just 146 games the past over that span. According to his Agent, Scott Boras, Crede is ready to go and healthy after his minor surgery in the offseason, and we have reason to believe so, or hope so. My personal belief is that Crede has long had this, and now with 2 corrective surgeries, he has to be good to go.
And with all of this, there are 2 more options out there: one being internal and one being on the West Coast. There has been a lot of talk about moving Michael Cuddyer back to 3rd once again, though the Twins have been hesitant and quiet about that possibility. Cuddyer broke free at the plate once he moved from the infield to the outfield and the Twins obviously don't want one of their main power inputs going awry. Though on the bright side, Spring Training is always a time for expirementing... The other option, being Kevin Kouzmanoff of the Padres. Kouz had shoulder surgery this offseason, though his numbers might be comparable to Crede's, he hits in a much tougher park in San Diego.
With only a week to go until pitchers and catchers report, a decision could be looming.
Money says platoon, so that means that so does the FO, unless the Pohlads are good advocates. I am not a fan of signing Crede, if only because I am a personal example of how hard it is to even resume real life after a back injury of the type he had. If the signing happens, I won't criticize it, but I won't click my heels either.
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Hey, thanks for the comment. The Pohlad's are saying yes to it, and if Pohlad saying no for all these years made such an impact, who knows. I'd like Crede, but not acquiring him definitely doesn't mean we have a weakness at the position.
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Ha - great song on this page! :)
Mark/MLB.com
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