The best thing to do with Jason Kubel
Posted on May 9th, 2007 – 11:41 PMBy Howard
I think Jason Kubel is going to be an important member of the Twins for years to come.
That’s why they should send him to Rochester RIGHT NOW!
He’s helping neither himself nor the team with the grand funk that he’s fallen into, highlighted by his three painful strikeouts over the last two games, and it would be foolish for him to slip to the neglected end of the bench. Nobody needs to see a repeat of what happened to him in ‘06.
What’s the precedent for this?
(Hint: He’s playing center field and has a 23-game hitting streak.)
In 2000, Torii Hunter started the season as the Twins’ every day center fielder after breaking into the regular lineup during 1999. He started with a batch of hits and then cooled considerably, cooled to the point where the Twins sent him to the minors. He spent from the end of May until the end of July in the minors, playing every day and regaining lost confidence. He was named Twins’ minor-leaguer of the month that June, put together a 16-game hitting streak, hit three grand slams and then came back to Minnesota — where he promptly went hitless in his first 13 at-bats, which dropped his average to .190 with no home runs.
Then he blossomed. He went 4-for-5 against Baltimore and 4-for-9 in three games against Detroit. There was a 12-game hitting streak and a couple of eight-gamers, and there was never any question that Hunter would be the center fielder well into the next decade. He got power cred with 27 homers in ‘01 (up from 5 in 2000) and the humble beginnings were left in the dust.
I’ll bet most people have long forgotten that chapter in Hunter’s biography.
Using that model, the Twins should send Kubel to Rochester right now. They should install him in the No. 3 spot day after day after day, challenge him to find his groove and get him back to the majors when Terry Ryan is confident that he can stay in the lineup every day. Paul Molitor should hop a plane to Rochester to impart hitting wisdom and Harmon Killebrew should make a cameo for encouragement.
That’s how vital Jason Kubel can be to the future of the Twins — whether it’s the second half of 2007 or the many years to follow.
(A final note: In June 2000, while Hunter was on minor-league walkabout, the Twins drafted this outfielder in the 12th round.)
129 Responses to "The best thing to do with Jason Kubel"
Three strikeouts in two games and send him to Rochester, huh? Let’s not forget that a week ago, he was actually doing quite well, and playing every day. He was hitting with the exception of power. He is crucial to the future of this team, so I am in favor of whatever will be best for his development. In either case, coming off the bench in the late innings is not the way for someone that important to be brought along!
Agreed. Send him down to the Toledo Mudhens (I know it’s Rochester, but I’m feeling nostalgic) and let him stay there for a good long time. I found it interesting the other day that the StarTribune reported that Morneau stayed at the dome for an extra long time after a recent game studying video of his at-bats with Vavra in an effort to get out of his funk. Funny…I don’t recall hearing the same about Kubel. Hopefully I’m wrong, but the guy seems kinda lazy to me.
What I do know is that he is embarrassing himself right now with the Twins. He’s got the deer-in-the-headlights look in his eyes whenever he steps into the batters box - as if he knows that he is about to fail…again. Remember back a few years in the playoffs versus the Yankees when Gardenhire inexplicably decided to pinch-hit rookie Kubel in the top of the 9th versus Mariano Rivera? He looks like the same exact player in the batters box these days as he did back then for that at-bat. Deer-in-the-headlights. 3 flails and a walk back to the pine.
He was given the opportunity to earn the LF spot, and he has failed. The way the division is stacking up this year, the Twins can not afford to play the ‘be patient’ game with Kubel. A month and a half is a long enough audition. They need someone who can do something with the bat playing LF… not to mention 3B as well.
Right now, it’s a toss-up regarding who has been the biggest dog thus far:
1. Kubel
2. Punto (he is a utility player who had a career year last year. Won’t ever repeat it.)
3. Tyner (how many more 13-hoppers to the 2nd baseman do we have to withstand?)
4. Cirillo (why is it that there is something about this guy that reminds me of Bret Boone?)
I think Kubel edges out Punto by a nose.
Go Twins.
Is it my imagination or most of the time does Kubel look as if he’s waiting in line to join the Bataan Death March? He does not project enthusiasm nor does he appear to be particularly happy. It’s not just that he’s had a few bad games, it’s that he looks totally beleagured out there. I see confusion and resignation.
The real issue as this year goes on will be the Twins’ absolute lack of slugging throughout the organization. They simply don’t have anyone ready — or even anyone a year away — who promises to be able to hit major-league pitchers.
My question is this: How many future career major-league home runs are contained within the Twins’ farm system right now?
If I was betting for big money, I’d say fewer than 50, and perhaps considerably fewer.
Correct me if I am wrong but if you send Kubel down you have to expose him to waivers. That said you can forget about him.
Kubel looks completely lost up there. He needs to go down. I am pretty sure he still has options. He is the only prospect we have that has some slugging power, but where has it gone? If he has suddenly turned into a stocky version of Jason Tyner, we don;t need that.
Also agreed that he does not look happy. I had the pleasure of meeting him down in fort myers - what a crab ball. Our nick name for him is Mr. Crabbypants.
I want him to be Cuddyer-like, but he is a long ways from that.
Problem: If Kubel is demoted, who takes his place on the big league club?
The Twins bench is so thin it’s frightening.
To those above who assert that Punto is nothing but a utility player (or should be, at least), I wholeheartedly agree. We need a power bat playing the hot corner!
By the way, how did the farm system become so bereft of hitting prospects?!! It’s not like they,ve been traded away.
Michael Blaine
http://rudelystamped.blogspot.com
Kubel isn’t out of options yet. I think it’s a great idea to send him down ASAP!
Seth, No homers for the season…0-for-last-11 with 6K… .588 OPS… all from a guy who can do much, much more. It reminds me too much of his ‘06 fade, which also had an injury component. It’s not just the 3 recent at-bats. He should be a 20-homer guy and I still believe he will be, if handled properly.
Danny, I believe he’s not out of options, so he wouldn’t be exposed to waivers. He wasn’t added to the roster until 2004 and spent the all of 2005 on the DL. Then he split ‘06 between the Twins and Rochester.
***
Here’s a quick summary of the option rule, from the blog “Inside Pitch” at mlb.com:
Once added to 40-man roster, team has THREE (in some cases FOUR) “Option Years” where they can call-up or send down players as often as they like without putting him through Waivers. These “Option Years” do not need to be used in consecutive years. [The four-year exception does not apply to Kubel.]
DL minor-league rehabilitation assignments do not count as an “Option”.
Just something to consider here … remember when everyone last year was calling for Ryan to send Morneau down to AAA to end his slump? Slapping around AAA pitching isn’t his problem. He just needs to work hard and come up the plate with an idea of what he wants to do. It looks like he is just reacting to the pitches thrown and unless your last name is Mauer that is a recipe for failure.
I agree that Kubel looks lost at the plate lately, and I am concerned about the lack of power he has displayed in the early going. I am not sure whether a trip to Rochester is the answer, but if he is not going to get regular playing time in LF or as DH with the Twins, even against lefties, he is not going to overcome the funk he is in right now.
Who would come up to replace him? The hot hitting Lew Ford? What is he batting….220 in the minors? Someone definitely needs to light a fire under the guy…
as far as the biggest dog this year?
I am going with Kubel over Punto by a nose as well…Like Tyner…Cirillo will come around…
Rob L.
How the heck does Tyner make your list. He has been everything the twins need him to be. He is a fourth outfielder, with a high on base percentage, who can pinch run and play defence.
He also has the 5th highest OPS on the team. Considering he has never hit a HR, that is impressive.
If your going to make a list of the biggest dogs on the team, you have to include the Iron man R. White on the list.
So how does anyone have a list of biggest dogs this year and not include Ponson or Reyes?
Last year Bartlett was left in AAA to start the year and it kick started something in him. Maybe it would work with Kubel. Sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn’t. He has looked bad the last couple days but working on things here with the resourses the club has can’t be a bad option either.
Future of the franchise? Are you serious?!? Jason Kubel is one of the biggest busts we’ve had in a long time. He is a guess hitter who can’t hit for power, average, or in the clutch. Not to mention the fact that his two surgically repaired knees make him a liability on defense and on the basepaths.
I agree, though. Send him to the minors… just never bring him back.
I’d love to see Kubel actually get a SOLID chance to prove himself. I know Gardy likes to get his bench players into the game, but I have to imagine it’s hard to find any sort of groove when you’re DHing one day, in the field the next 2, then on the bench, then back in the field… Give him a solid 2 weeks in left (realizing this will cause a bit of pain at times) and see if he can get things going. That’s one thing that’s always driven me crazy about the Twins is that they have so little patience- a couple bad games from a young kid and he gets shuffled around or benched. Sometimes guys just need to play through a rough stretch.
I agree Kubel will be a key component in the Twins future — and the future is now.
Last year’s comparison is irrelevent — he could barely walk, much less do his job (try swinging a bat sometime with two inflamed knes). He’s healthy this year and is the strongest arm we have among potential left fielders.
Yes, like the rest of the team, he is slumping at the plate. If we sent players to the minors based on plate performance this year, Torii Hunter would be the only one left.
Put Kubel back in the game, coach, and let him work through it
The comparisons to Cuddyer are spot-on in my opinion. Remember when he won the starting job in 2003 (?) over Dustan Mohr and Bobby Kielty. He struggled during the first month and they sent him down. It wasn’t until 2006 that he was truly given a chance to play every day, and that was by accident. The things I’m reading here about Kubel are the things that we read about Cuddyer. Funny thing is that once Cuddyer played a full half-season and stopped getting jerked around from position to position, he became what many of us thought that he would. Let’s not forget that at the start of 2006, Cuddyer was in a platoon in RF. Gardy didn’t want him to start, but he finally put together some good at bats… in the 8th spot of the lineup, and he did well. I hope that they don’t do the same things to Kubel.
Howard, I hate to be rude but this entry is absurd.
1. Considering Morneau was hitting much worse this time last year, you probably would have thought he should have been sent down too.
2. You can’t compare Kubel to Hunter. They’re completely different hitters in regards to their approach and personality. The player most comparable to Kubel is Cuddyer. A player who for years got jerked around by Gardy with his at-bats. And once he was able to get comfortable on the field and at the plate he blossomed, not by getting sent down to Rochester.
3. Who would you call up if he got sent down? Garrett Jones?
4. As SethSpeaks said (who has a much better blog), he’s had 2 bad games after a good last couple of weeks. And one of those bad games was on Gardy for foolishly making him bunt in the 10th inning and wasting his first two strikes.
If anything, he needs more steady at-bats just like what Cuddyer needed. I agree he’s uncomfortable, but I put his hitting skills only slightly below Mauer’s. It’s the coaching staff’s job to get him more comfortable out there because he can hit at this level.
I expect this over-reactionary, poorly-argued tripe from Patrick Reusse, but not you Howard.
Power hitters in the minors - There really are’nt any that are too close.
At AAA - I liken Doug Deeds to Jay Gibbons, but I don’t think the organization is high on him. I think they are still high on Matt Moses for potential power, and he may still get there.
At AA - David Winfree has a chance to be very good. He’s got power and has shown a strong knack to be a run producer throughout his minor league career. Brock Peterson is off to a slow start, but the former 48th round pick had a breakout-type year last year. Trevor Plouffe is showing solid power… for a shortstop.
Between Ft. Myers and Beloit, names like Whit Robbins and Danny Valencia could be mentioned, but they are 2006 picks out of college, so they are likely 2 or more years out still.
There just are not many bats in the system right now, certainly not power bats. I think they hoped for more from Henry Sanchez, but that certainly hasn’t produced anything yet.
Special K:
Kubel has played in 124 games and had 373 ABs at the Major League level in his career… so less than a full season. You are going to judge a player a bust based on that?
I’m glad you are not the Twins GM.
Hey Matty-
I think that was rude. A compelling case absolutely can be made for sending Kubel down, and just because you do not agree with it doesn’t mean it’s reactionary or ill-conceived.
Kubel’s numbers indicate clearly that he has struggled all season, but we all realize has ability and needs to continue to have ABs. Considering the grand funk railroad he’s on, I don’t think it’s particularly wise for him to be taking hitting in key spots in big games for a major league team that fancies itself as a playoff contender.
My question to everyone who insists that Kubel is some star-in-the-making who just ‘needs a chance’… In the 373 major-league at bats that he has had, where is the proof that he is destined to be this Mauer-like star? Where is the proof in those 373 major-league at bats that he belongs in the majors and is not one of those guys that reached his ceiling at AAA?
I’m not saying he can’t/won’t end up being a good player. But to already be clearing off a place for his bust in the hall of fame is a bit much. Let’s see if he ends up being able to get his batting avg above the 250 mark first. Then we’ll start the comparisons with Mauer.
Kubel has done next-to-nothing at the major-league level. He is a brooding mess right. Athletes that brood usually do so because deep down they have no confidence in themselves. Send him down to AAA to see if he can regain some confidence.
As for Tyner, in my opinion has hasn’t brought the same type of game to the field this year as he did last year. Like I posted earlier… too many 13-hoppers to the 2nd baseman. He needs to start slapping the ball to left field, bunting, etc. Maybe he’s had one-too-may people giving him grief for having 0 career homeruns, so now he tries to yank everything…
Keep him on the bench most of the weekend for blowing that bunt and for the three aweful at bats in the last couple of days in critical spots.
Give him a couple more weeks of regular play after that, if he is still struggling send him down.
There are no better options in left and/or DH right now though. Cirillo and Tyner are nice as long as they are coming off the bench, not out there everyday.
I think there is some validity to comparing Kubels situation to Cuddyears.Gardinhire has shown an ability to panic when someone goes into a funk or gets off to a slow start.If you remember last year,the ONLY reason Cuddyear got playing time in right, after sitting basically the whole month of April,is that Hunter,Ford,and White were all on the DL.Cuddyear has never had good Aprils,and in the past by the time May would roll around he was in Gardys doghouse.
Same situation developing now with Kubel.Gardy put him in the lineup as the leftfielder for a week or so and when he didn’t hit .500 with 4HR and drive in 10 runs he’s suddenly back on the bench.
The problem is Gardy is panicing because no one except Hunter and Mauer are producing at the level they did last year.It’s time for the organization to realize that and try to up grade their offense.It’s amazing Punto seems to be given every oppertunity to “break out” of his slump,when the reality is, Punto is probably hitting up to his capabilities.There is nothing in Punto’s minor or major league career to suggest that last year was nothing more than a three month mirage.Kubel was the Twins top hitting prospect and former minor league player of the year.
All that being said,maybe he does need to go down and regain some confidence.He’s obviously not going to get it here from the current Manager.
I agree young players seem to end up in the doghouse real quick if they have a couple of tough games and that’s wrong.
I would like to see Kubel just get consistent at bats over a few weeks.
This funk just happened over the last week although his lack of power has been disappointing. He did crush a ball in Detroit a couple of weeks back that would have been a home run in any other park. But with him scuffling, I wish Gardy would have pinch hit Tyner last night in that situation. I know he was hoping for a 3-run bomb to tie (wouldn’t that have been nice) but Tyner may have kept the rally going with a hit and hopefully not a
13-hopper to second.
Considering that the AL Central Division is arguably the most competitive in the Majors, I think the time is nigh to make a move: be it a trade, a confidence-building trip for Kubel to AAA, or even a reshuffling of the batting order. Perhaps Gardy should bat him 4th, sandwiching him between Mauer/Hunter and Cuddyer/Morneau. That way, he might see pitches to hit…could things be any worse than how they are currently?
–Todd
http://toddanthony.squarespace.com
One other thought on Gardy the last couple of games with repect to Kubel.The big topic two nights ago seemed to be that Gardy out managed Ozzie and got the match ups he wanted.But in the second Kubel AB,if the bunt is in order,why send up Kubel?L-Rod,who is a very good bunter, and has been asked to bunt countless times in his career,would seemed to have been a better choice.Instead Gardy asks Kubel to do something he’s not nearly as comfortable doing.I’m not saying Kubel shouldn’t be able bunt,but go with your strenghs.You don’t save another bench move in extra innings for three innings later.
Kubel has a better batting average than our starting 3B does, and actually has the threat of power… Until Kubel is given the chance to play every single day he won’t produce. This reminds me of Cuddyer a few years back. He’s a better option than Tyner or Rabe; he needs to be in the lineup every day. Why are the Twins so patient with a guy like Nick Punto, but not a prospect like Kubel? I honestly feel Punto is the worst starting position player on any team in MLB; and for some ridiculous reason he bats second for the Twins. Punto should thank his lucky stars every day he puts on a MLB uniform. Punto should be batting 8th for the St Paul Saints, not 2nd the Twins.
Nice double, Kubes.
I think this is just indicative of the Twins for the last 10 years - no real hitters being developed. 2 position players have been drafted and developed, maybe 3 (mauer - number 1 overall pick, Morneau, and probably Cuddeyer) in 10 years or so. Clearly something isn’t working in the drafting and developing world, but for some reason the Twins keep getting credit for the minor league system! Indeed, not 1 starting pitcher on the roster was drafted and developed by the Twins, not 1. Given that, maybe we should start making more trades with teams that actually do draft and develop players.
As for Kubel, there is no one better than him at AAA right now. I say keep sending him out there, but find a way to boost his confidence up somehow. Let’s not forget, the next two batters did nothing in the 9th either. Kubel is basically a rookie/second year player. I say, keep playing him.
No MATTY, Howard is right for bringing it up. Likening Kubel’s career with Hunter’s is a bit of a stretch, yes. But something direct has to be done about him.
I’m watching the game in real time right now. Kubel’s “double” should have been a fly-out cuz Dye dogged it and ran a bad route. The ball hit the baggie 3 feet above the ground.
Now Kubel makes the worst baserunning mistake of the year on the grounder to 3rd. His head must be messed up or something.
So thanks, HOWARD, I think you’re on to something.
I still Kubel has the talent to make it, but Gardy needs to pencil him into the lineup everyday. He can’t be any worse than Tyner or Rabe, can he???
I’ve also seen the “Cuddyer incident” referenced a number of times in this thread (i.e. Cuddyer found his way into the lineup last year)…why not try the same thing with Kubel? We know he has talent; before he ripped his knee to shreds, he tore up the minors…
–Todd
Our DH today has zero home runs. I wonder how many other AL teams say that most days?
We have 4 hitters in the lineup today hitting under .250, 2 hitting around 270, and 3 others. Looking at the lineup, we have 3 legitimate ML hitters in the lineup today.
So romer, are you saying Rabe, Garrett Jones, or Matt Moses is a better option than Kubel right now in terms of getting regular at-bats?
I don’t think Rabe was that bad of a minor leaguer at AAA, was he? (without looking up his minor stats)
–Todd
This thread got pretty quiet…
I’ll say…
“what did I say?”
Matty:
Everyone is listening to the Twins anemic lineup while trying, ever so desperately, to not bash their head into their desk as the running mistakes, weak grounders, and DP balls continue to rack up.
Doug M:
Did you write for the MSU Reporter?
Yeah, whenever I see a Twins lineup card (for a particular game), I don’t whether to laugh (almost in a crying fashion) or pull my hair out:
Tyner
L. Rodriguez
Punto
Bartlett
Regarding Bartlett, I think he can and will be a good player…but we only use one guy like that in the lineup, not four/five players of that ilk.
Mike,
You forgot to mention Torii Hunter, AJ and Koskie as drafted and developed hitters. Not saying that makes the list impressive, but they warrant mention.
Matty,
I don’t know any better than anyone about the answer for Kubel’s woes right now (whether we send him down or give him regular at-bats or force him to read the Splendid Splinter’s Science of Hitting 6,000 times), but I do know one thing:
Kubel is a very good prospect, but his hitting skills are more than slightly less than Mauer’s. If Kubel turns out to be a .300/25/90 guy, the Twins scored.
Finally, I know there is an infinite number of rounds in the Major League draft, but I refuse to ever acknowledge anyone drafted in the 12th round as a bust. Those are still talented players getting drafted there, but there’s no way of telling if they’ll pan out or not.
Whattaya know. A Tyner 14-hopper to 2nd base to end the 8th inning “rally”.
“Josh–
Kubel is a very good prospect, but his hitting skills are more than slightly less than Mauer’s. If Kubel turns out to be a .300/25/90 guy, the Twins scored.”
If we could get anything remotely close to those numbers, that would be a bonus indeed…I’m just not sure Kubel’s capable of that (especially after shredding his knee)…why I think he’s capable of some offensive production (clearly superior to a triumvarite of Cirillo, Rabe, or Tyner), I’m not sure he’s anywhere near Joe Mauer in terms of offensive capability.
In the offseason, the Twins should have offered Sosa a contract.
They’re going nowhere with the current pack of banjo hitters.
Michael Blaine
http://rudelystamped.blogspot.com
Again, where are the hitting prospects?!! The minors are very thin for an organization said to be one of the best in baseball!
Michael Blaine
http://rudelystamped.blogspot.com
Michael:
We’re loaded with pitching…
“Yay!”
We need to part with some pitchers in order to get some bats back: a major league bat and a few guys that we can develop in the minors, even if they’re A or AA players…
Torii, Corey and AJ were drafted more than 10 years ago. That was my point - in the last 10 years, they’ve done very little.
It was good to see Gardy get Kubel back in there and have Kubel respond somewhat.The way the season is starting to look,and unless TR pulls off a trade or two,you might just as well run him out there every day and see what kind of hitter he is after 500 ABs.
Hootie: Yes I did a long,long time ago!!Was also the radio voice of the Mavs Baseball Team for a couple of years.Are you another MSU alum?
A couple years ago, Terry Ryan traded some young hot pitching prospects for 2nd baseman Luis Castillo. I’d say that trade didn’t turn out all bad for our beloved franchise. Good lord, I can’t even remember the names of the pitchers we gave up. But I’m sure we’re missing them terribly. Mr Ryan is a bit too enamored with the idea of hording pitching prospects in my opinion. The Twins are in dire need of another Casillo-like trade for either a 3rd baseman or a LF…
I’m tracking now Mike … sorry about that; I was just ticking off current ML players we brought up and missed the 10 years part of your statement. You’re right — there haven’t been many. 
Rob,
I’m surprised to see myself typing this, but I agree. I hate the idea of trading away the next Liriano or Hamels, but the fact is, there just isn’t enough room in our rotation for all the guys we’ve got languishing in the minors. You’ve got Santana, Liriano, Garza, Slowey, Baker, Bonser, the kid in A ball who’s name is currently slipping my mind, etc. Do we plan on trotting out an 8-man rotation in the near future? I absolutely don’t mind having an arm or two as injury insurance in AAA, but at some point you have to make a choice on who’s in your plans and who isn’t, and use the “who isn’ts” to fill other holes in the organization.
Unless we’re that concerned about winning pennants at the AAA level. I’m not.
No MATTY, there’s nothing in the minors to replace Kubel. They need to trade for a DH.
But Gardy told LaVelle etc. today that they’re not looking for help outside the organization.
So we got nothin’….
For and White are the only hope.
As much as I respect Terry Ryan, I do sometimes feel that he errs on the side of caution when it comes to making deals. I understand the importance of good young pitching, but don’t most teams look at part of their value as trade bait? Plus, what’s the point in stockpiling arms if you’re going to bring in guys like Ponson? (Sorry, got off topic, I know.)
I still think Kubel has shown enough potential to deserve a solid 2 week stint in the lineup to see if he can pull a Cuddy.
Doug M: I am an MSU alum, and if you’re the Doug M I’m thinking of, we know each other. Real name is Chris, dated your g/f’s roommate.
The Twins shouldn’t need a superstar performance from their pitchers every game. The hitters need to be able to hit. Santana can pitch a shut out, but if nobody’s hitting. How about that game against the Royals where it was 0-0 in the 11th inning. The bottom line is we need to score more runs, and if it means trading some of our young pitching talent (not Liriano), then so be it. The fact that Ryan isn’t considering that is very frustrating. The idea that Ford will solve all our problems is ridiculous. Getting White back might help some. The reliable hitters are Cuddyer, Hunter, Mauer, Morneau, and to a certain extent Castillo. That’s just not enough.
Does anyone else find it ironic that we now count Torii Hunter as a ‘dependable hitter’? Up until last July he was driving all of us nuts with his relentlessly undisciplined at-bats. Now he’s the best hitter in the lineup. Took him 12 years to figure out how to be a professional hitter. Hope it doesn’t take Brutal…I mean Kubel… that long.
too many people are mac`n on my man punto,,homerun hitting is not his style of play,,bouncing singles, and hitting into the power alleys for dubbles is his game, and bunting moving running over is his job,,thats his game, and if he tries to hit homeruns,their just gonna turn into long outs,90% of the time, so,,if he stays on his game, he can, and will be very successful. just becouse he`s a third baseman, doesn`t mean you have to power, he`s one of the best third baseman, in baseball, as good as Koskie was anyway,,and can throw better
But we need to keep Q ball arounf to bunt the runner over.
[…] A Fan’s View from Section 220
There’s nothing in Kubel’s performance with the Twins that says “Star” - 675 OPS just isn’t very special.
Add to that his adventures in the outfield - sorry, but right now the word that fits is “liability” - and I don’t see an everyday player for the Twins in 2006.
If Ron-DL White wasn’t hurt, Kubel wouldn’t be getting as many at bats as he’s gotten already (and those he got would be mostly as a DH). Like it or not, when (I’m being optimistic) Ron-DL gets back, Kubel goes to DH or the bench.
IMO, Kubel’s future with the Twins is pretty much on the line right now - if he doesn’t start hitting consistently, he’s going to get the ‘journeyman’ tag in the organization (a la Brian B.) and he’ll be moving on.
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