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In the wake of Denard Span's trade, the Twins will likely have Ben Revere bat first.
However, that creates a hole, because he batted in the #2 hole last year. Jamey Carrol and the infield carousel aren't good enough to bat there. Chris Parmalee (if he starts in RF) isn't a typical #2 batter.
So, who do you think will bat #2? Will a free agent come bat there?
Could be Mauer, and they'd just slide the whole lineup one spot? They've tried it before, and Gardy likes lefties in the two spot.
JOE MAUER. But lets wait until the offseason is over to see if the twins acquire or trade anyone else before we even think about the line up.
I'd prefer they bat Mauer in the leadoff hole bc IMO you want your best hitters batting the most, then find a decent hitting SS/2B to hit #2 (think Stephen Drew/Kelly Johnson)
1.Mauer
2.Drew/Johnson
3. Willingham
4. Morneau
5. Doumit
6.Parmelee
7. Plouffe
8. Whatever scrub is playing the other MI spot
9. Revere
The second Hicks is ready, he moves to the leadoff spot and Mauer goes to #2
Hicks is my first choice, but I am not holding my breath. It should be Mauer, other than speed, he is the ideal number 2 hitter.
I like Mauer at the #2. If Revere (or deep sleeper to lead off Hicks) is consistently on base in front of him, their speed will force pitchers to throw more fastballs at Joe, if they're over the plate hopefully Joe smacks them into the outfield. Also, with a player like Revere Mauer may be gifted extra balls in the count due to pitchouts. Mauer given a free 1-0 gives him an even better opportunity to work the count and draw more walks.
I like your idea of Revere giving Mauer better at-bats. Mauer may see more fastballs in an at attempt to keep Revere from stealing so easily.
Now if he would just swing at some of those first-pitch fastball cookies...
It SHOULD be Mauer. You want your best hitter in the #2 spot (I think they cover it in The Book: Playing the percentages... if I remember correctly). It wouldn't surprise me if it's a light-hitting middle infielder, though. Seems like that's another thing that Gardy likes.
There's only one right answer, of course.
Play second, bat second!
Case closed!Quote:
Originally Posted by snepp
I agree with you completely...Quote:
Originally Posted by The Greatest Poster Alive
Personally... Whatever the order is... It is... But Revere needs to hit in front of Mauer. If that's Revere in the 9 and Mauer in the 1... That's OK with me... Or Revere in the #2 and Mauer in the #3. Or #1 and #2.
Don't break these guys up.
Keep Revere in front of Mauer because he was a clear distraction for pitchers and a fastball producer for Mauer.
Mauer saw the lowest percentage of 4-seam fastballs in his career this past season. If you combine 4 and 2-seam it was the same as the previous two seasons.Quote:
Originally Posted by Riverbrian
That's very interesting. I completely assumed the opposite.Quote:
Originally Posted by sneppMauer saw the lowest percentage of 4-seam fastballs in his career this past season. If you combine 4 and 2-seam it was the same as the previous two seasons.Quote:
Originally Posted by Riverbrian
Snepp... I hate it when you use actual facts to bring down my well thought out and plausible theories. That kind of stuff may work in South Dakota but up here in North Dakota... We are all about the theory.Quote:
Originally Posted by sneppMauer saw the lowest percentage of 4-seam fastballs in his career this past season. If you combine 4 and 2-seam it was the same as the previous two seasons.Quote:
Originally Posted by Riverbrian
I'm going with... That Mauer never saw a fastball when Revere was not on base... And Always saw a fastball when he was on base. Yeah... That's it... I'm going with that.
It should be Joe Mauer, but it's likely it will be whoever gets tossed into the middle infield. I'm more interested in who gets the new outfield position. I'm almost certain it will be Chris Parmelee, but I also wonder if there's a chance Arcia or Hicks earn it in Spring Training. If Morneau is traded too, that makes predicting what we see in April really difficult at this point. Trading Span is a sign the Twins will likely be competing for 2014, but to compete in two years, it's important to add good players this year.
This I cannot refute.Quote:
Originally Posted by Riverbrian
2013 Midseason
1. Hicks/8 S
2. Mauer/2 L
3. Willingham/7 R
4. Parmelee/3 L
5. Youkilis/5 R
6. Arcia/9 L
7. Doumit/DH/Rover S
8. Plouffe/4 R
9. Drew/6 R
Bench is good enough to include:
BE Carroll
BE Mastroianni
BE Revere
BE Herrmann
The answer, of course, is Florimon.
Naturally, Florimon's a switch hitter and will need to bunt a lot. That's what the 2 hole guy does, he bunts. You don't want to be asking someone who can actually hit the ball, to bunt. That's what your 3 hole is for.
Florimon is a #9 hitter. Your thinking is like Gardy's so your probably right....:banghead:Quote:
Originally Posted by Willihammer