Article: The Twins Lineup Is Producing

[stringer bell]

The cleanup hitter for the next decade currently has his right arm in a cast from shoulder to wrist.

[cmathewson]

On Colabello, he's still going opposite field with almost everything except grounders and pop-ups.

 

The outfield part of his spray chart:

http://www.fangraphs.com/spraycharts.aspx?playerid=13051&type=battedball&pid2=13051&ss1=2014&se1=2014&ss2=2014&se2=2014&cht1=hangtime&cht2=battedball&vs1=ALL&vs2=ALL

 

actually closely resembles Kubel's:

http://www.fangraphs.com/spraycharts.aspx?playerid=2161&type=battedball&pid2=2161&ss1=2014&se1=2014&ss2=2014&se2=2014&cht1=hangtime&cht2=battedball&vs1=ALL&vs2=ALL

 

Love the stretch he's on, and will keep riding the hot hand, but he could probably safely settle into a PH/platoon DH/backup 1B type role in the not too distant future, if we wanted to fit Arcia and Willingham back in.

 

He turned on one yesterday. I think it's more a matter of hitting the ball where it's pitched. As long as they pitch him away, I hope he keeps going that way (ditto Plouffe). But he has to be ready to turn on the pitch on the inside. On last night's double, Cabrera was playing him 60 feet off the line. He lined it where a normal left fielder would play. So they've been playing him oppo and taking away some hits. As he pulls the ball more, they'll play him straight away more and he'll get more oppo hits.

 

I'm encouraged he's showing signs of being able to make adjustments. Last year he was not able to hit the pitch on the inside. With his new stance, he's showing that he can drive it. We'll see how he adjusts as the scouting reports catch up to him. But I'm encouraged so far.

[DocBauer]

The cleanup hitter for the next decade currently has his right arm in a cast from shoulder to wrist.

 

And you might, and probably are, correct my friend!

 

Unfortunately, he does have to get healthy first. Then he has to get back in a groove and continue his march to Target Field. But even then, there are few rookies who jump effectively right in to the 4 hole. I still think the Twins will need to take Hammer money, plus a little more I'm sure, and make a trade or FA move for a veteran bat. Have to confess I still like the idea of Morales. Either this year, or next if he signs a one year elsewhere.

[troyhobbs]

Hicks belongs at the bottom of the order, I think Dozier might be better in the 2 hole. Eduardo Nunez looks much more like an MLB player than Chris Herman and at least a few other guys on the 25 man (except when bunting). Maybe he can leadoff...? Genuinely shocked at the runs this lineup is scoring though, it can't last can it? Would be sweet if it does.

[Otto von Ballpark]

He turned on one yesterday. I think it's more a matter of hitting the ball where it's pitched. As long as they pitch him away, I hope he keeps going that way (ditto Plouffe).

 

I missed that double yesterday, thanks.

 

I am pretty new to "heat maps" but this suggests he has actually gotten a fair percentage of inside pitches so far in his MLB career:

http://www.brooksbaseball.net/h_profile.php?player=499624&time=month&startDate=03/30/2007&endDate=04/18/2014&s_type=13

 

More than Willingham or Plouffe, for example. He just hasn't done much with anything outside the zone, on either side of the plate:

http://www.brooksbaseball.net/h_profile.php?player=499624&gFilt=&pFilt=FA|SI|FC|CU|SL|CS|KN|CH|FS|SB&time=month&minmax=ci&var=baa&s_type=13&startDate=03/30/2007&endDate=04/18/2014&balls=-1&strikes=-1&b_hand=-1

 

If he can keep a good eye and limit his K's he can be useful, just like Plouffe, but without that pull power I don't know if he'll ever be a notably above average hitter.

[Dantes929]

"In other words, if he were batting 2nd or anywhere else, it isn't clear that he would still have 5 homers" Almost certainly not but then again I doubt he continues to leadoff every third game with a dinger either. In theory if Mauer is on ahead of him he will get more breaking balls in an attempt at the double play but when ahead in the count will get better fastballs to avoid putting the first two guys on. If Colabello is the real deal, Hicks starts to produce and Buxton turn into what we want them to be Mauer might end up being a good #5 or even #4 to put an OBP guy in between power. Buxton, Hicks, Colabello, Mauer, Sano, Rosario, Dozier, Plouffe, Pinto. A guy can dream.

[blindeke]

Yes, Bruno needs to be given some credit in his second year. Blyleven made a great point yesterday...you can hear Bruno in the dugout yelling encouragement every time a hitter lets a high fastball or low outside slider go by for a ball. He is much more engaged, and it shows.

 

 

"Atta boy!" every time someone took a close pitch for a ball.

[Beezer]

I think Dozier is hitting better than his average indicates. I have not looked at any charts or stats but from the eyeball test seems like he is making good contact and having bad luck with his in the park contact happening to be right at someone. I would expect that bad luck to even out a bit over the year and for him to get his average up around .270 or better. If he does hit .270 he might be better off hitting 3rd with the power he is showing and keeping Mauer in the #2 hole. Seems like his OPS is likely to be higher than Mauer's and that might better serve the Twins for him to hit 3rd. I have never liked Joe's lack of power in the 3rd spot and think he is almost ideal as a #2 hitter. It would be great if Hicks could get his average up but he is taking better at bats this year and does not look quite as lost so I think he can get into the .250 range with his batting average and perhaps .350 for onbase. Not wonderful for a leadoff guy but not bad and with his speed it would be nice to see him at the top. For now I think he needs to be at #8 or better yet #9 and develop some confidence. With the production we are getting from the rest of the lineup keeping Hicks and Florimon in the field is a luxury we can afford for the time being and being strong up the middle is important for our pitchers and even the fans as watching bad defense can be even more frustrating than watching strikeouts.

[Mike Sixel]

Since I want wins.....I am thrilled with this offense so far. Thrilled. No way I'd move Hicks up in the order......not until he shows he can hit a little, which he hasn't. I admit to some SSS disease, in almost believing they could win 75+ games this year.

[Circus Boy]

Very true. It's not quite the same as the Zen saying about a man not being able to step in the same river twice (the second time it's no longer the same river and he's no longer the same man), but that still comes to my mind.

 

Zen. Big hitter. Long flowing robes....

[Mave]

At his age, he's just not going to be a long-tenured major leaguer.

 

Above, referring to Colabello-- who made his debut last year at the same age Jamey Carroll did with the Expos. He is definitely a fun story to follow-- hoping that he, like Jamey, can keep living the big league dream another ten years.

[John Bonnes]

And I would be thrilled with a short-tenured guy, like 3 years. That'd be fine by me. I'd still love this guy.