Who Should Be the Twins 2015 CF and SS?

[stringer bell]

I'm pretty sure the majority of TD posters think that Danny Santana has earned a starting spot on the 2015 Twins.  The question is what position he should play.  I have been pleasantly surprised by Santana's sustained good hitting throughout more than half a season.  I think he has grown defensively as a center fielder, but he was a career shortstop until this season.  I prefer the steady, unspectacular, sound defense of Eduardo Escobar at SS, however, at least over expecting either Jordan Schafer or Aaron Hicks to produce as major league hitters.  Escobar has had a nice hitting season along with steady, solid defense at shortstop. 

 

The nice thing about having had Santana play over 50 games in center is that, if no other alternative earns time there, the Twins can move Danny to center, even if they started him at the beginning of the season as the shortstop. 

[Physics Guy]

Hicks in CF, Schaefer as 4th OF/backup CF, Santana at SS and Escobar as utility.  Santana should get the majority of the starts at SS and Hicks in CF the rest of the way.  I guess it comes down to who you think has the higher upside, Hicks or Escobar.  I know he has struggled thus far, but I still think Hicks is the better player.  Hicks is a year younger, was brought up to the big leagues too early, and has a history of struggling throughout his career when he is promoted.  Escobar has shown the ability to play multiple positions in the field, making him an excellent utility infielder.  Santana has the stronger hitting record in the majors and minors.  If he can play competently at SS, he should start there.  Enough with playing IF in the OF.  Fine if you want to do it on occasion, but but our OF defense has struggled enough. 

[Platoon]

Hicks in CF, Schaefer as 4th OF/backup CF, Santana at SS and Escobar as utility.  Santana should get the majority of the starts at SS and Hicks in CF the rest of the way.  I guess it comes down to who you think has the higher upside, Hicks or Escobar.  I know he has struggled thus far, but I still think Hicks is the better player.  Hicks is a year younger, was brought up to the big leagues too early, and has a history of struggling throughout his career when he is promoted.  Escobar has shown the ability to play multiple positions in the field, making him an excellent utility infielder.  Santana has the stronger hitting record in the majors and minors.  If he can play competently at SS, he should start there.  Enough with playing IF in the OF.  Fine if you want to do it on occasion, but but our OF defense has struggled enough.

 

I would heartily agree. I do notice our esteemed pollster, , did not include Buxton? While I understand it is unlikely he will go north in spring, he would be my choice. On another note, Gardy has yet again stated he will give Santanna some time at short this weekend as the Sox are not a contender. (He is saving Nunez for the Tigers apparently). So if Santanna plays half the games there, that's 2 games. More than enough time to evaluate someone at one of the most important defensive positions on the field.

[diehardtwinsfan]

The Twins have a Escobar/Santana dilemma. I'm not sure Escobar will be able to be traded for much this offseason and I'm not sure Santana's defense is really ready. Even though Santana did quite well this year, I wonder if it makes sense to let him play SS in AAA next year and hone his defense before getting called up for good in 2016.

[goulik]

I said Santana at short and hicks/Schafer platoon but this is not really my vote... I want a free agent LF, Buxton CF, Santana SS and if Buxton is not ready (which is likely) out of spring training, Either Schafer or Hicks (depending on Hicks rest of Sept. And ST) or platoon of those two until Buxton is ready... That is my real vote...it wasn't a choice.

 

Maybe I should have said "other" but what I did vote is what I would probably vote for at the end of Spring Training 2015 so there you go!

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Danny Santana, 

Games started by POS, since September call ups (9/2)

(through game 1 doubleheader):

 

CF: 5

SS: 2

did not start: 3

 

I guess what I take from this is 1. the Twins are happy with Escobar at SS and Santana in CF (I can't complain about that); and 2. Hicks does not have a future on a Gardy-managed team. If Santana continues to get the bulk of the time in CF, I'd assume the Twins will lean towards using him as a stop gap in CF until Buxton comes up.

[Thrylos]

Pretty biased poll up there

 

My vote was for "other":

 

Escobar SS, Hicks CF...

[Riverbrian]

I gotta go with other as well.

 

I'm ok with Escobar... Santana and Hicks... I'm ok with platoons.... Splits... Full time... Whatever... However... I think all 3 players need a safety net...

 

So OF is where I'm shopping come FA time.

 

So... I gotta go with other.

[gunnarthor]

I think Santana will start in CF again and then take over SS after Hicks is called up in May/June.

[Shane Wahl]

I think the Twins should prepare for the long term in the short term. Neither Hicks nor Santana are going to be Twins CFs in the long term, and Santana's long-term value is in the IF. I would want Hicks in CF, Santana at SS, with Escobar serving as an IF utility man until the Twins realize that they should trade Plouffe. If Escobar is the SS, then you simply decide on the best OF arrangement with Hicks and Santana included.

[stringer bell]

Part of this question is, "do the Twins keep Hicks, Schafer or both?", I think.  Schafer's month of August was better than any month we've seen from Hicks.  The "new, improved" Hicks who returned from the minors has a .606 OPS (SSS).  I don't care if he hits .500 in ST next year, Aaron Hicks needs more minor league time.  At 28, we really can't expect Schafer's play to get better, but since he no longer wears a prospect tag, he can be a perfectly fine fourth OF, who might have the chance to step into center field until Willie Mays......errr Byron Buxton arrives. 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Terry Ryan gave a huge vote of confidence to Escobar on his show yesterday, so there's that.

[ericchri]

In a vacuum I'd like to see Santana playing SS.  With the current roster I'm not sure we see that any more than we did this year, though.  Mostly depends on how Escobar plays, really, since right now Santana in CF and Escobar at SS is our "best" lineup, even if it's not ideal.  I still think there's a decent possibility Santana ends up as our LF for the next few years once Buxton is up.  I don't know if that's in 2015, though.