Article: Torii Hunter In The Outfield: Just How Bad Can It Be?

[tobi0040]

 

that's what's been happening the last couple years. no surprise it's happening again.  We had more than a full run difference between our ERA and FIP last year.  Easily the largest difference in the majors.

 

Certain things can improve and others can't.  Oswaldo Arcia is really, really slow.  He has a lot going on and he tries really, really hard when going after a ball.  Case and point, the ball that went off his glove (pop up he came in and towards the line).  Gordon easily gets there.  Most LF's really book after it and get to it.  He sort of gets there and is so out of control when he does he can't locate the ball enough to catch it. 

 

To the point about FIP and ERA. That was not an error.  We somehow only had credit for two errors.  But the difference between 70 wins and 90 wins is a few plays a game that you either make or don't make.  With the current roster, we are going to rank dead last in making the borderline plays.

[Riverbrian]

 

This is what needs to happen by July/August.

 

 

Buxton is in CF.  Rosario or HIcks is in LF.  Buxton shades whoever is in RF between Hunter and Arcia. I honestly think this makes our team 50 runs better just on defense.

If either Arcia or Vargas flounders at the plate, the other is the DH and we have an actual outfield.

 

If Buxton is tearing it up... By All Means... If Hicks has found the light bulb... By All Means... Same for Rosario. 

 

But I'm not a fan of calling up players to burn service time while learning on the job or out of desperation.

 

If what I've seen so far... Is actually what it is in the OF.

 

I think the Twins have to make an immediate trade for an elite defensive OF with Range/Speed. I don't care about the bat... Get someone who can run down the baseball.... Bring Revere Back... Bourjos in St. Louis... Anybody with elite defensive skill. Call Seattle and make a deal for Franklin "Death to Flying Things" Gutierrez... He's just sitting there with no hope in Tacoma.   

 

After the trade... Hunter will need to be an expensive 4th OF. Then we are going to need Mauer and Plouffe, Arcia and Vargas to step it up and replace what we lose offensively. Move Schafer to LF and Arcia to RF/DH.   

 

If Plouffe... Arcia and Vargas don't step it up... It will force the Need for Sano... regardless if he's still striking out at 98% clip.

 

If the Twins can't swing a deal... And the OF Range remains this bad. The Twins will also have no choice but to call up the kids... regardless if they are ready or not. 

 

OK... I've slapped myself again... It's just 7 games... Relax... 

 

Nope... It still isn't working. 

[jimmer]

 

Certain things can improve and others can't.  Oswaldo Arcia is really, really slow.  He has a lot going on and he tries really, really hard when going after a ball.  Case and point, the ball that went off his glove (pop up he came in and towards the line).  Gordon easily gets there.  Most LF's really book after it and get to it.  He sort of gets there and is so out of control when he does he can't locate the ball enough to catch it. 

 

To the point about FIP and ERA. That was not an error.  We somehow only had credit for two errors.  But the difference between 70 wins and 90 wins is a few plays a game that you either make or don't make.  With the current roster, we are going to rank dead last in making the borderline plays.

Our horrendous OF defense (and really overall defense) was an obvious flaw going into this season.

Edited April 14, 2015 by jimmer

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Hunter didn't have a prayer to catch that ball. His error came on the misdirected throw to the infield.

Yeah it was hard hit, but hard hit fly balls to the warning track get caught in MLB. A younger Hunter with more speed goes directly at it and catches it just fine. Yesterday Torii ran a perfect route for a ball hit 15 feet further and high off the fence.

 

I think he'll get better as the year goes on and his bat needs to fire up to justify having him, otherwise tobi's idea of Arcia/Hunter platoon-type situation sounds like the best solution.

[jimmer]

Even the nice catch he had in the first few games of the season, (the sort of dive he had close to the RF line coming in on the ball), he hesitated on his initial break to the ball and when he was running to it he took forever to get to 'full speed'. That 'great catch' that passed some fans eye test would have been much easier for most RF.

[Willihammer]

It was really on stark display yesterday. Not to pick on Ozzie but right after he derffed that catch in short left, Gordon had a similar opportunity on the first batter of the next half inning. Caught.

 

And shortly after Hunter missed the fly ball in right field, Rios got a similar opportunity. Caught.

 

And that's not even counting Dozier who seemed too concerned about scoring style points for some reason, or Santana who looked glitchy on just about every play.

 

Robinson, Suzuki and Plouffe were the only ones that didn't goof at least one opportunity. (Unless I'm forgetting one)

Edited April 14, 2015 by Willihammer

[Kwak]

 

It was really on stark display yesterday. Not to pick on Ozzie but right after he derffed that catch in short left, Gordon had a similar opportunity on the first batter of the next half inning. Caught.

 

And shortly after Hunter missed the fly ball in right field, Rios got a similar opportunity. Caught.

 

And that's not even counting Dozier who seemed too concerned about scoring style points for some reason, or Santana who looked glitchy on just about every play.

 

Robinson, Suzuki and Plouffe were the only ones that didn't goof at least one opportunity. (Unless I'm forgetting one)

Like Suzuki's Passed Ball?