Article: Danny Santana's Role Becoming Solidified

[jay]

 

I have him as the starting CF to start the year.

 

I'd be fine with that, but then what happened to the 4th outfielder as a pinch runner candidate?  Assuming that'd be Hicks or Robinson? 

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I'm not certain what changes you're looking for. The offense was pretty good last year. Centerfield was really the only question mark after Hunter signed and whichever guy plays out there will likely bat ninth. The lineup didn't need much change. Gary's lineup last year was fine. His pitchers just didn't all pitch very well.

I was responding to Brock's "I (mostly) like what Molitor is doing this spring" which seemed odd to me, since Molitor hasn't really done anything yet that is substantially different than what Gardy was doing or would have done.  It's obviously early, but I think people are still wish-casting a bit with Molitor.

 

(that we can notice at this point, anyway -- roster, lineup, positions, all that looks to be essentially the same at the present moment).

[Thrylos]

 

I was responding to Brock's "I (mostly) like what Molitor is doing this spring" which seemed odd to me, since Molitor hasn't really done anything yet that is substantially different than what Gardy was doing or would have done.  It's obviously early, but I think people are still wish-casting a bit with Molitor.

 

Have you seen the likes of Colabello, Parmelee, Kubel, Barlett, etc at the OF?   Have you seen the massive cut that Molitor just did to play the players who have a chance? Do you remember who Gardenhire had pitch important innings that later and later in Spring Training the last 4-5 years?   Did Gardenhire ever had the whole team take short flies extra fielding practice because of on-field screwups?  Nope.

 

Not. The. Same.

 

Thankfully.

[mikelink45]

The bench on a team of this caliber is not that interesting.  It is a poor place to bury a player with real potential and with the DH there is not a lot that really needs doing.  Better to call up with injuries.  Probably the best thing the twins can do is have defensive replacements there.

[Seth Stohs]

He's fine in the outfield and he's alright in the infield. Not great range, but he makes the routine play which is just fine. I don't have any problem with Nunez, or picking up his option. No real risk. 

 

And, I definitely am a fan of Herrmann too. I like versatility and think it's important.

[Seth Stohs]

 

What happened to Josmil Pinto?

 

He's most likely the backup catcher who gets to DH when they give Vargas or Mauer a day off. I think he's almost a given. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

I'd be fine with that, but then what happened to the 4th outfielder as a pinch runner candidate?  Assuming that'd be Hicks or Robinson? 

 

They won't have HIcks up as a pinch runner, so it's be Robinson... Unless Rosario starts, then Schafer remains the 4th OF.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Have you seen the likes of Colabello, Parmelee, Kubel, Barlett, etc at the OF?   Have you seen the massive cut that Molitor just did to play the players who have a chance? Do you remember who Gardenhire had pitch important innings that later and later in Spring Training the last 4-5 years?   Did Gardenhire ever had the whole team take short flies extra fielding practice because of on-field screwups?  Nope.

 

Not. The. Same.

 

Thankfully.

 

I don't think all of these are true. Gardy did the pop up things on several occasions. Gardy had some NRI guys pitching late innings, but the Twins are sending several minor league pitchers on their road trip already tomorrow, so Molitor will do the same (and every manager does).

 

So far, I agree on the outfield situation, I guess.

[highlander]

I heard somebody once say "brick x brick." Santana at SS looks like a solid brick. Not worried about CF because another brick is on the way by the end of the year (Buxton). Utility  i.e. an Al Newman type is very benificial but not bothersome. Nunez, meh. Herman, useful in a Cesar Tovar 9 position in one game kind of way.

 

Really wanted Hicks to grab the CF position and run with it this spring but not seeing it. if Rosario beats him out and makes the club, there is another brick.

[DocBauer]

Back on original topic, I understand regression and there are various reasons to doubt Santana both offensively and defensively.

 

Two things though:

 

1) Every single thing he did last year he was not supposed to do. And yet...he kept doing them. Then he gets hurt a little, comes back, and just about all of us, including me, figures the mojo dream is gone now, and Cinderfella will leave his cleat at the ball park and the Cadillac will turn back in to an old fungo ball. Instead, he just keeps keeping on.

 

2) Never forget the guy didn't walk in off the street. He's a very talented athlete whom a lot of people said very good things about in the past. And thus far, still early, he's done nothin ing in ST but hit and play good to great defense.

 

The "I just knew it was too good to be true" part of me remains wary. But honestly, I no longer bet against this guy.

[DocBauer]

Back to Nunez, he and Herrmann are clearly fighting for the 25th spot on the roster. And honestly, they each potentially bring something useful to the club, and I wish there was room for both.

 

I don't understand all the vitriol about Nunez, never haven never will, and we will just agree to disagree. Personally, if you're asking me what I want for the last player on my bench; a hot glove who can't hit a lick and has no power..OR..a so-so to OK glove at multiple positions who can hit and run some with a bit of pop, I guarantee you Im taking the flexible guy who can hit a little and help out here and there.

 

He's not a starter. He's not even the top utility guy. He's a fill-in role player.

[jay]

He's not a starter. He's not even the top utility guy. He's a fill-in role player.

That's exactly the thing -- the 25th man is a fill-in role player. There's already a utility IF guy and there's already an extra outfielder. Wouldn't he be more useful as someone with one or two really good tools to be used in the right fill-in spot (whether that's defense or power or whatever) rather than across the board mediocre?

 

Getting away from the 13 man pitching crew leaves open a position player spot we are entirely un-used to. Mind us now that neither Nunez or Herrmann are that tool specialist that I'd prefer.

[Riverbrian]

I don't know if there's a person on this forum who disliked Florimon as much as I did during his time with the Twins. I rarely passed an opportunity to take a swipe at Florimon and his comically bad offense.

 

And I'd seriously consider Florimon in a utility role over Nunez. A futility guy should be defense first, offense... third. Nunez isn't a great bat and is truly terrible in the field.

I still don't understand this. I've read articles and comments saying what a bad defensive player Nunez was with the Yankees.

 

The only problem is... I still haven't seen it. I watched a lot of Twins baseball and at no point did I say to myself... This Nunez guy is bad defensively.

 

I'm capable of saying it... I've said that Plouffe was bad defensively after watching him in 2012 and 2013 (not 2014). I thought Delmon Young was as bad as it gets. But for Nunez... I honestly haven't seen this bad defender. Ok... OF needs a little work but he can find flybAll's... But in the IF... I just haven't seen the evidence.

 

I just wonder if this is more rep then actual performance.

 

As for Santana... I'm glad he's coming home to SS if that's where he is best. A good manager will find at bats for Escobar if he is also playing well. It's all good.

 

My only concern about Santana at SS comes from looking at CF and knowing that he's the only guy on the roster who can play CF and proven for at least a year that he should be in a major league lineup.

[h2oface]

Nunez did make me cringe the other day when he totally took a bad route in left field and misplayed the fly/drive that dropped in as he flailed on his butt slide and missed it in the 8th inning with 2 outs. Ouch. Just one play, but it looked like Delmon Young was back.

 

http://m.mlb.com/stl/video/topic/8877482/v46957483/stlmin-easley-delivers-rbi-single-to-left-field/?c_id=stl

 

Nunez did keep it in front of him, though..... 

Edited March 17, 2015 by h2oface

[stringer bell]

I would go with Nunez, because Herrmann hasn't shown that he can hit at all. I do like a 25th guy with Herrmann's versatility.

[ashbury]

 

Nunez did make me cringe the other day when he totally took a bad route in left field and misplayed the fly/drive that dropped in as he flailed on his butt slide and missed it in the 8th inning with 2 outs. Ouch. Just one play, but it looked like Delmon Young was back.

 

http://m.mlb.com/stl/video/topic/8877482/v46957483/stlmin-easley-delivers-rbi-single-to-left-field/?c_id=stl

 

Nunez did keep it in front of him, though..... 

He didn't keep it under enough control to prevent the runner starting from first to reach third. Wound up costing the lead. He also didn't quite run the bases well enough to score in the bottom of the ninth. Little things that happened to add up in that one ST game.

[gil4]

 

Arcia is a bat but only an average outfielder.

 

If Arcia becomes an average outfielder I will be thrilled.  As it stands, he tries to make up for his lack of range with bad routes and stone hands, and for some reason it's not working very well. 

 

It's not hopeless and we have seen comparable defenders turn it around (Plouffe), but right now average is a goal, not the present condition.

[Halsey Hall]

 

He didn't keep it under enough control to prevent the runner starting from first to reach third. Wound up costing the lead. He also didn't quite run the bases well enough to score in the bottom of the ninth. Little things that happened to add up in that one ST game.

Right.  He should of caught that ball, and then got a late start on the hit with 2 outs. 

[twinscowboysbulls]

Looks like we have 2 shortstops. Great problem to have.

[twinsnorth49]

Agree with RB, I don't have a lot of use for Nunez in the big picture but all this talk of his bad defense doesn't meet the eye test, in the infield at least. He shouldn't be near an outfield, but then again neither should Oswaldo Arcia.

 

I'll take Eddie 2's bat before Hermann and wait for some in house talent to fill that spot before long.