Twins vs Lefties

[jorgenswest]

Hidden in the storm of check swing call was the Twins poor performance at the plate against left handed David Price.

 

How can Molitor maximize the offense against a lefty?

 

The Twins have a handful of players who hit lefties well last year. Listed with their OPS from last year.

 

877 Escobar

810 Suzuki

804 Dozier

799 Hunter

792 Hicks

786 Santana

783 Plouffe

 

After that it is a huge drop to Mauer around 650. Numbers against lefties come in a small sample. It was a huge divide from Plouffe to the rest of the offense though.

 

How does Molitor construct the line up? Did he give the Twins the best chance to win with yesterday's line up?

 

How can Ryan help? Would Hicks in the OF and Pinto at DH give the Twins a better chance to win against a lefty?

 

What about the bench? If a LOOGY comes in to pitch with runners on base, will Hicks and Pinto provide better options on the bench?

 

Does it matter? Last year lefties started 56 games against them for 35%. They faced left handed pitching in 135 of the games.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

I think they would have had similar problems against Price if Price was right-handed, but to the larger point, I think Escobar should definitely get the lion's share of starts against lefties. I was surprised to not see him in the lineup somewhere on Opening Day, but I'm guessing Molitor will find a way to use him more going forward. 

 

Who sits on the bench for Escobar? Well, Santana could play CF, or Plouffe could DH for a day, or Dozier, Plouffe or Santana could get a day off... Escobar could play in LF for Arcia... There are lots of ways to get Eddie into the lineup - I hope it happens often. 

[stringer bell]

I'm always aware of L/R splits.  With it being Opening Day, Molitor wanted the nine guys who will usually start at the beginning of the season in there.  Going off last year's splits alone, Escobar definitely needs to be starting against left handers.  There are many ways to get him in the lineup vs LH starters.

 

1.  Rest Santana.  I am convinced that Danny will drop off significantly against LH pitching.  When he has a bad at-bat, it is almost always against LH pitchers. 

 

2.  Vargas out.  Probably Plouffe to DH, with Escobar at third. Vargas' splits vs. LH weren't good last year.

 

3.  Rest Mauer.  Again, Escobar to third, either Plouffe or Vargas at first with the other the DH.  Moving Plouffe over gives more positional flexibility later in the game.

 

4.  Arcia out/rested.  Escobar in left for Arcia.

 

5.  Schafer out.  Santana to center?  Escobar to short.

 

I suspect we won't see Santana in center any time soon (this month).  Robinson will probably start most games against lefties (Sale on Sunday), but Schafer isn't good against portsiders.

[twinscowboysbulls]

You will see this coming soon vs Lefties (until Mauer shows he can still hit them)

 

SS Santana

2B Dozier

RF Hunter

DH Vargas

3B Plouffe

LF Escobar

1B Mauer

C  Suzuki

CF Robinson (until Hicks is back)

[jorgenswest]

Shane Robinson career OPS against lefties is 591. In the minors from 2011 it is 629. He hit much better against right handed pitching in the minors and a little better in the majors. If he ever gets a start, it should be against right handed pitching.

 

The Twins have two guys that played CF last year and hit left handed pitching well. Santana and Hicks.

[jimmer]

 

You will see this coming soon vs Lefties (until Mauer shows he can still hit them)

 

SS Santana

2B Dozier

RF Hunter

DH Vargas

3B Plouffe

LF Escobar

1B Mauer

C  Suzuki

CF Robinson (until Hicks is back)

In 2013 he hit the carp out of lefties. His lefty/righty splits were practically even. Even last year, Mauer wasn't feeble against lefties.  He hit .268 versus lefties with a .349 OBP.  He's not going to bat that low anytime soon.

[stringer bell]

Mauer's .268 was powerless.  The key here is that when Joe has a good year, he hits left handed pitching well, when he if off, that is where he really suffers.  A three-time batting champ probably earns a little slack about being platooned/rested vs. LH pitching.

[Danchat]

I'd love to get Escobar's bat in the lineup, but are we sure he can play LF? I don't want this to be a repeat of last season's 'infielders in the outfield'.

[jimmer]

 

Mauer's .268 was powerless.  The key here is that when Joe has a good year, he hits left handed pitching well, when he if off, that is where he really suffers.  A three-time batting champ probably earns a little slack about being platooned/rested vs. LH pitching.

It was powerless but hardly feeble was my point. And it's not like he was his normal self against righties and like that versus lefties. He wasn't himself pretty much across the board. Maybe all he has to prove is that the concussion symptoms are gone and that he's healthy.

 

One season doesn't make it a trend it makes it, at present, an outlier type of season. If he has another year like last year that's when the worrying ends, but I think Mauer's history of hitting against both lefties and righties speaks for itself.  He's not going to be seen batting 7th.

[adorduan]

 

I'd love to get Escobar's bat in the lineup, but are we sure he can play LF? I don't want this to be a repeat of last season's 'infielders in the outfield'.

 I doubt if he would be any worse than Arcia out there.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

I think Escobar in left field is a bad idea, however, it is one of the options available to Molitor.

 

I think Eddie would be worse than Arcia out there, in terms of taking routes, I think Arcia has a better outfield arm as well. Eddie's last stint in the outfield was difficult to watch.