Is it time for Polanco to get an opportunity to start at SS?

[KirbyHawk75]

Santana is a major liability on defense and is does not bring enough with his bat right now either.  

[nytwinsfan]

I appreciate the sentiment but I think Santana should go to Rochester, Escobar should be the everyday SS and Polanco should move to Rochester in a few weeks when Santana is ready to head back to the majors, whether as starter or backup/utility.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

I appreciate the sentiment but I think Santana should go to Rochester, Escobar should be the everyday SS and Polanco should move to Rochester in a few weeks when Santana is ready to head back to the majors, whether as starter or backup/utility.

This is my feeling as well. Santana could use some time at Rochester to sort things out and I'm extremely skeptical that Polanco is ready. The logical short term solution is for Escobar to move back to short and then reevaluate in a month.

 

That move also frees up Nunez to move back into a utility role - he's raking so you can't justify kicking him off the team right now - and makes room for the Twins to bring up another bat-centric player (Arcia, Vargas, Pinto) while still giving playing time to Rosario and Hicks.

[curt1965]

Santana is a major liability on defense and is does not bring enough with his bat right now either.

 

Santana is NOT a major liability on defense! He has committed a large number of errors, but none of those have even come close to us losing a game. He played out of position all last year, and hit well. We need to cut him some slack and let him adjust to the position. He'll hit.

A major liability is Arcia trying to play somewhere in the OF, and I like Arcia.

I might be one of the few, but I'm going to support Danny!

[USAFChief]

I wouldn't move Santana yet, either.

 

If there was a clearly better alternative, sure, but IMO Escobar isn't one.

[hotshot031]

Kirby I am not trying to be a jerk, but what do you think Polanco is? A liability on defense.

 

Santana is struggling mightily at the plate right now, and that is supposed to be his strength.

 

The problem that this lineup is going to face this particular season is the lack of power. They need game changing or game challenging swingers in the middle of that order. The biggest hope is Arcia and Vargas both find themselves. They need to grow up quickly....not sure if either one is really ready for that challenge yet....I hope they prove me wrong... 

[Kwak]

I couldn't disagree more!  Leave well enough alone.  If Ryan chooses to "pull rank", then it will/should be Escobar at SS. Polanco isn't in the equation.

[Linus]

Polanco is a long way from the big leagues. Reports from last season were that he didn't have the arm for short

[diehardtwinsfan]

I'd put Escobar at SS and let Santana work out his bat issues in AAA personally. 

[kab21]

Santana has had two months and his defense has not been good (not awful) but his bat has been terrible.  Escobar hasn't been much better but Polanco is not the answer.  80 games at AA as a 21 year isn't enough to promote him to the majors.  He isn't Carlos Correa or a phenom.  He might be an answer next year though.

[Willihammer]

I would make that switch. Worst case scenario he takes some lumps and is as bad as Santana who has been a major disappointment. Escobar should not be starting anywhere IMO.

[kellyvance]

 

Santana is a major liability on defense and is does not bring enough with his bat right now either.  

These kinds of threads always tick me off. Why? Because they are whiny and overly critical. And in a mean way. These players are not cardboard paper dolls. They are youngsters.

 

Danny hit .319 last year and took one for the team playig out of position. I think Paul is going to let him stick for the year, and he should. Willy Mays went 0 for 12 when he made the show. Danny will get it right. And to those who think he should be down in AAA, why wouldn't you want Molly and Bruno to coach him through the slumps? Those who think about player development would want Danny around Molly. Period. 

[KGB]

 

I appreciate the sentiment but I think Santana should go to Rochester, Escobar should be the everyday SS and Polanco should move to Rochester in a few weeks when Santana is ready to head back to the majors, whether as starter or backup/utility.

Agree, some time at AAA would probably help him.  Hopefully they would then bring up a power hitter for the DH role instead of using Escobar in that role.

[HitInAPinch]

I think there's way to much reactionary ideas going around on Twins Daily [if there is such a thing about real Baseball Fans!! ] 

 

I don't see an immediate need to make major changes to a team that's winning.  I still believe [apparently until my dieing day] the best lineup would have been D. Santana in CF and Escobar at SS.  But now look what's happening in the OF!!  Rosario is now hitting .302.  Hicks average is back up to .255 and playing excellent CF.  Is there really a need to keep running SS's to the OF any more??

 

When Polanco got a taste of the big leagues last year, didn't he play 2B?  His hitting stats say he's probably ready for AAA. 

[Platoon]

I agree with wanting someone with some pop in the DH role, and a legitimate pinch hitter. But whether it be Santana, Arcia, Pinto, or Vargas, sooner or later nothing is gained by staying in Rochester. They have to take their lumps in MLB. True patience is letting them do that. Keeping them in Rochester or TN while lesser talent is here, is not patience, it's lack of purpose.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

These kinds of threads always tick me off. Why? Because they are whiny and overly critical. And in a mean way. These players are not cardboard paper dolls. They are youngsters.

 

Danny hit .319 last year and took one for the team playig out of position. I think Paul is going to let him stick for the year, and he should. Willy Mays went 0 for 12 when he made the show. Danny will get it right. And to those who think he should be down in AAA, why wouldn't you want Molly and Bruno to coach him through the slumps? Those who think about player development would want Danny around Molly. Period. 

 

You're right, the guy was awesome last year.  Problem is that pitchers have adjusted and he hasn't.  His defense is suspect (we all knew that), but his bat isn't making up for it.  He needs time in AAA.  He could still be a very good SS, but right now, Escobar is an upgrade on both sides of the field and we can bring Vargas back up to upgrade DH as well.  It's good for everyone.

[Brock Beauchamp]

It's not whiny or overly critical to suggest Santana is not good enough on an MLB team right now; it's honest evaluation.

 

Whether you think he should remain in Minnesota or be sent to Rochester, there are valid points to be argued for both approaches.

[Winston Smith]

I'd package Santana, Nolasco (even out the money a little) and another prospect or two for Hamels!    Oh and Duensing!!

[Craig Arko]

Who gives the best chance to win now? I think it's Escobar.

 

Do I want either Santana or Polanco to be up here and not play every day? Not really. Send Danny down, let him play every day, and things may just sort themselves out. Nunez can fill the utility role short term.

 

I'd call up Vargas.

[Jerr]

Polanco to shortstop??? First thought was to start a "move Mauer to shortstop?" thread.....in other words my answer is NO

[spinowner]

There will always be people who will say to bring up a deep minor leaguer because he's doing so well there. The thing about that is that it's easy to ruin a baseball player by bringing him along too fast. As has been said many times by many people, baseball skills take much longer to mature than is the case in the other three major North American team sports. (With a few exceptions, for example NFL QB's.) The best way for a baseball player to realize his potential is to play against competition at or slightly above his level. This year's unexpectedly good W-L record notwithstanding, I think this organization needs to place development of its young talent as the highest priority and that means playing its prospects at the best level for their development unless the major league team has no other options. I think the Twins are indeed doing that. (Witness the likes of Bernier, Nunez, Schafer, Robinson and others on the major league roster. All are essentially placeholders.)

[nicksaviking]

My first thought is to send Santana down and let Escobar start at SS, but to be honest, that's only to see if giving Escobar a regular position will help him find results similar to last year after he settled in at SS.

 

To be further honest, I only hope for this because I'd like to see Escobar (re?)gain some trade value, as there is not going to be room for he, Santana and Polanco. Nunez too I guess.

 

To be extra honest, I've grown accustomed to this team being a loser and I am really struggling to identify the correct balance between decisions that help the team win now verses decisions that will help the team win in the future.

[USAFChief]

In what way is Escobar a guaranteed improvement either offensively or defensively?

[Craig Arko]

In what way is Escobar a guaranteed improvement either offensively or defensively?

In what way is Santana a guaranteed improvement either offensively or defensively?

 

If you can start making performance guarantees you should use that power for something more important than baseball.

[Jham]

 

These kinds of threads always tick me off. Why? Because they are whiny and overly critical. And in a mean way. These players are not cardboard paper dolls. They are youngsters.

 

Danny hit .319 last year and took one for the team playig out of position. I think Paul is going to let him stick for the year, and he should. Willy Mays went 0 for 12 when he made the show. Danny will get it right. And to those who think he should be down in AAA, why wouldn't you want Molly and Bruno to coach him through the slumps? Those who think about player development would want Danny around Molly. Period. 

I don't think Molitor has a ton of time to coach players up right now.  Nor is the Major League level the place we want young players tinkering with their swings, especially while we remain in the hunt.  Santana looks overwhelmed and out of sorts.  He needs to catch his breath and play without the pressure of feeling like he's the weak link.  AAA would be good for him,  as it seems to have been for Hicks.

 

Regarding power in the middle of the line up.  Polanco would certainly be a power upgrade from Santana or Escobar.  He's raking in the third spot in Chat.  I think he's got the potential to be a middle of the line up guy in the bigs.  He swings like a power hitter, and seems to relish the challenge of better competition.  I've heard reports all over the board about his defense.  I think he could help the team, but I think the better move is the more obvious one: Escobar to short.  If Escobar continues to struggle and Santana doesn't look ready in AAA, Polanco should be given a chance.  If Polanco keeps tearing it up, he'll force his way through, but I think we do have better options as of now.

 

 

[Lakeside]

 

Kirby I am not trying to be a jerk, but what do you think Polanco is? A liability on defense.

 

Santana is struggling mightily at the plate right now, and that is supposed to be his strength.

 

The problem that this lineup is going to face this particular season is the lack of power. They need game changing or game challenging swingers in the middle of that order. The biggest hope is Arcia and Vargas both find themselves. They need to grow up quickly....not sure if either one is really ready for that challenge yet....I hope they prove me wrong... 

Not so sure that Arcia and Vargas are the answer right now.  Problem with them in the line-up is that, at least Vargas, takes speed off the bases.

 

I think part of our winning package right now is that we have speed on the bases. . . we take the extra base and put pressure on opponent outfielders.  We've been fortunate to get adequate power from guys who can also run. . . Plouffe, Dozier, and Hunter.  Rosario may come to surprise a little bit here too.

 

Arcia  is a different situation.  Pitchers are confident in the defense right now (read the Perkins article in today's Tribune) and Arcia cannot give us the defense that Rosario, Hicks, Robinson, and Hunter can.

 

Polanco vs. Santana?  I say give Santana a little slack. . . I think he will hit fine for a #9 hitter. 

 

Finally, I really like Escobar in his position. . . batting almost every day and filling in at LF, 3B, and Short.

[Halsey Hall]

I stick with Santana for this season at least.  Escobar had a good year last year but not close to that this year.  Santana has a heck of an arm, a good glove and is playing the position for the first time in a while.  He'll be fine. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

In what way is Escobar a guaranteed improvement either offensively or defensively?

Guaranteed improvement? No.

 

Likely improvement? Given the low bar Santana has set this season, yes.

 

Santana is just 24 years old and was never highly regarded as a prospect. He played way over his head last season. As Jham put it, "letting him catch his breath in AAA" won't hurt his development and may help it a bit. He could be back up as soon as the break if he turns things around.

[drivlikejehu]

The Twins did Santana no favors by mishandling him last year - he should have been playing SS, either in the Majors or AAA, which I thought was obvious at the time and really a quite inexcusable player development error by management.

 

Having said that, Santana is so erratic that I doubt he will ever amount to anything. I'm in favor of sending him to AAA, which also would keep Escobar out of LF and DH, where he is a huge liability.

 

Polanco isn't ready offensively or defensively. He should spend all year in AA and start next year in AAA.

[USAFChief]

Guaranteed improvement? No.

 

Likely improvement? Given the low bar Santana has set this season, yes.

 

Santana is just 24 years old and was never highly regarded as a prospect. He played way over his head last season. As Jham put it, "letting him catch his breath in AAA" won't hurt his development and may help it a bit. He could be back up as soon as the break if he turns things around.

There isn't much difference between the two offensively in 2015. Defense is a matter of opinion, but I don't think Escobar has the physical talent to hold down SS on more than a temporary basis.

 

I don't much care about their prospect status, but since you brought it up, Escobar wasn't highly rated either, and Santana outhit Escobar in the minors. Escobar didnt put up a .700 OPS at any minor league level.

 

They both played way over their head last year, and BOTH are struggling this year. Let the kid who's a natural SS play it, let the utility player be one.