Article: When Will Molitor Start Making Adjustments?

[kellyvance]

Ummm Nick, Paul has made adjustments all season and has the Twins playing way over their heads.

[Willihammer]

If at all possible, you really want to break up an all RH or LH series in a lineup.  So, while I agree that Mauer should be batting about 7th, there is no better LH bat in the lineup, so he's got to be somewhere 1-4.  

 

Remember when we had an extreme LH lineup and getting Hardy as  RH bat was such a boon? (mauer, morneau, kubel, thome, span, and on down the line.  I think there were times when 1-9 batters were LH against RHP.

 

Without alternating L/R a bit, you make the opposing manager life so easy when it comes time for bullpen relief.  All we are going to see is RHP against our RHB.

Cuddy, Hardy and Valencia were the only RHs in those days. That is the way to do it IMO. Just blitz the opposing starter with opposite handed bats and worry about matchups when the opponent forces the issue hopefully because they've had to yank the starter for putting his team in a hole.

Edited June 5, 2015 by Willihammer

[HitInAPinch]

 

I don't understand what in Escobar's minor or major league performance suggests he "deserves" a chance. He hasn't earned any benefit of the doubt.

2014, with a 133 game sample size, doesn't count?  Right now, I'd say his only problem is playing out of his comfort zone in LF.

[drivlikejehu]

 

2014, with a 133 game sample size, doesn't count?  Right now, I'd say his only problem is playing out of his comfort zone in LF.

 

Sure, that's his "only problem" other than having a .250 OBP and being at -0.5 WAR on the year. 

[Hrbowski]

 

Escobar> Plouffe.....lol.

What are you on about?

Quality hitter would be very few rational people's description of Escobar. Come on now.

I didn't say that Escobar was better than Plouffe, I said he has had worse luck.

[twinsnorth49]

 

2014, with a 133 game sample size, doesn't count?  Right now, I'd say his only problem is playing out of his comfort zone in LF.

IMO I think that year suggests a good amount of luck, most of his metrics that year were well beyond his career norms. 

[twinsnorth49]

The bottom line is if your LF/DH carries and OPS of .595 for most of the year, you're likely headed for trouble. Even if you stick him at SS he's currently performing below 2013 Pedro Florimon standards, without the defense.

[drjim]

Suzuki batting 7th again, Escobar at SS and batting 8th. Looks like all our dreams may soon come true.

[Vanimal46]

God bless you Hrbowski for being the lone Escobar defender. I don't agree with you, but still respect your opinion.

 

Even Christian Ponder had apologists until the bitter end of his Vikings career. Escobar needs one person on his side on TD.

[gil4]

 

I would have a hard time thinking anyone saw how bad Mauer is this year coming.  I was down on Mauer this year but saw a .730-.790 OPS as likely, certainly not in the .600's.

 

http://twinsdaily.com/topic/16186-the-elephant-in-the-room-joe-mauer/?p=297530

 

I think it is important to acknowledge that he is bad now.  There was a lot of hope that with an easier position he might keep his strong 2013 going and maybe improve.  Aaron Gleeman even went so far as to declare this:

 

 

http://aarongleeman.com/2013/11/12/concussion-forces-joe-mauer-to-switch-from-catcher-to-first-base/

 

Let's accept this is becoming less likely to happen and emphasize what he can do.  Many posters have pointed out that while not at levels he has put up in the past his OBP is still one of the better on the team so move him to the 2 hole like many have suggested.  When some of our young guys come up (Sano, Vargas, ect....) and if they perform we should consider putting in a 1B platoon so Mauer can avoid tough lefties.  Just some thoughts.

 

I've been wondering if maybe the switch from catcher has affected him.  As a catcher, you see and track far more live pitches than anyone else on the field, although obviously with a different intent.

[Platoon]

In spring, and with the roster decisions early, I really felt that Terry Ryan was more in control than he has been, and I think that remains the case. But I obviously don't know.

It is becoming more prevelant in MLB for managers with no experience to be hired. (This is not a knock on Molitor). This leaves the GM more completely in charge, than if he hired a manager with a few years under his belt, and an opinionated track record. There was Ryan/Gardy, and now Ryan/Molitor. The constant is Ryan. Which makes it my contention that the roster construction is mostly Ryan's doing. And while I have absolutely no problem with Molitor being hired, the thought has occurred to me that one of Dougie's liabilities was his outspoken attitude. Which makes me wonder if TR thought he would be too difficult to control, when it came to roster decisions.

[DocBauer]

Look, I'd love Santana to produce like last season and move Dozier down somewhere. Right now, he isn't.

 

I'd also love to bring P olanco up, slide him in at SS, hit somewhere at the top of the lineup, juggle the order, and not look back. But I think its kind of premature to look to a AS SS as our lineup savior.

 

The lineup, right now, is the best it can probably be. Think Hunter at 3 and Mauer at 2 is better? I can see that. But you cant just bash Mauer, say move him, without having a logical stepping stone process.

 

And, I kind of understand the Vargas move to get untracked, but I still maintain he never should have been sent down. Not only was he starting to turn it around, but he's a completely different breed of an option in the 5 hole than anyone else.

[TheLeviathan]

Can we please just get Vargas up here and give an actual DH option?  I am confused more and more each day that he is not up with the team.

[stringer bell]

If Escobar must play, then start him at short and send Santana to Rochester. I think EE is a satisfactory every day shortstop who will hit better in one position.

[jokin]

 

I didn't say that Escobar was a power hitter, I said that he was a quality hitter, and that Vargas wasn't hitting for power.

Except that Vargas was hitting for power in May....

[jimbo92107]

 

When Buxton, Sano, and other better hitters show up, Mauer will get moved down in the lineup. Right now Molitor doesn't have any better options.

 

Leave Hicks down at the bottom of the order!!!!! The less pressure the better!

 

If Santana doesn't start hitting SOON he'll get sent to AAA, Escobar will be the regular shortstop, and the uprising here at TD will be over. 

The one guy people aren't talking about much is Mauer's possible replacement at 1st base. Vargas? No, Max Kepler. Der Kid is hitting about .300 in Chattanooga, lots of doubles, good glove, good arm, great athlete, and his power stroke is legit. Kepler isn't another Joe Mauer, but his skill set is a better match for what the Twins need from a 1st baseman. More power, solid play. I expect to see Kepler and Vargas sharing time at 1st base within a year, and then where do you put Mauer?

 

Of course, the moment I'm typing this, Mauer pounds a three run homer to tie the game with Milwaukee. RISP!

[howeda7]

Mauer hitting 3rd is not a major problem at the moment. They are currently trotting out a line-up with at least 3 black holes (Suki, Santana and DH) and Hicks should still be nowhere near the top 5. So realistically, you can't drop him any lower than 5th anyway, and that's not better. If Mauer is still hitting 3rd when Sano, Vargas and Buxton are on the team, that's a whole other thing. I don't think they'll be that stubborn.

 

It's far more important to fill at least one of the black holes, and at least partially cover a 2nd by getting Pinto up here and letting him catch a couple times a week.

[HitInAPinch]

 

Sure, that's his "only problem" other than having a .250 OBP and being at -0.5 WAR on the year. 

Not being comfortable playing position you haven't played before can affect the rest of your game.  Being a utility player after having a successful season as a starting SS is pretty much a career death sentence for most.

 

WAR is one of the Sabermetrics that I don't believe in.  It's trying to do too much and, IMHO, leads to false conclusions. 

[HitInAPinch]

 

IMO I think that year suggests a good amount of luck, most of his metrics that year were well beyond his career norms. 

IMO, I think this shows that after 2 years and 229 AB's, Escobar learned how to hit in the MLB.  Removing him as a starting SS for a player that has minimal MLB experience as a SS was a dumb idea.

[jimmer]

IMO, we just don't have anyone that we know for sure is capable of being a truly major league caliber starting shortstop.  And we haven't for a long time (save 2010).

 

The debate back and forth on Santana or Escobar is fun, but it's sad these are our choices to begin with (though I'm sure they are nice people).

Edited June 6, 2015 by jimmer

[Mauerpower]

Mauer has the 2nd most doubles, triples, and rbi on the team. This year he's been mother freaking clutch with risp!

[spinowner]

 

IMO, I think this shows that after 2 years and 229 AB's, Escobar learned how to hit in the MLB.  Removing him as a starting SS for a player that has minimal MLB experience as a SS was a dumb idea.

I think it's best to avoid using the word dumb, so I won't use it to respond to this post. I disagree with this post, because Santana is the furthest-advanced shortstop prospect in the organization and almost everyone feels he has more potential than Escobar. I think making Santana the starting shortstop out of spring training was the best option the team had coming out of spring training.

[drivlikejehu]

Santana should have been playing SS in AAA last year, and still this year. He's not ready offensively or defensively, and with his development set back, who knows whether his career will recover. He was always a borderline talent anyway - athletic but inconsistent, and lacking in some key skills.

[Mike Sixel]

Most people on the planet thought he should be at SS last year, if that was the future plan. For some reason, he was not.

[Craig Arko]

Most people on the planet thought he should be at SS last year, if that was the future plan. For some reason, he was not.

I heard that was a very popular idea in Luxembourg and Kazakhstan.

[HitInAPinch]

 

Santana is the furthest-advanced shortstop prospect in the organization and almost everyone feels he has more potential than Escobar.

 

And yet, who was playing shortstop last year and who was sent to the outfield? 

Obviously, some people didn't get the message

[Dantes929]

 

Except I'm not talking only about 1 stat, all of the offensive work matters, not just OBP. Compared to other 1B, he's been bad. I really don't know how that is even up for debate right now, so I'll probably just make this my last post on this in this thread.

But I am not debating it.     I value OBP more than most but I agree he is bad compared to other !B.   What I am saying is that he is better than all but 3   others in our lineup so he should be batting in the top 5.   That's the part that mystifies me.  He is one of the worst batters at his position but nevertheless obviously one of the best hitters on a team that is 4th in runs scored.

[drjim]

 

But I am not debating it.     I value OBP more than most but I agree he is bad compared to other !B.   What I am saying is that he is better than all but 3   others in our lineup so he should be batting in the top 5.   That's the part that mystifies me.  He is one of the worst batters at his position but nevertheless obviously one of the best hitters on a team that is 4th in runs scored.

 

All the more reason why his performance at this moment relative to other first basemen is meaningless.

[Blackjack]

 

 

 

If Santana doesn't start hitting SOON he'll get sent to AAA, Escobar will be the regular shortstop, and the uprising here at TD will be over. 

    

[dxpavelka]

 

How long does something last before it is a trend-----it's over a year now? Also, the hitters after him can't drive him in if he's not base. You need to look at both sides of that run producing equation, imo.

He's leading the league in RISP and only one guy with enough PA's to qualify for the Batting title ahead of him in average.  So maybe the bigger question is how is he able to drive in as many runs as he has with guys in front of HIM not getting on base?