Article: Projecting Minnesota's Optimal Defensive Lineup

[Cody Christie]

Defense wins championships.

 

In the baseball world, this cliche might not be completely true. Otherwise, there would be teams full of Andrelton Simmons-type players. There are a lot of other factors that go into the overall equation. Teams need offense, they need pitching, and sometimes a little luck goes a long way.Baseball line-ups aren't usually built with a defensive as the first priority. Rosters usually need to have the right combination of defense and offense. You can hide a Josh Willingham-type player in a corner outfield spot if he is mashing a bunch of home runs.

 

What would the Twins line-up look like if it was made up completely with defense as the only factor in making roster decisions?

 

Outfield: Byron Buxton, Eddie Rosario, Max Kepler

In this line-up, there are no converted infielders pushed to a corner outfield spot. This team is all about speed, range, and having a cannon for an arm. Luckily for the Twins, their optimal defensive line-up is one that could see some significant playing time this season. All three players have seen time in centerfield during their minor league careers. Buxton was just named the best defensive player in the minors by MLB.com and Rosario finished second in the AL with 16 outfield assists. Add Kepler to the mix and you have one strong trio that would be able to cover foul pole to foul pole with ease.

 

Catcher: Stuart Turner

Kurt Suzuki has taken a beating behind the plate over the last couple seasons and he has his flaws as a defensive catcher. The Twins traded Aaron Hicks to the Yankees for catcher John Ryan Murphy this offseason and his defense is fine for now. Two players, Stuart Turner and Mitch Garver, are the future of the position are in the Twins system. Turner is the better defensive option and he could probably hold his own at the big league level behind the plate. He could be up as early as this September as he should spend a good chunk of the year in Rochester.

 

First Base: Joe Mauer

Ever since his high school days, Mauer has been considered a good athlete. That's why there was little concern over him making the defensive transition from catcher to first base. Everything hasn't been perfect for Mauer in the move to a corner infield spot but he continues to learn the nuisances of what has become his new home. Mauer's former roommate, Justin Morneau, was a very strong defensive first baseman. While Mauer might not be to that level yet, he is still a strong defensive option.

 

Second Base: Jorge Polanco

Brian Dozier's defense has been on a steady decline over the last three years which makes it a little easier to look past him when creating the team's best defensive line-up. Another prospect with a lot of time at shortstop could be a better solution in the middle infield. Jorge Polanco, like Dozier, would need to shift from shortstop to second base. There have been plenty of questions about whether or not he will be able to stick at shortstop. This solves the problem by moving him off the position and possibly offers a little up-side over Dozier and his declining defense. A younger, more athletic player seems like a better option over an aging Dozier.

 

Third Base: Trevor Plouffe

It's hard not to be impressed with how far Trevor Plouffe has come at the third base position. As he transitioned to third from shortstop and a brief taste of the outfield, he looked stiff and unable to adjust to the fast pace of being at the "hot corner." By the end of this season, he ranked as one of the best defensive third basemen in the American League according to the SABR Defensive Index. Miguel Sano might take over this position in the near future but Plouffe's defense will be hard to top.

 

Shortstop: Engelb Vielma

Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you look at it), the Twins best defensive option at shortstop hasn't played a game above the High-A level. Many of the top national prospect rankings peg him as the best defensive infielder in the organization with quite possibly the best infield arm. His offense might be a couple years away from being big league ready but his defense is ready to make the next step.

 

Now it's your turn. Who would be in your defensive line-up? Leave a COMMENT and join the discussion.

 

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[alhweiner]

If that was the regular lineup, they would get to play a lot of defense.

If none of them can hit, every three offensive PA's they would be forced to go back out on the field to play defense for another inning.

[theBOMisthebomb]

Does this make it official that Mauer is now known for his defense more than his offense? This just shows how far his offense has declined and that the Twins need an upgrade at first base.

[barbarosa]

Very interesting article, one which either can scare one or shed a little hope for the future. I can see your outfield without much difficulty, however you middle infielders are in doubt. Escobar and Dozier are still my choice, both show the range and speed for the positions at this time and it is important that middle infielders have a great working relationship which these two do on the field.

Mauer is acceptable and Plouffe I have always seen at third for now.

If you are looking at the future of the Twins then yes, I hope that in time they all can contribute both defensively and offensively, because as we all know defense does not win baseball games, it helps, but even a great defensive team cannot do anything about longball hitters and their contribution to homeruns.

[roger]

If we are going down to A ball, I would put Gordon at second.  Expect this switch will be made as it becomes clearer that Vielma is the Twins shortstop of the future.

[Broker]

WOW Time flies I guess. So Dozier is now an aging player?

[Dantes929]

 

Does this make it official that Mauer is now known for his defense more than his offense? This just shows how far his offense has declined and that the Twins need an upgrade at first base.

Uh...no.   This article was 100% about defense.    Its purpose was not to consider offense at all.   If he was the triple crown winner the last 10 years and was expected to win it for the next 10 this article still wouldn't be saying anything about his offense.   I don't see how you can read anything about how a player is considered offensively from this article much less say anything is official about it.   

[bluechipper]

 

If we are going down to A ball, I would put Gordon at second.  Expect this switch will be made as it becomes clearer that Vielma is the Twins shortstop of the future.

I don't think Vielma's defense is going to be enough to make up for his lack of offense. He posted a .627 OPS last year. Pedro Florimon's career OPS in High-A is .771, and for his career in the minors, it is .679.

 

Now, Vielma could improve (which he did in the 2nd half somewhat), but he doesn't walk, and he doesn't hit for any power, and I don't want to go back to the days of watching Pedro Florimon "hit", no matter how good his defense is.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

If that was the regular lineup, they would get to play a lot of defense.

First post wins the thread.

[Hrbowski]

I would take Dozier over Polanco, because in case you haven't noticed, he is aging too.

[ScrapTheNickname]

I hope you're right about Polanco. He has committed a ton of errors in the minors, mostly at SS, which is where he has mostly played. At 2B he seems to have done better. He's only 22. When will we finally see more of this young man at a Twins uniform?

[dxpavelka]

 

WOW Time flies I guess. So Dozier is now an aging player?

He is after All-Star breaks.

 

[Seth Stohs]

 

WOW Time flies I guess. So Dozier is now an aging player?

 

A big 28... that's apparently old! Ha!  I'd put Dozier as well at 2B because Polanco isn't very good defensively at 2B either.

[Craig Arko]

Since baseball isn't football the correct phrase might be 'pitching wins championships.'

[Thrylos]

So...

 

How does Mauer and his sub-par glove at first belong in this list, if you are willing to put no-hit Turner at C?

[Squirrel]

 

So...

 

How does Mauer and his sub-par glove at first belong in this list, if you are willing to put no-hit Turner at C?

Why don't you try answering the question and come up with your own list. The question put forth in the OP is: What would the Twins line-up look like if it was made up completely with defense as the only factor in making roster decisions? Cody came up with his list and his rationale, why don't you put forth your own ... with defense considerations only. Let's see your defensive lineup.

[Thrylos]

 

Why don't you try answering the question and come up with your own list. The question put forth in the OP is: What would the Twins line-up look like if it was made up completely with defense as the only factor in making roster decisions? Cody came up with his list and his rationale, why don't you put forth your own ... with defense considerations only. Let's see your defensive lineup.

 

I suspect that we don't have 40-man or any roster considerations or any consideration about whether someone can hit or not, because there are not in the OP list

 

Here you go:

 

C Hicks
1B Mientkiewicz
2B Michael
SS Escobar

3B Plouffe
OF Buxton
OF Benson
OF Wade

 

That might win about 45 games

Edited February 6, 2016 by Thrylos

[Seth Stohs]

 

I suspect that we don't have 40-man or any roster considerations or any consideration about whether someone can hit or not, because there are not in the OP list

 

Here you go:

 

C Hicks
1B Mientkiewicz
2B Michael
SS Escobar

3B Plouffe
OF Buxton
OF Benson
OF Wade

 

That might win about 45 games

 

OK.... Mientkiewicz... gotchya... That's constructive, since he's been retired for how long?

 

Let's consider 1st base options in the organization:

 

MLB: Mauer, Park

AAA: Vargas, Rodriguez

AA: Hicks, Haar

Hi-A: Vavra

Low-A: Wiel, Minier

EST: Diaz, Kendrick

 

Pretty clear that Mauer is the best defensive option in the organization. In fact, the one closest to him is probably Max Kepler...At worst, Mauer is a league average defensive first baseman.

[Thrylos]

 

OK.... Mientkiewicz... gotchya... That's constructive, since he's been retired for how long?

 

Let's consider 1st base options in the organization:

 

MLB: Mauer, Park

AAA: Vargas, Rodriguez

AA: Hicks, Haar

Hi-A: Vavra

Low-A: Wiel, Minier

EST: Diaz, Kendrick

 

Pretty clear that Mauer is the best defensive option in the organization. In fact, the one closest to him is probably Max Kepler...At worst, Mauer is a league average defensive first baseman.

 

 

Heck, if someone can put Turner or Vielma in that list, I should be able to put Mientkiewicz.  Still in contract with the Twins like the 2 above, still the best defensive first baseman among people under contract with the Twins and likely will hit better than both Turner and Vielma

 

No. Mauer is not average as far as first basemen are concerned, by any metric out there and by the eye test.  He is fine in not making any errors, but his range,  speed and foot work in the position are way below average.  I have not seen Park play, and I have not seen Vargas play this winter, so I cannot talk much about those 2.  Vargas was close to Mauer last season (at least he has more range in the position and better instincts) .  I'd take Rodriguez over Mauer as far as defense goes for sure, Haar maybe, Hicks not,( I'd take Mientkiewicz over anyone named Vavra, sue me), Diaz no, Minier maybe, Kendrick no.  Kepler maybe.  Plouffe yes.

So Mauer is not the best defensive first baseman in the organization...

Edited February 7, 2016 by Thrylos

[Seth Stohs]

I'll throw my hat in the ring ... hopefully others will... these are just my thoughts, based on reading, numbers, and talking to people... 

 

 

C: Turner - so good all around including the art of working with pitchers. Runner-Up: Navarreto. 

 

1B: Mauer - as seen above, there isn't a lot of competition in this category defensively. And, he's solid. 

 

2B: Beresford - 

 

3B: Plouffe - not a lot of competition here either. I think TJ White is solid. 

 

SS: Vielma - probably not close when it comes to hands, range, arm, leadership, etc. 

 

LF: Rosario - arm, range, routes... very good.

 

CF: Buxton - elite range, arm...

 

RF: Joe Benson - probably the #2 CF, though he's good in the corners too.

 

(OF: If I did just the top three outfielders, I might go with Buxton, Benson and English.)

 

Pitcher: Tim Shibuya, but I would put Kyle Gibson up there with anyone too. 

 

 

[highlander]

Thank you! Seth finally included a pitcher. Jim Kaat where are you when we need you?

[USAFChief]

Thank you! Seth finally included a pitcher. Jim Kaat where are you when we need you?

Wrong thread.

 

Jim Kaat belongs in the "Twins sign another LH bullpen candidate to minor league deal" thread.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Wrong thread.

 

Jim Kaat belongs in the "Twins sign another LH bullpen candidate to minor league deal" thread.

I believe we are also promising Kaat a chance to start.

[mikecgrimes]

 

OK.... Mientkiewicz... gotchya... That's constructive, since he's been retired for how long?

 

Let's consider 1st base options in the organization:

 

MLB: Mauer, Park

AAA: Vargas, Rodriguez

AA: Hicks, Haar

Hi-A: Vavra

Low-A: Wiel, Minier

EST: Diaz, Kendrick

 

Pretty clear that Mauer is the best defensive option in the organization. In fact, the one closest to him is probably Max Kepler...At worst, Mauer is a league average defensive first baseman.

 

It's 1st base there has to be 50 options.  If he didn't already have a spot I'd guess with a little work Buxton could be the best defensive 1st basemen as he would have every other advantage other then being a couple inches on the short side.  Don't know enough about Kepler to know for sure but that was the name I was going to throw out.

[Rosterman]

Baseball, sadly, is not football.

[Guest]

 

Baseball, sadly, is not football.

I'm not sad that baseball is not football. After all, in football we see the best players drop like flies to concussions, cutting potential HoF careers short and costing the team and its fans opportunities for championships. That kind of thing doesn't happen in baseball

 

Oh... wait... never mind.

 

Anyway, defense does matter in baseball and the prospective Twins OF this season scares me almost as much as it likely scares the pitching staff. So, I'll play along with the premise of Cody's article:

 

C: Turner is a reasonable choice, but Navarreto and Garver can hold their own back there, too.

 

1B: I saw Kepler make some pretty impressive plays at 1B and he's had some additional experience there since then. I'd trust him there.

 

2B: I like roger's idea of slotting Gordon here. He'd be my choice at SS, if it weren't for Vielma's presence. A Vielma/Gordon combo up the middle would be very impressive. I agree with Seth that the best 2B who is currently primarily playing 2B would be Beresford.

 

3B: TJ White is the best defensive 3B I've seen at the Class A level. Would that be enough to compensate for Plouffe's MLB experience? Probably not, but it might be close.

 

SS: Vielma

 

OF: Rosario-Buxton-English (honorable mention to now-former Twins MiLBer Jason Kanzler).

 

 

[Lee-The-Twins-Fan]

I agree with your list, Cody, except for 1B. I believe Park will actually be a better defensive 1B than Mauer.  Just based on reports I've heard about him – he won the equivalent of the gold glove award at 1B in the KBO from 2012-2014.

[GSM]

I'd put Sano at first.  Mauer is flat out not that good defensively over there. 

[Teflon]

Wasn't Byung Ho Park a Gold Glove winner in Korea? Why wouldn't he start ahead of Mauer at 1B on an all-defensive Twins team?

[Twins33]

 

Wasn't Byung Ho Park a Gold Glove winner in Korea? Why wouldn't he start ahead of Mauer at 1B on an all-defensive Twins team?

Don't get too caught up in the Korean "gold glove" award. It's not necessarily given to the best defensive player, same thing happens in the US. In Korea, even a DH can win a gold glove.

 

This is from baseball reference:

 

The Gold Glove is awarded annually to the best overall player at each position in the Korea Baseball Organization. It has been awarded since the league's first season in 1982, though the first year it was a defense-only award, like in the US. All outfielders are grouped and a designated hitter has been included since 1984.

 

That being said, it seems like reports say that he's not a bad defensive 1B. Better than Mauer? I don't know. We'd have to see Park at 1B to judge that. I don't think Mauer is more than average.