The Bench

[jorgenswest]

Does Molitor have so little confidence in his right handed pinch hitting options that he sees Suzuki as a better option? If that is the case, they might need to rethink the bench. Pinch hitting for the Twins was awful last year. Pinch hitters put up a slash line of 171/224/256. Molitor had little confidence and went to a pinch hitter less than any other AL manager. 

 

It is a nice luxury to have two utility men. If neither can be counted on to pinch hit for Suzuki late in the game, perhaps it is a luxury that they can not afford. Do the Twins need a right handed bat on the bench they can count on in high leverage late inning opportunities? Maybe facing a lefty late in games doesn't come up enough. Maybe it is more likely that the need for an extra utility man will surface.

 

This is the bench the Twins chose long before spring training started. So far I would have preferred to see a better right handed bat than a second utility man/ pinch runner.

[Bill Brown69]

The amount of times any manager pinch hits for whoever started the game at catcher is going to be less than 1%. No matter who it is or how much the fan base gets up in arms over it, and it is not going to change.

 

My Dad was a catcher in the minors. It hasn't changed since the game started and I don't see it changing in the next 20 years.

[DuluthFan]

This was only the first game of the season. It was being played under adverse conditions. As much as you might want to make substitutions whenever you want, there are consequences. Sometimes letting your players play the game is the best strategy. Pulling Suzuki late in the game for a pinch hitter may seem the right move, but then you have to play a cold backup catcher in the late innings who has not been handling a ball in the wet rainy conditions. Ideal place for misplays to happen.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Pinch hitting for the Twins was awful last year. Pinch hitters put up a slash line of 171/224/256. Molitor had little confidence and went to a pinch hitter less than any other AL manager. 

Not quite.  3rd fewest pinch hitter PA in the 2015 AL.  The Red Sox were just behind us, and the Royals were way behind everybody (as they were in 2014 too).

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=al&qual=0&type=0&season=2015&month=46&season1=2015&ind=0&team=0,ts&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=4,d

[Willihammer]

 

Not quite.  3rd fewest pinch hitter PA in the 2015 AL.  The Red Sox were just behind us, and the Royals were way behind everybody (as they were in 2014 too).

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=al&qual=0&type=0&season=2015&month=46&season1=2015&ind=0&team=0,ts&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=4,d

I'd add, the AL as a whole batted .216/.293/.336 (.629) in PH situations. The Twins were bad, but a. the bar isn't very high (due to the PH penalty), and B. what can you really conclude from a 75 PA sample anyway?

 

Also, Suzuki, for his career in high leverage situations (when most AL PHs occur), bats .266/.318/.376 (.694).

 

(edit: .257/.314/.359 (.673) according to Fangraphs. The above (.694) is from bb-ref's leverage split.)

[jorgenswest]

From reading above, the Twins have constructed their bench correctly choosing positional flexibility rather than hitting ability. If not catcher, the only other spot to pinch hit is Buxton or Escobar. Let's hope that both prove it is unnecessary. I am not sure I disagree. I am certain that this was conscious decision on the part of Twins management in constructing the roster. I think other teams might value a bat.

 

As for the catcher spot, the Rays pinch hit for thir catcher in over 40 of their games. In two cases, three catchers were used with the position being pinch hit for twice (September roster). They pinch hit three times more often than Molitor and were much more successful driving in 52 runs compared to the Twins 11. They made a different decision about their bench. I don't know which leads to more wins.

[kab21]

Do you think that Molitor has so little confidence in his starting RH'd catcher that he is going to pinch hit him for a RH'd backup infielder?  That is basically the same argument that you just made.

 

Typically the Twins have a bench of 2 futility IF'ers and a futility OF so they have at least taken a step in the right direction.  I am quite happy that they have one hitter (LH'd) on the bench.

 

I really don't see a direction they could take with the bench to add more hitting without being really exposed to an injury.  

[Mike Sixel]

What bench?

[tobi0040]

I just wish the Twins asked themselves, what move should I make right now that increases my chances to win this game?

 

If you start with that question, not hitting for Suzuki becomes indefensible. 

[tobi0040]

 

Do you think that Molitor has so little confidence in his starting RH'd catcher that he is going to pinch hit him for a RH'd backup infielder?  That is basically the same argument that you just made.

 

Typically the Twins have a bench of 2 futility IF'ers and a futility OF so they have at least taken a step in the right direction.  I am quite happy that they have one hitter (LH'd) on the bench.

 

I really don't see a direction they could take with the bench to add more hitting without being really exposed to an injury.  

 

Apart from the catchers and Sano, the Twins roster has more flexibility on it right now than it maybe ever has had.  Both Santana and Nunez can literally play any position other than catcher, including SS.  Rosario and Escobar could slide over to CF if they needed to.  CF and SS are the positions that you worry about and we have them both covered over and over.  Plouffe has played the OF.  Arcia has played both corners. 

 

But I would also argue that Nunez is a hitting upgrade over Suzuki.

[Platoon]

Do you think that Molitor has so little confidence in his starting RH'd catcher that he is going to pinch hit him for a RH'd backup infielder?  That is basically the same argument that you just made.

 

Typically the Twins have a bench of 2 futility IF'ers and a futility OF so they have at least taken a step in the right direction.  I am quite happy that they have one hitter (LH'd) on the bench.

 

I really don't see a direction they could take with the bench to add more hitting without being really exposed to an injury.

 

Whether your are a backup IF, or starting catcher in that situation is a moot point. Who is the better hitter is the issue. This again reeks of deference to veteran players. I am not even a Nunez fan, but he is still a better HITTER than Kurt.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Whether your are a backup IF, or starting catcher in that situation is a moot point. Who is the better hitter is the issue. This again reeks of deference to veteran players. I am not even a Nunez fan, but he is still a better HITTER than Kurt.

Actually, they're pretty much the *same* hitter.

 

vs LHP career:

Suzuki: .665

Nunez: .686

 

vs LHP 2015:

Suzuki: .658

Nunez: .649

 

Is this really worth complaining about?

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Molitor uses the bench so little that his bench players rarely ever get in the game. That's my perception, anyway.

 

The irony is if the Twins have bench players who rarely play, one of them might as well be a third catcher who never actually plays, for the times when you need to hit for Suzuki and then be "out of catchers" after you put your backup catcher in the game.

[Mike Sixel]

If they don't have a better option than their worst hitter....that is on the GM, right?

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

If they don't have a better option than their worst hitter....that is on the GM, right?

Eh, maybe... But given how damned near their entire lineup is right-handed (and therefore capable against lefties), this is a situation that will not arise often.

 

All their good hitters against LHP are already in the lineup on a daily basis (the possible exception being Santana but he's a wild card right now... he could be a .780 guy, he could be a .580 guy).

[Mike Sixel]

 

Eh, maybe... But given how damned near their entire lineup is right-handed (and therefore capable against lefties), this is a situation that will not arise often.

 

All their good hitters against LHP are already in the lineup on a daily basis (the possible exception being Santana but he's a wild card right now... he could be a .780 guy, he could be a .580 guy).

 

if I was a GM, I'd want to supply my manager with options at the end of the game, with the bench. Otherwise, what is the point of the bench?

 

I am not a Nunez guy, but if he can't PH for Suzuki, what is his role, exactly?

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

if I was a GM, I'd want to supply my manager with options at the end of the game, with the bench. Otherwise, what is the point of the bench?

 

I am not a Nunez guy, but if he can't PH for Suzuki, what is his role, exactly?

I think you're setting an unreasonable standard for the bench. Seven out of the Twins' nine regular players are either switch-hitters or right-handed. One of the other guys is Joe Mauer. The final guy is Rosario, who inexplicably has good numbers against LHP.

 

How many left-handed closers are there in baseball?

 

Never mind that guys on the bench also have to play defense. The Twins already have one bench spot reserved for a power LHB, which is actually useful because the team is so right-handed dominant.

[Brock Beauchamp]

If this situation arises in June, there's a damned good chance one of Sano, Park, Plouffe, etc. is sitting on the bench, taking a day off.

 

At which point, yeah, you pinch-hit for Suzuki 100% of the time.

 

But maybe not so much with Eduardo Nunez because that's little more than shuffling deck chairs. Nunez is an injury insurance policy.

 

Personally, I hope Nunez is off the roster by mid-summer because Santana has shown he can fill the utility role.

[nicksaviking]

 

Eh, maybe... But given how damned near their entire lineup is right-handed (and therefore capable against lefties), this is a situation that will not arise often.

 

All their good hitters against LHP are already in the lineup on a daily basis (the possible exception being Santana but he's a wild card right now... he could be a .780 guy, he could be a .580 guy).

 

*** I know this will not be popular***

 

But if the lineup is right handed heavy and the bench is lacking a RH bat, it might be a good idea to move one of your starters to the bench more often, even if he's an above average hitter. Trevor Plouffe would probably be a pretty solid Four-corners bench guy.

 

Sano to 3B or if there are still defensive concerns bring up Polanco. I think it should be considered if this team keeps finding itself in need of a right handed bench bat.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

*** I know this will not be popular***

 

But if the lineup is right handed heavy and the bench is lacking a RH bat, it might be a good idea to move one of your starters to the bench more often, even if he's an above average hitter. Trevor Plouffe would probably be a pretty solid Four-corners bench guy.

 

Sano to 3B or if there are still defensive concerns bring up Polanco. I think it should be considered if this team keeps finding itself in need of a right handed bench bat.

Absolutely. I've been a big advocate of shuffling the regulars around the diamond to utilize match-ups and rest players.

 

And I hope Polanco is up by mid-summer... But right now, Nunez is an insurance policy against injury and Danny Santana bombing out a second consecutive season.

 

Without Nunez and confidence in Santana, what happens if Dozier goes down? Escobar?

 

It's really easy to "build" a bench around a specific situation but building a rounded bench based - at least somewhat - on a "worst case situation" needs consideration.

[Mike Sixel]

I'm not big on injury insurance.....that is a 1 game effect (assuming someone is in AAA).....I'd rather build the bench for the 150 games where no one is injured in a game......

[Willihammer]

Well besides Britton and Perkins the Twins aren't going to be facing that many LH closers so the situation shouldn't come up much more often.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

I'm not big on injury insurance.....that is a 1 game effect (assuming someone is in AAA).....I'd rather build the bench for the 150 games where no one is injured in a game......

Nunez has a much higher floor than anyone the Twins can call up from the minors in April or May. It's not about one game.

 

Which is why I'm all in favor of giving Nunez a short leash based on the performance of Santana and/or Polanco. If the team gains confidence in one or both of those players, it's a lot easier to cut bait with Nunez.

[Seth Stohs]

 

 

I am not a Nunez guy, but if he can't PH for Suzuki, what is his role, exactly?

To be the backup at 3B, SS and 2B. 

[Mike Sixel]

 

To be the backup at 3B, SS and 2B. 

 

What, then, is Santana's role? 

 

If you won't PH for your SS, 2B, or 3B, isn't one guy for injury insurance enough?

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

What, then, is Santana's role? 

 

If you won't PH for your SS, 2B, or 3B, isn't one guy for injury insurance enough?

I don't know if the team considers Santana "insurance" or "experiment".

 

I personally would not rely on him for anything at this point.

 

But I also don't want to lose him to the waiver wire, at least not until I see him take more hacks at MLB pitching.

[Mike Sixel]

So Nunez is insurance against injury, and against Santana not being good enough to be insurance? He is under paid......(just trying to lighten the mood).

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

So Nunez is insurance against injury, and against Santana not being good enough to be insurance? He is under paid......(just trying to lighten the mood).

Heh, I suspect Santana is more there out of fear of losing a quality player to waivers than expected performance (at least in April), pretty much the same as Arcia.

 

And I think that's the correct course of action for early 2016. Give these guys two months to figure out who stays on the roster and who gets the boot. It would be unnecessarily risky (in either direction) to make that decision today.

 

Best case scenario, Santana and Arcia thrive, Nunez gets the boot.

 

Most likely scenario, Arcia is okay, Nunez is whatever, and Santana is "please god, I've seen enough already".

[Seth Stohs]

 

What, then, is Santana's role? 

 

If you won't PH for your SS, 2B, or 3B, isn't one guy for injury insurance enough?

 

Santana is the backup LF, CF, RF, who could also play three infield positions. 

 

It's good enough if you only need one extra player in a game. 

[jorgenswest]

The Twins chose to keep Nunez and Santana though Santana gives them coverage at 6 positions. He can also pinch run. They could have looked to improve the hitting off the bench. They chose not to address that need opting for flexibility instead. Not every team would make this choice.

 

The Twins might look at it is injury insurance. Though Dozier will play nearly every day he may get injured. They might look at it as protection against Escobar not hitting. In either of those cases Nunez is an asset assuming Polanco tanks in AAA.

 

Another team might look at it and see Santana's versatility and Polanco in AAA. They might see Sano as an option at 3B. They might look assess their failure to pinch hit in 2015. They might go into winter looking for a real option for a bat on the bench.

 

Ryan chose to go with the flexibility Nunez offers over a bat. It could be the right call. There are 160 games left to show that keeping both Nunez and Santana offer real in game value to the team.