Still no love for Danny Santana?

[curt1965]

I can't help myself: as probably the only member of the Danny Santana fan club, I'm relishing his performance since coming off the DL. No other player in recent memory, with apologies to Ricky Nolasco and Tim Stauffler, has received so much unwarranted criticism, IMO. I would guess 95% of Twins Daily posters wanted him gone. He was ripped for poor defense, lack of hitting, poor attitude, and being mean to his mother and baby kitties! Many posters exclaimed the only reason he was on the roster was because of a perceived liking by Molly. And on, and on, and on.

Let's be clear: Santana did not play well in 2015. After hitting .319 in 2014, everyone proclaimed his extremely high BABIP was an outlier, and when he had a bad start in 2015, most experts thought they had their answer. Edwardo Escobar was the fan favorite, and when Danny struggled, TD readers were up in arms. When Escobar finally became the starter, most thought Santana was toast.

Fans should not be surprised. Torii Hunter went back to the minors 3 times before he became a fixture in the Twins lineup. Michael Cuddyer struggled mightily before finally finding his niche. Trevor Plouffe was drafted as a SS as was Brian Dozier, and both were returned to the minors with perceived attitude problems. Justin Morneau was considered a bust until Gardy had a heart-to-heart with him.

I probably have jinxed the poor guy, now. Look for a 0-20 starting today. But if he has learned how to relax and got a better handle on what it takes to play in the bigs, look what we have.

1. A lead off guy with good speed

2. A player who can play 6 positions

3. A switch hitter with extra base potential

4. A great bunter to help his OBP

It has to be tough for these young Latin kids to adjust to life in the big leagues. The language barrier, life without family members, the struggles with success and failure, and no one to really talk to when these problems arise, are but a few of the issues these kids have to deal with.

I'm not saying Danny Santana is a superstar. But if he can be an everyday player with some success, the Twins chances of becoming a really good team just got easier!

[bluechipper]

I like Danny Santana as a super utility guy who can hit .270. He can also be a good pinch running option late in games.

[Mike Sixel]

He was literally the worst every day player in the game last year.....I might need a few more ABs before I'm a believer......

[Danchat]

 

I would guess 95% of Twins Daily posters wanted him gone.

I highly doubt this is true. I like Santana, but right now he should be in a super-utility role, not as a starter. He's a fine player to have on the bench and spot start. I find Molitor's penchant for Santana very odd.

[Lee-The-Twins-Fan]

Yes, I am one of those who suggested Danny Santana could be released, over the winter and at the end of spring training. I didn't accuse him of poor defense, poor attitude, or being mean to his mother and baby kitties – just his lack of hitting, and that I felt the Twins had better options.

 

His hitting so far this season has been better. I'm not sure he – or any Twin – has the combination of OBP and base-running speed to be a true lead-off hitter. .360 is a nice batting average - but it's only over seven games,; he has nine hits, including two doubles, with no walks. That's also a .360 OBP; not bad, but no walks are included (although he only has 4 Ks in 25 AB, which is pretty good, especially on the Twins). 

 

Yeah, if he improves his walk rate and keeps hitting, he could be a good lead-off hitter. One must keep in mind that a true lead-off hitter is challenged by being the first player to face a starting pitcher in a game. Many good lead-off hitters set the hitting tone for the game – either by showing a pitcher can be hit, or by failing to do so.

 

I'm just not sure he's ready for that role, and I don't think 25 ABs is enough of a sample size.

 

But I'm glad he's with the team.

[bluechipper]

 

Yes, I am one of those who suggested Danny Santana could be released, over the winter and at the end of spring training. I didn't accuse him of poor defense, poor attitude, or being mean to his mother and baby kitties – just his lack of hitting, and that I felt the Twins had better options.

 

His hitting so far this season has been better. I'm not sure he – or any Twin – has the combination of OBP and base-running speed to be a true lead-off hitter. .360 is a nice batting average - but it's only over seven games,; he has nine hits, including two doubles, with no walks. That's also a .360 OBP; not bad, but no walks are included (although he only has 4 Ks in 25 AB, which is pretty good, especially on the Twins). 

 

Yeah, if he improves his walk rate and keeps hitting, he could be a good lead-off hitter. One must keep in mind that a true lead-off hitter is challenged by being the first player to face a starting pitcher in a game. Many good lead-off hitters set the hitting tone for the game – either by showing a pitcher can be hit, or by failing to do so.

 

I'm just not sure he's ready for that role, and I don't think 25 ABs is enough of a sample size.

 

But I'm glad he's with the team.

He's also a .276 career minor league hitter with speed and positional flexibility. He's got too much value to just be optioned and lost to another team.

[Lonestar]

You do know his BABIP this year is.429.  Last year it was .295

[ScrapTheNickname]

"You know what they say about bein’ nice to the right people on the way up
Sooner or later you gonna meet them comin’ down"

          Foot of Pride, Bob Dylan

 

Interpret as you please.

[scottz]

Tim Stauffler had it coming.

[DocBauer]

I've always liked Santana and advocated patience. If I'm not mistaken, he was never more than age average at any milb level and usually younger. He practically skipped AAA altogether. And while his 2014 was a lot of fun, it just couldn't be sustained.

 

I felt, last year, his BA and such would drop, but he would exercise a little more patience, sort of off setting any drop. But the year was absolutely a disaster for whatever reason. But you're right, he is too young and athletic and versatile to be given up on. And I was part of the 5%, I guess, that wanted him back and hoped for a rebound.

 

I still have a feeling, over some time, that he may actually develop his overall game in to one of a starter. LF top of the order perhaps? (Maybe for someone else?) But while I'm glad to have him, he should be a role player and not a full time player.

[Rosterman]

If you are going to judge him as a utility guy, someone who is doing more than jsut taking up a roster space, he might have found his niche. Like Nunez (and probably Escobar in the long run) a utility guy needs to meet some minimum standards when doing matter-of-fact substitutes during the season. Where the strength comes from a utility guy is when he can be placed in a starting position shortterm and he runs with it, almost making you think he can be a fulltime player. Maybe he can, but just getting you from week one of a disabled candidate to week four should be more than enough.

 

 

But many utility guys do get hampered when a player goes down and the organization feels it is better to promote a future prospect to play fulltime...which is great, you need to see what you might have and give them some at bats to work on when they return to their fulltime minor league job. A prospect SHOULD NOT be sitting on the bench, unless it is September.

 

Every bench needs that backup catcher, hopefully a defensive genius or someone who can also throw out runners, put a ball in play. You need that extra outfielder, someone who can cover ground (and not  drop the ball) as well as offer some speed on the basepaths, or the ability to get on base. Your main other spot is a jack-of-all-trades, someone who can play a variety of positions, maybe forcing another starter to temporarily move to another position if someone goes down. It is double nice if you can go to their bat in a pitch-hitting situation, more so in the national than than the american league. Of course, you would love to have a guy who is just a big bopper, and can probably play first or the outfield. More often than not that is just the DH who when he sits allows a position player to take his place. But if you can carry a Jim Thome, you have a luxury.

 

But back to Santana. He is seeing an opportunity for the moment. He is grabbing it. The chances of him remaining in center and slim to none, the Twins have too much invested in Buxton. But he needs to show that he has value. He has a job all season with the Twins. If they send him down,. the [possibly lose him. So he knows he ahs a job for the year if adequate, longer if he tries ahrder.

 

Good for him. He has given the team some spark. A team that has played more than half their games in one-run decisions. Go for it, Danny! You were never considered a centerfielder, but you seem to have a spark when you play out there!

 

[Vanimal46]

I feel the love for Santana as a bench/utility guy. I feel no love for Santana in a starting role.... 

[bluechipper]

 

I feel the love for Santana as a bench/utility guy. I feel no love for Santana in a starting role.... 

Even if he's got an over .400 BABIP? I'm hoping we're seeing a Giants/Danny-Santana-crazy-BABIP every other year thing.

[Jham]

He had 7 HR in 400+ at bats in 2014.  Until he starts driving the ball again, I'm going to say he can't keep it up.  He's not tearing the cover off the ball right now.  He's finding holes.

[curt1965]

"You know what they say about bein’ nice to the right people on the way up

Sooner or later you gonna meet them comin’ down"

          Foot of Pride, Bob Dylan

 

Interpret as you please.

Here's my basic point. Most fans have favorite players. Here in Minnesota you see it in Buxton, Sano, Mauer,

and Dozier jerseys. I'm a Danny Santana guy- not a very popular position to take. But he's my guy.

[Platoon]

I am too, I really hoped his length range and athletiscm would allow him to succeed at SS, but it doesn't seem he will. I like defensive SS, ones who take away runs. Offensive ones? Meh!

[Halsey Hall]

A guess of 95%?  I'm part of the other 5% then.

[twinssporto]

Randy Bush Jr.!!!

 

Sweet!

[Mr. Brooks]

I love DanSan as a super utility guy.

I don't think he'll hit enough to be a starter though, and he definitely shouldn't be a leadoff hitter.

[DocBauer]

He had 7 HR in 400+ at bats in 2014.  Until he starts driving the ball again, I'm going to say he can't keep it up.  He's not tearing the cover off the ball right now.  He's finding holes.

He has shown he has some pop, and speed for doubles and triples, but is clearly not a real HR threat. And that's OK. He doesn't have to be one. But finding holes is exactly what he should be doing isn't it? Now...if only he could just work the count for even a few walks, his value goes up immeasurably, IMO.

 

Again, I'm not sure exactly what happened to him last year, but in 2014, one of the things was talked about from time tof time in various broadcasts I watched and listened to, was how quick his hands were. I found it interesting and enlightening. Again, he needs to walk even a bit, but such a natural athlete, and those quick hands, I can see not only pop generated, but the ability to spray the ball, meaning at least a decent overall hitter. With his speed and ability to play multiple positions at least adequately, I really like his potential still, be as it may as a utility player.

[TheLeviathan]

I hear 110% of us wanted Hughes banished to Canada.

 

Bogus statistics to make a point are fun!

[Mr. Brooks]

He has shown he has some pop, and speed for doubles and triples, but is clearly not a real HR threat. And that's OK. He doesn't have to be one. But finding holes is exactly what he should be doing isn't it? Now...if only he could just work the count for even a few walks, his value goes up immeasurably, IMO.

 

Again, I'm not sure exactly what happened to him last year, but in 2014, one of the things was talked about from time tof time in various broadcasts I watched and listened to, was how quick his hands were. I found it interesting and enlightening. Again, he needs to walk even a bit, but such a natural athlete, and those quick hands, I can see not only pop generated, but the ability to spray the ball, meaning at least a decent overall hitter. With his speed and ability to play multiple positions at least adequately, I really like his potential still, be as it may as a utility player.

The problem is that "finding holes" is not a skill.

He's not as bad as he looked last year, but I don't think he'll ever hit enough line drives to be an everyday player.

[Eris]

I like that Danny Santana has made the most of his opportunity and that Buxton should have been sent down.  I would add however that during the 5th inning against Berrios, Lindor's 3 run double into left-center field should have been caught (or at least Buxton would have caught it).  I was disappointed that Santana did not lay out for the ball as it was the turning point of the game.  Not sure if his past hamstring injury impacted the play.

 

Santana is one of the feel good stories for the Twins this year and I hope he keeps it up.

 

David

[stringer bell]

OK, Santana is fast, although not as fast as Buxton. Maybe Buck catches that ball, but even with a dive, I don't think Santana gets leather on it. DanSan can and should get a lot of infield hits--he hits the ball from line to line and with a LH swing, he is extremely quick to first (does anybody have measurements, because I bet he's really close to or faster than Buxton from the RH box). I've seen enough line drives to sustain a high average and the Ks are down (SSS). He does have to be a more patient hitter.

 

I think Santana can be an average CF, which is really a pretty high bar. He has the range and arm to be decent anywhere, but not consistency and focus. I wonder if a super-utility role could keep the focus for him.

[mudcat14]

Santana needs to bat lead-off and play CF until Buxton takes it from him.  He needs to bunt once per game to keep the infield drawn in so his slaps will continue to sneak through.  I think it's getting easier for the young Latin players on the team because we've got nice contingent, roughly the same age to support each and challenge each other.  Hopefully veterans like Ervin and Nunez will guide them through the day to day they will thrive.