Who Really is the Twins Best Hitter?

[jsteve96]

Who is the Twins best hitter? most would say Miguel Sano, Brian Dozier, or Joe Mauer. When actually their best hitter is in the 6 spot. Byung-Ho Park has been miss-used for weeks. Since the Twins 0-9 streak ended Park has posted a .294/.351/.745 slashline. Not only are the power number showing up in the MLB like they did over in Korea, he has also only struck out 23% of the time over that stretch compared to his 50% K rate over his first 24 plate appearances. He's for real.

 

If the Molitor really wants to start winning games he will bat Park where he belongs, the 4 spot batting after Joe Mauer who has a .445 OBP. 

 

How long do you think it will take for Molitor to put together the Twins actual best possible line up?

[diehardtwinsfan]

It will be interesting if the first 9 games was all Park needed to adjust to ML pitching.  I do think, batting where he's at, he might be setup more to succeed than what he would in the middle of the order, and for the time being, that isn't a bad thing.  Granted, if he keeps hitting anywhere close to those numbers going forward, I think you put him in the cleanup spot. 

 

Personally, I think this team could benefit more from higher averages/OBPs than anything.  Park has been pretty respectable in those departments since that start, but there's a few other guys that really need to improve there.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Park has been unbelievable. If he's still doing this in 2-3 weeks, Mauer and Sano need to slide up and Park should slot into cleanup.

[Bill Brown69]

I started wondering last night if he could be the first player ever to hit 50 homers and fail to drive in 100.

 

As of yet he seems to do better with the bases empty.

[HitInAPinch]

I guess it depends one your criteria for "Best Hitter". 

 

BA, OPS+:  Nunez, still.  Somehow  

OBP, BB:  Mauer

SLG, OPS:  Park, SLG by a lot

 

But that's not really what you're talking about.  It's about lineup structure.  That's why a guy like Nunez [with a .371 BA, .420 OBP and a whopping 3 BB's ] hit leadoff for a long time and Mauer [with reasonable .316 BA and team leading .445 OBP] is hitting 2nd/3rd.

 

I think we're talking about getting Park an extra AB per game, just like we did with Sano.  Based on OPS+ [2nd behind Nunez] yeah, I like Park #3 in the lineup, behind Nunez [Danny Santana looks pretty gassed, to me] and Mauer.  Packing high OBP together.

 

 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Park looks really good. I would move him ahead of Sano.

[USAFChief]

I would move both Mauer and Park up in the order.

 

Mauer is miscast in an RBI spot and Park should get an extra PA over lesser hitters.

[John Kelsey]

If they're going to stick with the recent lineup I'd go with this for a batting order. 

 

1. Mauer

2. Dozier

3. Sano

4. Park

5. Plouffe

6. Arcia/Rosario

7. Escobar

8. Suzuki

9. Santana

[jimmer]

Of active MLB players, Mauer has the 2nd best career BA with RISP

[jsteve96]

 

Of active MLB players, Mauer has the 2nd best career BA with RISP

Singles dont always score runs with RISP and they dont clear the bases ever either. the 3 and 4 spots are for guys that can score players from 1st base too.

[jimmer]

 

Singles dont always score runs with RISP and they dont clear the bases ever either. the 3 and 4 spots are for guys that can score players from 1st base too.

I'm saying that his lack of RBI over his career hasn't always been on him.  A lot of it had to do with poor OBP guys in front of him and the fact that, as a catcher, he didn't play 162. Also, if singles aren't scoring guys from 2B on singles maybe that has at least something to do with who is on 2B.  My point is, he does exceedingly well with RISP and has practically every season.

 

Having said that, he belongs in the 2 hole.  It's where the best hitter should be.

[DocBauer]

With Plouffe now back, and recent play of Sano at 3B and getting his stroke back, I think the Twins need to take a really hard looK at their roster and lineup configurations. While the results aren't nearly what we want or need, there are some "interesting" things happening.

 

1} Santana is looking a bit more like he did in 2014. At least he's contributing.

 

2} Dozier has been struggling. He has spoke in the past about enjoying hitting leadoff. Perhaps he and Santana should swap spots in order to jump start Dozier's season?

 

3} Thus far, Mauer looks suspiciously like the Mauer of old. Hopefully this is not an illusion. We can argue whether he should hit 1-2-3 in the lineup, but if he keeps this up, and Dozier could find his spark, I'm not so sure we shouldn't continue Mauer in the 3 spot ahead of Sano and Park.

 

4} Despite early reports that Sano would NOT play 3B this year, look what happened? And what kind of defense has Sano played at the hot corner? Solid at least. He may never be great, but like all the scouts stated previously, he can at least be solid at the spot.

 

So what now?

 

IMO, Plouffe, Mauer and Park all need to be fitted with an OF glove and audition for time in RF. How can the Twins possibly feel it's OK and right to move Sano to RF for this season, and not consider these other 3 as candidates to do the same?

 

Right or wrong, love him or hate him, Santana is hitting some, (a rarity right now), and can play OK in all 3 OF spots. Ditto for Rosario, who is not hitting well, but even more talented and better defensively, and shouldn't be given up in. Arcia is a better, harder working and better player than he was last year. He can sort of play both corner OF spots, seemingly better than before. And let's face it, until Kepler is ready, RF may just be an average at best defensive position.

 

(Not even mentioning the solid hitting and versatile Nunez at this point)

 

SO if you really want to put your best lineup together, you have options of Arcia, Sano, Plouffe, Mauer and Park at 3B, 1B, DH, and RF. 5 guys for 4 spots daily if you use them right and mix and match. And this includes Santana, Nunez and Rosario taking their various turns.

 

To me, it is short-sighted and disingenuous for Molitor and the Twins to pigekn-hole anyone in a specific spot AT THIS POINT. YES, it's clearly easier to lock in an everyday 1-9 with some solid bench options you can filter in and out of the lineup. But we're simply not there right now.

 

THIS to me, IMHO, is a moment for Molitor to shine...or not...as a manager to use his available talent the most effectively as he can.

[jimmer]

'Who Really is the Twins Best Hitter?'

 

Still Mauer

[jsteve96]

 

I'm saying that his lack of RBI over his career hasn't always been on him.  A lot of it had to do with poor OBP guys in front of him and the fact that, as a catcher, he didn't play 162. Also, if singles aren't scoring guys from 2B on singles maybe that has at least something to do with who is on 2B.  My point is, he does exceedingly well with RISP and has practically every season.

 

Having said that, he belongs in the 2 hole.  It's where the best hitter should be.

The best hitter is not Joe Mauer. he is the best OBP and contact hitter though. leadoff would be a perfect fit.

[Ncgo4]

I am intrigued with Miguel Sano’s hitting.  I looked at last year’s hitting log for him and was surprised by what I found.  The first 30 games were not superlative, but were OK given his status as a just called up rookie.  His next 19 games were all world.  His last 30 games were below dismal.

 

July, 2 - August, 11.  109 AB  30 hits (.275 Average).  19 RBI’s 5 HR’s (1 every 22 at bat)

Aug, 12 - Sept, 2.      57 AB  23 hits (.403 Average).   23 RBI’s 10 HR’s (1 every 5.7 at bat)

Sept, 3 - Oct, 4.         115 AB  22 hits (.194 Average).  10 RBI’s  3 HR’s (1 every 38 at bat)

Perhaps most amazingly, the worse he hit, the lower his strike out rate.  For the above periods (41%, 59% and 37%).

This year, with an acknowledged ridiculously small sample, in a 5 game stretch (April, 18- April 22).  Sano has batted .400.  Had a HR every 6.7 AB and had 4 RBI’s.  In the other 18 Games he’s hit .212 with 0 HR’s 7 RBI’s. 

 

No conclusions drawn or implied wth this small of a sample, but interesting.

[Primetime82]

The funniest part of Molitor's lineup is he put's Plouffe in the 5 spot! MAUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH    

 

Ground ball double play Plouffe comes backs from injury after going 1 for 8 with 2/3 k's in A ball and he slides him into the 5hole after Parks been blistering hot! 

[Riverbrian]

2. Mauer

3. Sano

4. Park

 

Those 3 every day in the lineup in those spots and the rest of them are rotated based upon who is playing well or weighted based on talent and slotted wherever. 

 

Plouffe can sit on occasion so Sano can play 3B on occasion and someone else can play RF on occasion.  

 

However... I feel most strongly that Molitor is going to have to find a spot other than 1B for Park or Mauer to play so they can both play in National League Cities. 

 

 

 

[Secondary User]

His 'lack' of RBIs also had a lot to do with the fact that he was catching.  If you scale his RBI totals out to 155 games like he would normally play if he were in the field, his RBI totals look worlds different.  Still not the perennial 100 guy, but good

I'm saying that his lack of RBI over his career hasn't always been on him.  A lot of it had to do with poor OBP guys in front of him and the fact that, as a catcher, he didn't play 162. Also, if singles aren't scoring guys from 2B on singles maybe that has at least something to do with who is on 2B.  My point is, he does exceedingly well with RISP and has practically every season.

 

Having said that, he belongs in the 2 hole.  It's where the best hitter should be.

 

[Loosey]

Joe Mauer.  End Topic.

 

 

[jimmer]

His 'lack' of RBIs also had a lot to do with the fact that he was catching. If you scale his RBI totals out to 155 games like he would normally play if he were in the field, his RBI totals look worlds different. Still not the perennial 100 guy, but good

In my post that you quoted I mentioned the catching part.

[spinowner]

 

'Who Really is the Twins Best Hitter?'

 

Still Mauer

Or, to be more accurate, Mauer again.

[ScrapTheNickname]

 

I started wondering last night if he could be the first player ever to hit 50 homers and fail to drive in 100.

 

As of yet he seems to do better with the bases empty.

I had to look it up.

Yes, Park is hitting .111 with RISP.

With men on: .133.

 

I doubt if this has any relevance though. Time (and more runners on base) will straighten this out.

 

 

[Ncgo4]

Clearly it is Mauer as the most consistent, Park as the best bargain and Arcia as the biggest surprise.

[Secondary User]

 

In my post that you quoted I mentioned the catching part.

 

My bad

[Guest]

2. Mauer

3. Sano

4. Park

 

Those 3 every day in the lineup in those spots and the rest of them are rotated based upon who is playing well or weighted based on talent and slotted wherever. 

 

Plouffe can sit on occasion so Sano can play 3B on occasion and someone else can play RF on occasion.  

 

However... I feel most strongly that Molitor is going to have to find a spot other than 1B for Park or Mauer to play so they can both play in National League Cities.

 

Yogi Berra played OF. Mauer should, also. Sano to 3B. Park to 1B. Plouffe to Padres or Angels. Toss in Jorge or Rosario from Ft. Myers, see what you get.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

 

here's mine

 

1. Escobar

2. Mauer

3. Sano

4. Park

5. Plouffe

6. Arcia/Rosario

7. Dozier

8. Suzuki

9. Santana

[Platoon]

Singles dont always score runs with RISP and they dont clear the bases ever either. the 3 and 4 spots are for guys that can score players from 1st base too.

I have had this running argument for years with another baseball blogger. It isn't that Mauer can't hit, or doesn't have good numbers with men on base. He's missing the power of a good 3 hitter. He truly should be leadoff. He isn't totally slow, is a good baserunner, and is on often. That said, any team that hits a Dozier leadoff for that long cannot be expected to make lineup adjustments easily.

[Platoon]

I might add this, because it relates to the lineup construction. Or should I say the lineup flexibility. If your teams collective talent evaluation allows you to put Sano in the OF, there can never again be raised the argunent that another player cannot.