Why has Polanco seen no time at Short?

[ashbury]

Polanco is listed as starting SS for this afternoon's game. Strap in, buckle up, this thread is going to get interesting again.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I cringe at the thought of a Sano/Polanco left side of the infield.

 

Defense matters.

 

If you want to see Polanco play, it will have to come at third or second.

[jorgenswest]

I cringe at the thought of a Sano/Polanco left side of the infield.

Defense matters.

If you want to see Polanco play, it will have to come at third or second.

I was surprised that the most extreme of ground ball pitchers had this duo. For pitchers like Santiago or Hughes there may not be that many chances in the infield. I want a good outfield for them. For a guy like Gibson that relies on grounders and double plays, I would think they want the best infield defense.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

I was surprised that the most extreme of ground ball pitchers had this duo. For pitchers like Santiago or Hughes there may not be that many chances in the infield. I want a good outfield for them. For a guy like Gibson that relies on grounders and double plays, I would think they want the best infield defense.

Don't think too hard about it or you'll go blind.

 

(on a related note, I don't think Molitor is nearly as smart as I thought he was going into the season)

[h2oface]

Yes yes yes. I would love to see Polanco at short. I grow tired of Escobar's limited range and not so strong arm.

[Riverbrian]

 

Polanco is listed as starting SS for this afternoon's game. Strap in, buckle up, this thread is going to get interesting again.

 

Can I crawl out from under the desk yet?

[ashbury]

Can I crawl out from under the desk yet?

Let me now turn to my predictions for the Olympics...

[HitInAPinch]

 

Can I crawl out from under the desk yet?

Umm, maybe.  I didn't see any singed artificial turf around the shortstop area at the Trop, so, yeah.  Maybe.

However, I do have great confidence that several pages of introspect will resolve your issues.

Or a psychiatrist.         

[clone52]

 

Polanco, as an asset to the Twins franchise, has his value maximized at second base. Just look at the Sano example. You can't fit square pegs into round holes for the sake of getting player X or Y at bats.

Polanco will get his chance at 2B (he should, at least). Dozier is on an extremely cheap contract through 2018. If he keeps up this production, he will have some serious value on the trade market. Polanco is a young kid with significant offensive upside at 2B. At some point, one has to be traded. They would be foolish not to capitalize on that over the next year or two.

Whatever they do, they just need to stop jerking players all over the field at different positions. Develop the player at the place he has the highest value, and cash in, whether as a player on the team, or a trade.

It's just like any other business. Always maximize value. When you start discounting things for short-term gratification....you end up killing yourself in the long run.

 

The bolded items can be contradictory.

 

What if a player's maximum value is as a hitter and keeping him the lineup most often requires you to jerk him around the field at different positions?

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

The bolded items can be contradictory.

 

What if a player's maximum value is as a hitter and keeping him the lineup most often requires you to jerk him around the field at different positions?

Sure, if you do that to one player, it can make your team better... But we've seen people all over the diamond the past few years, often at positions they cannot play.

 

It's one thing to wedge a guy into the lineup because you need that specific bat taking swings on a daily basis... But the mish-mash of players and positions isn't an isolated incident with this franchise.

[operation mindcrime]

Sadly I agree with you! But one can hope. We need a catcher and pitching and a SS.

We have a catcher his name is John Ryan Murphy.

[GP830]

His glove at SS has passed the eye test thus far but the arm does seem a bit weak. Perhaps someone can weigh in on why it's tough for someone at this level to strengthen their arm?

[Mr. Brooks]

His glove at SS has passed the eye test thus far but the arm does seem a bit weak. Perhaps someone can weigh in on why it's tough for someone at this level to strengthen their arm?

Throwing overhand is a completely unnatural motion.

I suspect each body has an individual limit, and no amount of training will ever get them beyond that.

[GP830]

That makes sense. He DID make some nice throws in 9th tonight. Especially bare handing that chopper. I'm optimistic.

[DocBauer]

He was a defense first player when the Twins signed him. The question was his bat. Obviously, that part of the equation has been answered to a degree. The past few years, he's begun every season hitting first or second, then usually moved to the 3 spot because he was so effective.

 

I'm not a scout. I've only seen him play SS a couple of timestops because, honestly, when he's been up he's hardly been in the lineup until now. (So unbelievably short sighted!) He absolutely needs to play SS, and a lot of it, for two very simple reasons.

 

1} There is a very good chance he at least begins 2017 as a reserve. His bat and athleticism plays at the ML level, or so it appears. If Dozier is not moved, he provides a potentially excellent bench option. At least until a full time role is found for him.

 

2} Up until just recently, he has played no worse then 50% of his milb games as a SS. Certainly, there are outstanding glove first defensive SS in the minors, though there aren't generally a lot of them that have a ML bat. If you take a good long look at some of the best SS in the majors the last 20-30 years, you'll see a bunch of top notch players with high error totals in the minors, and early in their ML careers. We are supposed to be talking about player development here.

 

I didn't get to watch the game tonight, but I did listen to some of it. It's only one game, but sounds li,E he played wel, at SS. Keep putting him out there!

[DiscGolfer]

Polanco should provide a good depth option in the infield from now on.  Let him develop in the majors now and see where he fits.  No need to put pressure on him to be an everyday starter until there is a need for that.  There is no need to trade Dozier just because Polanco is up, there will be plenty of options for playing time if he is flexible

[Tom Froemming]

When I first saw this question I was like "because they don't think he can play there, obviously!" But after seeing him at short the past two games, I'm starting to wonder. He's looked pretty comfortable there.

 

So is it that they just let Mike Quade use Wilfredo Tovar instead because he's the superior shortstop? That would make sense if you're trying to win the International League championship, but you're not. You're trying to develop major leaguers.

[wavedog]

I was watching the Astros broadcast of the game last night.  They were very impressed with Polanco's play at short in particular a play where he had to run in bend down for a slow chopper and fire a throw to first.  They added they know what position he will be playing tomorrow night.    I would like to see him play at SS more to see if he can stick there - from last nights game his arm looked strong enough.   

[kab21]

I have never understood why there is this insistence that Polanco can't play short. I think ideally he doesn't play short but I think he can.

[Brock Beauchamp]

So far, a pleasant surprise. I assumed Polanco didn't have a chance to stick at shortstop because the Twins didn't play him regularly at the position throughout his career.

 

But maybe that isn't the case. A lot more data is needed, though. Sano had strings of 2-3 games where he looked not only adequate but pretty good at third. Obviously, we know that's not the case and he needs a lot of polish at the hot corner.

[ashbury]

So is it that they just let Mike Quade use Wilfredo Tovar instead because he's the superior shortstop? That would make sense if you're trying to win the International League championship, but you're not. You're trying to develop major leaguers.

Your question answers itself, as you went on to acknowledge. So then you have to look elsewhere.

 

IMO the only explanation for installing him at 2B at AAA is that the team sees him as better than a utility infielder because of the bat, and only a second baseman in the majors if he's to be a regular. So they want to both get him completely comfortable there, and assure themselves that he's ready. Next step (now) is to give him an extended look in the majors.

 

If no red flags develop, the new GM will trade Dozier in the off-season. This past trade deadline was too soon, by this timeline. So for 2016 Polanco and Dozier must co-exist; you can't sit Dozier unless you want to diminish his trade value. Utility infielder is fine for a rookie, anyway.

[Loosey]

I'll trust the new regime's thoughts on his new position.  Up until then I will just go with whatever this Front Office is doing with him as long as they are playing him.

 

I think in the future he will be a 2nd baseman, but that is a ways off.  I'd like to see him play on a major league field at SS in a lost season.  If he sucks, oh well.

[Jham]

It's not like esco doesn't have limited range. Polanco was my pick for short last season, but Esco deserved to keep his spot. Polanco has a very quick release and barely enough am strength. I think between him and esco, we're ok at short.

[John Kelsey]

I think we'll start to see his flaws at short come to light soon, but I'll give him credit, he's looked very good so far. 

[Mr. Brooks]

When I first saw this question I was like "because they don't think he can play there, obviously!" But after seeing him at short the past two games, I'm starting to wonder. He's looked pretty comfortable there.

 

So is it that they just let Mike Quade use Wilfredo Tovar instead because he's the superior shortstop? That would make sense if you're trying to win the International League championship, but you're not. You're trying to develop major leaguers.

Trying to win games in the minors, at the expense of development, explains a lot of our problems, such as Buxton not being able to bunt, and Rosario being allergic to walks.

[alarp33]

 

Trying to win games in the minors, at the expense of development, explains a lot of our problems, such as Buxton not being able to bunt, and Rosario being allergic to walks.

 

Buxton not being able to bunt is something like issue # 1,000 for this team.  Such a beaten to death meaningless debate 

[jimmer]

72 plate appearances at the MLB level this year, only 5 Ks. Only 8 Ks in 92 MLB appearances.

 

That's insane!  Makes me wonder why they waited so long with him.  He is already a very polished hitter and should start every game.

[Mr. Brooks]

Buxton not being able to bunt is something like issue # 1,000 for this team. Such a beaten to death meaningless debate

It doesn't matter what number it is on a list of issues. It's something that he should be learning in the minors. That's all I'm saying.

[alarp33]

 

It doesn't matter what number it is on a list of issues. It's something that he should be learning in the minors. That's all I'm saying.

 

I would rather him learn to hit, since he's going to be (and should be) swinging the bat, not bunting.. 99% of the time

[Mike Sixel]

The real question is why Polanco spent so much time in AAA this year.....