Article: What Are Molitor's Infields Telling Us?

[Nick Nelson]

We're at a stage in this lost season where game outcomes have ceased to matter. The results, at this point, are much less important than the process.

 

One thing that's been particularly interesting to follow here in September is the way Paul Molitor is divvying up playing time in his infield. What conclusions can we draw from the manager's trends?Last week, owner Jim Pohlad double down on his vote of confidence, reiterating that the plan is for Molitor to return next season. It's the final leg of a three-year contract, so the skipper undoubtedly knows the stakes he'll be facing if he wants to keep doing this.

 

These final weeks of the current season provide a prime opportunity to experiment, and evaluate players who will mostly be returning in 2017. In this respect, Molitor's usage of several infielders has been striking.

 

The most noteworthy trend, of course, has been Jorge Polanco's entrenchment at shortstop. The 23-year-old's nod there on Sunday marked his fifth in a row, and his 22nd start at the position in the last 25 games.

 

Prior to being called up for good at the end of July, Polanco had started a total of zero games at short this year with Rochester. It was the continuation of a trend. He had started seeing more and more time at second late last year with the Red Wings, and played that position almost exclusively in the Dominican Winter League.

 

By all appearances, the Twins had given up on Polanco as a shortstop. When you watch him now, it isn't all that hard to see why. While he's capable of making most of the plays, he isn't the kind of flashy cannon-armed defender that you want at the crux of your infield.

 

Yet, Molitor keeps looking at him there, at the expense of all other positions. Polanco hasn't drawn a start anywhere else in nearly a month.

 

Meanwhile, Eduardo Escobar has fallen back into limbo. He rarely plays short anymore, instead seeing the majority of his sporadic starts at third. Escobar has had a poor but not disastrous season, and he certainly ought to be part of the team's plans going forward. He's still only 27, he's been a solidly average hitter over the last three years, and he'll command less than $5 million through arbitration in 2017.

 

In the past, Molitor has liked Escobar enough to plug him in all over the field. Last year that even included 27 starts in left and seven at DH. Now, with nothing really standing in Escobar's way, he has been relegated to a utility role. Maybe the manager has finally soured on him, but it seems rather unwarranted.

 

No position has seen more constant turnover than third base. Rarely has the same name been written next to 3B on the lineup card on consecutive days. Trevor Plouffe alternated steadily between the infield corners when he was healthy. Escobar has been at third every so often. James Beresford got his first big-league start there on Saturday.

 

And as for Miguel Sano? Well, his usage may be the most perplexing of anyone on the club. He has only started back-to-back games at third twice since the beginning of August, and never three in a row during that span. Elbow soreness could contribute to this, although he still plays there often enough to dispel the notion that there's a great deal of concern surrounding his health.

 

Sano has not looked good defensively but he has also surely developed rust from barely playing third base in the last 15 months. There is no better opportunity to let him shake off that rust in game situations than trivial September contests but Molitor evidently lacks interest in doing so.

 

What to make of the manager's decisions as far as situating his infields? Personally, I have a hard time finding rhyme or reason when it comes to his deployments on the left side.

 

How would you prefer to see infield playing time shake out in the final weeks?

 

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[gocgo]

Well, third base may be troubling, but what do you do with Polanco if he can't play short?  I don't see them trading Dozier to put Polanco at 2nd unless they get a treasure trove for Dozier in a trade.  I don't see that happening.  Trade Polanco?

[DocBauer]

How and why do you play Polanco daily, almost exclusively at SS but not let Sano play daily at 3B to hone his skills there? It makes absolutely no sense!

 

I don't know that anyone has soured on Escobar. I think it's more about knowing, more or less, what you have in him already. Personally, I'd have him and Polanco fight for the SS in ST, and the non-winner would be my utility infielder and probably still play a lot.

 

But these last few weeks should be all about Murphy at catcher with some Centeno thrown in there as well, and Polanco at SS, Vargas at 1B or DH every day, but for goodness sake, unless there is some elbow concern, let Sano play 3B daily.

[Halsey Hall]

I think the rhyme or reason with Polanco is see how he fairs.  Not much to judge him by if he didn't play there in the minors, and he seems to have a decent bat, so no better time to get extended time at ss and see how it shakes out.

[David HK]

I'm not sure if Molly may be confused between 'infields' and 'infidels.'  That may be a consideration.  Perhaps he's thinking in a more metaphysical sense.  

 

Or- perhaps it's just more of the non-sensical sense that's been a Twins hallmark since he took over in the dugout.  Kind of like the Logan Schafer-over-ABW kind of thing.

[h2oface]

Molitor is just as bad as Gardenhire about playing players out of position. It surely contributes to leading the league in errors. Molitor is lost.

[tobi0040]

Maybe the only conclusion is Molitor doesn't know what he is doing.

[Riverbrian]

I think it means that Paul doesn't like Sano defensively... Anywhere but even Paul knows that 3B may be his only shot.

 

I also believe that Polanco (because of team context) is being given an extended look at SS like Sano got in RF. 

 

Escobar... has no margin of error. He has been losing his job in a light breeze since he made the bigs. 

 

 

 

[Platoon]

Polanco's warts are already evident and on another team I would keep him and Dozier, and eventually expect Polanco to be a super sub, PH, and base runner. And he would get plenty AB's. But this team has to acquire pitching , somehow. Even if it's a low 2 or a 3. Dozier, and maybe a combination of others is the only player we have outside of a couple untouchable youth that can bring that. That leaves me with Polanco at second, and EE as a placeholder at SS. You can't look at Polanco in a vacuum. The need for pitching supersedes who played second. As for Sano, you got me. The Beresford day rates a pass, but EE playing there is a waste of innings. You know what EE is, and you need to get Sano intrenched at 3rd. Unless the grand plan is for the return of Plouffe. Then you got me! I would have sat Dozier for some games of Polanco at 2nd, but BD's HR rampage screwed that up. That said, Molitor's lineups are indeed puzzling. One third to look at a prospect, one third to look at the Shaefers of the world, and then one third to try and win the game. And accomplish none of these.

[Platoon]

A much scarier thought did occur to me. What if these are Molitors actual ideas of lineup construction? Daily changes based on a dart board? And what if Molitor and Pohlad are so joined at the hip, that Molitor has an oversized influence on the roster? And we end up with a milquetoast GM, who knows his place? While this does have a certain conspiratorial aspect to it, we do live in TwinsWorld, and we are lot further than we think about getting out of this place!

[Shaitan]

Sano's arm is injured. I wouldn't read too much into 3B this August-September. If it continues next May-June, yes.

[HitInAPinch]

 

A much scarier thought did occur to me. What if these are Molitors actual ideas of lineup construction? Daily changes based on a dart board? And what if Molitor and Pohlad are so joined at the hip, that Molitor has an oversized influence on the roster? And we end up with a milquetoast GM, who knows his place? While this does have a certain conspiratorial aspect to it, we do live in TwinsWorld, and we are lot further than we think about getting out of this place!

http://i1.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/804/573/f07.jpg

[Platoon]

You might need more tinfoil? .

[beckmt]

Still think the best thing would be to trade Dozier if the return is good.  Shortstops are coming and EE is an OK stopgap.  Third base should be Sano's and Plouffe should be gone.  Unless you make Sano the full time DH and then you have other issues with Park and Vargas.  Same old, Same old.  Molitors rotations make no sense and I would have fired him in May.

[HitInAPinch]

The different lineups and positions is just the Twins trying to figure out what they have going into Spring Training 2017.  

 

They also need sick notes from all the players parents on days they have to face guys like Kluber.  gods he's good.....

 

I believe the Twins will be looking at Polanco being a utility player+ at least for the start of the season.  Subbing for Sano, primarily, and Dozier and Escobar less frequently.  Beresford at 1st:  REALLY didn't see that one coming!

 

Moving away from the lineups, I'd like to see both Berrios and Duffey in the Twins bullpen next season.  No real high-pressure situations;  start of the inning stuff, like Perkins [ oop ack ].  Get them broken in on MLB hitters. 

[HitInAPinch]

 

 

You might need more tinfoil? .

[Thrylos]

1B Vargas
2B Dozier/Beresford/Escobar
SS Polanco
3B Sano

[cgray]

I would like to see Polanco play every day at either SS or 3B. If he isn't playing 3B than hopefully Sano is there.

Keep the young guys in the lineup. They have shown they need the game reps fielding and made the correct throws. Might be tough on our young pitching staff but that's been tough all year as well.

[howieramone2]

Last time I did the math, Sano has played 3rd 25% of the time since he has been to The Show. Molly is running out of excuses why he's not out there. The fact of the matter is, our favorite team will never have a decent infield with Sano flopping around out there. It's Polanco's job to lose at SS, if so he moves to 3B.

[twinsnorth49]

I'm perfectly fine with him playing SS, is long as he's there it keeps Mollie from putting him in the OF.

 

Obviously it's a bit hard to find time for him at 2nd with Dozier there but he should have played at least a few by now. Sano should be playing every possible game at 3rd, fair enough if his arm is preventing that but I'm a bit cynical that's the reason. Vargas needs to see more time at 1st (or anywhere really!), Mauer can DH.............at least when Suzuki isn't.

 

Bottom line is Nick Gordon can't get here fast enough.

[Mike Sixel]

some day I'd love to read a short story about why they didn't play Polanco at SS in AAA, and then moved him to SS in the majors. IMO, if that was a real possibility, they probably should have played him at SS in AAA.

[Platoon]

I have my tinfoil, it's you guys I am worried about! . That said, the Twins roster is like a Rubics Cube. Everytime you want to move a piece, you have to consider where the other pieces go. Be back later, I see some sun peaking into moms basement. I gotta move that drape!

[howieramone2]

 

some day I'd love to read a short story about why they didn't play Polanco at SS in AAA, and then moved him to SS in the majors. IMO, if that was a real possibility, they probably should have played him at SS in AAA.

No problem. Antony said on Inside Twins he played at 2B, because we had no depth behind Dozier in case of an injury. They already had Nunez, Escobar, and Santana at SS. 

[Thrylos]

 

some day I'd love to read a short story about why they didn't play Polanco at SS in AAA, and then moved him to SS in the majors. IMO, if that was a real possibility, they probably should have played him at SS in AAA.

 

How about just a sentence (and a bit) :  These are the same people who have been making personnel decisions the last 20-some years around here; do you really think that there is a reason or a rhyme in those decisions?  (see: Sano, Miguel, rightfielder) 

[Mike Sixel]

 

No problem. Antony said on Inside Twins he played at 2B, because we had no depth behind Dozier in case of an injury. They already had Nunez, Escobar, and Santana at SS. 

 

Really? Ugh.

[TheLeviathan]

 

Really? Ugh.

 

This organizational hierarchy can't get blown up fast enough.

[Platoon]

No problem. Antony said on Inside Twins he played at 2B, because we had no depth behind Dozier in case of an injury. They already had Nunez, Escobar, and Santana at SS.

 

Would it be fair if I was to use that comment in my evaluation of the Twins FO? Or is that what we call a SSS? I guess I was wrong. If Nunez, Sanatana, and EE is the criteria we use for the SS position, then I don't have enough tin foil after all!

[birddog]

I think Molitor is still trying to win games for some reason and thus we see no-possible-future guys like Logan Schaefer instead of AB Walker. I doubt Walker has a real future in the bigs, but isn't this the season and time to find out about anyone with whom we have intrigue? Anyone on the 40-man who could possibly be in our future should be getting playing time now at any position they could possibly help us. I understand Moli trying to be competitve against teams in the race, but with this pitching staff I don't think it matters much if any.

[Oldgoat_MN]

I believe that the fact that Logan Schafer has played in 12 games from Aug. 29 through Sept. 11 suggests that the future is not what Molitor is looking at.

 

Why would the infield be different?

[Doomtints]

 

I think Molitor is still trying to win games for some reason and thus we see no-possible-future guys like Logan Schaefer instead of AB Walker. I doubt Walker has a real future in the bigs, but isn't this the season and time to find out about anyone with whom we have intrigue? Anyone on the 40-man who could possibly be in our future should be getting playing time now at any position they could possibly help us. I understand Moli trying to be competitve against teams in the race, but with this pitching staff I don't think it matters much if any.

 

He's not trying to win games.  Beresford is in the majors simply because he's a nice guy and the Twins want to give him a taste of the big leagues before the next GM comes in.  Albers is playing with the team for the same reason, I'm guessing.

 

I have no clue what this team is doing right now, but trying to win isn't it.  It seems like they are clinging tight to their "Minnesota Nice/We're a Famly, GoshDarnit" philosophy until the very end.