Tyler Austin

[stringer bell]

I'm pretty impressed with Austin. He has demonstrated power to all fields, and in a small sample size has an OPS over .900. I know he hasn't been in there every day, but he provides right-handed pop, something the Twins have in short supply, other than Sano.  

[Riverbrian]

I've actually got an OPS of 1.015 in a Twins uniform. 

 

At this moment in time... He is our best hitter. Yeah... Small Sample Size of course. 

 

So... I assume that he will bat 8th in the order and sit against most right-handers. 

[stringer bell]

 

I've actually got an OPS of 1.015 in a Twins uniform. 

 

At this moment in time... He is our best hitter. Yeah... Small Sample Size of course. 

 

So... I assume that he will bat 8th in the order and sit against most right-handers. 

Yeah, Robbie's gotta play somewhere!

[Riverbrian]

 

Yeah, Robbie's gotta play somewhere!

 

Tyler Austin hit .224 with the Yankees. 

 

Since joining us he has raised his batting average to .245

 

The best way to make sure he hits .224. 

 

Sit him when he is swinging good. 

 

[GCTF]

My thoughts when they acquired Austin was that he wasn't much more than a two outcome hitter and that folks around here would grow weary of him in short order. That may still happen, but so far I've been pleasantly surprised and hope he can continue to be an asset. They could certainly use a RH bat with some pop.

[Riverbrian]

My thoughts when they acquired Austin was that he wasn't much more than a two outcome hitter and that folks around here would grow weary of him in short order. That may still happen, but so far I've been pleasantly surprised and hope he can continue to be an asset. They could certainly use a RH bat with some pop.

I don’t know much about the prospects they acquired but I watched a couple of Yankees Games and Austin made me look him up. The ball jumped off his bat and I thought to myself immediately “who is this guy”.

 

I’m not predicting an all-star nomination or even a career but if he improves that plate discipline... the ball will rocket off his bat and that usually turns out good. I remain optimistic.

[ChrisKnutson]

Starter or not, Austin has definitely solidified a roster spot in 2019. And who knows, maybe an Austin/Rooker tandem at 1st might be enough for the FO to abstain from signing veteran competition in the offseason.

[jorgenswest]

I think he should be on the team next year based on the ability he has shown to hit left handed pitching over the last three years.

 

However, his slash stats in a few month this year should have no weight with that decision. Small samples should be ignored for the purpose of projection. The only use would be to tell the story of the past.

[USAFChief]

I think he's a piece of next year's team. Hopefully, a good piece. He's certainly looked good and is an intriguing RH bat, which the Twins can use.

[jkcarew]

Not swinging and missing as much as feared (not nearly as much as he had with the Yankees). I’m going to go with his most recent SSS

[diehardtwinsfan]

He was a pretty big prospect a few years ago, but never did well in limited MLB time... he could be maturing. He was crowed out of NY, so hopefully we got a good one. 

[gman]

Maybe, hopefully, it was time for us to win something from the Yankees. That wheel has to turn sometime, doesn't it?

[jimmer]

 

Maybe, hopefully, it was time for us to win something from the Yankees. That wheel has to turn sometime, doesn't it?

We'll see how he does going forward.  He has less than 100 games played in the majors over 3 years.  He only had 310 PA going into today. He gets on base less than 30% of the time.

[Riverbrian]

If I had to make a decision today... I don't but if I had to make a decision today. Actually, I'll never have to make the decision... 

 

OK... But If I had to make a decision today. I'm putting Austin on the 25 Man Roster and signing Escobar to join Sano and I'm saying 3B/1B is covered. 

 

If Mauer decides to come back... What you do with Austin is much more complicated. I'd like Molitor to play Austin in the outfield some THIS YEAR! See if he can play some OF in case Joe is back. 

 

Do you hear me PAUL? 

[Monty Wildhack]

And he hits his second home run of the game while I was reading this! Not a bad day at the plate!

[Thrylos]

He started the season playing 11/15 games for the Yankees hitting .289/.386/.553
From May 1 to June 15 he played in only 15 games (about 1/3) and hit .153/.190/.305
Since he came to the Twins he played in all but one game hitting .316/.357/.658 (before today)

 

Looks like a guy who needs to play pretty much every day to get and keep his rhythm.  He could not do that for the Yankees.   Hopefully the Twins got a steal here.

[Shaitan]

He plays a little OF, right?

 

If he can be a serviceable 5th OF, he's a decent bench piece at minimum. 

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

If I had to make a decision today... I don't but if I had to make a decision today. Actually, I'll never have to make the decision... 

 

OK... But If I had to make a decision today. I'm putting Austin on the 25 Man Roster and signing Escobar to join Sano and I'm saying 3B/1B is covered. 

 

If Mauer decides to come back... What you do with Austin is much more complicated. I'd like to Molitor play Austin in the outfield THIS YEAR! See if he can play some OF in case Joe is back. 

 

Do you hear me PAUL? 

You still need a DH... Nelson Cruz?

[akmanak]

I always liked Austin and believe some of the reason he didnt have a great start in the majors was simply because he played for the Yankees. We have seen a number of players fold under the pressure of playing for them.

[Riverbrian]

 

You still need a DH... Nelson Cruz?

 

I would never sign a DH only. 

 

On my team... DH would be used to provide playing time for my significant depth. 

 

If I have Escobar, Sano and (Austin or Mauer) and they are all playing well. I got 3B, 1B and DH covered. 

 

If I sign Cruz (and I'm not opposed)... Cruz is going play some OF because playing Cruz as a DH only... Well that would make my flexibility inflexible. 

[DocBauer]

If I had to make a decision today... I don't but if I had to make a decision today. Actually, I'll never have to make the decision... 

 

OK... But If I had to make a decision today. I'm putting Austin on the 25 Man Roster and signing Escobar to join Sano and I'm saying 3B/1B is covered. 

 

If Mauer decides to come back... What you do with Austin is much more complicated. I'd like to Molitor play Austin in the outfield THIS YEAR! See if he can play some OF in case Joe is back. 

 

Do you hear me PAUL?

 

Times two!

 

Not a clue how much OF he's played, but his value is that much greater if he can play a passable OF here and there. Unless you already have experience indicating he just can't do the job, he should be getting some there now, and come spring.

[TheLeviathan]

I don't know what will become of him, but I'm glad he's getting a lot of at-bats.

 

My goodness does the ball jump off his bat.

[stringer bell]

Per baseball reference, Austin played 12 games in the outfield for the Yankees, starting only three of those games. Further research shows that Austin was primarily an outfielder through the 2015 season. He transitioned to primarily a first baseman in 2016.

 

I would see him in a DH, 1B rotation. From what I’ve seen at first base, he is OK, certainly not a Dr. Strangeglove.

[stringer bell]

Now the question I’ve dreaded asking—is the only difference between TA and Sanó the position they play?

[Bill Brown69]

I like Austin, Mauer and Sano taking 90% of the 1B, 3B, DH at bats next year unless somebody beats them out. 

[Riverbrian]

 

Times two!

Not a clue how much OF he's played, but his value is that much greater if he can play a passable OF here and there. Unless you already have experience indicating he just can't do the job, he should be getting some there now, and come spring.

 

I actually feel it is kind of important to give him some games this year in the OF to take a look because Mauer might come back and being able to throw him in the OF helps insure the OF. 

 

I don't know what kind of outfielder he would make but I'd like to find out. If he is (Sano like) out there... just stop the experiment. 

 

I'll tell you this. If they believe that he will be a defensive liability in the OF and don't even want to try. I'm not going to buy it until I see it for myself. I don't trust the people who decide these things right now. 

 

Here are 8 reasons that I don't trust them to decide and demand to see it for myself. 

1. They thought Nishioka was major league quality.

2. They thought Plouffe was a SS because he made his debut as a SS after playing SS throughout the Minors. 

3. They thought Dozier was a SS because he made his debut as a SS after playing SS throughout the minors.  

4. They didn't think Sano could play 3B

5. They thought Sano could play RF

6. They didn't think Polanco could play SS

7. They thought Grossman was passable in the OF

8. They didn't think Astundillo could play catcher. 

[Riverbrian]

 

Now the question I’ve dreaded asking—is the only difference between TA and Sanó the position they play?

 

They seem like the same player at the plate to me. Stay tuned as we gather more information.

 

I'm told that if you spend enough time looking at them, eventually you can tell the difference between Mary Kate and Ashley. 

[SwainZag]

 

I actually feel it is kind of important to give him some games this year in the OF to take a look because Mauer might come back and being able to throw him in the OF helps insure the OF. 

 

I don't what kind of OF he would make but I'd like to find out. If he is (Sano like) out there... just stop the experiment. 

 

I'll tell you this. If they believe that he will be a defensive liability in the OF and don't even want to try. I'm not going to buy it until I see it for myself. I don't trust the people who decide these things right now. 

 

Here are 8 reasons that I don't trust them to decide and demand to see it for myself. 

1. They thought Nishioka was major league quality.

2. They thought Plouffe was a SS because he made his debut as a SS after playing SS throughout the Minors. 

3. They thought Dozier was a SS because he made his debut as a SS after playing SS throughout the minors.  

4. They didn't think Sano could play 3B

5. They thought Sano could play RF

6. They didn't think Polanco could play SS

7. They thought Grossman was passable in the OF

8. They didn't think Astundillo could play catcher. 

 

When you say "they" who are you talking about?  There have been a number of people not only in the front office but in the dugout from the time Plouffe came up to when Astudillo was recalled, a span of almost 10 years.

 

1. Nishioka was always a gamble, pure and simple

2 and 3.  Dozier and Plouffe played a combined 130 games at SS in their careers before being moved to to positions that both fit them better.  It's not uncommon to see guys moved off of SS, especially when they are young.

4.  Where did anyone say that Sano couldn't play 3B?  

5. I, nor anyone, should argue or try and refute this.  Mind boggling at the time, mind boggling now.

6. Polanco made a ton of errors in the minor leagues and advanced statistics show he is still not that good of a SS.  

7. Grossman should be a 4th OF.  His defense is good enough for what he SHOULD be used for.  He has simply been used way too much.

8.  Who was to say that "they" didn't think that Astudillo could play catcher?  Because he didn't get any play time in the 11 days he was up earlier?

 

[Riverbrian]

 

When you say "they" who are you talking about?  There have been a number of people not only in the front office but in the dugout from the time Plouffe came up to when Astudillo was recalled, a span of almost 10 years.

 

1. Nishioka was always a gamble, pure and simple

2 and 3.  Dozier and Plouffe played a combined 130 games at SS in their careers before being moved to to positions that both fit them better.  It's not uncommon to see guys moved off of SS, especially when they are young.

4.  Where did anyone say that Sano couldn't play 3B?  

5. I, nor anyone, should argue or try and refute this.  Mind boggling at the time, mind boggling now.

6. Polanco made a ton of errors in the minor leagues and advanced statistics show he is still not that good of a SS.  

7. Grossman should be a 4th OF.  His defense is good enough for what he SHOULD be used for.  He has simply been used way too much.

8.  Who was to say that "they" didn't think that Astudillo could play catcher?  Because he didn't get any play time in the 11 days he was up earlier?

 

It's much less time consuming to type "they" instead of listing everybody involved in such decisions from the Nishioka to Today. 

 

1. Saying he was gamble doesn't excuse the original assessment by the scout who recommended him or the Manager who tried him at SS before trying him at 2B before he was granted his request to be released from a multi-year deal. 

2 and 3.  Trevor Plouffe during his professional career has played more games at SS (749) then he played at 3B (710). Our people didn't realize he shouldn't be a SS until he reached the majors as a SS. Brian Dozier also played SS in the minors and was quickly moved to 2B after it was determined that he wasn't very good at SS and they found this out at the major league level. 

4. Everybody who ever wrote anything about him in 2014 and 2015... although those comments might not have come from inside the organization but they were frequent and loud. OK... I'll scratch 4... although... all he did was DH in 2015 and that is a statement in and of itself. 

5. OK... There's one you agree with. 

6. Yet... Here he is... still at SS which is a warm fuzzy for the eval department. So why worry about Austin in the OF if you've already shown that you make concessions at perhaps the most important defensive position? 

7. If Grossman's defense is good enough in the OF... How bad would Austin have to be in the OF to not be good enough?

8. Yeah because he didn't get any playing time at catcher when he was up and Bobby Wilson was hitting .130 something and we were starving for offense. 

 

Most importantly though... these are my personal reasons that I don't trust the Twins right now. I'm hoping they give Austin a look in the OF. 

[Platoon]

Some random "they.thoughts". Thinking RG is a RF for two years means you have abdicated your authority to define defensive positions. Don't get me started on the Sano RF fiasco. But if Austin can continue to hit, he needs to get some time in the OF. Polanco as a SS is a little more iffy. The team has limited options, and the SS position requirements have changed with shifts. But do I think he is a MLB SS in the traditional sense of the word. Not really. Add to that the absence or limited use of Mauer next year at 1B and the IF defense will be severely exposed. Watching the ilk of Austin, Morrison, and even Sano at that position is almost depressing. EE or a clone thereof is a necessity next year. With Dozier gone, there is more need for an option in the IF. And finally, "they" need to figure out if something is amiss in the dugout. Nothing I saw of Astudillo indicated that he was more of a defensive hazard than Garver behind the plate. Garver has some offensive upside, but he is really going to have to hit to make up for his glove. We wasted half a season giving games to Wilson. Nothing was gained. No wins, no evaluation, and no player advancement. Actions like that make it very easy to wonder if "they" know what "they" are doing.