Jonathan Schoop or Ian Kinsler?

[andy4butler]

 

Last seasons decline for Schoop was attributed to an oblique strain which can be painful.  He should have sent time on the DL.  For once we get to benefit because a team/ player was too stubborn to go on the DL. 

 

We are going to sign Cruz and have super powers....I mean a super powerful lineup for a change.

 

1B Cron  25-30 HR

2B Schoop 25-30 HR

SS Polanco 10-15 HR

3B Sano 35 HR

C Garver 10-15 HR /  Castro 10 HR

DH Cruz 35 HR or Austin 25-30 HR 

LF Rosario 25 HR

CF Buxton 15 HR

RF Kepler 20-25 HR or Cave 20-25 HR 

 

The Lineup should be close to 200 or more HRs in 2019 almost all solo shots but that's a lot of HRs for this team.  

 

I'll take the under on every one of those.  It seems you have everyone matching / beating their career year in the power department and somehow Sano staying healthy with his new nutritionist (plus hitting 30% more HRs than his previous season high).  

[mudcat14]

Kinsler has been in a two year decline at age 36.  Schoop regressed this past season after a three year progression at age 27.  To me Schoop is the obvious choice, even at the slightly higher annual rate,

[jokin]

 

Schoop has 4 WAR upside with a replacement level floor. Kinsler and Iglesias are projected by steamer at 1.7 WAR. They are probably within .7 of that number. I would bet on the upside.

 

A bit of apples and oranges in regards to Iglesias/Schoop comp. Defense is my biggest concern, Schoop has little range, even at 2B. Meanwhile, Iglesias is a near-premier defensive SS that would have represented a huge bolstering impact over an IF that is completely in a state of flux and unknowns.

 

With this pitching staff ever a question mark, and with 1B and 3B equally questionable (Cron/Sano will definitely be a downgrade @ 1B, who's @ 3B?), solidifying the IF defense should be a top priority. Signing another utility player + Schoop, to go along with Polanco and Adrianza, who both grade out at the bottom of SS defense rankings didn't address this priority.

 

 

[Platoon]

Last seasons decline for Schoop was attributed to an oblique strain which can be painful.  He should have sent time on the DL.  For once we get to benefit because a team/ player was too stubborn to go on the DL. 

 

We are going to sign Cruz and have super powers....I mean a super powerful lineup for a change.

 

1B Cron  25-30 HR

2B Schoop 25-30 HR

SS Polanco 10-15 HR

3B Sano 35 HR

C Garver 10-15 HR /  Castro 10 HR

DH Cruz 35 HR or Austin 25-30 HR 

LF Rosario 25 HR

CF Buxton 15 HR

RF Kepler 20-25 HR or Cave 20-25 HR 

 

The Lineup should be close to 200 or more HRs in 2019 almost all solo shots but that's a lot of HRs for this team.

 

Looks like the only difference between this lineup and ML Slow Pitch Softball will be the Twins strike out more, and field worse! I would sure hate to stand on a mound and turn around and see that infield behind me.

[old nurse]

 

It speaks volumes of where our team is when we are left to debate Schoop vs Kinsler. I for one want neither. We have Schoop now and good luck to him. But I'm not impressed. Take out his career 2017 season and you are left with a mediocre player who can hit a few HR's.

 

One call to Jerry Dipota early on in the off season would have solved a number of our holes. For not much we could have gotten Segura, Santana and Colome. We had the money but we are left with the normal low risk moves by Falvine

Couldn't get Segura and Santana from Seattle as they were traded for each other.  Segura was not traded away for nothing. Santana brought back Encarnation, not exactly nothing. Nor is the draft pick not exactly nothing. Navaez is a defensive catcher that can hit a little bit. That is not nothing for Colombe.

[Brandon]

I'll take the under on every one of those. It seems you have everyone matching / beating their career year in the power department and somehow Sano staying healthy with his new nutritionist (plus hitting 30% more HRs than his previous season high).

Cron hit 30 last year so 25-30 is doable.

Schoop career year was 32 so 25-30 is doable in his prime which is 2019...

Buxton hit 16 2 years ago so 15 is doable

Cruz hit 38-41 the last 4 years so 35 is possible.

Sano if healthy can hit 35 in his age 26 season.

Kepler has 3 years of 19-20 so if he is improving at all why not 20-25 if he starts? Yes he could end up at 12-18 but he has a good hard hit rate so i expect a little more power.

Rosario has hit 28 so 25 is reasonable...

I am guessing if Cave is a starter with 525 AB he gets 20 HR not if he is bench. Same with Castro if he starts he gets to 10. Not if he is the back up.

 

Do I expect all players to hit those numbers ....no but i do think they can collectively be close and that is still around 200 HRs which is alot is my point and no OBP guys.

[Brandon]

Looks like the only difference between this lineup and ML Slow Pitch Softball will be the Twins strike out more, and field worse! I would sure hate to stand on a mound and turn around and see that infield behind me.

I think we have more flyball pitchers anyway. Gibson is less groundball than he used to be, Pineda and Odorizzi are flyball guys. Not sure on Berrios.

[Physics Guy]

 

To be honest the best option would have been to sign a shortstop and slide Polanco over to 2b.

I don't disagree with this, but Schoop is a good one year option. I'm not sure how many people on the market would sign for one year. It allows the Twins the ability to assess Gordon and Lewis for another year and also to determine if Buxton and Sano can finally step up and be the stars this team needs. It definitely seems as though the Twins are making short term decisions this year until they get clarity on Sano and Buxton.  If I were a betting man, I would guess they sign a reliever who could be a closer, another reliever with upside (below the top 12 or so on the FA list) and maybe another starter of the Gio Gonzalez ilk. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

This isn't even a question. Schoop every time. He's literally nine years younger than Kinsler.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I was always more bullish on Kinsler than many other people are. Signed at the right time, Kinsler could have had as big of an impact on this team as Ervin Santana did.

Worth noting that Kinsler was never available to sign by the Twins until now -- this winter is the first time he has reached free agency. He signed an extension with the Rangers in 2012 when he was 2 years away from FA, and that contract lasted through 2018.