Lineup Questions/Changes for 2020

[Musk21]

I was surprised to see that the Twins used 145 different batting lineups in 2019. The most common lineup (used for 7 games)?

 

Kepler
Polanco
Cruz
Rosario
Cron
Gonzalez
Schoop
Castro
Buxton

 

What changes, if anything, for 2020? Will Arraez supplant Kepler as the leadoff hitter? Will Garver continue to lead off vs LHP?  Assuming he isn't traded, does Rosario stick at the clean-up spot?

 

 

[DocBauer]

Great question and one I've been thinking about. Even without a sudden addition of Donaldson, should he take the Twins 4yr offer, there are a lot of reasons for a potential shakeup here.

 

Kepler was awesome in the #1 spot last year. Would you want to move him lower on the order for his power and production? Why would you even consider doing that? Because Arraez and Polanco could make even more sense setting the table on top.

 

But then again, maybe the BA/OB contact skills of Arraez are better used down lower in the order?

 

If Kepler were to move down, how far? Does he drop to #3 and Cruz becomes your cleanup batter? Or could he supplant Rosario and bump Rosario all the way down to #6 behind Sano, even with the fine year he had?

 

To me it all comes down to who Rocco and his staff truly feel belongs in the top 2 spots.

[Cody Pirkl]

I think the first step is to move Arraez to the leadoff spot. His ability to get on base and just be a general pain for pitchers is perfect to lead off games and get the most at bats in the lineup. We also saw a lot of Garver taking that spot over against lefties which is really unfair for other teams but I have to say I'm a fan. I could also see moving Eddie down in favor of Kepler or a newly signed Donaldson in the 4 spot. 

 

 

[goulik]

Well, considering the most commonly used lineup has Castro, Cron, and Schoop, I’m 75% sure we won’t see that one...

 

Let’s pretend they get Donaldson replacing Cron’s bat and With Garver replacing Castro and Arraez replacing Schoop there is not much weakness in the lineup no matter how you do it.

 

Honestly, Buxton’s skill set is the best lead of man disrupting everything for all the hitters after him once he gets on. With Arraez’s OBP, he would look great hitting right after Buxton. Garver was arguably our best hitter and has more power than Polanco. Clean up could be Cruz or Sano but I’m gonna give the new third baseman the nod pushing Cruz to fifth and Sano to sixth. It’s ridiculous, I know, but this lineup has now pushed Kepler to 7th, Rosario 8th and Polanco 9th.

 

My second lineup flips Buxton down to 9th where he was last year, Kepler goes to the top of the line up either first or second with Arraez, and Rosario and Polanco moving up a notch.

 

Of course there are going to be many days Garver is not in the lineup. These catchers will bat 8th and the whole lineup will be scrambled...

 

I guess, even if we stay healthy we will se lots of lineups again.....

 

*shrug*

[tvagle]

Started out with the idea of having a Right-handed Starter/Left-handed Starter lineup and then settled on this balanced lineup against any starter/opener/closer/bulker/primary/secondary

 

1) CF - Buxton

2) 2B - Arraez

3) DH - Cruz

4) RF - Kepler

5) 3B - JD (Just DoIt!)

6) LF - Rosario

7) 1B - Sano

8) C- Garver/Avila

9) SS - Polanco

 

60 games would start out like this:

Buxton (HBP/BB/Infield hit/ROE) - Steals second - Arraez slaps single to LF 1-0 Twins

 

30 games like this

Buxton (HBP/BB/Infield hit/ROE) - Steals second - Arraez BB - Cruz Double/HR 2-0 or 3-0 Twins

 

30 games like this

Buxton K - Arraez Double - Cruz K - Kepler Single/Double 2-0 Twins

 

42 games without a hit in the first inning

 

Now if they only had a couple more starters on the hill

[tvagle]

After the flurry of trades to come I see the lineup looking more like this:

 

RH Starting Pitcher

1) RF - Kepler

2) 3B - Arraez

3) DH - Cruz

4) 1B - Josh Bell

5) LF - Rosario

6) CF - Buxton

7) 2B - Adam Frazier

8) C- Avila

9) SS - Polanco

 

LH Starting Pitcher

1) CF - Buxton

2) 2B - Arraez

3) DH - Cruz

4) 1B - Josh Bell

5) 3B - Gonzo

6) LF - Rosario

7) C- Garver

8) RF - Kepler

9) SS - Polanco

[Rosterman]

Arraez leadoff (until Buxton shows better on-base and bsae stealing skills).

Polanco can continue batting second.

Cruz if fine battng third (although would love to see Kepler in this position).

Sano cleanup.

Rosario 5th.

Kepler 6th.

Garver 7th.

Gonzalez or Avila 8th.

Buxton reduced to 9th again.

 

[DocBauer]

While Buxton still has the skill set to be dangerous at the top of the order, I still see him batting 9th because he did so well there last season. Less pressure and he knocked guys in a flipped the order so effectively.

 

I think a "set" lineup won't really exist only because Rocco plays everyone and seems to put together a lineup that works daily. Good players help, lol.

 

But day one, big game lineup, I'm thinking the following:

 

Arraez

Polanco

Cruz

Rosario/Kepler

Sano

Kepler/Rosario

1B TBD/Garver

Garver/1B TBD

Buxton

 

If Atlanta doesn't offer a 4th year and Donaldson comes on board (keep those fingers crossed):

 

Arraez

Polanco

Cruz

Donaldson

Rosario/Kepler

Sano

Kepler/Rosario

Garver

Buxton

 

Great talent and great balance. Very dangerous either way.

[DocBauer]

Arraez leadoff (until Buxton shows better on-base and bsae stealing skills).

Polanco can continue batting second.

Cruz if fine battng third (although would love to see Kepler in this position).

Sano cleanup.

Rosario 5th.

Kepler 6th.

Garver 7th.

Gonzalez or Avila 8th.

Buxton reduced to 9th again.

Also intrigued by Kepler hitting 3rd and Cruz batting cleanup. Followed by Rosario and then Sano to keep the RH/LH mix going?

[tony&rodney]

Kepler

Donaldson

Polanco

Cruz 

Rosario

Sano

Arraez

Garver

Buxton

 

W/O JD

 

MK

JP

NC

ER

MS

LA

MG

MGonzalez

BB

[cmoss84]

LH pitcher

 

Garver

Polanco

Cruz

Sano

Kepler

Arraez

Marwin

Rosario

Buxton

 

RH pitcher

 

Kepler

Polanco

Cruz

Arraez

Rosario

Garver

Sano

Marwin

Buxton

[Shaitan]

Last year's team was uniquely balanced across the whole lineup. If there's a spot to improve, I'd like someone with a little more contact skills in the cleanup slot though. To me, Rosario is a classic 5th hitter. But I'm not sure who I'd put in 4th of the current roster. Maybe Kepler if he continues hitting 25-35 HR/yr.

[Twodogs]

Arraez he was a career 331 hitter in the minors, so he has proven himself as a contact hitter

Polanco, is a career 281 hitter and had 40 doubles and 22 hrs last year

Cruz, if healthy he is our biggest threat, both average and power

Kepler, has a decent on base at .336 if he continues the power surge he will out produce Rosario in the RBI department, and by following Cruz so even see better pitches

Sano, classic 5th hitter, tons of power, hard to pitch to after facing Arraez, Polanco, Cruz and Kepler.

Rosario, has the tools to produce a lot of runs, a little streaky at times, but good nonetheless

Garver, hope he can continue his production from last year and put up big numbers from behind the plate.

Gonzalez, has always been a consistent hitter throughout his career, if he can get in a full season, 140 games or so, 30 doubles, 20 HRs and a 270 average is highly obtainable.

Buxton, if he continues his positive production that he started out with last year he may move up this list. I mean he was leading the league in doubles at one point last year before all of the injuries. So to have his speed profile at the bottom of the order with Arraez's contact skills coming up behind him would also be a game changer.

 

Predictions

Arraez .315 190 hits 302Bs

Polanco .285 175 hits 402B 20Hr

Cruz .290 145 hits 45Hrs 120RBI

Kepler .275 160 hits 30hrs 100rbi

Sano .270 40Hrs 90rbi

Rosario .280 30hrs 80rbi

Garver .270 120hits 30hrs

Gonzalez .270 302b 20hrs

Buxton .265 130 hits, 15 Hrs

 

Obviously if they sign a guy like Donaldson then Gonzalez will no likely go to the bench, but I don't really feel like predicting what the Twins dont have. To now this is what they have.