Notebook: Left Field Battle, Buxton Hates Root Beer

[David Youngs]

While the Twins had an off-day on the diamond there was plenty of news and interesting tidbits that surfaced across Major League Baseball on Thursday. Let’s dig in.Twins Talk

Left Field Debacle

While the Twins weren’t on the field Thursday, speculation around left field duties was still fluid in the air. Barring something crazy, it’s safe to say that Byron Buxton, Max Kepler, and Jake Cave will hold spots on the Opening Day roster as outfielders.

 

And while many assume Alex Kirilloff will hold the fourth spot and role as starting LF on Opening Day, there are contributors that are making a strong push.

Twins MLB.com beat writer Do Hyoung-Park laid out a rock-solid analysis of the outfield debacle on Thursday evening. Park laid out a case for Kirilloff, Brent Rooker, and new Twin Kyle Garlick.

 

While Kirilloff and Rooker are now commonplace names in Twins Territory, the veteran Garlick has made his presence known in Fort Myers. In 19 plate appearances, Garlick has batted .368 with three home runs. The 29-year-old’s power is no secret, but his consistency at the plate has been a pleasant surprise.

 

Following an unfortunate ending to 2020 and a wrist surgery on top, Rooker has also put on excellent spring numbers. The Mississippi State alum has batted .389 with a homer and two doubles in 18 plate appearances. Rooker also has experience at first base, an asset that Garlick lacks.

 

Yet perhaps the biggest story is the lack of production from Kirilloff thus far. Kirilloff has the most plate appearances of the trio with 25. Yet the #2 Twins prospect has only batted .120 with eight strikeouts.

 

Speculation from the fan/writer side of baseball is inferior to the decisions made by managers and front offices. And even most fans perhaps agree that despite his rocky spring training debut, Kirilloff deserves his spot.

 

Even though his Sunshine State numbers aren’t stellar, Alex Kirilloff is a stellar ballplayer. And as Park stated in his piece, it’s unlikely that Kirilloff’s lack of production will result in a demotion.

 

Twins on TV

For only the fourth time in franchise history, all 162 Minnesota Twins games will be televised in 2021. Balley Sports North (formally Fox Sports North) will carry 156 games, Fox Sports 1 (FS1) will carry six, ESPN will cover four (preliminary), and FOX national and YouTube will each carry a game.

 

Byron Buxton Hates Root Beer

On their off day, the Twins decided to mic-up Brent Rooker. Great idea! No hurt in hearing from one of the team’s strongest prospects and favorite personalities, right?

 

Wrong.

 

In a delightful two-minute clip of banter from Rooker and other Twins players, there was only one troublesome spot.

 

Midway through the video, you can make out the phrase ‘Buck’s anti Root Beer?” from Jake Cave.

 

Buxton has yet to further comment on the controversial statement (if true). If it is true, here are three beverages that are worse than Root Beer.

 

1. Busch Light

2. Hamm’s

3. Diet Dr Pepper

 

Around the League

Lester Debuts

Jon Lester is the epitome of an MLB veteran. Yet even the old-timers get the heevy-jeevys when pitching for a new organization for the first time. The 37-year-old Lester made his debut with the Nationals on Thursday where he pitched two innings. Lester tossed 31 pitches, 21 of which were strikes, allowing one run on one hit and one walk.

 

Lester may be old but there’s potential for him to be a resourceful addition to Washington’s top-heavy rotation of Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg.

 

Carrasco to IL

Former Cleveland pitcher Carlos Carrasco was hit with unfortunate news on Thursday. The Mets pitcher tore his hamstring while running sprints and is expected to miss 6-8 weeks.

 

Carrasco has faced mountains of adversity through his time in the majors and we wish him nothing but the best for a healthy future.

 

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[Danchat]

I'd be fine if Kirilloff doesn't start with the team. It would be one thing if it meant Cave starting 6 days a week, but with Rooker, Garlick potentially making the team, and Arraez getting play out there, I don't feel so bad about it.

[Twins_Fan_For_Life]

Horrible news about Carrasco! Great talent when healthy. Hate to see anyone have an injury like that.

[Westcoast2]

Diet Dr Pepper is far superior to Root Beer.

[wsnydes]

Apparently unpopular opinion...I'm not really "anit-Root Beer", but I'm definitely not "for Root Beer".

 

And Carrasco just can't catch a break. I feel bad for the guy.

[mikelink45]

We have such a backlog of LF candidates that I cannot root for Garlick to make the team even though he has been hitting so great in ST.  

[Major League Ready]

Since 2018 Kepler's wRC+ is 109 which is the average for all MLB corner OFers. This happens to be the same as Eddie Rosario who seems to be regarded as the better offensive player. Over the last 2 years Kepler's wRC+ is above league average at 118 / Rosario 105. Not bad if Kepler can reproduce the 118 and play great defense.

[strumdatjaguar]

Trade Buxton. He is incompatible with the team that spawned Killebrew Root Beer. Replace him with Broxton, and we’ll never know the difference due to the similarity in names.

[Doctor Gast]

I wish Carrasco well as well. The 3 best LFers are RH, Garlic, Rooker and Broxton. They seem to hit RHPs well enough so any combination of the 3 that includes Broxton because he has better glove and speed should be considered for the LF spot. Sadly, Broxton's name isn't even in the discussion which concerns me greatly.

[Major League Ready]

 

We have such a backlog of LF candidates that I cannot root for Garlick to make the team even though he has been hitting so great in ST.  

 

I am rooting for Garlick to keep it up. Kirilloff and Larnach have not proven they are ready and we should not assume a month at AAA is all they need. If Garlick made the team ... Worst case scenario is he does not keep it going and he is replaced by Kirilloff / Rooker or Larnach. Best case scenario he hits like he did in AAA and this spring. We trade him or Kepler or both if and when the others force their way onto the team. That's a high-class problem!

[jjswol]

If Kirilloff is not playing left field this year full time the Twins FO screwed up big time not keeping Eddie Rosario.

[Dave The Dastardly]

There's no Garlick in my root beer. 1919 Root Beer out of Schell's Brewery in New Ulm is to die for. Throw in a couple scoops of Schwan's Vanilla and you're on your way to heaven. I suggest the Kraut brewers in New Ulm send a growler to Buxton and one to Kepler as well. Probably raise their batting averages by ten points.

[Craig Arko]

Perhaps it's really root-canal beer that he actually hates.

[In My La Z boy]

Kirilloff needed to force his way into the starting lineup with a strong spring. So far, he has given the Twins every reason to send him down, and retain the extra year of service, especially with the way Rooker's bat has looked. Rocco's comments lead me to believe Rooker gets the nod - although I think Arraez starts there for the 1st few games before the infielders need a day off.

[raindog]

Debacle seems like a really strange word to use for this situation. 

[Dodecahedron]

Root Beer is not great, but it can be a good choice when you order a Coke and hear the dreaded, "Is Pepsi OK?" response. Sometimes a Sierra Mist isn't what you are in the mood for, and I am on record as once describing Dr. Pepper as "Dogs--- in a can."

 

Glad to hear that Fox Sports North was renamed. The Chicago area also calls their version Fox Sports North, which caused me more headaches trying to find the right channel than I would be comfortable admitting.

[boomerb5]

So...two games that the non-pay TV crowd might get to watch. Well done, Twins.

[Richard Swerdlick]

Alex Kirolloff has never played AAA ball. He's had one MLB game. His AA career was not great. It's OK if he does not start the season with the Twins. If the Twins don't start the season with Brent Rooker in the outfield then like the neglected wife he should say, " Play me or trade me".

[twinstalker]

I do not think this word means what you think it means.

 

Debacle.

[ashbury]

I do not think this word means what you think it means.

[Trov]

Kirolloff has not played himself into the lineup, and if he starts it is because that was decided coming into spring and there never was a comp.  I do not put much stock into spring numbers.  I remember many Twins crushing in spring and make the team because of it only to fall flat on their face.  If you only look at the numbers you may be missing many things.  

 

Like, their hits, what kind of pitches was it on?  How were they being pitched too?  What kind of defense was out there? So many more things to pay attention too.  For example, if the person crushed fastballs over and over, but never could hit off-speed and swung at it over and over, how do you think they will fare in regular season?  

 

I am not saying Alex should get the start, I think it can easy be argued Rooker should get time out there to start season and Alex needs to force his way in, or Rooker plays his way out.  Personally fine either way.  Garlick is not likely.  Much like Broxton, he is who he is.  Garlick was brought in for injury depth and nothing more. 

[Nine of twelve]

 

I do not think this word means what you think it means.

 

Debacle.

Nor this one.

 

Formally.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Glad to hear that Fox Sports North was renamed. The Chicago area also calls their version Fox Sports North, which caused me more headaches trying to find the right channel than I would be comfortable admitting.

Are you referring to “Fox Sports Net Chicago”? That was also abbreviated as FSN Chicago, but it hasn’t existed since 2006 (when its Minnesota counterpart was still FSN North).