What are you excited to see for the remainder of the season?

[Mike Sixel]

14 minutes ago, Number3 said:

This is not T Ball where the object is to keep the parents happy by seeing that every kid plays. I want to see Baldelli show some leadership and actually pick a starting lineup and stick with it for at least a series, if not more. What does he need to see that he hasn't already seen? If he thinks he is giving the team the best chance to win on a day to day basis, that has obviously failed.

This season is now about seeing what players can do. I couldn't disagree more with your post. Again, he's not making these decisions on his own. He and the front office are working on this together to see what they have for next year. 

Also, how is it not leadership to change lineups? 

[Brock Beauchamp]

Just now, Mike Sixel said:

This season is now about seeing what players can do. I couldn't disagree more with your post. Again, he's not letting these decisions on his own. He and the front office are working on this together to see what they have for next year. 

Also, how is it not leadership to change lineups? 

Maybe "leadership" is letting Arraez flail away against lefty pitching and drag down his overall OPS for no good reason?

[Matthew Lenz]

The development of our rookie hitters: Larnach, Rooker, Jeffers, and anyone else who may come up in the next couple months (i.e. Gordon). Bummed Kirilloff can’t use this time to develop, but I don’t think we’ll be fully ready to compete in 2022.

Really hoping that this is more of a re-tool than a rebuild and these guys will be a big part of our next core starting in 2023-2024.

[Original_JB]

46 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

This season is now about seeing what players can do. I couldn't disagree more with your post. Again, he's not making these decisions on his own. He and the front office are working on this together to see what they have for next year. 

Also, how is it not leadership to change lineups? 

Problem is, players tend to be creatures of habit. In theory, while moving guys all over the field and up and down the batting order *shouldn't* affect their play (if they're capable of filling the role), it is quite obvious that it does.  So, Rocco, if you're moving guys all over the field, at least try to let them bat in a consistent slot, and vice versa.

[wsnydes]

8 minutes ago, Original_JB said:

Problem is, players tend to be creatures of habit. In theory, while moving guys all over the field and up and down the batting order *shouldn't* affect their play (if they're capable of filling the role), it is quite obvious that it does.  So, Rocco, if you're moving guys all over the field, at least try to let them bat in a consistent slot, and vice versa.

With positional flexibility and shuffling of the order for RHP/LHP, I wonder how much of that mindset is still valid.  Many of these guys have grown up and gone through the minor league system playing multiple positions and hitting up and down the lineup.

It's not as though Rocco is the only manager doing this either.  Not that that makes it right, I just wonder how valid that is anymore.  We see it more with bullpens too now. 

Not really arguing against your point, but not really totally agreeing either.  Posing a question, I guess.

[Brock Beauchamp]

50 minutes ago, Original_JB said:

Problem is, players tend to be creatures of habit. In theory, while moving guys all over the field and up and down the batting order *shouldn't* affect their play (if they're capable of filling the role), it is quite obvious that it does.  So, Rocco, if you're moving guys all over the field, at least try to let them bat in a consistent slot, and vice versa.

Numbers simply don't back this up, though. Luis Arraez is bad against lefties and good against righties no matter where you put him in the lineup.

So, against lefties, do you want the top of the order to contain Arraez and his .673 OPS against LHP?

Or do you want Josh Donaldson and his .880 OPS against LHP?

And the inverse is generally true when there's a RHP on the mound, though the splits are generally smaller. Really, the driving force behind these lineup changes is maximizing LHB performance against RHP and minimizing their awful performances against LHP. Righties have the same issue only it's *much* smaller in most players (due to the majority of pitching being RHP, hitters who can't hit righties usually don't make it to MLB at all).

There's a reason most of MLB now adjusts lineups based on matchups, not a set player position in the lineup. It's the smart, numbers-based, performance-based strategy.

[Teflon]

I'm excited to see more ball girls tackling on-field interlopers. It's like a little bit of roller derby right on the field.

 

[Major League Ready]

How about 10 days of Miranda while Donaldson is on the IL?

[Unwinder]

I am looking forward to thrilling, quality baseball that's a joy to watch...

 

In St. Paul.