2nd base by memorial day.

[Fatbat]

Who will we watch playing a majority of the games at 2nd base by memorial day and beyond? I’m betting on Julien. 

[tony&rodney]

If you are watching the game today against the Yankees, you have to be impressed with both Julien and Emmanuel Rodriguez. They look really sharp at the plate. Both had home runs and good at bats. Both took called three strikes on really good borderline pitches. Maeda started out a little rough but found his control. Lee made a nice play in the hole at short. He looks a little rugged at the plate.

[danielp19653]

I hope its Julien, since that means he got the chance out of camp and played so well he stuck. I expect it to be Polanco though, I think once he gets fully ramped up he'll finish out this last year with the Twins and not hit the at bats for his contract to vest or get picked up by the Twins. Even if Julien plays well I imagine he moves more into a DH/utility role as Buxton gets more center field time. Wouldn't be surprised to see a lot of Farmer there before we get to the all star break as well

[stringer bell]

Julien and Rodriquez looked really good. Watching the game on MLB.TV, I was confident Emmanuel would do something good with two on and two out. He bombed one to deep center for a three-run homer. 

[Dman]

Gonna be some tough decisions for the final roster.  Jullien sure looks about as ready for MLB as he can be. Takes good at bats, has power only thing maybe holding him back is defense.  Larnach has looked good at the plate too.  Making a lot of contact a 4 for 4 day at the plate the other day with a homerun and nearly a second one that ended up a double.  If these young guys keep this up gonna be hard to send them back down.

Nice to see Rodriguez getting the HR off a somewhat gassed MLB pitcher.  He hung in there with 2 strikes and forced a good pitch which he hit out of the park.  Excited to see him move up this year.

Lee has a had a tough time at the plate.  For a guy that was supposed to be a contact hitter I believe he is K'ing at 35% rate this spring. He looks overmatched at the plate right now to me.  He is gonna need more time to get ready for MLB IMO.  Defense looks real good though.  He needs to get handle on the breaking stuff.

 

[Fatbat]

35 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

If you are watching the game today against the Yankees, you have to be impressed with both Julien and Emmanuel Rodriguez. They look really sharp at the plate. Both had home runs and good at bats. Both took called three strikes on really good borderline pitches. Maeda started out a little rough but found his control. Lee made a nice play in the hole at short. He looks a little rugged at the plate.

I saw Julien and Erod in the lineup but haven’t followed the game.  I excited for all that young talent to develop!!!

[FlyingFinn]

29 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

I was confident Emmanuel would do something good with two on and two out. He bombed one to deep center for a three-run homer. 

Maybe E-Rod is our Yankee killer in the future - 2 out, 2 strike, 3 run game winning homer! Even at the end of a spring training game, that has to be fun!

[carolynparr]

🙏

[Old Twins Cap]

Julien is not just knocking on the door at 2B, he is knocking on the fences with batted balls.  Regularly.

[Major League Ready]

I hope it's Polanco because nobody is taking his spot by Memorial Day unless he is hurt.   Now, if Lewis or Julien come up and play so great they are compelled to trade Polanco at the deadline, that's not a problem.

[Brock Beauchamp]

30 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

I hope it's Polanco because nobody is taking his spot by Memorial Day unless he is hurt.   Now, if Lewis or Julien come up and play so great they are compelled to trade Polanco at the deadline, that's not a problem.

Pretty much this. It’s not a great sign if Julien is playing a bunch of second in May, June, and July. 

[Fatbat]

4 hours ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

Pretty much this. It’s not a great sign if Julien is playing a bunch of second in May, June, and July. 

As long as someone is playing 2nd at an allstar level. Lol 

[JD-TWINS]

I think it depends upon 3 things:

1) Obviously, Polanco has to be healthy, which is the assumption for May 1, let alone June 1.

2) Depends how Gordon is playing - batting against all RH pitching and playing 2B from Opening Day.

3) If Kiriloff is healthy & on big club it allows Gallo to go back to outfield.

Memorial Day:

Polanco, if healthy, will be playing 2B at least 70-80% of the time.

If he’s struggling in field, you have Gordon-Farmer/Solano platoon at 2B.

To load up against RH pitching, assuming Kiriloff is back……Larnach - Gallo - Kepler in OF with Gordon at 2B and Polanco at DH.

[Bigfork Twins Guy]

I think Polanco with Farmer and Donnie Barrels as fill ins if Polo is on the IL.  Remember with these young guys that this is spring training and they are not facing the tough pitching which changes on day one of the season.