Strong Twins Bench Pressed Into Early Duty

[Greggory Masterson]

If you’re into old-school lineup management with consistent lineups and no true off-days, the Twins’ early-season lineups should give you hope

Image courtesy of Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Rocco Baldelli has earned a reputation for mixing and matching his lineups. In 2022, there were no two back-to-back games in which the same lineup started. Through four games in 2023, the only lineup move made was swapping the catchers, Christian Vazquez and Ryan Jeffers —a routine move to give the starter at the most demanding position a day off.

In truth, when he can, Baldelli often begins altering the lineup early in the season. In 2022, by the fourth game against a right-handed starting pitcher Nick Gordon, Gilberto Celestino, Trevor Larnach, Luis Arraez, and Gary Sanchez had all been rotated in. In 2020, Jake Cave and Marwin Gonzalez were in the lineup by the second game.

In contrast, in years like 2023—years where the top reserve has been thrust into the starting lineup (this year Gordon, in 2019 Gonzalez, in 2021 Arraez), he has been relatively consistent. However, there have been in-game moves, so let’s look at Baldelli’s bench usage through four games.                       

Kyle Farmer
Farmer was the first of the three starting-caliber players acquired over the offseason who will occupy reserve roles in 2023. When Farmer was traded for, he was penciled in as the starting shortstop, though those plans ended when Correa signed his 200 million dollar deal. Farmer is now anticipated to serve as the utility infielder, having experience at all four infield spots. 

In the first three games, Farmer was brought in in the middle innings to replace Gordon at second base after a left-handed reliever entered the game. Given the difference in their splits against lefties (Gordon’s OPS in 2022 was .542; Farmer’s was .948), Baldelli seems keen on swapping them for each other when the pitcher’s handedness changes.

We will likely see the inverse when Farmer starts against lefties, like what we saw on Wednesday. In all cases, Farmer will be expected to be locked into the game, whether he starts or begins the game on the bench. 

Max Kepler ’s injury may lead to Farmer seeing more starts against righties, with Gordon being shifted to the outfield, though that was not the case Tuesday, the first game without Kepler, who is day-to-day. He will also see spot starts around the infield to give the starters a day off, but he himself will likely never see an actual put-up-your-feet day off, even though he didn’t make it into Tuesday’s game, his first of the year despite no starts.

Donovan Solano
Solano, the other lefty killer on the bench, has seen two pinch-hitting appearances and a start at designated hitter, giving Byron Buxton a day off. Following Farmer’s pinch hit for Gordon on Opening Day, Solano hit for lefty Joey Gallo, driving in a run on a line-drive single.

Given that the starting lineup currently contains four left-handed starters (Kepler, Larnach, Gordon, Gallo), even as the second option behind Farmer, he will also be called upon to pinch hit versus lefties and then stay in the game at first base, with a potential Gallo move into the outfield.

In addition to his pinch-hitting duties, he will also probably start every game against a southpaw while potentially getting spot starts on the infield or at designated hitter against righties. No matter what, though, he’s in the same spot as Farmer, as Baldelli could call his number any game, even in the middle innings like on Opening Day. That’s especially true if Farmer starts that game, as Solano would be the top righty pinch-hitter.

Ryan Jeffers
The second two members of the bench are less noteworthy in their early usage. The acquisition of Vazquez has moved Jeffers into a backup catcher role, as opposed to his starting role in 2022 or the timeshare he had in 2021. As such, he’s one of the top backup catchers in the league.

Given that he’s only started one game thus far, there’s evidence that he will be a proper backup, though he will likely get more play against a left-handed starter, given his .790 OPS against them for his career and his .909 last season. If things go right, he may even see time as the designated hitter.

For now, though, he has been relegated to a backup role behind one of the best defensive catchers in MLB. Keep an eye on his usage in the near future to get a better idea of his role, especially if he shows that he can hit enough to get time at designated hitter.

Willi Castro
Castro finally got into a game Monday, and drew a start in left field in place of Kepler Tuesday. As a 2023 non-roster invite to spring training, he was added to the Opening Day roster to provide additional depth at every outfield and infield position.

However, he seems to be a late-tenure Willians Astudillo -type—a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency option, and Kepler’s injury probably qualifies as an emergency, in the short-term. He provides positional flexibility to make any lineup work—if needed. However, he doesn’t have a stand-out skill and will likely be the first player on the chopping block when players get called up or return from injury. 

He still has an option remaining, so he can return to AAA without being exposed to waivers. He’s the quintessential 26th man who provides a warm body, and thus far, he’s been treated as such, only seeing action in a blowout to get the big boppers off their feet and as an extra outfielder covering for a day-to-day injury..

How do you feel about the early roster management? Are my assessments correct? Would you like to see any changes so far?

View full article

[mikelink45]

I am concerned about Castro.  I have said before, we need another OF if Buxton is not going to be in the field.  Using Castro out there does nothing for the lineup - defensively or offensively.  After looking at the Minors and their depth in St Paul, I feel like there has to be another option. 

[miracleb]

Farmer was going to be "solid" as our shortstop......but he no longer is our shortstop except if Correa needs a break.  His numbers don't necessarily translate to other spots on the field or at bat.  I would not put this group in the "strong" category.   It will be nice to get "slightly below average" .....out of them.   Hopefully we can soon add Taylor to the "bench" as well.......

[Major League Ready]

Gordon, Solano, and Farmer are above average players if they are used against opposite hand pitching.  Hopefully, they can be used in that way instead of covering injuries.  Getting Polanco back will facilitate these players being used advantageously.  Would love to see Lewis here as well.    

[JD-TWINS]

22 minutes ago, miracleb said:

Farmer was going to be "solid" as our shortstop......but he no longer is our shortstop except if Correa needs a break.  His numbers don't necessarily translate to other spots on the field or at bat.  I would not put this group in the "strong" category.   It will be nice to get "slightly below average" .....out of them.   Hopefully we can soon add Taylor to the "bench" as well.......

Don’t understand the, Farmer isn’t a good reserve infielder comment? What multi-position  reserves are better than him in the American League? He had a .900 plus OPS last year v. LH pitching……..Taylor is better than average v. LH pitching…..can’t stand watching him play every day - agreed.

[JD-TWINS]

What are the rules/dates involved on timing of bringing guys up the first time - relative to loss of a year of control? Not sure if I’m making sense?

Anyway, I thought they may put Kepler on the IL and give Julien a shot at 1B or DH for a couple weeks. Maybe not possible?

[Greggory Masterson]

2 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

What are the rules/dates involved on timing of bringing guys up the first time - relative to loss of a year of control? Not sure if I’m making sense?

Anyway, I thought they may put Kepler on the IL and give Julien a shot at 1B or DH for a couple weeks. Maybe not possible?

I’m also blanking on the exact timing, but it’s about 3 weeks. I’m not sure it’s a consideration with a prospect at Julien’s age, though 

[FlyingFinn]

7 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

give Julien a shot at 1B or DH for a couple weeks

Buxton really blocks Julien right now at DH. And Julien's defense blocks himself elsewhere, an example is the routine error yesterday that cost the Saints a win.

[Doctor Gast]

23 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

Gordon, Solano, and Farmer are above average players if they are used against opposite hand pitching.  Hopefully, they can be used in that way instead of covering injuries.  Getting Polanco back will facilitate these players being used advantageously.  Would love to see Lewis here as well.    

It'll be great when Polanco comes back & get another good LH bat in the line up but should see more platooning with Farmer & Lewis when comes up. I didn't like the Gordon at 2B & Castro in LF IMO they should have been switched & they'd perform all around better in respective postions. Castro won't stay when Polanco returns hopes very soon,

[rv78]

The usage of players is much of what I expected but I don't see Rocco sticking with it for the entire season. Unless Buxton is going to be the permanent DH, usage of players through the DH role will rotate and the positional fielding roles will as well. The return of Polanco, Kirilloff, Lewis will require even more changes. My biggest gripe so far was resting Buxton on Tuesday. There was an off day on Friday and another shceduled off day this week Thursday. Can't he play 6 days in a row? Is DHing that strenuous? How much of a baby does he need to be treated like? There's only one explanation for it and that's just Rocco being an idiot. 

[Doctor Gast]

Just now, FlyingFinn said:

Buxton really blocks Julien right now at DH. And Julien's defense blocks himself elsewhere, an example is the routine error yesterday that cost the Saints a win.

We could really need Julien at lead off, bring him up at 1B/ DH. 1B until Kiriloff is ready then fit him in anywhere after that mainly our LH DH. 

[chpettit19]

36 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

What are the rules/dates involved on timing of bringing guys up the first time - relative to loss of a year of control? Not sure if I’m making sense?

Anyway, I thought they may put Kepler on the IL and give Julien a shot at 1B or DH for a couple weeks. Maybe not possible?

16 days is the number they need to be off the ML roster to gain an extra year. Doesn't have to be the first 16 days, just any 16 days over the course of the season. Like @Greggory Masterson said, though, I'm not sure they're overly worried about that with soon-to-be 24 year old Julien. I think their bigger concern with him is simply getting him everyday ABs (and reps in the field), and there's no room for that in Minneapolis, especially if Buxton is DHing a bunch. If Kepler is going to be out for a week it'd be a reasonable move, though. I think he's expected back today, though.

[Major League Ready]

They are  not holding Julien back for service time time.  They made a decision to add Castro over Julien / others for his versatility.  Julien could replace Castro but Castro is going to be sent to STP when Polanco is brought back and that seems like it will be soon.  There simply is not a spot for Julien right now so he is going to need to force his way up by crushing it at AAA.  Hopefully, he works hard on hos defense and improves enough to take away that reason for keeping him off the MLB roster.

The real interesting decision will be what they do when Lewis is ready.  

  

[Dave Lemke]

1 hour ago, rv78 said:

The usage of players is much of what I expected but I don't see Rocco sticking with it for the entire season. Unless Buxton is going to be the permanent DH, usage of players through the DH role will rotate and the positional fielding roles will as well. The return of Polanco, Kirilloff, Lewis will require even more changes. My biggest gripe so far was resting Buxton on Tuesday. There was an off day on Friday and another shceduled off day this week Thursday. Can't he play 6 days in a row? Is DHing that strenuous? How much of a baby does he need to be treated like? There's only one explanation for it and that's just Rocco being an idiot. 

I get so tired of the Rocco doesn't know what he's doing angle. He catches it for not playing Buxton x number of days in row. But if Buxton had played and pulled a hamstring trying for an extra base the line would be that he should have given him the day off. Can we let the people in charge such as Rocco and the training staff decide on when and who gets a day off please?

 

[Riverbrian]

2 hours ago, Major League Ready said:

Gordon, Solano, and Farmer are above average players if they are used against opposite hand pitching.  Hopefully, they can be used in that way instead of covering injuries.  Getting Polanco back will facilitate these players being used advantageously.  Would love to see Lewis here as well.    

Knock on wood. Who knows... we might get lucky on the injury front this year but we'd have to be real lucky with our 40 man space dominated by starting pitching (which I think is a necessary and good thing). There are just a couple of 40 man position player spots outside the 26 man roster at the moment.  

So... once the injury bug bites a little harder than it already has and I assume it will at some point because it always does. These guys listed above will be forced to face the opposite hand that they were intended to face negating that advantage.   

Don't get me wrong... I like the depth overall... I'm not complaining.  

[Riverbrian]

1 hour ago, Major League Ready said:

The real interesting decision will be what they do when Lewis is ready.  

It would be an interesting decision today for sure but I'm guessing that the decision will be easier when he is ready because of injuries or poor play from others.     

[Rosterman]

If not playing Gordon in the outfield, then I would've kept Wallner as the 4th outfield option over Castro, who is NOT playing infield.

I like Castro in spring training, as he seemed to be the one guy that the Twins have who could steal a base. Keep waiting for a 10th inning and him starting on second. But when Polanco returns, he is gone.

And, please....Rocco. You don't have to start all four bench players in a game. You can't expect the starters to only give up one run a start...forever, without some help from the bats.

[HerbieFan]

Seems to me once Polanco is ready Castro gets optioned and Gordon becomes that "extra" outfielder

[ziggy]

3 hours ago, rv78 said:

Is DHing that strenuous? How much of a baby does he need to be treated like? There's only one explanation for it and that's just Rocco being an idiot. 

We do not know the status of Buxtons knee. Last year when Baldelli said 'day off' for Buxton it was when the knee had to be drained. He does not look back to normal when running. I think there is a lingering injury issue with Buxton and for some reason the Twins have copied the NFL's vague injury status updates. Remember 'Bi-lateral leg weakness' that took someone out for almost a whole year?

[Dave Lemke]

Don't know that I've seen any problems with Buxton health-wise. Especially tagging and scoring on the short fly ball the other day. That said lets trust Rocco and the training staff to know what individual players need.

[rv78]

3 hours ago, Dave Lemke said:

I get so tired of the Rocco doesn't know what he's doing angle. He catches it for not playing Buxton x number of days in row. But if Buxton had played and pulled a hamstring trying for an extra base the line would be that he should have given him the day off. Can we let the people in charge such as Rocco and the training staff decide on when and who gets a day off please?

 

So we are not to criticize the almighty Rocco. This is the same Rocco who couldn't figure out how to rest Buxton and Correa on different days last year when their "scheduled" off days happened to coincide onto the same day. Moving one of them 1 extra day was too complicated for him to figure out. If Buxton's knee is still an issue then why is he playing at all? Buxton could rest for a week and then pull a hamstring in his first day back. What should be looked at is how many games does Rocco throw away by NOT putting his "A" lineup out there every day. They lost by 1 run the day he rested Buxton. Buxton is very capable of producing 1 or 2 runs or more in any given day that he plays. I get so tired of Rocco throwing games away. If they miss out on the playoffs by 1 game who's going to take the blame? I'm sure Rocco won't and I'm sure you won't blame Rocco, when in fact that is where it should be directed.

[Dave Lemke]

Gee whiz, it is amazing we won today. Rocco had Farmer in against a righty instead of Gordon. Hitting in the 6 spot nonetheless. Who gets the game winning hit? Guess Rocco must just have gotten lucky I guess! This must be  the makeup for losing by one without Buxton in the lineup! Not saying Rocco is infallible but he is better than either of us!

.

[ashbury]

12 hours ago, Greggory Masterson said:

Strong Twins Bench Pressed

[Doctor Wu]

21 hours ago, rv78 said:

The usage of players is much of what I expected but I don't see Rocco sticking with it for the entire season. Unless Buxton is going to be the permanent DH, usage of players through the DH role will rotate and the positional fielding roles will as well. The return of Polanco, Kirilloff, Lewis will require even more changes. My biggest gripe so far was resting Buxton on Tuesday. There was an off day on Friday and another shceduled off day this week Thursday. Can't he play 6 days in a row? Is DHing that strenuous? How much of a baby does he need to be treated like? There's only one explanation for it and that's just Rocco being an idiot. 

Having Polanco, Kirilloff, Lewis in the lineup on a regular basis will be a nice headache to have!

[Major League Ready]

18 hours ago, HerbieFan said:

Seems to me once Polanco is ready Castro gets optioned and Gordon becomes that "extra" outfielder

Yep, that one is easy.  What do they do when Kirilloff is ready to come back?  The initial plan was to send Larnach down.  He looks as good as anyone on the team right now so who goes?  I am thinking Kirilloff goes to AAA for 4-6 weeks to prove his wrist will hold up.  Then, if he is healthy, Solano gets traded or cut. Obviously, injuries can and probably will enter into the equation let's hope they have to make a tough call.