Checking In on Key Data for the Twins - Hitting and Fielding

[Matthew Trueblood]

The Twins' key tendency since 2019 is misfiring.

Image courtesy of © Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

Recently, we paused around the two-month marker of the season to check in on some trends we identified as important ones before the campaign began. That first installment focused on the pitchers. Today, let’s talk about how the Twins’ position players are doing, and about how the front office is deploying them, both to score runs and to support the pitchers in their effort to prevent them.

The Offense is Misfiring, But Not Dead
As terrific as the pitching staff has been over the first two months, the offense has been brutally disappointing. Back in November, I wrote about the all-costs emphasis the team places on pulling the ball in the air, with some degree of power. From 2019-22, no team in baseball had a higher Bomba Rate–the name I’ve given to the percentage of plate appearances ending with a batted ball to the batter’s pull field, with an exit velocity of 88 miles per hour or greater and a launch angle between 10 and 40 degrees.

They’re down to 10th in that department in 2023, at 7.2 percent. In other words, they’re driving the ball in the specific way that most reliably leads to extra-base hits less often (in both absolute and relative terms) than they have since before Rocco Baldelli took over as manager. Part of the reason for their inability to pull away in this lousy division is, without question, their faltering power production.

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[ashbury]

https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/2023-pitches-batting.shtml

The Twins lead the majors in swinging strikes. They are 0.1% away from lowest in putting the ball in play, and last in making contact (in-play plus fouls).

They are equal opportunity striker-outers. They lead the majors in swinging at strike three, and are second in looking at strike three.

[Pwjxr56]

The Twins have no everyday catcher, first baseman, third baseman, or left, center, or right fielders.  The starting pitching, while better than last year, is not capable of performing well over any extended period of time.  The bullpen has to many holes.   Too many players continue to suffer serious injuries resulting in lengthy stays on the DL. Byron Buxton’s body is not suited to the rigors of playing Major League Baseball for any extended period of time, even as a designated hitter.  The farm system has produced few, if any, starting pitchers or everyday position players, and the team has come out on the short end of to many trades.  I believe it’s time for ownership to take a serious look at whether Falvey, Levine, and others in the front office and player development operation should be replaced.