How Can Jorge Polanco and Edouard Julien Coexist?

[JD-TWINS]

On 7/16/2023 at 2:31 PM, Nashvilletwin said:

Consider the following:

1. Currently, Julien really only plays vs. RHers.  According to our current manager, he is not worthy of being an everyday player, but more of a platooner.

2. Rocco favours the higher-priced underperforming vets (Kepler, Gallo) over the possibly better performing up-and-comers who need ABs (Larnach, Wallner). We should not expect the thinking to differ with Julien vs. Polanco (or Farmer, Solano, or Castro, for that matter).

So, when Polanco returns, Julien likely catches an Uber over the river (that’s if he doesn’t get traded, lol).

Larnach has been given chances - 600 plus AB’s in the Show. Love his look - his play, batting, is below average. Wallner K’s 35% of the time in big leagues so not getting him in line-up as a slow footed OF isn’t a terrible decision. Has potential.

Going into ‘23, Gotta give Gallo & Kepler a runway (1/2 season)…….that’s done and either or both of them can/should go.

Julien’s job is to hit RH pitching - Farmer’s is to hit LH pitching…..nothing wrong with those two things & them sharing 2B.

Buxton to DL is the cleanest move to get Wallner/Julien/Polanco all on the roster.

Trading Polanco - Kepler - Gallo, all 3 could give us a fresh feel for the last 2 months. Or, we could IL Buxton until August 15 & play Polanco/Julien/Wallner at 2B & RF as well as at DH. LH pitching, we put Kirilloff into OF and Solano at 1B with Farmer at 3B & Polanco batting RH at 2B.

Gotta move 2 of 3 vets off our roster…..Gallo/Kepler/Polanco, IMO.

Another move is to trade for Grichuk of Colorado or Bellinger of Chicago to play CF 80% of the time August- September.

[JD-TWINS]

On 7/16/2023 at 6:17 PM, Doctor Gast said:

Julien isn't a 2B, I've advocated that they shouldn't have been having himwaste his time there the last 2 yrs. They should have focused him at 1st base & brought him up when Kiriloff didn't break camp at 1B. Unfornately now they need to send him down to refresh him at 1B. Besides Julien has no future at 2B when there is Polanco & Farmer there now & later there'd be Lewis, Lee & Martin coming up who are real 2B. The OF should be sorted out & put Kiriloff out there & have Julien the primary 1B, and have him do some DH. 

Hope he can do it - unfortunately, it’s going to take reps to play first. I see somewhere else here he’s played LF 15-20 games in minors. Competency at one of those two spots would be great sooner than later. With the obvious log jam in ‘23 at 2B it seems odd there was no flex in his defensive position at all at AAA. Seemed odd as it was happening???

Not sure what his arm’s like after 2019 arm problem/surgery. Keeping him away from 3B due to that, apparently.

Long-term maybe he can smooth out at 2B with some fall ball and early spring training work?

[JD-TWINS]

21 hours ago, cmoss84 said:

Trade Buxton to wherever he wants to go. There will be interest from other clubs...SD for Hader? Chi for Bellinger? St Louis for Goldy or Arenado? 

Don’t think there would be any interest. Why would any of those teams want Buxton? Goldschmidt has 2 years left - Arenado has 5 years left, maybe 6. Both can hit!

What’s the upside with Buxton on any team right now? Everyone else sees he can’t play defense and he all too often looks miserable at the plate. 

Bellinger has 2 1/2 months left on a one year deal - he costs $4M more/year than Buck this year but he can play defense & hit.

San Diego has plenty of payroll to handle - trying to sign Soto for 1/2 Billion.

We may need to get him playing 1B over next year to be able to have some line-up flexibility. It’s a bad situation!

[Paul Walerius]

On 7/16/2023 at 1:11 PM, Bigfork Twins Guy said:

Rotate them at 2B and occasionally float Julian around.  Polo will need some rest days anyway.  This also allows for a potent PH option as needed.  Julian has already shown that he can PH with success and having Polo as a PH option also is a big plus since he is a switch-hitter negating a pitcher move from the other manager.  We need both of their bats in this weak lineup.

The problem is, Farmer, Solano and Castro.   They have all played into the lineup.   They need to trade Gallo and Kepler if they are keeping both.  

[cmoss84]

1 hour ago, JD-TWINS said:

Don’t think there would be any interest. Why would any of those teams want Buxton? Goldschmidt has 2 years left - Arenado has 5 years left, maybe 6. Both can hit!

What’s the upside with Buxton on any team right now? Everyone else sees he can’t play defense and he all too often looks miserable at the plate. 

Bellinger has 2 1/2 months left on a one year deal - he costs $4M more/year than Buck this year but he can play defense & hit.

San Diego has plenty of payroll to handle - trying to sign Soto for 1/2 Billion.

We may need to get him playing 1B over next year to be able to have some line-up flexibility. It’s a bad situation!

Good questions. Here's my take:

$15 mil a year is a reasonable contract to risk for Buxton's upside. Couple that with change of scenery...Yada Yada Yada. 

St. Louis might want out of one of their contracts for a (semi?) rebuild. 

SD might have a good idea if they want to offer huge money to Soto, or if Soto is more interested elsewhere. Buxton might be a good insurance plan.

Same with Cubs...they may risk Buxton if they know they are not signing Bellinger long term. 

Going to be a very interesting next couple of weeks!

[curt1965]

Buxton is 1-31 in the last 8 games with 16 strikeouts. Why is he hitting 3rd? Why is he playing?

[joefish]

Polanco would be our everyday switch hitting DH. 

Julien plays 2b unless he regresses instead of progresses

[LA Vikes Fan]

On 7/16/2023 at 10:53 AM, Mike Sixel said:

Polanco at third is my vote. Or Julien at first and AK to the outfield over Kepler.

Agreed, and you could have Julien to LF over Gallo. He's the one that should go first IMHO. Plus, LF is easier than RF for a guy who has had TJ surgery. 

[RpR]

1 minute ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

Agreed if you make it Julien to LF over Gallo. He's the one that should go first IMHO. Plus, LF is easier than RF for a guy who has had TJ surgery. 

Put  a gent who cannot decently throw a ball 90 ft. into the outfield, LOL; The infielders would have to run half way out to Julien and hope the ball comes their way.

[Major League Ready]

On 7/17/2023 at 1:03 PM, Mike Sixel said:

Right.....you have Lee (if Lewis is at third, Lee has to be your 2B of the future) and Severino (I think he's traded for a RP this deadline, or as part of a bigger deal) and Martin (who should only be a LF or CF at this point, but maybe his arm can't take that right now) and Schoebel (too far away to worry about).

Julien has to coexisit with Lewis and Lee in the near term, whether Polanco is here or not.

Lewis is quite a bit faster which makes me wonder if Lee takes 3B and Lewis 2B. Plus, I am still holding on to the hope Lewis ends up in the OF.  We are deeper now and next year in the IF.   The RH hitting Lewis would be a nice addition to our OF.

[Mike Sixel]

6 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

Lewis is quite a bit faster which makes me wonder if Lee takes 3B and Lewis 2B. Plus, I am still holding on to the hope Lewis ends up in the OF.  We are deeper now and next year in the IF.   The RH hitting Lewis would be a nice addition to our OF.

We are in alignment here....for sure.