If Aaron Judge can take one for the team in a contract year...

[Brock Beauchamp]

... and play center field because the Yankees needed him to do so, it sure feels like Max Kepler can take his glove and hold it 100-ish feet to the right of where he likes to play.

I don't know if it's entirely Kepler, the front office, coaches, or all of the above but the complete lack of action to shake up the lineup is indefensible at this point.

Taking Taylor out of the lineup against RHP and running an outfield of Gallo, Kepler, and Wallner is so much better than what they've been doing over the past month. And that's with me not liking Kepler in the lineup at all but acknowledging he is wayyyyyyy more valuable in center if Buxton can't play there.

If Aaron Judge can do it with literally $400m on the line, Kepler can move his ass over there, too.

I'm getting real tired of pretty much everybody in this organization, from the very top all the way down to the guys on the field.

[Mike Sixel]

I don't think Kepler can anymore, but that's not your point, and I agree....

[gunnarthor]

They traded for Taylor and they signed Buxton to big money. It's a hard pill to swallow for the FO to not have one of them in CF.

[Brock Beauchamp]

10 minutes ago, gunnarthor said:

They traded for Taylor and they signed Buxton to big money. It's a hard pill to swallow for the FO to not have one of them in CF.

Taylor isn't a full-time player, there's nothing wrong with admitting that a part-time player should play part-time.

Really, it's all about Buxton. If he can't play the field, Taylor becomes horribly exposed as an every day player, particularly against right-handed pitching.

[jorgenswest]

They could play Gallo in CF also with Wallner in LF. With either Gallo or Kepler they would have a significant drop in CF as well as a significant drop in whichever corner they put Wallner.

It doe s surprise me to see that Wallner has never played 1B or 3B. His arm would help at 3B. His height would help at 1B. I think lack of trying there (even in college) might add to evidence that he is a pretty poor corner OF.

[SwainZag]

Are there are links to interviews Max saying he won't play CF?  Was it him? His agent?  When I search I just find links to TD.  Either way, Taylor is a better CF than Max is. 

[notoriousgod71]

Gardy put Craig Monroe in center field once. That was exciting.

[notoriousgod71]

3 hours ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

I'm getting real tired of pretty much everybody in this organization, from the very top all the way down to the guys on the field.

Welcome to the club!

[Twodogs]

2 hours ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

Taylor isn't a full-time player, there's nothing wrong with admitting that a part-time player should play part-time.

Really, it's all about Buxton. If he can't play the field, Taylor becomes horribly exposed as an every day player, particularly against right-handed pitching.

Yeah, he didn't even play full time with the Royals. 

 

But yeah I agree, Kep should move to CF.  However, the one thing that I've been harping on for a couple of years now, especially when people want Rocco fired, etc....  etc.... etc....  Is that I believe that this front office makes all of the decision, 100%.  I mean if Rocco gets fired they'd just bring in another Rocco who will do exactly what Rocco is already doing.  I mean it just feels like everyone in a leadership position on the twins just sits there and waits until the big guys tell them what to do.  I really don't feel like anyone has any decision making ability whatsoever throughout the organization.  I mean if guys like coaches and whatnot were sitting around thinking of ways to change things up don't you think they'd try Kep in Center, I mean just a few times to see if it works out? But no, all of the sudden he can't even attempt to play there, that sounds like a decision from up top of you ask me.  Just my feeling.  

[Twodogs]

2 hours ago, SwainZag said:

Are there are links to interviews Max saying he won't play CF?  Was it him? His agent?  When I search I just find links to TD.  Either way, Taylor is a better CF than Max is. 

I think that having CF on your resume when you are a free agent out on the market would increase your ability to get signed.  So to me it doesn't make a lot of sense, I can't imagine a player absolutely saying no.  So I have a feeling that Kepler is holding up the company line, even if he did say that.

[Brock Beauchamp]

18 minutes ago, notoriousgod71 said:

Gardy put Craig Monroe in center field once. That was exciting.

Gardy put Cuddyer in center multiple times. 

[RpR]

Keplers fielding numbers in the minors in Center were as horrid as Wallners numbers in Right, while his numbers in Right were excellent; that is probably why Kepler does not get sent to center field.

[Brock Beauchamp]

25 minutes ago, RpR said:

Keplers fielding numbers in the minors in Center were as horrid as Wallners numbers in Right, while his numbers in Right were excellent; that is probably why Kepler does not get sent to center field.

Kepler has over 1100 MLB innings in center. His minor league numbers are irrelevant. 

[tony&rodney]

Unless I hear an interview or read a quote from Kepler, I do not believe that Kepler has a stance that he will not play centerfield.

[HokieRif]

16 hours ago, Twodogs said:

Yeah, he didn't even play full time with the Royals. 

He didn’t play full time with the Nats

[Twodogs]

6 hours ago, HokieRif said:

He didn’t play full time with the Nats

Them too

[jkcarew]

Or Lewis.

[Twins33]

https://theathletic.com/3990551/2022/12/15/twins-max-kepler-trade/

Quote

the Twins have shied away from using Kepler in center field the past few seasons, believing he wears down physically if asked to play there regularly and knowing that he prefers to stay in right field if possible.

This is the only thing I can recall seeing, so seems like a FO/Rocco decision. He prefers RF, but it doesn’t say he refuses to play CF. 

[RpR]

On 7/18/2023 at 9:36 PM, Brock Beauchamp said:

Kepler has over 1100 MLB innings in center. His minor league numbers are irrelevant. 

Yeah right.