Twins Living By Platoon Continues to Pay Dividends

[Ted Schwerzler]

The Minnesota Twins have been an organization that subscribes to the idea that data can be helpful since Derek Falvey and Thad Levine took over. That doesn’t mean they manage as slaves to analytics, but process is something that drives results for them. Platoon lineups have been a thing most of the year, but they’ve paid off in a big way down the stretch.

Image courtesy of Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports

After facing two right-handed starters against the Toronto Blue Jays, Rocco Baldelli was able to go with his ideal lineup in the wild card round. Rookies Edouard Julien and Matt Wallner were routinely deployed, and youngster Alex Kirilloff was kept in the lineup. Facing a left-handed starter, those three have all been held out of the starting lineup, and in the American League Division Series it clicked in the best way possible.

The Houston Astros employ only one left-handed pitcher on the roster they brought into the postseason. Despite lefty Bennett Sousa pitching in the bullpen late for them, starter Framber Valdez was the only southpaw that Dusty Baker was going to bring with to the tournament. After facing Justin Verlander in Game 1, that meant the Twins would have their opportunity to right the ship in Game 2. Going with righties where the lefties can pinch hit, Minnesota knew where they'd turn.

Baldelli saw Verlander shut his lineup down against Bailey Ober. The Astros got big hits from Yordan Alvarez, and the Twins found themselves up against a wall. Although Jorge Polanco and Royce Lewis worked to bring Minnesota back, it was too little too late. Going up against a southpaw wasn’t ideal in Game 2 considering the struggles they have presented this year, but the manager stood firm in his process.

With the three aforementioned lefties all starting on the bench, Donovan Solano, Kyle Farmer, and Willi Castro were all in the starting lineup. Solano worked as the leadoff batter playing first base. Castro started in left field, and Farmer worked at the hot corner moving Polanco back to second base. Although Solano couldn’t get one during his first two at bats, Farmer stepped in with Castro on and blasted a dinger into the Crawford Boxes.

Valdez has been an incredible performer in the postseason, but he struggled in the second half this year and was ripe for the picking. Handing the Twins a heavy dose of curveballs early, he left a bender in a bad spot to Farmer before being taken deep. Going curveball heavy against Minnesota wasn’t a shocking strategy, but it seemed clear that the Twins were keyed in on the pitch.

Forget the fact that the Astros came into Game 2 with a lead, and that Minnesota was still on the road. Baldelli has stayed consistent with process throughout the entirety of the season, and it was that steadfast belief that paid off in a big way. Farmer’s big fly was the first hit of his postseason career, and it’s arguable that he’ll never hit a more impactful one.

Multiple times during the course of this season, it has seemed Farmer represents a talent worthy of so much more than his impact in the box score. As a glue guy in the clubhouse, a veteran, and a leader, he has consistently provided more than expectations may present of him, and the youth around him is getting a master class in team unity because of it.

Added as fringe players to the 26-man roster, both Castro and Solano had less than straightforward paths to playing time when leaving spring training in Fort Myers. Thanks to the production they have shown throughout the season, Baldelli’s lineup has been given flexibility that may have otherwise been unexpected.

The production from Minnesota’s youth this year has been noteworthy, and the rookie class alone has been nothing short of incredible. That said, seeing positive performance from fringe guys, and putting those players in advantageous positions has helped to reduce pressure from the lineup as a whole.

Baldelli used his bench with Kirilloff coming in late for Solano, and Julien pinch hitting for Farmer. The latter came through with a bases-loaded single that drove in a run and gave Minnesota breathing room. Despite the lefties beginning the game on the pine, they remained focused on the task, and the Canadian leadoff guy came through just like his manager drew it up.

Minnesota has employed the platoon advantage all year long, and it paid off in the spot they needed it most. With Houston having no lefties to throw the rest of the series, Baldelli can choose whatever spots he wants for his hitters.

View full article

[Karbo]

So good to see the RH hitting lineup come thru! Now they need to get AK and Wallner going. And it looks like October Correa has arrived!

[Althebum82]

While Solano is no embarrassment at 1B, Kiriloff was not really given his due by the tv announcers for his superior snags in the ninth inning that nailed down a couple of outs to close out the game.  In that instance, the platoon showed its advantage defensively instead of offensively.  

With the exception of Correa who is one of the best in the game at what he does, positional flexibility has been the trademark of this team since spring training and Rocco has used that well to the team's advantage.

[Trov]

I heard on a broadcast the other day that we actually have handled lefties well over the last couple months.  Yesterdays game showed the platoon can be huge.  Farmer is only on the team at this point to hit lefties and be defense replacement if needed.  He hit a 2 run HR.  Salano is there to hit lefties, he got a great base hit in his third at bat.  Castro, actually hits rights better, but he get the start over the Wallner because of the lefty and he gets a big hit in front of Farmers HR.  

2 wins of the 3 in the post season has been because of what we did against left handed guys. 

[JD-TWINS]

Solano - Farmer - Taylor - Castro (with a healthy Buxton) were to be the depth - the bench guys - the platoon guys v. LH pitching. They are all 125 games - 140 games played. Affordable, solid guys that have really done their jobs! Kudos again to the FO for bringing them in to supplement the core guys & the youth.

[Aerodeliria]

The platooning worked because it was Farmer and Solano today, who seem to be much more comfortable at the plate in this intensive setting. But let's be honest, Wallner and especially Kirilloff have not been productive as hitters; only Julien has been fine as a platooner from the left side. That's why I would prefer Farmer as a starter in the next game.

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

Farmer started the game, because he still currently our best 3rd baseman.  With Lewis still injured, the platoon split, and his defense made 3rd base his.  Polanco's defense at 3rd makes me gag.   Hopefully Lewis is good enough to go at 3rd in Game 3.  Baldelli said he was running much better.  

[Riverbrian]

I have been a frequent critic of the strict usage of the platoon throughout the season. The main reason for my criticism's was the pulling of young left handers against left handed pitchers early in the game during the regular season. They were being pulled in 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th inning in low leverage when a lefty came out of the bullpen.

Those AB's that they lost were opportunities for exposure to lefties which will prep them for exposure to lefties in the playoffs if they need to face them in October. The front office doesn't know in May, June or July if they will need to face them in October because they don't know who will be injured and not available for the playoffs.    

For example... If Correa, Lewis and Buxton were all not able to go for the playoffs... which came close to happening. They would not have been able to shield all 3 young lefties against left handers forcing them to do something IN THE PLAYOFFS they haven't been asked to do the regular season.  

Now that the playoffs are here and the roster is healthy enough to make the platoon functional... By all means... platoon. 

Next year... I'd rather they don't do that again (they probably will) during the regular season. Let them get those looks against lefties in the middle innings. Pick your spots for pinch hitting opportunities... Just don't make it automatic.   

[Schmoeman5]

Someone called yesterday's lineup vs Astros a "spring training lineup". It was exactly the lineup one could expect vs. a lefthanded starter. The Astros with Valdez as the only lefty are an easier team to play matchups against. Good to see the bats have success. Which hasn't been the case for the past couple of years when they go against a left-hander. So now going forward the Juliens Kiriloffs and Kepler bats need to help carry the load. They haven't done much yet vs Toronto or Houston.

[RpR]

11 minutes ago, Bigfork Twins Guy said:

Sometimes change is good even if it looks like a drop off as did yesterday's lineup.  It's also good that role players know that they will not just collect dust on the bench and actually be counted on to help the team and not just be fill ins when starters are injured.  It makes for a more wholesome group and most winning teams have that.

It was not a drop off; Polanco should never be at third and Julien should not be at second in the Post Season.

[jmlease1]

1 hour ago, Bigfork Twins Guy said:

I really liked that Rocco rewarded Farmer for his homer by leaving him in against a right-hander in his next at-bat.  I thought he maybe would pinch hit for him there but he surprised me and IMO went with his gut-feel for once.

I think it's more likely that with 2 outs Rocco wasn't looking to weaken his defense yet to try and exploit the platoon advantage and didn't want to limit his options too much for later in the game. When Julien pinch hit for him in the 7th (which worked out nicely) it was also a reasonable time to slide Castro down to 3B and bring in Stevenson to handle left with the good lead intact.

The Twins definitely are looking to exploit the platoon advantage but I think their substitution patterns are more sophisticated than just swapping guys out for that aspect. I do think they're trying to be situational to get that crooked number on the board, pressure the other team's bullpen alignment, and handle things in ways to keep their defense intact while riding a lead.

[Elite Benchwarmer]

"Farmer’s big fly was the first hit of his postseason career, and it’s arguable that he’ll never hit a more impactful one."

 

I have my hopes set on Farmer and the other Twins batters having their most impactful bats in the next couple of weeks.  Yes, I'm an optimist!

 

 

[Elite Benchwarmer]

6 hours ago, JD-TWINS said:

Solano - Farmer - Taylor - Castro (with a healthy Buxton) were to be the depth - the bench guys - the platoon guys v. LH pitching. They are all 125 games - 140 games played. Affordable, solid guys that have really done their jobs! Kudos again to the FO for bringing them in to supplement the core guys & the youth.

 

Except for keeping a few batters (Buxton, Correa) too high in the order for too long and allowing Gallo too many PA, I think Rocco has done a pretty decent job of maximizing our lineup through the year.  For the most part Twins hitters provided very little value during the first half.  I think Solano, MAT, Kirilloff, and Castro have been used fairly optimally. 

[Doctor Wu]

14 hours ago, Elite Benchwarmer said:

"Farmer’s big fly was the first hit of his postseason career, and it’s arguable that he’ll never hit a more impactful one."

 

I have my hopes set on Farmer and the other Twins batters having their most impactful bats in the next couple of weeks.  Yes, I'm an optimist!

 

 

I didn't know much about him when he was with the Reds, but Farmer has really impressed me this year. And the fact that he came back from the horrible beaning this summer and immediately started to contribute and help us wins games again ... man, that was huge. This guy has no fear, A total gamer!

[Linus]

18 hours ago, jmlease1 said:

I think it's more likely that with 2 outs Rocco wasn't looking to weaken his defense yet to try and exploit the platoon advantage and didn't want to limit his options too much for later in the game. When Julien pinch hit for him in the 7th (which worked out nicely) it was also a reasonable time to slide Castro down to 3B and bring in Stevenson to handle left with the good lead intact.

The Twins definitely are looking to exploit the platoon advantage but I think their substitution patterns are more sophisticated than just swapping guys out for that aspect. I do think they're trying to be situational to get that crooked number on the board, pressure the other team's bullpen alignment, and handle things in ways to keep their defense intact while riding a lead.

This is correct. Once they get a decent lead Rocco’s player usage is driven by defensive capabilities. 

[GeorgiaBaller]

Polanco needs to be at 2nd base---he is awkward and out of position at 3rd, but well above avg at 2nd.  Julien is a defensive liability at 2nd.  He has multiple mental errors a game where he is not positioned correctly and allows hits or dis-allows double plays because he is nowhere close to covering when the ball is hit to 3rd, Correa at short, or 1st base with a man on.  He doesn't even poistion correctly for cutoofs from the outfield half the time--the fielders all throw past him. Defensive stats don't catch that . Julien's only position is DH without hurting the team.  Can Julien play 3rd?  No.  Farmer is the automatic choice at 3rd regardless of right or left handed pitching.

Wallner is stiff and slow to react in left.  He may have sprint speed, but he is not quick off the jump---which discounts sprint speed.  he makes routine plays look difficult. Until he improves his fielding, Castro is a much better option in Left. Stevenson let a ball drop last game that Correa ran 2/3's of the way to the fence and just missed.  His ball all the way.  The Twins talk about outfield depth, but they have 0 that are not below average in the field---besides Castro.  I am not sure why organizationally this is such a deficit.  the team even had to sign a FA to get a good/great defensive CF'r!

Defensive ineptness costs any team incredibly in the playoffs.  Juien and Wallner have no position other than DH during the playoffs---and from their plate production so far, they haven't earned that spot, either.