Lineup against Astros

[Rik19753]

If my memory is correct, the lineup we saw against Verlander was the exact same one that we ran out against the Blue Jays.

But since the Astros don't have any lefties to throw at us, why do we have to alternate lefties and righties?

Shouldn't we just be stacking our best hitters in order?

I really like Kirilloff long-term, but right now he has no business hitting before Correa.

I think the lineup should look something like this.

1. Julien

2. Polanco

3. Lewis

4. Correa

5. Kepler

6. Jeffers

7. Kirilloff

8. Wallner

9. Taylor

Thoughts?

[FlyingFinn]

39 minutes ago, Rik19753 said:

I really like Kirilloff long-term, but right now he has no business hitting before Correa.

And you like how Jeffers is doing better than Kirilloff?? I would simply flip Correa and Kirilloff in the 5 and 6 spots because Correa is swinging well. Castro for Wallner is another possibility.

[Rik19753]

6, 7 and 8 are interchangeable, they all haven't looked great. But right now I like Jeffers more than Kirilloff because he had the better season. I also recall he stung a ball to left that would have been a sure XBH had it not been right at the left fielder. I don't remember feeling pleased with any one of Kirilloff's at bats, but I may be forgetting.

But yes, I really thing the most important thing is batting Correa higher. I would much rather see Correa batting with runners on 1st and 2nd with 2 outs in the 1st. I would love to bat him 2nd if it weren't for his tendency to ground into double plays.

[Riverbrian]

I think the batting order should be fluid.  

Managers tend to keep them somewhat static. 

I am reasonably sure that data is going to be very fluid (batter vs pitcher, hitters performance against fastball pitchers, slider guys, hot and cold streaks so I am reasonably sure that data is ignored to keep the lineups static.

I don't know why. 

 

[umterp23]

1 hour ago, FlyingFinn said:

And you like how Jeffers is doing better than Kirilloff?? I would simply flip Correa and Kirilloff in the 5 and 6 spots because Correa is swinging well. Castro for Wallner is another possibility.

Sure do.  Batting is a bonus with Catchers as they say and with Jeffers he has done a lot of things well all season.  Hot hand doesn't mean just hitting.  With Jeffers, Twins are 59-40 with him in lineup and 3 and 1 in the playoffs.  Did you hear Pablo's interview?  Gave credit for Jeffers calling the game.  Calling it and pitcher execution still has to happen but no one gave Jeffers much credit for the non-batting side of the position.  I like Jeffers more the 8 spot than closer to middle.  

[FlyingFinn]

9 minutes ago, umterp23 said:

Sure do.  Batting is a bonus with Catchers as they say and with Jeffers he has done a lot of things well all season.  Hot hand doesn't mean just hitting.

My comment is entirely in regards to batting Jeffers #6 in the original post above, ahead of Kirilloff. I would bat Kirilloff ahead of Jeffers.

[JD-TWINS]

2 hours ago, Rik19753 said:

If my memory is correct, the lineup we saw against Verlander was the exact same one that we ran out against the Blue Jays.

But since the Astros don't have any lefties to throw at us, why do we have to alternate lefties and righties?

Shouldn't we just be stacking our best hitters in order?

I really like Kirilloff long-term, but right now he has no business hitting before Correa.

I think the lineup should look something like this.

1. Julien

2. Polanco

3. Lewis

4. Correa

5. Kepler

6. Jeffers

7. Kirilloff

8. Wallner

9. Taylor

Thoughts?

This is pretty close to what we did Saturday.

Correa could revert to August Carlos at any time - guys don’t get 2-3 hits a game for long runs. Hope he stays hot but baseball is % and norms not just what happens over the last week.

V. RH pitching Kepler bats 4th with an invigorated CC behind him & then Kirilloff protecting him at 6th. Kirilloff has to be part of the solution!

Jeffers is a great option in the #7 hole v. RH pitcher and with Wallner behind him………..if Buxton could play CF, this would be the best 1-9 line-up we’ve ever had……very long!

Rocco said CC came to him & asked to bat up in the line-up…….his request was granted, so who knows?

[tony&rodney]

I would not be at all surprised to see Christian Vazquez behind the plate today. Sonny Gray buries the ball on a routine basis and Vazquez is a better catcher than Ryan Jeffers. Another possibility is Willi Castro in centerfield. I'm fine with whatever lineup Baldelli brings to home plate. In any event, the Twins will need to score at least four runs today and it would be sweet to see an early push by the Twins bats.

[chpettit19]

I'd go:

Julien
Lewis
Correa
Polanco
Kepler
Kirilloff
Jeffers
Wallner
Taylor

[Craig Arko]

For me the main question is: is Lewis able to play 3B? That brings so much more flexibility, both hitting and defense.

[Musk21]

Lineup is out:

1. Julien - DH

2. Polanco - 2B

3. Kepler - RF

4. Lewis - 3B

5. Correa - SS

6. Kirilloff - 1B

7. Wallner - LF

8. Castro - CF

9. Jeffers - C

[chpettit19]

1 hour ago, Bigfork Twins Guy said:

Because of the 3-man minimum rule for relief pitchers IMO.  Why would you want to line up 3 or more lefties or righties so that the opposing manager can bring in a relief pitcher to their advantage especially in the early innings when one may not want to pinch hit?

The only lefty on the Houston roster is Valdez. That's kind of the point of this thread. They don't have a single lefty pitcher to use today so pinch hitting really shouldn't be a concern at all.

[umterp23]

2 hours ago, FlyingFinn said:

My comment is entirely in regards to batting Jeffers #6 in the original post above, ahead of Kirilloff. I would bat Kirilloff ahead of Jeffers.

I'm fine with that as well.  I like Jeffers in 7-8 hole the best.  Little less pressure of the # in the lineup mentality.  Bottom Line, lets bury the Astros and move on.  Just Win Twins, Just Win

[chpettit19]

2 minutes ago, Musk21 said:

Lineup is out:

1. Julien - DH

2. Polanco - 2B

3. Kepler - RF

4. Lewis - 3B

5. Correa - SS

6. Kirilloff - 1B

7. Wallner - LF

8. Castro - CF

9. Jeffers - C

Love seeing Lewis back at 3B, but Kepler to the 3 hole with Lewis and Correa 4/5 feels like overthinking things.

[FlyingFinn]

Starter must be worse against LH hitters with Castro in for Taylor and Kepler up in the lineup.

[Squirrel]

Now posted in today's game thread: 

 

[Linus]

Like the lineup. Great to see Royce in the field and I like Castro starting in center. 

[Shaitan]

This has to be the first time I've ever heard people complaining about this manager using the same lineup too often.

[GusGus11]

2 hours ago, FlyingFinn said:

Starter must be worse against LH hitters with Castro in for Taylor and Kepler up in the lineup.

He is drastically worse

Lefties are killing Javier this year

[AlwaysinModeration]

Excellent work, Emilio!  Ok, let’s start chipping away.  Get the crowd back in it.