Larnach and Miranda Optioned. Balazovic Reassigned

[nicksaviking]

I think eventually (not now) something will need to be done with the lineup if Wallner, Julien and Buxton continue to strike out at a 30% clip. I think that's a bit untenable. 

But if they put up .850 OPS, the team can absolutely live with the strikeouts from one or two of those guys. No reason Wallner can't be one of them.

[KBJ1]

$15M wasted on 1 yr players we didn't need. DeSclafani - out, Margot and Santana. Could have signed Gurriel and brought up Martin and Miranda. Varland is by default now the #5 starter anyways.

Sheer idiocracy!!!

[DocBauer]

On 3/18/2024 at 7:07 PM, Althebum82 said:

Anyone else find it interesting that Balazovic hung around until this late?  At what point does a team shrug its shoulders and declare what seems to be a lost cause is, in fact, a lost cause?

It's a pat on the back, hand shake, shoulder bump, to say we still love you and you're part of the organization and we believe in you, and have hope for you confidence move. 

He's relatively young, long and strong and has some good stuff to work with. You don't let arms like that leave until you try everything. If he explodes in St Paul, you cut him loose. If he blows up, you pat yourself on the back for believing in him and promote him at some point.

[DocBauer]

I'm a bit confused about how a month of ST, and limited AB fluxoms so many peoples opinions. Wallner is/was a top draft choice and a top prospect.  He not only produced at every milb level he's ever played at, he's also shown the ability to adapt and improve...I.E. start a little slow at times and then ramp up.

While is MLB time is beyond SSS, let's call it MSS. All he's done so far, EVERYWHERE, is hit and hit with power and produce, and adapt. Period. So we're concerned with a poor ST? Fine. The type of hitter he is will probably always produce some streaks. (Secret...that happens for most hitters). And if he stinks for a month...as pointed out previous post...he could be sent down to AAA the same way Hunter was years ago.

There are no scholarships until you're a proven ML player. But hasn't Wallner earned enough points and confidence at this point that we give him the benefit of the doubt after 32 ST AB? What's that, 8 games??

[DocBauer]

As to the whole different discussion of LH hitters facing LHP, I don't have a difffinitive answer. Baseball history shows something like a 100 OPS or more loss for a LH batter vs a LHP. Right? 

If a RH batter can't hit RH pitching AT ALL they become a specialist/platoon player who doesn't have much of a career unless they're special in some regard. 

BUT, there is an ABSOLUTE difference from a LH bat who produces at, let's just say, an .800 OPS ALL STAR level vs RHP against that same LH hitter producing at a .675 to .700 clip. That's a pretty amazing amount of production and someone you probably leave in your lineup daily, especially waiting for a RH to come out of the other teams pen. We're talking Mauer and Morneau types of hitters as Twins fans. 

@Riverbrianis right when you talk about opportunity. You dont know what you have until you let them try. Julien spent the offseason with a pitching machine and a local LHP throwing from the left side to help him adjust to being better, and a more complete batter. 

Unless you build your entire lineup to bat RH, which is crazy silly because you're ALWAYS going to face 70-75% RHP, you're ALWAYS going to have to place a couple LH batters in your lineup. That's just reality. And you can't platoon everyone. Not only is there not enough roster space, but RP come in to the game from the opposite arm side. 

There is NO answer about trying to MAKE a LH bat be good, or even acceptable, against a LHP. But you can at least give them a try, some leeway, considering you can't always hide them, and see what they might do. 

Giving opportunity to find the least BAD LH bat vs LHP pitching is something I'm 100% behind.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

On 3/18/2024 at 7:32 PM, Tbrooker11 said:

St Paul is going to have a lineup that should be able to win a lot of games this year.

Trevor Larnach (.271/.284/.504- 14 2B/15 HR/47 RBI/ 50 BB in 72 AAA games in 2023)

Jose Miranda (.344/.401/.572- 32 2B/30 HR/94 RBI/42 BB in 127 MiLB games in 2021-His last full MiLB season)

Austin Martin (.260/.381/.398- 11 2B/7 HR/30 RBI/39 BB/19 SB in 67 MiLB games in 2023)

DaShawn Keirsey (.294/.366/.455-18 2B/83B/15 HR/61 RBI/39 SB in 130 MiLB games in 2023)

Yunior Severino (.272/.352/.546- 17 2B/35 HR/84 RBI/51 BB in 120 MiLB games in 2023)

Jair Camargo (..259/.323/.503- 16 2B/21 HR/63 RBI/29 BB in 90 AAA games in 2023)

Brooks Lee-IF he doesn't make the MLB club, and if he does it would probably be Willi Castro in AAA to start the year (.275/.347/.461- 39 2B/16 HR/ 84 RBI/56 BB in 125 MiLB games in 2023)

Niko Goodrum (.280/.448/.440- 9 2B/8 HR/36 RBI/66 BB in 65 AAA games in 2023)

There is quickly going to be a logjam at AA and AAA in 2024. With all of these players and eventually adding in players like Walker Jenkins, Emmanuel Rodriguez, Gabriel Gonzalez, Kala'i Rosario, Andrew Cosetti etc.

I definitely see some guys being packaged for some MLB SP talent at some point this year. 

This looks amazing...except, "Where are the pitchers?"  Like that classic Wendy's commercial: "Where's the beef?" 

[stringer bell]

19 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

I think eventually (not now) something will need to be done with the lineup if Wallner, Julien and Buxton continue to strike out at a 30% clip. I think that's a bit untenable. 

But if they put up .850 OPS, the team can absolutely live with the strikeouts from one or two of those guys. No reason Wallner can't be one of them.

Gallo, Taylor, Julien, Buxton and Wallner were all well over 30% Ks last year. Granted, Gallo and Buxton didn't play much in the stretch but the Twins went with a lot of high K guys in their lineup last year and had a successful regular season. 

[RpR]

12 hours ago, DocBauer said:

There are no scholarships until you're a proven ML player. But hasn't Wallner earned enough points and confidence at this point that we give him the benefit of the doubt after 32 ST AB? What's that, 8 games??

Wallner is/will be in Left Field because the Twins have no one else to replace him, they are going with what they have.

[RpR]

9 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

Gallo, Taylor, Julien, Buxton and Wallner were all well over 30% Ks last year. Granted, Gallo and Buxton didn't play much in the stretch but the Twins went with a lot of high K guys in their lineup last year and had a successful regular season. 

Then why aren't Gallo and Taylor still here?

[stringer bell]

19 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

I don't have a number. It would be ridiculous for me to quote a number. It's about what they are now doesn't have to be what they are going to be in the future unless you place them in cement shoes. I have a real problem with taking a young player and strip mining them for parts. 

Jeffers had a .540 OPS against Right Handers... 150 AB's in 2022. If you are going to use Wallner's small sample against him... it's only fair to use Jeffer's 2022 against him. 

He had an OPS of .828 OPS against righties...218 AB in 2023. Jeffers was allowed to show what he could do. 

Jeffers wasn't typecast. 

I am absolutely fine with them being pinch hit for in the 8th or 9th with the game on the line. That makes sense... I am absolutely not fine with them being yanked in the 2nd inning when a left hander enters the game with plenty of game to go. 

I'm Ok with a platoon... but, the occasional start against a left hander isn't too much to ask so they can group some AB's against them and develop. 

Can we use the early part of the season to determine what players can actually do and then answer what do we actually need at the trade deadline with actionable intel and determine what do we have to actually work with come playoff time. 

Wallner had real good numbers being shielded against lefties. It's hard to argue against it. But... what Wallner, Julien and Kirilloff are going to be is being pre-determined by their supervisors. 

All three of these youngish left handed hitters are also handicapped by the perception (perhaps reality) that they are poorer in the field than their platoon alternates. When Rocco is faced with the choice to hit for Wallner, Julien or Kirilloff, the decision should be based on who has the better chance of helping the team win the game and that would include possible subsequent at-bats and plays in the field. It has been noted that Rocco believes in taking the platoon advantage in earlier spots (middle innings and deeper) because there's no guarantee that same advantage will be there in the later innings. I believe that is short-sighted because if he hits for two or all three of the lefties mentioned, the opponent has the advantage of knowing that the Twins will be going basically all right handed in the late innings.

As Brian has noted, the left handed hitters in question need more chances than automatically being subbed for whenever a lefthander is summoned from the 'pen. Shielding a guy by resting him most of the time against lefties is okay if he still gets a fair amount of plate appearances against them. A greater percentage than last year would be the minimum expectation for the first couple months.

[Linus]

Regarding left handed hitters not hitting lefties I would refer you to the piece Gleeman wrote for the Athletic. To summarize very few lefties in all of baseball hit left handed pitching. Essentially Rod Carew is the only left handed batter in Twins history that could hit lefties at all and he still had a noticeable drop in OPS. So for me I’m not going to worry about the young lefties ability to hit left handed pitching. They won’t. And it doesn’t make them just a platoon player as they will end up playing 75-80% of the time. 

[nicksaviking]

1 hour ago, stringer bell said:

Gallo, Taylor, Julien, Buxton and Wallner were all well over 30% Ks last year. Granted, Gallo and Buxton didn't play much in the stretch but the Twins went with a lot of high K guys in their lineup last year and had a successful regular season. 

Last season is what I base my position on. A couple guys with significant strikeout issues is palatable, but I think their success last year was based more on the pitching. With strikeouts up and down the lineup, they stranded way too many baserunners.

[bean5302]

Matt Wallner has hit LHP well when given the opportunity in the minors. Using much larger sample sizes including his MLB and MiLB stats.

2023 All Levels
vs. RHP 430 PA = .283/.407/.514 OPS .921
vs. LHP 129 PA = .239/.326/.522 OPS .848

2022 All Levels
vs. RHP 447 PA = .281/.414/.525 OPS .939
vs. LHP 185 PA = .257/.378/.533 OPS .911

[RpR]

14 minutes ago, bean5302 said:

Matt Wallner has hit LHP well when given the opportunity in the minors. Using much larger sample sizes including his MLB and MiLB stats.

2023 All Levels
vs. RHP 430 PA = .283/.407/.514 OPS .921
vs. LHP 129 PA = .239/.326/.522 OPS .848
 

Wallner in the Majors, last year.

[bean5302]

27 minutes ago, RpR said:

Wallner in the Majors, last year.

Aaron Judge last year in the majors 8/25-9/3
41 PA .139/.244/.389 wRC+ 73
Clearly that hack can't be batting at the MLB level.

[RpR]

1 hour ago, bean5302 said:

Aaron Judge last year in the majors 8/25-9/3
41 PA .139/.244/.389 wRC+ 73
Clearly that hack can't be batting at the MLB level.

Judge 2023 regular season, nice splits , what is your point?

 

[USAFChief]

15 minutes ago, RpR said:

Judge 2023 regular season, nice splits , what is your point?

 

Not to speak for Mr Bean, but I took his point to be 46 PAs is a very small sample size from which to draw any conclusions. 

As someone once said, "Anybody can hit anything in 40 ABs."

All that said, I have believed strongly in the platoon advantage for many decades now, and I doubt Wallner will ever hit LH pitching well. At least not as well as against RH pitching. 

 

 

[lecroy24fan]

1 hour ago, USAFChief said:

. As someone once said, "Anybody can hit anything in 40 ABs."

I'm not sure Dean Chance would agree. 

[Parfigliano]

3 hours ago, bean5302 said:

Aaron Judge last year in the majors 8/25-9/3
41 PA .139/.244/.389 wRC+ 73
Clearly that hack can't be batting at the MLB level.

Twins should grab him when he hits the waiver wire.

[bean5302]

18 hours ago, USAFChief said:

Not to speak for Mr Bean, but I took his point to be 46 PAs is a very small sample size from which to draw any conclusions. 

As someone once said, "Anybody can hit anything in 40 ABs."

All that said, I have believed strongly in the platoon advantage for many decades now, and I doubt Wallner will ever hit LH pitching well. At least not as well as against RH pitching. 

 

 

Yep. super SSS, especially one that comes with sporadic plate appearances should be taken with a grain of salt. No idea whether or not Wallner will hit lefties well enough to avoid the platoon, but Wallner's splits in the minors look dramatically better than Julien or Kirilloff so I think it's worth seeing what they have for at least a few months. Benching a starter 30 games a year for left handed starters seems like a lot of value to potentially give up.

[Riverbrian]

On 3/22/2024 at 12:45 PM, stringer bell said:

It has been noted that Rocco believes in taking the platoon advantage in earlier spots (middle innings and deeper) because there's no guarantee that same advantage will be there in the later innings. I believe that is short-sighted because if he hits for two or all three of the lefties mentioned, the opponent has the advantage of knowing that the Twins will be going basically all right handed in the late innings.

Bench Drained early. Vazquez plays 2B in the 9th.