Replace Lewis With Best Bat

[jorgenswest]

The biggest loss is his bat. They have plenty of coverage at 3B. A Castro/Farmer platoon will work with Julien playing 2B. Margot can play across the outfield. They need a bat that can play everyday regardless of position. Who is that bat?

[jkcarew]

I agree with the premise.

The answer, I’m not at all sure about. Do they no longer consider Miranda an option at third? If not, I don’t know where you go other than Castro or Farmer. Severino?? Martin??

I would like to see Martin…but again, even if they think the bat is ‘ready’ (such that it is)…I’m not sure they see 3B as one of the positions they like him at.

Lee’s injury makes this a way uglier scenario than I want it to be.

[ashbury]

Just now, jkcarew said:

I agree with the premise.

The answer, I’m not at all sure about. Do they no longer consider Miranda an option at third? If not, I don’t know where you go other than Castro or Farmer. Severino?? Martin??

I would like to see Martin…but again, even if they think the bat is ‘ready’ (such that it is)…I’m not sure they see 3B as one of the positions they like him at.

I think the premise is that for defense, third base is covered by a Castro/Farmer tandem.  So bringing up a bat to fill what Castro covers (yesterday it was LF) is the question.  In that case Martin is in play, maybe, if they think the bat is ready.

[Mike Sixel]

I am pulling for Martin in LF and Castro at 3b most of the time.....with Julien allowed to play every day.

[Dman]

It feels like Larnach or Miranda to me. Both have MLB experience and can hit HR's a Twins MO.  Still as a pinch runner and righty outfielder with some speed Martin could make sense.  I guess it depends on what they feel they need most.

I know he hasn't exactly proven he is all way back but my pick for best bat is Miranda. A righty bat replaces a righty bat.  Miranda has good contact skills and can hit HR's.  Miranda could also play third in a pinch if absolutely needed but is redundant at first with Santana entrenched there. You could make a case for any of them depending on what you want to do. Whoever comes up I don't see them being much more than a pinch hitter as Farmer and Castro can fill in just fine for now.  I'd go Miranda with Larnach next in line since he is a lefty.  Martin works for me as well I just think they will go with the guys who have been there before.

[LA Vikes Fan]

19 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

I am pulling for Martin in LF and Castro at 3b most of the time.....with Julien allowed to play every day.

I like it. Get Julien and Castro in the lineup every day as the 1 and 9 hitters. Farmer can hit for Julien against a tough LH starter (would like to see Julien getting ABs against lesser LH pitching). Martin plays 3-4 days a week in LF while Kepler goes to DH to heal his knee bruise, then as the 4th OF replacement for guy who goes to DH for a half day off. 

[chpettit19]

I think it depends on their determination to use Santana at 1B against righties. If they're willing to make him a platoon bat I'd think the move is probably Larnach to take the DH spot with Kirilloff moving to 1B against righties and Castro being the 3B. If they're determined to keep Santana at 1B more or less everyday the decision becomes more complicated.

Are they happy platooning Castro and Farmer at 3B and letting Julien play everyday? If so then Martin may be the choice to fill Castro's utility role. I don't think Miranda has been throwing across the diamond yet so he'd either be limited to DH against lefties and maybe righties depending on their willingness to play Kirilloff at 1B which would probably come down to the difference they see in Miranda and Santana's bats against righties.

I agree with the idea that they should just grab the best bat, but I don't know if that'll be their plan. I want that because I have no desire to have Santana be their everyday 1B so I'd open up the DH spot by moving Kirilloff to 1B. This decision will tell us quite a bit about their thoughts on a few guys probably.

[Doctor Gast]

48 minutes ago, jkcarew said:

I agree with the premise.

The answer, I’m not at all sure about. Do they no longer consider Miranda an option at third? If not, I don’t know where you go other than Castro or Farmer. Severino?? Martin??

I would like to see Martin…but again, even if they think the bat is ‘ready’ (such that it is)…I’m not sure they see 3B as one of the positions they like him at.

Lee’s injury makes this a way uglier scenario than I want it to be.

Farmer at 3B & Martin platoon at 2B

[arby58]

The Twins value position flexibility, which suggests to me it is Miranda or Martin. Probably Miranda since he's been up before.

[DJL44]

16 minutes ago, arby58 said:

The Twins value position flexibility, which suggests to me it is Miranda or Martin. Probably Miranda since he's been up before.

Miranda is "flexible" as in he can't field at any position very well.

I agree with "best bat" in theory but I have no idea if that is Martin, Larnach or Miranda. I don't know if any of them are better than playing Santana every day so they would probably not get DH playing time. Martin is redundant with Margot and Farmer. Larnach is not getting playing time ahead of Wallner and Kepler. Whoever comes up is going to be a pure backup which means the positional flexibility of Martin makes sense.

[DJL44]

1 hour ago, chpettit19 said:

I'd think the move is probably Larnach to take the DH spot with Kirilloff moving to 1B against righties

Or Larnach to LF and Wallner to DH.

[USAFChief]

I was pretty confident it'd be Miranda, but if he can't play 3rd, there's zero reason to bring him up. In that case it'll be Martin.

[jkcarew]

2 hours ago, ashbury said:

I think the premise is that for defense, third base is covered by a Castro/Farmer tandem.  So bringing up a bat to fill what Castro covers (yesterday it was LF) is the question.  In that case Martin is in play, maybe, if they think the bat is ready.

Oh.* Still agree. Then Larnach or Martin. I’d go with the right-handed bat. But I would expect the left-handed bat. Having said that, I still think it’s Miranda if they think he can play 3B.

 

 

 

*I may not be sharp, but at least I’m slow.

[ashbury]

34 minutes ago, jkcarew said:

*I may not be sharp, but at least I’m slow.

I don't get it.

 

 

 

 

Wait, now I do.

[Unwinder]

Just saw Larnach is on the 7-day IL with turf toe, so he will probably not be immediately called up.

[jorgenswest]

It would be nice to have another everyday bat for the top half of the line up. Someone like Polanco would really help. Jorge didn’t inspire much confidence at 3B last year but that was without working on it in spring. He isn’t needed there anyway with Castro. His bat is needed. Any everyday top half of the line up bat is needed.

Falvey knew the budget. He chose Farmer and DeSclafani over Polanco. The dollars are virtually the same.

[LA Vikes Fan]

1 hour ago, arby58 said:

The Twins value position flexibility, which suggests to me it is Miranda or Martin. Probably Miranda since he's been up before.

I don't think Miranda is throwing across the diamond yet so I think he is limited to 1B/DH. 

[Craig Arko]

51 minutes ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

I don't think Miranda is throwing across the diamond yet so I think he is limited to 1B/DH. 

It certainly seems like Martin is the best option available. 

[Linus]

Almost has to be Martin. Farmer takes third and Martin platoons with Julien. I want nothing to do with Julien against lefties.