Article: Game Thread: Twins vs Phillies, 6/11 - 7:05pm

[CairoCrown]

Jamie Carroll: Hit Machine.

[IdahoPilgrim]

I think it was a gentle jab at our franchise player actually, but can't speak for Chief.

 

Gentle?

[Ultima Ratio]

Gentle?

 

Like a bulldozer

[CairoCrown]

Jamie Carroll: Base-stealing Machine.

[Guest USAFChief]

Jamie Carroll: Hit Machine.

1.000 OBP out of the leadoff spot.*

 

*through 2 ABs, this game.

[Ultima Ratio]

1.000 OBP out of the leadoff spot.*

 

*through 2 ABs, this game.

 

So you're saying there's a chance of regression?

[Guest USAFChief]

Joe Benson catches that...

[IdahoPilgrim]

Buxton woulda had that.

[CairoCrown]

During the Kernels game thread yesterday, I asked if Buxton would move Aaron Hicks to right or left field. Someone responded that Aaron's strong arm would make him a better right fielder. Is that a general baseball guideline or just a Target Field thing? Are there different criteria for right and left fielders?

[Guest USAFChief]

During the Kernels game thread yesterday, I asked if Buxton would move Aaron Hicks to right or left field. Someone responded that Aaron's strong arm would make him a better right fielder. Is that a general baseball guideline or just a Target Field thing? Are there different criteria for right and left fielders?

In general, all things being equal, you put the stronger arm in RF because of the longer throw to third base, to stop a few runners going 1st to 3rd on a hit. Because of the short throw from left, arm strength doesn't matter much in that situation.

[CairoCrown]

In general, all things being equal, you put the stronger arm in RF because of the longer throw to third base, to stop a few runners going 1st to 3rd on a hit. Because of the short throw from left, arm strength doesn't matter much in that situation.

So Ben Revere playing RF last year is the exception that proves the rule?

[IdahoPilgrim]

So Ben Revere playing RF last year is the exception that proves the rule?

 

Welcome to Twins Territory!

[CairoCrown]

Morneau can't buy a HR!

[Ultima Ratio]

So Ben Revere playing RF last year is the exception that proves the rule?

 

Nah, for whatever reason we were told that Revere wasn't playing the ball as well in LF as in RF, and Hammer didn't want to move and has been in LF for a while now and the move to RF would be difficult, maybe. It's up to you whether to believe any of this, but that was what was said. On these boards, and the general sense of defensive positioning would be to put Revere in left because of the arm weakness and more spacious LF at Target, and get Hammer to RF.

[CairoCrown]

Buxton would have had that.

[IdahoPilgrim]

Nah, for whatever reason we were told that Revere wasn't playing the ball as well in LF as in RF, and Hammer didn't want to move and has been in LF for a while now and the move to RF would be difficult, maybe. It's up to you whether to believe any of this, but that was what was said. On these boards, and the general sense of defensive positioning would be to put Revere in left because of the arm weakness and more spacious LF at Target, and get Hammer to RF.

 

If I remember correctly, Willingham was signed with the intention he would play in right, and then for some reason it didn't happen - I think because he resisted the shift, but I could be incorrect in that. That left the preseason RF plans in tatters and they had to improvise, hence Revere, et al.

[Ultima Ratio]

Grumble... Dozier....grumble.

[CairoCrown]

Grumble... Dozier....grumble.

Took a run off the board.

[Guest USAFChief]

Grumble... Dozier....grumble.

Simply awful baserunning. If he just stops, they don't get the DP without a rundown.

[CairoCrown]

Simply awful baserunning. If he just stops, they don't get the DP without a rundown.

Even the guy who doesn't know the difference between RF and LF knows that!

[Ultima Ratio]

That's that spacious OF at Target.

 

Snark.

 

 

Edit: Cuddyer would have had that.

[IdahoPilgrim]

OK, 5 innings, 64 pitches - do you send out Walters for the 6th?

 

​Yes, this is meant sarcastically.

[Guest USAFChief]

So Ben Revere playing RF last year is the exception that proves the rule?

Yeah, as others have said, I think if I remember right it had to do with Willingham not wanting to move to RF. There was no shortage of gnashing of teeth about the situation here at TD. Much ado about very little, IMO. The number of times a RFer's arm prevents or allows an extra base isn't enough to get all worked up about, although the point people were making was true...why allow even one if not necessary?

 

There was also a lot of discussion about Revere's range being put to better use in LF at TF, but IMO a given OFers range plays just as well in one corner or the other, and the "size" of RF or LF is a nonfactor. Balls will fall in to the left and right, in front of and in back of, every OFer, so his range isn't as big as the field no matter which corner he's standing in. Hence, his range plays the same, LF or RF. We even had discussions over at BYTO about whether or not more balls are hit to RF or LF, and if I remember correctly, we couldn't find definitive proof, but annually RFers tend to make more putouts than LFers, so it appears at least like RF gets more balls.

[CairoCrown]

Ok, in all seriousness, does Willingham make that catch?

[Guest USAFChief]

Ok, in all seriousness, does Willingham make that catch?

Not from his seat on the bench.

 

ba-dum-tsshh

 

 

In all seriousness, I have no idea, but my guess is no. Arcia probably runs a bit better, and that was all speed to recover from a bit of a poor jump. Maybe Willingham gets a better jump, who knows?

[CairoCrown]

In all seriousness, I have no idea, but my guess is no. Arcia probably runs a bit better, and that was all speed to recover from a bit of a poor jump. Maybe Willingham gets a better jump, who knows?

Ah, the ol' "Derek Jeter" argument.

[IdahoPilgrim]

Maybe Willingham gets a better jump, who knows?

 

At his age, that would be more of a hop or a skip, wouldn't it?

[Ultima Ratio]

Not from his seat on the bench.

 

ba-dum-tsshh

 

 

In all seriousness, I have no idea, but my guess is no. Arcia probably runs a bit better, and that was all speed to recover from a bit of a poor jump. Maybe Willingham gets a better jump, who knows?

 

UZR/150 and dWAR knows. That's who, donchaknow.

[Guest USAFChief]

Clete Thomas catches that.

[Guest USAFChief]

//jamshot//

 

drink