Can Royce Lewis Stick at Third Base, or Do Twins Need to Move Him Elsewhere?

[DocBauer]

PART 2:

While there is something to be said about the OPS at certain positions, 1B being among them, I think we need to start changing out perceptions of a player being "wasted" at a position die to their talent. I mean, if I have a PAIR of All Star 1B but I need to play one of them at DH to get both in the lineup, am I really "wasting" one of them?

As previously stated, I'm not of the opinion Lewis needs to, or is going to, move off 3B any time soon. But let's just say it turns out Lee is a superior 3B defensively and the fine offensive player most believe he will turn out to be. Meanwhile, Correa is at SS, and 2B is manned by a rejuvenated Julien, or perhaps Keaschall back 100% at some point in 2025 and ready to go, or looking even further ahead, Culpepper destroys milb staffs and is ready in no time.

What would be wrong with Lewis at 1B? A few years back, the Angels had a 2x All Star, 3x GG winner, and a 1x SS award winner in Darin Erstad splitting time at CF and 1B. 2x All Star, 1x MVP, 1x GG winner and 2x SS winner, and NL ROY winner Cody Bellinger also split time between Caf and 1B. Why? Because they could!

I want the best starting 9...counting DH options...and a solid bench. I don't care who plays where if they can play "where" successfully.

IF the very best lineup the Twins could put on the field come 2025/2026 and beyond meant moving Lewis to 1B, or Correa at some point, or Keaschall, or Culpepper, etc, I don't care. 

I just think we need to recognize that MLB is becoming more and more about the best players on the field and in the lineup on a daily basis. The idea ISN'T about IGNORING defense. You don't WANT a butcher in the field anywhere. But you do want the best overall athletes and productive players on the field and in your lineup daily.

[darin617]

Of course Boras wants Lewis to stay at third. If he can stay healthy and keep hitting bombs he will be in for a large contract. 

Then after a year he can pull a Mauer and become the Twins DH.

[dxpavelka]

no interest in putting a huge injury risk at 2B to be a target on DP takedowns.  Yeah, I know, breaking up DPs is not a thing any more.  Until it is.

[Brandon27]

I put brooks lee at third and royce and second and Miranda at firstbase next year if santana comes back he can be everyday DH 

[RpR]

8 hours ago, Brandon27 said:

I put brooks lee at third and royce and second and Miranda at firstbase next year if santana comes back he can be everyday DH 

Geez -  Royce is not a good fielder and you want to put him at 2nd; Julien is a better fielder than he is which means Royce is really bad.

[IndianaTwin]

On 8/16/2024 at 9:34 AM, Brandon27 said:

I put brooks lee at third and royce and second and Miranda at firstbase next year if santana comes back he can be everyday DH 

If Santana and Miranda are on the same team next year and playing every day at 1B and DH, Santana is the 1B. 

[Linus]

Here is an interesting scenario. Let’s assume they bring Santana back (I’m not sure I would but the guy has been pretty good). Then it almost makes sense to have Miranda at third Lee at second and Royce in left field. If they don’t bring Santana back then Miranda gets first and Royce and Brooks cover second and third with Lee getting whatever the FO considers the more important position. I would in no way count on Kiriloff or Julien in my plans. 

[ashbury]

On 8/15/2024 at 7:30 PM, darin617 said:

Then after a year he can pull a Mauer and become the Twins DH.

Seriously, you're going to question a HoFer's courage while at the same time punching a young talent?  Nice combo there, Mike Tyson.

[Major League Ready]

2 hours ago, Linus said:

Here is an interesting scenario. Let’s assume they bring Santana back (I’m not sure I would but the guy has been pretty good). Then it almost makes sense to have Miranda at third Lee at second and Royce in left field. If they don’t bring Santana back then Miranda gets first and Royce and Brooks cover second and third with Lee getting whatever the FO considers the more important position. I would in no way count on Kiriloff or Julien in my plans. 

There we are a lot of people who said we should not count on Miranda, Larnach or Wallner as well as SWR.  That said, I seriously doubt they would count on Julien or Kirilloff but they will get a chance to earn a spot at some point.

[yeahyabetcha]

On 8/15/2024 at 8:59 AM, USAFChief said:

Put him at 1st and be done with it.

As an added benefit, maybe it'll help keep him on the field. 

This.   His main value is as a hitter.  Play him where he might stay healthy.

[wabene]

13 minutes ago, yeahyabetcha said:

This.   His main value is as a hitter.  Play him where he might stay healthy.

He's either going to be healthy or not I don't think there is any evidence it matters were he plays. His last two injuries happened swinging a bat and running the bases. The position he played did not matter. The only criteria here is how can you get the best fielders in a place they impact the team the most. If Lewis wants to pay a certain position, he has to earn it. Right now Lee is a better fielder, that is why I give him preference. Of course this could change.

[stringer bell]

Royce Lewis is an elite athlete who has suffered a rash of injuries. He has moved off shortstop (perhaps permanently) and landed at third base. He has the agility, range and arm to be better than average at third, but he hasn’t played there a lot and his footwork on throws has sometimes been a mess. He needs more work, but a healthy off-season with no further injury to recover from might give him time to improve his defense.

i think he’s a third baseman to start 2025, but a position change could happen sometime relatively soon. 

[wabene]

8 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

Royce Lewis is an elite athlete who has suffered a rash of injuries. He has moved off shortstop (perhaps permanently) and landed at third base. He has the agility, range and arm to be better than average at third, but he hasn’t played there a lot and his footwork on throws has sometimes been a mess. He needs more work, but a healthy off-season with no further injury to recover from might give him time to improve his defense.

i think he’s a third baseman to start 2025, but a position change could happen sometime relatively soon. 

You make a good point Lewis could improve and a healthy off-season would be very welcome for the young man. He definitely has some elite athletic talents, but a quick look at his Baseball Savant page and his sprint speed is in the 28th percentile right now, sheesh. I've been thinking they could really use that righty bat in the outfield, but that is pretty slow. I think you are right though, regardless of what I think they will probably keep him at 3rd.

[Linus]

1 hour ago, Major League Ready said:

There we are a lot of people who said we should not count on Miranda, Larnach or Wallner as well as SWR.  That said, I seriously doubt they would count on Julien or Kirilloff but they will get a chance to earn a spot at some point.

No kidding. I didnt say release them simply that they shouldn’t be counted on as starters. 

[USAFChief]

2 hours ago, wabene said:

You make a good point Lewis could improve and a healthy off-season would be very welcome for the young man. He definitely has some elite athletic talents, but a quick look at his Baseball Savant page and his sprint speed is in the 28th percentile right now, sheesh. I've been thinking they could really use that righty bat in the outfield, but that is pretty slow. I think you are right though, regardless of what I think they will probably keep him at 3rd.

I've seen several recent games in person and watching Lewis run is...painful. 

I'm pretty sure he's not fully healthy. 

Either that or he runs like later career Jim Thome.

 

[yeahyabetcha]

My 2025 opening day starting infield: 

1b-Royce

2b-Castro

Ss-Correa

3b-Miranda

utiilty-Brooks  Lee

[darin617]

20 hours ago, ashbury said:

Seriously, you're going to question a HoFer's courage while at the same time punching a young talent?  Nice combo there, Mike Tyson.

Courage? I'm sort of confused here.  Let's try this one. If Joe Mauer played his entire career at 1st base would he be in the HOF?

[tony&rodney]

1 hour ago, darin617 said:

Courage? I'm sort of confused here.  Let's try this one. If Joe Mauer played his entire career at 1st base would he be in the HOF?

.... if Tony Oliva never was injured, if Kirby never aged, if Dean Chance was still throwing no hitters, .... "if I had a million dollars, I'ld be rich" .... well, old song so not rich today but if.

If Joe Mauer played his entire career at first base, he would have won 20 Gold Gloves by now to go along with his 17 batting championships and have well over 3,000 hits. If he had played third base, shortstop, etc. ..... yes, Joe Mauer would be in the Hall of Fame.