Does an Injured Royce Lewis Lock Mickey Gasper Into the Twins' Opening Day Roster?

[Jeff K]

1 minute ago, DJL44 said:

With Miranda covering 3B they have an open spot at DH.

Ok, that is true.  Are we that sold on Julien's hitting after last seasons catastrophic performance?  For arguments sake, let's answer yes.  My next question is do the Twins want a guy on the roster who is possibly going to hit and not be an option to play in the field?  I dislike how Baldelli moves guys around too much; but Julien becomes the opposite problem.  His fielding is not at a major league level.  He needs to learn how to field at AAA.  Long and short term, I think that serves Julien's interests too.

[DJL44]

8 minutes ago, Jeff K said:

Ok, that is true.  Are we that sold on Julien's hitting after last seasons catastrophic performance?  For arguments sake, let's answer yes.  My next question is do the Twins want a guy on the roster who is possibly going to hit and not be an option to play in the field?  I dislike how Baldelli moves guys around too much; but Julien becomes the opposite problem.  His fielding is not at a major league level.  He needs to learn how to field at AAA.  Long and short term, I think that serves Julien's interests too.

I think Julien is mostly a finished product as a fielder. You could send him to AAA for years and he wouldn't get much better.

[saviking]

What I take from this is, Lewis needs to change his workout routines. He's too muscle bound. Lay off any heavy weights. Spend half the time on exercises to make him more flexible. Because if he can't stay on the field he not worth that much. 

That said, we do have plenty of depth to take his place when he's on IR .. 

[stringer bell]

6 minutes ago, saviking said:

What I take from this is, Lewis needs to change his workout routines. He's too muscle bound. Lay off any heavy weights. Spend half the time on exercises to make him more flexible. Because if he can't stay on the field he not worth that much. 

That said, we do have plenty of depth to take his place when he's on IR .. 

I think the training staff has examined and analyzed Lewis' soft tissue, lower body injuries and have tailored his workouts to recover from the earlier injuries and prevent further injury. Other than giving him orders to never "open it up", he may continue to be betrayed by his own body. To have a 25-year-old run like Giancarlo Stanton would irritate me to no end, but it seems like that is the path we are embarking on.

[LambchoP]

With Lewis out, Lee is our best third baseman. Lee and Miranda can cover third while Castro and Gasper cover second. 4 OF's is enough with Castro as a potential 5th. Julien needs to play everyday,not be a bench bat. Best place for him is St Paul where he can learn to play first base. He has no business playing second with his glove.

[David HK]

Golly,  you think we could get Margot back from the Brewers?  🤔

Geez Louise, the guy has access to umpteen physios on staff, and makes untold millions per year.  Between all of 'em, they can't get a freakin' yoga instructor to get himself flexible enough to play baseball?  If you've had soft-tissue issues Every. Single. Year, maybe take some kind of proactive attitude towards it?  Come on, man!

 

[arby58]

2 hours ago, saviking said:

What I take from this is, Lewis needs to change his workout routines. He's too muscle bound. Lay off any heavy weights. Spend half the time on exercises to make him more flexible. Because if he can't stay on the field he not worth that much. 

That said, we do have plenty of depth to take his place when he's on IR .. 

This concept of being 'muscle bound' is a myth.

[DJL44]

2 hours ago, LambchoP said:

Best place for him is St Paul where he can learn to play first base. He has no business playing second with his glove.

If Julien hasn't learned to play first base after an offseason and all of spring training, then he's unlikely to do it at AAA. Either he has the ability to do it, or he doesn't. It doesn't take years to learn that footwork. Good athletes, like Joe Mauer, pick it up in a few weeks. Just play him at DH.

[RpR]

11 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

If Julien hasn't learned to play first base after an offseason and all of spring training, then he's unlikely to do it at AAA. Either he has the ability to do it, or he doesn't. It doesn't take years to learn that footwork. Good athletes, like Joe Mauer, pick it up in a few weeks. Just play him at DH.

NO, leave him at AAA.

[Linus]

3 hours ago, stringer bell said:

I think the training staff has examined and analyzed Lewis' soft tissue, lower body injuries and have tailored his workouts to recover from the earlier injuries and prevent further injury. Other than giving him orders to never "open it up", he may continue to be betrayed by his own body. To have a 25-year-old run like Giancarlo Stanton would irritate me to no end, but it seems like that is the path we are embarking on.

To think that when Lewis was drafted he had elite level speed and compare that to now.  I’m not sure I can recall a loss of speed that great for any player.  I get that it is mostly injury related.

[Guest]

Gasper >> Julien

[Guest]

20 hours ago, Blyleven2011 said:

Adding a player like Gasper to the 26 man roster ...

I don't like it but it's been done before , I can't believe nobody is arguing his age of 29 years old , like they do about keirsey Jr being 27 or 28 and keirsey Jr probably better at outfield defense and maybe a better hitter with more pop ...

It's nothing new for the twins management to give an outsider a chance more than the homegrown player  , even during Ryan's  tenure it was done , but Ryan had less talent to work with , falvey and Rocco have more talent but just doesn't trust it enough ...

29 year old Gasper wins rookie of the year , anyone on that bandwagon  ...

I'm on that bandwagon.

[JD-TWINS]

12 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

Both are RH, Bader was acquired as a RH bat to cover the corners & replace Buck when injured. I wrote Keirsey should but Falvey acquired Bader, every player acquired by Falvey, will get every opportunity to shine & will play more than they should. While our own capable inhouse players will get the shaft.

If having a left handed bat in CF. Castro is probably the guy in ‘25.

2 Catchers - Lee - CC - Julien- France -Miranda 

Castro

Larnach - Buxton - Bader - Wallner

I think Martin has inside track but if Gasper keeps hitting it may be him……Kiersey would really have to be better on fire the next couple weeks.

[JD-TWINS]

4 hours ago, DJL44 said:

If Julien hasn't learned to play first base after an offseason and all of spring training, then he's unlikely to do it at AAA. Either he has the ability to do it, or he doesn't. It doesn't take years to learn that footwork. Good athletes, like Joe Mauer, pick it up in a few weeks. Just play him at DH.

Joe Mauer’s athleticism and most other humans are not on same page, to be fair. Also, pretty sure he spent more than a few weeks getting acclimated to 1B. IMO, Julien’s mediocre at the only position he’s ever played. Not a bunch of learning opportunities at 1B in the off-season…….giving him 2-3 months to get sharper at 1B is worthwhile, if he’s producing with the bat.

[JD-TWINS]

6 hours ago, LambchoP said:

With Lewis out, Lee is our best third baseman. Lee and Miranda can cover third while Castro and Gasper cover second. 4 OF's is enough with Castro as a potential 5th. Julien needs to play everyday,not be a bench bat. Best place for him is St Paul where he can learn to play first base. He has no business playing second with his glove.

He’s had to have started around 100 games the last 2 seasons at 2B - right? Gotta be close to that…….if he hit last year he would have played there regularly. I think Team is OK with him playing 2B if he hits ………. right or wrong.

[RpR]

9 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

He’s had to have started around 100 games the last 2 seasons at 2B - right? Gotta be close to that…….if he hit last year he would have played there regularly. I think Team is OK with him playing 2B if he hits ………. right or wrong.

Career 188 games 1st base - 20 games 2nd base - 114 games catcher.

[JD-TWINS]

30 minutes ago, RpR said:

Career 188 games 1st base - 20 games 2nd base - 114 games catcher.

I’m talking about Julien

[RpR]

40 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

I’m talking about Julien

[Fatbat]

4 hours ago, Linus said:

To think that when Lewis was drafted he had elite level speed and compare that to now.  I’m not sure I can recall a loss of speed that great for any player.  I get that it is mostly injury related.

Maybe 20% is injury related. 80% is from bulking up in the weight room. 

[stringer bell]

11 minutes ago, Fatbat said:

Maybe 20% is injury related. 80% is from bulking up in the weight room. 

I would say the number is reversed (80% from injury) and what little I saw of Lewis this spring, he looked quicker and not as hulking. Still he pulled a muscle before he got out of Florida. 

[Fatbat]

9 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

I would say the number is reversed (80% from injury) and what little I saw of Lewis this spring, he looked quicker and not as hulking. Still he pulled a muscle before he got out of Florida. 

All the injuries are related to brittleness brought on by the weight room lifestyle.  They feed off of each other. 

[ashbury]

1 hour ago, Fatbat said:

All the injuries are related to brittleness brought on by the weight room lifestyle.  

Good to know I'll always be immune to injury, then.

[Jeff K]

21 hours ago, DJL44 said:

I think Julien is mostly a finished product as a fielder. You could send him to AAA for years and he wouldn't get much better.

i think you are right, but hope you are wrong.  that said, he is not a major leaguer without a glove.  not at so young of an age.  

[Datwinsdude]

We'll play him and we'll like him

Rock the Gaspar

Rock the Gaspar

 

Sorry, couldn't help throwing in a little bit by 'The Clash'

[DJL44]

1 hour ago, Jeff K said:

i think you are right, but hope you are wrong.  that said, he is not a major leaguer without a glove.  not at so young of an age.  

26 is not young for a baseball player. He's right in the middle of his career. Manny Margot is 30 and his career is almost over.

[saviking]

21 hours ago, arby58 said:

This concept of being 'muscle bound' is a myth.

So, how do you explain why the ballplayers of yesteryear very seldom get hurt compared to the players of today, who lift weights and are constantly up and down? 

[arby58]

20 minutes ago, saviking said:

So, how do you explain why the ballplayers of yesteryear very seldom get hurt compared to the players of today, who lift weights and are constantly up and down? 

First, this 'ballplayers of yesteryear very seldom got hurt' is an assertion, not a fact.  What aboutTony Oliva? Mickey Mantle? Sandy Koufax? Don Mattingly? Mark Fidrych? Second, the fact it is a myth has nothing to do with the injury history of ballplayers. You need only look at Bo Jackson, who was incredibly muscular. His baseball career was cut short by a hip injury sustained playing football - lots of muscles in the hip, right? His only major baseball injury was a dislocated shoulder while making a diving catch in the outfield - sound like a 'muscle-bound' injury to you?

[Riverbrian]

26 minutes ago, arby58 said:

First, this 'ballplayers of yesteryear very seldom got hurt' is an assertion, not a fact.  What aboutTony Oliva? Mickey Mantle? Sandy Koufax? Don Mattingly? Mark Fidrych? Second, the fact it is a myth has nothing to do with the injury history of ballplayers. You need only look at Bo Jackson, who was incredibly muscular. His baseball career was cut short by a hip injury sustained playing football - lots of muscles in the hip, right? His only major baseball injury was a dislocated shoulder while making a diving catch in the outfield - sound like a 'muscle-bound' injury to you?

I was sleeping in med school but I often wonder about sport to sport comparison. 

Football players are pretty good athletes... Typically Muscle Bound dudes who spend a lot of time in the weight room to get stronger. Montez Sweat checks in 260 and he ran a 4.4. I think I read somewhere that Montez caught and killed a Kangeroo. He makes into the lineup most every week other than a broken jaw in 2021.    

Do NFL players suffer more of these types of injuries than MLB players? Professional Soccer Players? Basketball? Hockey?

I don't know the answer. Just thinking out loud. 

Whatever the answer is. My impression is that Baseball players get hurt and have been getting hurt since Justin Verlander invented the wheel.   

[Fatbat]

Most of the Twins from the mid 80’s to 90’s sat around in the clubhouse playing cards and drinking beer. They also played great defense. They didn’t pull muscles because they were well hydrated.
The only dead lift Hrbek ever did was an empty container and Ron Gant.🤡

[arby58]

46 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

Whatever the answer is. My impression is that Baseball players get hurt and have been getting hurt since Justin Verlander invented the wheel.   

Best LOL of the day - thanks for that.