Roster Utilization Thread

[Riverbrian]

While the results of the St. Louis series was a complete opposite of what we were hoping.

No sense getting worked up over 3 games out of 162. Plenty of season to go. 

However... I do believe there is one thing that you can assess after the first 3 - 4 - 5 - 10 games. 

Original Front Office Intent.

How did Rocco and the Front Office assess this team and the individual players. 

Utilization to begin the year tells you how Rocco and the Front Office assessed the players on this team. It tells you how they rank them. It tells you who they believe in and who they don't. They begin with who they believe in. 

Through 3 games... It seems the Twins are going to be more static with the lineup. Game 4 will be the next clue when we see who Rocco rolls with this afternoon against the first left hander of the year.

If he wants to take both Larnach and Wallner out of the lineup. He doesn't really have to right handed cover to sit both. If Jeffers is at DH and Castro is in the OF, Gasper is at 2B with a bench of Wallner, Larnach, Julien and Kiersay? That will say something.

I'm preparing for the possibility of either Wallner or Larnach in the lineup today.  

You don't need to be in the front office to know what the Twins think of players. They tell us by utilization. 

[LambchoP]

So far Wili and Larnach are the only ones hitting.

[Craig Arko]

2 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

While the results of the St. Louis series was a complete opposite of what we were hoping.

No sense getting worked up over 3 games out of 162. Plenty of season to go. 

However... I do believe there is one thing that you can assess after the first 3 - 4 - 5 - 10 games. 

Original Front Office Intent.

How did Rocco and the Front Office assess this team and the individual players. 

Utilization to begin the year tells you how Rocco and the Front Office assessed the players on this team. It tells you how they rank them. It tells you who they believe in and who they don't. They begin with who they believe in. 

Through 3 games... It seems the Twins are going to be more static with the lineup. Game 4 will be the next clue when we see who Rocco rolls with this afternoon against the first left hander of the year.

If he wants to take both Larnach and Wallner out of the lineup. He doesn't really have to right handed cover to sit both. If Jeffers is at DH and Castro is in the OF, Gasper is at 2B with a bench of Wallner, Larnach, Julien and Kiersay? That will say something.

I'm preparing for the possibility of either Wallner or Larnach in the lineup today.  

You don't need to be in the front office to know what the Twins think of players. They tell us by utilization. 

You called it.

[USAFChief]

2 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

I'm preparing for the possibility of either Wallner or Larnach in the lineup today.  

 

You prepared poorly. 

[Riverbrian]

52 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

You prepared poorly. 

It's amazing. 

He has one series of moves to remove the left handers from the lineup and that is exactly the series of moves that he made. 

4 Lefties on the bench. Let's see if they get pinch hit work today. The White Sox have 3 left handed bullpen arms to replace the right handed bullpen guy that enters the game after Perez. 

 

[Tovar12]

4 games in, and I feel like I"m watching the same team that fell apart the last two months of 2024. Rocco's gotta go.  We need a shakeup.

[LaBombo]

Feeling safe now to call it four.

[Riverbrian]

In regards to original intent in 2025. The collective mind of the Twins organization.

We now know that it will year number 3 of all left handers must sit against left handed pitching. 

We also know that Julien and Kiersay have now made two garbage time appearances and we also know that Correa and Buxton come out in garbage time. 

We also know that Gasper has made two starts. So we can assume that Gasper came out of spring training ranked higher than Julien and Keirsay and Martin in the Twins organization. 

Conclusion: Gasper has a role... Kiersay has a tiny role, pinch running defensive replacement and Julien doesn't have a role. 

When/If Lewis comes back. Julien probably is sent down because he currently has no role while Kiersay has that pinch running role. 

When/If Lee comes back. Who knows if Lee starts in AAA or the Majors. The Twins will reveal how they feel about Lee when Lee is healthy enough for an unveiling. 

And of course... injuries can always happen to others before Lewis and Lee are ready to return. 

Martin is in AAA waiting a call up if that happens. 

Actions speak louder than words. These are the actions thus far. 

 

 

 

[Riverbrian]

17 hours ago, Tovar12 said:

4 games in, and I feel like I"m watching the same team that fell apart the last two months of 2024. Rocco's gotta go.  We need a shakeup.

You are not watching the same team.

The team you are currently watching would have to improve significantly just to reach the level of play of the team that went 12-26 over their last 38 games. 

This team... any team is capable of improving significantly. It's a long season but... Wow... It couldn't have been a worse start. 

[Riverbrian]

I've changed the title of this thread to "Roster Utilization". 

I hope this thread can stay relevant all year.

If it does stay relevant. It can show us things like:

A. Who the Twins assessed to be important entering the season. 

B. Who the Twins assess to be important as the season progresses. 

C. Do the Twins provide opportunity to Vets even when struggling. 

D. Roster context while roster space and utilization is occurring. 

 

[Craig Arko]

56 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

I've changed the title of this thread to "Roster Utilization". 

I hope this thread can stay relevant all year.

If it does stay relevant. It can show us things like:

A. Who the Twins assessed to be important entering the season. 

B. Who the Twins assess to be important as the season progresses. 

C. Do the Twins provide opportunity to Vets even when struggling. 

D. Roster context while roster space and utilization is occurring. 

 

And what shall we do with this knowledge?

[Riverbrian]

59 minutes ago, Craig Arko said:

And what shall we do with this knowledge?

I wouldn't store that knowledge anywhere... that's for sure.

Just posted it because I started with a stupid throwaway title and then decided that it would be a good thread to keep going throughout the year for those inclined to keep track of the progression from how the team felt on day one about players and how the utilization changed or didn't change as the context changes as the season progresses. 

The Day One Lineup says a lot about how the team feels about the players. How will these chosen ones look in June? How will they be utilized? 

[USAFChief]

3 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

In regards to original intent in 2025. The collective mind of the Twins organization.

We now know that it will year number 3 of all left handers must sit against left handed pitching. 

We also know that Julien and Kiersay have now made two garbage time appearances and we also know that Correa and Buxton come out in garbage time. 

We also know that Gasper has made two starts. So we can assume that Gasper came out of spring training ranked higher than Julien and Keirsay and Martin in the Twins organization. 

Conclusion: Gasper has a role... Kiersay has a tiny role, pinch running defensive replacement and Julien doesn't have a role. 

When/If Lewis comes back. Julien probably is sent down because he currently has no role while Kiersay has that pinch running role. 

When/If Lee comes back. Who knows if Lee starts in AAA or the Majors. The Twins will reveal how they feel about Lee when Lee is healthy enough for an unveiling. 

And of course... injuries can always happen to others before Lewis and Lee are ready to return. 

Martin is in AAA waiting a call up if that happens. 

Actions speak louder than words. These are the actions thus far. 

 

 

 

Given Julien was apparently sick to start the season, I'm not ready to say he doesn't have a role yet. 

[Riverbrian]

Just now, USAFChief said:

Given Julien was apparently sick to start the season, I'm not ready to say he doesn't have a role yet. 

I didn't hear that news.

That's important context. 

[nicksaviking]

If what I was doing last year didn't work, maybe I just have to do it again this year and it will work.

[tony&rodney]

There has been more than a few thoughts directed toward Rocco Baldelli and his use of the roster over the last few years. I'm finding it difficult to manage a defense of his maneuvers. The first games are often not too reflective of a season but the style of play seems consistent with past practices. Baseball has a long season which makes it possible to hold off until quarter, third, or half games played markers reports are collected.

For at least the last three years I have been less than enamored with the Twins front office. The direction, ability to judge talent, reticence to trade, and affinity for less than stellar veterans has resulted in a roster that seems unbalanced to me. If Falvey is the boss and architect, he has put together the players and roster depth he sees as fit for a winning team. The team, then, is as much a reflection of Falvey as it is of Baldelli.

A counter argument has been to point out the young up and coming prospects as the legacy of the front office (Falvey). Here is where I believe there is a separation. While the specific employees in place may be in position directly due to Falvey, the work of drafting and developing is a largely apart from the work of building the MLB team. If Falvey hired the entirety of those below the MLB level it would point to this as his strength and credit should be given. 

I'm not privy to who is the prime mover or decision-maker for the MLB roster but something doesn't fit in how these plans evolve. The Twins should win somewhere in the vicinity of 84 games with their current roster and wins are a prime consideration for most people. My growing concern is that the Twins are unwatchable to all but baseball fanatics. There were times in the 1970s and 1980s and in many other years where the Twins were a fun team to watch even as they were not division winners. I wonder how the general casual sports fan views the current Twins product even as I hope the Twins manage to string together a winning season.

[Linus]

I think this is a good thread especially over the long haul. We tend to judge in a short term way and hopefully this will enable us to take a longer term look at the lineup, how it is constructed and what underlying principles are at play. I honestly feel it’s an area where Falvey has underperformed but I’m interested in what other posters think as well. Sometimes it’s easy to get so granular with analysis (because we now have such good data) that we neglect the global view. Out of a bit of momentary frustration I posted in a thread that the Twins had managed to compile a lineup that couldn’t score any runs but was also poor defensively and that it took special talent to do that. The comment was unnecessarily snarky but there is truth there in my opinion. How does that happen?  What philosophies of the org contribute to that?  Is it something that should or could be changed without a different FO?

[Riverbrian]

3 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

The first games are often not too reflective of a season but the style of play seems consistent with past practices.

Absolutely agree. 

The first week of games is not going to be reflective on an entire season.

However, what game one will tell you is one very important thing.

How does the front office assess the players they have?

We have no idea what they think... all that data collected.... we have no idea what the data is saying. We don't know but they will tell us what they think by who they play on game one of the season and who they continue to play and in what situations as context changes. This thread can serve as a time stamp as the season goes along.

It will help us follow the bouncing ball. 

[tony&rodney]

3 hours ago, Linus said:

 What philosophies of the org contribute to that?  Is it something that should or could be changed without a different FO?

The composition of the team is awkward at best. The general consensus is that the Twins plan on bashing the ball around the park for extra base hits and winning with power and good pitching. The pitching, despite a couple of fails early, should be good. The bats look weak thus far, something that can change today. The defense and team speed is deplorable though and will cost the Twins in more than just a few games. Looking at the roster position by position one must be openly biased to find more than a few positives. My love for how consistently Correa manages to make perfect throws to first base does not mean he is in the running as a top shortstop. He is good, not excellent. Buxton has lost his aggressiveness in centerfield. He no longer rates among the top centerfielders, but he is still good. Bader has been pretty good as a centerfielder in the past. I'm not ready to comment on his play in the corners, having seen nothing to date which qualifies as noteworthy. The remaining 10 position players are all below average on their good days. This is a fair synopsis of the team.

What should be done? Can change occur without a change in front office and management? Based strictly on the record of the current group, the answer is no. The pile needs to be moved out.

Now can people change? Yes, we always look positively for hope in the future. The air was putrid in Pittsburgh and Lake Erie was dead. Pittsburgh is clean now and Lake Erie is famous for walleye fishing. But then again, there are renewed calls that coal is best and polluted waters are necessary for industry. Things can and do change. What are the odds that our front office and management adopt a Kevin Cash or Terry Francona style of player/play? In October of 2023 the Twins had just won a short playoff series, a number of their players were overrated, and the time to trade was ripe. Instead everyone became saturated with talk about the Pohlads and payroll while opportunities were passed by in favor of rolling it back. 2024 came and went with a decline in value to several formerly coveted players. The team made a decision to roll it back. So here we are, hoping for 84 wins after a rough start to the season. Change happens. It cannot be stopped. Will Falvey and Baldelli change? I hope so, but I'm keeping my money in my pocket.

[Riverbrian]

We have a Julien on the lineup card. Wasn't feeling well to start the season. Must be feeling better now.

We will have to watch how Julien, Gasper and Bader divide up playing time against right handed hitters.

It appears that Correa, Buxton, France, Castro and Miranda are the five every day players... at least so far they are. 

It's possible that a short side platoon dude doesn't exist on this roster and it is also possible that Mickey Gasper is a short side platoon dude.

What happens to Gasper's playing time against right handers now that Julien is healthy? 

 

[Richie the Rally Goat]

On 4/1/2025 at 6:01 AM, Riverbrian said:

In regards to original intent in 2025. The collective mind of the Twins organization.

We now know that it will year number 3 of all left handers must sit against left handed pitching. 

We also know that Julien and Kiersay have now made two garbage time appearances and we also know that Correa and Buxton come out in garbage time. 

We also know that Gasper has made two starts. So we can assume that Gasper came out of spring training ranked higher than Julien and Keirsay and Martin in the Twins organization. 

Conclusion: Gasper has a role... Kiersay has a tiny role, pinch running defensive replacement and Julien doesn't have a role. 

When/If Lewis comes back. Julien probably is sent down because he currently has no role while Kiersay has that pinch running role. 

When/If Lee comes back. Who knows if Lee starts in AAA or the Majors. The Twins will reveal how they feel about Lee when Lee is healthy enough for an unveiling. 

And of course... injuries can always happen to others before Lewis and Lee are ready to return. 

Martin is in AAA waiting a call up if that happens. 

Actions speak louder than words. These are the actions thus far. 

 

 

 

Morneau said in the broadcast last night that Julien lost 10 lbs (?!) while sick.

[Riverbrian]

18 minutes ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

Morneau said in the broadcast last night that Julien lost 10 lbs (?!) while sick.

I lost 10 pounds once. Thankfully, it didn't take long to find them. 

A couple of years from now... If you are playing baseball trivia and you get this question:

What two baseball players lost a combined 25 pounds in March of 2025 due to illness. 

If you get that question... you'll know the answer is Betts and Julien. 

 

[Squirrel]

1 hour ago, Riverbrian said:

We have a Julien on the lineup card. Wasn't feeling well to start the season. Must be feeling better now.

We will have to watch how Julien, Gasper and Bader divide up playing time against right handed hitters.

It appears that Correa, Buxton, France, Castro and Miranda are the five every day players... at least so far they are. 

It's possible that a short side platoon dude doesn't exist on this roster and it is also possible that Mickey Gasper is a short side platoon dude.

What happens to Gasper's playing time against right handers now that Julien is healthy? 

 

What happens when Royce and Lee are healthy … do we even talk about Julien and Gasper anymore other than in AAA reports?

[DJL44]

1 hour ago, Squirrel said:

What happens when Royce and Lee are healthy 

Someone else will be hurt. The top 26 players are never all healthy at the same time.

[Riverbrian]

1 hour ago, Squirrel said:

What happens when Royce and Lee are healthy … do we even talk about Julien and Gasper anymore other than in AAA reports?

Indeed. It will be interesting to watch and what they do will again tell us how they assess the players. 

I think chances are someone will hit the IL in the meantime. 

If everyone remains healthy... Lewis goes right to every day 3B work and the question becomes how are France and Miranda utilized at 1B because it looks like DH is going to be utilized as part of a rotation for Larnach, Wallner and Bader playing time. Julien will probably have to slide into that mix as well. 

I'd guess that Lee goes to St. Paul because I think they are going to give Castro a run at 2B. 

If Lee goes to the big club... it will tell us that they BELIEVE in Lee and his time is NOW. 

I think Gaspar keeps his job unless Lee takes it from him. Castro has to play OF against left handers and Gasper is the only choice for 2B when Castro does that. 

Keirsay would be my guess for the player sent to AAA to make 26 man space for Lewis. 

This is the stuff I'll be watching and noting all year long. Who do the Twins believe in and how do the players they believe in actually perform.  

 

 

[jorgenswest]

Wallner and Larnach both stayed in to face a lefty reliever. In Larnach’s case he faced the lefty and then was replaced for defense in the next half inning by Bader.

Next I would like to see one or both start against left handed pitching.

[stringer bell]

4 hours ago, jorgenswest said:

Wallner and Larnach both stayed in to face a lefty reliever. In Larnach’s case he faced the lefty and then was replaced for defense in the next half inning by Bader.

Next I would like to see one or both start against left handed pitching.

I think it is fine to rest either against lefties unless and until they show they can hit lefty relievers. I’m glad both got the chance to hit against LH relievers today. 

[jorgenswest]

2 hours ago, stringer bell said:

I think it is fine to rest either against lefties unless and until they show they can hit lefty relievers. I’m glad both got the chance to hit against LH relievers today. 

I recently read some thoughts about line up construction in the San Diego Union Tribune from Padres’ manager Mike Schildt. He was asked about his line up that alternates 1 through 8.

Quote

It’s really important because just at a very basic standpoint it doesn’t allow a lot of favorable matchups from the other side,” Shildt said. “And the best thing about the lineup is, part of our continued emphasis, is making sure that we don’t have anybody in our lineup that it feels like there’s a matchup on the same side. Having right, left, right, left, right, left, that creates a little bit of imbalance, not only for the pitcher that’s facing those guys — they don’t get comfortable facing the same side guy or opposite side guy — but also the strategy of (the other manager) can’t bring this lefty in this spot.

I have wondered before if it helps pitchers stay in rhythm when they face batters from only one side. I haven’t seen data on this but I would like to see how a lefty does against a right handed batter after he has just faced a lefty. Are his numbers against right handed batting consistent with similar batters in an all right handed line up? I suspect that for many pitchers a manager makes the game too easy by sending up a one sided lineup.

[Riverbrian]

Houston will be throwing 3 right hander starters at us. The Stros Bullpen has 3 left handers... One of those three is the closer... Josh Hader. It's good to keep in mind that they have a left handed closer when considering bench moves late in a close game. 

Now that Julien is healthy. Bader, Julien and Miranda appear to be in a rotation of sorts for one spot against Right Handed Starters using Castro to combine 2B, 3B with LF, RF and the DH spot to rotate the playing time. Is it a rotation of sorts? I'd bet on yes but too soon to tell. Gonna have to keep watching the lineups. If Miranda is sitting today. It isn't a rotation. If Miranda is playing today. It could be a rotation. 

Right now... I don't think Gasper is part of that rotation. Looks like he took the place of under the weather Julien in that rotation in game two of the year.

I'm guessing that Gasper is playing the role of short side at 2B. 

The Catchers are rotating equally every other day behind the plate. Everything else has been pretty settled. 

 

 

 

 

 

[USAFChief]

2 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

Houston will be throwing 3 right hander starters at us. The Stros Bullpen has 3 left handers... One of those three is the closer... Josh Hader. It's good to keep in mind that they have a left handed closer when considering bench moves late in a close game. 

Now that Julien is healthy. Bader, Julien and Miranda appear to be in a rotation of sorts for one spot against Right Handed Starters using Castro to combine 2B, 3B with LF, RF and the DH spot to rotate the playing time. Is it a rotation of sorts? I'd bet on yes but too soon to tell. Gonna have to keep watching the lineups. If Miranda is sitting today. It isn't a rotation. If Miranda is playing today. It could be a rotation. 

Right now... I don't think Gasper is part of that rotation. Looks like he took the place of under the weather Julien in that rotation in game two of the year.

 

 

I'm guessing that Gasper is playing the role of short side at 2B. 

The Catchers are rotating equally every other day behind the plate. Everything else has been pretty settled. 

 

 

 

 

 

My guess is Julien is the 2nd baseman against RH pitching. Every day, until he doesn't hit.

But he's gonna hit.