Rocco's Home Opener Lineup

[stringer bell]

The Twins finished their first road trip of the year with a flourish, winning twice in cold wet Chicago and coming home with a 2-4 record, meaning all five AL Central teams are tied at 2-4. They face Houston in their Home Opener tomorrow with a forecast of 43 degrees and mostly cloudy skies.

We all know that Baldelli doesn't stick with one lineup and that for two years he has strictly alternated his catchers. Given that information, I have tried to figure out what tomorrow's starting lineup will be. Here is what I have come up with:

First of all, since it's the Home Opener, I doubt that any player will be given a rest day, including Byron Buxton, who has started all six games so far this year. Secondly, it's early, but Harrison Bader is swinging the bat as well or better than any player on the team, so I think he gets a start at a corner outfield spot. Thirdly, Edouard Julien has a couple hits and survived playing second base without any real issues. He is swinging the bat better than Jose Miranda and Mickey Gasper. I think he gets the nod at second base, with Willi Castro at third and Miranda riding the pine. So here is my best estimate of a starting lineup: Wallner RF, Correa SS, Buxton CF, Larnach DH, Jeffers C, Castro 3B, France 1B, Julien 2B,  Bader LF, and Joe Ryan pitching.

Does anyone else have different ideas? Go Twins!

[Boswell]

Yeah, sounds reasonable to me. 
 

But since it’s Stubborn Rocco, likely Vazquez at C, Miranda at 3B and Castro at 2B. 
 

whatever wins. 

[Riverbrian]

9 hours ago, stringer bell said:

The Twins finished their first road trip of the year with a flourish, winning twice in cold wet Chicago and coming home with a 2-4 record, meaning all five AL Central teams are tied at 2-4. They face Houston in their Home Opener tomorrow with a forecast of 43 degrees and mostly cloudy skies.

We all know that Baldelli doesn't stick with one lineup and that for two years he has strictly alternated his catchers. Given that information, I have tried to figure out what tomorrow's starting lineup will be. Here is what I have come up with:

First of all, since it's the Home Opener, I doubt that any player will be given a rest day, including Byron Buxton, who has started all six games so far this year. Secondly, it's early, but Harrison Bader is swinging the bat as well or better than any player on the team, so I think he gets a start at a corner outfield spot. Thirdly, Edouard Julien has a couple hits and survived playing second base without any real issues. He is swinging the bat better than Jose Miranda and Mickey Gasper. I think he gets the nod at second base, with Willi Castro at third and Miranda riding the pine. So here is my best estimate of a starting lineup: Wallner RF, Correa SS, Buxton CF, Larnach DH, Jeffers C, Castro 3B, France 1B, Julien 2B,  Bader LF, and Joe Ryan pitching.

Does anyone else have different ideas? Go Twins!

Julien or Miranda is the only question. I think he will go with Miranda at 3B. 

The other 8 are close to locks. 

I think the opening day lineup in St. Louis will be used for opening day at Target Field. Larnach or Wallner at DH would also be a slight question. 

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

9 hours ago, stringer bell said:

The Twins finished their first road trip of the year with a flourish, winning twice in cold wet Chicago and coming home with a 2-4 record, meaning all five AL Central teams are tied at 2-4. They face Houston in their Home Opener tomorrow with a forecast of 43 degrees and mostly cloudy skies.

We all know that Baldelli doesn't stick with one lineup and that for two years he has strictly alternated his catchers. Given that information, I have tried to figure out what tomorrow's starting lineup will be. Here is what I have come up with:

First of all, since it's the Home Opener, I doubt that any player will be given a rest day, including Byron Buxton, who has started all six games so far this year. Secondly, it's early, but Harrison Bader is swinging the bat as well or better than any player on the team, so I think he gets a start at a corner outfield spot. Thirdly, Edouard Julien has a couple hits and survived playing second base without any real issues. He is swinging the bat better than Jose Miranda and Mickey Gasper. I think he gets the nod at second base, with Willi Castro at third and Miranda riding the pine. So here is my best estimate of a starting lineup: Wallner RF, Correa SS, Buxton CF, Larnach DH, Jeffers C, Castro 3B, France 1B, Julien 2B,  Bader LF, and Joe Ryan pitching.

Does anyone else have different ideas? Go Twins!

I suspect that Rocco goes with Miranda at 3B and Castro at 2B...but, I'd really like to see Julien get the nod. He had some good swings last night and could be ready to break-out.

[stringer bell]

27 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

Julien or Miranda is the only question. I think he will go with Miranda at 3B. 

The other 8 are close to locks. 

I think the opening day lineup in St. Louis will be the same. Larnach or Wallner at DH would also be a slight question. 

It might be Miranda. He's not swung the bat well, but Rocco doesn't bury his players. 

[Riverbrian]

1 hour ago, stringer bell said:

It might be Miranda. He's not swung the bat well, but Rocco doesn't bury his players. 

Agreed... Rocco sticks with his guys. Plays the long game typically and that's why I created that other thread to track it. For the past two years at least... There has been a pattern to Rocco's utilization.

There is some sense in sticking with your guys. Correa started the season 0 for a million and cranked out two nice hits yesterday like the 0 for a million didn't matter anymore. Truthfully it really didn't matter anymore because he's 0 for 0 at the start of every game and that light switch can be found at any time.    

I don't mind a rotation and I also don't mind getting some playing time to everyone especially early in the year because I think playing time should be a competition and I don't care about the size of the contract when it comes to that competition. I don't mind slumping players getting the occasional start but overall... I would simply prefer that he let anybody hitting hot keeping hitting until they cool off. Two players fit that description for me right now. Bader and Castro. Everybody else can rest if need be.