Do Twins Fans Know That Matt Wallner and Trevor Larnach Are Different People?

[tony&rodney]

This article is the first time I had heard that people confuse Trevor Wallner and Matt Larnach. 

Seriously, I wasn't aware of that or the call to release either of them. Of course they have some value.

They are both best suited to DH duty. Nelson Cruz, among others, made decent livings as a pure DH. The problem the Twins have is not something anyone on this board can control - both appear in the field too often. If you can guarantee that we will only see Matt once a month in the outfield, he can keep his glove. Otherwise burn it. I am fine with Wallner or Larnach as a DH, but neither belongs in the field.

The pile of numbers/data may be a hook for another team to make a strong offer in an attempt to acquire Wallner. What other team needs bats but may have a tempting player to return to Minnesota? The Twins need to keep all of their options open as they try to rebuild the roster.

[Nshore]

Wallner is obviously a fan favorite.  But if you like a player, IMO that raises the odds by at least 50% that the Twins will try to find a way to get rid of him.

[jmlease1]

28 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

This article is the first time I had heard that people confuse Trevor Wallner and Matt Larnach. 

Seriously, I wasn't aware of that or the call to release either of them. Of course they have some value.

They are both best suited to DH duty. Nelson Cruz, among others, made decent livings as a pure DH. The problem the Twins have is not something anyone on this board can control - both appear in the field too often. If you can guarantee that we will only see Matt once a month in the outfield, he can keep his glove. Otherwise burn it. I am fine with Wallner or Larnach as a DH, but neither belongs in the field.

The pile of numbers/data may be a hook for another team to make a strong offer in an attempt to acquire Wallner. What other team needs bats but may have a tempting player to return to Minnesota? The Twins need to keep all of their options open as they try to rebuild the roster.

It's not that people are actually confusing them for being the same person. It's that they treat them as if they were producing the same on the field. They get lumped together all the time as being lead-footed LH sluggers who can't defend and don't hit enough and aren't very good. That's the point. It's not that people actually mistake for being the same person. 🙄

Hells bells, you're doing it right here, saying you're fine with either Larnach or Wallner at DH. You should not be fine with Larnach's production for DH. It's been far worse than Wallner's, and that's the point. 

[S Bart]

Well....they look like Twins to me

[Woof Bronzer]

11 minutes ago, jmlease1 said:

It's not that people are actually confusing them for being the same person.

The title of the article is "Do Twins Fans Know That Matt Wallner and Trevor Larnach Are Different People?"

[jmlease1]

3 minutes ago, Woof Bronzer said:

The title of the article is "Do Twins Fans Know That Matt Wallner and Trevor Larnach Are Different People?"

titles can't be tongue-in-cheek or sarcastic?

yeesh.

[Danchat]

Wallner pre and post trade deadline has been quite the contrast:

Pre August 1st: .210/.309 .771 OPS 13 HRs /  22 RBIs

Post August 1st: .231/.359 .990 OPS 7 HRs / 13 RBIs

I don't blame people for being disappointed with Wallner for most of the season given how he was playing, but benching/demoting him would have been a terrible choice given his track record and K% / BABIP rate suggesting better days were coming.

I don't expect his OPS to be maintained in the 900s, what I really want to see is continued success from him in RISP situations. Before this week he was in the 400s in RISP and that .770 OPS was obfuscating that. Give me hits in RISP over solo homers any day.

 

[USAFChief]

2 hours ago, chpettit19 said:

My guess (hope?) is that they floated his name at the deadline so they have a feel for what his market is. I'd guess they didn't find anyone willing to meet their asking price and that's why he's still here. That should lead them to non-tendering him. At least that's what a good front office would've done. Wouldn't go into the offseason completely blind and would know whether or not they have a shot at trading him before they have to make the arbitration decision.

If the options are "get asking price" or "non-tender" it seems to me the front office should have explored "get what you can."

[KirbyDome89]

4 hours ago, Woof Bronzer said:

Who, specifically, thinks Larnach and Wallner are the same player?  I don't know that I've seen a single person make this case on this website.  I think there's a feeling that the 2 are redundant, that the Twins have too many left handed hitting one tool outfielders, but that's not what the writer is addressing here. 

Can we get an example of someone claiming they're the same player?

I think a lot of the redundancy observations/critiques are being lumped in with the "they're the same," argument (which seems to be a very small minority, at least on TD) It's ironic given that the angst over the Larnach/Wallner comp is primarily about the lack of distinction being made. 

[tbruggs11]

I’d be very upset if the Twins move off of Wallner this offseason.  Feel like he’s one of 4 fielders we have that can be a part of a contending team.  If he’s in one of his hot streaks during the post season he could give you a chance.  

[tony&rodney]

1 hour ago, jmlease1 said:

It's not that people are actually confusing them for being the same person. It's that they treat them as if they were producing the same on the field. They get lumped together all the time as being lead-footed LH sluggers who can't defend and don't hit enough and aren't very good. That's the point. It's not that people actually mistake for being the same person. 🙄

Hells bells, you're doing it right here, saying you're fine with either Larnach or Wallner at DH. You should not be fine with Larnach's production for DH. It's been far worse than Wallner's, and that's the point. 

Well, I was hoping theTwins could get a new fishing pole for Larnach at the trade deadline. I think they will just let him go because they are not going to pay him. Wallner could be exchanged for someone with potential. Maybe Jared Jones. I have repeatedly stated that Wallner should be a DH. I'm not ok with him in the outfield. 

I said either because the Twins should be able to find an advantageous trade using Wallner. The guy hits bombs and there are still teams that may pay big for that output. 

[thelanges5]

No hot takes here. Wallner may look great at DH/1B. Larnach doesn’t have the performance and he is probably going to be too expensive to roster in 2026. I expect Roden to be an upgrade. 

[mikelink45]

I love Wallner, but still would love to see two players beat both of them out.  I want more on base to mix with the power.  I am afraid this article did not convince me that Wallner really wins out.  Both are less than what I would like.