Bichette returns to lineup, plays 2B for first time in MLB career (in Game 2 of the World Series)

[LakesPibble]

Royce Lewis, 2024 - 

“I’m terrified out there. Little things like that are just adding extra elements to a September push that’s important to me. I don’t know. We have plenty of really good second basemen, and I don’t want to mess up our defense just because we’re going to try something new. It’s not spring training or Triple-A for that.”

Bo Bichette, 2025 - 

"To be honest, I brought it up. It was something that I felt like I could get ready for quicker than another position. I just want to be ready to help the team in any way that is afforded to me, so that felt like an opportunity for me, and obviously they were on board with it."

Bichette returns to lineup, plays 2B for first time in MLB career

[Brock Beauchamp]

He made a really nice play in the field, to boot.

[bean5302]

3 hours ago, LakesPibble said:

Royce Lewis, 2024 - 

“I’m terrified out there. Little things like that are just adding extra elements to a September push that’s important to me. I don’t know. We have plenty of really good second basemen, and I don’t want to mess up our defense just because we’re going to try something new. It’s not spring training or Triple-A for that.”

Bo Bichette, 2025 - 

"To be honest, I brought it up. It was something that I felt like I could get ready for quicker than another position. I just want to be ready to help the team in any way that is afforded to me, so that felt like an opportunity for me, and obviously they were on board with it."

Bichette returns to lineup, plays 2B for first time in MLB career

Why are Twins fans like this?

Bichette was drafted as a 2B. Bichette continued to play a little 2B in the minors. Bichette didn't get thrown under the bus by the Blue Jays.

Lewis had never played on the 2B side of the field, and for the record, Lewis DID play 2B when he was assigned the position. He didn't say he wouldn't play 2B. Max Kepler didn't say he wouldn't play CF. I just don't get why TD posters need to make this stuff up.

[Mike Sixel]

Lots of guys move around to help their team win. Others refuse. 

[Schmoeman5]

1 hour ago, Mike Sixel said:

Lots of guys move around to help their team win. Others refuse. 

And...?

[Steve J]

19 hours ago, bean5302 said:

Why are Twins fans like this?

Bichette was drafted as a 2B. Bichette continued to play a little 2B in the minors. Bichette didn't get thrown under the bus by the Blue Jays.

Lewis had never played on the 2B side of the field, and for the record, Lewis DID play 2B when he was assigned the position. He didn't say he wouldn't play 2B. Max Kepler didn't say he wouldn't play CF. I just don't get why TD posters need to make this stuff up.

Lewis never came across to me as someone who was just being a prick about his discomfort at that position.  I hate to see players pay a price for being candid and transparent.  

[Brock Beauchamp]

23 hours ago, bean5302 said:

Why are Twins fans like this?

Bichette was drafted as a 2B. Bichette continued to play a little 2B in the minors. Bichette didn't get thrown under the bus by the Blue Jays.

Lewis had never played on the 2B side of the field, and for the record, Lewis DID play 2B when he was assigned the position. He didn't say he wouldn't play 2B. Max Kepler didn't say he wouldn't play CF. I just don't get why TD posters need to make this stuff up.

1. Bichette was drafted as a shortstop. He played just 30 games at second base in the minors, with his last appearance there in 2019.

2. Lewis played five games at second base in the minors, with four of them coming in the AFL.

I think it's fine that Lewis was worried about moving to second. I would be, too. I also think it's fair to look at Bichette, who basically hasn't played at second since he was nearly a teenager (20), and wonder why he was able to do it on literally the biggest stage ever, while Lewis could not do it on a much lesser stage.

[LakesPibble]

I don't think Royce is a prick.  I appreciate his willingness to say what is on his mind.  For some reason, whenever he comes up people want to defend what he says because he's willing to say it out loud.

I thought it was a pretty apples to apples comparison of two players faced with a similar situation and having very different reactions.  Royce seems to be risk-averse during the season.  He has the right to be that way, but I don't think it's a strength or something to defend, especially when his last season and half has not been strong.

[Mike Sixel]

7 minutes ago, LakesPibble said:

I don't think Royce is a prick.  I appreciate his willingness to say what is on his mind.  For some reason, whenever he comes up people want to defend what he says because he's willing to say it out loud.

I thought it was a pretty apples to apples comparison of two players faced with a similar situation and having very different reactions.  Royce seems to be risk-averse during the season.  He has the right to be that way, but I don't think it's a strength or something to defend, especially when his last season and half has not been strong.

I think this is well stated. 

[DocBauer]

On 10/25/2025 at 10:52 AM, bean5302 said:

Why are Twins fans like this?

Bichette was drafted as a 2B. Bichette continued to play a little 2B in the minors. Bichette didn't get thrown under the bus by the Blue Jays.

Lewis had never played on the 2B side of the field, and for the record, Lewis DID play 2B when he was assigned the position. He didn't say he wouldn't play 2B. Max Kepler didn't say he wouldn't play CF. I just don't get why TD posters need to make this stuff up.

I told myself multiple times to just drop this topic. "Byron, just let it go. It doesn't matter!"

But when something gets stuck in your craw, it's really hard to let it go.

To be fair, Lewis HAS played a few games in the AFL about 3yrs ago. Again, just to be fair.

Bo Bichette is a wonderful ballplayer! Until 2024 he's been highly productive and a legitimate All Star player. No offense is intended towards him. But he had a poor 2024 that I believe was due to injury.

NOT to compare his production to the slightly younger and injury plagued Lewis, but his being asked to suddenly play 2B is almost a direct quote, verbatim, of what Lewis stated previously. 

So one comment belongs to a "troubled" player who has an attitude and the almost EXACT comment is simply dismissed because the other player is having another fine season and is a fine teammate?

Come on! 

I've been the first to say Royce should think before he speaks and stop being so damned honest with his thoughts. Streaming consciousness is for creative writing, and not for interviews. 

I'd be willing to bet if Royce had rebounded in 2025 or rebounds in 2026, we'll never hear about this topic again.

[Mike Sixel]

46 minutes ago, DocBauer said:

I told myself multiple times to just drop this topic. "Byron, just let it go. It doesn't matter!"

But when something gets stuck in your craw, it's really hard to let it go.

To be fair, Lewis HAS played a few games in the AFL about 3yrs ago. Again, just to be fair.

Bo Bichette is a wonderful ballplayer! Until 2024 he's been highly productive and a legitimate All Star player. No offense is intended towards him. But he had a poor 2024 that I believe was due to injury.

NOT to compare his production to the slightly younger and injury plagued Lewis, but his being asked to suddenly play 2B is almost a direct quote, verbatim, of what Lewis stated previously. 

So one comment belongs to a "troubled" player who has an attitude and the almost EXACT comment is simply dismissed because the other player is having another fine season and is a fine teammate?

Come on! 

I've been the first to say Royce should think before he speaks and stop being so damned honest with his thoughts. Streaming consciousness is for creative writing, and not for interviews. 

I'd be willing to bet if Royce had rebounded in 2025 or rebounds in 2026, we'll never hear about this topic again.

See brocls post for corrections....

[DocBauer]

6 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

See brocls post for corrections....

I have.

Lewis DID play 2B.

Lewis DID prepare for 2B for before being told not to worry about it for 2025.

Bichette DID play 2B.

BOTH were open about how they felt doing so with almost exact wording. 

Human nature.  Where is the problem?

[bean5302]

On 10/26/2025 at 10:17 AM, Brock Beauchamp said:

1. Bichette was drafted as a shortstop. He played just 30 games at second base in the minors, with his last appearance there in 2019.

2. Lewis played five games at second base in the minors, with four of them coming in the AFL.

I think it's fine that Lewis was worried about moving to second. I would be, too. I also think it's fair to look at Bichette, who basically hasn't played at second since he was nearly a teenager (20), and wonder why he was able to do it on literally the biggest stage ever, while Lewis could not do it on a much lesser stage.

https://www.mlb.com/rockies/video/2016-draft-bo-bichette-2b-c625727583

I stand corrected on Lewis playing 2B previously. I thought he stated he had never played on that side of the field even in high school. Sounds like I was mistaken or he lied.

 

[Brock Beauchamp]

29 minutes ago, bean5302 said:

https://www.mlb.com/rockies/video/2016-draft-bo-bichette-2b-c625727583

I stand corrected on Lewis playing 2B previously. I thought he stated he had never played on that side of the field even in high school. Sounds like I was mistaken or he lied.

 

We're down to semantics at this point. It appears some had Bichette listed as a SS, others as a 2B.

From MLB.com:

[nicksaviking]

On 10/26/2025 at 10:17 AM, Brock Beauchamp said:

1. Bichette was drafted as a shortstop. He played just 30 games at second base in the minors, with his last appearance there in 2019.

2. Lewis played five games at second base in the minors, with four of them coming in the AFL.

I think it's fine that Lewis was worried about moving to second. I would be, too. I also think it's fair to look at Bichette, who basically hasn't played at second since he was nearly a teenager (20), and wonder why he was able to do it on literally the biggest stage ever, while Lewis could not do it on a much lesser stage.

Seems everything about Minnesota sports is always lesser stage. Which I suppose to our Minnesota players still makes it their biggest stage.