Spring Training Usage Tracker: Luke the Left Fielder

[bean5302]

1 hour ago, Brandon said:

I'm sorry for lazy writing.  I meant Kreidler gets a month or so to show he should keep the job and if not about a month in can be replaced.

Kreideler gets a month... in AAA before the Twins release him IMHO. He's not going to hit, and there is no world where he should make opening day.

[Jeff K]

15 hours ago, DocBauer said:

First comment: No, no, no to Keaschall in LF. Let him get acclimated to 2B on a daily basis! However, it's very possible he's only getting looks there to see how well he's prepared. The rumor is they just want to knownhenis ready for late game/extra innings options if the lineup is shuffled during games. That does make some sense.

Lost INF opportunities, IMO: With the INF being so light on depth, Clemens should be playing some 3B. He's played it previously, and he might at least be an emergency guy there. Wagaman can/has played some 3B at the ML level. Again, he can at least be an emergency option there. Maybe they're working behind the scenes with those two? I'd be getting them a little game action.

Utility INF: My hunch is Arcia due to veteran status. Kreidler and Gray both have options and can be brought up at any time. The biggest issue is making room for Arcia on the 40 man.

The Larnach/DH/1B issue: Forgetting the fact that most agree the roster just doesn't make sense with Larnach, if he IS hurt to begin the season, it might make room for Wagaman, which helps balance the roster. Then it comes down to Outman or Roden making the club. Does Roden and Martin getting so much CF time of late tell us Outman is far from assured that final spot?

Bullpen: Kent might be taking Orze's spot. And that's probably the right call at this point. Supposedly, Topa's velocity is sitting good. So why such a bad camp? Is he just trying different things? I still think he opens with the club. An interesting "problem" might be Altavilla. He's nothing special, but he's got solid career ML numbers, even if the size of his career isn't very large. His camp velocity was reported as a career high, and he was good in SSSS before going to the Classic. He might be a surprise addition, and maybe should be. We are really short on the RH side in the pen. But he also would need a 40 man spot. Would he clear waivers? Not keeping him could be a real mistake.

Funderburk is having a good ST, following a good 2 months to close out 2025. Is he really going to be sent down as the youngest LH in the pen? As someone who might have a few years ahead of him in the Twins pen? It doesn't make sense, but it could happen.

Rotation: It's down to the more experienced Matthews and the younger Abel for the #5 spot. Matthews had a good game today, Sunday, working around a bad error or two. Whoever "loses" will still spend most of the season with the Twins before the year is done. So it might not matter much who wins the initial #5 spot. But I think it's a coin flip right now.

I don't wish ANYONE to ever be injured. But IF Larnach can't start the season, it does allow the player roster to settle in to something that looks more balanced and makes more sense. Wagaman takes his spot opending day, and you keep Roden and "risk" losing Outman on waivers. IMO, that's an acceptable "risk" to keep the younger player with an actual future. Other than attempting to select the "best" of 3 poor/mediocre options for the utility spot, the position player portion of the roster makes about as much sense as you can have.

An unusual problem: If Outman and Jackson are removed, 2 spots open up on the 40 man for Chaffin, and possibly Arcia. But there would have to be another move made to free up a spot for Altavilla if he he gets an opportunity to throw these final 10-11 days of camp. And why wouldn't you? A decent ML veteran having a solid camp, SSS, who's throwing 98 with solid career HIT/IP and K numbers...with some admitted BB issues...and you're scrambling for RH pen arms.

In SOME final combination, you're going to have 3 LHRP. From the RH side you have Hendricks, Sands, Topa, and we'll say Kent makes it. Orze hasn't shown much, and has options. There's not much left folks. And you just can't have 4 LH options. It just makes ZERO sense. So maybe Altavilla makes it? Then where is your next cut to be able to add hum to the 40 man?

Look, I'm NOT saying this is a great 40 man roster! I'm just saying, as imperfect as it is, I don't know who's the OBVIOUS cut.

Now, what if Arcia is willing to go to AAA to start the season? Maybe he's got a player cut off day? So maybe the Twins decide Kreidler's glove outweighs his hitting like a pitcher? Or maybe Gray is the most "balanced" option of glove/bat to at least begin the season? Then you can add someone like Altavilla for a pen that is STARVING for a couple high velocity arms.

It's really SAD that ST is winding down and we're trying to decide the "best of the worst" for backup SS/INF, and STILL trying to find enough decent RH arms for the pen that don't make you CRINGE when they come in to games.

I agree with NO for Keaschall in LF.  I was at a game and he made routine catches scary.

[Nick Nelson]

15 hours ago, KirbyDome89 said:

If that's the case he's making the team right? 

I meant top long-term contingency if Lee gets injured or just isn't cutting it at all performance-wise, not if he needs a day off here and there.

[Linus]

Keaschall in the outfield is a bad idea. He looks like a dog trying to catch a frisbee. He’s also has some concerning throws from an arm strength perspective. I’ve seen a couple one hop throws from left field to third base. This is classic analytics overthinking by our FO / manager. 

[Brandon]

4 hours ago, bean5302 said:

Kreideler gets a month... in AAA before the Twins release him IMHO. He's not going to hit, and there is no world where he should make opening day.

I prefer Arcia be the backup IF myself but I am not in the middle of the competition.  I have history and stats and what is written and reported to go off of.  Lots of people think Kreidler should be the backup and from what info I have that doesn't make sense.

[KirbyDome89]

3 hours ago, Nick Nelson said:

I meant top long-term contingency if Lee gets injured or just isn't cutting it at all performance-wise, not if he needs a day off here and there.

Do you see Kreidler or Gray as significant offensive upgrades? I don't. I guess Kreidler could maybe handle some CF? Idk, it makes no sense to keep Arcia in AAA and roster one of the two above if neither is going to slide into the starting SS role if/when Lee misses time. 

[stringer bell]

Luke looked hesitant in left field today. I wonder if the coaching staff prefers him in left with Clemens at second or if it is just spring experimentation.

Kreidler appears to be good field-no hit in the infield and outfield. Finally, Arcia will have an opt-out opportunity if he doesn’t make the team. 

[jkcarew]

12 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

This is not a convincing endorsement. 

Rostering players that you hope don't play is the biggest roster mistake that clubs can make. 

Every rule has an exception.

The exception to this rule is when the 40-man roster only has about 5-7 position players that you hope DO play. That's where this club is....until the prospects are called up, the 25-man is guaranteed to be littered with mediocre (or worse) players that have zero future on an actual competitive major league club. No guarantee with the prospects, but at least they are "interesting" or players most would "want" to see play.

[Riverbrian]

19 minutes ago, jkcarew said:

No guarantee with the prospects, but at least they are "interesting" or players most would "want" to see play.

And at least... they could have an upward trajectory for future years.