What Should the Twins Do at First Base?

[RpR]

2 hours ago, Cris E said:

Grey and Kreidler are a utility platoon, which is not a thing. Pick one as your Bondo guy to fill in the ugly holes and use the other spot to make longer-term improvements like letting Gonzalez be Clemens' platoon partner for a while and see what he's got. Heck, at this point I'd keep them both at 3B and send down Lewis. Either way, if Gabby sucks you can make another move in a month, like when Royce rediscovers himself and demands the MLB per diem again.

Gabby sucks in AAA, just what the team needs, maybe they could trade Lewis for Julien, and Wallner for Miranda. 

[RpR]

6 hours ago, farmerguychris said:

I gotta say, I'm a fan of bringing up Fedko and/or Sabato to give them a try.  I think deep down, the leaders (minus the owner) know this team isn't doing anything great this year - why not try something new.  Once one of our current 1B gets injured (we know they love depth and will not release any of them), hopefully Fedko (who I prefer because can play multiple positions) or Sabato will surprise them and refuse to be sent back down.

LOL, change the name to the Minnesota Crapshoot.

[TheLeviathan]

If you're going to be not good, is it too much to ask we be not good but young with some hope?

Sabato.  Fedko.  Let's bring up some guys and get some juice on this team.

[TheLeviathan]

We're not good.  Is it too much to ask if we're already going to be not good that we at least be younger with some hope?

Bring up Fedko and Sabato.

[DJL44]

8 hours ago, jkcarew said:

And with the Twins 96 last year and 118 this year. Which really isn’t less than 103 over a fairly sizable sample now. Nobody’s saying Clemens is great, or the answer.

Mauer didn’t need a platoon caddy

[howeda7]

Can Keashall play 1B? I know he's not ideal size, but neither was Arreaz. 

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

16 hours ago, DocBauer said:

For whatever reason, I can't currently "like" comments, or "quote" them. So I guess it's just me commenting my own opinions and leave it at that.

I still don't dislike adding Caratini as the #2 catcher and an occasional 1B.

I had that issue yesterday as well and this morning, it seems to be fixed,

[jorgenswest]

The Twins are very fortunate to have Clemens on the team. He plays several positions well. He runs the bases pretty well. His bat is at least near league average. He is prearb. His bat and glove probably fit best as a 2B but his positional flexibility really helps. He hasn’t been used at 3B by the Twins but they have had Lewis and Castro. I wonder if his glove is as solid there as it is at 1B, 2B, LF and RF. League average wRC+ is 94 this year and 96 last year. His bat is a fit.

Last year the Twins had a hole at 2B when Keaschall was out and he started there. Keaschall returned and the hole became 1B so he played there. He had a few stretches where he filled holes in the outfield. All teams need players that can fill holes. The Twins have a hole at 1B. They should fill it. Clemens will still get plenty of playing time. He could help fill at 3B and possibly 2B. This weekend Kreidler and Outman were starting outfielders. He could have helped there.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

7 hours ago, DJL44 said:

Mauer didn’t need a platoon caddy

Hall of famer Joe Mauer didn’t need a platoon?

[Major League Ready]

7 hours ago, DJL44 said:

Mauer didn’t need a platoon caddy

True but Mauer cost $22M/year more than Clemmons.  I would take Cody and two $11M/year RPs over Mauer in his last 5 years. 

[Richie the Rally Goat]

I never thought I would be typing this right now, but Clemens at first base is not the problem. The problem is they haven’t invested into first base at all in decades. Not good free agents or moving actual prospects to first in the minors. They treat the position like they treat the bullpen, both of which drive me a little bonkers when it wouldn’t take a huge investment to make a big difference.

Right now, my priority would be getting Lewis and the bullpen sorted out. Maybe the reset with Lewis involves a move to 1B in the minors?

[Hunter4848]

15 hours ago, RpR said:

LOL, change the name to the Minnesota Crapshoot.

The team is already crap, a smart organization would be testing players for the future...

[Hunter4848]

1 hour ago, jorgenswest said:

The Twins are very fortunate to have Clemens on the team. He plays several positions well. He runs the bases pretty well. His bat is at least near league average. He is prearb. His bat and glove probably fit best as a 2B but his positional flexibility really helps. He hasn’t been used at 3B by the Twins but they have had Lewis and Castro. I wonder if his glove is as solid there as it is at 1B, 2B, LF and RF. League average wRC+ is 94 this year and 96 last year. His bat is a fit.

Last year the Twins had a hole at 2B when Keaschall was out and he started there. Keaschall returned and the hole became 1B so he played there. He had a few stretches where he filled holes in the outfield. All teams need players that can fill holes. The Twins have a hole at 1B. They should fill it. Clemens will still get plenty of playing time. He could help fill at 3B and possibly 2B. This weekend Kreidler and Outman were starting outfielders. He could have helped there.

The Twins are so fortunate to have a mediocre veteran on the team?! No wonder this team is a dumpster fire...

[RpR]

1 minute ago, Hunter4848 said:

The team is already crap, a smart organization would be testing players for the future...

Fans do not pay money go to the stadium and see rookies show they should still be in AAA.

[shimrod]

1 hour ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

I never thought I would be typing this right now, but Clemens at first base is not the problem. The problem is they haven’t invested into first base at all in decades. Not good free agents or moving actual prospects to first in the minors.

Failure to develop is the problem. First base defense matters. Twins use the position as a dumping ground for players who can't play anywhere else. 

Right now the Twins have a player in A ball who has the requisite length and, with a history at SS, athleticism. He shows promise as a hitter. Twins are currently "developing" (playing) him at positions he will never play in the majors. 

Move Winokur to first base and allow him to master the position as he rises through the minors. Grow another Hrbek or Mientkiewicz. 

[DJL44]

1 hour ago, shimrod said:

Failure to develop is the problem. First base defense matters. Twins use the position as a dumping ground for players who can't play anywhere else. 

Right now the Twins have a player in A ball who has the requisite length and, with a history at SS, athleticism. He shows promise as a hitter. Twins are currently "developing" (playing) him at positions he will never play in the majors. 

Move Winokur to first base and allow him to master the position as he rises through the minors. Grow another Hrbek or Mientkiewicz. 

Winokur should be fine at 3B

[shimrod]

1 minute ago, DJL44 said:

Winokur should be fine at 3B

Is he playing there? He's listed as SS/CF. 

This is why our defense sucks. If Winokur projects to be an above average MLB third baseman then play him there and let him have hundreds of innings of experience when he's called up. Find another long, athletic player and develop him at first. I'm thinking we can find a shorter player who'll be fine at third while Winokur's length is a major benefit at first. 

Stop the madness of trying to field a team of guys who can play mediocre defense at multiple positions. The result is mediocre defense. Let your players master a position. If you wind up with a surplus at one position and a shortfall at another you trade to balance it out. 

 

[Hunter4848]

3 hours ago, RpR said:

Fans do not pay money go to the stadium and see rookies show they should still be in AAA.

Fans don't go to the stadium to watch washed up old players.