Derek Shelton Knows the Twins Must Be More “Defensive Minded.” How Does It Happen?

[RpR]

49 minutes ago, Andy MacPhail said:

I agree that arm strength is overrated when an OFer is slow to get to the ball & slow to release the ball, there is no advantage, If an OFer has an average arm who gets to the ball quick & has a quick release, he can compensate, But Keaschal has a weak arm & it seems that runners run on him. You can't blame anyone else for that in the OF.

Keaschall's throws are weak and inaccurate. Wallner with a weak arm.

[Mike Sixel]

38 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Keaschall is below average in RF. CF is only average. Culpepper looks merely average at SS. Catcher and second base are below average. Put that together and they’re below average up the middle, which is where it really counts.

I wouldn’t count on Houston for next season. I would rather be pleasantly surprised that he’s ready than desperately hoping he arrives.

Buxton and Jennings are average? Houston is on the same trajectory as Culpeper. Only better. 

[DJL44]

6 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Buxton and Jennings are average? Houston is on the same trajectory as Culpeper. Only better. 

Yes, they’re average now. Buxton is no longer a gold glover and Jenkins doesn’t have the speed to become one.

Houston is going to miss 1/3 of next season due to injury like Culpepper did this year?

[RpR]

1 hour ago, S Bart said:

The idea of shelty stating that Buxton will automatically be the starting in CF demonstrates his poor management. Buxtons age, constant injuries as well as likelihood to be reinjured in that role, and moving Jenkins is ridiculous. Put him as DH to use his bat which will reduce the chance of reinjury and maybe play him at times in the outfield.

Jenkins will never be as good there as Buxton.

[Mike Sixel]

4 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Yes, they’re average now. Buxton is no longer a gold glover and Jenkins doesn’t have the speed to become one.

Houston is going to miss 1/3 of next season due to injury like Culpepper did this year?

Have a good day!

[RpR]

For defense Culpepper has not shown he is as good as Kreidler; while it is not good to get into another late innings defense replacement situation, but that is what it probably will be.

Lee is and always was good at Third Base.

Second base odd situation, Lewis has not been bad at Second but Clemens fits well.

First Base is unknown but Lewis glove has not removed him.

Catcher - some one to replace Jeffers' glove which going from meh to bad .

Outfield - Keaschall's bat over-rules his meh defense; Center -  Buxton stays; Left - ?. 

 

[S Bart]

1 hour ago, DJL44 said:

They have moved the needle from “worst in MLB” to “below average”. They are still a ways from “fixed”.

 2027

[S Bart]

16 minutes ago, RpR said:

Jenkins will never be as good there as Buxton.

Well.  If he plays full seasons to Buxtons half seasons....maybe it will equal out...regardless...need to start thinking about the future.. and dependability...respect your opinion but

[Mike Sixel]

Jenkins will never be as good as one of the best ever is not really a meaningful measure at all. 

[RpR]

22 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Jenkins will never be as good as one of the best ever is not really a meaningful measure at all. 

On a thread about defense it is.

[TheLeviathan]

5 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

Two pages? They've already fixed most of the issues. And Houston should fix one more next year when Culpeper moves to second. This isn't really their issue at this point. Falvey already pivoted this team. 

I'm not sure I agree.  We are on a better track but I still have a couple big questions:

Where is Keaschall's permanent home?  Is it RF or is it 1B?  If it's not 1B...who is that guy?  When do we start getting Culpepper reps at 2B if that is his ultimate home?

Things are looking better, though.  The days of Lee at SS, Larnach in LF, Keaschall at 2B, etc were some dark defensive days.  

[SE23]

7 hours ago, RpR said:

On a thread about defense it is.

Jenkins can be "way more than good enough" in CF. Many teams have won World Championships without a Gold Glover in CF. 

[ashbury]

11 hours ago, TopGunn#22 said:

trying to plug Miguel Sano "where ever" 3B/1B/RF 

I'm sure Rocco was whispering in Terry Ryan's ear in 2016, three years before the Twins officially hired him, to convince them to try Sano in RF that one season.  I mean, what harm can't Rocco do???

[SE23]

12 minutes ago, RpR said:

Irrelevant in a thread about defense.

Not at all true. Defensive skills are on a sliding scale, just like offensive skills and pitching skills and base running skills.

[stringer bell]

10 hours ago, SE23 said:

Jenkins can be "way more than good enough" in CF. Many teams have won World Championships without a Gold Glover in CF. 

I don't know if Keaschall will or would be a "good" first baseman. IIRC, he did play there some either in college or in the minors. The second half bat plays anywhere, but first base is typically a place for a 30 homers hitter and Luke probably won't ever be that. If Jenkins and Rodriguez both are at least long side platoon options next year and Buxton is healthy, it would be convenient to move Keaschall to first base. 

The three outfielders all have plenty of injuries in their careers, so having a fourth "starting" outfielder more than makes sense and I don't think that guy is Austin Martin, who by all the metrics has become a good outfield defender. It probably will end up with Keaschall staying in the OF and DH usage for all four of the outfielders, if they all are healthy.

19 hours ago, RpR said:

Jenkins will never be as good there as Buxton was.

Fixed it for you (in bold). Years and injuries ago, Buxton won a Platinum Glove. The arm isn't as good and he's much more cautious. Still more than good enough, but no longer elite. Jenkins has the athleticism to be every bit as good as Buxton is now and probably better. In the limited sample size this month, he looks fine, but in an even smaller sample ERod has looked great. 

[Mike Sixel]

17 hours ago, TheLeviathan said:

I'm not sure I agree.  We are on a better track but I still have a couple big questions:

Where is Keaschall's permanent home?  Is it RF or is it 1B?  If it's not 1B...who is that guy?  When do we start getting Culpepper reps at 2B if that is his ultimate home?

Things are looking better, though.  The days of Lee at SS, Larnach in LF, Keaschall at 2B, etc were some dark defensive days.  

That's literally two spots. They went from Wallner and Larnach to Jenkins and ERod. They went from Lee to Culpeper. They went from Bell to Lewis or Castro. 

How many average to above average fielders, who can also hit, are people expecting?

[TheLeviathan]

1 hour ago, Mike Sixel said:

That's literally two spots. They went from Wallner and Larnach to Jenkins and ERod. They went from Lee to Culpeper. They went from Bell to Lewis or Castro. 

How many average to above average fielders, who can also hit, are people expecting?

I'm not sure where the math on two is coming from.  Since the start of this year I've seen the following changes:

C - Caratini/Jeffers.  Likely stays Caratini next year.  Not someone I think will hit, but can field.

1B - Unsure who is playing here.  Not Lewis hopefully.

2B - Changing from Keaschall to Clemens is a plus.  Also an average to above average hitter (That's 1)

3B - Changing from Lewis to Lee was a big defensive upgrade.  Average to above average hitter (That's 2)

SS - Changing from Lee to Kreidler/Culpepper was a big defensive upgrade.  I believe Culpepper is a hitter (3)

LF - Changing to any human on the planet from Larnach is an upgrade.  I think Erod will stick (4)

CF - No change here with Buck

RF - Keaschall is better than Wallner, though not much to write home about.  Def. hitter.  (5)

I see a total of 5 spots that look to be defensive upgrades.  If Buxton is CF and Jenkins is RF, then all the better in the OF.  Possibly adding 1B to the list with Keaschall.

A lot riding on young players but guys fit better where they are now and the young guys bring upside, defensive chops, and athleticism.