P/C/1B/(3 SS)/(3CF)

[Whammy]

I saw someone Tweet this about the Brewers defense. Said another way, the Brewers are playing three starting caliber shortstops in their infield and three starting caliber centerfielders in their outfield. Then I got thinking, and the Twins might not necessarily we THAT far away from a similar thing by the end of next season.

OF - Buxton, Jenkins, and E-Rod can all play solid CF - I don't think we have to stretch anything to say we meet the criteria here.
IF - Lee, Culpepper, Houston - We're doing a little stretching here. I like Lee at 3B, but we've seen him at SS and it's probably generous to call him "starting caliber." Also it could be that by the time Houston gets to the majors we are saying similar things about Culpepper and an inevitable move to 2B.

I think the Rays have historically done a similar thing in the OF (three starting caliber CF), but maybe not as much in the IF. 

Regardless of if we're doing a little criteria stretching on the infield, it's great how the Twins have gone from a putrid defense at the beginning of 2026 to not having to squint too hard to see what could be a really strong defense by the end of 2027.

[Cory Engelhardt]

30 minutes ago, Whammy said:

I saw someone Tweet this about the Brewers defense. Said another way, the Brewers are playing three starting caliber shortstops in their infield and three starting caliber centerfielders in their outfield. Then I got thinking, and the Twins might not necessarily we THAT far away from a similar thing by the end of next season.

OF - Buxton, Jenkins, and E-Rod can all play solid CF - I don't think we have to stretch anything to say we meet the criteria here.
IF - Lee, Culpepper, Houston - We're doing a little stretching here. I like Lee at 3B, but we've seen him at SS and it's probably generous to call him "starting caliber." Also it could be that by the time Houston gets to the majors we are saying similar things about Culpepper and an inevitable move to 2B.

I think the Rays have historically done a similar thing in the OF (three starting caliber CF), but maybe not as much in the IF. 

Regardless of if we're doing a little criteria stretching on the infield, it's great how the Twins have gone from a putrid defense at the beginning of 2026 to not having to squint too hard to see what could be a really strong defense by the end of 2027.

Agreed. It’s exciting to dream on. And clearly it works.