3 Options for Royce Lewis When Carlos Correa Returns

2 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

he have to be a gold glover?

Or something close to that, Twins defense has been a major failing too often; strong bats have not been lacking.

First, every potential trade partner is going to ask for him in return and the Twins have to take a stance there.

But to answer the question asked: all of the above.

It's baseball. He's a rookie. He's going to hit a wall at some point and the situation will work itself out. Or somebody else will be injured, or suspended, or get covid.

His perceived flexibility should keep him on the roster until he gets cold. His options give the Twins flexibility.

Also, I think Miranda's struggles make the decision much easier for a while.

4 hours ago, chpettit19 said:

So if Royce Lewis isn't close to a gold glover he needs to be in AAA? That has to be top 5 in boldest statements I've ever seen on TD.

So your stance is that the current Twins team would be better off having Royce Lewis in AAA until he's a gold glove caliber SS instead of having him learn from a platinum glove winning SS in the majors while providing an improved bat for the offense? Did you know Carlos Correa was considered well below average defensively when he first debuted? Last year he was voted the best defender at any position in the American League. Would it have been better for Houston to keep him in AAA for 3 or 4 extra years until he was a gold glove caliber SS? They're not exactly known as the best defensive team in the history of baseball. I think Royce following Correa's career trajectory would be an awfully nice outcome.

Agree with your comments, chpettit19, although have always thought of him as the next Jeter.

3 hours ago, chpettit19 said:

Here's my thing with needing to play SS everyday, does it really matter that much as far as improving his defensive ability? I'm talking game reps since I assume that's what people mean by "playing SS everyday." Correa won the platinum glove last year while playing 1304.2 innings at SS. He had 578 balls hit to him. So in a longer season with more innings (majors vs minors I mean) he averaged about 4 balls per game. So the argument is that Royce needs his 4 balls a game in AAA to further develop? I find it hard to believe 4 reps a game is what turns him into a better fielder. Isn't it the thousands of reps he takes outside of game play that improve his abilities? And if that's the case can't he do that in Minneapolis while providing one of their 9 best bats and still getting 8-12 balls at SS a week instead of the 20-24 he'd see a week in St Paul?

Those 4 reps in the game CEMENT the thousands of repetitions off the fungo. If you don't do the 4 reps in a game... there is no cement. ?

Lewis is not going to St. Paul if he is still hitting. If Lewis begins to struggle like Miranda then he will be sent down when Correa returns. Lewis is athletic enough to fit at either 3B or LF. There is always playing time for an athletic bat whose glove plays and whose feet are swift. He maintains a stroke, he stays with the Twins. Correa is a far superior shortstop and will play most games when healthy. 

Are many making a major assumption that Royce Lewis will be a shortstop for the next decade? He may be or perhaps he fits elsewhere. Let him play and show where he belongs in the game. 

Honestly I remain torn on this matter.

On one hand, he's super talented, has more than held his own defensively despite a couple of not so great plays, and has really looked as good as I always expected him to. And he's hitting and producing, granted SSS. And it's not as if he's never played other positions or lacks the ability to do so. And couldn't he learn from Correa, both watching and talking? And unless he hits a wall offensively, he can learn so much being at the ML level to get ready for 2023 and beyond. As much as I love watching Correa play, basic logic tells me he's going to look for that 8-10yr deal after this season.

But on the other hand, what's truly best for Lewis and the Twins and his future? Despite all his talent and years of playing SS, I have no doubt he's still learning and growing and will continue to get better and better. But despite looking good right now with the glove and the bat, he's still shaking some rust off after 2yrs of zero actual, real game action. Is he better served playing every day at AAA FOR NOW at SS to better refine his defense for 2023 and beyond? I think it's a valid question. We can say a SS only has 4-5 balls hit his way in a game so why can't he learn at the ML level? But 4-5 chances 5 days a week is different than 2 when we're talking about opportunity to work on footwork and positioning and all the subtleties of handing SS on a permanent basis.

I think both scenarios are valid arguements, and thus I'm torn about keeping such a talented and, so far, productive player on the ML roster vs what's ultimately best for his future. 

For now, I see him staying and playing him at SS/3B/OF and use him in a super utility role. Miranda goes down for a re-set, taking knowledge and experience from this first call up with him. You play Arraez at 1B and figure out your best alternate option there.

When Larnach is back, unless someone else gets hurt, we may have to re-examine Lewis' spot, at least for the short term.

Lewis at 1B - No. Total waste of his fielding development to put him here.

OF - No, don't want to risk an overzealous rookie getting hurt by crashing into a fence without at least some games out there at AAA. Plus, with Larnach back soon, Kepler, Buxton, Celestino, Larnach and Gordon have OF covered.

3B - Maybe. If they are going to play him 4 or 5 times per week here and 1 or 2 at SS each week. The Twins defense will be worse as Urshela is great at 3B and Lewis hasn't played there in years.

What will the Twins do? I say Lewis goes back to St. Paul, either when Correa comes back on Wednesday or when Correa is back to full-time, as I think he will get days off like Buxton.

Playing SS is the most fun and complex position on defense. If Lewis does play elsewhere this year, he will be making more errors there next year for the Twins so people had better be ready for that. As far as hitting, unless he gets in a big slump, it is better for Lewis to be seeing major league pitching. Tough call.

Any calculation of what to do with Royce Lewis when Correa gets back must begin with the assumption that Lewis will NEVER go back to the minor leagues. 

Friends, Romans and countrymen, look what Lewis is doing in his first month. He's practically putting the team on his back the way Hrbek and Puckett and Buxton used to do. He's playing high-level SS, and he appears to be getting better game by game. 

When Correa gets back, sure Lewis will have to move around. No big deal. The kid is super-talented - he'll pick up any position in a week, and look polished in two weeks. Let him become the team's second super-utility man along with Nick Gordon. Guys like this don't mind learning multiple positions because it makes them even more valuable to the team. 

Baldelli knows that Lewis already is one of the best bats in his lineup. There's no way he won't find a spot for him to play every possible day. 

3 hours ago, Squirrel said:

You maybe didn’t realize that when you wrote this, Correa was already activated and Lewis optioned to AAA

To quote general George Custer... "Ghaaaaaaaaaaaa!"

The AL Central continues to be weak. Next year there is going to be a balanced schedule .... supposedly (one cannot predict Manfred and the dysfunctional MLB). It sure seems like the Twins should try to win some games while their younger players gain some experience. The moves made (or not made) by this front office are confusing. I'm a baseball fan and a Twins fan (since 1961) and that is not likely to change. One can look back and see many examples where playing for five years from now doesn't turn out so hot.

I don't see Royce Lewis ever being as good as a Greg Gagne at shortstop but he is pretty good and can improve. There are other players who could push him off the position that we have not seen yet. No player is guaranteed a spot unless they play at an unbelievably high level. Correa has already pushed Lewis off of shortstop and he may (or may not) stay. I just wish the Twins would field a team with the best players in their system. Talent usually takes care of itself. Jorge Polanco is one example of a player just thrust onto the team quite early. He is the Twins most consistent performer currently. 

23 hours ago, Shaitan said:

Also, I think Miranda's struggles make the decision much easier for a while.

Shows what I know.