5 Scenarios That Could Open Up Regular Playing Time for Alex Kirilloff

4 hours ago, IndianaTwin said:

The OP suggests that it’s easy enough to find a spot on the 26-man — option Castro. But that’s not going to happen. The Twins like his defensive versatility and AK isn’t a fit there. Besides, barring other injuries, I’d think Castro’s spot is pretty much reserved for Farmer’s activation on Tuesday or soon thereafter. 

So AK needs someone else’s spot on the roster. Three primary options have been named, either here or in other threads. Option Larnach, DFA Gordon or DFA Solano. (Or yeah, trade Kepler and his 108 OPS+ and great defense, blah, blah, blah.)

There’s another option I haven’t seen and that’s to option Miranda and use Farmer/Solano at 3B for a time. Miranda’s OPS+ is currently at 69, and he seems to be flailing at the plate. I don’t see many games, but was able to watch the Sox games, and he had at least a couple defensive plays that didn’t result in errors, but were shaky or poor decisions. He’d likely be back at the next injury, but it sure seems he could use a reset.

I agree with the possibility of sending down Miranda for a bit.  He is not hitting much at all, and has been chasing some bad pitches up in zone over and over.  Larnach has been struggling as well.  However, the one issue with sending down Miranda is AK will still have to take a spot in the line up between Larnach, Gallo, or Kepler, assuming Buck will not move back to CF any time soon.  Really, they all are left handed hitters playing similar positions in varying level of defense.  One of them gets the Pine if all 4 are on the team, unless Twins try to move Gallo back to 3rd where he came up playing, but has not played there for years.  

If they go that route, then I would assume mostly Kepler gets to sit, depending on how he is hitting, because they will want Larnach to get regular at bats for most part.  So overall, I think Larnach will get sent down if he continues to struggle and AK shows he is healthy and can play each game without issue.  

We can still option Miranda for Farmer when he ready, or at minimum when Lewis comes back from his IL rehab.  I just do not see a point of having AK Larnach, Gallo, and Kepler all on MLB roster and all being healthy, if Buck is going to stay at DH, because one of the 4 have to sit every game.  Maybe you rotate them around to help make up for that. 

1 hour ago, Riverbrian said:

I agree with you on Miranda.

I remember feeling the same way last year. 

On May 18th, 2022 - Miranda's had offensively bottomed out at .332 OPS with a .096 BA. 

May 18th was also the date that Correa returned from the disabled list and we sent down Royce Lewis to practice other positions for 12 days before returning to the big club on May 29th.  

On May 29th, it was determined that Royce had learned everything he could about other positions and Royce Lewis was recalled.

It was Miranda who was optioned to make room for Lewis.

Of course due to the Lewis injury... Miranda was called right back to the big club on May 30. That one day in the minors did him well because after one day in the minors he woke up and BOOM... he was suddenly a hitter.  

Perhaps we should try that alarm clock again. 😉

 

I watched him quite a bit on Milb TV and I have been a BIG supporter.  Last year and during this off-season I posted just how great he was after he was recalled.  Even in the minors, the announcers talked about his improved plate discipline being a big part of him breaking out.   It's frustrating because the lessons have not sticked.  I know it's hard to lay off a high fastball but for God sake, try letting some go when you have proven you can't hit when you do swing.  Pitchers are going to abuse him until he proves he won't swing at a pitch that is 4-8 inches above the strike zone.  

While it sucks that AK is raking in AAA and there's really nowhere to put him on the big league club, after last year's horror show it is pretty nice to be having the exact opposite problem -- too many healthy, good players to fit onto the starting 9. This is a problem I'll take 10 times out of 10!

It's too bad that they optioned Kirilloff to St. Paul meaning they need to wait 10 more days baring an injury.  But it really shouldn't be too difficult to find room for A.K.  Larnach is 7 strikeouts in a row and counting.  The team as a whole is just atrocious when it comes to situational hitting.  Kirilloff can't fix that by himself.  But as Farmer gets closer to a return the easy move is to DFA Solano who at 35 doesn't bring much defensive value and is an empty, pop-less batting average.  Flores brings much more to the table.

Gordon is their LH hitting CF option as is Gallo.  Here is a lineup against RH pitching:

C  Vazquez  1B  Kirilloff  2B  Polanco  SS Correa  3B  Miranda  LF  Gallo  CF  Gordon  RF  Kepler  DH  Buxton

Bench:  Jeffers C  Farmer  SS/3B/2B  Flores IF/OF  Taylor  OF  Larnach OF  

You've got to have Jeffers.  You've got to have Farmer.  You've got to have Taylor.  So if you have a bench of 13 hitters it comes down to Larnach or Flores.  I like the versatility Flores adds to the bench.  He can play 3B a little 2B if needed and outfield.  Larnach is only a corner outfielder and he still has options.  He also has Wallner breathing down his neck.  And don't forget that Lewis will be knocking on the door in a couple of months and Julien has already been up.  Larnach looks so lost at the plate that he needs a little St. Paul time to rediscover his swing.  

Kirilloff is raking in St. Paul.  It's no less stressful to his wrist to play there than it is at Target Field.  Get him up ASAP.

Cinco de Maya and the Twins bats are ready to party. No reason to worry.

17 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

You are absolutely right. I believe in him also but his chasing is horrible right now.

Honestly, Miranda was a light in the late season fog last year and I'm grateful he is one of us and I think he will find it again this year. I have high hopes that we got a hitter to help us out for years to come.   

In the meantime, Bruce Springsteen and I are not going to waste our summer praying in vain for a savior to rise up from these streets. We need more than a return of Miranda to Miranda like production to get where we need to get to. Miranda can't sit here and struggle while holding a roster spot from someone that might be able to join him in our quest.      

 

 

I just don't know the answer.  There are not many AAA pitchers that will expose this weakness the way ML pitchers expose it, so I doubt AAA is the answer.  It opens a roster spot but it probably does not cure Miranda.   The frustrating thing is as Chpettit pointed out, everyone knows it's coming and he still swings at it.  It's just flat dumb.  Time for some coaching.

Larnach is just not hitting. I think he has had 4 or 5 KO in last 2 games. Give Kir a chance to play since it appears he could not do any worse than Larnach.

11 minutes ago, John Belinski said:

Larnach is just not hitting. I think he has had 4 or 5 KO in last 2 games. Give Kir a chance to play since it appears he could not do any worse than Larnach.

I want to update my posting since I went back and looked at last 2 games. Larnach has struck out his last 7 at bats. He had 4 K's one game and then 3 K's in other game.  It certainly seems he is having a hitting problem and not helping the Twins. Let's give AK a chance.

There's plenty of dead weight on the roster so getting AK up here shouldn't be an issue.  My question is where does everyone see that he is already an accomplished major league hitter?  He only has 351 major league at bats with a career BA of .251.  I hope he gets here and puts up crazy numbers.  God knows the Twins need it.  He's done well at Trie AAA in the past only to come up here and sputter along.  It seems there's more hype than substance to AK so far IMO