Ranking the 5 Worst Minnesota Twins Defenders in 2024

The fan in me appreciates the work of those who post articles on Twins Daily. However, a negative look at  players probably is misplaced. Perhaps an analysis and look at why the Twins are not very good at playing in the field would be more useful than just using unreliable, at best, defensive statistics to lowlight the efforts of individual players. The team has been constructed with players using a pretty specific eye towards talents judged most important by the people who put this squad together. Nobody should be too surprised by how the Twins field the ball given the design of the roster. The physical mistakes have been mostly average to this point in the season. I will grant that the mental gaffes are troublesome. I wonder if some players are taking their unfortunate at bats into the field.

8 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

The fan in me appreciates the work of those who post articles on Twins Daily. However, a negative look at  players probably is misplaced. Perhaps an analysis and look at why the Twins are not very good at playing in the field would be more useful than just using unreliable, at best, defensive statistics to lowlight the efforts of individual players.

I agree with that comment. In any case, I think it's still much too early in the season to start ranking the team's worst fielders. I think tony&rodney's suggestion might make for a more interesting article and analysis. 

I'm all for having the best defense & most athletic players on the field. Here you've stated 2 of our more athletic players as the worst defensive players. The injuries of Lewis, Correa & Buxton have really taxed our defense over the last few weeks. Where we had to depend on bench player Castro & rookie  Martin who have played very little OF, way too much. They are not players that are ready to be looked upon as being key full-time players at key positions at this time. The fact that they were, shows the lapse of their defense. They are normally very good defensive players & majority of others players who would have been put in their situation would have been lot worse.  

We have been hurting all over the field with the absence of Correa, Buxton & Lewis whether the stats show it or not. Miranda & Kiriloff lack slightly defensive ability & should be playing 1B. Playing 3B & OF respectively they are stretched especially due to their past arm problems. I think it's unfair to rate part-time players or out-of-position players forced to play at full-time capacity over an extended time. Margot, there is no excuse for him.

I don't even know where to begin on this one. It's a long list. 

Kiriloff and Julien need a reset at AAA. Bring up Keirsey Jr, and another infielder. Too bad Lee isn't healthy yet

Miranda, Kirilloff, Martin are young. They need playing time at 1 position to settle in and get comfortable there. Bouncing them around between different positions isn't helping. Corey Koskie had a brick for a glove when he started playing 3rd for the Twins but was given the chance to get better with "regular" playing time at that position. He didn't have to play another position while doing so and got very respectable with his glove. Put the players where they belong, play them everyday so they get comfortable and quit the musical chairs positioning of players in the field. Margot was a long-shot to be worth anything and was brought in to be a backup. Utility players like Castro are what they are for a reason. They don't belong in the lineup almost daily just because they can bat left-handed or right-handed against an opposite throwing pitcher. 

Why is it these young players are good at every level as they progress through the minors but when they get into Rocco's system of platoon and play somewhere else different today from last time you played 3 days ago that they struggle? It's not hard to see why. 

8 minutes ago, LambchoP said:

Kiriloff and Julien need a reset at AAA. Bring up Keirsey Jr, and another infielder. Too bad Lee isn't healthy yet

I'm starting to think that Kirilloff just isn't that great. He's a bat only player without that much bat. Over 800 PA in the majors and a WAR of 0.2. More in common with Scott Stahoviak than Kent Hrbek.

It would also help the teams offense if Kepler didn't have to sit 3 days a week just because he's a lefty. Starting Margot or Vazquez over better players just because Roccos obsessed with platoon advantage sucks. It obviously doesn't work, just put your hottest hitters out there regardless of the opposing pitcher. Hate to say it but Vasquez, Margot and Farmer would be DFAd by now on a competitive team.

My sense tells me that Baldelli decides on the in game moves/substitutions but not the opening lineup. Seems crazy but it is 2024.

11 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

My sense tells me that Baldelli decides on the in game moves/substitutions but not the opening lineup. Seems crazy but it is 2024.

This. The FO generates a ton of analytics that says this is the best lineup what the opposing pitcher will do etc. They want Rocco to put that info in play. 

2 hours ago, Karbo said:

Wow, hitting is bad, fielding is bad, even the pitching has been bad lately. Looks a lot like a total system failure!

"But other than that Mrs. Lincoln, did you enjoy the play"?  (I agree with your assessment)

2 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

The fan in me appreciates the work of those who post articles on Twins Daily. However, a negative look at  players probably is misplaced. Perhaps an analysis and look at why the Twins are not very good at playing in the field would be more useful than just using unreliable, at best, defensive statistics to lowlight the efforts of individual players. The team has been constructed with players using a pretty specific eye towards talents judged most important by the people who put this squad together. Nobody should be too surprised by how the Twins field the ball given the design of the roster. The physical mistakes have been mostly average to this point in the season. I will grant that the mental gaffes are troublesome. I wonder if some players are taking their unfortunate at bats into the field.

I respectfully disagree. If the article is accurate then it’s just describing the reality of the situation. In this case I believe it is accurate. I share your skepticism about defensive metrics but even the old eye test tells you that this is not a good defensive club. 

Of the list the only one I really have sympathy for is Castro. He has been asked to play extensively at the two most difficult spots on the field. The other guys really aren’t doing well playing in spot usually on the corners. 
I also think Martin was mishandled in the minors. He played a million innings at SS when everyone knew he wasn’t going to play there. Now he is trying to be an outfielder. 

Manuel Margot has been the most disappointing pickup in my memory. They sold him to us as a defense first substitute for those inevitable days Buxton wouldn't be able to play the field. Maybe they were hoodwinked and truly believed this, but there's really nothing he can do to earn his spot on the roster in my mind. 

I sense a growing frustration from Twins fans with the current FO as well as the manager.  The frustrations with our ownership have been well chronicled.  It's well past time for the Margot failure to be admitted to and moved on from.  Kiersey would be an excellent addition as a LH bat to give Buxton a day off to DH as well as provide speed off the bench late in games.  Emmanuel Rodriguez continues to rake in AA.  

It should only be a matter of time before Royce Lewis makes it back.  If Julien keeps taking called third strikes it may only be a matter of time before Brooks Lee gets a chance and Julien goes to St. Paul to find his stroke and his eye.  I am impressed with the defensive improvement of Julien, but he is really disappointing at the plate thus far.

Alex Kirilloff confounds me.  The swing looks great, but you just can't keep fouling pitches off that you should be hammering.  I'm starting to wonder if I was far too optimistic with him.  Miranda is swinging better this year, but he's a future DH, which means he really doesn't have a future with the Twins.  I had all but given up on Larnach and he looks like a different hitter than the last two years so far.  Just play Kepler.  He's been a regular in the past, stop wasting AB's with Margot. 

How the Twins can win 12 in a row and 17 of 21 and then go on a (at this point) 7 game losing streak in which they are barely competitive is a mystery wrapped in an enigma.  After a frugal off season in which the paltry moves the Twins made are starting to look, well, paltry, I think attendance is going to take a big hit this year.  And with just a one-year deal with Balley, what will be the Twins media status and revenue outlook for 2025??   

51 minutes ago, LambchoP said:

It would also help the teams offense if Kepler didn't have to sit 3 days a week just because he's a lefty. Starting Margot or Vazquez over better players just because Roccos obsessed with platoon advantage sucks. It obviously doesn't work, just put your hottest hitters out there regardless of the opposing pitcher. Hate to say it but Vasquez, Margot and Farmer would be DFAd by now on a competitive team.

Which better players? Julien is struggling of late. Wallner and Kiriloff have been awful and bad (respectively). Larnach hasn't had a hit in 10 days. They don't have a catcher to replace Vazquez (Camargo is injured) and Jeffers is playing nearly every day. There is one player in AAA who looks interesting (Keirsey) but that's more for his glove than for his bat.

You pick on Margot but he's 4-8 with a walk over his past 3 games played. Farmer is 3-9 with two doubles and 4 RBI over the same stretch. They're losing this past week but it isn't Farmer or Margot's fault.

1 hour ago, Linus said:

the old eye test tells you that this is not a good defensive club. 

The Twins are not a good defensive team, but part of the problem is that defense is not an important consideration in the viewpoint of those guys who put together the roster. The Twins are doing, more or less, what could be expected in the field and thus it doesn't make sense to believe these players can be something they just are not ... good defenders. The mental mistakes and poor at bats are a different story.

1 minute ago, tony&rodney said:

The Twins are not a good defensive team, but part of the problem is that defense is not an important consideration in the viewpoint of those guys who put together the roster. The Twins are doing, more or less, what could be expected in the field and thus it doesn't make sense to believe these players can be something they just are not ... good defenders. The mental mistakes and poor at bats are a different story.

Complete agreement. Good fielding ability is not prioritized even in their drafting philosophy. So you get what you get. 

Castro is overworked and has been forced to play too much in the most important and his worst positions of CF and SS. Most thought Margot would be the backup CF and Farmer would be the backup SS. This has made Castro look bad as he is stretched in those positions (though he is capable). Worse, Margot is terrible even playing mostly the corner OF spots. 

Forget the lefty/ righty bs for a while.  For example play Kepler regularly.  I realize he may be gone at the end of the season but you need to play your better players more regular.  I realize we are "only" 50 games or so into the season but it's a mediocre team run by a mediocre FO and managed by a less than mediocre manager.  It is whaf it is.  That is a very frustrating team for fans to follow and sink your teeth into.  Notice I didn't say watch as that has been near impossible for many of us these past few years.  That's a different story for another time.

2 hours ago, TopGunn#22 said:

I sense a growing frustration from Twins fans with the current FO as well as the manager.  The frustrations with our ownership have been well chronicled.  It's well past time for the Margot failure to be admitted to and moved on from.  Kiersey would be an excellent addition as a LH bat to give Buxton a day off to DH as well as provide speed off the bench late in games.  Emmanuel Rodriguez continues to rake in AA.  

It should only be a matter of time before Royce Lewis makes it back.  If Julien keeps taking called third strikes it may only be a matter of time before Brooks Lee gets a chance and Julien goes to St. Paul to find his stroke and his eye.  I am impressed with the defensive improvement of Julien, but he is really disappointing at the plate thus far.

Alex Kirilloff confounds me.  The swing looks great, but you just can't keep fouling pitches off that you should be hammering.  I'm starting to wonder if I was far too optimistic with him.  Miranda is swinging better this year, but he's a future DH, which means he really doesn't have a future with the Twins.  I had all but given up on Larnach and he looks like a different hitter than the last two years so far.  Just play Kepler.  He's been a regular in the past, stop wasting AB's with Margot. 

How the Twins can win 12 in a row and 17 of 21 and then go on a (at this point) 7 game losing streak in which they are barely competitive is a mystery wrapped in an enigma.  After a frugal off season in which the paltry moves the Twins made are starting to look, well, paltry, I think attendance is going to take a big hit this year.  And with just a one-year deal with Balley, what will be the Twins media status and revenue outlook for 2025??   

We don't need to see Lee in 2024.   I don't know enough on Kiersey to provide input.   Miranda/Martin/Wallner need to part of a package to spring life to the team.   Just now sure what we would get.   And you can add Kepler to that list to upgrade our return.  I mean if Rocco is using his only against RH pitchers, he is a waste of an asset

1 hour ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

Maybe one day made a huge difference, but where are you seeing that either Farmer or Margot is hitting?

Baseball Reference. The game logs are on the main player page and the splits are available there as well.

Outside of Royce Lewis there is no obvious savior who will help this team start hitting again. They can mix and match below average platoon players as much as they want but that won't make them good.

27 minutes ago, FlyingFinn said:

Castro is overworked and has been forced to play too much in the most important and his worst positions of CF and SS. 

I agree with this. If Castro was a plus defender at CF or SS he'd be the starter there for some team.

2 hours ago, DJL44 said:

Which better players? Julien is struggling of late. Wallner and Kiriloff have been awful and bad (respectively). Larnach hasn't had a hit in 10 days. They don't have a catcher to replace Vazquez (Camargo is injured) and Jeffers is playing nearly every day. There is one player in AAA who looks interesting (Keirsey) but that's more for his glove than for his bat.

You pick on Margot but he's 4-8 with a walk over his past 3 games played. Farmer is 3-9 with two doubles and 4 RBI over the same stretch. They're losing this past week but it isn't Farmer or Margot's fault.

Stats. But are you watching?  Margot 4-8 last 3 games. Weak contact, finding holes. Farmer has hit the ball pretty well. These guys couldn't have gone much lower. Just when it seems Santana might be turning the corner he reverts back. Watch the swings. Vasquez. I don't care if his defense is great and its not. It's a hole. Larnach had a bad game vs Yanks knucklecurve arm. So did the whole team. He's been scorching a lot of balls that aren't falling in your 10 game scenario. Castro has over 1000 OPS vs lefties yet his avg with RISP is like .150. Buxton. All he does is pull everything.  Till he opens up he'll smoke a ball here and there. There's a guy I just don't get. Julien needs to stop acting like Julia. Miranda and Correa have been OK. Jeffers has cooled off. The only consistent hitter has been Kepler. But only after he started 1-20. Didn't mention Kirilloff. But I think you get the jist.