Twins 2023 Position Analysis: Shortstop

C4 is as important to the teams success off the field in the dugout and clubhouse, as he is on the field. Pairing him and Buxton (if healthy) instantly improves the defense and offense.

While I'm fine with banning the shift (it's a little silly IMHO, but if it increases offense while reducing the whining then whatever) but I don't care for the "infielders must have their feet on the dirt" bit. Trading bloop hits to the OF for slow rollers in the infield seems like a wash to me. Let guys stand where they want if they're on the correct side of the base.

It's really nice to not have to worry about SS in the near term. We've churned so many guys through at the spot in the last 20 years that it's great to have Correa locked in as the guy for a while.

I expect the Twins will continue to draft "shortstops" every year and keep the flow of middle infielders flowing in the system. Hopefully one or more of them will be legit options defensively if and when Correa needs to slide down the defensive spectrum (with his arm, he'll be a fine 3B if it becomes necessary). I'm interested to see if Noah Miller will hit enough to make it, because so far he seems to be a legit defender there.

One of the best in the game with at least two potential future stars.  Sure seems to me that the Twins are set for the next decade.  Where they play is what the Manager gets paid to decide.  Should be fun watching'em.

C4 is an amazing SS and an encouraging mentor and co-team leader with Buck.  The FO had a successfully productive off season, which I would rank as the best ever off season for the Twins. I understand the defensive improvements that most of the acquisitions bring, including Gallo. C4, Farmer, Vazquez, and Taylor. These defensive improvements will help the pitchers.  Now if Coach Popkins can help Gallo and others like he helped Correa last season, the Twins will have a strong hitting team. Buck, Correa, Miranda, Gallo, Polo, and hopefully Kirilloff are all capable of carrying a team offensively. Even though there were only a few additions to the pitching staff, trading for Lopez and getting Maeda back, are huge improvements. As far as the BP goes, Duran, Jax, Lopez, Duran, Theilbar, Moran and Duran appear to be solid. I look for Ryan to shine. The pitching is as good overall, from 1 to 13, as I have seen for the Twins.  It's going to be a long season, but day by day, game by game, the Twins will build a successful season in 2023.  Play ball! 

That C4's defense has degraded so much so fast is somewhat alarming.  The good news is that with his arm he can easily slot in at 3B.  If I were the Twins I would not be in any hurry to trade any of our SS prospects.

In the video example, Correa started on the dirt, then ranged onto the grass. Perfectly legal by today's rules, right? The back of the dirt is pretty far back, even now. His gun will continue to play at SS. 

I'm in favor of the shift ban where the SS & 2B stays on their side of the field. Where they play on their side should not matter. Yet IMO the shift ban will give Correa an opportunity to showcase his talents where the shift had handcuffed him.

I hope if Correa sticks at SS, it won't jeopardize our other valuable SS candidates to become trade bait. I don't consider Gordon or Martin as SS depth but Lewis & Lee; I do. SS depth is so important so I wouldn't trade any of them because they can excel at 3B & 2B (but not that's not to say we have other high valued players that we can) permitting their stock to rise . Miller is a ways away so we can cross that bridge when we come to it, not before.

I'm not worried about Correa's defense at this time. Even if he does slip a little, I'll take very good to great but not platinum level. And we all know the bat is excellent, as are all the other intangibles he brings. 

I like the limited shifts for various reasons. But I do think forcing the 2B and SS to keep their heels on the dirt ridiculous. That's not going "old school", that's over compensating where it's not necessary.

I liked the trade for Farmer when it was made, and like it just as much now, as a backup SS as well as a really nice utility player. Gordon as a rostered #3 is fine. How often would he ever need to play the spot? I suppose Solano should be considered as an "emergency" option along with Gordon.

IMO, Lewis and Lee aren't going anywhere. They are a combination of the near future at 3B/2B, and even OF in the case of Lewis. But they can also be the backup SS as early as 2024. Second half of 2023 in Lewis's case, potentially. But I like having control of Farmer through 2024.

Personally, I dismiss Martin at SS. I understand playing there as much as he has in order to use his time there to help keep him in the mix at 2B/3B, which he did a ton in college. I mean, if you can play SS at all, it only adds experience at playing the other 2 spots. But his future is in the OF, with the ability to help cover some in the INF.

But there is a TON of talent at SS that should be the envy of most all teams, even though some will be moving to other positions on a full time basis.

I don't have a ton of faith that Castro's ST hitting performance is some new and improved version. But he's talented, athletic,  switch hitter, speedy, and only 26yo. If he sees a lot of action for the Twins...perhaps any action...it means he really has developed with his new team, or a rash of injuries have decimated the team again. But he MIGHT be a late bloomer who could figure in a potential bench role in 2024.

I like that there are a handful of interesting SS options in A and rookie ball that could figure in to the future a few years from now. That might be where a potential replacement for Correa might be found.

The Twins are in a great position at SS!

Should the twins draft a SS in this June's draft, if the Twins feel he is the best available player? Or should the Twins  draft the best pitcher available? The reason I am putting this question in this set of posts is because many of us have posted here about the wealth of SS's and SS prospects which the Twins have.

1 hour ago, DocBauer said:

But I do think forcing the 2B and SS to keep their heels on the dirt ridiculous. That's not going "old school", that's over compensating where it's not necessary.

Couldn’t agree more. It’s a clown show of panic and desperation.

The logic…let’s reward a league full of players who hit 220 because of their complete and total commitment to swings optimized for power…let’s let them continue with that one tool in the toolbox approach, but artificially lift their batting averages to 230, in the name of a couple of extra baserunners 95% of whom won’t even think of attempting to run.

It’s interesting to note that all these rule changes go in this year, and what does Nick Gordon show up talking about for 2023? Thin, fast, slap-hitting Nick Gordon…does he show up taking about putting more balls in play or being more aggressive on the base baths? No. He shows up announcing to the world that he’s stronger and going to hit more home runs. These shift and base running rules are not going to change anything…in fact they’ll be counterproductive…as long as number 9 hitters are developed to, and capable of, hitting 20+ homeruns a year. They’re just not.

28 minutes ago, jkcarew said:

Couldn’t agree more. It’s a clown show of panic and desperation.

The logic…let’s reward a league full of players who hit 220 because of their complete and total commitment to swings optimized for power…let’s let them continue with that one tool in the toolbox approach, but artificially lift their batting averages to 230, in the name of a couple of extra baserunners 95% of whom won’t even think of attempting to run.

It’s interesting to note that all these rule changes go in this year, and what does Nick Gordon show up talking about for 2023? Thin, fast, slap-hitting Nick Gordon…does he show up taking about putting more balls in play or being more aggressive on the base baths? No. He shows up announcing to the world that he’s stronger and going to hit more home runs. These shift and base running rules are not going to change anything…in fact they’ll be counterproductive…as long as number 9 hitters are developed to, and capable of, hitting 20+ homeruns a year. They’re just not.

Until teams come to the conclusion that a recent Joey Gallo year is preferable to a typical year from, say Greg Gagne, we will  get more Gallo types as opposed to well-rounded players.

The eyeball test doesn't match up with the advanced metrics for Correa.  Elite defense?  Maybe not, but far better than average.

The new shift rules will tell us if he's closer to the platinum glove or to what the metrics said about last year.  Almost positive that it will be the former not the latter.

I worry MUCH more about 2B defense being exposed, especially if Polanco isn't 100% physically...