What’s Happening with the Twins Outfielders That Have Left Since 2020?

Title of this thread should be why I hate Kepler.

19 minutes ago, DocBauer said:

Refsnyder as a reserve would be nice to have around. He was solid when with us, but sure wasn't great.

Out if everyone else listed, Wade is the only one who's been anything close to consistent and the one guy from the whole bunch I'd like to still have.

That doesn't mean I want to keep Kepler. I'm just saying it's a pretty weak competition.

I can't think of anyone in any sport, or any occupation, performing below average for 3 straight years and declining further each year, but still keeping their job. Especially when there are younger, less expensive candidates with actual upside waiting in the wings.

Wishful thinking that the Twins rookies/quasi-rookies have shown to be just that.

Miranda and Wallner are a couple of Lurches in fielding skills, while none of the gents up from AAA have shown to be more than at best barely average fielders.

Solano, Taylor and Castro have been far more important than any from Twins AAA.

No need to look at who is gone, look at who is here.... Wallner is available and probably a much better option than Kepler but the Twins won't make the move that is so glaringly obvious. This FO is so narrow minded that they need to go down with the ship and yes that ship is sinking.

Those players are very fortunate to get out of Minnesota before Rocco's philosophy of "strike out at all cost" set in. They've learned plate discipline, the strike zone, but most importantly, making contact with the bat. Go Rocco! Seriously, go. Just leave.

1 hour ago, Karbo said:

IMO it may show us that the Twins approach to hitting (and acquiring hitters) is flawed. When you see the other players seem to at least marginally improve, it tells me our coaches are flawed teaching the players a flawed system.

I think you may be on to something there, look at their minor league system too. Emmanuel Rodriguez .217 (has moved that up a bit lately), Jose Salas .167, Noah Miller .205, Yasser Mercedes .167, Bryan Acuna .194, Misael Urbina .178, Rafael Cruz .180, Ariel Castro .119. I realize some are young, some are small sample size, but that's 8 of the 18 hitters on MLB's top 30 prospect list. Batting average may not be everything, but I believe they've overcompensated because the percentage chance of someone getting a hit does matter in many situations. How many times have they had the bases loaded where just a single could have possibly scored 2 and changed the game, yet they're swinging for the fences? Rough count the Twins have scored 2 runs or less in 27 of 74 games this season, that's crazy. 

1 hour ago, sftwinsfan said:

I think you may be on to something there, look at their minor league system too. Emmanuel Rodriguez .217 (has moved that up a bit lately), Jose Salas .167, Noah Miller .205, Yasser Mercedes .167, Bryan Acuna .194, Misael Urbina .178, Rafael Cruz .180, Ariel Castro .119. I realize some are young, some are small sample size, but that's 8 of the 18 hitters on MLB's top 30 prospect list. Batting average may not be everything, but I believe they've overcompensated because the percentage chance of someone getting a hit does matter in many situations. How many times have they had the bases loaded where just a single could have possibly scored 2 and changed the game, yet they're swinging for the fences? Rough count the Twins have scored 2 runs or less in 27 of 74 games this season, that's crazy. 

I just hope Lee keeps listening to his dad……

This says more about the Twin’s ability to help prospects and manage MLB players than it does about these individuals. 

I agree they all had better hitting stretches than Kepler, and I am not a big Kepler fan, but if you look just a slightly better bats over Kepler, you ignore the other half the game, that of defense.  Kepler is a very good defender, and ones you listed are all worse than Kepler and some by far much worse on defense.  I know many like to look at the offense, because you can quantify it easy, compared to defense, but defense should not be overlooked. 

After Kepler's 2019 I highly doubt any team would have held onto any of these over him. They're either platoon or depth outfielders.

Rooker had a great month and a half. Now looks a lot like the guy who was traded, released and a free agent this offseason. Put Kepler in Atlanta's line up and I'd be shocked if his number didn't improve. Cave..no comment..Wade's a platoon 1b, as if we don't have enough of that going on already. Refsnyder, ok he'd be a nice 4th outfielder to have.

22 hours ago, DocBauer said:

I can't think of anyone in any sport, or any occupation, performing below average for 3 straight years and declining further each year, but still keeping their job. Especially when there are younger, less expensive candidates with actual upside waiting in the wings.

Government employees would disagree with you on that, especially the good ones.

Surprised there was no mention of Rosario getting eye surgery in the past offseason. It hasn't seemed to help with that strike-zone judgement, but it has helped him square up the baseball again on a more regular basis. 

22 hours ago, chpettit19 said:

I'm with @DocBauer on this one. That is not an impressive list. Which goes to show how terrible Kepler has been, and how mind blowing it is that he's still on this team.

Nobody could honestly say they'd be happy to have Cave around. Cave over Kepler? What's the point? Neither are worthy of the job.

Refsnyder would be a better fit as a right handed utility guy on this roster. But, again, is that really some saving grace for this team?

The Rooker trade has looked bad for 1 month. It was an otherworldly month, but he's back down on earth, and back to being the Brent Rooker he's been since he was a Twin. There's a reason 2 other teams, including the offense starved Royals, waived him last year. I don't miss Brent Rooker 1 bit. He'll be 29 before the end of this season, too. No loss there.

Eddie Rosario was fun, and I enjoyed his ability to make contact with pitches he had no business hitting, and how clutch he was (or at least it felt like he was clutch). He was unplayable in Cleveland. Barely playable in Atlanta before destroying everyone in his path in the playoffs. Back to being bad in Atlanta. And is now back to being pretty good. I'd certainly take him over Kepler, but he's not a difference maker for this team, either.

Wade for Shaun Anderson has not turned out well. He was a heavy platoon guy his first year out there, and was really good against righties. He was flat out bad last year. But seems to have had some things really click this year. He'd be really nice to have back for sure.

Wade, Refsnyder, Eddie, Kepler, Cave, Rooker would be my order on these guys. Wade being the only one I'd really want. Refsnyder just being a better roster fit as a righty bat. And Eddie just being a slightly better all around player who was more fun to watch.

To be fair to Rosario, he had to have eye surgery last year. Hard to hit a ball when you can't see it clearly.

Misleading headline, as this is really all about Kepler, isn't it?