The St. Paul Saints Are the Biggest Beneficiaries of the Twins' Roster Depth

Everyone wants Wallner and Larnach back up with the Twins. Why would you want that? This team is full of strike out artists,who only want to hit homeruns. Bringing them up will only add to the same at bats we all see. Worst thing happened when they hit 307. Now their goal is to hit 308,but instead they will be lucky to keep the strike outs under 2000. Need to change the teams identity and we know that isn't going to happen. The FO seems to be able to only fix one thing at a time,so maybe next year.

We don’t have depth.  At the very least, the depth is grossly overstated.

Many of the Saints best pitchers are guys that wouldn’t be here regardless (Murphy, Sanchez, Schulfer, Lawyerson, Sadzeck De Leon have the best ERAs with over 20 IP).  Guys like Headrick, Winder, Balazovic, Dobnak, SWR, Henriquez have been bad. 

Offesnively, I’m not sure Julien is ready to be here regardless of our “depth.”  I wouldn’t say it’s “depth” blocking Wallner,  it poor roster management.  The rest of the guys producing with significant ABs are Contreras, Stevenson, Perez, Bechtold, Williams.  None of those guys would or should be here.

They’re largely being carried by guys who aren’t impacted by our “depth.”  The one exception may be Wallner.

In my book, depth means there’s too many high quality players for the number spots (or something along those lines).  We have 5 guys that have played more than 30 games with an OPS above league average (Buxton, Gallo, Jeffers, Castro, Solano).  One of those is over .800 (Jeffers).  One of those is below .750 largely as a first baseman (Solano).  League average AL OPS right now is around .720.  That’s flat out awful.  That’s the opposite of depth.

3 hours ago, David Maro said:

Everyone wants Wallner and Larnach back up with the Twins. Why would you want that? This team is full of strike out artists,who only want to hit homeruns. Bringing them up will only add to the same at bats we all see. Worst thing happened when they hit 307. Now their goal is to hit 308,but instead they will be lucky to keep the strike outs under 2000. Need to change the teams identity and we know that isn't going to happen. The FO seems to be able to only fix one thing at a time,so maybe next year.

The team is full of guys who hit home runs?  We have nobody in the top 25 in the MLB in home runs.  We have 3 in the top 100, and one is Michael Taylor.  Carlos Correa and Max Kepler sit squarely tied with Robbie Grossman and CJ Cron at 115th (along with about 40 other guys).

We are 7th overall in the MLB in home runs right now, but I feel like that’s temporary.

Here is to hoping we can see more of a regular dose of Eduardo Julien at the big league level. I believe he is a much more competent hitter than many at the big league level once he adjusts for higher level pitching.

Brooks Lee I hope is promoted soon to AAA as well. I know he is only hitting around .270 at AA, but has a high on base percentage and again like Julien has the ability to be a more complete hitter than many already at the MLB level. The sooner we bring his talent to the MLB level the better. Even if he starts slow he has the ability and natural talent to adjust. His bat reminds me a bit of Joe Mauer as he was coming through the system. I think he will hit for more power than Mauer and may not have the elite fielding Mauer brought to his position, but from a pure hitting perspective I see a special talent in this kid. 

At the big league level we have too many swinging for the fences rather than working the count in their favor and selecting pitches that can get them on base.  Those fundamentals are missing badly and without them I don’t see this team making any sort of meaningful run in the playoffs. I do think Correa will right the ship. Buxton just needs to stop swinging at everything and to start working the count and using his speed to get on base. 

Kiriloff seems to be the best and most underrated weapon the Twins have. 

Royce Lewis also will be fun to watch. He brings a Torii Hunter and Kirby Puckett level of energy to the game which the Twins need. Hopeful he also becomes a bit more selective in his pitches and utilizes his elite speed as well.  

There is some very good talent on this club, but I would not be against replacing the hitting coach. The at bats are undisciplined and missing basic fundamentals.  

Having depth at STP is a good thing and a win-win for all.  It allows the Twins to pull solid contributors up when needed while also providing the Saints with a good roster and a chance to win every day.  If fans have issues with the MLB club, they can easily become Saints fans and head over there.  I think both cities and fans are benefiting.

How can the Saints be in the top 10 for runs per game and the Twins can't score runs like last night.

Maybe we can IR  Rocco down to Saints and call up their manager.  He could not do any worse than Rocco.

52 minutes ago, Cody Christie said:

It's still boggles my mind that they aren't trying to get Julien more reps at other defensive positions besides second base.

Julien is bad at 2B and worse in the OF and 3B. 1B would be a possibility but you probably are moving Kirilloff (a very good 1B) to the OF where I think he is average. You then probably get worse at two defensive positions. Julien belongs at DH with the Twins with Buxton in CF when he comes off the IL.

2 hours ago, Cody Christie said:

I just don't see them moving Buxton to CF especially when he is coming off the IL

I don't either as he doesn't play CF when he plays 90% of the games. Then, we have to choose - guys who can hit but are bad fielders or great defense, in general.