Riverbrian

He may have got the runner at 2nd. It would have been close but there was too high a probability that he wouldn't have. It would have been close either way but if he was going to get him at 2nd... He had no time to make that decision. The runner was stealing 2B to stay out of the double play and he would have had to reposition to throw around the runner. Once the runner is past him... he knows the runner is stealing. His mindset is going to change to home... on that alone. If you are going to tell me that you expect Kyle Farmer, Willi Castro, Tommy Herr, Chase Utley, Jose Altuve and Ryne Sandberg to instinctively through experience and talent throw to second in that situation. I don't believe that for a second. The play was at the plate.

You'll find some that will argue with you on that because this type of thing is pretty subjective around these parts and Kepler has his fans on this website. I won't argue with you on the decision to bench Kepler. Lewis can certainly remain at 3B if Kepler is on the bench. Wallner RF, Larnach LF, Lewis 3B, Santana 1B and Miranda DH. It works for me. If everyone is healthy come playoff time. You have chosen Castro at 2B at the expense of Kepler. I'd probably do the same. If Correa is hurt or Buxton is hurt. Castro is no longer a 2B option in the playoffs... He is our SS or CF. Now you are choosing Julien, Lee or Martin over Kepler. This gets a little harder to digest and right now Carlos Correa can't put his spikes on. Buxton has had a set back. Injuries... are such a wild card. All this Lewis at 2B drama could all be for naught because: A. Lewis could be the guy hurt for the playoffs B. Wallner, Larnach, Santana, Miranda or Kepler... Any of those 5 could be hurt for the playoffs. If that's the case... there is no need to move Lewis anywhere because we need a 3B and this 2B drama is just pointless. This is all just getting ready for as many things that Baseball is going to possibly throw at us in the next month. Teams need to do this because getting caught flat footed come playoff time is worse than Lewis playing 2B in Tampa. 100 times worse.

I have no idea what Keirsay will be in the major leagues. I have no idea what kind of opportunity he will get to be something in the big leagues. However... I was impressed with Keirsay in CF after the triple. He got to it at full speed, briefly had the ball before running into the wall at full speed. Hitting the wall at full speed can and will jar a ball loose. I watch OF'ers lay up on catchable balls. I'll take what Keirsay did every single time.

Players get hurt... they get hurt on all 29 teams. Sometimes they get hurt in September during a stretch run... sometime they get hurt before or during the playoffs. If the Twins are not prepared for the possibility of injury... they are not prepared for the playoffs. It's OK we will forget this injury stuff and talk of log jams next off-season.

Do the Math. Think it through. The playoffs are coming soon. Here are some questions for the aghast crowd? How do you play Lewis, Miranda, Santana, Larnach, Wallner and Kepler in the same lineup? Take your time... work the puzzle. Who plays SS or CF if either Correa or Buxton is hurt for the playoffs? Correa still can't get into spikes. Buxton just suffered a set back. They are not the picture of health... Lewis hasn't been either. Assuming Castro is the answer in both cases. Who plays 2B if Castro is in SS or CF? Yes we can throw some low OPS names to play the spots but I'd like to point out that the highest OPS on the team is working the corners. Lewis, Miranda, Santana, Larnach, Wallner. So if Lewis remains at 3B because he has some concerns. Here's the final question. Between Miranda, Santana, Larnach, Wallner and Kepler. Who sits so Castro or Lee or Julien can play 2B? One last question... from the group of Lewis, Miranda, Santana, Larnach, Wallner and Kepler that are playing the corner spots. Who makes the most sense to move to a middle spot? Think it through. Don't take too long thinking about it because it's September 6th and the playoffs start in three weeks.

He didn't mess up the play at 2B the other day. The runner on first is off with the pitch. The odds of getting him at 2nd was low. If he goes for it and doesn't get it... we would all be talking about how an experienced 2nd baseman makes the throw home. If he drills the runner in the back trying to make the play at 2nd because he would have had to throw around the runner which would require additional time to get in position to throw around the runner. We would be talking about how an experienced 2B would have thrown home. The runner was off with the pitch. He was stealing second base to stay out of the double play. HOME WAS THE RIGHT PLAY!!! The throw home was nearly perfect for tag application. The runner is out at home if Vazquez handles the nearly perfect throw.

I just want to take a moment and remind everyone that the people on this website will be voting on November 6 and good luck to the rest of us. Hopefully, a small minority of us noticed that this thing was posted Tuesday. Hopefully a small minority of us noticed that this thing quotes Monday. Hopefully a small minority of us noticed that he has since played 2B on Wednesday. Not a GOOD LOOK? So he gets punched in the mouth for speaking his opinion on Monday. Plays 2B anyway on Wednesday and it's not a GOOD LOOK? Which part is not a good look... the being honest part or the actually doing something that he had reservations doing part? We are really really screwed as a society because the majority of us will read this and tell others that Royce Lewis is refusing.

This accidentilly got turned into a individual player discussion but it's really a manager philosphy team discussion if I'm not wrong. Judge has played DH 37, RF 7 and LF 5. Grisham has played CF 64 times... 49 starts. Jazz Chisolm was acquired and moved to 3B immediately by the Yankees. Jazz had never played 3B in his professional career prior to his acquisition. 25 Starts at 3B and 1 start in CF for the Yanks. Verdugo has played all 3 OF positions and Soto has seen some time in LF. Rizzo, Torres and Volpe have only played 1B, 2B and SS so there is that. The Dodgers. Ohtani has been the DH pretty much every day... But, they invented moving players around especially in the infield. Betts, Taylor, Kike and Rojas have been all over the infield and outfield. The Royals are pretty static but they do move Perez between C, 1B and DH to get his bat in the lineup and Mikael Garcia plugs into 2B,3B and he plays SS on the rare Witt day off. Player movement is not a unique thing.

Here's mine Castro CF Lewis 2B Wallner RF Santana 1B Miranda 3B Larnach LF Lee SS Jeffers C Julien DH Extras Vazquez Keirsay Helman Farmer Martin However, I certainly wouldn't ever lock in a batting order. There is no reason to do so. Batters can hit anywhere in the order and it shouldn't disrupt anything and I'm not afraid of shifting players around so I'm only following OP protocol. However, I like the left handers spaced out evenly so any thought of bringing in a left hander to face our left hander will be followed with two guys in the right handed batters box. I especially like Santana and Lee following a lefty hitter because Santana and Lee are both better against the lefty pitcher. I'm choosing to DH Julien today because Lewis needs some 2B work because I want Lewis, Santana, Miranda, Larnach and Wallner in the playoff lineup. If everyone is healthy... because I would like to see Lewis, Santana, Miranda, Larnach and Wallner in the playoff lineup. Kepler in RF would force Lewis to 2B because we are out of spots with Larnach or Wallner taking the DH Spot. Keeping Lewis at 3B would force either Miranda, Santana, Larnach, Wallner or Kepler out of the lineup because we would be out of spots. Castro at 2B will force Lewis to 3B which of course dominos to the same above scenario of Miranda, Santana, Larnach, Wallner or Kepler out of the lineup. I go back and forth on Kepler. He certainly isn't a slam dunk yes in the lineup. Kepler out will make the return of Lewis to 3B sensible.

Thanks I assume 8 was chosen by the OP because the catcher's position is not debateable. You will still need to fit a DH into the lineup.

Thanks I'm not being picky. LOL But, the post is locking in Positions and Batting Order.

As things stand since the post seems to be poised in the context of now. However... I'd be curious who the 8 are if everyone is healthy as well. The post is saying 8 so platooning is no longer an option.

I'm not sure that I am smugly dismissing the idea. I know that I believe that Wallner should be every day so I'd say that I am not inclined to defend nor throw Rocco under the bus. But, before I do any of these things above. I think it's fair to get a clarification on who the best 8 position players that should be the same lineup and the same batting order. The identification of those 8 players is pretty key to the discussion.

Out of curiosity. Who are the best 8 position players?

Horrible start for him. Has rebounded nicely. 159 PA's 132 PA's vs RHP 27 PA's vs LHP .294 BA .304 BA vs RHP .250 BA vs LHP 9 HR 1 per 17.6 PA's 8 HR vs RHP 1 per 16.5 PA's 1 HR vs LHP 1 Per 27 PA's .396 OBP .409 OBP vs RHP .333 OBP vs LHP .603 SLG .634 SLG vs RHP .458 SLG vs LHP .999 OPS 1.043 OPS vs RHP .792 OPS vs LHP 33.3 K% 31.8 K% vs RHP 40.7 K% vs LHP 44.6 Hard Hit% 42.9 Hard Hit% vs RHP 53.8 Hard HIt% vs LHP .419 BABIP .419 BABIP vs RHP .417 BABIP vs LHP After two hits against a left hander last night... In his limited small sample size PA's against LHP (which makes the stat very volatile and prone to swings positive or negative) his OPS is currently better than the following hitters that stand in the right handed batters box. Manual Margot Brooks Lee Kyle Farmer Willi Castro Austin Martin Jose Miranda Christian Vazquez Play the guy every day!!! Get him continued looks at lefty pitching. We have less than a month to get him ready for the playoffs. Wallner will be important in the playoffs.

Watch it again. The Runner was off with the pitch... The runner had passed in front of Royce before Lewis had fielded the ball. By the time Royce gets to his feet and in throwing position the runner is almost at 2nd base. Ryne Sandberg makes the throw home based on the runner passing in front of him alone. The throw home itself... it wasn't that bad. It may have short hopped skipped but it was nearly perfect for a tag with minimal effort. Right where you want the ball. If I'm Vazquez... I'm telling Royce... My Bad. There was so much crap that happened that inning. A lot of runs and it wasn't like they were hitting rockets off of Louie. Castro pulling up, Varland wild pickoff attempt, The Lee bobble, a bunt single to exploit the shift. The ball getting past Vazquez. We had plenty of chances to avoid 8 getting hung up on board.

I don't do that thing with the backup QB. I know many do but I don't. Although Brock Purdy does requires some explanation and I don't care what sport... nor do I care what profession or industry that we all work in. They all have stories of better talent not getting the chance to be better talent. I do do it in baseball and I have no problem doing it in baseball while simultaneously recognizing from the bottom of my heart that the front offices are doing this for a living and have access to more information than I have. The job they do is hard and they are up against very talented front offices that also do this for a living. Nobody is doing this in spare time like I do. No matter what I'm saying... I recognize this... I'm not calling for their heads. But... I believe I have legitimate points worth consideration. Every front office makes mistakes... it's not the mistakes they make...they all make them... it's the sticking with the mistake and not moving off the mistake. I don't blame them for signing Gallo... I blame them for staying with Gallo. I don't blame them for losing Nick Anderson but I do blame them for not giving him a chance. Just look at the opening day roster and all of their mistakes are right there for all to see. They thought Julien was the 2B. They thought Castro was a fill in piece... They thought Farmer was worth 6 million. If they can be wrong on Julien this year... they can be wrong on Severino or Kiersay this year. Why was Miranda not on the opening day roster? These are mistakes that all front offices make. I harbor no thought that the front office is perfect. Nor should you. Because all 30 teams make large scale mistakes like this frequently. I never started thinking that I knew more but I certainly stopped thinking that they were beyond reproach. I understand what the front office is doing with the heavy platooning they are doing. I understand that they have data that probably supports it. I understand the splits historical and small sample and I do believe that left handers clearly struggle against left handers in comparison to the opposite hand. I also know that the Twins do it to a degree much more than the other 29 clubs. However... I believe it is a fundamental mistake to do what they are doing to the extreme that they do. I hope they correct it without throwing the baby out with the bathwater. This all started because I believe that Vazquez had to pinch hit for Larnach. I don't question the move... they had no choice... I question putting yourself into the position of having to do it. Because they have starved Larnach from facing lefty's for two years now. September with the game on the line is not the time to say... OK Trevor... need you now... sorry we didn't get you better prepared for this moment. I question putting yourself in the position of having to pinch hit a .568 OPS against left handers with the game on the line because you have starved the alternative. I question the early pinch hitting that leads to no other alternative in the final innings. I question being forced to pinch hit .568 OPS guy who will have to play 3B in the 10th inning if he is successful tying the game to force a tenth inning. Vazquez at 3B while Lewis moves to the OF in the 10th was the only possible defensive alignment in the 10th if Vazquez would have ripped a single in that pinch hit. I question it being all you have left because it is simply more important to protect left handed hitters from left handed pitchers and protecting them early in the game, therefore burning your bench early. I question what happens when Margot and Farmer get hurt on the last day of the season and are not eligible for the playoffs. They are the right handed cover. Who plays against left handers now? Wallner all of a sudden? I question how Wallner, Julien, Larnach or Kirilloff break free of the shackles to carve out a career without a Margot or Helman attached to them. I question how Jenkins will be handled when they completely absolutely keep lefties away from lefties and do so more so than all the other 29 teams. I question how a team that doesn't play in the free agent market can develop talent with these shackles applied because if you don't play in the free agent market... developing talent is critically necessary. I really really really question the throwing the shackles on a young player before they even get started and still developing. I really don't want them dipped in cement this way... especially when they make mistakes as frequently as they make them. I want the players to help them make the decisions with actual performance. I question if you are gaining anything from Margot and Farmer if you have to give it right back because they are are facing more right handers than left handers. I question the wasting of roster spots on short siders when injuries practically guarantee that you will need those short siders to do something they are not able to do. I question what the difference is when Margot has to face a righty compared to Wallner facing a lefty. Margot is facing more righties by a large margin. I understand why they are doing it. I question if they should be doing it. I think they got the data right... but the application is wrong.

Nope... She had a giant hairball that occurred from too much licking of her cat.

I literally point to middle ground in a post and you quote it with this response. It's pretty disappointing. Are you under the impression that I don't understand OBP. The OBP of Correa is .377 that means failure to reach base is .643. I can literally type... the very first sentence that I type in this thread. "There is no gaurentee of performance no matter what move is made". You even quoted that post. And you throw "Can't cover your eyes when they (LH bats) do nothing at the plate" at me. If you think that is what I'm doing or capable of... Don't respond to my posts. You won't be worth my time.

OK But if you are going to sit Morneau and Thome so Farmer can play... I need you to promise me that you will never play Farmer against a right handed pitcher with his .649 career OPS against them.

My suspicion is that if you asked Rocco why he platoons the way he does... His honest response would be that they are not good enough. My response to Rocco would be: They will never be good enough and you are making sure of that by decree. And the time will come that you are going to need them to be what you say they can't be because the roster only supports 13 position players and you are pinch hitting for players in the 4th inning. I don't believe for a second that Wallner can OPS 1,000 plus against right handers but his OPS against left handers will be locked at .516 in the basement with no chance of improvement. He only gets locked in the basement when Rocco locks him in the basement which is what he does. I know 24 PA's is a small sample size so I don't quote the following numbers as proof of anything because you and I both know the volatility of small samples. However his current OPS against lefties is .720 in those 24 PA's. That is higher than the following players who stand in the right side batters box. Lee Castro Farmer Martin Miranda Vazquez That's 6 players out of 13 spots. Yet... it's the crime of being left handed that dictates the lineup choices. The other thing is this: All teams will platoon... the platoon split is real. However only the Giants platoon as heavily as the Twins do and they are letting Yaz swing against lefties now with his .743 OPS against them and .754 against the RHP.

My argument is against the extreme response of just taking the lefties out every single time. I wouldn't want to go extreme in the other direction either. Most things in life have a middle ground that gets overlooked in a nuanced discussion. But if those are my only two choices. I'll take Jacque Jones and his .628 OPS against 25% of the pitchers while you staff the team for the 75% of the right handers.

Larnach has gone from 90 AB's against lefties to 51 to 23 to 17 so far in his 4 year existence in the majors. He has spent his 4 year existence of bouncing between the majors, AAA and the IL because he hasn't grabbed a full time job with both hands. The platoon split is real... I don't argue this... but Larnach hasn't been able to grab a full time job with both hands to this point. This year he has more AB's in the majors than any other year.

In my opinion... it can't be done. Depth is necessary because of injuries. In order to have decent depth not just names to fill out a roster that you hope you don't have to play.... you must have flexibility because you have 3 extra players for 8 positions not counting the catcher position. Talented players are not going to sit waiting for injury to play. Talented players shouldn't have to sit for prolonged periods of time because they are talented. Rostering Non-Talented to fill out a roster so the same 9 play every day results in needing those non-talented players to play because of injuries. Flexibility is a necessary product produced by actual depth. Actual depth is a necessary product of injuries and unexpected poor performance.