stringer bell

I've spent a fair amount of time looking at ratings provided by The Fielding Bible. The site is free and both teams and individuals can't be monitored. Rankings move around--the Twins at one point were ranked in the low 20s overall and only a negative six runs about three weeks ago. Currently, they are next to last with a ledger is -25 defensive runs saved, ahead only of the Phillies. The site ranks by position and the Twins are currently last at two positions--shortstop -14 runs and pitchers -9 runs. That accounts for all but two of their -25 runs differential. Brooks Lee had -7 DRS in 45 games, while the combination of Arcia, Kreidler, and particularly Gray have accounted for the other seven runs. Gray is -5 in only 114 innings, so I would say that he is part of the problem. That the pitchers are -9 as a group is somewhat of a surprise and maybe is something to criticize the coaching staff about. The Twins were brutal last year in pitching defense and it seems they are even worse this year. Other defensive soft spots are second base and right field. Luke Keaschall has been the primary second baseman and his defensive runs saved number has sunk to -6. Matt Wallner and his -8 DRS was sent to the minors. Maybe Keaschall needs a reset in St. Paul as well, if not to improve his second base defense, maybe to work on a new position. There aren't a lot of bright spots among the players who have suited up for the Twins this year, but there are a couple. Austin Martin is ranked highly at either corner outfield spot. He is +2 DRS in left field and +4 DRS in right field. In a small sample, he's still well below average in center, but overall he's the Twins top defender at +5 defensive runs saved. Kody Clemens is among the top defenders at first base (+4 DRS) and is okay at second base and in the outfield. Surprisingly Josh Bell comes in at +1 in limited play at first base. There has been much discussion about the defense of Royce Lewis and also Brooks Lee. In 30 games, Lewis was -1 at third base and in his return has been neither plus or minus at first and second base. As noted, Lee was the worst defensive shortstop as measured by DRS and he's been -1 in his 20 games at third base. I will note that Lee had three quick errors in his first week at third and has stabilized since then. 20 games is still a really small sample size. Improving the soft spots is the way out of defensive struggles. As I indicated earlier, I think the coaching staff needs to work on pitcher fielding in a different or more focused way. The Twins appear to have repaired the soft spot in right field by changing personnel and it is possible the same thing will be done in the infield. This is one more chip in the pile to boost the promotion of Kaelen Culpepper. He could hardly be worse defensively than the guys who have stood between the second and third baseman and he might be substantially better. To be an average defensive team so far this year, the Twins would have needed only average defense from their pitchers and shortstops. If they add an above average defensive shortstop, team defense would rank as one of their lesser problems. That's the way I see this particular issue. I would hope that others weigh in with their opinions.

I’d say the ssmple size is pretty small at second base and he is not a gaping hole at third base.

I'm not convinced that either Brooks Lee or Royce Lewis has proven they should be everyday players. Lee's line this year is certainly improved, but he's got a 94 OPS+ at a position that carries a lot of really good hitters. Lee and Lewis are both -1 in Defensive Runs Saved with Lewis having still logged considerably more innings. That said, it looks like the for the time being Brooks will be their third baseman. If that is the case, Lewis will have to play elsewhere and he's giving both first and second base a go and so far he looks all right and the bat is certainly better than when he was sent down. Five games is a really small sample size, but he is striking out less, hitting the ball harder and is more selective. I still think he should be a third baseman, but if he hits well enough at first base or fields well enough at second base, that is fine.

A few days ago, I thought sending Keaschall down would not happen and that it was not in the player's best interest. If the Twins are going to play Royce Lewis every day at first or second base, then they should send Keaschall down and probably have him work on playing another position. I've thought that with his range, he could be adequate at second, but right nowit looks like he's fielding grenades. Maybe a reset can fix that, maybe not. Also, his power has vanished. I wasn't expecting 40 doubles and 30 bombs, but he would project to low 20s doubles and single digit homers.

Well, if the Twins need to make roster space, they can move Sands to the 60-day list. He's been out since April.

It appears that the Twins are trying to shoehorn Lewis into the lineup every day and there isn't room for Clemens, Keaschall and Lewis unless Lewis is playing third base or one of those guys is in the outfield.

A bit off topic maybe, but I just saw the announcement of the previously canceled Royce Lewis Jersey Day. It is scheduled for June 28th. I hope for the Twins' sake, Royce is still in the majors and on the active roster for that game.

I said on another thread that all three have made at least a weak case to stay in the majors. Gray has some big hits, including two grand slams, although his hitting numbers are trending down and he has an unacceptable strikeout rate (30.7%). If he's going to be a utility guy, he has to be a better shortstop, otherwise Kody Clemens is the superior option at first and second and he also hits lefty. Arcia has gotten his share of hits so far, but he's also stretched at shortstop at this stage of his career. He's almost 32 and I don't think there's really much tread left on the tire. Kreidler can't be expected to hit anywhere near league average. He's hit some long balls and a few other extra base hits to make his OPS look pretty good, but it is almost certain that won't last. He's the best fielder of the bunch and is a pretty accomplished outfielder as well as playing the infield spots. Given the composition and fielding ability of the current Twins infield, I would keep the best defender and that is Kreidler. With each tough day Luke Keaschall has, the probability of him going back to the minors increases and then ther could be room for a second utility guy.

Yes to both. Kreidler was already optioned this year and Gray has one option remaining.

I really like that Matthews gets better as the game goes along. Pitching the sixth and seventh a lot doesn’t get reflected in overall stats, but saving the BP really helps the team. (Now that I’ve written this, watch Zebby have a short start).

Well, Zebby kept his first inning ERA at 9.00.

I posted about ten days ago that I thought a death spiral was near. I'm seeing the same thing now. The starting pitching is struggling and no other component of the Twins team is major league average. The sorting-out process for the bullpen is happening. Right now, I wonder how much longer the Twins will keep Taylor Rogers. He fools 'em once in a while, but he doesn't have major league stuff anymore. It seems to me that Banda will outlast him and stay a Twin at least until the trade deadline. There also is at least one too many utility players that can play shortstop. It would appear to me that from the standpoint of the major league team, the time is right to promote Kaelen Culpepper. Tristan Gray isn't really a shortstop, Ryan Kreidler has never hit as a major leaguer and Orlando Arcia is a thirty something guy who not longer profiles as a shortstop. One should go to make room for Culpepper. I fully expect the offense to struggle again today and whoever ends up on the bump to start for the Twins will have to have a good start or bulk appearance.

Can both these things be true? I think so. Keaschall's offense was pretty poor in April and he has improved in May. He finished 2025 with some regression to the mean, so if you cherry pick, you can see a subpar hitter. When last I checked, Keaschall checked in at -2 Defensive Runs Saved, not good, but better than three or four regular second basemen. The fact is, like so many other Twins players, to be a good player, he has to be a considerably above-average offensive player and for the first 60-some games he has not been that. I would add that Keaschall provides value on the base paths, despite being caught stealing his last three attempts. Positive value on the base paths is also a skill lacking in a great majority of Twins' position players. There is a video post out today calling for Keaschall to be optioned to St. Paul. I don't agree with that, but it certainly is not out of the realm of possibility. Keaschall hasn't hit for power and the underlying metrics don't predict a big surge.

Didn’t say it was bad news for Kepler.

Long-time teammates Kepler and Polanco both had news yesterday. Jorge is an "old 32" to me and Max never took the next step.

I like Culpepper’s upside as an offensive player, but I really am at a loss to see that he is being projected as a plus defender at shortstop. He’s been okay from what I’ve seen and read, but nothing more than that.

Each of Gray, Arcia and Kreidler has made at least a minimal case to stay in the majors. Gray and Kreidler can be optioned, Arcia cannot. It would seem a move to Culpepper would signal that they are not contenders, which I think is evident, but the standings don't say that at this point.

For now, Lee is a fixture at third base. Lewis will apparently get his reps at either second or first. Still waiting for a Culpepper promotion, but now there’s a roster spot available.

IMHO, it is mostly between the ears with Royce. The trip to AAA at least temporarily restored his confidence. The next slump will test that confidence. Hopefully he can persevere. I think he has the talent to be very good, but if temporary failure derails him, he won’t be anywhere near his upside.

Leaving a 40-man spot open is what will happen until the Twins need to add someone from off the 40-man. There is room to add Culpepper or Fedko or a non-roster pitcher

I finally looked it up—1st inning ERA 9.00, 2nd inning 7.20. First three innings 6.60 ERA, innings 4-6 2.02 ERA. Neglected to post this. Lots of ways to look at it, but Zebby gets stronger as thr game goes along. As long as this remains it is hard to suggest any role other than starting pitcher. It is so unusual and desirable these days to see guys work through the sixth and seventh innings.

What is Matthews’ first inning ERA? It seems he always gets hit in the first inning and settles after that. Guys returning from injury (Abel, Rojas, Sands) could bolster the pitching staff and guys returning from banishment (Lewis, Wallner) and guys not on the 40-man (Fedko, Culpepper) could help the position player side.

I watch the Defensive Runs Saved pretty closely and around two weeks ago, the Twins were around 20th with single digits of negative runs saved (I think they were -7). The last several games have been pretty bad with obvious mistakes have been made. I don’t think it’s Shelton or Rocco. The Twins have assembled a team that is weak in the most key defensive positions (especially when Buxton is DHing) and the ball is going to find the weak defenders. I’ve always felt that tesms can get away with weaker defenders at position low on the defensive spectrum, but catcher, shottsto and center field have to be very good.

Happy Birthday Royce Lewis! The polarizing Mr. Lewis is 27 years old today. I’ll expand on my earlier take and say that Lewis is currently the best third baseman defensively of the players being considered in this thread. If he can hit at an above average rate, he should get regular playing time for the Twins. He hasn’t done that at the major league level since Edouard Julien and James Outman were rookie sensations. I honestly don’t know why a “building” team would move him off third base for a lesser defender with less offensive upside. That said, it is good that he has accepted playing different positions for the Saints and it is also good that he has only missed ten games due to injury so far this year. In my ideal projection for the current Twins, Brooks Lee is an infield Willi Castro, playing third, short, second and maybe first base and getting full-time at-bats without a full-time position, all of which could change due to injury or lack of productivity by a “starter”. I believe Lee’s best defensive position will be third base and if the way to get both Lee and Lewis in the lineup is for Lewis to play first base, well okay Keaschall needs to get better defensively, especially since he hasn’t t found the seats and the BA is below .250. Culpepper is unproven, but he’s the immediate future at shortstop unless the Twins acquire a shortstop at the trade deadline or they are very aggressive with Marek Houston.

San Francisco didn’t move Arraez to second. Arraez wanted to play second base wherever he signed and he received assurance from the Giants that he would play second base. It has worked out well. Arraez has profiled as a top defender at second base and is hitting well over .300. He would be my pick today to win yet another batting championship with yet another team.