LA Vikes Fan

If Kirilloff hits in his rehab starts and the wrist isn't a big issue, I think he will come up. This is a team desperate for hitting. So far, so good, 5-16, 1 HR, 2RBI, .313/.421/.500 (.921) - ultimate small sample size. If he hits over he next 2-3 weeks, I would expect to see him at the MLB level.

Assuming no injuries, I think the order is easy for a couple of spots and then becomes tough... (1) Gallo for Julien. Nice prospect but presently overmatched at the MLB level. (2) Polanco for Castro. Nice 27th or 28th man, perfect to have him with an option year left. (3) Kirilloff for … Battle to the death between Garlick, Larnach, and Gordon. I think Garlick's lack of defense and inability to hit RH pitching makes him go first. Having said that, Larnach and Gordon better start hitting soon or it could be them. Probably Larnach first since he still has options. Kirilloff will come up immediately if he hits at AAA. We are hurting for bats. Frankly, anyone that hits at AAA has a chance to move up. This all shows how desperately we need the 2019-2022 Polanco to reappear and hit in the top 4 in the order. We also need at least 2 bats from the Gallo, Kirilloff , Larnach. Miranda, and Gordon group to emerge and hit - and I'm talking just a .750-.800 OPS, not at an All Star level. Somebody who can competently handle the 5 or 6 spot in the order. I didn't list Kepler because we already know from experience that he isn't that guy with the bat.

Agreed and love this move. A 4 year contract for a quality MLB starting pitcher that can fill the #1 or #2 spot in a contending team rotation for less than $20m a year? Very well done. Injury could derail this of course, but even 3 good years out of the 4 year deal would be an awesome return. Who's next? I would love to see them work out something with Gray - maybe 3 years, $40-50m? He's 33 so there's risk there but that lowers the AAV. Mahle? Not so sure about him. Let's not overrate him just because we may have given up too much to get him. It's great to see that they are trying to maximize the 6 year competitive window of the Correa and Buxton contracts. We might be in for a longish run of competitive teams. Wow, wouldn't have said that 6 months ago....

And then after we won 11-2, all I could think was: "We didn't hit after the first inning against the back of the Yankees bullpen. We suck. We're going to get hammered tomorrow". Deflated me completely. I've been miserable all day.

Completely agree. I think that once we get all the way to the last return (Kirilloff) the choice is Gordon or Julien. I have to think that Julien goes because he has options and Gordon is likely to be claimed if DFA'd. The other option would be to trade Kepler or Gordon if you could even get a decent AA type return with moderate upside. Most likely though all of this will not be an issue because someone will get hurt. Hey, it beats being in a position where we need to call up LaMarre or Contreras and play them every day.

I sort of agree with you. Gallo really replaces Kepler and is an upgrade on defense - Gold Glove winner - and an upgrade on offense if he's the Gallo from 2017-2021, not the 2022 Gallo. Both are essentially on 1 year deals since we aren't picking up a $10m option for Kepler next year. A strong RH OF is a real need. I say "sort of" because I don't think Garlick is that strong RH OF. He's ok at best. He's fine for now but I think he loses his spot when the injured players are ready to come back. Maybe he stays if we trade Kepler but there doesn't seem to be much of a market for Max. Best guess is absent season ending type injuries, Kepler returns and replaces Wallner, Gallo returns and replaces Julien or Garlick depending on which one hits, Polanco replaces the other of those last 2, and Farmer replaces Castro when he's ready to come back. Who does Lewis and Kirilloff replace? Probably an injured or traded player.

Wow, Garlick already and it isn't even May 1. The even sadder thing is he will probably stay on the roster if he hits at all over Wallner and/or Julien until everyone else is ready to come back. Our depth is already being tested. Thank goodness that Solano can play a little.

Thanks. still, another RH hitter that can't hit RH pitching. We need Polanco, Gallo, or even Kepler back pretty badly.

With Farmer assumedly out for a few days, do they put him on the IL? If they do, who comes up? Kepler isn't available until 4/15 and that's assuming no rehab assignment. Gallo is available 4/18 and is on a rehab assignment. I understand that they may just ride out the next couple of days and then activate Kepler. Still, I saw the pitch Farmer took to the face. I have to think he goes on the 10 day Il and isn't available for at least a few days. They are now out of 40 man rostered field players so Wallner or Julien has to go down to AAA to bring someone up. So, who comes up? Anybody? LaMarre, Garlick, bring back Polanco early? Play Willi Castro every day? All scary options, My guess is that they don't make a move until Kepler or Gallo can come back, then either IL Farmer or send Wallner down, and just play shorthanded for a few days. Not good.

The new guys have helped keep the offense at a subsistence level rather than completely falling off a cliff due to injury. still, we need Polanco and Correa back and hitting in the worst way. Miranda, Larnach, and Gordon are nice to have but they are that portion of their careers where they are going to be streaky and may not make it. Frankly, if 2 of those 3 become solid above average MLB hitters with the 3rd average, we will have hit a jackpot. We need the big 3 of Correa, Polanco, and Buxton anchoring this lineup on most days or we are going to have trouble scoring runs.

You're probably right about Gordon and I think that's the right strategy. His hitting last year earned him a longer leash. I wonder about Castro, though. Yes, he's versatile but with Farmer, Solano and Gordon all on the roster that versatility is less important. He's had over 1000 MLB ABs and has never hit. Plus I beleive he has an option left. think if a Julien or Wallner type hit, Castr's roster spot could be in jeopardy. Ahh, at the end of the day injuries will probably make all of this fun roster guessing moot...

I suspect the next week or so will be the battle to the death to see who stays and who goes when Kepler comes back, followed by the sane when Gallo comes back. Wallner, Julien and Castro have to show something to stay. So far, Wallner and Castro have not. We'll see what Julien does. my bet is Wallner goes when Kepler is ready unless he gets hot, Castro stays until Polanco is ready, and Julien can only stay if he hits right out of the box and forces a decision. By the way, I'd start hitting if I was Gordon. He's next in line.

Right now I think that's probably the right move. Unfortunately, until Gallo comes back Gordon has to play in the outfield or DH unless you want Willie Castro out there or you want to play both catchers with one of them manning the DH spot. Thank God we have a little better depth this year or we would already be seeing Jake Cave or Mark Contreras playing everyday. Solano and Farmer are an improvement, Willie Castro perhaps a little less so. Anybody raking a AAA that we really need to move up? Have to say that it sure doesn't look like it when you look at the St. Paul Saints' stats. Julien is hitting a little but 12 strikeouts in 29 at-bats a AAA does not bode well at the MLB level. Another injury and we may see more of Kyle Garlick and Ryan LaMarre then we ever wanted to see this year.

This lineup is a real challenge if Buxton is not going to play CF because that means that Taylor has to play or someone has to shift to center field. I am tempted to suggest putting Gordon in CF, but he isn't hitting much either and Taylor is much better with the glove (although Gordon is actually hitting the ball harder I think). If Polanco does not come back before May 1, I think you probably do have some leadoff either Buxton or Larnach. I am tempted to try Larnach. I think a lineup has to be something like this: Larnach/Buxton Correa Buxton/Larnach Miranda Gallo Solano Farmer/Gordon Valesquez/Jeffers Taylor. In this lineup, I have Gallo in right field, Gordon and Farmer platooning at second base, Solano at first base, with Buxton as the DH. If Gallo can't go, I think you move Gordon to left field, Larnach to right field, and Farmer plays every day at second base. If Gallo can't go, Solano moves to the five hole, Gordon six, and Farmer seven against right-handed pitching, reverse against left-handed pitching. I don't factor Kepler in much because he doesn't help your lineup unless he plays centerfield, which he has previously not wanted to do and is unlikely to do if he has a knee issue, and frankly he doesn't hit much better than Taylor either. It's hardly a menacing lineup, but without Polanco and with Buxton only available to DH, I think that's the best you can do. At this point, we have to hope that Miranda, Gordon, and Correa can get jumpstarted to hit like they did in the second half of last year, that Solano will keep hitting, and that Farmer won't fall off a cliff against right-handed pitching. All possible, but other than Correa hitting, all a bit of a crapshoot.

Any word as to why it's Gordon for Gallo?

I think Gordon is at least potentially "on his way up" because of his 674 plate appearances. Tom Kelly used to say that it takes 1000 MLB at bats to really see what a player can be. Gordon still has about 300 or so at bats to get to that level. Unfortunately, he is 27 because of previous illnesses and injuries.

Also because Gordon is a much better hitter. 2022: .Gordon - 272/.316/.427(.743), Castro - .241/.285/.357 (.651). Career: Gordon (673 PAs) .257/.303/.396 (.699), Castro (1100 PAs) .243/.290 (.668). Castro may indeed turn out to be valuable, but Gordon is already the superior hitter and on his way up, while Castro has most likely plateaued where he is after 1100 PAs. But how about defense - Castro- career -1.6 dWAR, Gordon -0.7. Gordon slightly better, in essence a wash. Bottom line, Gordon is the better player now and has more room to develop. That's why we keep Gordon over Castro.

The problem that manifested itself the last 2 says is the problem many if not most of us saw coming - the lineup isn't long enough to withstand injury. Yes, the bench players we have are better than those last August or September but they are still bench players who should only be used sparingly and then hitting in the 8 or 9 holes. I agree with the Arraez trade - we needed a horse high end starter like Lopez - but it did exacerbate the weaknesses of what was not a great offense to start out with. We are at least 2 bats short, and that's with guys like Larnach, Miranda and Gordon actually clicking. We need Polanco back as his old self pretty badly. Hopefully that will happen in the next couple of weeks. We also need Miranda and Gordon to hit like last year, Buxton to stay healthy and hitting, and Correa just to be at his career norms. All of this possible and perhaps even likely. Kirilloff hitting would be nice but not something we can even project, much less count on. Its' too early to panic but not too early to see the potential problem.

Sometimes you just need to congratulate the other guy. Alcantara was outstanding tonight. A couple of hard hit outs from Gordon and Miranda, a couple of decent singles, a nubber the other way, and very little else. Impressive. Maeda was decent or even a little better. Miami is a weak hitting team but Kenta looked like his old self. That's good to see. Not much else to report.

It's almost fun to watch someone as good as Alcantara pitch. Moran, not so much. He needs to throw more strikes or he is hte 8th man in the bullpen. Maeda wasn't great, but not bad. almost gives one hope.

I kind of like this idea. The problem then is who hits 6? You go Polanco, Correa, Buxton. Larnach, Miranda and ?? I guess it would be Gallo, then Vasquez/Jeffers, than Kepler, then the 2nd base platoon? That could work....

Gallo is the classic feast or famine player but I can see him improving with the rule changes and some better coaching. I'd love to get .225/.345/.475 from Gallo. That would come from raising his career batting average 25 points, adding that to his career OBP and keeping his slugging % at his career level. That may be doable with the elimination of the shift giving him 10-15 BA points and some improvement from the hitting coach. Keep hitting him in the 7 hole - don't dare move him up - and that's a viable player when you throw in his defense. Much below that and it's very hard to justify playing him every day and enduring his 150-200 strikeouts a year.

Polanco may wind up leading off but I hate to waste his RBI productivity at that spot. How about the 2nd base platoon in the leadoff spot? Farmer can fill that role against LH pitching. He's a career .286.,344/.490 against LH pitching, Gordon is .291/.331/.454 against RH pitching in essentially one year sample size. Neither is great, but both acceptable. Lewis may have that spot by July. How about that group leading off, with Polanco on the 6 hole when he returns, and Kepler moving to #8 or #9?

Tough question. If Larnach hits, you have the right 3 from which to choose. As they say, good problem to have. Most likely a Castro release/demotion or an injury will provide the opening for Polanco. Kirilloff will probably have to crush AAA for a couple of weeks before he gets a shot and even then may need an injury to move up. When Polanco and Kirilloff are both ready, to me the right answer is to option/release Castro and then either trade either Kepler or Gallo or release Solano. I would do the former if there is any value in trading Kepler. The problem is that no one really wants him and the Twins aren't going to release him or Gallo until at least June or July and then only if they really stink. It may take an injury for Kirilloff to get back to the MLB level. All of this is interesting, but let's be honest - someone is going to get hurt and we'll be glad we have all of these guys...

You said it brother! It's ok if he he takes ABs away from Kepler. Gallo is just as good in the field and both are very iffy at hitting to say the least. But if Gallo and Kepler both don't hit by mid-May (most likely result based on track record) but both play and take away ABs from Larnach, Kirilloff or Gordon, then something is very wrong in the FO and the dugout.