Comparatively few balls in play result in double plays. Such a canard.
It is ALWAYS better for a batter to put the ball in play rather than K. Even if once or twice a month that ball in play results in 2 outs.
It's completely illogical to acknowledge K's are good for pitchers while denying they are inherently bad for hitters.
As for "take better ABs," yeah. Of course. Don't swing at balls and put the barrel on strikes.
And don't K. Good ABs don't result in Ks.
Per Bob Nightengale in the Strib (and repeated in MLBTradeRumors), the Twins will bring back their entire MLB coaching staff for 2024.
Here's the MLBTR bit, since the Strib is behind a paywall.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/10/coaching-notes-guardians-nationals-twins.html
Yes, I said it in April, July, and will repeat it again: the Twins lack a middle of the order.
I have hopes that Julien can develop into a really good everyday leadoff hitter, OBP over .375 with BA and some pop. I don't think Royce Lewis will be the 3 hole hitter we need, but he's clearly a nice piece. A 5 hole guy.
Juan Soto would fill a need. And Bellinger would make a nice 1st baseman.
This nonsense just keeps getting repeated.
First, most imprtantly, Pressly had 1.5 years of control when traded.
Second, why wouldn't the Twins sign him 1.5 years later?
As an aside, I'd sure HOPE the Twins FO isn't in the habit of making trades that don't have the goal of improving the team.
* nitpic: it cost the Twins 1 base and, since we're assuming everything else stays the same, 1 run.
Had Mauer doubled, rather than singled, he would have scored on the subsequent 2 singles, rather than ending up on 3rd, bases loaded.
Like I said...Bellinger, Soto, Snell, and Hader. Is that too much to ask? ;)
"All I want is frickin' sharks with frickin' Lazer beams attached to their frickin' heads...is that too much to ask?"