The Bench (Its a huge team strength gone unnoticed)
Twins Video
When you think of players on the bench, usually there is a reason they are on the bench. Usually the bench players can field really well but not hit, or they hit and can't field, or they have severe platoon splits. Whatever the reason its there, they are not able to be successful enough as everyday players. Looking at our bench we have players that fit that mold in one shape or another. but when you look at the production we are getting from our bench players you have to take notice and appreciate the job they are doing.
Gordon is a player that appears to be just shy of being good enough to be an everyday starter. not enough walks and not enough power and just low enough batting average to keep the obp low. but he has speed and has taken well to playing the OF. He is even OPS+ 104 as of today. with 16 XBH in 193 AB he is only -3 in what I consider average power. (1 XBH per 10 AB) Garlic has 7 HRs and an OPS+ of 148 Killeroff and Miranda are raking and now OPS+ 107 and OPS+ 111 after really slow starts. Gary Sanchez is a league average hitter for a back up C with an OPS + 96 Celestino has been slumping lately but was hitting over .300 for most of the season and is at OPS+ 94 Celestino is also the only bench player with little power at all with 8 XBH in 147 AB as a -6 or -7 if you round up.
Compared to other play off contenders:
The Redsox have Refsnyder off to his fast start and Duran as the only 2 OPS+ 100 or more players on their bench. in fact Cordero at OPS+ 90 is the next best and there is a drop off from there.
The Rays have 2 OPS+ 130 players in Paredes and Margot (on 60 day DL) and no one with any serious playing time is over OPS+70
The Yankees are getting production from their bench but dont really use them that often. Marwin GOnzales is league average at OPS+100 Matt Carpenter is hitting HRs like Garlic, and Hicks and LeMahieu should be starters are both over OPS+100
On the Whitesox bench the good players are hurt, or do not have much playing time while the bad players are getting the bulk of time at this point and they are not hitting well at all.
Houston's bench is their achillies heal as well theyhave one player at OPS+104 and no one else over OPS+95
Cleveland's bench is bad too.
So if you are looking for an area where we stack up better than the rest of the league (Maybe the Yankees are as good if not better). Look no further than our bench.
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