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Article: Looking Ahead to Find a Shortstop

Nick Nelson

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Brock Beauchamp GOAT

Brock Beauchamp

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After three horrific seasons, I think it's in the Twins best interest to keep clawing at .500 for as long as possible.

 

If even one of those guys looked remotely ready to play in the Majors, I might feel differently about sacrificing a few short-term wins for the long-term good of the team. That simply isn't the case right now.

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halfchest College Ball

halfchest

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Wow, this is a dizzying conversation. I'm in the camp that would like to see Dozier get a shot at SS again, if he and the team feels he can handle it. I guess his slick fielding at 2B makes me feel like he would do the same at SS. He probably doesnt' have the range Florimon has but I think he'll make all the plays he should and probably some highlight reels from time to time. League average defense with a .750-.800 OPS? That would be pretty awesome. Escobar to 2B for now and then we see what happens with guys like Santana and Rosario. Hope one of them can come up.

 

I'm also comfortable with leaving it as is and seeing Escobar start at SS for a month to see how that goes. I see he's starting again today too but that may be due to the double header.

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Otto von Ballpark All-Star

Otto von Ballpark

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As I mentioned before, Dozier actually graded out fairly decently by metrics in his half season as a MLB SS in 2012. Not great, but certainly not "must move off the position" either. The errors seem high, but then again, he was a rookie and we all know how rough his bat looked that year.

 

Plouffe graded a lot worse in 2011, but it was a smaller sample (just 1/3 of a season), it wasn't really a regular gig, and like Dozier, he was a rookie at the time who looked fairly bad at the plate too. Would have been interesting to see if Sano could have pushed him off this year, and if we would have given him another look at SS (I suspect not).

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Mike Sixel Cooperstown

Mike Sixel

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After three horrific seasons, I think it's in the Twins best interest to keep clawing at .500 for as long as possible.

 

If even one of those guys looked remotely ready to play in the Majors, I might feel differently about sacrificing a few short-term wins for the long-term good of the team. That simply isn't the case right now.

 

Fair enough....but then we go into next year with no SS again. It is a reasonable stance, just not what I would do.

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Mike Sixel Cooperstown

Mike Sixel

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The Twins don't go into next season without a shortstop, they go into the offseason without a shortstop. Big difference.

 

That's what I meant to type, sorry. I have ZERO confidence they will do what it takes to get a long term answer at SS next offseason. They had that chance this year, and passed, despite being FLUSH with money.

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Linus GCL Twins

Linus

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I'm hoping that Esco starting recently is a sign. I would give him two months of steady starts and see what we have. If Danny Santana continues to hold his own at Rochester I would bring him up in August. One of these two options may work and doesn't require any change in roster / money, etc.

 

By the same logic, Deduno and Pelfrey need to switch spots. These two simple moves could improve the team very quickly and easily.

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Reider Draft Eligible

Reider

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He probably doesnt' have the range Florimon has but I think he'll make all the plays he should and probably some highlight reels from time to time.
Dozier definitely doesn't have the range or the arm that Florimon has. But Dozier does have big play making ability and always gives a full effort, which is why he is doing so awesome at 2nd base. His arm is fairly strong for a 2nd baseman and his range is good enough.

 

I'm not against giving Dozier another chance at SS, I just think he makes a solid 2nd baseman and seems to be helping Mauer out quite a bit. In the short term, I'd rather give Escobar more playing time @ SS and see how he does.

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twinstalker Draft Eligible

twinstalker

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Sorry, didn't read all the comments. The shortstops mentioned are all flawed and likely very costly. Lowrie is the Todd Walker of shortstops: no range yet the current metrics don't kill him. Everything he does offensively he gives up on defense. If Florimon hadn't been picked up by the Twins, he'd be floating in AAA. There are a lot of actual major league shortstops that could cover until the Twins figure it out. Think of guys like Nick Punto (only not actually Nick Punto). They can be had cheaply, they're good on defense, and they hit better than Florimon.

 

It could be a really long time until the Twins develop a real shortstop. Santana probably isn't it, and Niko Goodrum is also unlikely, though he's interesting. Polanco will be a 2B. It seems there have been numerous high school shortstops available in the draft that are succeeding. Should the Twins select Nick Gordon? I've been following N.C. State's Trea Turner all season, and I'm not a fan anymore.

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Guest USAFChief

Guest USAFChief

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Yes! It seems so obvious. Mauer to short.

I thought we were looking for someone who can hit? :P

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Mr. Brooks Cedar Rapids Kernels

Mr. Brooks

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Starlin Castro for Doizer, makes a ton of sense for both sides.

cubs have baez coming up, and no room for castro who has had somewhat of down seasons.. id be all for it

 

The Cubs also have the #4 best second base prospect, who is 22 and OPS'ing .814 at AAA. They may trade Castro, but I don't think it would be for Dozier, I'd think it would be for pitching.

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