The offense is totally stagnating despite ridding itself of Florimon and Hicks appearing competent with greater frequency. Why is moving Escobar to the lead off spot not being considered? He's red hot and has speed, and would allow Dozier to hit 3rd. It's not a major change, but couldn't hurt.

 

Escobar, SS

Mauer, C

Dozier, 2B

Plouffe, 3B

Arcia, RF

Willingham, LF

Parmalee/Kubel DH

Pinto/Suzuki C

Hicks, CF

No, no and no.

 

Not because its a bad idea. It really isn't. Ultimately, it might be Dozier's best spot. Time will tell. But at this point, especially with a lineup that is scuffling lately, I don't make the move. I don't make it because until recently, it's worked pretty well. And to me, it messes with one special thing that IS working with Dozier at the 1 spot.

 

What I still maintain you do is move Escobar to 2 behind Dozier, and ahead of Mauer in the 3 hole, where he has hit most of his career. Arcia, Willingham, Plouffe and Suzuki hit behind in some combination.

 

Dozier stays where he's been outstanding, Mauer hits where he's used to, and then you bring up what should be some RBI hitters. You might even bat Hicks and Santana in the 2 hole depending on the matchup. And isn't baseball all about matchups? I think that would deepen the lineup overall.

No, no and no.

 

Not because its a bad idea. It really isn't. Ultimately, it might be Dozier's best spot. Time will tell. But at this point, especially with a lineup that is scuffling lately, I don't make the move. I don't make it because until recently, it's worked pretty well. And to me, it messes with one special thing that IS working with Dozier at the 1 spot.

 

What I still maintain you do is move Escobar to 2 behind Dozier, and ahead of Mauer in the 3 hole, where he has hit most of his career. Arcia, Willingham, Plouffe and Suzuki hit behind in some combination.

 

Dozier stays where he's been outstanding, Mauer hits where he's used to, and then you bring up what should be some RBI hitters. You might even bat Hicks and Santana in the 2 hole depending on the matchup. And isn't baseball all about matchups? I think that would deepen the lineup overall.

 

The last 9 games we've scored 2, 5, 2, 2, 1, 1, 2, 4 and 0. I wouldn't worry about 'breaking' Dozier. He has the highest OPS, you don't want your best hitter hitting lead-off. Meanwhile Escobar has a higher OBP.

The offense is totally stagnating despite ridding itself of Florimon and Hicks appearing competent with greater frequency. Why is moving Escobar to the lead off spot not being considered? He's red hot and has speed, and would allow Dozier to hit 3rd. It's not a major change, but couldn't hurt.

 

Escobar, SS

Mauer, C

Dozier, 2B

Plouffe, 3B

Arcia, RF

Willingham, LF

Parmalee/Kubel DH

Pinto/Suzuki C

Hicks, CF

 

I will take you one further and run the lineup something like this:

 

SS Escobar

2B Dozier

RF Arcia

LF Willingham

C Pinto

1B Mauer

3B Plouffe

CF Hicks

Santana/Parmelee/etc

The lineup shakeup I want to see involves Pinto being in it more.

The lineup shakeup I want to see involves Pinto being in it more.

 

Yup. The guy with the 2nd best OPS behind Escobar has been reduced to a virtual non-entity....he's caught 2 games in the last 2 weeks and one start at DH. Mind-boggling, when your team is struggling mightily to score runs....the Twins have averaged all of 2.67 runs scored over this 12-game time frame.

The last 9 games we've scored 2, 5, 2, 2, 1, 1, 2, 4 and 0. I wouldn't worry about 'breaking' Dozier. He has the highest OPS, you don't want your best hitter hitting lead-off. Meanwhile Escobar has a higher OBP.

 

Is it just me... Or does it seem like Pinto has not been in the lineup for the majority of this low run production streak?

 

And doesn't it seem like Pinto was in the lineup when we were producing?

 

I'll hang up and listen.

Is it just me... Or does it seem like Pinto has not been in the lineup for the majority of this low run production streak?

 

And doesn't it seem like Pinto was in the lineup when we were producing?

 

I'll hang up and listen.

 

He's essentially been reduced to Deduno's personal caddy and late-inning PH. At this rate, Suzuki will be useless by the All Star break, maybe that's Gardy's ultimate master plan for getting Pinto his share of plate duty?