What will the Twins opening day roster look like? Recently my worthless brother speculated that 23 of the 25 roster spots were pretty well set in stone. I'm not sure I agree, but with spring training so far away, rather than debate who will or will not head north with the team, I thought it would be fun to speculate on just the opening day lineup. My suggested lineup below.

 

SanDana - SS

BullDozier - 2B

Joe "Baby Jesus" Mauer - 1B

Kennys Baby Papi Vargas - DH

Babe Plouffe - 3B

Ozzie Arcia - LF

Old Man Hunter - RF

Kurt's Motorcycle Shop - C

Hicksy - CF

 

Pinto/Escobar/Schafer available off the bench.

 

I think the pitching staff will be significantly more difficult to accurately predict.

Not that I agree with it, but this is what I think that they will do:

 

Dozier 2B

Hunter RF

Mauer 1B

Vargas DH

Arcia LF

Plouffe 3B

Suzuki C

Santana SS

Hicks CF

 

My preferable with what they have:

 

Hicks LF

Mauer 1B

Vargas DH

Sano 3B

Arcia RF

Pinto C

Dozier 2B

Rosario CF

Escobar SS

 

(Plouffe, Hunter, Suzuki, Santana on the bench)

 

but it is not happening

Edited December 21, 201411 yr by Thrylos

Dozier R

Mauer L

Hunter R

Vargas S

Arcia L

Plouffe R

Suzuki R

Santana S

Schafer L

Santana SS

Mauer 1B

Dozier 2B

Vargas DH

Hunter RF

Arcia LF

Plouffe 3B

Suzuki C

Hicks CF

I'd really like to see Torii more in the middle of the order than the top. Though #2 would be ok if he demonstrates in ST that he can still move from first to third, etc.

SS Santana

1B Mauer

2B Dozier

RF Hunter

DH Vargas

3B Plouffe

LF Arcia

C Suzuki

CF Anyone but Hicks

The construction of Opening Day's lineup probably can be swayed by sentiment and nostalgia than any other.  So this is my guess, though its hardly the optimal lineup I'd prefer.

 

Dozier 2B

Mauer 1B

Hunter RF

Plouffe 3B

Arcia LF

Vargas DH
Suzuki C

Santana SS
Veteran yet to be acquired CF*

 

*If this player ends up being a viable leadoff option or a 'name' player the lineup will shuffle.

Edited December 21, 201411 yr by PseudoSABR

CF Santana

1B Mauer

RF Hunter

DH Vargas

3B Plouffe

2B Dozier

LF Arcia

C Suzuki

SS Escobar

 

Pinto... Nunez... Schafer... Eric Young Jr. on the bench

 

Yep... I went and got E.Y. Why you all sat and did nothing!!!

CF Santana

1B Mauer

RF Hunter

DH Vargas

3B Plouffe

2B Dozier

LF Arcia

C Suzuki

SS Escobar

 

Pinto... Nunez... Schafer... Eric Young Jr. on the bench

 

Yep... I went and got E.Y. Why you all sat and did nothing!!!

 

Yeah, but you traded Buxton for him!  You'll never make it as a GM.

Yeah, but you traded Buxton for him!  You'll never make it as a GM.

 

Check that...E.Y. is a free agent. In  that case, good job.

I think Seth's line-up looks about right, until September when the team is once again floundering. Then Buxton, Sano, and Rosario will be up and Hunter and maybe Plouffe and possibly even Dozier will be somewhere else looking to be playing in the post-season.

I think Seth's line-up looks about right, until September when the team is once again floundering. Then Buxton, Sano, and Rosario will be up and Hunter and maybe Pouffe and possibly even Dozier will be somewhere else looking to be playing in the post-season.

 

Could be a busy trade deadline this July 31st for the Twins. Hunter, Plouffe and even Hughes could be moved. Line-up could look very different come August and September.

Dozier R

Mauer L

Hunter R

Vargas S

Arcia L

Plouffe R

Suzuki R

Santana S

Schafer L

 

If Molitor is open enough with the numbers, and unafraid of bruised egos in the #3 spot... this will likely be the opening day order... except they might be intent on keeping with the L/R thing with Arcia and Plouffe... and Hicksie at the bottom of the order.

CF Santana

1B Mauer

RF Hunter

DH Vargas

3B Plouffe

2B Dozier

LF Arcia

C Suzuki

SS Escobar

 

Pinto... Nunez... Schafer... Eric Young Jr. on the bench

 

Yep... I went and got E.Y. Why you all sat and did nothing!!!

 

Yep.. I've been waiting for just this type of move, but thinking there must be an ex-Twins OF being coaxed out of retirement.  Does anyone know if Andy Dirks is healthy?  Seems like he'd be a good fit if he's recovered from his back surgery.

Edited December 21, 201411 yr by jokin

The Twins were a top-ten offense last year.  Why make a ton of changes?

 

1.  Santana, CF or SS

True, his .405 BABIP is unsustainable, but we can expect his BB and K rates to improve.  Why take him out of the lead-off spot for something that MAY happen?  He handled it last year, let him play himself out of it.  For whether he plays CF or SS, see #9 below.

 

2.  Dozier, 2B

I believe he won’t repeat the 23 HRs from last year, but he’s likely to improve his BABIP, and thusly his BA and OBP.  Again, let him play himself out of the #2 spot.

 

3.  Mauer, 1B

You could move him up to #2 if Santana or Dozier regresses.  But I believe he’ll bounce back in ’15 and be effective at #3.

 

4, 5, 6, 7.  Some combination of Hunter, Plouffe, Vargas, Arcia, and Pinto at DH/LF/RF/3B/C

Other than Plouffe at 3B, get ready for some cover-your-eyes defense.  Be on the “Lookout” for Sano if he starts out hot in AA.

 

8.  Suzuki, C

The addition of Hunter and the maturation of those above will hopefully mean no more at-bats for Kurt in the #2 spot. 

 

9.  Escobar, SS or Schafer/platoon partner, CF

I would have a hard time taking a reliable SS who hit 35 doubles out of the lineup, especially in the #9 slot.  Even if they decide a Schafer/whoever platoon will be more effective in CF than Escobar at SS (with Santana there instead), the bench should still be deeper than last year.  Whatever they do, they are only keeping the seat warm until Buxton is ready and Santana permanently slides in here at SS.

 

Bench – Pinto, Nunez, Schafer (see above), RH-hitting outfielder (sign FA Denorfia or trade with OAK for Gentry).  When Arcia inevitably gets hurt, a Schafer/RH platoon could take over in LF if Sano, Buxton, Rosario, etc. aren’t ready for their first cups of coffee.

 

Other than the questionable (to be kind) defense in the OF, this is a lineup that should score runs and keep me interested until the kids are finally ready.

I think  River's  lineup  looks about right.  I tweek it as follows:

 

Santana CF

Dozier    2B

Mauer    LF

Vargas   DH

Torii        LF

Arcia       RF

Trevor     3B

Esco        SS

Suzuki     C

 

No way you take Esco out of lineup until (unless) he proves last year was a fluke (or Buxton is ready and then you move Santana to SS.  I expect this lineup will change due to expected sophomore slumps of Santana  and Vargas.

I think  River's  lineup  looks about right.  I tweek it as follows:

 

Santana CF

Dozier    2B

Mauer    LF

Vargas   DH

Torii        LF

Arcia       RF

Trevor     3B

Esco        SS

Suzuki     C

 

No way you take Esco out of lineup until (unless) he proves last year was a fluke (or Buxton is ready and then you move Santana to SS.  I expect this lineup will change due to expected sophomore slumps of Santana  and Vargas.

 

At this point, you and Paul Molitor have a fundamental disagreement.  To get Esco his reps, would they ticket Vargas to Rochester, and play Esco at 2nd, 3rd, SS and LF 5-6 times a week (and give Plouffe, Arcia and Dozier some DH PAs)?

Santana SS

Dozier 2b

Mauer 1b

Vargas DH

Hunter RF

Arcia LF

Plouffe 3b

Suzuki C

Hicks CF

Santana SS

Dozier 2b

Mauer 1b

Vargas DH

Hunter RF

Arcia LF

Plouffe 3b

Suzuki C

Hicks CF

 

That's awfully close, Chief.  Is that your preference or what you expect to happen (or both)?

Santana SS

Dozier 2b

Mauer 1b

Vargas DH

Hunter RF

Arcia LF

Plouffe 3b

Suzuki C

Hicks CF

You had me until the #9 hitter!

I would love someone to tell me why Vargas, who never played in AAA, was never that highly regarded a prospect, and who had a much worse second month in the majors, should be handed the clean up spot?  

I would love someone to tell me why Vargas, who never played in AAA, was never that highly regarded a prospect, and who had a much worse second month in the majors, should be handed the clean up spot?

I'm not sure myself, but he has real power from both sides of the plate. Vargas is my most likely candidate for being demoted from the team to Rochester during the season. I think Vargas has holes, but has potential to be very good. He's only a DH, though, and that limits his current and long-term value.

I would love someone to tell me why Vargas, who never played in AAA, was never that highly regarded a prospect, and who had a much worse second month in the majors, should be handed the clean up spot?

 

My reason is the ball leaving his bat at 873 Miles Per Hour... But yeah... I'm holding my breath hoping he impresses in 2015.

I would love someone to tell me why Vargas, who never played in AAA, was never that highly regarded a prospect, and who had a much worse second month in the majors, should be handed the clean up spot?  

 

My reason is the ball leaving his bat at 873 Miles Per Hour... But yeah... I'm holding my breath hoping he impresses in 2015.

 

In pre-season-2011, neither Dozier nor Plouffe were in the Top 20 by Hulet, Sickels or Mayo (Sickels had Plouffe and Dozier as "ones to watch".  Dozier moved up in 2012 to the #10 spot, but only from Sickels' list.  Vargas moved up to #16 in 2014 pre-season, but again, only from Sickels (who was the only one that mentioned Vargas as "one to watch" previously).  KLaw publicly ridiculed Vargas's play in the Futures Game last July, despite the fact that it was quite obvious that Vargas had acquitted himself quite nicely among the very best prospects in all of baseball.

 

Sickels seems to be someone to pay attention to.  

Edited December 22, 201411 yr by jokin

I'm not sure myself, but he has real power from both sides of the plate. Vargas is my most likely candidate for being demoted from the team to Rochester during the season. I think Vargas has holes, but has potential to be very good. He's only a DH, though, and that limits his current and long-term value.

 

If the Twins were to add a quality OFer, Vargas might not even have the chance to make the team out of ST- they might be tempted just to do the DHing by committee and let Vargas play 1B full-time in Roc.  To me, just as big a question mark as Vargas is to stick on the team all season, is Arcia's ability to play a less than horrendous LF all season.

 

Going back to Vargas's alleged bad second month with the Twins, those concerns are overstated, consider the following... and note the areas where he actually improved in September:

 

Aug:  BB% 3.1 K% 27.5 ISO .154 BABIP .400 PA 139 HR 4 XBH 11

Sep:  BB% 7.8 K% 26.2 ISO .208 BABIP .258 PA 103 HR 5 XBH 9

Edited December 22, 201411 yr by jokin

Santana SS

Plouffe 3b

Hunter rf

Vargas dh

Mauer 1b

Dozier 2b

Arcia of

Suzuki c

Schafer cf

That's awfully close, Chief.  Is that your preference or what you expect to happen (or both)?

It's what I expect, barring injury or trade.

 

My preference would include Miguel Cabrera, Mike Trout, Robby Cano, and Jose Abreu.

I would love someone to tell me why Vargas, who never played in AAA, was never that highly regarded a prospect, and who had a much worse second month in the majors, should be handed the clean up spot?

 

The thread asks for the opening day lineup. I expect Vargas to be in it, most likely hitting fourth.

 

I might answer differently in a thread about the August 1st lineup.

Look, Santana is the fastest guy on the team and can steal bases better than anyone, so some guys say hit him low in the order? Incredible.  Doze is  a pull hitter so he shouldn't hit 2nd, but he steals too. Joe is an opposite field bloop hitter. These days he is  a table setter.  Hunter is a 20 homer, 90 RBI guy. He hits in an RBI slot. Vargas too, if he is going well. I think the Twins do this...

 

Danny SS

Mauer 1b

Dozier 2b   if he is hitting, or you go with the hot bats 3-4-5-6 in that order

Vargas DH

Hunter RF

Arcia lf

Plouffe 3b

Suze c

Hicks or Shafe cf

 

Why?  Because Paul makes out the line up, that's why. Pretty good lineup, I think.They will score runs

Edited December 22, 201411 yr by kellyvance

It's what I expect, barring injury or trade.

My preference would include Miguel Cabrera, Mike Trout, Robby Cano, and Jose Abreu.

With those Four... Who needs the other five.

 

Eddie Feigner... The King and His Court Like