Article: First Week Trends

[Nick Nelson]

They are microcosms, not even necessarily on the verge of becoming meaningful as of yet. But anyway, here are five trends we've noticed over the first week of Minnesota Twins games that might be worth keeping an eye on.Danny Santana is lacking discipline.

 

Anyone would acknowledge that Santana was not likely to repeat last year's .400-plus batting average on balls in play, but it was hoped he could offset some of that inevitable regression by taking a few more walks and reducing his strikeouts. With his speed and ability to spray line drives to all fields, Santana can be a dynamic threat when he puts the bat on the ball.

 

So far, he has struck out six times in his first 20 plate appearances with zero walks. Unless he improves his approach, he's not going to be an asset in the leadoff spot.

 

Blaine Boyer is getting shelled.

 

The Twins' fascination with Boyer has always been somewhat mysterious, and now even more so after a rocky first week. The veteran right-hander appeared four times in the team's first six games and gave up multiple hits each time out. He has struck out only one of the 20 batters he's faced.

 

It was an odd experiment but it doesn't look like one that will last very long.

 

Joe Mauer is looking like himself.

 

Last year, Mauer had an uncharacteristically difficult time making contact in the early going, striking out in nearly 30 percent of his plate appearances over the first couple weeks.

 

This year, he has struck out only four times in his first 24 plate appearances, with the same number of walks, and he's batting an even .300. Late in Sunday's game, he had an excellent at-bat against a very tough lefty in Zach Duke that ended with Mauer singling to set up a big scoring opportunity in a then-close game.

 

Oswaldo Arcia has not been an everyday starter.

 

Arcia started only four of Minnesota's first six games, sitting out the series finales against both Detroit and Chicago. It was easy to see why Paul Molitor would bench Arcia against dominating lefty Chris Sale, but the decision to keep him out of the season's third game, with mediocre right-hander Shane Greene on the hill for the Tigers, was harder to figure.

 

Arcia was also lifted defensively late in two games, so he has only played two full nine-inning contests so far.

 

The starting pitching is getting better.

 

That's faint praise when you look at how ugly the performances were before Tommy Milone stopped the bleeding with an exceptional outing in the team's only victory on Friday, but Phil Hughes was solid in his second start Sunday and now Trevor May is stepping in to replace the ailing Ricky Nolasco. Things are going to get better.

 

Oh, and Jose Berrios struck out 11 hitters in his season debut for the Chattanooga Lookouts on Friday. How far away can he be?

 

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[bluechipper]

The thing that frustrates me the most is the handling of Oswaldo Arcia. I think he should be starting every game for the obvious reason that he has the most hitting potential of anyone on the roster, and I also don't agree with the decision to pinch hit Torii Hunter for him the other day, even if he has to face a lefty reliever.

[DJL44]

I would disagree. Arcia doesn't deserve a scholarship, especially in April. Pinch hit for him if it can win you the game.

[stringer bell]

I remain mostly unimpressed and 100% puzzled by Arcia.  His minor league resumé says hitter not slugger, but he has seemed to adopt Mark Reynolds as a model rather than somebody like Bobby Abreu.  Arcia is not long and lean, he well-muscled and wide, but he has the speed and the arm to be a capable base runner and defender.  So far, his value is derived almost completely from hitting the ball over the fence.  He seems to have stagnated in recognizing pitches and is neutralized by left handed pitching. 

 

From the behind the scenes rumbling to his not starting two of the first six games, it looks like Arcia might be the player that the Twins choose to be an example.  I still like Arcia's potential, but he needs to show progress in developing his overall game. 

[bluechipper]

Arcia is a streak hitter at this point. They should just keep playing him, because when he gets hot, he is extremely dangerous. And even when he's in a cold spell, he can still run into a few. And what's the point of not playing a guy with a ton of potential when you're rebuilding?

[stringer bell]

 

Arcia is a streak hitter at this point. They should just keep playing him, because when he gets hot, he is extremely dangerous. And even when he's in a cold spell, he can still run into a few. And what's the point of not playing a guy with a ton of potential when you're rebuilding?

What is the best way to get him moving toward his potential upside?  Honestly, I think he needs to modify his approach a bit.  He really takes far too many "no chance" at-bats.

Edited April 13, 2015 by stringer bell

[bluechipper]

I agree that he needs to modify his approach some, and that's on him and on the coaching staff too. I just want to see him challenged against tough lefties and playing every day, because he's probably not going to get better by sitting on the bench.

[Platoon]

I am a big Arcia fan, and a big fan of playing guys with potential over mediocracy. From the outside, watching him it seems he is a little to full of himself. Bringing him to earth might help. Is he pouting because he got jerked around for a 39 yr old? While he shouldn't be, something seems amiss. His AB's are worse than last year. If Molly hit Hunter for him to send a message that's fine. But if he hit this years Hunter for him strategically, that did not improve the teams chances, and only antagonized Arcia. But remember, while Oswaldo seems to have been here forever he is only 23 (?) He will hit sooner or later.

[clutterheart]

One more trend, the outfield defense looks horrible. Bad reads missed throws and just plain amateurish play.

 

Moliter needs to fix that and fast.

[clutterheart]

.

[Seth Stohs]

My opinion on Arcia:

 

I think he's too young to platoon. I would play him (nearly) every day with the exception of the Sale's and Price's of the world who he understandably has little chance against. Can he hit lefties? So far, not so much, but at his age, I would let him work through some of that... or at least give him more time to see if he can improve at all.

 

If it's late in the game and the opponent brings in a tough lefty against him in a close game, I have no problem pinch hitting for him, but in my opinion, he is still developing and let's see if he can make any adjustments.

[Seth Stohs]

Regarding Joe Mauer, I watched an inning or so of the Twins game yesterday with Jake Mauer in his office. Later, after the Kernels game, I went into his office again and, after an interview about his game, just said, "Isn't it nice to see a Twins box score where there is a ".300" after Joe's name?"

 

Jake smiled and said, "Yeah, he's definitely feeling better than he did a year ago." I'm paraphrasing, but he said that the concussion played more of a factor than Joe ever let on. In fact, Joe never used it as an excuse. But there were a lot of times that he was just foggy. As Jake said, "the fog has lifted." 

 

I think Mauer has a chance to have a really good year. Maybe not 26-year-old Mauer good, but happy-he's-hitting-3rd-in-the-lineup good.

[troyhobbs]

I agree with platoon and feel many players body language suggests that their content collecting pay checks and playing for a nice guy organization that loses, Arcia at least looks like he has some fire in his belly and really wants to win. He needs polish but he's still pretty young and I kinda like his style.

[Patrick Midthun]

Yes, they need to play Arcia daily. He's one of the few on this team that shows any emotion. They need to find a way to keep Escobar in the lineup, too.

[adorduan]

Arcia needs an attitude adjustment.  His half-assed running out of a ground ball that he possibly could have beaten out the other day just infuriates me.  That kind of stuff can't be allowed to go by without repercussions.

[Mike Sixel]

I can't say what is in Arcia's head.....no way to know. Assuming he's not "dogging it", I'd play him 100% of the time vs righties, and half the time vs lefties.......

 

Only one way to learn, and that's by playing, imo.

 

If he isn't working hard, send him down.

[HitInAPinch]

 

I agree that he needs to modify his approach some, and that's on him and on the coaching staff too. I just want to see him challenged against tough lefties and playing every day, because he's probably not going to get better by sitting on the bench.

 

Arcia is still young, and it's really on the coaching staff to keep challenging him.  Classic example:  I believe it was the 2nd game, but there were runners on base and at a bare minimum, Arcia needed to pull the ball, and advance the runners.  After hacking off a bunch of pitches, he did that!  ONE BIG PROBLEM:  he go pissed because it was a weak slow-roller and didn't start running hard to 1st.  By the time he got to 1st, he still almost beat out the throw. 

 

That's one of those teaching moments Arcia REALLY needs!

[adorduan]

 

I can't say what is in Arcia's head.....no way to know. Assuming he's not "dogging it", I'd play him 100% of the time vs righties, and half the time vs lefties.......

 

Only one way to learn, and that's by playing, imo.

 

If he isn't working hard, send him down.

 

Mike, he DID dog it.  Hid a slow roller to 2nd base and ran half assed to first until he realized he might be able to beat it out and then he ran hard. Inexcusable effort.

[adorduan]

 

Arcia is still young, and it's really on the coaching staff to keep challenging him.  Classic example:  I believe it was the 2nd game, but there were runners on base and at a bare minimum, Arcia needed to pull the ball, and advance the runners.  After hacking off a bunch of pitches, he did that!  ONE BIG PROBLEM:  he go pissed because it was a weak slow-roller and didn't start running hard to 1st.  By the time he got to 1st, he still almost beat out the throw. 

 

That's one of those teaching moments Arcia REALLY needs!

 

This, a 1000 times this.  I'd have benched his butt for the rest of the game.

[mikelink45]

Play Arcia - If Rosario beats him out fine, but not Shane Robinson and Schaffer and Nunez and Escobar.  Give him confidence.  Remember the old story about Mays going 0 for 24 (I think my memory is right on that) and Durocher told him he was the CF and he would stay in the lineup.  He gave him both the chance and the confidence.  Instead of grumbling about his attitude lets help him get a good attitude and help the line up too. 

[adorduan]

 

Play Arcia - If Rosario beats him out fine, but not Shane Robinson and Schaffer and Nunez and Escobar.  Give him confidence.  Remember the old story about Mays going 0 for 24 (I think my memory is right on that) and Durocher told him he was the CF and he would stay in the lineup.  He gave him both the chance and the confidence.  Instead of grumbling about his attitude lets help him get a good attitude and help the line up too. 

  I bet Mays ran every ground ball out.

[whydidnt]

I've been a big fan of Arcia, to this point. However, he seems to be stagnating or regressing. I don't see the improvement I expected out of a young player now in his 3rd season with the big club. Not sure what the issue is, but he just doesn't look like he's improving. He does need to improve, and until Sano gets here, the Twins really need his potential power. They don't really have anyone else on the roster that fills that need. 

[stringer bell]

Arcia: Yes, he needs to hustle all the time and yes, he shows emotion and most of us like that. That is style. On substance, his swing gets long while he's trying to hit 500 ft. homers, he needs to shorten that swing and settle for more singles and doubles. The home runs will come, but not if he keeps trying to hit it 500 feet.

[dxpavelka]

I don't have a problem "making an example" of Arcia.  But if the guy you're putting into the lineup to do so is Shane Robinson then you're "making an example" of the wrong guy.  If Robinson is your alternative, the guy you "make an example"  of needs to be either the guy who writes Robinson's name on the lineup card or the guy who put him on the roster. We've had a million Shane Robinson's over the years:  Tommy Watkins, Darrin Jackson, Alex Cole, J.T. Bruett, Carmen Castillo, Andre David.  Do I need to go on?

 

[bluechipper]

 

This, a 1000 times this.  I'd have benched his butt for the rest of the game.

I don't really think that this play was as egregious as you're making it sound. It was a routine grounder to second, and the only reason anyone noticed he didn't hustle was because Micah Johnson made a bad play in the field. BTW Johnson appeared to make quite a few fielding mistakes throughout the series.

[nicksaviking]

Arcia is too young to platoon. If there are attitude or behavioral issues, a team imposed suspension or benching could be considered, though not if the issues are arrogance or over-confidence.

[mikelink45]

 

  I bet Mays ran every ground ball out.

I suspect he did, but is the bench the way to motivate Arcia?  I do not know anything about him, but his talent has not evolved in the Majors and I put that on the coaches and the team.  Figure it out.  If you have a valuable employee help him reach his potential.