Article: Defenseless: How Can The Twins Improve In The Field?

[stringer bell]

After watching both a lot in spring training, I still like Rosario more than Hicks.  I would bring him up to play center instead of Schafer and if Hicks forces his way back to the majors, either Arcia or Rosario comes to Rochester with the other guy playing left field.

[Mike Sixel]

 

On a serious note or two...

Unless the Twins plan for Arcia to plant himself permanently in LF, the move of him, a career RF who actually showed improvement last season, to LF was not only misguided...but...sorry...it was stupid. Hunter is signed for 1 season. One. The veteran, Hunter, needs to make the move to LF, and should have right away. Hopefully, it's not too late.

Hicks could be promoted up I guess. But if we ever really want to see if he can cut it, it's time to be fair to not only him, but the Twins themselves in regard to any potential value and just let him stay at Rochester, rebuild confidence and approach and work on that new leg kick of his.

There's a lot of ways to make a team and improve a team. I am leaving that poor dead horse carcass to push up daisies in peace and talk about the NOW instead of mistakes of the off season. The Twins have one of the absolute best, top farm systems in all of baseball. And hey, I'd like to keep every single prospect as long as I can too. But to not make a move as obvious as acquiring help for the team in CF is downright disrespectful and insulting to the members of the team as well as the fans.

Trading a solid prospect or two, in a farm system this deep, does not diminish your talent level or your future. And nobody is saying, or expects, the team to trade for a big time, expensive all star and unload 4 of their top 20 prospects. We're talking about a solid prospect or two for a solid ML ballplayer who can play CF without embarrassment, and then can assume a 4th OF role when Buxton is ready. Acquiring this solid, ML caliber CF would in no way block Buxton when ready. And no matter how much we want it to happen, the odds of Buxton being ready for the majors two months from now is just not realistic.

So you do nothing and tell your team, (especially your pitching staff) and your fans; "Tough. Deal with it. We've totally screwed up this key position for a couple years now but, so what. Eventually we'll get better."

Make the move. There are solid and interesting options listed here already. I'm sure there are others.

The infield is OK. You absolutely do not give up on the talented Santana at this point. But you continue to work in the deserving Escobar as well.

 

100%, this. I would hit the love button if there was one.

[Mike Sixel]

 

It is too early.

Once they decide to send Hicks down, they need to give him a long enough stretch in AAA. The next time they call him up needs to be the last time.

They likely poorly evaluated Schafer's skills when they took him to arbitration. Give him 120 PAs and assess.

Stubbs is not a good solution. He is now a below average defender in CF. He is past his prime seasons. His numbers were home fueled in 2014. Trading for him based on that performance would be like signing a decline phase reliever with Petco fueled numbers.

The Twins already have a guy that can compete with his road 211/283/333 and struggle against right handed pitching. Give him some more time in AAA.

 

Too early? This is year three of the situation being unbearable in CF. How is it too early? Schaefer and Robinson are not going to suddenly figure out how to be good MLB players. They have shown that already. They should just punt on defense for how long? How long would be "not too early"?

[chopper0080]

I agree with Doc that Arcia to LF is this year's Santana to CF.  Another seemingly short-sighted plan that undermines the idea that this team has and is executing a detailed, long term plan.

[Loosey]

 

how does moving Mauer to the outfield help the outfield? He's never shown the ability to play the outfield, and history of leg issues may indicate the outfield may not be a good choice since every play you are involved includes running. Just because you are subtracting a poor player from the field does it mean you are improving. Also, It would hurt the infield as he is a better first baseman than any of the other options, and Plouffe is a good to very good third baseman.

Escobar would be a step up with the glove at SS, but a step down with range and arm, I think sticking with Santana at short in 2015, could make for a very good SS of the future if things go well.

Since the minor league options aren't ready, and are still just prospects, trading Arcia or Vargas for a good fielding and decent hitting Left Fielder might be the best stop gap. Hunter would be my preference to go, but he's worth nothing and has a no trade clause, as if 10 mil wasn't enough to deter a trade.

One leg issue 4 years ago and a torn meniscus 10 years ago isn't exactly a history of leg issues.  And yeah he hasn't shown an ability to play in the outfield, however, he hasn't exactly had an opportunity either.  He has played 1 game in 2011 in RF.  Also I agree with leaving Santana at SS, but Escobar can play 3rd and Plouffe could try 1st.  If it doesn't work you can always go back to status quo.  In that scenario I don't think you make your defense worse unless Mauer is worse than Arcia in LF (unlikely) and Plouffe can't field on the other side of the diamond.  In this scenario you can move Vargas in at 1st on occasion and switch between him and Arcia at DH as well and Hunter in RF swapping with Arcia.  Just saying I think it would be worth a try.

[troyhobbs]

 

My opinion hasn't changed since ST started... the best of a bad set of options was to start with Hicks in CF again this year. There is still a chance that option works out, meanwhile he's probably not any worse than the current options. Plus, I doubt the current CF options come with much if any chance at success, short or long term.

Agreed.  Also agree with others about Hicks' questionable routes but his arm, glove, and range put him well above Shaeffer/Robinson defensively IMO.

[Brandon]

I advocate putting Santana back in the OF and putting Escobar at SS. 

[jorgenswest]

With almost every move since Ryan returned, little value has been placed on defensive skill. While I do believe he cares that players play the game right and throw to the right cut off man, I don't think he values skill defensively. It has contributed significantly the Twins inability to prevent runs. The only solution the front office can see is to exchange mediocre pitchers with different mediocre pitchers. Give mediocre pitchers a bad defense behind them and league bottom catchers in front of them and they perform among the worst in baseball.

[jokin]

 

Agreed.  Also agree with others about Hicks' questionable routes but his arm, glove, and range put him well above Shaeffer/Robinson defensively IMO.

 

 

Agree with everything, but his glove his shaky, certainly not above Robinson.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

One leg issue 4 years ago and a torn meniscus 10 years ago isn't exactly a history of leg issues.  And yeah he hasn't shown an ability to play in the outfield, however, he hasn't exactly had an opportunity either.  He has played 1 game in 2011 in RF.  Also I agree with leaving Santana at SS, but Escobar can play 3rd and Plouffe could try 1st.  If it doesn't work you can always go back to status quo.  In that scenario I don't think you make your defense worse unless Mauer is worse than Arcia in LF (unlikely) and Plouffe can't field on the other side of the diamond.  In this scenario you can move Vargas in at 1st on occasion and switch between him and Arcia at DH as well and Hunter in RF swapping with Arcia.  Just saying I think it would be worth a try.

a portion of the defensive issues is caused by playing fielders out of position, and talent. Plouffe is a good third baseman, Mauer is a good first baseman. There are no options currently available better than they are, and they are both good hitters. Why change that? This team needs to improve by increasing quality of talent from the outside, not shuffling guys around more just 'cuz.