Article: The Outlook In The Outfield

[lightfoot789]

Walker Home Runs = 18

 

2015 OUTFIELDERS

Hunter - 8

Rosario - 3

Escobar - 3

Arcia - 2

Nunez - 1

HIcks - 1

Hermann - 1

Shafer - 0

Robinson - 0

TOTAL  Home Runs = 19

----------------------------------

Walker RBI = 57

 

2015 OUTFIELDERS (Hunter excluded w/36)

Escobar = 22

Robinson = 15

Rosario = 11

Arcia = 8

Nunez = 7

Hicks = 2

Total RBI = 65

 

We're talking strike outs;  We're not talking production; We're talking strikeouts;  The man is putting in work everyday and We're talking strikeouts;  We're not talking production.  Lol

 

Great kid and I imagine he will continue to work on the plate discipline.  Every year his production is questioned and every year he produces.  I say let him fail this year as a call up and work on those exploited flaws in AAA when they become apparent in his production results.  If he continues to flourish with production, then let him fail (Ks) on the job successfully.   While always working to get better.

 

Those are sad statistical results listed above.  "GAME CHANGER"

[GMinTraining]

 

Yup, Kepler is better at both spots, but given that he is not Tatiana Maslany, he can only play one. So what matters is comparative advantage, not absolute advantage (remember your college econ class on free trade?).  If DH is not occupied by a better option, I'd put Kepler in the OF and Walker at DH. If DH is occupied and 1B is not, then its a tough call, but I might agree that Kepler has a comparative advantage at 1B.

 

 

Great footage of Walker playing 1st base in NCAA Regionals.  He's more athletic than stiff IMO -  

Start video at 35 seconds and watch thru 2 minutes and 32 seconds

 

[drivlikejehu]

#ABWTrolling

[GMinTraining]

And 

Just the facts - Lol

[Lefty]

I think Walker should be looked at sooner than later.  I'm with lightfoot.  Some people drive in runs, some don't, he DOES!  I just don't know where he fits yet, but I'd like to see him get a shot sometime... wherever that may be.

 

I'd like to see Buxton in CF, Rosario in LF, and Arcia in RF.  I think Hicks is a good 4th OF as well.  Good defensive replacement and can steal bases off the bench.  Don't know much about Kepler other than he's tearing up double A right now.

Arcia has too much power to give up on.  He needs to play.  Rosario should not be sent down.  He hasn't regressed yet, and I hope he doesn't.  He's one of our best hitters right here, right now.

 

I don't think Sano will be in the OF, they would have tried it by now if that were going to be an option.  

[DocBauer]

A double edged sword at the moment gang: all this OF talent and potential, but not all of the OF and potential ready or realized and nothing necessitates making a decision TODAY. And tomorrow row is half a season away, which gives more time for offensive and defensive development, successes, promotions, etc.

 

Mauer: Not going anywhere for at least a year. Contract and history both say he's earned that right. He might rebound, he might not. But cut, retire, urged to retire and bought out, whatever, ink him in for 2016 as a 1B and DH. Could he be OK in the OF? Meh...potentially. Still has a good arm, decent athlete overall, and I've seen worse in the last, and still see worse out there today. (Baseball, not necessarily the Twins) But I just don't see any scenario in which moving Mauer to the OF overrides any other scenario. There are just so many other possible options that make more sense.

 

Arcia: I don't want to trade him, much less trade low. He played and hit the best I've seen the last part of 2014. I just don't understand what has happened this season. Still a boatload of offensive talent and mediocre to OK defensive potential. Call me crazy, his youth, flashes, and potential still hold some value in a trade scenario, especially as part of a package. Losing him if he rebounds won't hurt as much depending on what the final return is, and if Kepler and others would have made him superfluous anyway. I think he can DH and be a part time 4/5th OF. But if Kepler is or can be ready soon, then I'm OK with an Arcia move to bring in that catcher the team could really use.

 

Speaking of Kepler: huge fan and believer. Been immensely intrigued and hopeful since day one. Unless his swing just lies flat like Mauer, (I've seen nothing to indicate this, just saying) more HR's will come from his big and athletic frame. Suddenly finding himself is awesome. But I don't want him promoted so fast that he loses himself again. I think AAA for the second half is the right thing to do. And it's not that anyone is saying he's of MORE VALUE at 1B, it's just that, with so many options potentially available and viable over the next year or two, putting him at 1B fills that position very well and puts another potential quality OF in the field.

 

Rosario: really, up until last season, he has always hit, always produced, always shown tons of potential and natural ability and always been young for his level. While not setting the world on fire YET, he is playing excellent defense, slashing some speed and power, and looks natural on the base paths. He'll probably never be a high OB guy, but I can live with that and all off is other skills and potential. Not all players, and not all great players, are necessarily disciplined, high BB hitters.

 

Hicks: offensive and defensively, despite a few bad moments, the player I saw out there this 3rd time looked much, much more like a confident, bonafide ML player than the overmatched and defensive kid I watched the past couple of seasons. I hesitated at his promotion as his stance and stroke were re-worked, productive, but still in their infancy. I still like his potential as a starting CF for someone, with decent to good potential offense. But for the Twins, I think he's a 4th OF. And he could be a really nice one, and I'm OK with that. But like Arcia, he could be part of a package for a young catcher. (Think of the Twins desperate and bungled CF situation these past few seasons and a former top prospect drops in your lap as part of a deal)

 

Sano: can we just drop this for now? Please? Kid misses the entire 2014 season, has a half season at AA 3B under his belt, and is suddenly destined for 1B and/or the OF...positions he has never played before except for like a single inning....because....why? Because he will be an instant HR champ slugging All Star with the move off of 3B? Because he can't play 3B? Who says? I have read speculation that he MAY have to move off 3B, at least eventually depending on growth, but have read nothing that says he can't be at least an OK 3B. Said it before, and will keep on saying it, gold glove 3B don't get promoted, they develop.

 

I'm not down on Walker or Harrison, it's just that there are more holes there to close, typical of most prospects. Each is a good year away. And that's OK!

 

I'm also not as down in Santana at SS as some, though I believe Polanco just might be the best option going forward. Based on what he showed flashes of potentially, could he unlock that potential as a LF who can backup CF and SS? I think it's worth considering. Like Arcia, and Hicks, his talent and potential could make him part of a trade package as well.

 

Hunter: absolutely love what he's brought and how this story is playing out. I don't think he should be brought back, almost regardless of how he hits/plays the rest of the year. HOWEVER, I will say this; injury, trade(s) or poor performance of say Arcia and/or Hicks, I would at least consider Hunter back on a 1 year, provided it was friendly, and it was understood he was a DH who might get a start here or there, but NOT a big signing as a starting OF option.

[DocBauer]

Kepler and Rosario in the corners (whichever) and Buton in CF. Could be September, could be next June.

 

You don't need a backup CF on the roster because you already have two. Not saying no to Hicks, but decreases any urgency for a 4th OF to be able to play the spot. If roster crunching left you with only 4 total OF's, Arcia could be that guy.

 

That starting OF offers up not only daily talent, but soooo many options and possibilities for reserve spot/roster scenarios as well as trade options to fill other needs.

[stringer bell]

Great thread with a variety of opinions. Rather than respond to all of the posts, I'll offer up my thoughts on some of the comments made.

 

1) Unless he retires early, the Twins have a first baseman in Mauer. He's been somewhere between disappointing and awful the last two years. I have some hope that he will regress to his mean, but I doubt he'll ever be an All-Star again.

 

2) Kepler outhit Rosario (narrowly) in the AFL. He has outhit everyone (OPS) at AA. I recall watching him, Buxton and Sano taking BP three springs ago and the ball sounded different when those three hit the ball than when other prospects hit it. He's got fine speed and a good frame. I believe the power will come, but he could hit like Mauer with good OBP and a lot of extra base hits, not homers. 

 

3) The Twins need LH power and Arcia provides that commodity more than any OF candidate. I don't think he is hopeless as an outfielder, but he has a long way to go to be adequate. He definitely needs another chance, but this year that would probably be at DH.  Maybe that will be his role going forward, but the team could live with him on a corner with two plus outfielders filling out the outfield. If the Twins think he's a square peg in a round hole, he should have built some value to be traded.

 

4) Walker reminds me of Michael Restovich. Great power, fine speed, some holes in his swing. He's progressed and is having a fine year in AA. To me, he is behind Kepler as a prospect because he's older, right handed and hasn't played much besides the corner oufield.

 

5) Hicks hasn't shown me that he can hit in the majors. He might get another chance if Buxton is sent back to the minors. I hope he builds enough value to net something. On another team, he might be a starting center fielder.

 

6) I've liked Rosario for some time. I think his plate disciple has improved as he's adjusted to the majors. He's a good fielder and can steal a base. Will he be an All-Star? Probably not, but he could be a solid guy for a long time. I don't care that he had not done well in the upper minors, he can hit.

 

7) Buxton's least developed tool is hitting. I know he'll be fine, but it wouldn't surprise me that he would not be fine until he spends a bit more time in the minors. I hope not. Let's hope he learns at the big league level.

[jorgenswest]

Kepler and Walker are likely going to follow the same back and forth from majors to minors that so many others have needed. They can't be expected to be ready next year or even the year after. It is really hard to hit major league pitching and most players do not come up ready to do so. They learn by failing in the majors and making adjustments that were never necessary in the minors.

 

The Twins need Arcia. He is the better hope for power next year.They also need to preserve all of Walker's options.

[Willihammer]

Some interesting names now and in the pipeline so why does Escobar continue to get playing time out there?

[DaveTMpls]

So how does he get better at hitting said curve balls, if he doesn't see said curve balls?

I assume AAA pitchers would offer more of a challenge.