I don't know why Polanco has not played SS at AAA.

 

 

Really makes zero sense that the Twins didn't play him there if they had any willingness to have him play that spot in the Majors.

 

Agreed.  I can sort of understand not promoting him earlier -- we had Dozier, Escobar, and Plouffe/Sano to start in the MLB infield -- but I'm not sure why you wouldn't get him reps at all 3 positions.  SS/3B is pretty barren in Rochester right now, and clearly there isn't a full-time opening at 2B in MLB right now.  So Polanco was pretty much ticketed for a utility type role.

 

I hope to goodness the plan isn't to restrict Polanco to 2B/3B backup, with Santana getting the backup SS reps.  With answers developing in the outfield (chiefly Kepler and Grossman, even as a 4th OF type), the plan should be to start looking at dropping Santana from the roster completely.

 

We are going to play yet another young player at a position he hasn’t played in a while. If we keep Dozier, you think we maybe could have played the guy at SS and 3B a bit in the minors? It is called putting a player in a position to succeed. A novel concept.

Yeah, that's the feeling I am getting too.  I could see Polanco continuing to spend too much time on the MLB bench, and maybe just sharing 3B with Sano until Plouffe returns.

Prepare to be disappointed. He's not playing ss because they don't believe he can play it. Unless Dozier is dealt (which I would do) he isn't going to play as much as we would like.

Here's a quote from Antony in this morning's Strib article:

 

“It still might be a challenge [for Polanco] to get at-bats, but he’s the right guy to bring up. When we need somebody, he can come off the bench,” Antony said of the 23-year-old Dominican, who is a career .262 hitter in 22 big-league games.

 

I wish he'd be getting playing time wherever he happens to be. However, it doesn't appear he'll get much with the Twins unless there are more roster moves.

I don't see how he gets much time......me? I'd have had him in CF some the last two months.....or maybe LF.......I don't see Dozier going anywhere. Oh, and time at 3B also.....

 

Here's a quote from Antony in this morning's Strib article:

 

“It still might be a challenge [for Polanco] to get at-bats, but he’s the right guy to bring up. When we need somebody, he can come off the bench,” Antony said of the 23-year-old Dominican, who is a career .262 hitter in 22 big-league games.

 

I wish he'd be getting playing time wherever he happens to be. However, it doesn't appear he'll get much with the Twins unless there are more roster moves.

Seems a waste of Polanco. bring up a prospect like him to just sit?  I don't want any more IFs in the OF though.

Edited July 29, 201610 yr by jimmer

 

Here's a quote from Antony in this morning's Strib article:

 

“It still might be a challenge [for Polanco] to get at-bats, but he’s the right guy to bring up. When we need somebody, he can come off the bench,” Antony said of the 23-year-old Dominican, who is a career .262 hitter in 22 big-league games.

 

 

Why does it seem like every time this team gives us something to get excited about they immediately follow it up by saying frustrating and illogical things in a followup interview/press conference?

It'll be very fun to see Polanco, Sano and Kepler in the same lineup.  That was a hell of a recruiting class.  

 

As to where he'll play, it seems like he's blocked by Dozier and Sano.  I'd certainly listen on Dozier but I'm not sure there's a big market for second baseman.  The team (and scouting reports) don't think he can play short.  Considering they already have a bad third baseman, maybe having a sub-optional left side of the infield isn't ideal.  That said, in this lost season, I'd stick him at short for 60 games and see what happens.  

 

“It still might be a challenge [for Polanco] to get at-bats, but he’s the right guy to bring up. When we need somebody, he can come off the bench,” Antony said 

Ugh.  If that's the case, why not call up a pitcher instead?  Say, Chargois, or maybe even Berrios with another starter moving to the pen?

 

You've got 4 outfielders not counting Santana, and you've got 4 infielders (2B/SS/3B) including Santana, so you don't need Polanco to come off your bench unless you're ready to dump Santana.

 

(An aside: not sure how this is decided, but Sano is not listed as an infielder on the Twins roster right now, but rather as a DH, which seems unusual since he's started 24 games at 3B this year, 37 in RF, and only 9 at DH.  And his last start at DH was 3 weeks ago...)

Edited July 29, 201610 yr by spycake

Hopefully they trade Dozier for more pitching.  Good trade on Nunez.  Good call-up on Polanco.  I would like to see Mauer move to DH and Sano to first.  I think Sano needs a bigger glove, and Mauer needs to focus on hitting again.  Polanco needs time in the infield, and Escobar hasn't really done much to be displaced at short.  

 

Hopefully they trade Dozier for more pitching.  Good trade on Nunez.  Good call-up on Polanco.  I would like to see Mauer move to DH and Sano to first.  I think Sano needs a bigger glove, and Mauer needs to focus on hitting again.  Polanco needs time in the infield, and Escobar hasn't really done much to be displaced at short.  

 

I'm encouraged by this Nunez trade.

 

There is no chance the interim GM has power to make Molitor play anyone considering the statements made by Pohlad.  But I do suspect that Molitor will let Polanco play short for a few games.  But if he goes 1-7 in his first two games, maybe the lure of Danny Santana is too great?

My point is the season is lost, let's find out if Polanco is part of the problem or part of the solution.  If he hits well enough, you may be able to trade Dozier in the offseason.