Article: Where Should Jorge Polanco Play?

[Taildragger8791]

 

I am not sure what happened. In a few years his reputation went from "slick fielding will stick at SS and weak hitting" to "can't stick at short and good hitter".

Maybe the Twins just haven't done a good job assessing their own players? Where they can and can't play, etc. they always seem to be overly critical of young players defensively but okay with Nunez at short. Kurt at catcher. Delmon or willingham in the OF

 

I just wanted to second this notion. I'm starting to think the Twins have a hard time assessing and developing the more skilled positions. Too many players come up that ooze talent and then can't execute at their primary position. It's getting exceedingly harder to believe that these athletic and dedicated players figured out that they have two left feet somewhere between AA and MLB.

[Darius]

You can really make a case for any infield spot (outside of 1B and C, of course).

 

Sano should be a DH/1B. Just let the guy hit baseballs. How long is he going to stick at 3B, realistically, at his size anyway. 3-4 more years at best? Mauer is to the point where his name shouldn't be on the lineup card in stone. More days off would do him good. He's very good defensively, but at 1B, that doesn't mean a whole lot (relative to other positions). Plouffe could be shipped out for peanuts in August. Polanco could then find a home at 3B.

 

Escobar is a nice player, but he's not a potential offensive difference maker like Polanco could be. He's not a bad option to have off the bench to give Polanco days off/DH duty. Maybe start figuring out how to be a super-utility like Nunez. Whatever the case, unless you're prepared to say Escobar is the long-term plan at shortstop, there's no reason you can't pull the trigger and start him at short every day.

 

With all that said about 3B/SS, I don't really want him playing either of those, if at all possible. He's a liability defensively. If his arm-strength is questionable now, and he has rock-hard hands, it's not likely to improve with better competition. Also, he hasn't been playing those positions regularly for some time now. Why throw him back there at the ML level?

 

That leaves 2B. Dozier, IMO should be traded now. His value, whatever it may be, is as high as its ever going to be. You never know when he's going to go into one of his season-long slumps...and never come out of it. His defense is overrated by many, and wouldn't be missed as much as some think. Get some nice prospects for Dozier while you can (if you can), and slot Polanco at 2B.

[Rosterman]

WHO DISAPPEARS WHEN PLOUFFE RETURNS!

[tobi0040]

Roster,

 

Hopefully Plouffe

[stringer bell]

Don't have time to read the whole thread, but I heard Molitor's comments about Polanco. His best position is second, and second best is third. Dozier and Sano will play most every day, so I guess Jorge will have to move around to get his starts.

 

 

[Riverbrian]

This team?

 

20 games out of 1st place in the A.L. Central

 

17.5 games out of a wild card spot. 

 

Escobar OPS .656

Sano dropping routine pop ups at 3B

Dozier who took almost an entire year off before finding himself again. 

Mauer declining by the second. 

Rosario swinging at everything

Buxton 77 strikeouts in 187 AB's

Plouffe a serious non-tender candidate. 

 

And somehow Jorge Polanco is a logistics problem? They just can't find a place to play him? 

 

If Molitor can't figure this one out... If Molitor continues to put Polanco to sleep because he can't figure out how to get him into THIS LINEUP. It would be a clear indication that Molitor isn't the guy to take this team forward.

 

Any thought that the Twins have a logjam anywhere is simply a myth. 

 

The Astros can figure out how to get Bregman playing time with Altuve and Correa on the roster and sign a 33 year old Cuban third baseman to complicate things even more while in an actual playoff race and Polonco is a logistics issue for the Twins?

 

The Cubs can figure out how to play Baez with Russell, Bryant and Zobrist and with no DH position and in an actual playoff race and the Twins are stymied with how to play Poloanco? 

 

This is like a bird wondering how it will escape the backyard fence. 

 

 

 

 

[stringer bell]

I agree that it can and should be done. I guess i won't be upset if Polanco isn't in the lineup every day. IMHO, this is an audition for a utility role next year. If Dozier were moved, or Sano can't hack third base, Polanco could be an everyday alternative as soon as next year.

[King]

Polanco needs to play everyday. Would be nice to know what we have with him. 

 

By my understanding, he is out of options next season. Can anyone confirm this?

Edited July 30, 2016 by King

[tobi0040]

This team?

 

20 games out of 1st place in the A.L. Central

 

17.5 games out of a wild card spot.

 

Escobar OPS .656

Sano dropping routine pop ups at 3B

Dozier who took almost an entire year off before finding himself again.

Mauer declining by the second.

Rosario swinging at everything

Buxton 77 strikeouts in 187 AB's

Plouffe a serious non-tender candidate.

 

And somehow Jorge Polanco is a logistics problem? They just can't find a place to play him?

 

If Molitor can't figure this one out... If Molitor continues to put Polanco to sleep because he can't figure out how to get him into THIS LINEUP. It would be a clear indication that Molitor isn't the guy to take this team forward.

 

Any thought that the Twins have a logjam anywhere is simply a myth.

 

The Astros can figure out how to get Bregman playing time with Altuve and Correa on the roster and sign a 33 year old Cuban third baseman to complicate things even more while in an actual playoff race and Polonco is a logistics issue for the Twins?

 

The Cubs can figure out how to play Baez with Russell, Bryant and Zobrist and with no DH position and in an actual playoff race and the Twins are stymied with how to play Poloanco?

 

This is like a bird wondering how it will escape the backyard fence.

Yeah. It is sad. Worse because you can make the same exact argument for Berrios, Chargois, and Hildenberger not being up here.

 

I am most interested in who the new GM will be. Because these issues won't get fixed until that does.

 

Hopefully the new GM takes a look around at Buxton, Rosario, etc and realizes that the development team needs to go as well.

Edited July 30, 2016 by tobi0040

[bluechipper]

 

After watching Revere bounce balls to the cutoff man I can't believe that Dozier is anywhere near that tier of arm strength. Even his off balance throws are on a rope, I've never noticed a slow or droopy throw from him.

Really? Have you seen Dozier try to make a throw to home on a relay? It's not very pretty, and almost every throw to first is a lob. I'm not saying he's a bad fielder, but his arm is not his strong point.

[Shaitan]

I expect him to play close to as often as Nunez, primarily at SS for the remainder of the season. Escobar taking the rest of the positions in relief.

 

Then in the offseason, we have the annual "who is the starting SS" discussion. Anoint a starter, swap him out by May for the other guy.

 

Why do I think this? I just feels like they've decided Escobar is a utility guy (again). Which is always subject to change. That, and 2B and 3B are already stocked. Depth is good. Hamstrings pull every day.

[7r4de me]

I always posts on here of people saying something to the effect of "why not call him up and let him play everyday so we can find out what we have."

 

The part of the Twins' cycle of failure that everyone complains about is holding onto vets too long/not selling at peak value. The other part of this cycle I never see comments on is the constant reliance on the unknown--the almighty "prospect." We keep waiting on these prospects to save us (every year posts are about how great we will be in two years), but how often does a top prospect actually pan out? I agree we need better scouting/development so we know what we have before guys get to the bigs.

 

Since the majority of prospects don't ever end up being difference makers then why not trade them for known commodities? Let's package together some of these scratchers/lotto tickets and get in the Chris Sale sweeps, or go after someone who is actually known to have big league value.

[Shaitan]

 

Polanco is a second baseman. Dozier should have been dealt before now. For three years running, Dozier has completely disappeared offensively for 2-3 months at a time.  Next year will be no different.

 

Leave it to the Twins to always create logjams at positions. Maybe the new GM can clean this mess up.

 

It's a fine line between logjam and depth. That said, I'm 50/50 on a trade of Dozier, but not purely for the sake of making a trade.

[7r4de me]

The problem of seeing what we have in guys at the ML level is that if we find out that the potentially something is really nothing, the rest of the world finds out at the same time, and then that is what we are left with.

I think we should trade SOME of our prospects and actually get something

[mlhouse]

Rotate Polanco between 2B, 3B, and SS.  I think you can enhance his value if you can get him some OF reps, but we already have a lot of young guys out there I would rather play everyday.  

 

I would play him at 2B if they keep Dozier.  When he plays eitehr 2B or 3B they can move Dozier or Sano to DH respectively.  Polanco would play 75% of the games and you can manuever his off day to coincide with any platoon matchups you want.

 

If they move Dozier either at deadline or offseason then obviously Polanco is the everyday 2B.

[King]

Do-Hyoung Park ‏@dohyoungpark  3m3 minutes ago
Molitor also says Polanco is still young enough they're not worried about getting him consistent big league ABs yet.

 

 

Now how does this make any sense? He's 23, which is young, but right at the age where most mid level prospects are making it to the MLB. He's already hit well in AAA, and by my understanding he is out of options next season.

 

Just let him play. Work out any problems with his defense he has. 

Edited July 30, 2016 by King

[jimmer]

 

Do-Hyoung Park ‏@dohyoungpark  3m3 minutes ago
Molitor also says Polanco is still young enough they're not worried about getting him consistent big league ABs yet.

 

 

Now how does this make any sense? He's 23, which is young, but right at the age where most mid level prospects are making it to the MLB. He's already hit well in AAA, and by my understanding he is out of options next season.

 

Just let him play. Work out any problems with his defense he has. 

Well, there's that and the fact that there's only two months left and I BELIEVE he's out of options. Which means he needs to be put on the 25 man roster for next season anyway. Seems this is exactly the time he needs to be getting a lot of ABs.

[jud6312]

If we're looking at this through Molly Goggles, the correct answer is "wherever Danny doesn't want to play that day."

[Mike Sixel]

That quote from Molitor.....does he know Polanco is out of options? Does he know they need him in the majors next year? Did he not understand his job, in a lost season, is to coach up the young guys? Ugh.

[tobi0040]

Did he not understand his job, in a lost season, is to coach up the young guys? Ugh.

There is absolutely no shadow of doubt. Molitor does not view this as part of his job description.

[Rosterman]

HE SHOULD BE OUR NEW DESIGNATED HITTER. I mean, the outfield is waaaay too crowded, so much so that WE HAVE to play Danny Santana in the infield.

 

(Even on a day off, Polanco at third and letting Sano NOT field but hit would be better than what Molitor did today...this from a manager who feels a guy can lead off or hit fourth...anyone know WHY it is so hard to get a decent lineup and stick with it?)

[Taildragger8791]

This article pretty well clears it up. Polanco isn't going to play much this year barring injury or trade. In which case you may as well trade the guy or leave him in AAA, but whatever. Molitor doesn't see any opportunity for playing time with this totally loaded roster (paraphrasing).

 

http://mlb.com/r/article?ymd=20160730&content_id=192663010&vkey=news_min&c_id=min

 

 

"We might have to wait for an opportunity to get him more consistent play, but we'll try to get a little bit of a look at him this time around between now and the end of the season if we can."

[Shaitan]

I've tried to be patient with Molitor but I really don't have a response to DH.

[hybridbear]

If Polanco's arm isn't good enough to play SS, how on earth could he play 3B? Doesn't a 3B need an even better arm than SS since their distance is so far across the diamond?

[Mr. Brooks]

If Polanco's arm isn't good enough to play SS, how on earth could he play 3B? Doesn't a 3B need an even better arm than SS since their distance is so far across the diamond?

You need a stronger arm from SS. The throw from deep SS is actually further than almost any throw a 3b has to make, plus the SS has to throw against their momentum a lot more often than a 3b.

[stringer bell]

For you young 'uns, the Twins had a platoon third baseman named Mike Cubbage, who threw lollipops to first much like most of Dozier's soft tosses to the first baseman. There were comments that his throws to first were measured in hang time, but on balance he was an okay third baseman. If Polanco's arm isn't quite up to speed for short, he still might have enough to be an adequate third baseman. 

[HitInAPinch]

I don't believe "not playing shortstop" was about Polanco's arm.  I think it was about his footwork. 

I also think I've seen a REALLY small sample size of Polanco at SS. 

 

Escobar is healthy again and playing well, + hitting.  One thing of note on Escobar:  on the day of the Nunez trade, Escobar was playing 3rd.

[ashbury]

This article pretty well clears it up. Polanco isn't going to play much this year barring injury or trade.

I ran across this thread again by accident. When this post was written, Polanco had 37 major league plate appearances in the season. Since then, it looks like the youngster will finish the season with something in the neighborhood of 250. Let's give credit for him getting his chances; he's starting nearly every day in a lost season.

[twinsnorth49]

Yep, Polanco playing nearly every day is one of the few reasons to keep watching.