https://twitter.com/LaVelleNeal/status/849992297186025473/photo/1

 

Not the best picture nor the best spelling of 'three' but ...

 

Santana in LF, Rosario DHing

I knew this day would come... Just going to pretend a pitcher is hitting in the 9 spot today.

I probably would have kept Escobar in at 3b and DHed Sano, given a day to Rosario or Kepler (or maybe even Buxton).

 

I endorse getting Santana a game early.

Jason Hammel (RHP) throwing for the Royals btw.

 

Jason Hammel (RHP) throwing for the Royals btw.

Hammel was ok in the NL but horrible in the AL

The hilarious thing is that the lineup would be better with Rosario in left and Danny Santana the DH.

 

I also feel that Sano and Mauer will need to DH significantly this season to get the best from them.

BREAKING ...

 

The scene in the manager's office this morning when Paul revealed the lineup to DanSan

 

http://runeatrepeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/i-cant-quit-you_thumb.jpg

Good idea to keep the bench alert, even if it ticks off the DanSan haters.  Hope Buxton can cut down on his early season strike-out binge.,

The "DanSan Haters" are generally those with eyes. So, you're saying it's good for the Twins to anger virtually anyone paying attention?

 

This guy is *literally* one of the worst five players in baseball over the last couple of years, yet for some reason he continues getting a pass.

 

Being awful at virtually every aspect of the game is not an admirable trait.

Rosario likely tweaked his arm on that ridiculous throw in from left yesterday, thus 4th outfielder.

 

Come on guys, Santana has to be preferable in the outfield to Grossman, right?

Looking forward to seeing some hot left field action this afternoon.

If they keep players they have to use them.   I would have preferred Park, but they wanted Santana and he is of no value if he never gets on the field.

I know it's early, but Buxton needs to be dropped to the bottom of the order. A 60% K rate in the heart of the order is rally killing. 

 

Rosario likely tweaked his arm on that ridiculous throw in from left yesterday, thus 4th outfielder.

 

Come on guys, Santana has to be preferable in the outfield to Grossman, right?

 

It does appear Rosario is hurt, but I think Molly said DanSan would play today before yesterday' game even started....

 

I think it is likely Grossman is a better hitter and OF than DanSan. I'm not a huge fan of Grossman in the field, but I don't think he's as bad as he was last year (based on previous year's data), and it appears he can avoid outs pretty well relative to many others on this roster. 

 

If they keep players they have to use them.   I would have preferred Park, but they wanted Santana and he is of no value if he never gets on the field.

 

Actually, Santana has more value if he never plays. That's literally the definition of a below replacement level player- he is costing the team wins when he plays. 

At this point it looks like there is an extremely concerted effort to alternate right-handed-possible batters and left-handed-possible batters.

 

The league didn't make a new rule I'm not aware of did they?

 

If they keep players they have to use them.   I would have preferred Park, but they wanted Santana and he is of no value if he never gets on the field.

He's of negative value when playing though.

I have not been DaSan's biggest fan here on TD (possibly an understatement) and am now curious about my thoughts on him starting today.

Fist of all, as long as he's on the roster he should get a chance to play sometimes. We're already burning a roster spot with Haley and we aren't good enough to be competitive with a 23 man roster.

Second, I don't have any ill will toward DanSan. He might be a great guy. If he'd ever been guilty of domestic violence or some similar behavior I would feel fine hoping he fails, Not so.

 

I guess I just want the Twins to put the best players on the field and in the last 2 years and 500+ AB he has been clearly one of the worst players in baseball.

 

The Twins must see something in him. I hope he proves the Twins right and me wrong, or the Twins figure out that he does not belong on the team and get him off the roster.

We have 4 OF after which Escobar can be an emergency OF. We do not NEED DanSan. Either this guy shows us a LOT of talent or he needs to be sent away. 

 

 

Resolution would be a good thing.

 

At this point it looks like there is an extremely concerted effort to alternate right-handed-possible batters and left-handed-possible batters.

 

The league didn't make a new rule I'm not aware of did they?

 

They did, but it's secret, so you'll never actually know what that rule is...

DanSan had the third strongest OF throwing arm in the majors last season. Maybe the Twins have secretly trained him as their 15th pitcher (after Eduardo).

I know it's early, but Buxton needs to be dropped to the bottom of the order. A 60% K rate in the heart of the order is rally killing.

 

2 games.

I'm a dansan appologist. I doubt he'll be around long if he's not productive. I get the WAR arguments, but I believe alot of his struggles revolved around a flawed hitting approach pressed upon him. He's still young and the tools are there with occasional extended glimpses in the field and at the plate. I think he belongs in the league anyway... maybe...

 

2 games.

 

60% K rate. 

K-rate as a metric is meaningless in SSS (which I know you know)

 

Just say 6K in 10AB

 

K-rate as a metric is meaningless in SSS (which I know you know)

 

Just say 6K in 10AB

 

In fairness, it's not like the sample size before this year indicates this might not be a concern. 

 

If they keep players they have to use them.   I would have preferred Park, but they wanted Santana and he is of no value if he never gets on the field.

he's of negative value on the field. -1 < 0

 

Actually, Santana has more value if he never plays. That's literally the definition of a below replacement level player- he is costing the team wins when he plays. 

I understand what you are saying, but the Twins leadership does not share that opinion so they are obligated to justify their choice and play him or cut him.  The bench is too short to just hide him.

 

He's of negative value when playing though.

That is true to us, but obviously not to the team so they either need to play him and show his worth or cut him and move on.  We are hiding Haley because he is Rule 5.  What is the value of hiding Santana?

 

he's of negative value on the field. -1 < 0

I understand that. My statement is not about his value, but the need for the team to justify his inclusion on a very short bench.  We cannot just keep, pay and hide players.  We are already doing that with Haley.  But Santana has to either show the management is right or the TD readers are right.  There is no value otherwise.  I would not have kept him, but they did so they have to play him.

 

he's of negative value on the field. -1 < 0

 

Buxton had better at bats in the second game, but I still would have dropped him down to 7 or 8 today