January 3, 20197 yr Here is a first guess as to the opening day / everyday batting order. I think of this as a jumping off point and invite iterations. Two assumption: 1. No new (important) batters are signed, and 2. (BIG assumption) Bux and Sano have great spring trainings. Here we go: Buxton CF Polanco SS Rosario LF Sano 3B Cruz DH Cron 1B Kepler RF Castro C Schoop 2B (Of course, if both Bux and Sano don't: Polanco SS Schoop 2B Rosario LF Cruz DH Cron 1B Kepler RF Sano 3B Castro C Buxton CF) Thoughts?
January 3, 20197 yr BuxtonPoloncoSanoRosarioCruzKeplerCronCastroSchoop This makes it tough to use One out relievers for more than 1 batter.
January 3, 20197 yr Even if Buxton and Sano have great spring trainings I’m still opening the season with this lineup. KeplerPolancoRosarioCruzSchoopSanoCronBuxtonCastro
January 4, 20197 yr This team is going to be a strange mix of great outfield defense and terrible infield defense.
January 4, 20197 yr Even if Buxton and Sano have great spring trainings I’m still opening the season with this lineup. KeplerPolancoRosarioCruzSchoopSanoCronBuxtonCastroMan. 5 righties in a row. Then left, left, switch, left from 9-3.
January 4, 20197 yr this is always a fun exercise. FWIW, I had: SS- Polanco 1B- [R] CronLF- [L] RosarioDH- [R] Cruz3B- [R] SanoRF- [L] Kepler2B- [R] SchoopC- [L] CastroCF- [R] Buxton
January 4, 20197 yr Author Man. 5 righties in a row. Then left, left, switch, left from 9-3. So, what would be your guess? I'm hoping to collate the responses.
January 4, 20197 yr This team is going to be a strange mix of great outfield defense and terrible infield defense. While Sano and Polanco will both likely be below average defenders, from what I've read Cron and Schoop are above average fielders. I was looking through Fangraphs' fielding metrics and Cron ranked in the top 30% for most of them.
January 4, 20197 yr Buxton should be at the bottom of the order until he gets comfortable at the plate. Polanco should be the leadoff hitter. The middle of this lineup will be dangerous.
January 4, 20197 yr this is always a fun exercise. FWIW, I had:SS- Polanco1B- [R] CronLF- [L] RosarioDH- [R] Cruz3B- [R] SanoRF- [L] Kepler2B- [R] SchoopC- [L] CastroCF- [R] BuxtonMy thoughts, too (almost). I'd swap Kepler and Cron. I might even push Schoop to 8th or 9th if he hits like he did last year.
January 4, 20197 yr An exercise in futility because who knows how well each guy will perform, much less what Rocco has in mind. But a fun exercise! Actually was thinking about this today before I even saw the thread. My first, initial thoughts: 1] Polanco2] Kepler3] Cruz4] Rosario5] Sano6] Cron7] Schoop8] Garver/Castro9] Buxton Initially, makes the most sense to me, though I dislike to man RH hitters in a row.
January 4, 20197 yr OBP Last Year / OBP Career1 Polanco 345 3292 Cruz 342 3423 Rosario 323 3124 Sano 281 3365 Cron 323 3116 Kepler 319 3137 Schoop 266 2948 Buxton 183 2859 Castro 257 311 This line-up assumes Sano resembles himself before the leg injury. Buxton needs to earn his way to the top of the order during the regular season. The reason I put Cruz in #2 spot is because I don't want anyone hitting in the 2 hole with a below average OBP(MLB avg is 320). This also makes for a nice Right/Left balance.
January 4, 20197 yr this is always a fun exercise. FWIW, I had:SS- Polanco1B- [R] CronLF- [L] RosarioDH- [R] Cruz3B- [R] SanoRF- [L] Kepler2B- [R] SchoopC- [L] CastroCF- [R] BuxtonThis is a far better lineup than the OP having Buxton in leadoff. Polanco is the closest we have to a leadoff guy.
January 4, 20197 yr OBP Last Year / OBP Career1 Polanco 345 3292 Cruz 342 3423 Rosario 323 3124 Sano 281 3365 Cron 323 3116 Kepler 319 3137 Schoop 266 2948 Buxton 183 2859 Castro 257 311 This line-up assumes Sano resembles himself before the leg injury. Buxton needs to earn his way to the top of the order during the regular season. The reason I put Cruz in #2 spot is because I don't want anyone hitting in the 2 hole with a below average OBP(MLB avg is 320). This also makes for a nice Right/Left balance.I get it. But I just don't see Cruz hitting 2nd. There has to be someone...not sure who yet, could be a surprise with Rocco in charge...to team with Polanco who could give Cruz more RBI opportunities.
January 4, 20197 yr Cruz should be batting 3rd, not 5th. Polanco SRosario LCruz RCron RKepler LSano RGarver R / Castro LSchoop R Buxton R
January 4, 20197 yr SS- PolancoLF- [L] RosarioDH- [R] Cruz1B- [R] CronRF- [L] Kepler3B- [R] SanoC- [L/R] Castro/Garver2B- [R] SchoopCF- [R] Buxton A lot of righty's at the bottom of the order versus lefty's. But would like some speed at the bottom hitting ahead of Buxton, that's why the catchers aren't hitting lower. Sano and Buxton should move up subject to performance. Lineup should mash a lot of taters though.
January 4, 20197 yr The preferred lineup would be if all of the "ifs" have positive answers - then the following:BuxtonPolancoSanoRosarioCruzCronKeplerSchoopGarver
January 4, 20197 yr An exercise in futility because who knows how well each guy will perform, much less what Rocco has in mind. But a fun exercise!Actually was thinking about this today before I even saw the thread. My first, initial thoughts:1] Polanco2] Kepler3] Cruz4] Rosario5] Sano6] Cron7] Schoop8] Garver/Castro9] BuxtonInitially, makes the most sense to me, though I dislike to man RH hitters in a row. This is what the lineup should look like most days. Polanco and Kepler are good top of the order guys followed with the Twins two best hitters and then some righty lefty mixes.
January 4, 20197 yr Polanco (S)Cron ®Cruz ®Rosario (L)Sano ®Kepler (L)Garver ®Schoop ®Buxton ® Cron batted 2nd quite a bit last year and this team looks to be following TB's lead in a lot of areas. Schoop probably swaps with the catcher spot when Casto plays, but with only two regular lefties in the lineup I'd sandwich them around Sano to try to limit the pitching changes to the flawed but powerful hitter.
January 4, 20197 yr SS Polanco S3B Astudillo RLF Rosario LDH Cruz R1B Sano RCF Cave L2B Schoop RRF Kepler L C Castro L Cron PH for Castro and plays first while Sano moves to 3B, or is subbed out for Adrianza, and Astudillo moves to C.
January 4, 20197 yr I’ll go mid-season, because I am eternal optimist (don’t most Twins fans have to be to keep hanging on?). 1 - Buxton ®2 - Polanco (S)3 - Cruz ®4 - Sano ®5 - Rosario (L)6 - Schoop ®7 - Kepler (L)8 - Cron ®9 - Castro (L)
January 4, 20197 yr Funny how even relatively small changes can make the lineup significantly different. You add Cruz...you assume more PA's for Buxton and Sano, and you lose the two best OBP bats from the left side (even given neither was terribly productive taking into account slg). What are we left with? A 2019 team that will be desperate for at least one more left-handed bat that can do damage...as apposed to a 2018 team that was desperate for at least one more right-handed bat that could do damage. Given that righty-righty splits tend not to be as dramatically unfavorable, this probably isn't catastrophic. But I'd really like us to work to a situation where Jake Cave isn't our third most dangerous left-handed bat.
January 4, 20197 yr Here's Mine: 1. Kepler2. Polonco3. Rosario4. Cruz5. Sano6. Cron7. Schoop8. Castro9. Buxton Here's another question... Why are the Twins NOT in on Zach Britton?? We need a proven closer if we hope to contend with the Indians. If the White Sox are mentioned as a potential suitor but we're not what is up with that?? Adding Britton (and we can EASILY afford him) would allow the twins to better leverage pitchers like May and Rogers, even Addison Reed.
January 4, 20197 yr Here's another question... Why are the Twins NOT in on Zach Britton?? We need a proven closer if we hope to contend with the Indians. If the White Sox are mentioned as a potential suitor but we're not what is up with that?? Adding Britton (and we can EASILY afford him) would allow the twins to better leverage pitchers like May and Rogers, even Addison Reed. I'd be OK with Britton, he may not be OK with Minnesota though. But I don't know that he's a proven closer anymore. Since he's come back from his injury he's no longer striking guys out and he's walking an obscene amount of batters. At this point he'd probably be the 2nd lefty behind Taylor Rogers.
January 4, 20197 yr Here's Mine: 1. Kepler2. Polonco3. Rosario4. Cruz5. Sano6. Cron7. Schoop8. Castro9. Buxton Here's another question... Why are the Twins NOT in on Zach Britton?? We need a proven closer if we hope to contend with the Indians. If the White Sox are mentioned as a potential suitor but we're not what is up with that?? Adding Britton (and we can EASILY afford him) would allow the twins to better leverage pitchers like May and Rogers, even Addison Reed.It sounds like Boras is holding out for 4 years and $50 million minimum for Britton.I can't blame the FO one but if they have no interest at those terms. He's been oft injured, and good not great the last 2 years. If the dust settles and he comes down to 3/30, then maybe, though I'd prefer 2 years at this stage of his career.
January 4, 20197 yr Best offensively against a Right-Handed starter ( possibly ) Polanco SSRosario LF/RFCruz DHKepler 1BSano 3BCave RF/LFSchoop 2BCastro/Garver CBuxton CF
January 4, 20197 yr VS Lefty1 Polanco S2 Rosario L3 Sano R4 Cruz R5 Cron R6 Schoop R7 Kepler L8 Garver R9 Buxton R VS Righty1 Polanco S2 Rosario L3 Sano R4 Cruz R5 Kepler L6 Cron R7 Cave L8 Schoop R9 Castro L This is just the rough set up in my head, as every day should take advantage of specific matchups. And I'd like Garver/Castro to be a 60/40 split assuming health. Maybe Buxton has suddenly gained pitched recognition and never leaves the lineup and moves to the 2 spot or something. But for January 4th, this seems fine.
January 4, 20197 yr It sounds like Boras is holding out for 4 years and $50 million minimum for Britton.I can't blame the FO one but if they have no interest at those terms. He's been oft injured, and good not great the last 2 years.If the dust settles and he comes down to 3/30, then maybe, though I'd prefer 2 years at this stage of his career. Even at those terms I might rather have Justin Wilson if we're looking at lefties. If the team is OK with too many free passes from the end of game arms, I'd rather they weren't also relying on Polanco and Sano to make the final outs like Britton will do with his heavy sinker approach.
January 4, 20197 yr Against RHP: Kepler L 1BPolanco S SSCruz R DHRosario L LFSano R 3BSchoop R 2BCave L RFBuxton R CF Castro L C Against LHP: Buxton R CFPolanco S SSCruz R DHRosario L LFSano R 3BCron R 1bKepler L RFSchoop R 2BGarver R C
January 4, 20197 yr gotta be ....Polanco SS (s)Cruz Dh ®Rosario Lf (l) Sano 3b ®Kepler Rf (l)Schoop 2b ®Cron 1b ®Castro C (l)Buxton Cf ®i wouldnt change it much even if Cave wins the starting job or if Garver starts against left handed pitching. I will say though if Buxton doesnt start at Target Field then he will be somewhere else. Rochester, Pensacola, or?. He wont be on the bench as a Minnesota Twin.
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