Front Page: Jonathan Schoop Becoming the Odd Man Out

[Cody Christie]

Luis Arraez has been a revelation for the Twins offense and at the same time, Ehire Adrianza has been a very strong utility player. Jonathan Schoop was brought in to take over second base from fan favorite Brian Dozier. He’s had some great hot streaks, but it might make more sense to play Arraez and Adrianza at this point. Could Schoop become the odd-man out?The Twins had a lot of questions when it came to replacing Brian Dozier this off-season. Jonathan Schoop seemed to be a nice, short-term solution at second base. Ehire Adrianza has always seemed to fit the role of utility infielder and few could have predicted the impact Luis Arraez would have at the big-league level.

 

Over the last two seasons, Adrianza has hit .254/.319/.384 with 40 extra-base hits in 176 games. He has also shown defensive flexibility by playing all over the infield including over 660 innings at shortstop during that stretch. Schoop is limited to playing second base as he has logged less than 230 innings at other positions throughout his seven years at the MLB level.

The rise of Arraez has also cut into Schoop's time on the field. As a 22-year old, Arraez has put together some unbelievably professional at-bats in his 182 plate appearances. Entering play on Tuesday, he is hitting .356/.429/.444 and he might have a strong argument to be named the AL Rookie of the Year. First year manager Rocco Baldelli certainly has faith in Arraez and if the playoffs started today Arraez would be penciled in at second base.

 

Schoop has compiled some strong numbers in a Twins uniform and Baseball Reference has he accounting for 1.2 WAR. May was a good month for him as he posted an .835 OPS with six home runs and five doubles. He hasn’t had more than four home runs in any other month and his OPS dipped to .622 in June and .787 in July.

 

Since the calendar turned to August, he’s gone 1-for-5 with no extra-base hits. He’s also only started one game in that stretch, Saturday’s contest with the Royals. Currently, the Twins have gotten by with having him relegated to a bench role. What happens if the club needs another relief pitcher? This could force the front office to make a choice between Schoop and one of the other infielders. At this point, Schoop might be the odd man out.

 

While Schoop has been worth more than replacement level when it comes to WAR, his win probability added total is one of the worst totals of his career. He entered play on Tuesday with a -1.28 WPA. His only year with a lower total was 2014 with the Orioles when he accounted for a -3.00 WPA. Schoop has the lowest WPA among qualified batters on the Twins roster and he’s over a full win lower than the next closest qualified batter.

 

Schoop could have some big hits for the Twins in the weeks ahead but he shouldn’t be taking at-bats away from Arraez. At season’s end, Schoop will be a free agent and Arraez will enter the year as the team’s starting second baseman.

 

It helps to have Schoop to add depth to the roster, but it’s getting closer to the point where he might be holding the team back from adding other players (especially pitchers). Do you think it’s time to cut Schoop loose? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.

 

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[twinssporto]

Definately odd man out. I really like Schoop but Arraez is the real deal. I think this kid has a great future. Love watching him take at bats!

[yarnivek1972]

Funny thing. Schoop has a better OPS than his career number. He is exactly who he is supposed to be. Arraez has just been better.

[Doomtints]

Schoop is the infielder who can play defense and his bat is adequate. He will have a place on the team going forward. Should he take at bats away from Arraez? Absolutely, just not all of the at bats.

 

Scoring ten runs a night is fun, but sometimes you gotta have a defense out there to win.

[gunnarthor]

I thought Schoop was dealing with some nagging injuries and Rocco was playing the hot hands over him. I'm not sure Arreaz is this good so I'd be shocked if the Twins removed Schoop from the roster. (He also seems to be a positive in the locker room).

[Mike Sixel]

When I suggested the Twins do exactly this with the lineup, one of the owners of the site called me overly emotional........guess the FO is too?

[DocBauer]

Arraez appears to be the real deal and our starting 2B next season and beyond. Despite slumping lately, Schoop is a nice player both offensively and defensively. Arraez is just out producing him. That doesn't mean Schoop doesn't have value. In fact, with Buxton out for a while, we may need Marwin more in the OF. That makes Schoop all the more valuable to allow Arraez to continue to be versatile.

[D.C Twins]

This is a surprising and wonderful problem to have. Arreaz is the real deal and he should and will get the majority of AB going forward.

 

Those of us that trumpeted this early did so not because of his numbers (but it's a small sample size...but its a small sample size!), but because of his approach at the plate....and low and behold...he has remained successful.

[D.C Twins]

To be clear though, I'm also in the group that "trumpeted early" that Sano was on the brink of oblivion about a month before that

[nicksaviking]

Most teams would love to have Schoop on the bench. Twins probably included.

[D.C Twins]

Though my problem with Sano also had to do with plate approach more than numbers....

[Danchat]

Perhaps the old reverse-jinx article will work some wonders and Schoop will get hot. The "Sano is a fading superstar" article did the trick. I also recall the "stick a fork in 'em" rants from a few years back yielding some very nice results, for those who were around back then.

[stringer bell]

In a lineup filled with RH power, Schoop is probably the sixth or seventh best power option. OBP has never been his strength, so I believe his skills are redundant. Arraez is a far better complement to the rest of the offense. Why is his WPA so low? Schoop has hit half of his homers and has more than half his RBIs when the Twins were ahead by seven runs or more. I want to clarify that isn't in games that the Twins won by a lopsided score, Schoop has accumulated those numbers when the team was already up by seven or more. Schoop has been really inconsequential as an offensive player.

 

Defensively, Schoop has shown a shortstop's arm at second, has satisfactory range, but he's committed a dozen errors. I don't consider that solid by any means. It is really important to turn outs into outs. 

 

 

[Rosterman]

Schoop will be a free agent. No need to cut him loose if he is contributing to team chemistry. September 1 is just around the corner. 

 

I had thought that the Twins might dangle him at the trade deadline.

 

Ehire is another...how much do you spend to keep him around. He ahs contributed well this year, but is basically a carbon copy of Gonzalez.

 

[Florida Loggerman]

 

This is a surprising and wonderful problem to have. Arreaz is the real deal and he should and will get the majority of AB going forward.

 

Those of us that trumpeted this early did so not because of his numbers (but it's a small sample size...but its a small sample size!), but because of his approach at the plate....and low and behold...he has remained successful.

 

[DiscGolfer]

Schoop is a nice player with some value.  Arraez is still a very young player and could hit a slump at some point and having a capable backup is worth having around.  I think one of the most impressive things about this team this year is all the depth in the lineup.  After going to so many lean years with not much more than speed defensive replacements on the bench it's been so refreshing to see a bench full of guys who could hit in any situation.  It's fun to have options.

[jz7233]

 

Most teams would love to have Schoop on the bench. Twins probably included.

Schoop is either a non-factor or negative factor in the game. Why would Twins want him on the bench?

Schoop made 12 errors this season, Dozier made 4.

[ND-Fan]

Schoop lately has become liability with his defense and hasn't shown he's clutch hitter but like somebody said he's good option on the bench and September is coming. He has no future with the Twins now with Arraez perfomance and Adrianza will be hard to let go difficult to find players that can hit and play as many positions as he can. Also the the Twins have Nick Gordon about ready to come to the majors and how long before Lewis is ready. Arraez could become the Twins lead off hitter hits for average, doesn't strike out much, and has good enough speed to put pressure on defenses when he gets on.  I am willing to bet they wouldn't signed Schoop if they new Arraez could hit like this and perform at major league level. The Twins need players that get on base for all these home run hitters they have now.

[jz7233]

 

Funny thing. Schoop has a better OPS than his career number. He is exactly who he is supposed to be. Arraez has just been better.

An average power hitter who hardly delivers when it matters. That's who he is.

[jz7233]

 

Schoop is the infielder who can play defense and his bat is adequate. He will have a place on the team going forward. Should he take at bats away from Arraez? Absolutely, just not all of the at bats.

 

Scoring ten runs a night is fun, but sometimes you gotta have a defense out there to win.

Schoop had 12 errors this season and Dozier had 4.

[LanceJS]

This is no surprise to me - all along I figured Schoop was just a temporary stop-gap until Lewis was ready - then the move would have been Lewis to SS and Polonco to 2B.  Of course, the arrival of Arraez complicates that, but it still makes my original thought all the more valid - that this would be the only season that Schoop would wear a Twins uniform. 

[scottz]

Chemistry matters, even if you can't quantify it. Schoop won't be with the team next year, but he's here for the remainder of this year. I don't see a situation where they DFA him at a point less than 24 days before rosters expand (i.e., anytime between now and Sept 1). Maybe he doesn't end up on the postseason roster if everyone is healthy, but that's not nearly the same as just letting him go.

 

If they need another bullpen arm, they'll keep rotating the bullpen guys with options to and from Rochester.

[SpicyGarvSauce]

You don't even think of cutting Schoop loose or DFA'ing him.

[Minny505]

I'd still rather have Schoop on the roster than Cave, which is really what this discussion is about should the Twins want/need to add a 13th pitcher before September 1st.

Adrianza can fill in OF spots when needed, playing a similar level of defense as Cave (I haven't dug into Statcast regarding this statement, so correct me if I'm wrong). 

 

Schoop is an outlier in that he has rather pronounced reverse splits for his career. I'm not sure what to make of that other than he's basically performs like a LHB, making him a poor platoon candidate with Arraez.

[Vanimal46]

Schoop is good insurance if Arraez hits a wall. It's possible he becomes the odd man out entirely on the playoff roster if the Twins need more flexibility.

 

Overall he fit his role well this season for the team. He was signed as a placeholder until other options hit their way into the equation. Mission accomplished.

[yarnivek1972]

Schoop is good insurance if Arraez hits a wall. It's possible he becomes the odd man out entirely on the playoff roster if the Twins need more flexibility.

 

Overall he fit his role well this season for the team. He was signed as a placeholder until other options hit their way into the equation. Mission accomplished.

Assuming everyone else is healthy, I don’t think there is any chance Schoop makes the playoff roster. Which is another reason why I believe Rooker will get called up on Sep 1.

 

7 relievers SHOULD be plenty for postseason when there are never more than 3 days without a day off. So, 14 position players. That’s the “regular” 9, Marwin, Castro, Astudillo, Adrianza and then Cave, Schoop or someone else. IMO neither Cave or Schoop offer much value as a bench player. Rooker may not either, but I suspect the Twins will want to leave open that chance.

[PseudoSABR]

Schoop's lack of position flexibility certainly hurts his ability to contribute.  But as far as bench bat, and insurance should Arraez flutter, he's a great asset. 

[Bavarian]

FWIW Schoop played 3B in Baltimore.

[Vanimal46]

FWIW Schoop played 3B in Baltimore.

Meh, it's not like he would play over Sano or Marwin at that position either.

[jorgenswest]

Assuming everyone else is healthy, I don’t think there is any chance Schoop makes the playoff roster. Which is another reason why I believe Rooker will get called up on Sep 1.

7 relievers SHOULD be plenty for postseason when there are never more than 3 days without a day off. So, 14 position players. That’s the “regular” 9, Marwin, Castro, Astudillo, Adrianza and then Cave, Schoop or someone else. IMO neither Cave or Schoop offer much value as a bench player. Rooker may not either, but I suspect the Twins will want to leave open that chance.

I value Schoop’s performance against left handed pitching and his strong arm at 2B. I am platooning Arraez and Schoop at 2B.