4th OF Discussion with Hamilton now DFA'd

[SwainZag]

 

Haven't looked into Hamilton much this year but always kind of liked him.  Buxton and Hamilton on the same team would be interesting to see, 2 fastest guys in MLB.  BUT the Royals are so good that they don't need him and we should pick him up?

 

Hamilton would fill a niche for the Twins.  The Royals aren't competing, he's a FA at the end of the season and when you only win once or twice a week, how often do you need late inning speed and defensive replacement?   The Royals are probably better off auditioning guys for the future than give time to a guy who is gone at the end of the year anyways.

[stringer bell]

 

The question is Hamilton vs. Adrianza, not Hamilton v Cave. Gonzalez is the 4th OF, Cave is gone when Cruz comes back. No way we drop Adrianza for Hamilton. The man can't hit his way out of a paper bag.

Disagree, in essence (until Buck returns) Marwin is the third outfielder (Cave fourth). Adding Hamilton now replacing Cave makes sense. They might have to go a pitcher short, but shuttling players for long relief should make that possible.

[Monkeypaws]

The Twins are dead last in MLB in steals with 25 (caught 20 times). Not sure adding a speedster fits into the game plan.

[SwainZag]

 

The Twins are dead last in MLB in steals with 25 (caught 20 times). Not sure adding a speedster fits into the game plan.

 

Speed is just more than stealing bases though.  Just putting a guy with his kind of speed at 2nd base in a late situation over a station to station guy like Cruz, Sano, Cron could be the difference in a late game.

[Danchat]

 

Why? The Twins have enough hitters and could use some defense.

I don't want to add a black hole to the lineup - as others have said, he'd be a great pinch runner and defensive replacement, but if you pencil him into the lineup, it's not too different from playing an NL game where you have to put your pitcher out there. His OBP is .275 and he has zero power!

 

Cave hit well last season and has started to heat up as of late. I just wish he'd stop having misadventures in the outfield.

[stringer bell]

The added bonus of having Hamilton as a defensive replacement is the ability to move Gonzalez to the infield late in a game. For example, Hamilton runs for Sanó and scores the go-ahead run, then he replaces Kepler in center, Max moves to right and Marwin covers third, improving the defense at three positions.

 

Also, I believe Hamilton would have scored if he pinch-ran instead of Adrianza in the Sunday Cleveland game. It is a big maddening to know it will take two hits in the park to score 90% of the Twins players from first base. 

[SwainZag]

 

I don't want to add a black hole to the lineup - as others have said, he'd be a great pinch runner and defensive replacement, but if you pencil him into the lineup, it's not too different from playing an NL game where you have to put your pitcher out there. His OBP is .275 and he has zero power!

 

Cave hit well last season and has started to heat up as of late. I just wish he'd stop having misadventures in the outfield.

 

Gore was on KC's postseason roster in both 2014 and 2015.   He played in 9 games and never got an AB.  It can be done usefully without giving a black hole at the plate like that AB's.  IF they could roster him until September, it would be an awfully nice weapon to have.

[Mr. Brooks]

But isn't Buxton back in roughly 2 weeks? Where does Hamilton fit then and in the playoffs, if we're there? Hamilton means no 8th bullpen arm, no Astudillo, AND no Cave. I'm gotta think that one of those other 3 things is more important than a good glove no hit guy.

Rosters are expanded at that point.

Anyone on the 40 man roster can be active.

[yarnivek1972]

But isn't Buxton back in roughly 2 weeks? Where does Hamilton fit then and in the playoffs, if we're there? Hamilton means no 8th bullpen arm, no Astudillo, AND no Cave. I'm gotta think that one of those other 3 things is more important than a good glove no hit guy.

Buxton isn’t going to be back before September. Astudillo is a nothing player IMO. I don’t think the Twins need 8 relievers and anything that Cave does Hamilton does better, except maybe hitting. I think Hamilton likely improves his hitting a little in this lineup. But I don’t foresee many at bats.

[Riverbrian]

You do it for one reason and one reason only. The playoffs and that is the only reason you make this move.

 

We got a pretty good idea what Hamilton is. He has proven that he is not an MLB hitter but he is the very top of the scale on the basepaths and that is why you sign him. You roster him as a late inning pinch running option in a tight score, late in the game situation during the playoffs. I'm not sure why folks can't see the value or need for that with this team. 

 

Forget his hitting... forget his stats... they don't matter. We are not going to ask him to produce an OPS 800 Plus and put him in the lead-off spot. He's not an off-season acquisition that you try to find 500 AB's for during the course of a season. He's not going to hit in the playoffs. You roster him, you ask him to stay loose and you insert him as a pinch runner late in the game with the game on the line. He's not going to hit in the playoffs. 

 

 

If everyone is healthy... we may not have room for Hamilton but if just 1 player is hurt during the playoffs, you will have room for Hamilton on the playoff roster. If nobody is hurt going into the playoffs, you decide between Hamilton and Schoop (for example). If you go with Schoop, then Hamilton isn't rostered for the playoffs.

 

It's that simple... but you have to pick him up now so you can use possibly use him in the future. If you don't pick him up now... that option is no longer an option. 

 

Come playoff time... Baldelli is going to lock in. He might set up some platoons but he's going to roll with a set bunch of guys. It's not going to be the rotation you are seeing during the regular season. 

 

We might see, Cron on the Bench as a late need a home run right here option. Hamilton would be a late need a fast guy on the basepaths option. 

 

The roster is fantastic but we don't have a Hamilton type option for the playoffs. 

 

There is surely someone on the 40 man who can cleared for his addition. The 25 man roster is the problem and that's the part I'm not sure how to handle in August. Come September we will have the space. Come playoff time, he will be on the roster for a specific role, only If someone is hurt and there is a chance that someone will be hurt at the end of September.   

 

Yes the Twins should strongly consider it. 

[yarnivek1972]

You do it for one reason and one reason only. The playoffs and that is the only reason you make this move.

 

We got a pretty good idea what Hamilton is. He has proven that he is not an MLB hitter but he is the very top of the scale on the basepaths and that is why you sign him. You roster him as a late inning pinch running option in a tight score, late in the game situation during the playoffs. I'm not sure why folks can't see the value or need for that with this team.

 

Forget his hitting... forget his stats... they don't matter. We are not going to ask him to produce an OPS 800 Plus and put him in the lead-off spot. He's not an off-season acquisition that you try to find 500 AB's for during the course of a season. He's not going to hit in the playoffs. You roster him, you ask him to stay loose and you insert him as a pinch runner late in the game with the game on the line. He's not going to hit in the playoffs.

 

 

If everyone is healthy... we may not have room for Hamilton but if just 1 player is hurt during the playoffs, you will have room for Hamilton on the playoff roster. If nobody is hurt going into the playoffs, you decide between Hamilton and Schoop (for example). If you go with Schoop, then Hamilton isn't rostered for the playoffs. It's the simple... but you have to pick him up now so you can use him in the future.

 

Come playoff time... Baldelli is going to lock in. He might set up some platoons but he's going to roll with a set bunch of guys. It's not going to be the rotation you are seeing during the regular season.

 

We might see, Cron on the Bench as a late need a home run right here option. Hamilton would be a late need a fast guy on the basepaths option.

 

The roster is fantastic but we don't have a Hamilton type option for the playoffs.

 

There is surely someone on the 40 man who can cleared for his addition. The 25 man roster is the problem and that's the part I'm not sure how to handle in August. Come September we will have the space. Come playoff time, he will be on the roster for a specific role.

 

Yes the Twins should strongly consider it.

Twins aren’t obliged to sign him to a MLB contract, assuming he clears. Sign him to a wink, wink, nod, nod milb contract and let him hang in AAA for 10 days.

[Riverbrian]

 

Twins aren’t obliged to sign him to a MLB contract, assuming he clears. Sign him to a wink, wink, nod, nod milb contract and let him hang in AAA for 10 days.

 

Problem solved... No reason not to sign him then. 

[stringer bell]

Except that someone else might sign him to a major league contract or claim him.

[Riverbrian]

 

Except that someone else might sign him to a major league contract or claim him.

 

Ah Yes... That's the Monkey in the Wrench. 

[mrtwinsfan]

Billy Hamilton claimed off revocable waivers by unknown team ...Stay tuned ????????????

[mrtwinsfan]

 

Ah Yes... That's the Monkey in the Wrench. 

Billy Hamilton claimed off revocable waivers by unknown team ...

[Brock Beauchamp]

He’d be useful to have on a postseason roster. The problem is what to do with him in the six weeks before the postseason.

[stringer bell]

 

He’d be useful to have on a postseason roster. The problem is what to do with him in the six weeks before the postseason.

Only two weeks until rosters can expand. Maybe he can be claimed, have a hand injury and rehab in Rochester.

[Jham]

I'd love to have a speed guy and Hamilton might be one of the fastest. Guys don't need days off in the playoffs. I love Tortuga, but Adrianza has hit better and we don't need a 3rd catcher. I actually like Cave's bat. I think he's closer to last year's version than this year's. But he's not starting a playoff game. he's not a late inning replacement. Hamilton is more valuable.

 

Perez will be our lefty and longman, but the trend is for all starters to rotate through in the pen in playoffs, especially late in series and world series. We may not need May, Duffy, Harper, Littel and Graterol/Duran. I'd love Hilde or Orourke to find some form. But bottom line, I think we can find room.

[yarnivek1972]

I'd love to have a speed guy and Hamilton might be one of the fastest. Guys don't need days off in the playoffs. I love Tortuga, but Adrianza has hit better and we don't need a 3rd catcher. I actually like Cave's bat. I think he's closer to last year's version than this year's. But he's not starting a playoff game. he's not a late inning replacement. Hamilton is more valuable.

 

Perez will be our lefty and longman, but the trend is for all starters to rotate through in the pen in playoffs, especially late in series and world series. We may not need May, Duffy, Harper, Littel and Graterol/Duran. I'd love Hilde or Orourke to find some form. But bottom line, I think we can find room.

You would really rather have Perez in the pen than Duffy or May? Why?

[ewen21]

Huh?

 

He is a horrendous hitter. One of the weakest bats in the game. Speed is not a big enough asset to keep you in baseball. The A's tried that with Herb Washington and it didn't work

[Jham]

You would really rather have Perez in the pen than Duffy or May? Why?

not necessarily.

 

but, he's left handed. we have 100 rt hand arms. 2: length. need someone to eat innings if there's a blow out.

[Brandon]

Also think of how his speed and defense can impact a pitchers performance in a game.  Odorizzi is a fly ball pitcher.  Imagine if Hamilton and Buxton were in the same OF when he pitched.  How much will that benefit the pitchers? 

 

So yes His speed on the bases can lead to an extra 90 feet.  but he can also impact the game by being a vacuum in the OF.  Nothin but raindrops falling to the ground from the sky.

 

[Nine of twelve]

Having an outfield with Hamilton and Buxton in late innings and having an awesome pinch runner would be great, but I will leave this decision up to Falvine. Hamilton's biggest problem is that the rules do not allow stealing of first base. At least not in real baseball.

[Doomtints]

 

I don't want to add a black hole to the lineup - as others have said, he'd be a great pinch runner and defensive replacement, but if you pencil him into the lineup, it's not too different from playing an NL game where you have to put your pitcher out there. His OBP is .275 and he has zero power!

 

Cave hit well last season and has started to heat up as of late. I just wish he'd stop having misadventures in the outfield.

 

A black hole? The Twins have an abundance of hitters and have problems with defense. This would be filling a black hole.

[Linus]

Anybody want to see more of Jake Cave? Not a smart ball player

[Roaddog]

Huh?

 

He is a horrendous hitter. One of the weakest bats in the game. Speed is not a big enough asset to keep you in baseball. The A's tried that with Herb Washington and it didn't work

Don't like defense, eh?

[howeda7]

I'd take him for Cave for sure. 

[yarnivek1972]

not necessarily.

 

but, he's left handed. we have 100 rt hand arms. 2: length. need someone to eat innings if there's a blow out.

May is getting LHB out better than Perez this year.

[old nurse]

A late inning defensive replacement, pinch runner is a luxury no team is carrying.