Week in Review: Languishing Lineup

[In My La Z boy]

It just doesn't feel like Rocco is managing each game to win each game. Duffy and Rogers had the only hot hand we've seen in Happ's 2-0 win and we get Stashak, Theilbar and Alcala yesterday. Examples of this so far this season are endless. We are running a marathon while everyone else is sprinting. I guess we'll be the most rested & healthiest team in baseball by September. Will it matter? 

[Otto von Ballpark]

Buxton is sitting out Monday night, unfortunately:

 

[USAFChief]

I wonder if Kirby Puckett would have sat out tonight's game with "a sore knee."

 

I'm guessing not.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

His wRC+, a good single number representation of offensive output, is 89 (100 is average).

Like so many other hitters this season, Astudillo has not been good at the plate.

In the right context, like if Astudillo was playing catcher competently and posting a 89 wRC+ / 99 OPS+, that would be fine. Or even if he's just filling in somewhere for a game or two a week.

 

But as an everyday 1B right now, I agree with the "uninspiring" description.

[MMMordabito]

 

Buxton is sitting out Monday night, unfortunately:

 

 

So, Arraez, Cave and Rooker will roam the outfield tonight ...  Need Berrios to K 12 in 6 again.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

In the right context, like if Astudillo was playing catcher competently and posting a 89 wRC+ / 99 OPS+, that would be fine. Or even if he's just filling in somewhere for a game or two a week.

 

But as an everyday 1B right now, I agree with the "uninspiring" description.

Oh, for sure, I was mostly rebutting the use of batting average as an offensive indicator, particularly for a weirdo like Astudillo.

[Dave The Dastardly]

 

In the right context, like if Astudillo was playing catcher competently and posting a 89 wRC+ / 99 OPS+, that would be fine. Or even if he's just filling in somewhere for a game or two a week.

 

But as an everyday 1B right now, I agree with the "uninspiring" description.

Ah, Grasshopper! Even the smallest pebble shines bright in a sea of mud.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Tonight's lineup is posted already -- no Tortuga:

 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Tonight's lineup is posted already -- no Tortuga:

 

https://twitter.com/dohyoungpark/status/1386762831467483138?s=20

Really, dude?

[USAFChief]

Outside the first week of season,

I wonder if that's the first time in history a team has featured a guy with a .000/.000/.000 line in the cleanup spot.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Outside the first week of season,
I wonder if that's the first time in history a team has featured a guy with a .000/.000/.000 line in the cleanup spot.

I found this reference of players who made their MLB debut in the cleanup spot:

 

https://prestonjg.wordpress.com/2013/03/23/they-batted-cleanup-in-their-first-major-league-game/

 

Looks like Kris Bryant went 0-for-4 in his 2015 debut (infamously just past the first week of the season ), for a .000/.000/.000 line. And he was back in the cleanup spot the next game.

 

Obviously there could be others meeting your criteria, but this was a quick and easy way to verify that Kirilloff won't be the first.

[bighat]

 

Buxton is sitting out Monday night, unfortunately:

 

Buxton went 1-for-3 with a HR and 2 RBI the last time he faced Plesac, so with the team having lost 8 of its last 9 it's a great time for him to rest that knee.

 

Edit: Astudillo also went 1-for-3 with a HR the last time he faced Plesac, so of course he's also on the bench tonight.

[twinbythebay]

 

I wonder if Kirby Puckett would have sat out tonight's game with "a sore knee."

I'm guessing not.

I wonder if Tony Oliva wished he had listened to his knees a bit more throughout his shortened career... I'm guessing so.

[Dave The Dastardly]

Whoa! Be still my heart!  Rooker!

[se7799]

In response to the rebutting of Astudillo and his batting average. I would think his speed would be the issue or lack there of? Just suggesting, if you think about it for a second.

[se7799]

Or do analytics not cover speed or base running? I'm guessing that is another unnecessary skill set?

[twinbythebay]

 

In response to the rebutting of Astudillo and his batting average. I would think his speed would be the issue or lack there of? Just suggesting, if you think about it for a second.

I think his main issue is his complete lack of any plate discipline, which leads to his lack of walks and a lot of weak contact. Sure it's nice when he hits a homer on a pitch at eye-level, but 99 times out of 100, swinging at that pitch will result in a miss or a weak pop fly.

[h2oface]

 

It's cold and rainy in Minnesota right now, but in a month the Earth will turn a bit and sunshine will bring 70 degrees and more. The Twins should be able to rebound as well. While one or two players may not ever return to near  their 2019 seasons, it is hard to believe that all of the Twins core will continue to fail. Alex Kirilloff has a sweet swing and should be able to have a decent season despite his abysmal start.  Trevor Larnach is also an option should Kepler or Sano not rebound from their April blues. 

 

I'm thinking that we can maintain some patience as April closes and May unfolds. The talent to win 90 games is there and summer will be a better barometer of this team.

 

It is going to be difficult to make changes now because the minor leagues have not started yet and thus those players are all a few weeks behind  in their development.  However, at some point (drop 10-12 games below .500) critical evaluations could effect some roster moves beyond the current shuttling moves. Six or eight games below even is not a time to panic. 

 

Both teams played on the same field and in the same conditions. Exactly.

[h2oface]

This season and the .500 play in 2020 after the first 12 or so games, shows you even more why you DO mortgage your future and go for it by trading prospects (that never seem to come to fruition on the Twins) for the pitching ace and the special rentals or high cost player(s) in 2019. That season is now wasted with another pathetic playoff sweep, followed by 2020 playoff sweep, and now the window is slamming shut, and we have prospects with fading value, and can't hit or star on the mound when they are brought up. I would take a championship every ten years and 5 horrible seasons, than 5 horrible seasons anyway AND sweeps in the playoffs while thinking the prospect train will save you in the next year or two.

 

When the future is now, it is prudent to not pass the close. 

[tony&rodney]

 

Both teams played on the same field and in the same conditions. Exactly.

Of course, this is obvious. I meant the Twins can still turn it around.

 

I am not real enamored with this team, the manager, or the management. Still, the Twins should rebound.

 

Against the odds, I wanted to trade both Sano and Garver after 2019. I thought the team could get something important for them. Sano is my favorite Twin to watch because he hits the ball so hard and looks so ferocious at the plate, squeezing the bat. But the strikeouts and defense hurt. I really wanted the Twins to sign Realmuto and Hendriks this past offseason, but religiously watch or listen (more often recently) to my favorite nine most games. The catching position was a concern before the season and continues to be. Arraez should rotate through the infield and DH spots. His defense in LF is pretty bad. The announcers from the other teams keep commenting on this when Luis takes up a stance in LF.  Buxton needs to be healthy and Kepler and Kirilloff need to hit. Put Larnach in RF and move Kepler to LF. Max is an athlete and could cover the ground out there and Larnach may be more suitable for RF.  I like AK at first for now, although clearly Sano goes back to 1B when he returns. Hopefully something clicks soon. The predictable losses are not good to watch.

[USAFChief]

I wonder if Tony Oliva wished he had listened to his knees a bit more throughout his shortened career... I'm guessing so.

The same Tony O that amassed 6880 PAs? Played 13 big league seasons, 15 if you count cups of coffee in 62 and 63?

 

That Tony O?

 

Look, I know Oliva suffered a really bad knee injury in 72, missed almost an entire season. I'm pretty confident better medical treatment of today would have helped him greatly.

 

But I'm also confident he wouldn't have dreamed of sitting out for a sore knee. You're not helping the team if you're not on the field. It's a long grind, and every player has to play through aches and pains and miner bumps and bruises if they're gonna stay on the field.

 

If he's hurt, IL hum. If he's not hurt, get on the field.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Buxton went 1-for-3 with a HR and 2 RBI the last time he faced Plesac, so with the team having lost 8 of its last 9 it's a great time for him to rest that knee.

 

Edit: Astudillo also went 1-for-3 with a HR the last time he faced Plesac, so of course he's also on the bench tonight.

While I haven’t been a fan of Baldelli this season, he should be fired if he’s making decision based on six combined PAs by two players, especially if those six PAs weren’t exactly jaw-dropping.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Thankfully Astudillo makes his triumphant return to the lineup tonight!

 

(Also that Buxton guy.)