Article: Position Analysis: Left Field

[Nick Nelson]

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?r=1474-Position-Analysis-Left-Field

[ashbury]

I honestly expected to find a one-line analysis for this position. You did find some worthwhile things to say.

[chuchadoro]

"There was a belief that prominent free agents wouldn't sign in Minnesota."

 

Were prominent FAs unwilling to sign with the Twins or were the Twins unwilling to pay prominent FAs? Maybe it wasn't the author's intent but the statement is loaded with Sid Hartman-esque delusion and blame deflection. The rest I found to be a good read.

[Nick Nelson]

"There was a belief that prominent free agents wouldn't sign in Minnesota."

 

Were prominent FAs unwilling to sign with the Twins or were the Twins unwilling to pay prominent FAs?

I made no allusions one way or another. What is clear is that, for whatever reason, it has been rare for remotely big-name free agents to land here. Willingham bucked that trend.

[chuchadoro]

I made no allusions one way or another. What is clear is that, for whatever reason, it has been rare for remotely big-name free agents to land here. Willingham bucked that trend.

 

You are much more knowledgeable than me when it comes to the Twins and baseball in general. However, I do think it's fairly clear the Twins don't go after these types of players because they aren't willing to spend the money. The fact that it could easily be inferred as some inexplicable mystery is what bothered me.

[Ultima Ratio]

If Doumit finds himself playing defense with grass below his feet -- other than in an emergency only -- we are not trying.

[Nick Nelson]

You are much more knowledgeable than me when it comes to the Twins and baseball in general. However, I do think it's fairly clear the Twins don't go after these types of players because they aren't willing to spend the money. The fact that it could easily be inferred as some inexplicable mystery is what bothered me.

 

I think that's clearly the principal reason, but there are also deeper running narratives. Terry Ryan fed the fire with his comment at the winter meetings about how they "couldn't give their money away."

 

The Twins are a last place team. Minnesota can be cold in April and September. The night life here isn't what it is in some other towns. I'm not necessarily saying there's merit in these conceptions, but they do exist.

[ThePuck]

If Doumit finds himself playing defense with grass below his feet -- other than in an emergency only -- we are not trying.

 

He'll be put out there just because Gardy can.

[Jim H]

Willingham and Doumit are both DH's but you can't put both there at the same time. It is up to Arcia or/and Benson to force Willingham to DH or perhaps force the Twins to trade him. Parmelee clearly made it easier for the Twins to trade 2 CF's by hitting like he did at AAA. We will see how it plays out, but having Willingham, Parmelee and Doumit as the primary corner OF's will hurt the defense. Hopefully the offense makes up for it.

[tellis205]

When the Twins signed Willingham, I'm sure there was a commitment to him to play LF and occasionally DH although it probably wasn't in writing. At the time, the Twins truly believed that they were going to rebound. If they didn't think that, they wouldn't have given him 21 million dollars for 3 years. The Twins have a reputation of keeping their word. I'm sure Willingham will continue to play LF and occasionally DH however when June/July comes around I can see a scenario where he's asked as to whether he would like to get traded to a contender. (although they don't need his permission) All players want to get to the World Series and at his age I'm sure he realizes that it's not gonna happen with the Twins since he's up in age already. My hope at the time is that he's having a great year and he can bring a good pitcher or two. Keeping Willingham and shelling out the remaining 10 or 11 million dollars doesn't make sense at this point in time since it's painfully obvious that we're in a rebuilding mode here. I'm am fairly sure that Mr. Arcia is going to be up at some point this year. He's ready. He was just coming off injury before getting sent down and he didn't have his timing down yet. They knew he wasn't gonna make the team out of ST so they moved him so he can get regular at bats every day now instead of playing every other day in big league camp. Once the regular minor league season starts I'm expecting him to pick up right where he left off at AA.

[Jim H]

When the Twins signed Willingham, I'm sure there was a commitment to him to play LF and occasionally DH although it probably wasn't in writing.

 

I rather doubt this. You are not going to hamstring your manager in this way, plus I doubt if Willingham had enough leverage to make that sort of demand.

 

This is an interesting topic, however. The Twins have 3 guys; Willingham, Parmelee, and Doumit, whose best position is DH. Parmelee can probably play 1B adequately, but he isn't nearly to Morneau's level. If Arcia and Benson can develop to the point where they can cover Willingham and Parmelee's offense, they make the team much better because of their defense.

 

People have been talking about trading Morneau for awhile, but if he shows good health, I think the Twins will make a strong effort to resign him. Perhaps even during the season. That would make either Parmelee or Willingham trade bait. I don't imagine things will go down this way, Arcia and Benson aren't sure things, Morneau likely will opt for free agency. Nevertheless, Arcia and Benson having good years would definitely give the Twins some options that haven't really been available the last couple years.