What Can Billy Hamilton Provide the Twins?

[rv78]

2 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

What would you like them to do in August? This is free insurance. 

Have not seen any MLB player play for free, ever. Nothing is free. To clarify more, his bat is no better than Cave or Contreras, All he brings is more speed to the outfield. If it's for defensive purposes in the 8th and 9th innings then his impact on the team will be minimal. Especially since you should have the lead late in games before you start substituting players for defensive purposes. Rocco will use him like any other player. If he takes at bats away from Cave or Kepler then it's no big loss. If it's for Celestino, Garlick or Gordon then it's bad management. 

[Mike Sixel]

14 minutes ago, rv78 said:

Have not seen any MLB player play for free, ever. Nothing is free. To clarify more, his bat is no better than Cave or Contreras, All he brings is more speed to the outfield. If it's for defensive purposes in the 8th and 9th innings then his impact on the team will be minimal. Especially since you should have the lead late in games before you start substituting players for defensive purposes. Rocco will use him like any other player. If he takes at bats away from Cave or Kepler then it's no big loss. If it's for Celestino, Garlick or Gordon then it's bad management. 

You said it was dumpster diving....I'm asking what else they can do in August. He's on a minor league deal. He's insurance in case anyone else gets hurt. What else would you like them to do in August?

[rv78]

3 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

You said it was dumpster diving....I'm asking what else they can do in August. He's on a minor league deal. He's insurance in case anyone else gets hurt. What else would you like them to do in August?

Nothing. Play who they have. September callups are  3 days away.

[Bigfork Twins Guy]

It couldn't hurt having the speed to PR in an extra inning game.  The good news is that you can get his speed out there without initially paying the price of him hitting.  He also may be able to run down a ball in CF that our current backups cannot.  If we have room for him then why not.  The only way I would say no is if there is still a conflict between him and Buck.  I recall him bragging a few years back when he was with the White Sox about being faster than Buck.  The FO needs to know that he will not disrupt the chemistry in the clubhouse.

[RpR]

10 minutes ago, Bigfork Twins Guy said:

It couldn't hurt having the speed to PR in an extra inning game.  The good news is that you can get his speed out there without initially paying the price of him hitting.  He also may be able to run down a ball in CF that our current backups cannot.  If we have room for him then why not.  The only way I would say no is if there is still a conflict between him and Buck.  I recall him bragging a few years back when he was with the White Sox about being faster than Buck.  The FO needs to know that he will not disrupt the chemistry in the clubhouse.

If he can keep Gordon out of Center Field, start him., with that arm , see how he does in Left Field.

[HokieRif]

Low risk move, but what does he add to the actual squad?  We already have a speedy outfielder with great D that’s struggling to hit (and injured, again) and two others that are floating around the same batting average. If they add him to help platoon with Buxton and Kepler that’s fine I guess, I’m just concerned more about who would have to be sent down to make room on the roster for the moment. 

[RpR]

1 minute ago, HokieRif said:

Low risk move, but what does he add to the actual squad?  We already have a speedy outfielder with great D that’s struggling to hit (and injured, again) and two others that are floating around the same batting average. If they add him to help platoon with Buxton and Kepler that’s fine I guess, I’m just concerned more about who would have to be sent down to make room on the roster for the moment. 

He is a better outfielder than any  of the replacements now being used, with speed, he and Kepler together would make hits to Center and Left payoff far less.

With Twins current pitching, outfield defense is a HIGH priority.

[nicksaviking]

8 minutes ago, RpR said:

With Twins current pitching, outfield defense is a HIGH priority.

100% disagree. The Twins started falling in the standings when the bats went cold. Offense is, and should be the HIGH priority.

This move is fine. It just shouldn't be treated as a big deal just because it's a known name. Consider this Jarvis Brown, say 'Sure, why not?', and move along.

[Doctor Gast]

He's at FCL right now, maybe they're working on his hitting & bunting. I wouldn't count Cave or Kepler as viable CFer, Celestino & Gordon would likely start ahead of Hamilton but he's better glove and a great late inning defensive move. We need some base running & defense magic to spark the team much like Buxton does. Hamilton can beat out an infield hit, steal that base, be that ghost runner, score on a sacrifice fly or bunt. I would imagine that he can bunt if need be. I can see him being a valuable veteran asset approaching & into the post season.

[RpR]

1 minute ago, nicksaviking said:

100% disagree. The Twins started falling in the standings when the bats went cold. Offense is, and should be the HIGH priority.

This move is fine. It just shouldn't be treated as a big deal just because it's a known name. Consider this Jarvis Brown, say 'Sure, why not?', and move along.

If you prevent runs, you do not need as many to win, trying to over come failed defense with more runs is a losing proposition.

As Bud Grand said in 1969, offense draws crowds, defense wins games.

[jkcarew]

Nothing that the roster spot would justify. Nothing.

The only Billy Hamilton I want died in 1940. He could get on base.

[nicksaviking]

1 hour ago, RpR said:

If you prevent runs, you do not need as many to win, trying to over come failed defense with more runs is a losing proposition.

As Bud Grand said in 1969, offense draws crowds, defense wins games.

Yeah, he backed it up with all those Super Bowls championships too.

Sorry, I know you can't stand to hear it but defense <<<<<<<<<<<<<<< offense.  Sure, you need a balance, but a team full of Billy Hamiltons win you what, 30 games a season?

[rwilfong86]

11 hours ago, DocBauer said:

He offers quality CF defense as a starter and #9 hitter or a late inning defensive replacement. He also offers ability as a PR. I guess as a 13th man there is some value there.

Other than that? I honestly can't think of any reason to bring him up barring yet another injury. I'd rather stick with Gordon and Celestino day in and day out until Buck comes back.

 

I completely agree.

[IndianaTwin]

5 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

We do not need another weak bat at the end of the lineup!  I like speed, but so far Hamilton has not harnessed that or anything else. His line is too weak - 293 OBP for a non-power guy is not acceptable.  

239

.293

.326

.619

His SB 371 (nice) CS 72 (not Nice).  Still it is 84% which makes it valuable.  

I don't think his hitting will be much of a factor. Beckham got 25 plate appearances in roughly a month. As a 14th man, I'd predict 15 or less plate appearances for Hamilton, even if he plays in 15 or more games.

[bean5302]

4 hours ago, RpR said:

He is a better outfielder than any  of the replacements now being used, with speed, he and Kepler together would make hits to Center and Left payoff far less.

With Twins current pitching, outfield defense is a HIGH priority.

Gordon actually has a very strong arm... He was throwing mid 90s across the diamond. You can hate him for his first step, but he has all the tools to be a solid center fielder including the range, the route running and the arm.

[HokieRif]

5 hours ago, RpR said:

If you prevent runs, you do not need as many to win, trying to over come failed defense with more runs is a losing proposition.

I don’t think anyone is complaining about the current defense. During the last 3 series (10 games total, excluding tonight) we have scored 3 or fewer runs in 8 of those games, and 2 or fewer in 4 games. In the games we lost, the average run difference was 2.5. I don’t see Hamilton saving 3 runs a game by himself while contributing next to nothing on offense. 

[FlyingFinn]

My Billy Hamilton tracking device shows him on the move, to the St. Paul Saints.

[High heat]

Was at the Saints game(Hamilton firs game) he looked like he was swinging a purse.  Helman looked like the better player and has just as good of speed as Hamilton.

[ashbury]

What Can Billy Hamilton Provide the Twins?

Outs.  On defense, at the plate.  Outs.

[wornsmooth]

I don't get to watch games on TV. All I see are highlights.

It seems to me that opposing teams routinely have flyballs landing untouched on the warning track. Balls chased by outfielders because they misplayed the caroom. Throws from outfielders that are off by 10ft.

If this guy can hit 220, play superior defense, and 60%of time turn a single into a double with stolen base, it seems to me he would be a plus.

It seems that we routinely give up runs due to poor positioning or poor breaks on flyballs to the outfield.

He might save some runs if he is as good defensively as the article states.