Twins 1B plans...

[mnfireman]

Hope somebody takes charge, don't like the rotation idea.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/02/twins-notes-first-base-kirilloff-henriquez-rotation.html

[ashbury]

Seasons are won, one game at a time.  Each game comes down to whether your lineup* is better than the opponent's, in which case you will take your chances and expect good outcomes on average.  Lineups come down to individual matchups involving both bat and glove.  If your first baseman is better than theirs, that's a plus, and so on down the day's lineup.  As with DH, there's a concern that a rotation at first base leaves you with too many days where the guy you run out there is really a second choice and isn't better than the other team's.  Hope our roster is so strong overall that everyone we play at first base is a contributor.

* (Similar concern about the day's starting pitcher of course, but we're talking about a position player here)

[tony&rodney]

I saw that note and also one that mentioned a sore arm for Ronnie Henriquez. We (Twins fans) have been saying all along that Kirilloff is a key factor for the offense this season. There is a little more than a month to go and no use to worry. Alex is good to go, so are the Twins. Otherwise ...... well I guess that is where the depth steps in. Right?

[Mike Sixel]

Much more worried about Henriquez than who plays first and DH at this point, given all the options. Obviously, a healthy AK would be great....

[nicksaviking]

Since there seem to be no runaway options at 1B, I’m ok with the rotation.

Buuut, may this just be a bit of a subversive prognostication? Might the Twins REALLY be saying, ‘Miranda gets to stay at 3B until Lewis/Lee/Julian are ready to move up?’

[Nashvilletwin]

4 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

Since there seem to be no runaway options at 1B, I’m ok with the rotation.

Buuut, may this just be a bit of a subversive prognostication? Might the Twins REALLY be saying, ‘Miranda gets to stay at 3B until Lewis/Lee/Julian are ready to move up?’

Agree, when Correa, Lewis and Lee all eventually start at SS, 2B and 3B (in some mix), Miranda should get pushed to 1B as his primary position. Julien and Kiriloff would round out the backup infielder roles and DH with Kiriloff maybe playing some OF too.

[Doctor Gast]

It takes some time getting used to the new cautious approach that they have adopted. But it's the right one. I'd rather see them taking Buxton, Polanco & Kiriloff slow and have them around for post season than have them play full time & later have them play hurt and lose them for them for the rest of the season. How we deal with Kiriloff right now could determine what kind of career he may have. 

[mnfireman]

I feel this years spring training games will be very important, more so than most years. IF Kirilloff needs to start the season in AAA (or worse, the IL), then I feel that Larnach needs comes north, but only if he plays, which to me means Gallo at 1B and Larnach in LF. If the team decides that Solano/Farmer/Miranda will absolutely cover 1B/3B to start the season, then I think that Garlick comes north, but only to DH/PH against LHP. With Gallo, Buxton, Kepler, Taylor & Gordon in the OF/DH roles I don't think that there would be any AB's for Larnach, though I guess he could DH against RHP. 

As deep as everyone thinks this team is and is worried about how to get everybody AB's, April could be worrisome if Kirilloff doesn't come north for whatever reason and the team has to move forward cautiously with Polanco, Larnach and Buxton (haven't heard any concerns on the latter 2 yet and this thread is only about 1B plans...).

[Bigfork Twins Guy]

I get the rotation to start the year so we can ease Kirilloff into good health.  That said, I think we should attempt to get a first baseman who can handle like 80-90% of the time there at some point so that we can give the infielders a consistent target to throw to.  I recall Polanco bouncing some throws over via side arm occasionally at SS once he got the confidence that the first baseman was proficient at picking them.

Could different players there every day negatively impact the rest of the infielders?