Left Field

[jorgenswest]

It is so apparent that Willingham has lost another step in left field. The Twins made a big mistake when they didn't allow him to go to the Orioles.

 

They did nothing this winter to address left field and have no options other than Parmelee. At least Parmelee might give the appearance of effort.

 

Willingham needs to be DH only. The thought that playing him in LF increases his value is misguided. No contending team watching him play would consider him an option in LF.

 

Release Kubel. Put Willingham at DH. Search the waiver wire for someone who can play defense.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

I couldn't agree more that Willingham needs to DH only, and that playing the field improves his value. I would argue the opposite. Batting cleanup and DH well will help Willingham's trade value. I have read a quote from several different players (Kubel and Willingham to name a couple) that DHing is harder than playing the field.

 

It's interesting to hear Parmellee's name as a stop-gap left fielder. Though an obvious improvement over Willingham, I think it still leaves a big piece of real estate to cover from CF with Arcia in right.

[LaBombo]

Failure to sell high, Chapter 174.

[TheLeviathan]

Failure to sell high, Chapter 174.

 

Yeah, it's almost comical out there. There was a heavy contingent of Twins fans who felt this year was going to be his peak value. To me, that was always a preposterous notion after that flukey first year.

[stringer bell]

I don't know if Willingham is done or not. While it hurts the club to carry him in left field, I think the more important thing is his hitting. He is the lynchpin of a questionable lineup. If he doesn't hit, it neutralizes their best hitter and puts undue pressure on Arcia, and perhaps Plouffe.

 

The one thing in Willingham's (and the Twins') favor is that the Hammer is in the walk year of his contract. Historically, guys in walk years flourish and that helps Willingham getting a new contract and building trade value.

[Mike Sixel]

Hicks should be in left. Random place holder in Center. Willingham DH. I don't understand why this is hard. They could have traded him during his good year, they were quoted as saying they weren't a farm team for others. How's that working out?

[Thrylos]

Hicks should be in left. Random place holder in Center. Willingham DH. I don't understand why this is hard.

 

How about Plouffe at LF, Hicks at CF, Willingham platooning with Kubel at DH and random place holder (Deibinson Romero) at 3B? Just because the place holders at 3B are likely better than the ones at CF and Plouffe will not be a third baseman starting in 2015.

[Guest USAFChief]

Of the many Twins concerns for 2014, Willingham's defense is far down the list. Very far.

 

The Twins won 94 games with Delmon Young in left. Boston won 2 WS with Manny Ramirez in left. History is replete with similarly bad corner OFers on good teams.

 

Willingham has to hit. Whether that's at DH or LF is pretty inconsequential, except that shoehorning another poor hitter into the lineup in order to get Willingham out of LF makes zero sense.

[snepp]

The one thing in Willingham's (and the Twins') favor is that the Hammer is in the walk year of his contract. Historically, guys in walk years flourish and that helps Willingham getting a new contract and building trade value.

 

Study of this has shown it to be largely a myth.

[jorgenswest]

Of the many Twins concerns for 2014, Willingham's defense is far down the list. Very far.

 

The Twins won 94 games with Delmon Young in left. Boston won 2 WS with Manny Ramirez in left. History is replete with similarly bad corner OFers on good teams.

 

Willingham has to hit. Whether that's at DH or LF is pretty inconsequential, except that shoehorning another poor hitter into the lineup in order to get Willingham out of LF makes zero sense.

 

They have left themselves without any option in LF. That happened as soon as they retained Willingham. They also don't have anyone that looks like they are going to hit well at DH. Kubel, Parmelee and Colabello have projections that center around a .700 OPS.

 

If they had a Thome or Ortiz at DH, of course it makes sense to play a Willingham in LF. They don't.

 

Use Willingham at DH. Keep his legs healthy and try to maximize his return at the plate. Find some defense in LF that can approach the 700 OPS expected of the trio above. Even falling short, the rest can be made up with the glove. Our fly ball pitchers deserve better.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Of the many Twins concerns for 2014, Willingham's defense is far down the list. Very far.

 

The Twins won 94 games with Delmon Young in left. Boston won 2 WS with Manny Ramirez in left. History is replete with similarly bad corner OFers on good teams.

 

Willingham has to hit. Whether that's at DH or LF is pretty inconsequential, except that shoehorning another poor hitter into the lineup in order to get Willingham out of LF makes zero sense.

Context is required, the 94 win Delmon Young in LF team was a much better hitting team, much better fielding right fielder, much better pitching team with sinker ball throwing pitchers in a much smaller home ballpark.

 

Whoever goes into left, third or DH (following any of the options floated as alternatives in this thread) in place of Willingham is going to be a poor hitter, it's a poor hitting team. At least it would have better out fielding.

[howeda7]

It looks like they're really going with Kubel at DH? If so, there's not much upgrade in putting him in LF so Willingham can DH. I'd like to see them keep Parmalee and Collabello for DH. In that case, Parmalee could play LF when he plays and Willingham could DH at least some of the time. Either way it's a marginal upgrade. If Pressley/Mastro hadn't had terrible springs, Hicks in LF would be an option.