Embracing Substance Over Style

Also, Santana has a ton of doubters with some basis given his BABIP last year.  Personally, I think they both pass the eye test as major league hitters, they swing hard, and are not intimidated which are signs that they see the ball well.  Not only is it possible that Boxton or Rosario will be up this summer, it is also possible that Polanco (who is starting to fill out and look like a serious player with HR ability) could be up NEXT summer.  We're not good enough to keep one of better players on the bench in favor of one of our worst.

"He may not be as stunningly beautiful as my lovely wife, but he’s dependable."

Well played, sir.

The Twins had several "dependable" players last year. In no order of import, or with intent to demean, they had a dependable catcher, 2B, 3B, SS, 1B, and closer. And if one argues that Santana should stay in CF, you can add that position also. Dependably, they also lost 90+ games again! I am sure they are looking at Santana as having more upside than Escobar. Plus leaving Santana in CF is really a short term solution, with no upside. While I am definitely not a fan of the current pitching staff, they have suffered for several years from a lack of range in both the infield and outfield. If they hit, you can live with a young Arcia in one OF corner, and say a somewhat statuesque Plouffe on an IF corner, but you then have to make up for it in range at the postitions next to them. And I don't think "range" is a term often associated with the current defense.

Two issues:

Platoon, the problem is not the Twins players who are dependable, it is those who are not. We were three starting pitchers short of a dependable rotation and two or three outfielders short of a dependable defense. That is why the Twins lost 90 games last year.

The bigger concern for me is Ryan's vision of the team: Does he see a competitive team this year or one that is building for the near future?

Moving Danny Santana to short looks to the future. Not acquiring a solid defensive centerfielder seems to be part of a long-term plan. Signing Ervin Santana, Duensing and Stauffer looks like a short-term program.

PS - I actually view the one-year Hunter contract as part of the long-term plan because he can mentor two outfielders that don't play consistent defense and do not have enough quality at-bats. (Obviously, Arcia is farther along than Hicks but he still gives away too many swings, especially against quality pitching). Unlike Santana and Nolasco, Hunter will be done by the time the prospects are ready.

Cannot develop someone in the majors if you expect to win.  Escobar can hold SS warm for Polanco.  Santana is probably at the peak of his perceived value.  The solution is easy: trade high.

Of course Escobar may be at his peak of perceived value as well.   If we can get a trade that equals the value these two guys put up last year then great.    I doubt that will happen and while I was very skeptical about Escobar and pigeon holed him as a utility player right away I am not sure that was fair.  I like having both in the lineup and liked Polanco as well.   Why not make Santana an outfielder and be done with it.   Fantastic speed and if Arcia or Vargas are not who we hope for then an outfield of Rosario, Buxton and Santana would be really exciting.

How many prospects have we waited for in the last decade.  Prospects are prospects and that is all they should be labeled as in my opinion.  We finally get a guy up last year (Santana) that can really play and produce and now we talk about trading him so we can wait for another prospect.  No way.  If it works, you better stick with it until these "prospects" become players and push these professionals out.  We've got a bird in the hand and about nine in the bush, take what we've got in the hand.

When I read the title of this I thought it was a Span versus Revere discussion :-)

Cannot develop someone in the majors if you expect to win.  Escobar can hold SS warm for Polanco.  Santana is probably at the peak of his perceived value.  The solution is easy: trade high.

The Twins couldn't appear to disagree with you more about Santana's ceiling, thrylos. I believe we've heard more accolades for Santana from the team's field people than we did for Plouffe or Dozier at the same stage, and in the case of both of those players, their value has inflated dramatically since they got to Target Field.

If Santana works out like Dozier and Plouffe have, I'm not going to quibble that we might have to trade Escobar for less than his optimal value to make room for someone like Polanco. And if Danny doesn't turn into much of a player, at least they have options. It was only a couple years ago that we had countless comments here about how the Twins were inherently bad at developing middle infielders, and now we know that was a false perception.

 Why not make Santana an outfielder and be done with it.   Fantastic speed and if Arcia or Vargas are not who we hope for then an outfield of Rosario, Buxton and Santana would be really exciting.

Right on.

While we're at it, let's return Hicks to pitching.

I do think that the Twins should trade Danny Santana. Given that it won't happen, I still like the idea of giving real days off to Dozier and Plouffe. They need more rest. Escobar can play 3 days a week as a starter or maybe 2 days. He is a great bench asset.

I do think that the Twins should trade Danny Santana. Given that it won't happen, I still like the idea of giving real days off to Dozier and Plouffe. They need more rest. Escobar can play 3 days a week as a starter or maybe 2 days. He is a great bench asset.

If Escobar can continue to perform how he did last season, I agree.  He can play two or three times a week and fill in at 3 spots.

If Escobar can continue to perform how he did last season, I agree.  He can play two or three times a week and fill in at 3 spots.

I do think that the Twins should trade Danny Santana. Given that it won't happen, I still like the idea of giving real days off to Dozier and Plouffe. They need more rest. Escobar can play 3 days a week as a starter or maybe 2 days. He is a great bench asset.

That's the trick, giving the "regulars" enough time off to keep them "fresh" and giving the "bench" players enough ABs to keep them from getting "rusty".

What is unfortunate is that Escobar is slated to back up the three best position players on the team. 

I didn't know he was backing up Mauer?

Speaking of Substance versus Style.  ESPN just released it's top 10 list of CFs for 2015.  Span was nowhere to be found.  Here's a guy who was 7th in CF WAR and 17th in OF War, period.  But they have guys like Wil Myers on there who hasn't even played CF, and Billy Hamilton.

Yes, he may not play the start of 2015, maybe, but he's going to be playing. Maybe they think his injury will hurt him too much, but he's not even mentioned in the article.  Nothing about, 'hey there's this guy, Span ,who has been good for a good amount of time, he's not on the list because of this injury and we think it'll affect him all season.

How many prospects have we waited for in the last decade.  Prospects are prospects and that is all they should be labeled as in my opinion.  We finally get a guy up last year (Santana) that can really play and produce and now we talk about trading him so we can wait for another prospect.  No way.  If it works, you better stick with it until these "prospects" become players and push these professionals out.  We've got a bird in the hand and about nine in the bush, take what we've got in the hand.

Santana by far surpassed what he did in the minors.    That is pretty rare.   The last one to do that was Danny Valencia and I suggested trading him also if the value was commensurate to the season he had.   Now I like Santana and would like to keep him but if any team  thought last year's numbers were repeatable and offered that kind of value I would definitely listen.    If not and Santana were able to put up numbers more like his minor league career I would be just fine with that.