Has Minnesota’s Defense Improved or Declined in the Second Half?

Was surprised by Arraez.   Twins will need a shortstop, and maybe depending on how they feel, move on from Donaldson and move Sano to DH.  Buxton is the other factor to extend or trade.  A lot to be determined here, but the Twins if Buxton stays and they have an average SS, rate to have at least an average defense next year. 

My surprise is Simmons.  I watched him drop the ball on a perfect DP situation last night and I have seen other plays where he is not penalized, but shows lack of attention.  I cannot see how he is so highly rated.  He is a disappointment to me.

Interesting take!  Thanks!  Noticed Iglesias DFA'd by Angels.  While his defensive stats are down this year, seems he'd make a better stopgap than Simmons now and next year.  Should Twins bite?

1 hour ago, beckmt said:

Was surprised by Arraez.   Twins will need a shortstop, and maybe depending on how they feel, move on from Donaldson and move Sano to DH. 

I think they need to move on from Sano and move Donaldson to 1B.

I picture Kirilloff being the perfect 1st baseman. Wonder how Miranda will do at third, Arraez seems to have a weak arm for throwing across the diamond. Once again, what to do with Sano. (Or Donaldson). Right now, the Twins are a mess. Are you going with power strikeout pitchers, ground-ball pitchers, fly-ball pitchers? They know not what they have. The Twins seemed with the Simmons and especially Donaldson to want to shure up the ground ball defense for Dobnak and others like him. Only works if those guys pitch.

My eye test tells me Polanco is definitely improved. Might be just settling in to 2B more, or his ankle being a little stiff early in the season or both. 

My eye also tells me Arraez has looked better. I think that's as simple as playing 3B more often and just getting comfortable. 

Sano frustrates me. He seems to field 1B cleanly and does a great job on scoops. He chases foul balls generally well. I've even seen him make some really good throws from 1B. He looks fine to even good at 1B and then just muffs a play or makes a ridiculous throw/play and I roll my eyes. Total Jekyl and Hyde. 

I think we're fine at catcher with some obvious growing pains from a couple young rookies that have played a lot.

I don't know what to think about Simmons. He's still solid, but it does look like he's slipped. Is he disinterested? Is he taking his offensive struggles to the field? With average offense I'd take him back for a smaller deal. But it might just not be a good fit and time to find a different short term option.

Kiriloff is still a rookie unknown, he did not play enough games to prove anything so do not bet on the unknown.

Hoping he continues at least as good as he was for sure; spring training will tell a lot.

Arraez would be a fielding let down compared to what we have now, and his batting average is dropping like a rock.

5 hours ago, RpR said:

Kiriloff is still a rookie unknown, he did not play enough games to prove anything so do not bet on the unknown.

Hoping he continues at least as good as he was for sure; spring training will tell a lot.

Arraez would be a fielding let down compared to what we have now, and his batting average is dropping like a rock.

In the .260s in June, .299 now. That is an interesting way for a rock to drop. 

So we have invented another analytic to judge players and team performance.  The Twins have had one of the worst defensive team in all of MLB.  They have been at or near the bottom in most meaningful traditional stats all year.  All one needs to do is watch this poor excuse of a team to realize they are very bad defensively.  I do commend the article though for it's hard research and analytical development.  But I for one am overwhelmed by all the analytics.  It's destroying what used to be a good sport.

Arraez fielding today, Sept. 5 confirms they have a serious problem when Donaldson or Simmons do not play.

5 hours ago, Whitey333 said:

So we have invented another analytic to judge players and team performance.  The Twins have had one of the worst defensive team in all of MLB.  They have been at or near the bottom in most meaningful traditional stats all year.  All one needs to do is watch this poor excuse of a team to realize they are very bad defensively.  I do commend the article though for it's hard research and analytical development.  But I for one am overwhelmed by all the analytics.  It's destroying what used to be a good sport.

Not that long ago some here were hyperventilating over whether Arraez could win the batting title.?

As of a couple weeks ago (I'm not going to look these all up again) Simmons was the only SS who ranks in the top 3 in the AL in SDI, OOA, DRS, and UZR. 

If that holds true, he has as good of a chance as anyone to win the AL SS GG and probably the front runner.