Report from the Fort: Get Ready for Lots of Nick Gordon

MORE COWBELL!  (....and Nick Gordon is a valuable asset that I do not think has peaked yet)

I'm ready for more Gordon. Which means likely not against LHPs, more often against RHPs and less often when Kiriloff & Larnach are on the 26 man. If Kiriloff doesn't make the 26 man due to being held back, Gordon might make the LH bat choice at 1B if they they want to keep Gallo in the OF. Yet I'd prefer Gordon over Gallo in CF.

Gordon played 33 games in CF last year & Buxton was around 60 games in CF, max.!

Trying to get 130 starts out of Buxton this year …….he had about 35 starts at DH in ‘22. Needs to pick up another 15 games at DH & 20 games in CF. Totals of 80 in CF & 50 at DH. This leaves 40-45 games in CF with RH pitching that fit Gordon & not Taylor.

75-80 games in LF for Gordon v. RH pitching. Maybe a handful of games at DH? 125 starts is 77% of the games. 

Gordon “has more power at 26-27” because he was healthy for the first time in his pro career last year. He put on 25lbs in 2022 - BIG deal!

28 doubles starting in 60% of last year’s starts……..targeting 36 doubles this year starting 77% of the time…….12 HR’s as well.

If he approaches these XBH numbers with a matching BA around .272 he’ll be just below All-Star Status.

I hope your right! I see Gordon getting 400-450 ABs, more if the injury bug hits again, playing LF, CF against RH when Buxton sits, and DH. IF he hits well again, that number could reach 500 ABs.  

I just hope Gordon is not Danny Santana.

IF Gordon is actually the performer we saw in 2022...and I'm NOT saying he isn't considering his much better health now AND his previous MO of adapting at growing at each level...especially his 2nd half, I'd have him batting #1 against RHP pitching until someone better comes along.

It allows Correa, Polanco, and Buxton to hit in the 2-5 spots and be productive driving in runs, Gordon to help set the table, even if he's not conventional in the spot, and drive in a few runs himself. 

443 PA last year. The only way he gets more PA this year is if the “no other choice” scenario plays out in the outfield forcing him to play against left-handed pitching. I do believe he’s still developing as a hitter. So, might not be a terrible thing. But, in 2022 it was a terrible thing.

11 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

I'm ready for more Gordon. Which means likely not against LHPs, more often against RHPs and less often when Kiriloff & Larnach are on the 26 man. If Kiriloff doesn't make the 26 man due to being held back, Gordon might make the LH bat choice at 1B if they they want to keep Gallo in the OF. Yet I'd prefer Gordon over Gallo in CF.

Gallo has multiple gold gloves.  Someone posted a figure here not long ago showing he is one of the MLB leaders in DRS over the last handful of years.  He’s literally one of the best defensive outfielders in the game.

Gordon has shown to be terrible in the OF at times.  At his best, average.

Gordon is probably the 6th best CF on the team (Buxton, Taylor, Gallo, Lewis when healthy, Kepler).

Help me understand the reasoning behind preferring Gordon in CF over Gallo.

Very sad....but Gordon is probably one of the best options to lead-off against right-handed pitchers.  Baldelli might try again to force Kepler there (HOW can that make sense?)  Verses lefties...Gallo..... with his 200 batting average??  I'm afraid this is going to be a weak spot for the Twins all year.

:(

Actually....I see Solano leading off against lefties now......which is still obviously a weakness.......

2 hours ago, Beast said:

Gallo has multiple gold gloves.  Someone posted a figure here not long ago showing he is one of the MLB leaders in DRS over the last handful of years.  He’s literally one of the best defensive outfielders in the game.

Gordon has shown to be terrible in the OF at times.  At his best, average.

Gordon is probably the 6th best CF on the team (Buxton, Taylor, Gallo, Lewis when healthy, Kepler).

Help me understand the reasoning behind preferring Gordon in CF over Gallo.

There's a hugh difference between CF to cOF. TOR 1B V. Guerrero won the GG, that doesn't mean he can be a good SS. Cave was a good cOF but he was a terrible CF. The last 3 yrs. Gallo has played 6 innings in CF where Gordon has played 244 innings, last year alone. While they both grade out at avg. in DRS & OAA at CF last year, Gallo is trending down while Gordon is trending up with only 2yrs. experience in CF ever.

Of course Buxton & Taylor are the best and should play the great majority of time in CF but if they both need a rest against some RHPs match ups, my choice is Gordon. And keep Gallo in the corners where he excels.

If Gordon or Gallo see much time in CF, then the Twins have issues.  Taylor was brought in to back-up Buxton and hopefully his appearances in CF will be somewhat limited as well.

33 minutes ago, miracleb said:

Actually....I see Solano leading off against lefties now......which is still obviously a weakness.......

Here are Donnie Barrel's platoon splits vs leftys since he became a regular and broke out.

2019: .339 .382 .461 .843

2020: .350 .381 .483 .864

2021: .301. 344 .478 .822

2022: .301 .348 .422 .770. 

Not too shabby and a more traditional leadoff type hitter than, say, Buxton. Buxton is now more of a power hitter type that I would prefer further down the lineup. 

5 hours ago, wabene said:

Here are Donnie Barrel's platoon splits vs leftys since he became a regular and broke out.

2019: .339 .382 .461 .843

2020: .350 .381 .483 .864

2021: .301. 344 .478 .822

2022: .301 .348 .422 .770. 

Not too shabby and a more traditional leadoff type hitter than, say, Buxton. Buxton is now more of a power hitter type that I would prefer further down the lineup. 

Agree with the assessment on Solano vs Buxton for leading off against lefties. Just hoping we don’t see another 50-pt drop in the OPS in this, what will be his age-35, season. Also, I’m still confused about who we are sitting when we play Solano for a left-handed starter…I guess it would be our “left-handed first baseman”…whoever that is.