Notebook: Left Field Battle, Buxton Hates Root Beer

I'd be fine if Kirilloff doesn't start with the team. It would be one thing if it meant Cave starting 6 days a week, but with Rooker, Garlick potentially making the team, and Arraez getting play out there, I don't feel so bad about it.

Horrible news about Carrasco! Great talent when healthy. Hate to see anyone have an injury like that.

Diet Dr Pepper is far superior to Root Beer.

We have such a backlog of LF candidates that I cannot root for Garlick to make the team even though he has been hitting so great in ST.  

Since 2018 Kepler's wRC+ is 109 which is the average for all MLB corner OFers. This happens to be the same as Eddie Rosario who seems to be regarded as the better offensive player. Over the last 2 years Kepler's wRC+ is above league average at 118 / Rosario 105. Not bad if Kepler can reproduce the 118 and play great defense.

Trade Buxton. He is incompatible with the team that spawned Killebrew Root Beer. Replace him with Broxton, and we’ll never know the difference due to the similarity in names.

I wish Carrasco well as well. The 3 best LFers are RH, Garlic, Rooker and Broxton. They seem to hit RHPs well enough so any combination of the 3 that includes Broxton because he has better glove and speed should be considered for the LF spot. Sadly, Broxton's name isn't even in the discussion which concerns me greatly.

We have such a backlog of LF candidates that I cannot root for Garlick to make the team even though he has been hitting so great in ST.  

I am rooting for Garlick to keep it up. Kirilloff and Larnach have not proven they are ready and we should not assume a month at AAA is all they need. If Garlick made the team ... Worst case scenario is he does not keep it going and he is replaced by Kirilloff / Rooker or Larnach. Best case scenario he hits like he did in AAA and this spring. We trade him or Kepler or both if and when the others force their way onto the team. That's a high-class problem!

If Kirilloff is not playing left field this year full time the Twins FO screwed up big time not keeping Eddie Rosario.

There's no Garlick in my root beer. 1919 Root Beer out of Schell's Brewery in New Ulm is to die for. Throw in a couple scoops of Schwan's Vanilla and you're on your way to heaven. I suggest the Kraut brewers in New Ulm send a growler to Buxton and one to Kepler as well. Probably raise their batting averages by ten points.

Perhaps it's really root-canal beer that he actually hates.

Kirilloff needed to force his way into the starting lineup with a strong spring. So far, he has given the Twins every reason to send him down, and retain the extra year of service, especially with the way Rooker's bat has looked. Rocco's comments lead me to believe Rooker gets the nod - although I think Arraez starts there for the 1st few games before the infielders need a day off.

Debacle seems like a really strange word to use for this situation. 

So...two games that the non-pay TV crowd might get to watch. Well done, Twins.

Alex Kirolloff has never played AAA ball. He's had one MLB game. His AA career was not great. It's OK if he does not start the season with the Twins. If the Twins don't start the season with Brent Rooker in the outfield then like the neglected wife he should say, " Play me or trade me".

I do not think this word means what you think it means.

Debacle.

Kirolloff has not played himself into the lineup, and if he starts it is because that was decided coming into spring and there never was a comp.  I do not put much stock into spring numbers.  I remember many Twins crushing in spring and make the team because of it only to fall flat on their face.  If you only look at the numbers you may be missing many things.  

Like, their hits, what kind of pitches was it on?  How were they being pitched too?  What kind of defense was out there? So many more things to pay attention too.  For example, if the person crushed fastballs over and over, but never could hit off-speed and swung at it over and over, how do you think they will fare in regular season?  

I am not saying Alex should get the start, I think it can easy be argued Rooker should get time out there to start season and Alex needs to force his way in, or Rooker plays his way out.  Personally fine either way.  Garlick is not likely.  Much like Broxton, he is who he is.  Garlick was brought in for injury depth and nothing more. 

I do not think this word means what you think it means.

 

Debacle.

Nor this one.

Formally.