One Position May Hold the Key to the Twins Offense

9 hours ago, nokomismod said:

I would love to see Kiriloff healthy and breakout but if he cannot why not Larnach? He played a great first base in college and will hopefully breakout this season.

I agree Mr Mod! People seem to sleep on Larnach, but the guy has a nice bat. He's pretty good in the outfield too. Gallo however is top notch and keeping him there would be best. 

1st base is the easiest position to fill (other than DH.)   You can pick up a guy like CJ Cron and his defense would probably be better and his offense would be marginally less than Arraez.  If the Twins felt Arraez couldn't play 2nd or 3rd base, then his batting average was "wasted" at 1st base.  I like several of the options we have at first base and think Kirilloff will be JUST as productive as Arraez(in different ways of course.)

I wonder if we would be having this conversation if we hadn't cast C.J. Cron to the wind ..

2 hours ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

100% agreed on the hitting value comp. On the fielding comp, Gallo is a much better fielder. While I hate the Gallo signing and feel he’s an overrated  fielder, at least he’s descent. Sano is a butcher, pretty much everywhere he’s fielded.

At the end of the day you'd better either win the World Series or be entertaining.  29 teams are NOT gonna win the World Series.  Odds would indicate that the local nine is far more likely to be among the 29 that better be entertaining than be the one winning it.  For my money, Sano is the most entertaining Twin I've seen with a bat in his hand since Harmon Killebrew.  It ain't always going out, but when it does it might land in a different zip code.  And, sure, he might be a sub par fielder.  However, last I checked, MLB teams are allowed to put a player in the lineup who never has to even pick up a glove. 

IF AK can't go full speed, full time at 1st - could one of the other left handed outfielders waiting in the wings play the 3 spot?  Larnach?  Walner?  Not saying its just a spot you can throw anybody into, but I might consider something like that if any experience there instead of blowing up the existing plan by putting Farmer at 3rd and Miranda at 1st.

Just another option - or do we have any 1st at AAA ready to step in?

23 hours ago, DocBauer said:

Don't sleep on Julien playing some 1B this year. 

I would expect that he start at AAA as the starting 1B to get his reps in. If he can be decent and special K doesn't get it done.. we should see him there.. 

For the sake of argument, lets just say that AK is a complete bust and back on the DL within may or June. What are the chances that Lewis or Julien is playing 1st for the Saints after spring training and takes over for AK? That’s assuming alot but don’t the two of them need to find a position and why not have a permanent back up plan if AK is MIA. 

4 hours ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

Agreed on win or be entertaining, but I don’t like watching 3 true outcomes hitters. I’m not entertained by watching 3 whiffs and sitting down 80% of the time. Also, Gallo is basically Sano with a better mitt. You’ll like watching him strikeout, I promise

He's Sano with a better glove and worse bat and I don't care about his glove.

16 hours ago, jimbo92107 said:

We are all crossing our fingers (and, where possible, toes) that Alex Kirilloff finally gets a full season of health. Same for Byron Buxton. One year, o ye gods of baseball and pediatrics!

Hell, how's about one year where the Twins don't have the most players on IL in the league? How about one year where the team doesn't need to use over 40 different pitchers to limp thru the season? We want all that...and a shrubbery. Nothing too expensive. 

Was that actually a Monty Python reference in a TD post?

Miranda had a lot of growing pains last year at 1B. There is little system depth at1B. A healthy Kiriloff at 1B will be absolutely key to this offense. I still think a veteran backup would be useful. If this team has a complete turnaround in health, they have a chance to be very good.

1 hour ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

How do you get at the worse bat?

Sano career OPS .808 ISO .248 wRC+115.

Gallo OPS .794, ISO .270 wRC+ 110.

that is so similar, it is indistinguishable. Gallo Ks slightly more, BBs slightly more, and hits more homers. Isn’t the ISO the interesting part?

Ks slightly more is probably not a comp you want to make to the fanbase.

10 hours ago, farmerguychris said:

IF AK can't go full speed, full time at 1st - could one of the other left handed outfielders waiting in the wings play the 3 spot?  Larnach?  Walner?  Not saying its just a spot you can throw anybody into, but I might consider something like that if any experience there instead of blowing up the existing plan by putting Farmer at 3rd and Miranda at 1st.

Just another option - or do we have any 1st at AAA ready to step in?

Gallo would be the first choice at 1B in ‘23 if Kirilof can’t play (v. RH pitching) ……..Larnach may get some reps through the year. We have plenty of OF depth to allow Gallo to man first base.

On 2/11/2023 at 10:53 AM, Nashvilletwin said:

Really interesting take - Polanco at 1B if Kiriloff is a no go.

At the moment, even if Kiriloff can make it back, Miranda should get lots of frames at 1B.  If Miranda ends up being a more dependable, higher producing player than Kiriloff this season, then next year when Lee, Lewis and Julien show up, Miranda would be the everyday 1B and Kiriloff (with Kepler and Gallo gone) would be a corner OF (with some combo of Larnach, Gordon, Wallner and Martin), backup 1B, and DH.

I literally cannot believe we are going to be starting an OF of Gallo, Kepler and Taylor (when Buxton is inevitably out). Yes, the defense is there in spades, but what a snooze fest at the plate.  And all essentially one year rentals.

Back to Polanco.  I actually think his year at the plate is going to be the key to the Twin’s offense this season. How Polanco goes is how this team will go..

CANNOT start Taylor v. RH pitching………(not unless guys are hurt!) Against RH pitching - 80% of the games, order of depth:

Gordon/Gallo/Larnach - Buxton/Gordon/Taylor - Kepler/Gallo/Taylor

I see Buxton starting 80 games in CF if he can hold it together……..50 games at DH.

When Buxton is resting or DH v. RH pitching, Gordon plays CF - 50 games………vs. LH pitching Taylor is in CF - 30 games.

I look forward to Gallo - Gordon - Kepler in the OF & at the plate v. RH pitching.

Larnach - Taylor - Kepler v. LH pitching with Buxton at DH.

22 hours ago, nokomismod said:

I would love to see Kiriloff healthy and breakout but if he cannot why not Larnach? He played a great first base in college and will hopefully breakout this season.

Cris E., above, says Larnach has played 1 game at first base in college and minor leagues combined………….. Not sure who is right?

Does seem if he played “a great first base in college” he’d be getting some buzz and would be the obvious choice to replace Kirilof! 

Larnach was an outfielder....

On 2/11/2023 at 1:09 PM, ashbury said:

It's not 2019 or 2020 or 2021 anymore.  And 29 other teams have seen it the same way up to this point, concerning Miguel Sanó.

Hmm, I thought he was talking about CJ Cron.  Shows what I know :-)

Larnach