Postseason Review: Brian Dozier

I think Terry Ryan holds onto Dozier until the second or third year of arbitration and deals him around the All-Star break, regardless of where the Twins are in the standings. He'll be an OLD free agent – 30 – and in his declining years during his first big contract.

Polanco will be pushing for playing time by the end of next season, according to Mike Berardino, and there's plenty of middle infield depth in the organization...finally. Eddie Rosario could recover and Nick Gordon won't be a long study.

I wouldn't be surprised if Santana continues to play CF next year to give Escobar some trade value at short until Buxton is up. If he can be what he was this year and just be an above average defender at SS (he was slightly below average this year), Esco is going to earn the Twins a mint.

Plouffe should be pretty good trade bait around the All-Star break next year, too, but I think he'll stick around and play LF when Sano is up, unless the Twins feel Esco can hit enough to hold down LF at lower arbitration dollars. I'd prefer to keep Esco given his proven ability to play up to six positions, albeit slightly below average, and the fact he's under team control until 2019.

Knoblauch and Dozier polar opposites?  That thought I don't understand.  But Dozier does bring back memories of Knobby. 

It was  surprising the number of runs he scored this season, his OBP had a lot to do with that.  But I'd really like him to hit for a higher average, and it should be easy for him to do.  I just couldn't understand him trying to pull the ball on all those outer half pitches.  If he'd just take those pitches to the right of center anywhere, he'd raise his average while most likely getting to see more meat pitches to drive.  He could become an elite hitter using the whole field.  Lots of room for improvement there. 

I enjoy his defense.  He's got his own style, but seems to lose concentration for time to time.  Still, fun to watch.   

Halsey, I said that Dozier's personality is the polar opposite of Knoblauch.  Away from the field, Dozier reminds me of Cuddy, while Knoblauch was driven and intense all the time.  On the field, Dozier is pretty intense and seems determined to get better and make the most of his abilities, which summarizes Knoblauch's time with the Twins. 

There have been a couple of interviews where if I did not hear who they were interviewing I would have thought it was an old clip of Cuddy. I am not sure where I stand on the importance of a club house leader, but I have heard Gardy say Dozier will get on people in the locker room.  If a club house voice is important, in addition to his solid defense, his personality and growing experience could be an asset in the club house.  Plus, there is the hair. 

OBP is always good. But......... the only time a walk drives is a run is if the bases are loaded.  I too hope Dozier figures out how to hit for at least a .260-.270 average.  I would take that and the same OBP and less walks any day of the the week.  That would give Dozier more RBI and less personal LOBs and the Twins sure could use a higher average as a team with RISP.  I like teams that we know and love and not a lot of strangers.  That is what the trends have been - to have a team of strangers.  I hope Dozier sticks and keeps improving.