Over the weekend, I sent out the Bat Signal — RIP Adam West — for some questions to answer in a mail bag. I said I’d answer the five best, but man…you all hit me with some really good questions, so we went way over.
Without any further ado, let’s go!
https://twitter.com/ShoelessJoeHQ/status/873296347436384256
I’m not sure when Polanco will return from the bereavement list, but it would seem likely that he’ll meet the Twins in Minneapolis possibly as soon as Monday. It’s been a bit of a rough go for the 23-year-old Polanco at the plate, as he’s hitting just .251/.299/.358 on the season. Polanco’s OPS was last over .700 on April 25, and in the 28 games since, he’s hit just .239/.273/.336.
In fact, strangely enough, much of his value has come on the defensive side of things, as he’s had a few lapses but for the most part looked competent out at short. The reasons I like Polanco to rebound are few, but I think significant.
First, he is an incredibly tough out at the plate. Even amidst his struggles, he’s fanning just 11.6 percent of the time — well below his career rate of 14.8 percent. His swinging strike rate is just 4.4 percent, and he’s making contact on 90.4 percent of his swings (95.7 percent on pitches in the zone).
Secondly, he hits the ball in the air. The line drive rate is way down, so that’s hurting him a bit, but he’s hitting grounders just 37.1 percent of the time. I’ll gamble on that batted ball mix for sure. I think a turnaround is right around the corner.
Still lots of pranks. Some that are appropriate to mention and others that are….not. One of my favorite stories that I haven’t told anywhere was that a bunch of reporters were gathered around Miguel Sano, who did an entire interview in English without the translator. After he finished, Max Kepler said, “Nice job with the English, Miggy.”
Sano replied, “Thanks, bitch!” and then looked at the reporters to say “That’s good, right?” with a huge smile. The entire room — Kepler included — busted up on the spot.
This obviously came in before Turley got the call, but it’s still an interesting point. While I think Turley did a fairly good job in his MLB debut — eight swinging strikes on 75 pitches — it’s worth wondering if he’ll have enough command to nail down a spot in the rotation in the medium or long term. Still, I think he should get 3-to-5 starts to show he can’t hack it.
If he can’t though, there is no reason not to weaponize him out in the bullpen. I talked to a scouting contact more than a month ago who said he’d already be better than Craig Breslow out there, and could certainly prop up what, even at that time, was a sagging unit. Those struggles have only been exacerbated in the meantime. In other words, if Turley can’t cut the mustard in the rotation, I’d keep him up in the pen for sure. He’s a finished product age-wise, give him some run.
https://twitter.com/SteveUrman/status/873302058983731205
No.
I joined a forum at Baseball.com during my senior year in high school — when I was supposed to be working on research — and fell in love with the community right away. But then, I was an 18-year-old guy who was obsessed with home runs, RBIs and batting average. That community tuned me into Moneyball, Baseball Prospectus and things like win shares and that sort of thing.
The first time I picked up a copy of the Baseball Prospectus annual I was hooked, and I knew I wanted to write about baseball for a living. I vowed someday to be in that book, and five or six short years later my name appeared in the back.
I think it has to be going from worst to first in defensive efficiency. The Twins have gotten absurd play from their outfield, but don’t sleep on the infield, either. Every one of those guys is carrying their weight, and Jason Castro has been a tremendous addition behind the plate. Catching the baseball is very important. Who knew?
I don’t like set limits. I just think they should make deals that are smart. Don’t make deals with 2017 in mind alone. This is just the beginning of the winning window. Don’t pry it open this year when you can fling it open over the winter. It makes more sense to find out what you have internally — like as far as bullpen guys with Alan Busenitz, Trevor Hildenberger, John Curtiss, Mason Melotakis, Luke Bard and many others — rather than making a big move. I wouldn’t be opposed to Pat Neshek on the cheap, though.
But basically, let teams know what it’ll take for Brian Dozier or Ervin Santana. Since both deals are sane, there’s no risk if either player craters. They’ve already given you lots of value, and won’t cripple your finances or really your path to success if they play poorly and remain on your team because nobody would give you what you want for them. But if the Twins are somehow 10 games over .500 and leading the Central on July 31, that might be where I close up shop and look to get creative for bullpen fixes.
That’s not terribly likely, though.
He wouldn’t do that, just because the Twins can offer him the most money based on draft pools and all that. But hypothetically, he could go back into the draft pool and be eligible again after his junior year. If the Twins were to draft him again, they’d have to get permission from him beforehand to do so. Players are eligible to be drafted after high school graduation and if they haven’t attended college. They’re also eligible three years after enrolling in a college, or after their 21st birthday. Junior college players are eligible no matter what their level of schooling is.
I am surprised, but not as much as most. As I said on numerous platforms over the last year, when I see a man of that stature and ability, I think to myself, “There is nothing this man can’t do.” That’s why I figured “Hey, maybe he can play right field.” You know, the sort of deference to authority that some people have when realizing that, despite their desire for takes, they realize they are nowhere near the smartest person in the room?
I had and still have that level of respect for Terry Ryan and Paul Molitor. But it didn’t work out. Was it a bad enough decision to get someone fired? I think that’s probably a fair statement. But did I think he was capable of it? Oh sure. At third, he’s got fairly good lateral agility, a great arm and has really become adept at coming in on the ball. I always wondered if it was a matter of focus. Offense, at least to me, is way more fun than defense. On offense, you just beat peoples’ brains in. Defense is something you have to hone and perfect, and it’s a lot of work. He’s doing that this year, and it’s paying off — big time.
Interesting question, but no. He just doesn’t do enough offensively. In the interest of comparatively speaking, Buxton’s been worth 0.4 fWAR solely on the strength of his defense. That’s 10th among 11 AL centerfielders — ahead of just Adam Jones. It’s far, far too dynamic of a position for Buxton to have that kind of impact. Now a Gold Glove? I think that’s on the table. Don’t be surprised when Aaron Hicks is an All-Star, though.
I’d have said Turley before news of him coming up broke — I’m on the bandwagon — but we’ll go in another direction here, of course. Now, my gut says maybe someone like Zack Granite, who could get the call if Eddie Rosario continues to scuffle. He’s hitting .313/.361/.433 with the Red Wings and could play solid defense in left, and at the very least could provide a nice caddy for Robbie Grossman if the Twins want to try giving Kennys Vargas some regular at-bats at DH.
Mitch Garver could be in the mix as well. He’s played a little left field at Rochester this year, and it’s never a crime to have a guy who can play all over PLUS catcher on your roster. I’m just not sure the Twins will bring him up to play on a part-time basis.
Otherwise, it’s all about the relievers. Whoever you like between Busenitz, J.T. Chargois, Hildenberger, Curtiss, Bard or Melotakis could make waves in a thin bullpen, and there are probably more names in that mix, besides. I think the 26-year-old Busenitz might be the most intriguing. He’s got good stuff with impressive results this season at Rochester: 2.05 ERA, 9.9 K/9 and a 0.80 WHIP.
Good question. I’m not totally sure. I did see that he was named a Florida State League All-Star, but rather than play in that, he is on his way to Chattanooga to play for the Lookouts. Rodriguez has put together some terrific numbers for the Miracle — 2.51 ERA, 7.8 K/9, 1.03 WHIP — but he’s been old for every level he’s played at for a while now. He’ll be about the league-average age at Double-A I believe, and that’s when the men are separated from the boys. Rubber is about to meet the pavement, my friend.
Thanks for all the great questions. We’ll do another one soon!
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