The Strib hack Jim Souhan has a article today about the Twins potential line up. Read it here.
Of course the one glaring omission is the lack of Jason Kubel, who the writer of this blog should get every opportunity to have at least 500 AB’s this summer. Anyways, that’s not really the point because Souhan to a certain extent agrees. What really busts my chops (yep i’m 65 years old) is Souhan’s ridiculous breakdown of the order. For example:
If the Twins were looking for comfort and making all of their judgments based on spring training performances, Span would be a logical choice.
But teams should never make decisions based on spring training performances, which can fool you as surely as infomercials. Let’s consider the big picture: Gomez was the centerpiece of the Santana trade. Gomez is considered a better long-term prospect than Span. Gomez has better tools. Gomez is more exciting.
Actually, the Twins should be making their judgments based on Spring Training, especially at the CF position. None of the candidates have shown anything of relevance at the major league level yet. Gomez is more exciting and is winning this job because of his desire to improve his game by listening to coaches. Not to mention he is faster than Speedy Gonzalez and has stolen nine bases in less than a month of playing every other day (not that i’m a fan of the SB, see later posts). But when you still 2nd and the catcher doesn’t even make a throw, then you have something special. I’m actually in favor of starting with Span and giving him every opportunity to fail and bringing Gomez up in the 2nd half. I feel this is not a contention year for us and I would hate to use up an option and year of eligibility on Gomez when Span or Pridie for that matter would be serviceable for at least half of a year.
But then it gets crazy Souhan and I agree on something. To whit:
No. 2: I’d prefer to see Mauer as the leadoff hitter. Even in a down year, Mauer had the Twins’ best on-base percentage last season. If I were writing the lineup, I’d want my best on-base percentage hitter leading off, to try to build big innings.
Yes, I don’t get why more major league managers wouldn’t at least try this. Tony LaRussa isn’t going anywhere, throw us sabers a bone and bat your best OBP guy all year long. If it fails miserably maybe we’ll just shut up (probably not though).
“I like those guys in that order — Mauer, Cuddy, Morneau, Delmon,” Gardenhire said. “They all look comfortable.”
Gardy is a big fan of that L-R-L-R thing when it comes to hitting, and at this point it’s hard to argue with him. Young and Cuddyer are interchangeable (until Young proves to be less of a hack with the bat of course, which should come considering he is only 21). Morneau and Cuddyer should bounce back from bad years last year.
No. 6: Kubel and Monroe give the Twins a chance to dramatically increase the production from the DH spot, a black hole last year. Kubel should get most of the at-bats. He hit .303 after the All-Star break last year, should punish lefties, and could be a big part of the future if he can revive his career.
The whole point of this blog is the integrating the traditional with the future. Kubel should be poised for a breakout year, if Gardy quits jerking him around. I’m not opposed to Monroe on the bench as a big bat late in the game and as a relatively decent (albeit ridiculously expensive) back up OF. I agree with many that Monroe should only DH against the really tough lefties and that Kubel should be given every chance to get 500-550 AB’s this year. I liken his situation to that of Cuddyer. Once Cuddy was comfortable in RF and settled down he had a career year. Give Kubel a chance.
Harris is supposedly competing for the second base job with Nick Punto. Realistically, the Twins acquired Harris to improve their woeful run production.
This lineup makes sense with Harris’ bat instead of Punto’s, and the four-man bench better if it includes Punto, who can play three infield positions brilliantly and can handle three outfield positions if necessary.
Please god no Nickie Punto AB’s. While I don’t necessarily agree with Harris’ politics I do agree with his bat, which much like his glove this spring has been mediocre. However he is a marked improvement over Punto, who in one man’s opinion shouldn’t see more than 7 AB’s a week.
The lineup should be okay and is certainly capable of putting some runs on the board. The rotation is suspect and another topic!
