Comments on: Harris wins Twins second base job

By: T

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 16:03:53 +0000

I should add that I include myself as one of “those fans”.

Because I’m sure I’ll have a few moments this year when I watch Gomez and think “Torii would’ve had that.”

I did it early in Morneau’s career, after Doug was traded.

By: T

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 16:02:24 +0000

Batista made fewer errors because he didn’t get to any balls hit in his zone.

It’s also a poor comparison because I don’t believe Batista could hit either.

I’m not too worried about Harris. I honestly think Twins fans have been spoiled by some pretty amazing defense for a while. To the point that a few booted balls seems like a disaster by comparison.

Hopefully getting the nod to start will help him get his head in the game. I imagine some players respond well to competition (the three CF candidates) and others may get nervous (Harris)

By: cmathewson

cmathewson — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:11:32 +0000

It is interesting that the Twins appear to be changing philosophies somewhat on offense versus defense. Statistics show that a good hitter will typically score more runs than a good fielder will prevent, if it’s an either/or proposition. Let’s say Lamb has 50 more hits than Punto did last year. This is conservative–Lamb had nearly as many hits in 200 fewer plate appearances than Punto last year. He could have 25 errors and still be on the plus side. I think the Batsista comparisons are overblown. Batista made fewer errors because he didn’t get to any balls hit in his zone. At least Lamb will cover his zone adequately.

I would be more concerned about Harris, because he will have more balls hit into his zone than Lamb, and he does not cover his zone very well at all. It’s been a long time since the Twins tried someone with a good bat and a questionable glove aver at second. Todd Walker is the last guy I remember.

By: T

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 12:13:37 +0000

No. It will not. If Lamb struggles, they will either call somebody up or use Tolbert (if he’s a #Bman)

I give Twins management all the credit in the world for getting the most out of there players but when a player just does not have it why must they be kept around forever

“Late-inning defensive replacement” is 8th/9th inning. You know, late in the game. Odds are he’d only get one at bat. Even the Yankees and Boston would occaisionally put Dougie at first late in games.

That could very well be the worst hitting line for a single month by a starting third baseman in history.

Thanks for the research, but I was talking about Morneau. As was Craig. And the discussion was Morneau’s struggles in the second half, not Punto’s struggles all season.

My choice would be to to have Tolbert at 2B and Casilla at SS sometime during the season.

I honestly think that’s the Twins plans as well. (Maybe not those players, but those positions getting younger later in the season). Lamb, Everett, and to a lesser extent Monroe, were brought in to keep the spots on the roster warm while the young guys like Casilla and Tolbert got some of the edges worn off. Heck, Gomez is also going to be a bit rough this season.

They might not be the best backup plans, but the idea is that if they’re rebuilding, they don’t need to spend a ton of money and get amazing players to serve as backup plans and placeholders.

By: Capt Bogs

Capt Bogs — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 05:46:27 +0000

The scary thing is the question of what happens when the Twins figure out just how bad Lamb is in the field at 3b. The Twins took two months to figure out that Batista couldn’t play third, and Lamb is worse. OK, his range is a little better, but at least Tony could find the first baseman with his throws. Lamb’s scatter arm will cost the Twins a lot more runs than his bat will produce, a characteristic that was hidden by his part-time status at Houston. Lamb is a bad answer at 3rd. He will have to hit really well to keep a positive VORP, and I don’t think he can.

What I am afraid of is how the Twins will react when they take action to upgrade the fielding at 3rd. The last time this happened they put in Punto, who fielded averagely and actually hit fairly well. Will 2008 be 2006 redux without the hitting? Hopefully it will be Tolbert who gets the call instead of LNP, and I hope that Matt will respond now as well as Nick did then.

By: GENO

GENO — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 04:05:13 +0000

Ithink we should cut Punto and replace him with Romer.You hate to bad mouth him but it’s so much fun.Kind of sick in my book!You need a psychologist but not a sport type.A sports psychologist would tell you it’s not in your head,just your talent level.