Minnesota Sports Forum

monsterpile wrote:

khans2k5 wrote:Is 3B defense really that worth it to keep a better bat on the bench (not just talking Sano, but Vargas and Arcia among others who may become MLB bats this year). Teams have been getting away with poor defenders at 1 spot for years as long as the bat is there so why are we so stuck on defense?

Plouffe ain't a bad bat himself. He is more proven hitter than anyone else you named and a much superior defensive player. Sure Sano should and likely will be a better hitter but he will have no problem getting ABs if he keeps hitting.

The problem comes in if Sano fails in right. I'd rather have a defensive weakness at 3rd than in the outfield. Maybe stats don't back that up, but that's just my opinion.

khans2k5 wrote:

monsterpile wrote:

khans2k5 wrote:Is 3B defense really that worth it to keep a better bat on the bench (not just talking Sano, but Vargas and Arcia among others who may become MLB bats this year). Teams have been getting away with poor defenders at 1 spot for years as long as the bat is there so why are we so stuck on defense?

Plouffe ain't a bad bat himself. He is more proven hitter than anyone else you named and a much superior defensive player. Sure Sano should and likely will be a better hitter but he will have no problem getting ABs if he keeps hitting.

The problem comes in if Sano fails in right. I'd rather have a defensive weakness at 3rd than in the outfield. Maybe stats don't back that up, but that's just my opinion.

Where is Plouffe playing?

monsterpile wrote:

khans2k5 wrote:

monsterpile wrote:

khans2k5 wrote:Is 3B defense really that worth it to keep a better bat on the bench (not just talking Sano, but Vargas and Arcia among others who may become MLB bats this year). Teams have been getting away with poor defenders at 1 spot for years as long as the bat is there so why are we so stuck on defense?

Plouffe ain't a bad bat himself. He is more proven hitter than anyone else you named and a much superior defensive player. Sure Sano should and likely will be a better hitter but he will have no problem getting ABs if he keeps hitting.

The problem comes in if Sano fails in right. I'd rather have a defensive weakness at 3rd than in the outfield. Maybe stats don't back that up, but that's just my opinion.

Where is Plouffe playing?

He'd be on the bench until he got traded or just remain on the bench and play when Mauer gets a rest and Sano DH's with Park at first. Frankly they shouldn't have re-signed him because it really is gonna wreak havoc on the everyday lineup if Sano can't cut it in right. I would have gone the utility infielder route who could step in occasionally for games Sano DH's. For me it comes down to where do you want the defensive weakness. On 3B or RF. I think RF is a lot more costly especially in our park if you don't know how to play the ball off the wall.

khans2k5 wrote:

monsterpile wrote:

khans2k5 wrote:

monsterpile wrote:

khans2k5 wrote:Is 3B defense really that worth it to keep a better bat on the bench (not just talking Sano, but Vargas and Arcia among others who may become MLB bats this year). Teams have been getting away with poor defenders at 1 spot for years as long as the bat is there so why are we so stuck on defense?

Plouffe ain't a bad bat himself. He is more proven hitter than anyone else you named and a much superior defensive player. Sure Sano should and likely will be a better hitter but he will have no problem getting ABs if he keeps hitting.

The problem comes in if Sano fails in right. I'd rather have a defensive weakness at 3rd than in the outfield. Maybe stats don't back that up, but that's just my opinion.

Where is Plouffe playing?

He'd be on the bench until he got traded or just remain on the bench and play when Mauer gets a rest and Sano DH's with Park at first. Frankly they shouldn't have re-signed him because it really is gonna wreak havoc on the everyday lineup if Sano can't cut it in right. I would have gone the utility infielder route who could step in occasionally for games Sano DH's. For me it comes down to where do you want the defensive weakness. On 3B or RF. I think RF is a lot more costly especially in our park if you don't know how to play the ball off the wall.

So you are gonna bench a guy who last year hit over 60 extra base hits and led the team in RBIs and plays a pretty good 3rd base?

khans2k5 wrote:

monsterpile wrote:

khans2k5 wrote:

monsterpile wrote:

khans2k5 wrote:Is 3B defense really that worth it to keep a better bat on the bench (not just talking Sano, but Vargas and Arcia among others who may become MLB bats this year). Teams have been getting away with poor defenders at 1 spot for years as long as the bat is there so why are we so stuck on defense?

Plouffe ain't a bad bat himself. He is more proven hitter than anyone else you named and a much superior defensive player. Sure Sano should and likely will be a better hitter but he will have no problem getting ABs if he keeps hitting.

The problem comes in if Sano fails in right. I'd rather have a defensive weakness at 3rd than in the outfield. Maybe stats don't back that up, but that's just my opinion.

Where is Plouffe playing?

He'd be on the bench until he got traded or just remain on the bench and play when Mauer gets a rest and Sano DH's with Park at first. Frankly they shouldn't have re-signed him because it really is gonna wreak havoc on the everyday lineup if Sano can't cut it in right. I would have gone the utility infielder route who could step in occasionally for games Sano DH's. For me it comes down to where do you want the defensive weakness. On 3B or RF. I think RF is a lot more costly especially in our park if you don't know how to play the ball off the wall.

Because having to many quality bats is a problem? Honestly guys like Lavel said give the guy 20 games, you act like outfield is the hardest position in the world.

Sano reminds of Vladimir Gurerro, not saying has a Vlad cannon but Vlad was always an adventure in Right field catching the ball.

You know why Vlad worked out in right field because he had a guy in centerfield always that could cover him (Tori Hunter) and we have that guy in Buxton and Rosario. If Jason Kubel can play right field on two bad knees i refuse to believe a guy who was drafted as a SS cause of his athleticism can't play the outfield. The only thing I would give people is I don't understand why he's not in LF and Rosario in RF.

Also tbh the guy who screws this all up is Mauer if it wasn't for the concussions he be behind the plate and there would be a spot for everyone. So Mauer having to play 1B shoe horns everyone.

Jester1534 wrote:

Also tbh the guy who screws this all up is Mauer if it wasn't for the concussions he be behind the plate and there would be a spot for everyone. So Mauer having to play 1B shoe horns everyone.

I agree, but we knew what we had going into this offseason. I think Mauer could have played RF. He is not that old. I think you want to get Sano into his role and keep him there as early in his career as you can. I see that at 1B or DH.

I see RF as Max Keplers spot, but he might be able to play LF too since he has played CF in the minors.

Yeah, I don't get the idea of benching Plouffe after his best season offensively and defensively. Plus he's one of the team leaders and looks poised for a very good year at the plate...hit .375 with 4 HRs in 40 ABs this spring. I also think that Sano will be fine in the OF, but even if he does turn out to be the weak link defensively, I'd rather have my weakest defender in a corner outfield position than 3B.

I was surprised when they put Sano in RF and Rosario in LF, but that was mostly because I thought Eddie played more right last year. Actually he played 86 games in left and only 34 in right, and had 3/4 of his assists in left. I think Terry liked the team's defense last year, and is trying to make as few changes as possible. that means leaving Plouffe, Mauer and Rosario in place, and replacing Hunter with Sano. Sano will not have anywhere near Hunter's defensive experience and instincts in RF, but he actually will be an upgrade in range and arm.

longstrangetrip wrote:. Sano will not have anywhere near Hunter's defensive experience and instincts in RF, but he actually will be an upgrade in range and arm.

I agree with that. Do you know if Park played any !B this spring?

bleedspeed177 wrote:

longstrangetrip wrote:. Sano will not have anywhere near Hunter's defensive experience and instincts in RF, but he actually will be an upgrade in range and arm.

I agree with that. Do you know if Park played any !B this spring?

Yes he played 56 innings at first and had 54 POs and 4 assists with no errors. He also worked a lot with TK over there one on one. I watched a game last weekend where Park played the entire game at first and he was very good. He made two terrific plays...one where he leaped to catch a high throw and then made the sweep tag, and the second where he made a diving stop on a ball hit down the line. He had a good reputation defensively Korea and can fill in there nicely if Joe gets hurt or needs a day off. He also is only 28, so is the likely heir apparent if Joe experiences a continuing dropoff like he did last year. I still predict a bounceback year for Joe though.

LST - Thanks for sharing. That is good to know about Park.