Minnesota Sports Forum

I gotta hand it to you Polanco advocates (monster and Jason)...your faith in him looks justified at this point. He's looked really good at the plate and even pretty good in the field since his call up. Tonight he's getting a chance at SS, and he's made a couple good plays with no errors. Terry Ryan used to talk about a player's "make up", which had a lot to do with the player's ability to be comfortable in the big leagues. I like Polanco's make up...he looks confident and like he belongs up here.

Good call, guys

longstrangetrip wrote:I gotta hand it to you Polanco advocates (monster and Jason)...your faith in him looks justified at this point. He's looked really good at the plate and even pretty good in the field since his call up. Tonight he's getting a chance at SS, and he's made a couple good plays with no errors. Terry Ryan used to talk about a player's "make up", which had a lot to do with the player's ability to be comfortable in the big leagues. I like Polanco's make up...he looks confident and like he belongs up here.

Good call, guys

I can only speak for myself, but there was some luck there, also I've heard Bert say on more than one occasion that he think the infields at Rochester and Chattanooga are poorly-cared-for.

Upon further review, Polanco is probably what I thought he was...a big league bat that they may not be able to find a position for. Made two errors in one inning yesterday, and management continues to wonder if his weak arm will allow him to play on the left side of the infield. I love the guy's bat though. My hope is he continues to hit well, and the Twins find a team that is willing to overpay for him as a good 2b prospect.

I think our second baseman of the future is at Cedar Rapids. Luis Arraez is only 19, but is leading the league in hitting now at .344. He has a 3-year batting average in the minors of .334 with more walks than K's, and plays a very respectable defensive 2b. He and Gordon could be a very solid middle infield for years.

longstrangetrip wrote:Upon further review, Polanco is probably what I thought he was...a big league bat that they may not be able to find a position for. Made two errors in one inning yesterday, and management continues to wonder if his weak arm will allow him to play on the left side of the infield. I love the guy's bat though. My hope is he continues to hit well, and the Twins find a team that is willing to overpay for him as a good 2b prospect.

I think our second baseman of the future is at Cedar Rapids. Luis Arraez is only 19, but is leading the league in hitting now at .344. He has a 3-year batting average in the minors of .334 with more walks than K's, and plays a very respectable defensive 2b. He and Gordon could be a very solid middle infield for years.

Anthony said the other day for Polonco in the field he need to slow down and make the easy plays. What I don't get is why they don't just stick him at one spot and go with that for a decent stretch. I know that's tough with all the guys they have to try and get playing time but flip flopping him and Escobar makes no sense. Polonco turned 23 a few weeks ago I think it's a little early to proclaim him only a 2nd Baseman that can hit. Speaking of 2nd baseman hey that Dozier can hit huh? :)

Word is that the Teins put Suzuki on Waivers and Mid Sunday was the deadline for claiming him. I would think someone would have claimed him but will there be a deal that can be worked out? It looks like they may be giving Centeno more of a look either way which would make sense. Oddly his bat has been decent it seems his defense has been somewhat of a problem at least passed balls.

monsterpile wrote:

longstrangetrip wrote:Upon further review, Polanco is probably what I thought he was...a big league bat that they may not be able to find a position for. Made two errors in one inning yesterday, and management continues to wonder if his weak arm will allow him to play on the left side of the infield. I love the guy's bat though. My hope is he continues to hit well, and the Twins find a team that is willing to overpay for him as a good 2b prospect.

I think our second baseman of the future is at Cedar Rapids. Luis Arraez is only 19, but is leading the league in hitting now at .344. He has a 3-year batting average in the minors of .334 with more walks than K's, and plays a very respectable defensive 2b. He and Gordon could be a very solid middle infield for years.

Anthony said the other day for Polonco in the field he need to slow down and make the easy plays. What I don't get is why they don't just stick him at one spot and go with that for a decent stretch. I know that's tough with all the guys they have to try and get playing time but flip flopping him and Escobar makes no sense. Polonco turned 23 a few weeks ago I think it's a little early to proclaim him only a 2nd Baseman that can hit. Speaking of 2nd baseman hey that Dozier can hit huh? :)

Man, what a season Dozier is having! He used to be a guy who destroyed inside fastballs, but couldn't do anything with the breaking ball away. I have to give some credit to Brunansky for convincing Brian he would be a better hitter if he used the entire field.

Yeah, it has to be confusing for Polanco to be moved around. I don't know for sure, but I think because of his throwing limitations they don't see him as a starter down the road at either SS or 3b. But they have to love his bat, so they maybe see him as the next Nunez...a very good hitter who can play multiple positions but not well enough to start. Nunez wouldn't be a bad projection for Jorge.

longstrangetrip wrote:

monsterpile wrote:

longstrangetrip wrote:Upon further review, Polanco is probably what I thought he was...a big league bat that they may not be able to find a position for. Made two errors in one inning yesterday, and management continues to wonder if his weak arm will allow him to play on the left side of the infield. I love the guy's bat though. My hope is he continues to hit well, and the Twins find a team that is willing to overpay for him as a good 2b prospect.

I think our second baseman of the future is at Cedar Rapids. Luis Arraez is only 19, but is leading the league in hitting now at .344. He has a 3-year batting average in the minors of .334 with more walks than K's, and plays a very respectable defensive 2b. He and Gordon could be a very solid middle infield for years.

Anthony said the other day for Polonco in the field he need to slow down and make the easy plays. What I don't get is why they don't just stick him at one spot and go with that for a decent stretch. I know that's tough with all the guys they have to try and get playing time but flip flopping him and Escobar makes no sense. Polonco turned 23 a few weeks ago I think it's a little early to proclaim him only a 2nd Baseman that can hit. Speaking of 2nd baseman hey that Dozier can hit huh? :)

Man, what a season Dozier is having! He used to be a guy who destroyed inside fastballs, but couldn't do anything with the breaking ball away. I have to give some credit to Brunansky for convincing Brian he would be a better hitter if he used the entire field.

Yeah, it has to be confusing for Polanco to be moved around. I don't know for sure, but I think because of his throwing limitations they don't see him as a starter down the road at either SS or 3b. But they have to love his bat, so they maybe see him as the next Nunez...a very good hitter who can play multiple positions but not well enough to start. Nunez wouldn't be a bad projection for Jorge.

Just to be clear I do think there are obviously concerns about his defense going forward...however again this guy just turned 23 and came up as a SS he should be good enough to play in the field somewhere. Look at Dozier. That guy was an absolute train wreck when he was gifted the starting SS spot. Couldn't hit couldn't field etc. now the guy is on track to hit 30 bombs as at least a solid defensive everyday 2nd baseman. Now Dozier is a nice story (was also 2 years older than Polonco when he broke into the majors) but man that guy is pretty valuable. Like you said earlier maybe the Twins decide Polonco is only a 2nd baseman (seems a bit early at his age/experience especially since we didn't know if Sano can play at 3rd base) and they can move him for a big return...but yeah I would rather slot him in as the next Nunez for now who has had his own problems as a defensive player. Anthony says Polonco works hard does it the right way so hopefully that's the case. It's nice to have some talented infielders after it being sort of a wasteland for a number of years.

Yeah, middle infield could be becoming a strength. So, we have Dozier, Polanco and Arreaz who all are best at 2b and can hit. The guy who brings the most back in trade is Dozier with his 20+ HRs, improving BA and excellent defense. If the Twins could get back a catcher or good starting pitcher for Dozier in the off-season, would they take a chance on the youngsters and deal him?

longstrangetrip wrote:Yeah, middle infield could be becoming a strength. So, we have Dozier, Polanco and Arreaz who all are best at 2b and can hit. The guy who brings the most back in trade is Dozier with his 20+ HRs, improving BA and excellent defense. If the Twins could get back a catcher or good starting pitcher for Dozier in the off-season, would they take a chance on the youngsters and deal him?

You better be getting some no-brainier prospects for Dozier. I'm not sure Dozier is THE leader of this team but I tend to think he is probably part of the solution so dealing him seems like a bad move. Unless he has a bad injury there is no reason to deal him till you have to. There will always be a nice market for that type of guy. He is 29 I don't see him dropping off anytime soon. I'm biased he is probably my favorite Twin but I just don't see how you can deal a guy like that even if you go young. Polonco needs to at least prove for maybe a year or at least another half season next year he really can hit and 2b is the only spot to put him then...maybe move Dozier.

longstrangetrip wrote:Upon further review, Polanco is probably what I thought he was...a big league bat that they may not be able to find a position for. Made two errors in one inning yesterday, and management continues to wonder if his weak arm will allow him to play on the left side of the infield. I love the guy's bat though. My hope is he continues to hit well, and the Twins find a team that is willing to overpay for him as a good 2b prospect.

I think our second baseman of the future is at Cedar Rapids. Luis Arraez is only 19, but is leading the league in hitting now at .344. He has a 3-year batting average in the minors of .334 with more walks than K's, and plays a very respectable defensive 2b. He and Gordon could be a very solid middle infield for years.

According to BSPN, they have him committing 1 error at SS and 3 errors at 3B. He is the only player to have played either position for MIN to have a positive DWAR.

It's like I said before. Bert says they don't take care of the infield at ROCH or CHAT, which is consistent with what we know about the Pohlads. And while you can adjust how you pitch to a guy, you really can't adjust how you HIT to a guy. Maybe there is something to all this.