Fake Twins Lineup for Friday against Kenny Rogers

by John Sickels on May 4, 2006 11:11 PM EDT

Let's shake things up a bit with our Fake Twins Lineup for the Friday game against Kenny Rogers.

Castillo 2B
Stewart LF
Hunter CF
Mauer C
Batista 3B
Ford RF
Cuddyer 1B
White DH
Punto SS

Your suggestions?

0 recs | Comment 25 comments

Story-email Email | Print |

Comments

Hahaha

that is a pretty bad lineup, although they ought to score more than today. I love Punto, heard a Batavia story (Phils short season) about him riding a bicycle, uhhh, impaired and proceeding to do some handlebar gymnastics after colliding with a stray dog. Absolutely hilarious, gotta root for a ballplayer like that
(no animals were hurt in the telling of this story)

by jrose643 on May 4, 2006 11:28 PM EDT 0 recs

Twins Lineup

Castillo 2B
Stewart LF
Mauer C
Hunter CF
White DH
Morneau 1B
Batista 3B
Ford RF
Castro SS

Both Castro are bad with the bat so I'll go with the slicker fielder. Also, why shouldn't the Twins try and acquire Betemit from Atlanta or Izturis from LAD? They have a surplus of pitching and need to free up some spots for some younger guys.

by Havok1517 on May 4, 2006 11:44 PM EDT 0 recs

interesting...

I think it would be an interesting idea to go after Betemit or Izturis.

Who could the Twins move for Izturis? Not sure, since I don't know what the Dodgers would need.

The Braves could use pitching, and if Crain hadn't blown up so far that would be an option. As it is, both the Twins and Braves have seen some implosions in the bullpen. That disregarded, would the Braves trade Betemit? Chipper seems to land on the DL a few times a season now, and Renteria has been banged up. Not sure they would part with Betemit... but I like the idea.

by dbimberg on May 5, 2006 11:59 AM EDT up 0 recs

Because

They already have someone in AAA who could be about as good as betemit and better than castro, but refuse to use him. Any deal that would really make sense for improving the Twins offense you can probably throw out, because it won't happen. Ryan had all kinds of chances this offseason to actually, really, seriously improve the offense, and besides Castillo, he sat and twiddled his thumbs.

I won't participate in these until callups are allowed, because the Twins need to call up Bartlett and Kubel NOW. This team and management is an embarrassment to the franchise, not because they are losing mind you, but because they could be doing more and smarter things to win, and are choosing not to. In fact, when there's something obvious and easy that they could be doing to improve things, you can pretty much count on them to do the complete opposite...

by AucklandGM on May 5, 2006 1:03 PM EDT up 0 recs

Give us your lineup

with the call-ups you want. Feel free to release all the bums on the ML roster.

by eswanson55 on May 5, 2006 1:44 PM EDT up 0 recs

That's hard to do for me because

I don't much like these in the first place, becuase I want to make it into more of a you be the GM type of thing and say: Well, I would have had these options for a lineup because I would have signed so and so and claimed what's his face on waivers, etc. I think whatever the Twins do at this point with their roster, they'll still have a pretty bad lineup against lefties.

Stewart LF
Cuddyer 1B
Castillo 2B
Hunter CF
Batista 3B
Kubel RF
Redmond C
Mauer DH
Bartlett SS

Still pretty crappy, but anthing that gets Castro/Punto and slumping White and Ford out of the lineup would help at this point.

by AucklandGM on May 5, 2006 4:25 PM EDT up 0 recs

amen brother...

...I am with you on the Twins mis-management. Serously, is it time for Ryan and Gardy to go?

by dbimberg on May 5, 2006 2:28 PM EDT up 0 recs

Lineup

1.) Stewart LF
2.) Castillo 2B
3.) Mauer C
4.) Hunter CF
5.) Cuddyer 1B
6.) Batista 3B
7.) Ford RF
8.) White DH
9.) L Rodriguez SS

Betemit would be nice, but one of the young guys tha the Twins need to really give a shot to is Jason Bartlett. That said, Betemit could play 3B.

Punto is horrible. Castro is really bad. I like Luis Rodriguez. Check out his minor league numbers, noting especially his strikeout to walk ratios and see how they have translated into the big leagues. No, he's not a star, but I'm always happy with anyone who can put together a good at bat.

by SethSpeaks on May 5, 2006 12:14 AM EDT 0 recs

This Is What It SHOULD Be

Cuddyer should be playing everyday...whether it's at 3B or RF, he deserves to be playing everyday.

2B Castillo
LF Stewart (Altho he is horrid in the OF)
C Mauer
DH White (He will come around)
1B Morneau
CF Hunter
3B Cuddyer
RF Ford
SS Bartlett

No Castro, & no Batista. I don't care how good Castro is with the glove, or how much of a power threat Batista is...these 2 are NOT long term answers for the Twins, and with the way they are playing right now, I'd much rather be watching guys like Bartlett and Cuddyer making the mistakes instead of them. And Kubel, if White does continue to struggle, then you could slot him into the DH role, and adjust the lineup accordingly to that.

Sickels for President.

by StatFreakNYM on May 5, 2006 12:15 AM EDT 0 recs

Kubel

last i checked Kubel is doing very well down in the minors. i'd let him play their till September then call him up but he looks pretty good down there as well.

by High Heater on May 5, 2006 3:30 AM EDT 0 recs

hmmmm

knoblauch
oliva
puckett
Kilebrew
Carew
Allison
Hrbek
Mauer
Gaetti

by hotshotschamp on May 5, 2006 6:37 AM EDT 0 recs

ahh...

that would be a great lineup. Thank goodness for baseball simulations, so we can actually try it.

by dbimberg on May 5, 2006 11:55 AM EDT up 0 recs

ok, no callups

Against a lefty, I'd start Redmond at catcher, and give Mauer a day as DH. Also, there's no reason why Rondell White should be playing in any capacity right now.

About Cuddyer: he may not be Figgins or Freel, but he's got a hot bat, and needs to start everyday for this team. He's losing peak-year at bats to Ford, Batista & White, & losing time v LHPs to Morneau.

LF Stewart
1B Cuddyer
2B Castillo (again, good power v LHPs)
CF Hunter
3B Batista
DH Redmond
C Mauer
RF Ford
SS Punto (Castro's gotta sit, & he's got nice #s v LHPs)

by Azteca on May 5, 2006 10:29 AM EDT 0 recs

mistake

reverse Redmond & Mauer: not in order, but in position...as I said previously

by Azteca on May 5, 2006 10:30 AM EDT up 0 recs

Huh?

Hitting Castillo 3rd? He did have success against LHP in '05, but he's currently got a .375 SLG against LHP in '06. Not exactly, "good power."

And Punto in the lineup!? I know that him and Gardy have some fascination with each other, but there is no way that Punto, Castro, Batista, and even Ford should be everyday players in baseball right now. Ford is nothing more than a 4th OFer, someone that can play all 3 OF positions, and can spell a guy like Stewart or Hunter in the field, allowing them to then DH.

Sickels for President.

by StatFreakNYM on May 5, 2006 1:57 PM EDT up 0 recs

I think your anger is misdirected

Punto & Castro both suck: agreed. Like others, I'd call Bartlett up immediately. He's 26, and more interesting to this team's future than any Neifi-ish glove-genius.

Castillo has had 21 plate appearances v LHPs this year. All-in-all, he's amassed 4 singles, 1 double, 5 walks & 0 strike outs. Based on this year's stats (which is an extremely small sample), I'd say he's a tough out against lefties. His history (05, .649 slg; 04, .448 slg; 03, .494 slg--all in a pitcher's park) says he has power from that side as well.

Also, who else would you put in the 3-hole? Neither lefty Mauer or Morneau has proven capable against a guy like Rogers. Righties like Hunter, Ford, White & Batista are all hackers who struggle to maintain high OBPs. Cuddyer could hit there, but that's a tall order from a guy who's struggle to get his PAs. To me, a veteran like Castillo could (1) handle the move & (2) make pitchers work on the middle of the lineup a little.

by Azteca on May 5, 2006 2:23 PM EDT up 0 recs

Your Original Statement

Was that Castillo had good power against LHP. Like you mentioned, his #'s this year, which are small, he has hit 1 extra base hit. To say that's "good" power is wrong. I am not debating that Castillo hits LHP quite well. But he is not a #3 hitter, especially with the current Twins lineup.

Mauer's role in a lineup hasn't yet been decided yet. The guy will get on base at a .370-.370 clip, but he hasn't shown a large amount of power and run producing ability just yet. However, this is only his 2nd full year in the bigs, and he is very young right now. And you know what they say...power develops as a player develops. I have no question that over time, Mauer will be an annual 20-25 HR hitter. Morneau, the guy is an all or nothing kind of hitter right now. He has nothing left to prove at the AAA level, but he looks right now to be nothing more than a AAAA player, which is quite unfortunate. He was touted as being the next big power hitter in the Twins organization, and he hasn't shown the consistency to do so.

Hunter, eh...the guy should and hopefully will be traded this year. Batista should not be an everyday player for any MLB team right now, and like I said before...Ford is a 4th OFer. White, I think he'll come around. The guy is a career 289/343/472 hitter in his career, and although it may be tough to amass that in '06, I think he'll be OK.

In conclusion, the Twins lineup just isn't constructed to score a lot of runs right now. The top 3 guys, Stewart, Castillo, and Mauer have been a delight so far in '06. However, hitters 4-9 are in dismay, and it doesn't look to bright for the future if TR and Gardy continue to give guys like Casto, Punto, Batista, and Ford everyday amount of AB's.

Sickels for President.

by StatFreakNYM on May 5, 2006 3:50 PM EDT up 0 recs

fair enough

No reason not to like Mauer, and I agree he needs his reps against LHPs. That's why I put him in the 7-hole.

Just don't think he's proven, yet, that he can be successful against them. Here are his v LHP lines, 2004-2006:

33 AB, .182/.263/.212
142 AB, .225/.268/.246
22 AB, .227/.280/.318

This is why I placed Castillo in the 3-hole. Check the SLG%s I posted for Luis, again. He's a good hitter, with power, against LHPs. Mauer is a good hitter, who needs to learn to hit LHPs. That's a big difference.

by Azteca on May 5, 2006 4:04 PM EDT up 0 recs

My shot

Okay, I was being a little facetious yesterday with my lineup. Since the topic has come up again I'll be a little more judicious.

LF Stewart
SS Punto
C Redmond
DH White
3B Batista
CF Hunter
RF Cuddyer
1B Morneau
2B Rodriguez

I expect Castillo to be given a few days, or at least tonight, off since he left the game early last night with a bum leg; Rodriguez gets the starting nod. Mauer has faired poorly against lefties so far this season, thus making a start for Redmond's solid LHP even more justifiable. Ford has been brutal against LHP so Cuddyer gets the start, even though Cuddyer hasn't been all that great himself. Coupled Batista's decent LHP numbers means he's at 3B tonight, not Cuddyer with Ford in RF. One can only hope that Ford can use the Force in a productive manner whilst sitting on the bench. The tiny superhero, Lil' Nicky Punto, has been as hot against LHP so far this year as Castro has been ice cold with moves him up to the #2 in the hope of getting Stewart to scoring position. It pains me to have Morneau in the eight hole, but having him any higher would probably mean another inning ending, bases loaded, grounder to second base. Ouch.

by Jaerbesan on May 5, 2006 11:11 AM EDT 0 recs

Why not

Put Cuddyer at 2B, he has experience there.

LF-Stewart
SS-Castro
CF-Hunter
2B-Cuddyer
DH-White
1B-Morneau
3B-Batista
C-Redmond
RF-Ford

1 through 4 can do some damage. 5-7 can get the outs unless 1 happens to get plunked, Redmond will either go yard or end the inning. Ford is your start going back to the top. Should be good for the average 4.1 runs.

by eswanson55 on May 5, 2006 1:09 PM EDT 0 recs

Um, here's why...

Unless Castillo's legs fall off, which may actually happen sometime soon, he has battered lefties to the tune of .343/.403/.519 over the last 3 seasons.

by AucklandGM on May 5, 2006 1:22 PM EDT up 0 recs

Um, he's hurt

and Cuddyer is a better bat than Punto or Rodriquez.

by eswanson55 on May 5, 2006 1:28 PM EDT 0 recs

Castillo

St. Paul Pioneer Press:
Despite leaving Thursday's game after being spiked, the Twins said Luis Castillo (leg) will be able to play Friday.

by AucklandGM on May 5, 2006 1:33 PM EDT up 0 recs

I should have

looked it up before posting a lineup. Your earlier post sums up my frustration with how the Twins are using their players. There are alot of wasted AB's and IP being given to players who don't deserve them. Having 3 utility IF taking AB from Bartlett is just stupid IMO.

by eswanson55 on May 5, 2006 1:43 PM EDT up 0 recs