As much as I like Arraez, it feels a little disengenious to win a batting title while platooning.
MLB: ***2024 Minnesota Twins***
- Thread starter Marcelason78
- Start date
Agree the excitement for his accomplishment feels tempered. However, Arraez has a bright future and I sincerely hope he is a Twin for many years to come. I like the core of Miranda, Urshala, Arraez and Gordon (although Gordon needs to learn how to play outfield). Keep Buxton and Kepler. Find a catcher. Trade Punto, and if possible resign Correa - but probably unable.
there are minimum at bats. I think this feeling is more so about his second half. He was not the same player after the all-star break (know he is hurt though too). Had he won the title hitting 3.40 which he did in the first half I don't think we feel this way.
I think an infield of Lewis, Correa, Polanco, & Miranda is super scary. Then add Arraez to that as platoon. Larnach, Buxton, and Kirrilloff in the outfield with Gordan and Celestino backing them up. That is an extremely dangerous lineup for a long time.
I think that is part of the problem with the Twins right now is on paper, they do have a very formidable lineup. Urshela has also had a quietly good season. To me, if you could get something solid for Polanco in the rotation or at catcher you trade him. He is solid, but he is replaceable and having Arrez in the lineup every day at 2B would be ideal ( I feel 2nd is his best position). OF wise I'm sold on everyone you mentioned besides Celestino. I'm just not sure why, I just haven't been impressed with him.
He isn't awesome, but as a 4th or 5th outfielder I think he is fairly productive compared to league average. However, you want someone way above league average with Buxton's injury history.
Disengennious while platooning? The guy has 546 at-bats.
The top three;
Arraez 546 AB 172 hits
Judge 570 AB 177 hits
Bogaerts 554 AB 169 hits
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Thanks for the stats, that does put it into perspective better.
He deserves all the credit in the world as the champ. However, you're not totally wrong. I do think he would have had fewer ABs if the lineup didn't completely go to hell in the second half with injuries. But when you are dealing with lineup situations daily where Jake Cave is hitting 6th, there are ZERO scenarios in which you sit a healthy Luis Arreaz.
Only the late to the party analytics guys like Rocco believed Arraez was not an everyday player.
Injuries probably did force Rocco's hand and now he realizes he had a batting champ sitting on the bench.
Arreaz is really pretty bad against lefty pitchers. Having him sit on the bench against LHP and then bring him in as soon as the starting LHP is out of the game makes a ton of sense.
Depends what 'really pretty bad' is.
Twins team BA this year is .247.
AL overall BA is .242.
Arraez hit .266 against lefties.
His OPS is low. Depends on the platoon though. If it's Jake Cave or Mark Contreras, that would be stupid. If it's Kyle Garlicky, it's a no brainer.
Garlick hit .243 against lefties and was liability in the field.
Trying to say the AL batting champ should not be an everyday player is an interesting take.
Thinking the best measure of a hitter is batting average only is an interesting take.
Never said it was the best measure.
Simply disagree with your continuing narrative that Arraez' .266 clip against lefties in today's game is 'really pretty bad'.
