Kepler as the leadoff hitter??

Hornets · Post by **Hornets** » Thu Mar 21, 2019 10:17 am

Not sure who should be in this spot, but not feelin too comfortable with Max there. I think it will mess with his mind....

RALPH MALPH · Post by **RALPH MALPH** » Thu Mar 21, 2019 3:01 pm

he's far from an ideal leadoff imo. i'm not a fan of Kepler though.

Small Hands · Post by **Small Hands** » Thu Mar 21, 2019 3:05 pm

I don't like it either, but I'm not sure they have any other options. He can draw walks. Polanco swings at everything. There are no other real options.

salamander · Post by **salamander** » Thu Mar 21, 2019 4:07 pm

Ideally, Buxton takes this from him during the season at some point.

The Replacements · Post by **The Replacements** » Thu Mar 21, 2019 4:16 pm

Kepler is trending in the right direction.

2017 - Walked 47 times and struck out 114

2018 - Walked 71 times and struck out 96

I could see his on base percentage reach .350 to 360 this year which wouldn't be too bad.

salamander · Post by **salamander** » Thu Mar 21, 2019 4:31 pm

The Replacements wrote: ↑Thu Mar 21, 2019 4:16 pm Kepler is trending in the right direction.

2017 - Walked 47 times and struck out 114

2018 - Walked 71 times and struck out 96

I could see his on base percentage reach .350 to 360 this year which wouldn't be too bad.

He's a young player too, his batting average should rise as well.

Hornets · Post by **Hornets** » Thu Mar 21, 2019 6:15 pm

IF he does indeed start the season as the leadoff hitter I will go out on a limb and predict he's out of that spot before Mother's day.....maybe sooner.

qrocks · Post by **qrocks** » Fri Mar 22, 2019 7:43 am

hopefully the new contract gives him confidence to take more pitches to work deeper in the count.

The Replacements · Post by **The Replacements** » Mon Apr 29, 2019 2:07 pm

.274/.340/.571 after 84 AB's

17 SO/ 9 BB's

Career low 3.44 pitchers per AB?

Small Hands · Post by **Small Hands** » Mon Apr 29, 2019 2:46 pm

The Replacements wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2019 2:07 pm .274/.340/.571 after 84 AB's

17 SO/ 9 BB's

Career low 3.44 pitchers per AB?

That's definitely interesting. The OBP is well above league AVG, so he's fine there. He's definitely swinging at the first pitch more this year, which is probably why the pitches per AB is down. He's done better then I had thought, but I'd still like to see Polanco leading off.

64DegreeWedge · Post by **64DegreeWedge** » Mon Apr 29, 2019 2:51 pm

I think the juiced ball changes the game enough to where you’re losing ev looking at the traditional lead off guy.

weimy froob · Post by **weimy froob** » Mon Apr 29, 2019 3:00 pm

The Replacements wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2019 2:07 pm .274/.340/.571 after 84 AB's

17 SO/ 9 BB's

Career low 3.44 pitchers per AB?

he feasted off of O's pitching. maybe see where he's at on june 1?

The Replacements · Post by **The Replacements** » Mon Apr 29, 2019 3:38 pm

weimy froob wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2019 3:00 pm
The Replacements wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2019 2:07 pm .274/.340/.571 after 84 AB's

17 SO/ 9 BB's

Career low 3.44 pitchers per AB?
he feasted off of O's pitching. maybe see where he's at on june 1?

You forgot Phily. He's definitely been streaky.

weimy froob · Post by **weimy froob** » Mon Apr 29, 2019 3:41 pm

The Replacements wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2019 3:38 pm
weimy froob wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2019 3:00 pm
The Replacements wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2019 2:07 pm .274/.340/.571 after 84 AB's

17 SO/ 9 BB's

Career low 3.44 pitchers per AB?
he feasted off of O's pitching. maybe see where he's at on june 1?
You forgot Phily. He's definitely been streaky.

i think he was in the .230's before this weekend. so yeah-streaky.

Ask Not · Post by **Ask Not** » Mon Apr 29, 2019 4:37 pm

weimy froob wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2019 3:41 pm
The Replacements wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2019 3:38 pm
weimy froob wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2019 3:00 pm

he feasted off of O's pitching. maybe see where he's at on june 1?
You forgot Phily. He's definitely been streaky.
i think he was in the .230's before this weekend. so yeah-streaky.

His OPS has been fine all season. How streaky can you be in just 20+ games?

The Replacements · Post by **The Replacements** » Mon Apr 29, 2019 4:40 pm

Ask Not wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2019 4:37 pm
weimy froob wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2019 3:41 pm
The Replacements wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2019 3:38 pm

You forgot Phily. He's definitely been streaky.
i think he was in the .230's before this weekend. so yeah-streaky.
His OPS has been fine all season. How streaky can you be in just 20+ games?

He homered in 3 straight games in Phily then went 11 games w/o a HR until this past weekend.

Ask Not · Post by **Ask Not** » Mon Apr 29, 2019 5:43 pm

The Replacements wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2019 4:40 pm
Ask Not wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2019 4:37 pm
weimy froob wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2019 3:41 pm

i think he was in the .230's before this weekend. so yeah-streaky.
His OPS has been fine all season. How streaky can you be in just 20+ games?
He homered in 3 straight games in Phily then went 11 games w/o a HR until this past weekend.

He had a 10 game hitting streak earlier and mashed all weekend. To me streaky is 12 homers and .385 one month, 3 homers and .240 the next. More Dozieresque. Potato / Potahto

weimy froob · Post by **weimy froob** » Mon Apr 29, 2019 6:06 pm

Ask Not wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2019 5:43 pm
The Replacements wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2019 4:40 pm
Ask Not wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2019 4:37 pm

His OPS has been fine all season. How streaky can you be in just 20+ games?
He homered in 3 straight games in Phily then went 11 games w/o a HR until this past weekend.
He had a 10 game hitting streak earlier and mashed all weekend. To me streaky is 12 homers and .385 one month, 3 homers and .240 the next. More Dozieresque. Potato / Potahto

well his average was in the .230's going into the baltimore series-so i wouldn't say he was tearing the cover off the ball before the weekend. the bigger point is let's see where everything is on june 1. i've always liked kepler's potential-so i'm saying that with hope. the swing can look majestic when he turns on the ball like he did more than a couple times this weekend.

Hornets · Post by **Hornets** » Tue Apr 30, 2019 7:23 pm

A month into this thing I'm getting a little more comfortable with the idea....Maxie doesn't seem overwhelmed by hittin first and is still takin a good whack at the ball!

The Replacements · Post by **The Replacements** » Wed Jun 19, 2019 9:39 am

Since Max had such a good day, let's revisit his performance:

.279/.362/.566 .928 OPS, 2.8 WAR

- 8th in baseball in outfield WAR
- 6th in baseball in outfield OPS
- 8th in baseball in outfield Slugging

Contract details:

2019 - $6 million
2020 - $6.25 million
2021 - $6.5 million
2022 - $6.750 million
2023 - $8.5 million
2024 - $10 million club option ($1 million buyout) Age 31 season

I would say the Twins front office hit a home run with this deal.

weimy froob · Post by **weimy froob** » Wed Jun 19, 2019 9:48 am

The Replacements wrote: ↑Wed Jun 19, 2019 9:39 am Since Max had such a good day, let's revisit his performance:

.279/.362/.566 .928 OPS, 2.8 WAR

- 8th in baseball in outfield WAR
- 6th in baseball in outfield OPS
- 8th in baseball in outfield Slugging

Contract details:

2019 - $6 million
2020 - $6.25 million
2021 - $6.5 million
2022 - $6.750 million
2023 - $8.5 million
2024 - $10 million club option ($1 million buyout) Age 31 season

I would say the Twins front office hit a home run with this deal.

he's always had the swing. now he's just making good contact with the ball more often.

D_H · Post by **D_H** » Wed Jun 19, 2019 4:13 pm

Guy is the real deal!

Post by **jakazz30** » Wed Jun 19, 2019 4:29 pm

Here's something that Clark will like to hear....(sarcasm intended)

Maybe the Twins actually have a legitimate "Captain Clutch"?

Pressure doesn't seem to faze him.

D_H · Post by **D_H** » Wed Jun 19, 2019 4:52 pm

jakazz30 wrote: ↑Wed Jun 19, 2019 4:29 pm Here's something that Clark will like to hear....(sarcasm intended)

Maybe the Twins actually have a legitimate "Captain Clutch"?

Pressure doesn't seem to faze him.

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