Minnesota Twins: How To Fix the Messy Outfield Problem

(Photo by G. Newman Lowrance/Getty Images)

Knowing all of that, how do you distribute the playing time between these guys? For guys like Gomez and Young who are struggling at the plate, they can't get better unless they have plate appearances. Allowing them to have at-bats, though, is not a good thing from an offensive perspective. Can you afford to have guys like Cuddyer and Kubel, who the Twins' are paying millions of dollars this year, ride the bench two or three days a week?

Here is the ideal solution: 

Versus LHP

Left Field—Denard Span
Center Field—Carlos Gomez
Right Field—Michael Cuddyer
Designated Hitter—Delmon Young

Versus RHP

Left Field—Denard Span
Center Field—Carlos Gomez
Right Field—Michael Cuddyer
Designated Hitter—Jason Kubel

As you can tell, I am a firm believer that Gomez's defense makes up for his offensive ineptitude. He and Span need to play every game, especially considering that the majority of the Twins' starting pitchers have a high tendency to surrender fly balls. Their range will be vital to the success of the starting rotation; something we cannot compete without.

The most controversial aspect of the above list is obviously Young in the designated hitter position against lefties. He has been a defensive liability, as Kubel can also be at times. Unlike Kubel, however, Young needs at-bats before he can develop a better swing. Working with hitting coach Joe Vavra is all well and good, but what the 23-year-old needs most is at-bats at the Major League level.

Obviously, if Cuddyer ever regresses a significant amount at the plate, he would be replaced by Young and Kubel would once again be the full-time DH. (Of course, Mauer needs the occasional day off from behind the plate and will bat from that position at least once a week, but that is beside the point.)

This could all fit into the "master plan" of finding another home for Delmon Young. I cannot picture him a successful Twin in five years and think he would be better off somewhere else (whether he turns into the next David Ortiz or not.)

If the Twins were to attempt to trade him right now, though, they would get almost nothing in return. Should Young improve at the plate enough to draw interest from other teams, he could be unloaded and the outfield mess (a good mess, but a mess nonetheless) could be solved.

If the Twins could get a good reliever in return they would be killing two birds with one stone.

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