Twins second basemen Brian Dozier has been on fire recently, and extended his hit streak to 10 games tonight with his leadoff triple in the bottom of the 1st, if he can start hitting as well away from Target Field as he does at Target Field he could become a top second basemen in the game today.
Dozier has an above average slash line for second basemen of .272/.345/.456/.801 at Target Field this season, while his slash line away from Target Field is below average at .203/.272/.328/.600.
Dozier has 43 hits in 158 at bats at Target Field. 18 of those 43 are extra base hits including 12 doubles, 1 triple, and 5 home runs. He has also drawn 16 walks to just 25 strikeouts at home. On the road he has 36 hits in 177 at bats and only 13 of those are extra base hits including 8 doubles, 1 triple, and 4 home runs. He has 15 walks, so just about the same as at home, but he strikes out way more with 43 strikeouts on the road. Which means on the road he strikes out once every four at bats and at home once every six at bats. It may not seem like a big difference, but the more often you put the ball in play the better offensively you will become.
He has become a very, very good defender at second base which is more important then offense when it comes to that position, but it's the offense that normally separates the good from the greats. Brandon Phillips was not an elite second basemen until he was able to start hitting well on a consistent basis and the same goes for all of the upper echelon of second basemen in the game today.
If Dozier can become as comfortable at the plate on the road as he is at Target Field, he too would join the upper echelon of second basemen in the league today. He is still very young at the age of 26 and under team control for 5 more years.
Dozier could be one of the main reasons the Twins turn this around quicker if he can hit like he does at home consistently. Not only because the Twins haven't had a second basemen as good offensively as he is at home since Chuck Knoblauch, but because if he could become that consistent it would allow them to move top second base prospects in Eddie Rosario and Jorge Polanco for the starting pitching they desperately need.
Dozier plays a big role in the future of this franchise, and if he can keep it consistent at the plate, he could become one of the main reasons why the Twins get this ship turned around and heading in the right direction sooner rather than later.
Written by Nick Calo, follow me on Twitter for more updates and sports thoughts @PRH1987
Dozier has an above average slash line for second basemen of .272/.345/.456/.801 at Target Field this season, while his slash line away from Target Field is below average at .203/.272/.328/.600.
Dozier has 43 hits in 158 at bats at Target Field. 18 of those 43 are extra base hits including 12 doubles, 1 triple, and 5 home runs. He has also drawn 16 walks to just 25 strikeouts at home. On the road he has 36 hits in 177 at bats and only 13 of those are extra base hits including 8 doubles, 1 triple, and 4 home runs. He has 15 walks, so just about the same as at home, but he strikes out way more with 43 strikeouts on the road. Which means on the road he strikes out once every four at bats and at home once every six at bats. It may not seem like a big difference, but the more often you put the ball in play the better offensively you will become.
He has become a very, very good defender at second base which is more important then offense when it comes to that position, but it's the offense that normally separates the good from the greats. Brandon Phillips was not an elite second basemen until he was able to start hitting well on a consistent basis and the same goes for all of the upper echelon of second basemen in the game today.
If Dozier can become as comfortable at the plate on the road as he is at Target Field, he too would join the upper echelon of second basemen in the league today. He is still very young at the age of 26 and under team control for 5 more years.
Dozier could be one of the main reasons the Twins turn this around quicker if he can hit like he does at home consistently. Not only because the Twins haven't had a second basemen as good offensively as he is at home since Chuck Knoblauch, but because if he could become that consistent it would allow them to move top second base prospects in Eddie Rosario and Jorge Polanco for the starting pitching they desperately need.
Dozier plays a big role in the future of this franchise, and if he can keep it consistent at the plate, he could become one of the main reasons why the Twins get this ship turned around and heading in the right direction sooner rather than later.
Written by Nick Calo, follow me on Twitter for more updates and sports thoughts @PRH1987