53 replies to this topic

[baul0010]

Is the Twins DH already on the roster?I love watching Nelson Cruz, but we are going to jam up the pipeline of prospects if we keep Cruz.  

 

We are already paying Sano 10 Mil a year.Why not move him to DH.Let him focus of what he does best, MASH THE BASEBALL!We could start getting Kirilloff set at First Base where he might be better defensively and also an upgrade over Sano. 

 

We could also use Kirilloff/Rooker/Sano combo in LF, 1st, and DH until Larnach is ready to step into LF.

 

But then again, I wouldn't mind watching Cruz for another year.  

[Brock Beauchamp]

There's little concern about a logjam now that Rosario is gone. That's one of three prospects for LF and there's a good chance the Twins have to cycle through them all to find a good fit.

 

I'm in favor of bringing back Cruz but only on a one year contract or a one + option contract, perhaps with a healthy $1-2m buyout in 2022.

[Physics Guy]

 

Is the Twins DH already on the roster?I love watching Nelson Cruz, but we are going to jam up the pipeline of prospects if we keep Cruz.  

 

We are already paying Sano 10 Mil a year.Why not move him to DH.Let him focus of what he does best, MASH THE BASEBALL!We could start getting Kirilloff set at First Base where he might be better defensively and also an upgrade over Sano. 

 

We could also use Kirilloff/Rooker/Sano combo in LF, 1st, and DH until Larnach is ready to step into LF.

 

But then again, I wouldn't mind watching Cruz for another year.  

I don't think this is an outrageous idea. I would not move Sano to DH full-time yet. He was passable/average at 1B in his first season.Keep players in the field as long as you can. While I love having Cruz in the 3 spot in the order, I think rotating players through the DH spot to keep the healthy would be a wise option as well. Donaldson is still a stellar 3B, but putting him at DH every 4 days might help keep him in the lineup. Also, using a rotation of Kirilloff, Rooker and Cave at DH wouldn't be horrible either. We have options and aren't over a barrel in the Cruz negotiations. If he insists on more than $15M or two years it might be wise to move on. 

[baul0010]

I agree.I'd rather not move Sano but like you said, he is mostly passable at first.I would hope Kirilloff could be better then average at first.I was wondering if letting Sano focus on hitting could help him prevent from going into week long slumps with insane strikeout numbers.It worked out pretty well for David Ortiz.

[High heat]

I like the idea of rotating guys through the DH spot on paper but the game isnt played that way.Some guys thrive on just focusing on hitting some guys think to much or get frustrated and need the field to stay engaged. 

 

Some of the twins issue is they have a lot of guys who are very similar( left handed hitting corner outfielder) who dont offer a lot different from each other.Maybe they will find a utility man who can play everyday and fill in as well or maybe find a trade partner for a Cave or Wade and bring in someone who offers up another skill set.  

 

I just dont want to se Sano get injured and Rooker struggle or get injured and all we have is average left handed bats all over the place.  

[strumdatjaguar]

In today’s Strib, team brass stated it is considering using Donaldson sometimes at DH to reduce injury risk. Looks like No Nelly and a rotation instead at DH.

[SgtSchmidt11]

 

In today’s Strib, team brass stated it is considering using Donaldson sometimes at DH to reduce injury risk. Looks like No Nelly and a rotation instead at DH.

While it might be true, I suspect gamesmanship.Trying to get Nelly to lower his price a bit.

[Shaitan]

Too many good players is never a problem. I don't believe in logjams.

 

Even in the rare case where a prospect is a sure thing, plans wills will suddenly change. See Mauer's rookie season...all 20 AB of it.

 

Make the prospects force their way onto the roster; don't hand it to them.

 

That said, this roster is built in a way that Cruz is not essential. They'd get by without him. But they'd be better with him.

[baul0010]

 

In today’s Strib, team brass stated it is considering using Donaldson sometimes at DH to reduce injury risk. Looks like No Nelly and a rotation instead at DH.

 

It seems Donaldson always gets hurt running the bases.Shouldn't we DH him to keep his defense at 3rd base?

[Physics Guy]

 

In today’s Strib, team brass stated it is considering using Donaldson sometimes at DH to reduce injury risk. Looks like No Nelly and a rotation instead at DH.

Nelson Cruz played 120 games in 2019 and isn't getting younger. Maybe he plays 130, but he needs days off as well. Plenty of room to get Donaldson some games there as well.

[TopGunn#22]

I agree with Physics Guy.  

Cruz at his BEST will give you 120 games in a 162 game season.

And it's starting to look like they won't be playing 162 in 2021.

It's also looking like there is a STRONG push to make sure the N.L. adds the DH permanently.  

This "helps" Nellie's value, but you can't deny that he's probably good for 100-110 games tops next year.

We have young talent that can hit and WILL hit.  

However, the elephant in the room is that Cruz is our BEST hitter.And it ain't even close.

The lineup is already down Rosario.  

This is why I keep suggesting the Twins trade Sano----so they can keep Cruz.

Nellie gives them one more GOOD year and there is a team & player option for year #2.

In the two years the Twins are without Rosario and Sano they will counter with Cruz and a full seasons from Donaldson.  

Plus, you're giving Kiriloff, Larnach and Rooker a year to figure things out with Studs like Cruz and Donaldson to take the pressure off them and show them the way.

Sano might hit a few BOMBS, but he's also going to strike out 180 times---minimum.  

Let the Colorado Rockies fill their hole at 1B and enjoy Sano's HR's.They aren't contending anyway so let them deal with his K's as well.

The Twins need Cruz in their lineup in 2021 to build a bridge to 2022 when Kiriloff, Larnach and Rooker are vital pieces of the everyday lineup.  

Sano and Rosario were good at the traditional stats---HR's and RBI's.

But by every modern metric they are inefficient.The lineup get's better eventually without them and WITH Kiriloff, Larnach and Rooker.

But you need Cruz to be that bridge.

[DocBauer]

I'm still betting on a 1yr deal with MAYBE some 2nd year option based on AB/PA and with incentives. The reality is, even with a unified DH, there is still a limited number of teams that want/need/can afford a bat only 41yr old DH. I think $18M is a no go. I think $12M-ish probably won't get it done. Betting $14-15M for 1yr gets it done and everyone is happy.

[specialiststeve]

 

It seems Donaldson always gets hurt running the bases.Shouldn't we DH him to keep his defense at 3rd base?

 

He needs a ghost runner.....  

 

[SgtSchmidt11]

 

He needs a ghost runner.....

That or an understanding that he isn't 25 any more and might need to take it a little slower.

 

I'm sure it's not the straight line running that's injuring him, but rounding 3rd at full speed to go headfirst into home.

[baul0010]

 

That or an understanding that he isn't 25 any more and might need to take it a little slower.

 

I'm sure it's not the straight line running that's injuring him, but rounding 3rd at full speed to go headfirst into home.

 

I feel like the one that sticks out for me last year he was leaving the batter's box.But, like you were saying, it's usually not running straight line when he's already up to speed.I hope he stays healthy this year.He is fun to watch.

[goulik]

 

I agree with Physics Guy.  

Cruz at his BEST will give you 120 games in a 162 game season.

And it's starting to look like they won't be playing 162 in 2021.

It's also looking like there is a STRONG push to make sure the N.L. adds the DH permanently.  

This "helps" Nellie's value, but you can't deny that he's probably good for 100-110 games tops next year.

We have young talent that can hit and WILL hit.  

However, the elephant in the room is that Cruz is our BEST hitter.And it ain't even close.

The lineup is already down Rosario.  

This is why I keep suggesting the Twins trade Sano----so they can keep Cruz.

Nellie gives them one more GOOD year and there is a team & player option for year #2.

In the two years the Twins are without Rosario and Sano they will counter with Cruz and a full seasons from Donaldson.  

Plus, you're giving Kiriloff, Larnach and Rooker a year to figure things out with Studs like Cruz and Donaldson to take the pressure off them and show them the way.

Sano might hit a few BOMBS, but he's also going to strike out 180 times---minimum.  

Let the Colorado Rockies fill their hole at 1B and enjoy Sano's HR's.They aren't contending anyway so let them deal with his K's as well.

The Twins need Cruz in their lineup in 2021 to build a bridge to 2022 when Kiriloff, Larnach and Rooker are vital pieces of the everyday lineup.  

Sano and Rosario were good at the traditional stats---HR's and RBI's.

But by every modern metric they are inefficient.The lineup get's better eventually without them and WITH Kiriloff, Larnach and Rooker.

But you need Cruz to be that bridge.

Trade Sano to build your bridge to 2022? No, No, NO, NO, NO!!

 

We are in the window of winning and going for it now. We are not in Bridge Building mode anymore. Just, No!! We go out with a plan to win for the next few seasons and build bridges when we need to build bridges. We don't need bridges, we need Pennants, Trophies and Rings. Trade Sano? No! WIN now.

[Dodecahedron]

 

Trade Sano to build your bridge to 2022? No, No, NO, NO, NO!!

 

We are in the window of winning and going for it now. We are not in Bridge Building mode anymore. Just, No!! We go out with a plan to win for the next few seasons and build bridges when we need to build bridges. We don't need bridges, we need Pennants, Trophies and Rings. Trade Sano? No! WIN now.

 

We are already seeing pieces from last year move on. I doubt the team is looking at trading Sano, but we should also look at who will be gone next year.

 

Like it or not, this feels more and more like a retooling year. 

[lecroy24fan]

 

 

Like it or not, this feels more and more like a retooling year. 

 

Not aimed directly at you here . I'm sick of hearing this or things close to it. Yes the Twins haven't done much but the same can be said for just about every team. If players were signing and lots of trades were being made I'd get it. But we need to be patient and wait until things start to happen all across the majors.

[h2oface]

A .900-1.000 OPS hitter jams up the DH? In my book, replacing that with a rotation of batters that don't come close to that is ludicrous. That is exactly what you want as a DH. Jams up the DH? That's the best jam a team could have.

[baul0010]

 

A .900-1.000 OPS hitter jams up the DH? In my book, replacing that with a rotation of batters that don't come close to that is ludicrous. That is exactly what you want as a DH. Jams up the DH? That's the best jam a team could have.

The likelihood of Cruz being a .900 to 1.000 ops as a 40 year old are super slim!I love him, but he's old and he was looking old at the end of last year.That was with a 60 game schedule.He won't keep this up forever.You can't find the next Cruz by keeping the young fellas on the bench.