Fangraphs (and other national publications) on the Twins

[Vanimal46]

Thanks for doing your due diligence with updating the thread Mike. It's very interesting to read what KLaw and others think about the Twins' situation and their players. 

[70charger]

 

Thanks for doing your due diligence with updating the thread Mike. It's very interesting to read what KLaw and others think about the Twins' situation and their players. 

 

Interesting, yes. Always optimism inducing? No.

 

Still, a great thread to have around.

[DaveW]

Keith Law is on fire!

[S.]

http://meadowparty.com/blog/2016/07/28/klawchat-72816/

 

 

Ron: Molitor is out of touch writing a line up and his love of bunting and playing gritty, hard nose players that aren’t any good(D. Santana). Last night down by 2 with 2 on in the 8th and no outs, he has their hottest hitter this year (Nunez) bunt and it didn’t turn out(surprise, surprise). The Pohlads scared off all potential GM candidates by saying Molitor is the manager in 2017. Why did they do that? I don’t think he will work with the young ones. Will you please take the job, Keith? They need a complete house cleaning, don’t you think? Thanks!!!

Klaw: I don’t understand why owners do this with their managers. The GM should have full autonomy to hire the manager he thinks is right for the job – and in Molitor’s case and in Counsell’s case in Milwaukee the evidence we have before us said that those guys were NOT right for the job. If I were GM there, I’d hire a manager who has actually managed somewhere before in pro ball. Novel concept, I know, but I’m way out the box like that.

 

Tom: Why is Jose Berrios still in AAA? Duffey was destroyed by Atlanta last night while Berrios had another QS in AAA.

Klaw: I don’t know. Their handling of Berrios has been baffling. Their handling of Buxton has been baffling. They are baffling.

 

Frank: When do we shift our expectations for what Buxton will be? Which isn’t a way of saying we should now, but rather, how many more seasons like this before we settle on “rich man’s Rajai Davis”; 2? 3?

Klaw: I’d like to see him get an opportunity to play in another regime, in Minnesota or elsewhere, before I walk away from the immense natural talent here.

 

Ron: How much do you think Brunansky and/or Molitor have screwed up Sano and Buxton at the plate. Just leave them alone to get comfortable in their own way. It looks like Sano has regressed this year. Seems like all their rookies have a better track record in the minors and then lose it at the Major league level. Is it the coaching at the MLB level? I hope they leave Kepler alone and just let him develop. Mauers toast.

Klaw: Yes, I think it’s the coaching staff, which is yet another reason I don’t like the owner saying Molitor etc were staying. If the new GM walks in and says, hey, these guys are actively hurting our organization by mishandling players, then you freaking fire them.

 

Klaw: All-Star Eduardo Nunez! … who is hitting .269/.295/.394 since june 1st, because he’s not very good and my word he cannot play shortstop. Take whatever you can get.

 

I know not everyone loves KLaw, but he sure hit the nail on the head with these. 

[nytwinsfan]

 

http://meadowparty.com/blog/2016/07/28/klawchat-72816/

 

 

 

I know not everyone loves KLaw, but he sure hit the nail on the head with these. 

Harsh but fair imo.

[SwainZag]

 

http://meadowparty.com/blog/2016/07/28/klawchat-72816/

 

 

 

I know not everyone loves KLaw, but he sure hit the nail on the head with these. 

 

Mike already posted this in the Fangraphs thread, btw.

[S.]

 

Mike already posted this in the Fangraphs thread, btw.

Ah, my bad. I'm not up to date on all the current threads. Figured it was probably somewhere but hadn't seen it.

[Mike Sixel]

No problem! There are a ton of threads out here.

 

ya, he wasn't too complimentary last week either. He definitely has been consistent for every team.....do not hire a manager that has never managed.

[Monkeypaws]

I guess i never got Bruno as a hitting coach. Maybe there's a history of great hitting coaches that weren't great hitters themselves, and I could totally see that.

 

On the good, there were 271 dingers: but Bruno was a career .245 batter with 1187 Ks, 19% of his at bats..

 

Don't our Twins resemble that a bit too much for comfort?

[tobi0040]

Too funny. This org is a laughing stock. I agree with his opinions on all topics.

[Mike Sixel]

I don't agree it is a laughingstock at all.....that's just not accurate, imo.

[nicksaviking]

I will merge this with the Fangraphs thread. I hope you don't mind Mike, I updated the title to make it clear nationally discussed Twins talk is welcome here.

 

Global talk should be welcome too I supposed.

[Mike Sixel]

Thanks, I would have changed the title a long time ago, if I could.

[Willihammer]

Gibson on his Jul 22 start against Boston (8 IP 6K 1BB 1 ER ):

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/kyle-gibson-on-his-best-outing-of-the-season/

[AlwaysinModeration]

Today we have an interview with Gibson:

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/kyle-gibson-on-his-best-outing-of-the-season/

That's a pretty fascinating commentary. (Not really an interview.). I was very impressed by his outing and also by his focus on improvement. Think he is going to show steady improvement in next couple of years.

[Vanimal46]

Fangraphs has a breakdown of the newest Twins pitcher acquired from San Francisco.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/scouting-new-twins-prospect-adalberto-mejia/

[Mike Sixel]

I actually put this in the trade thread.....as I said there, if he's a #4, that's a very good trade. 

[jimmer]

While not technically a Twin anymore, he's something about Nunez

 

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/eduardo-nunez-and-the-case-of-the-minus-28/

 

 

 

 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

While not technically a Twin anymore, he's something about Nunez

 

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/eduardo-nunez-and-the-case-of-the-minus-28/

In three seasons, Nunez's defense went from biblical to passable. There is hope for Sano!

[jimmer]

 

In three seasons, Nunez's defense went from biblical to passable. There is hope for Sano!

depends on what passable means, but he's still not someone who should be a starting player anywhere if defense is at all a factor.

 

'In other words, Nunez appears to be this rare breed of utility player where he possesses the ability to play nearly any position on the diamond, just not the ability to play any of them well. It’s difficult to know what to make of that. I’d wager plenty ballplayers possess the ability to stand on different parts of the playing field with a glove and the rest of the necessary equipment.'

 

Of course, we had him and still have Santana that fit that description. :-)

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

depends on what passable means, but he's still not someone who should be a starting player anywhere if defense is at all a factor.

 

That could have been said of Mauer his first season at first, I'm sure you realize.

 

I guess to me passable means does his bat justify him playing there? It might mean something different tomorrow. For now it means Sano and Nunez both played passable defense at their positions this year--and you already know I think Sano is better than passable with the glove anyway, fielding % notwithstanding.

[Mike Sixel]

I refuse to quote paywall items.....it doesn't cost hardly anything for ESPN Insider.....

 

in summary, KLAW says it is a great return for Nunez.

[Vanimal46]

 

I actually put this in the trade thread.....as I said there, if he's a #4, that's a very good trade. 

My bad. There's so many threads to keep track of on the site! 

[Mike Sixel]

from sullivan's chat:

 

Will
10:10 What are the chances Max Kepler turns out to be a better player than Byron Buxton?

Jeff Sullivan
10:11 Excitingly and disappointingly high

[Mike Sixel]

Ha, vote number 3

 

mike sixel
10:27 Kyle Gibson or Shelby Miller rest of their contracts? KLAW and Eno disagree....you are the tie breaker.

Jeff Sullivan
10:27 Blech. I'll take...Gibson...slightly

[Mike Sixel]

jdlandrum
10:28 Also what's up with Tyler Duffey? Command issues?

 

Jeff Sullivan
10:28 Seems like hitters have been sitting curveball. Not a bad approach when Duffey is on the mound. So he either needs a better third pitch, or he needs to do a better job of utilizing his fastball in curveball counts

[Mike Sixel]

Alex
10:34 Should there be concern over Sano's high K%? A lot of the Twin's young core has been disappointing in the Majors thus far

 

Jeff Sullivan
10:35 Yes, there should. At this strikeout level, even Stanton underwhelms. But Sano's contact rate is up six points, and he has a pretty good eye. So there are more pluses than minuses

[King]

A look at Adalberto Mejia.

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/scouting-new-twins-prospect-adalberto-mejia/

[jimmer]

 

That could have been said of Mauer his first season at first, I'm sure you realize.

I guess to me passable means does his bat justify him playing there? It might mean something different tomorrow. For now it means Sano and Nunez both played passable defense at their positions this year--and you already know I think Sano is better than passable with the glove anyway, fielding % notwithstanding.

yeah, I think it's obvious you and  I have different ideas about defense.  Which is obviously fine.

[Mike Sixel]

A ranking of all the prospects traded yesterday.....Meyer isn't exactly near the top....

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/ranking-the-prospects-traded-at-the-deadline/