SI not thrilled with Twins

[gunnarthor]

SI had some scout takes on the Twins. It's not pretty. 

 

"There's a reason all these guys had 5 ERAs last year. The Twins used to have success developing guys who didn't throw hard but could command the fastball. Now they don't throw hard and they have no command.... Ervin Santana's their ace, but he's actually a three.... José Berrios still hasn't turned the corner. I'm unimpressed by his ability to command the fastball.... Glen Perkins hasn't pitched much this spring. If he can't close for them, they're in big trouble. Well, they're in big trouble anyway.... They gave Jason Castro a lot of money to be their front-line guy. They had a good defensive catcher in Kurt Suzuki and let him walk. I would rather have Suzuki than Castro.... Joe Mauer's health is in question, like always. He's an opposite-field hitter now. If there's a man on third, he will get him home, period.... Brian Dozier is a dead high-ball hitter, but even if he hits 30 home runs, they could lose 100 games. They should have moved him.... Minnesota has brought a lot of guys up before they're ready. Byron Buxton is still a dead pull hitter. With his speed, he should be going the other way, he should bunt, and he doesn't.... Miguel Sano can swing the bat, but he's not very good at third. You hope he knocks in more than he lets in.... . They keep touting their outfield—Eddie Rosario, Buxton, Max Kepler. They all have good arms, but in the major leagues your corner outfielders have to be offensive players.... This team has a chance to be the worst in the league."

 

http://www.si.com/mlb/2017/03/28/scouts-takes-season-preview

[GP830]

That all seems very broad-stroke to me. Suzuki wasn't a good defensive catcher by any stretch of the imagination. Mauer's health isn't really in question any more than anyone else on the team's is. 

[mazeville]

This entire passage lost 100 percent of its credibility when the scout said, "They had a good defensive catcher in Kurt Suzuki and let him walk." Good grief, did that guy even watch baseball last year?

[Intramural Legend]

I'll just say this.

 

i don't want this scout associated with my team.

[drjim]

Hard to argue with the conclusion though.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Yeah, that scout should probably be fired because "Kurt Suzuki".

[Willihammer]

Yeah its hard to take this very seriously. Reads like it was written 20 years ago.

[Vanimal46]

I couldn't disagree more with everything written. Except the last sentence. 

[zenser]

Just when I was starting to feel a little optimistic about the season, I had to read this.

[Craig Arko]

You mean SI does something besides swimsuit issues?

[Intramural Legend]

 

Yeah its hard to take this very seriously. Reads like it was written 20 years ago.

 

Ding ding ding.  

[Willihammer]

"[Albert Pujols] is still among the top righthanded hitters in the game.... Kole Calhoun is a plus defender with a plus arm"

 

(On the A's): "They could compete in this division because of their pitching depth, plus depth in their lineup."

"Marcus Semien doesn't have the hands to be a plus defender, but he's the kind of guy you want your daughter to marry, so I understand why they've been patient with him. Plus he's a 20–30 home run guy who can turn on a 97-mph fastball.... The A's don't believe in giving out the c for captain, but Stephen Vogt is the guy who'd have it. He commands that staff, commands respect from every person on the roster. "

 

"Dansby Swanson is a true grinder, plays plus defense and plays hard and seems wise beyond his years."

 

"Todd Frazier is one of the best third basemen in the game"

[Willihammer]

TIL Hawk Harrelson writes for SI.

[Vanimal46]

 

"[Albert Pujols] is still among the top righthanded hitters in the game.... Kole Calhoun is a plus defender with a plus arm"

(On the A's): "They could compete in this division because of their pitching depth, plus depth in their lineup."
"Marcus Semien doesn't have the hands to be a plus defender, but he's the kind of guy you want your daughter to marry, so I understand why they've been patient with him. Plus he's a 20–30 home run guy who can turn on a 97-mph fastball.... The A's don't believe in giving out the c for captain, but Stephen Vogt is the guy who'd have it. He commands that staff, commands respect from every person on the roster. "

"Dansby Swanson is a true grinder, plays plus defense and plays hard and seems wise beyond his years."

"Todd Frazier is one of the best third basemen in the game"

 

Is SI hiring? I could mail in a column or two filled with buzzwords like "plus defender" , "commands a staff" , "true grinder" 

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

"[Albert Pujols] is still among the top righthanded hitters in the game.... Kole Calhoun is a plus defender with a plus arm"

(On the A's): "They could compete in this division because of their pitching depth, plus depth in their lineup."
"Marcus Semien doesn't have the hands to be a plus defender, but he's the kind of guy you want your daughter to marry, so I understand why they've been patient with him. Plus he's a 20–30 home run guy who can turn on a 97-mph fastball.... The A's don't believe in giving out the c for captain, but Stephen Vogt is the guy who'd have it. He commands that staff, commands respect from every person on the roster. "

"Dansby Swanson is a true grinder, plays plus defense and plays hard and seems wise beyond his years."

"Todd Frazier is one of the best third basemen in the game"

Seriously, it's like we time-warped back to 1998.

[Brock Beauchamp]

That guy needs to rub some dirt on that article and walk it off.

[GP830]

 

Is SI hiring? I could mail in a column or two filled with buzzwords like "plus defender" , "commands a staff" , "true grinder" 

Not sure you've got the hands for a starting job with them... sorry...

 

EDIT- They only want grinders... :-/

[Guest]

"Hrbek looks like he's in the best shape of his life. . ."

[Blake]

 

Is SI hiring? I could mail in a column or two filled with buzzwords like "plus defender" , "commands a staff" , "true grinder" 

I'd stick with the "Whine Line" and "Hawt Taeks." I think the "Whine Line" does a better job of disseminating information than that article from SI.*

 

*Hopefully, the host of "The Whine Line" is not insulted by the comparison. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

Gotta believe that SI is trolling baseball fans with this piece...

[bluechipper]

When did Joe Mauer become an opposite field hitter?

[Mike Sixel]

There is a lot not to agree with there, unfortunately, there is plenty to agree with also. But, ya, that whole part about the catchers made me doubt that an actual scout from 2017 wrote any of it.

[DaveW]

The Suzuki thing was the only thing he was "wrong" on, but I tend to agree that Castro isn't really an upgrade overall over Suzuki and they did in fact pay him too much and for too long. As much as we love to tout the OF it should be noted that none of them had even a 100 ops+ last year.

 

The truth hurts sometimes, this team is a disaster more than likely.

[Vanimal46]

 

Not sure you've got the hands for a starting job with them... sorry...

 

EDIT- They only want grinders... :-/

 

True. My hands are incredibly soft.... NO GRIT on these hands. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

The Suzuki thing was the only thing he was "wrong" on, but I tend to agree that Castro isn't really an upgrade overall over Suzuki and they did in fact pay him too much and for too long.

The truth hurts sometimes, this team is an embarrassment.

Jason Castro is paid $8m a season and he's elite at one skill. Kurt Suzuki is elite at nothing and was paid $6m.

 

If you can get a starting player with one elite skill for $8m a season, you're not exactly hindering your ability to pay other people down the road.

 

If Castro is a backup in 2019 and paid $8m, is anyone really going to care?

[Mike Sixel]

"your corner OFer have to be offensive players" is almost comical if you look at the state of LF across the league.....

 

Buxton should bunt? Not elevate and hit the bleep out of the ball? Buxton should hit it to RF, and not pull it?

[Mike Sixel]

 

Jason Castro is paid $8m a season and he's elite at one skill. Kurt Suzuki is elite at nothing and was paid $6m.

 

If you can get a starting player with one elite skill for $8m a season, you're not exactly hindering your ability to pay other people down the road.

 

If Castro is a backup in 2019 and paid $8m, is anyone really going to care?

 

someone will say it proves all FA contracts are bad, Brock. You can bet your life on it.

[gunnarthor]

I think some of the criticisms are legit - esp on the pitching staff.  I'm more optimistic on Rosario and Kepler than the scout but I'm a blind homer.  I do think both of them can be 3+ WAR players in the corners, which is plenty fine. Buxton will be a stud.

 

I am concerned with Sano at third but we gotta go with it.  But I think the point about pitchers failing to have command is probably true.  Berrios obviously suffered from it.  I think Gibson and Santana will be ML quality starters this year.  But Santiago, Hughes, Berrios, Duffey and Mejia are all question marks.  I want them to work out but it could be a rough year if they aren't able to control their fastballs.  

[Oldgoat_MN]

 

When did Joe Mauer become an opposite field hitter?

April 19, 1983.

[Brandon Warne]

These are not takes.

 

These are #takes.