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Mike Sixel

By Mike Sixel
in Minnesota Twins Talk

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Thrylos St Paul Saints

Thrylos

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted

JG: An ESPN analyst “suggested” the Twins try to acquire Syndergaard and offered Lewis or Kirilloff and Graterol or Balazovic. Does that get it done and would you do it?

Keith Law: That’s a strange proposal because Lewis’s value is down a bit and Graterol’s been on the shelf with a shoulder injury for two months.

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gunnarthor MVP

gunnarthor

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted

 

https://www.mlb.com/news/seven-teams-that-should-sit-out-trade-deadline

 

Will Leitch says we should do nothing this trade deadline.  LOL everyone agrees right?

 

I agree with the line This is the “we’re here, let’s see what happens” year, rather than “this is the all-in, end-all, be-all” season. But we still need to do something, like a mid range reliever at least.

I agree to the extent that the Twins should make a move that helps this year and next. No big-price rentals. But if they could add a top starter under control for several years, they should do that. I want Thor. Kick the tires on several DBack pitchers. Dylan Bundy. Whatever. 

Major League Ready Wichita Wind Surge

Major League Ready

Verified Member
Posted
Posted

 

Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer need AARP cards then.

 

The only SPs that are going to make a difference in the playoffs (IMO) are the Verlander / Sherzer type SPs because the top playoff contenders have similar SPs. So, if you are going to give up part of the future, make sure the player actually provides a significant elevation of our playoff chances. Having said this ... Using the very small minority of SPs that are able to maintain this level of performance is a very biased view. History is very clear that SPs of this age group have a high probability of declining or being lost to injury.  

yarnivek1972 Ft Myers Mighty Mussels

yarnivek1972

Verified Member
Posted
Posted

https://www.mlb.com/news/seven-teams-that-should-sit-out-trade-deadline

 

Will Leitch says we should do nothing this trade deadline. LOL everyone agrees right?

 

I agree with the line This is the “we’re here, let’s see what happens” year, rather than “this is the all-in, end-all, be-all” season. But we still need to do something, like a mid range reliever at least.

What’s your definition of a mid range reliever? Someone like May or Parker? I don’t see the point of that. The Twins need two guys better than those two to help. Nothing less moves the needle.

SomeGuy Draft Eligible

SomeGuy

Verified Member
Posted
Posted

 

What’s your definition of a mid range reliever? Someone like May or Parker? I don’t see the point of that. The Twins need two guys better than those two to help. Nothing less moves the needle.

The Daniel Hudson, Ian Kennedy, Alex Colome, Sam Dyson range. (2nd or 3rd tier relievers).  Similar to May and Harper.

KirbyDome89 Ft Myers Mighty Mussels

KirbyDome89

Verified Member
Posted
Posted

 

https://www.mlb.com/news/seven-teams-that-should-sit-out-trade-deadline

 

Will Leitch says we should do nothing this trade deadline.  LOL everyone agrees right?

 

I agree with the line This is the “we’re here, let’s see what happens” year, rather than “this is the all-in, end-all, be-all” season. But we still need to do something, like a mid range reliever at least.

I'm with you on this.

 

If other teams are content to "see what happens," I'd argue it's in the Twins' best interest to upgrade. I doubt that's actually the scenario we'll see, but hypothetically if other teams were hesitant to add it would mean a depressed market and that's something MN should take advantage of. Why not grab the first seat in musical chairs (get the player you want for a lesser price) if other clubs are waiting to see what unfolds. 

 

There's a way for MN to bolster the MLB team without "selling," their future. Their options aren't limited to emptying the farm for a 1-2 year run vs. holding onto every prospect and continuing to move the goalposts. 

yarnivek1972 Ft Myers Mighty Mussels

yarnivek1972

Verified Member
Posted
Posted

Watching the Weather Channel. They are talking about dew points and how they enable the ball to travel farther. I’m sure the science behind it is valid. However, it doesn’t explain the 6 homeruns hit last night where the dewpoint was a very comfortable 58.

diehardtwinsfan Minnesota Twins

diehardtwinsfan

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted

 

Watching the Weather Channel. They are talking about dew points and how they enable the ball to travel farther. I’m sure the science behind it is valid. However, it doesn’t explain the 6 homeruns hit last night where the dewpoint was a very comfortable 58.

 

I could have sworn I just read something that says the ball travels further in high humidity. Isn't a low dew point essentially low humidity?

yarnivek1972 Ft Myers Mighty Mussels

yarnivek1972

Verified Member
Posted
Posted

I could have sworn I just read something that says the ball travels further in high humidity. Isn't a low dew point essentially low humidity?

Yes. A lower dewpoint is less humid air. When someone talks about “relative humidity” - usually someone who isn’t a meteorologist - it doesn’t really mean much. It’s simply the calculation of the dew point to the actual temperature. When the temp and dew point meet, you typically see heavy fog. For example, if the dew point is 57 and the temp is 58, it won’t feel at all humid but the relative humidity will be in the 90s. But if the dew point is 70 and the temp 90, it will feel incredibly humid but the relative humidty will be in the 50% range.

Vanimal46 GOAT

Vanimal46

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted

KLaw chat today:

 

Mike: Kiriloff has had a few injuries this year, but all in all hasn’t been as dominant in 2019 even when healthy. Any cause for concern?

 

Keith Law: Zero cause. Still a star.

Keith Law: And his injury this year was to his wrist (two IL stints), which you would expect to sap some of his power and contact quality. So saying he’s “had a few injuries” (it was one injury, and one that affects hitter performance even after it heals) isn’t really fair to him.

 

Mike: Lewis Thorpe of the Twins intrigues me, he’s got pretty nice k:bb numbers in the minors. Can he be a mid rotation guy, or is he more back end rotation?

 

Keith Law: More back end, but I like him and root for him to give us an Australian player with enough impact to help grow the game.

SwainZag Cedar Rapids Kernels

SwainZag

Community Moderator
Posted
Posted

 

The only SPs that are going to make a difference in the playoffs (IMO) are the Verlander / Sherzer type SPs because the top playoff contenders have similar SPs. So, if you are going to give up part of the future, make sure the player actually provides a significant elevation of our playoff chances. Having said this ... Using the very small minority of SPs that are able to maintain this level of performance is a very biased view. History is very clear that SPs of this age group have a high probability of declining or being lost to injury.  

 

The problem with this thinking is ace type pitchers tend to have bad games too.  You can't just assume that an ace pitcher is prone to getting hit in the playoffs.  If you are banking all in on riding an ace in the playoffs, you might have a bad time once you get there.  Look at say...Kershaw.  Probably Top 3 pitcher in the last decade...yet he hasn't had success in the playoffs.  Look at Evoldi for the Sox last year, Woodruff for the Brewers, etc.  An ace is a really nice luxury, but it's pretty rare that a team rides an ace thru the playoffs anymore, teams need more than that.

Brock Beauchamp GOAT

Brock Beauchamp

Site Manager
Posted
Posted

 

I saw that... they also omitted the Braves in favor of the Nats.

  • 2 weeks later...
Vanimal46 GOAT

Vanimal46

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted

KLaw Chat:

 

ndrah

1:10 some talk about the twins calling up one or two of their top pitching prospects this fall. Do you think Graterol could contribute?

 

Keith Law

1:10 Maybe in relief?

 

Ben

1:17 Is Luis Arraez a potential GUY? The Twins' coaching staff just gushes about him but he looks kind of like a slap hitter with limited upside. He also seems to have taken Schoop's job.

 

Keith Law

1:17 I think a good utility guy.

 

Oscar

1:32 Is it time to accept that Buxton's body is just not going to cooperate with him? I love seeing him play, but it saddens me to think that injuries are going to rob him of the opportunity to do so.

 

Keith Law

1:32 No.

 

Ted

1:44 You were on Balazovic as a stud pretty early. What are your thoughts on Jhoan Duran?

 

Keith Law

1:44 That one 'splinker' pitch he throws is legit. I hear some starter, some reliever; depends on whether you think that one pitch is enough of a carrying tool to let him turn a lineup over 3x.

 

Mike

1:46 Brudsar graterol - solid number 2 in his prime?

 

Keith Law

1:46 Uh, no. No.

 

https://www.jotcast.com/chat/klawchat-8-8-19-5784.html

yarnivek1972 Ft Myers Mighty Mussels

yarnivek1972

Verified Member
Posted
Posted

Nothing wrong with being a slap, contact type hitter. Teams need those guys to balance out all the homerun, swing and miss types that comprise most of the lineup.

twins1095 College Ball

twins1095

Verified Member
Posted
Posted

 

Nothing wrong with being a slap, contact type hitter. Teams need those guys to balance out all the homerun, swing and miss types that comprise most of the lineup.

 

Just less of a margin of error to succeed.  You need to be able to generate A LOT of contact  AND also draw a lot of walks to be a viable everyday player.

 

Arraez has done that thus far with a pretty big BB% and a .350 average.  We'll see what happens when he regresses a little bit.   What is he like as a .290-.310 hitter?  I think .300-.360+ is good enough for him to play a good amount but that is a high bar.

Riverbrian Cooperstown

Riverbrian

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted

 

KLaw Chat:



Ben
1:17 Is Luis Arraez a potential GUY? The Twins' coaching staff just gushes about him but he looks kind of like a slap hitter with limited upside. He also seems to have taken Schoop's job.

Keith Law
1:17 I think a good utility guy.

 

 

Sorry but I automatically dismiss any expert who still uses the term "Utility Guy".  :)

Vanimal46 GOAT

Vanimal46

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted

Just less of a margin of error to succeed. You need to be able to generate A LOT of contact AND also draw a lot of walks to be a viable everyday player.

 

Arraez has done that thus far with a pretty big BB% and a .350 average. We'll see what happens when he regresses a little bit. What is he like as a .290-.310 hitter? I think .300-.360+ is good enough for him to play a good amount but that is a high bar.

.290-.310 is still a very good hitter. Free swinging slap hitters become unplayable when they slump to .260 and below like the Turtle did.

yarnivek1972 Ft Myers Mighty Mussels

yarnivek1972

Verified Member
Posted
Posted

The average MLB 2b has a .731 OPS. Not surprisingly, that is lowest among positions except pitcher and catcher.

 

So, the bar is pretty low for him to be effective.

twins1095 College Ball

twins1095

Verified Member
Posted
Posted

 

.290-.310 is still a very good hitter. Free swinging slap hitters become unplayable when they slump to .260 and below like the Turtle did.

 

Actually it really depends on the rest of the skillset.  Guys with Ben Revere profiles who hit .300 with a sub-.330 OBP and almost no power are not productive hitters.

 

The average matters much less than the OBP (which correlates highly with average) and enough power to make that skillset play.  I do think Arraez has the rest of the skillset, but let's be careful here.

 

.260 with a .350 OBP >>> .300 with .330 OBP and then the XBH ability does matter from there as well.  If a player has little power they are inherently a complementary player--which is fine, but important to understand.

USAFChief GOAT

USAFChief

Twins Daily Contributor
Posted
Posted

 

Sorry but I automatically dismiss any expert who still uses the term "Utility Guy".  :)

Can you expand on this theory?

Riverbrian Cooperstown

Riverbrian

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted

Can you expand on this theory?

OK... I can't help myself.

 

The precedence has been set. Utility player is officially outdated in my mind and it should be in everybody's mind. There is no reason to roster a "Utility Player" anymore. The Twins have proven this... this year... The Dodgers, the Cubs, The Astros, The Rays have proven it before the Twins this year.

 

The old definition of utility player... is a player who isn't good enough to play every day and must become a utility player because the team needs backups for all 8 positions. Therefore they have to be "utility" players just to remain on the roster and not play. At least until injury forces them into the lineup and when that happens... they are not good enough to play and the team suffers as a result.

 

Don't waste a single roster position... Create Super Utility Players who can all play every day and rest players to fit all into the lineup just like the Twins are doing this year. It allows you to create playing time for 12 players who can actually play. You survive injuries when they occur.

 

Each roster spot is a development spot. You can grow the value of 12 players instead of 9. And you can still win games as our Twins have proven. Along with the Dodgers, Cubs and Rays.

 

Just using the term utility, tells me that he hasn't been paying attention and is still rooted in decades past. Unfortunately, he isn't alone but I'm now aware where he is coming from. :)

 

And here come the counter arguments.

tvagle FCL Twins

tvagle

Verified Member
Posted
Posted

 

OK... I can't help myself....

And here come the counter arguments.

I will always prefer Marble but Formica has had a really long run as a cost-efficient alternative...

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