Front Page: Find the Next Gerrit Cole? Twins Have Shown the Knack

[Mike Sixel]

The point is that there are times (like now for the twins) it makes sense to sign 4+ yr free agents. However, it's not essential and you beat this drum constantly as if there is no chance without signing this type of deal.

 

Look at the highest contributors for LA.  All of them home grown. They had a high payroll for years because they were still paying for guys that had not played for them for a couple years. The one year argument is absolutely bogus. Again, you refuse to accept the obvious. They have averaged 96 wins over the past 7 seasons and they have an exceptional core of young players. They will continue to be good.

 

You bang the same drum without examining the models of success right before your eyes.

 

BTW ... I know Corbin produced 4.8 fWAR. Morton produced 6.1 on a 2-year deal.

I don't even know what you are arguing. I've never said build a team thru free agency, I've asked for one big signing. Not a whole bunch. I only ask every year because they don't. One. And you agree they should do that. So why are you arguing?

[IAMNFan]

 

K/9 this year: 10.1 

Highest K/9 in Tampa: 9.3 (as a rookie in 2014)

 

FIP this year: 3.36
Lowest FIP in Tampa: 3.61

 

Whiff rate this year: 12.7%

Highest whiff rate in Tampa: 11.2%

 

Avg FB velo this year: 92.9 MPH

Highest avg FB velo in Tampa: 91.6 MPH

 

fWAR this year: 4.3

Highest fWAR in Tampa: 2.9

The list goes on. And we also need to consider he was at his lowest point when the Twins acquired him. Nearly all of those high marks in Tampa came years before the trade.

 

Suffice to say, if the Rays had any notion of Odorizzi turning into a pitcher of this caliber, he wouldn't have been dealt for a relative non-prospect. He has progressively turned into a top-tier pitcher in MN, largely because the team helped him maximize his arsenal and cut down drastically on HRs (which is borderline miraculous given his lofty FB rate). 

 

 

 

 

While I am not disagreeing with anything you are saying, it is somewhat disappointing that a 5 and fly is a "top-tier" pitcher.

 

Edited November 21, 2019 by IAMNFan

[Cap'n Piranha]

 

Are you arguing they couldn't find one good pitcher to bring in last off season for more than a year? That it is a good idea to have one starter going into a year you expect to compete?

 

I'm saying they have sifted through a terrible pitching staff (tied for last in ERA, 27th in FIP, 24th in xFIP in 2016), and markedly improved (9th in ERA, 4th in FIP, 5th in xFIP in 2019).  It would seem that Falvine does know how to improve a pitching staff, and a big part of that was jettisoning pitchers they identified as not good enough--in other words, they correctly evaluated talent.

[old nurse]

 

Lynn 2017:(StL) 11-8, 3.43
Lynn 2018:(MIN) 7-8, 5.10 
Lynn 2018: (NYY) 3-2, 4.14
Lynn 2019: (TEX) 16-11, 3.67

 

Yes, the Twins were the ones who fixed him. 

You appear to prove my point that Lynn needs spring training.

[Channing1964]

Thank you for the article. As a fan of the game(not just a Twins fan) I always have thought very highly of Odorizzi and Cole. Im not sure it's fair to give the Astros or Twins that much credit for fixing either one of these guys. They were destined to be top line guys.

Here is a different take. I wonder how many FO decisions have been made in Houston that directly correlates with said player buying in or having moral or ethical objection to the alleged cheating going on. Wouldnt you think extending an older Verlander and not being able to afford Cole was a head scratcher. What about no QO for Marwin and replacing him with Alemedys Diaz? I am so glad im a Twins fan right now. Sorry Astros. and to think of all the praise i gave them.