Twins 2024

[Guest]

.

[Halsey Hall]

Great preview.   The Twins should win the division, 91 wins is a bit of a stretch though.  Another year of not watching on tv sucks.

[jkcarew]

It’s fairly rare that a club can compete at a very high level consistently through the duration of a roster transition…or at least a transition of the roster core and leadership. 

For it to happen, multiple young guys need to exhibit near linear development…no regression, no ‘sophomore slumps’. And/or key prospects need to hit the MLB ground running.

Still, with health and a bounce-back year from Correa, the 2024 Twins can get close to 91 wins, I think. The schedules are still unbalanced…and the AL Central is the gift that keeps on giving.

[stringer bell]

Who did this report? Santana’s agent? I’m mildly in favor of bringing Carlos Santana to the Twins, but this preview made it sound like the Twins landed vintage Eddie Murray, but with Mark Grace’s defense (also vintage). 

[Richie the Rally Goat]

4 hours ago, stringer bell said:

Who did this report? Santana’s agent? I’m mildly in favor of bringing Carlos Santana to the Twins, but this preview made it sound like the Twins landed vintage Eddie Murray, but with Mark Grace’s defense (also vintage). 

Agreed! And if Santana actually is a leader in the field/at the plate, something went horribly wrong 

[wabene]

ChatGPT? I kid. Seriously though I watch a ton of narrated nonfiction content on many subjects and lately I find myself wondering if I'm listening a machine. Where have you gone Marlin Perkins? 

[JD-TWINS]

Santana’s contribution is overstated because Kirilloff will start 60 - 70% of the games at 1B. Am assuming he may get some starts in LF when Wallner or Kepler (Wallner to RF) need some rest when facing a RH pitcher.

Santana is a gamer & his defense is very good & he’s a good RH solution at 1B v. LH pitching. Maybe 225-250 AB’s unless Kirilloff is hurt.

Pitching comments were all on point!!

Glad to see written elsewhere today that Vazquez rededicated himself over the Winter to work on his body - weight - bat speed. He was a .271 average hitter ‘19-‘22…..,a little improvement there could be nice.

Buxton & Correa will be better - don’t think that’s really a question. Will they have “good year” is debatable but there should be improvement from both.

Not sure why everyone think Wallner was a mirage? I think he could be a star by ‘25 after 550 AB’s this year……,,,,I think Kirilloff gets 475-525 AB’s and if he does he will be playing well - could be a very solid contributor!!

Don’t understand Julien’s upside with walk rate - low chase rate - bat to ball skills……..and then whenever Lee is ready he’ll takeover 2B……….oh, and Farmer is the platoon guy at 2B with Julien and he had a plus 20 in games he started last year…….70-50 was the team record. Lee will be eased into play and my assumption is he will DH some & will live in a reserve roll on the left side of the infield.

Kepler’s offense is hopeful but not necessarily expected - a bonus.

If the veterans, Kepler - Vazquez - Buxton - Correa have just decent years, the Team will be tough to beat!!

[RpR]

58 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

Santana’s contribution is overstated because Kirilloff will start 60 - 70% of the games at 1B. Am assuming he may get some starts in LF when Wallner or Kepler (Wallner to RF) need some rest when facing a RH pitcher.

 

Santana is better with the bat and glove than Kirilloff, so that is probably false.

[Schmoeman5]

2 hours ago, RpR said:

Santana is better with the bat and glove than Kirilloff, so that is probably false.

I think the plan will be Kirilloff 1 and then Santana. But I agree with Kiriloffs defense.  I don't know or care what his defensive metrics were, but I know every pop fly was an adventure with him. Everyone talks about Juliens defense which wasn't good. Neither was Kiriloffs. But I've seen posts suggesting he could be a GG at 1st. I don't see it. He did scoop pretty good. 

[stringer bell]

2 hours ago, Schmoeman5 said:

I think the plan will be Kirilloff 1 and then Santana. But I agree with Kiriloffs defense.  I don't know or care what his defensive metrics were, but I know every pop fly was an adventure with him. Everyone talks about Juliens defense which wasn't good. Neither was Kiriloffs. But I've seen posts suggesting he could be a GG at 1st. I don't see it. He did scoop pretty good. 

I’ve said that Kirilloff has the tools to be a good fielder at first and I do agree that he struggled with popups. For someone who has played as much outfield as Kirilloff, you would think balls hit in the air wouldn’t be a problem, but ….

I still think he can be good at first with good reach and being left handed. 

[German zwilling]

Do we even have to play in spring and summer? According to this video there's no doubt we'll go to world series right away anyway....😀