Twins (Kremer) vs Tigers (Anderson): 09/08/26, 5:40 PM

[RpR]

1 minute ago, SE23 said:

Royce is at a turning point in his career. Either he learns to resist trying to pull the low outside slider, or he'll follow Miguel Sano's trajectory. 

With all that face paint, he could be a ball player and a wrestler in Mexico.

[The Great Hambino]

1 minute ago, Parfigliano said:

That's why they're keeping Alex "the answer"  Jackson rested.

Alex "Inaction" Jackson

Hey, Luke caught a baseball!

[MeleMouth]

3 minutes ago, S Bart said:

Well...stats show that he has played in about 55% of Twins games this year...I would vote Clemens or Lee over him.. I will miss him next year...big time...Caratini simply is not the answer...

Here's the "Caratini will be OK" argument:

1. His defensive rating this year is higher than Jeffers' and it has generally been higher over his career.

2. Statcast suggests his offensive results were much lower than what they should have been, based on how he hit the ball. In fact, his expected offense this year was almost the same as his expected offense the prior two years, when he was an above-average hitter.

[S Bart]

Just now, Parfigliano said:

That's why they're keeping Alex "the answer"  Jackson rested.

I really believe that he may play okay if they just attempt to play him...his limited ABs have been decent this season

[djvang]

9 minutes ago, Parfigliano said:

Gomez with 2 no drama saves in a row.

I'll take credit for that. I turn it off when he comes in.

[SE23]

2 minutes ago, S Bart said:

Keasch...has been simply great

I'm a huge Keaschall fan. He makes baseball fun, which is saying something in this day and age.

[Twindy]

2 minutes ago, SE23 said:

Royce is at a turning point in his career. Either he learns to resist trying to pull the low outside slider, or he'll follow Miguel Sano's trajectory. 

It’s not just that he tries to pull the pitch. It’s that he swings at it period. It would even be a hard pitch to go to right field with.

[Parfigliano]

1 minute ago, Twindy said:

It’s not just that he tries to pull the pitch. It’s that he swings at it period. It would even be a hard pitch to go to right field with.

Jacque Jones did the same thing.  

[S Bart]

4 minutes ago, MeleMouth said:

Here's the "Caratini will be OK" argument:

1. His defensive rating this year is higher than Jeffers' and it has generally been higher over his career.

2. Statcast suggests his offensive results were much lower than what they should have been, based on how he hit the ball. In fact, his expected offense this year was almost the same as his expected offense the prior two years, when he was an above-average hitter.

Defense yes. .offensive his wRC+ is below average with a 83....Jeffers has a 140 which is elite...

[S Bart]

3 minutes ago, Twindy said:

It’s not just that he tries to pull the pitch. It’s that he swings at it period. It would even be a hard pitch to go to right field with.

He has adapted to 1st base..but... Royce...I believe part of it is him being a head case at times...

[mrmpls]

6 minutes ago, RpR said:

With all that face paint, he could be a ball player and a wrestler in Mexico.

Miguel Ángel Jean Sanó is a Dominican professional baseball first baseman and third baseman for the Chunichi Dragons of Nippon Professional Baseball-  had to laugh !!

• Batting Stats

Year	Team	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	TB	RBI	SB	CS	SH	SF	BB	HP	SO	GDP	AVG	SLG	OBP
	Totals	80	302	267	29	59	7	0	21	129	45	0	0	0	5	28	2	81	6	.221	.483	.295
2026	Chunichi	80	302	267	29	59	7	0	21	129	45	0	0	0	5	28	2	81	6	.221	.483	.295

[MeleMouth]

2 minutes ago, S Bart said:

Defense yes. .offensive his wRC+ is below average with a 83....Jeffers has a 140 which is elite...

Yes, those are this year's results. What I was trying to say is that "expected results" paint a better picture, and because expected results are better predictors than actual results, there is some reason for optimism that Caratini will have better results next year.

[Twindy]

1 minute ago, Parfigliano said:

Jacque Jones did the same thing.  

Tori and Buck also. They all learned to varying degrees to lay off of it. They all had good careers as a result although Buck is still struggling with it.

[SE23]

2 minutes ago, S Bart said:

Defense yes. .offensive his wRC+ is below average with a 83....Jeffers has a 140 which is elite...

But his OPS+ was over 100 in 2024 and 2025. He doesn't have to match Jeffers' offense to be useable next year. In other words, it's not a disaster if Victor is our primary catcher next season.

[SE23]

1 minute ago, SE23 said:

But his OPS+ was over 100 in 2024 and 2025. He doesn't have to match Jeffers' offense to be useable next year. In other words, it's not a disaster if Victor is our primary catcher next season.

But is Alex "the Natural" Jackson an adequate backup?

[Parfigliano]

It's a rare TC and NYM win night.

[djvang]

13 minutes ago, SE23 said:

I'm a huge Keaschall fan. He makes baseball fun, which is saying something in this day and age.

As long as he doesn't have to throw.

[S Bart]

4 minutes ago, SE23 said:

But his OPS+ was over 100 in 2024 and 2025. He doesn't have to match Jeffers' offense to be useable next year. In other words, it's not a disaster if Victor is our primary catcher next season.

No disrespect...but I do not agree...he will be 34 and has never been in that role for a team..it will not matter it will probably happen. There better be another decent catcher...ready... I guess we shall see...he may revert to 2025 or may be a Vasquez 

[HarmonK03]

12 minutes ago, MeleMouth said:

Yes, those are this year's results. What I was trying to say is that "expected results" paint a better picture, and because expected results are better predictors than actual results, there is some reason for optimism that Caratini will have better results next year.

Look at his history, he has never played more than 87 games at catcher with a career OPS of .685 and he will turn 34 next year.  He is not a number 1 catcher and we will be missing Jeffers if that is the plan.

[mnfireman]

24 minutes ago, MeleMouth said:

Here's the "Caratini will be OK" argument:

1. His defensive rating this year is higher than Jeffers' and it has generally been higher over his career.

2. Statcast suggests his offensive results were much lower than what they should have been, based on how he hit the ball. In fact, his expected offense this year was almost the same as his expected offense the prior two years, when he was an above-average hitter.

OK Bill James...

[SE23]

4 minutes ago, S Bart said:

No disrespect...but I do not agree...he will be 34 and has never been in that role for a team..it will not matter it will probably happen. There better be another decent catcher...ready... I guess we shall see...he may revert to 2025 or may be a Vasquez 

Oh I understand. I mean, I'd rather have Contreras or Langeliers, but if Vic stays healthy he can pull his weight just fine.

[Danchat]

33 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

Future gold glover Luke Keaschall with the sliding catch! Winner!

Future gold glover at DH, perhaps! 🤪

[HarmonK03]

15 minutes ago, SE23 said:

But his OPS+ was over 100 in 2024 and 2025. He doesn't have to match Jeffers' offense to be useable next year. In other words, it's not a disaster if Victor is our primary catcher next season.

Remember there was a stretch of 24 of 25 runners stealing a base without being caught and that was when he was the primary catcher.  It will be a very weak position if he is our primary catcher.

[HarmonK03]

14 minutes ago, SE23 said:

But is Alex "the Natural" Jackson an adequate backup?

No

[SE23]

3 minutes ago, HarmonK03 said:

Look at his history, he has never played more than 87 games at catcher with a career OPS of .685 and he will turn 34 next year.  He is not a number 1 catcher and we will be missing Jeffers if that is the plan.

Jeffers' career high for games at catcher was 88.

[HarmonK03]

Kreidler is going to get someone hurt on these popups in the outfield.  He almost ran over Keaschall again, he has had many near misses everywhere he plays.

[HarmonK03]

Just now, SE23 said:

Jeffers' career high for games at catcher was 88.

It wasn't 5 years ago and maybe there is a reason other teams don't trust him behind the plate.  Why do you think Houston traded for Vasquez last year because they didn't trust him as a back up.  Is every other team wrong or are the Twins smarter than everyone else.

[SE23]

3 minutes ago, HarmonK03 said:

It wasn't 5 years ago and maybe there is a reason other teams don't trust him behind the plate.  Why do you think Houston traded for Vasquez last year because they didn't trust him as a back up.  Is every other team wrong or are the Twins smarter than everyone else.

I can live with Caratini as one of our catchers in the same way I can live with Josh Bell as our DH. Or Royce Lewis as our 1B. I'm not thrilled, but we can't upgrade every position every year.

[MeleMouth]

11 minutes ago, mnfireman said:

OK Bill James...

You can just call me Bill.

[HarmonK03]

Yes Lewis needs to layoff the low outside pitch, he did better when he first came up but has been falling back into old habits again.  As others have noted, he is not alone in this.

Many comments about this tonight, but the one pitch he swung at tonight that was outside he took to RF.  There is a narrative that starts to become truth just because it is being said over and over.