3 Pitchers Who Complement the Twins Defensive Strengths

I'm curious what you're seeing that suggests that Grossman is the best LF in the AL? If you're using a gold glove as your only evidence, then I would recommend re-evaluating how you judge defenders in baseball. I'm not saying metrics and statistics are the end all be all, but I trust those wayyyy more than I trust the gold glove voting process. I know it's MLB coaches, but they're making their votes based on watching a player for at most 19 games and in majority of cases 3-7 times...assuming that the best defenders are in every game.

I do not trust the voting process for any awards. I am basing my comment off of defensive metrics, my own personal scouting, and insider knowledge in the game. Also, please do not be so patronizing as to suggest I reevaluate how I judge baseball defenders - I have professional experience doing just that.

You've made it clear that you don't judge based off awards, thus my comment about re-evaluating obviously don't apply to you.

 

I am still curious as to what defensive metrics you're looking at as I have scoured Fan Graphs and Baseball Savant but cannot find somewhere that would show he's the best LF In the AL. I understand your scouting and insider knowledge are probably off limits but I'm still not seeing a metric that would suggest that. Am I looking in the wrong places?

2nd highest DRS, highest UZR, and highest Def rating for American League left fielders with a minimum of 800 innings.

Eyeball test disputes many of the statistics.  The statistics reward more 'safe play' than aggressive play (throwing, diving, etc).  I would also add, with a player of Buxton's caliber next two either Eddie or Kep, more aggressiveness is warranted due to Buxton's ridiculous speed and angle to cover.  No one seems to ever bring up that Rosario (bad ankle and all) is on of ONLY TWO twins players in 20 years to bat over .276 with 30+ (32 homers) and 100+ RBI.  We need to be cognizant of these statistical contributions, his arm in the field, his bum ankle, his ability to play through pain and ignite the team, his importance in the clubhouse and in the clutch.  These things ALL matter FWIW.  No MLB fill-in, or Top AA prospect will deliver what Eddie can in the next 3 years. 

And Grossman is GROSS in the outfield.  How many years did your eyes tell you that?

People are figuring it because we have to. You can't roll into next season with Berrios and that's it. If you feel good just signing those 2, I think you will probably be let down again next season at the end of the year because you will be piecing together a rotation for a majority of the season again.

 

Twins need to find someone to pair with Berrios at the top and probably another guy to eat up innings at the bottom. Whether that's a diamond in the rough trade, a FA, or someone from the organization steps up, they will need to do something. 

I won't feel good about the rotation if we sign Odorizzi and Pineda but I will feel a lot better.    I have no illusions that we are going to sign Cole or Bumgarner.   The other names thrown out there are not as good as Odorizzi or Pineda.    I am ok with relying on our young guys and actually want us to rely on them to fill a spot, just not 4 or 3 spots and preferably not 2 spots.    I just feel like Dobnak, Schmeltzer and Graterol are just as good and potentially better than the guys listed in this post.   I thought Lynn and Odorizzi were very good signings in 2018 even though they didn't work out that year.  If we can find another guy like that along with Berrios, Odo, Pineda and Dobnak it will exceed my expectations and yeah, I would then feel pretty good about the rotation.

I wouldn't feel good, but I am with you on those other guys. I would rather go big or go home. 

If we are signing guys like this to be our #4 and 5 starters, I would just as soon roll with someone in our system. I have said this all along. I think if you are going to bring in free agents, bring in high end guys. Fill the rest of your holes with your system. In this case, aim for guys that you think have the talent to be #3 or better pitchers whether it is in FA or trade. 

What magic has Wes worked? Which starting pitcher was much better this year than last? Not Berrios,not Perez, not Odo, not really sure how to judge Pineda or Gibson.....

 

What evidence do we have about Johnson, really, other than Perez? Which is a tiny sample size.....

Odorizzi improved by almost 2.0 fWAR and shaved almost a full run off his FIP. Berrios added 1.3 fWAR. Perez added 2.0 fWAR and shaved over a run off both his ERA and FIP. All of them got better. That’s probably not all on Wes Johnson, but he is a common denominator.

...you forgot Edwin Jackson. I'm sure he has a pretty high flyball rate...

Seriously, does anyone know how many games Pineda needs to sit if we resign him? I'm not putting that on the table as chip to resigning; I'm really just wondering.

I'd like to sign one ace, and the rest will fall into place. I would like this rotation: Veteran Ace, Berrios, Odorizzi (if we can), Pineda (if we can) or Dobnak (I'm still high on this guy. He reminds me a lot Yamaguchi of the Yomiuri Giants.)

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I'm with you on Rosario.  He has thrown out more base runners than Keps or Buck, who are considered superior defenders. I think he gets a bum rap. But to be fair, he does sometimes take a bad route or make a bad read and balls drop that he should perhaps catch. But remember who we have put out in left.  Grossman, Arcia, Hammer, and a few infielders subbing in. And although Keps had a breakout year, it was Rosie that carried the team early last year. 

And let us not forget Delmon Young. Or maybe we should. By comparison, Rosario is a gold glove candidate.

Maybe Jordan Lyles is worth a look. Getting him away from Coors Field is bound to help both his stats and his confidence.