Make It Official! Twins 8, Diamondbacks 3: Willi Castro, Bona Fide Star

I've seen a post or two about him but damn, does our boy Willi still feel underappreciated. What he's done this year compared to what expectations were for him is quite astounding. What a steal and let's hope he can keep it up... But from what I've seen so far I actually believe he can. 

Great bounce back win!!! Let’s take this series!!!! Go Twins!!!

Hard to say Staumont was "perfect" when he allowed both his inherited runners to score, one when he threw a wild pitch on his first pitch of the game.

Nice win, though!

How about Josh Staumont? Seems like he is the pitcher that nobody is talking about. Okay, he's only pitched 17 innings so far this season, but ... zero earned runs all season! Is that insane, or what? Man, I hope I'm not jinxing the guy, but he has been a jewel in the bullpen. Okay, there was a wild pitch in the Arizona game, but that's about the only blemish I can see so far. His free agent signing this past winter was one of those under-the-radar moves that may end up being a big one. 

5 hours ago, Markdumont25 said:

I've seen a post or two about him but damn, does our boy Willi still feel underappreciated. What he's done this year compared to what expectations were for him is quite astounding. What a steal and let's hope he can keep it up... But from what I've seen so far I actually believe he can. 

Huge improvement over Gordon, that is for sure.

24 minutes ago, mickster said:

Huge improvement over Gordon, that is for sure.

You are right, I always liked Gordon, and keep hoping he would get the chance to stick, but that never happened, and he hasn't exactly set the world on fire with Miami this year either. But Castro has turned into a VERY effective player, and for what, only a waiver claim? 

The Twins have scored 108 runs in their last sixteen games and scored at least 5 runs in thirteen of those games. Their opposition during this stretch, however, has some of the worst pitching in the majors.

I take comfort that the Twins lineup routinely overwhelms sub-.500 teams now. I’ll be convinced it’s durable if they keep pounding in Seattle this weekend.

What a difference a year and good health makes. Jose Miranda is back to being the kind of hitter we thought he could be and really looks locked in. (oddly, he's struggling the most against LHP, which I expect will start to norm out as the season goes on) Love the way he's insisting that he get in the lineup with his play.

This is the kind of offense we expected this team to produce this season, even if it's not exactly the group of guys we thought would be doing it. 

SWR just keeps grinding away. He's doing a very good job of keeping the ball in the park and not handing out free passes and just keeping the team in the game and giving them a chance to win. He's been really important this season.

Nice win Twins!  Let's take the series Thursday afternoon.

God I miss Provus on the radio broadcasts.  Attaberry is too hard to follow.  He spends more time talking about other things unrelated to the game.  It seems the calling of the game has become secondary.  I wonder if he realizes there is an actual game going on?  Part of a radio sports announcers job is to paint a picture of the game in the listeners mind.  All you get with Atterberry is a blur.

28 minutes ago, jmlease1 said:

What a difference a year and good health makes. Jose Miranda is back to being the kind of hitter we thought he could be and really looks locked in. (oddly, he's struggling the most against LHP, which I expect will start to norm out as the season goes on) Love the way he's insisting that he get in the lineup with his play.

This is the kind of offense we expected this team to produce this season, even if it's not exactly the group of guys we thought would be doing it. 

SWR just keeps grinding away. He's doing a very good job of keeping the ball in the park and not handing out free passes and just keeping the team in the game and giving them a chance to win. He's been really important this season.

Never in my mind had I doubted Miranda's bat. He's a pure hitter that can hit anybody, There will come a day when his time at 3B will be limited. Can he become our full-time 1Bman? IMO yes. 

Great observation on SWR, JM. The difference between this game & the game before is the prior game the Snakes struck 1st. SWR held them early & gave our offense the chance to have the advantage,

I like Castro from the beginning, but knowing the Twins I doubted he make the team & flounder at AAA. Fortunate for injuries (strange to hear that) it gave him the opportunity to prove himself & shine. He has been valuable for the Twins with his flexibility, glove & bat and IMO he is still not done rising. The offense shone led by clutch hitting by Miranda & Castro. SWR gave us the chance for our offense to win the game. Great throw out by Vazquez to squelch a AZ rally.

This was a good outing by SWR in that he was struggling with command but managed to make enough pitches to get some outs. Many times pitchers in the same situation get blown up. 

55 minutes ago, Doctor Gast said:

Never in my mind had I doubted Miranda's bat. He's a pure hitter that can hit anybody, There will come a day when his time at 3B will be limited. Can he become our full-time 1Bman? IMO yes. 

I think he has the ability to be at least average defensively at 1B and he'll hit enough for the position. Backup 3B if needed, play some DH...hard not to see him having a full-time role in 2025 for sure. The injury last season really wrecked his whole year, and he probably should have shut it down and had surgery sooner, but it's understandable why he and the team would try and rehab and play through it. He's clearly feeling much better at the plate, and is able to swing hard and confidently again.

Miranda needs an everyday position and spot in the lineup. If Lewis is our third baseman, Miranda should be our first baseman. Having both of them in the lineup everyday should be priority. Excited to see how Festa does tonight:)

7 hours ago, Markdumont25 said:

I've seen a post or two about him but damn, does our boy Willi still feel underappreciated. What he's done this year compared to what expectations were for him is quite astounding. What a steal and let's hope he can keep it up... But from what I've seen so far I actually believe he can. 

Originally an international signing by Cleveland, after being traded to Detroit he was rushed to the majors at 22. Willi is talented, but maybe wasn't quite ready to put it together. This is one of those fortuitous moves for the Twins that helps offset some moves that turned out less well. With one more year of control it will be interesting to see if they try to lock him up for longer.

15 minutes ago, LambchoP said:

Miranda needs an everyday position and spot in the lineup. If Lewis is our third baseman, Miranda should be our first baseman. Having both of them in the lineup everyday should be priority. Excited to see how Festa does tonight:)

Let's project.  If Miranda is our everyday 1B next season, Then who is his backup?   Assuming that Margot, Farmer, Santana and Kepler are all not back?   If Santana can maintain what he is doing and the start was just poor, would anyone be up for signing him for this role and occasional DH?   Would need to be at a discounted rate, but at 39 will he command anything more?  I am not sure if AK will be an option but would make the most sense if he can right himself.   Willi won't play there, so curious who others see in the backup role.

1 minute ago, mickster said:

Let's project.  If Miranda is our everyday 1B next season, Then who is his backup?   Assuming that Margot, Farmer, Santana and Kepler are all not back?   If Santana can maintain what he is doing and the start was just poor, would anyone be up for signing him for this role and occasional DH?   Would need to be at a discounted rate, but at 39 will he command anything more?  I am not sure if AK will be an option but would make the most sense if he can right himself.   Willi won't play there, so curious who others see in the backup role.

Good question. Severino sure looks like a prototypical power hitting first baseman. He's already on the 40 man. Miranda at 1. Lee at 2. Correa at SS with Lewis at 3. Severino could backup first and 3rd with Keaschal on his way as well. That puts Castro in the outfield with Buxton, Larnach, Martin and Keirsey Jr and E Rodriguez.

13 minutes ago, LambchoP said:

Good question. Severino sure looks like a prototypical power hitting first baseman. He's already on the 40 man. Miranda at 1. Lee at 2. Correa at SS with Lewis at 3. Severino could backup first and 3rd with Keaschal on his way as well. That puts Castro in the outfield with Buxton, Larnach, Martin and Keirsey Jr and E Rodriguez.

Eddy Julien is also still around. So is Kirilloff.

I haven't checked Tigers Daily but I imagine it's incessant complaining about how dumb the Tigers front office is to have let go of Willi Castro.

42 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Eddy Julien is also still around. So is Kirilloff.

It would be awesome if one or both can make the comeback.   I would love to see it, but I see one or both, along with Wallner heading elsewhere this winter