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jkcarew

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Everything posted by jkcarew

  1. jkcarew
    Starting pitching: thought it would be pretty good; it is Bullpen: thought it would be average; it isn't Defense: thought it would be above average; still optimistic (Simmons means a ton) Offense: was concerned off 2020 regression and bad spring; now more concerned Between the bullpen and the nature of this lineup (even when fully healthy)...this team HAS to hit home runs in bunches to get to the playoffs. Have two guys overperforming (Buxton, Cruz) in that regard...and the team still ranks near the bottom of the league in a stat that they absolutely MUST be at/near the top. Yikes!
  2. jkcarew
    I feel bad for the fans that attended that game. Like going to a Timberwolves game with the air conditioner stuck on 45 degrees, and the cheerleaders out with COVID. An absolute and total waste of money and time.
  3. jkcarew
    During the slump we’re already seeing how valuable Simmons is. Domino impact on the entire infield defense. And offensively he provides a rare skill for this lineup...he generally puts the ball in play. I already wish this was a 2-3 year deal.
  4. jkcarew
    I agree Adrianza was underrated. But, according to plan (Donaldson and Simmons healthy and available) that super-utility, in the lineup somewhere nearly every day role when to Arraez. Probably an upgrade overall from Adrianza.
  5. jkcarew
    It April 21st, Nick..and there’s good news.. Even though it may seem like it, this statement is no more preposterous today than it was back on March 22.
  6. jkcarew
    I’m think I’m with you on this one. My concern would be that my manager has more than one tool in the toolbox...in addition to the data which always speaks to the long run (and large data)...some willingness to experiment (and fail) with aggressiveness and learn which risks are worth taking on, and in which circumstances. The concern is that I have to squint really, really hard to see where Rocco is willing to do any such experimenting.
  7. jkcarew
    I guess it would depend on how he actually feels about his legs right now. But, yes...all things being equal, I’m sure he wasn’t thrilled coming out, and I’m positive the outcome pissed him off
  8. jkcarew
    Right. It served no strategic purpose. Donaldson is not known for being particularly slow, and Blankenhorn is not known for being particularly fast. Baldelli simply didn’t want Donaldson in a situation where he would be forced to kick it into the highest gear to win the game. He’s nothing if not consistent in his perpetual concern for tomorrow’s game and next month’s games. And maybe that’s smart...even though it’s extremely frustrating in the moment....especially when trying to snap out of a losing skid.
  9. jkcarew
    I don’t think Baldelli is good with in-game decisions. Position players or pitchers. It’s not a strength that he’s been able to demonstrate with any consistency so far. When the Twins have won games in bunches it’s been when the offense simply bludgeons teams into submission. Having said that, it’s become pretty obvious that this roster (at least how its played so far) doesn’t provide him with many good options. Alcala was probably the best option in place of Colome for the 10th...and he pitched yesterday and gave up a HR. Dobnak? And on the offensive side...there’s one or two regulars that consistently put balls in play where you could hit-and run, one guy that knows how to bunt, maybe two that can hit behind a runner...7 guys that strike out anywhere from often to constantly. The good news is this team isn’t going to lose many games...if any...where they hit like this. The starting pitching and defense are likely to settle down. Still, Rocco is kinda crippled in close games late, both from the standpoint of the bullpen and being able to manufacture runs offensively. If this club doesn’t hit HR’s in bunches, they’re not going to be good.
  10. jkcarew
    Twins took the high school kid with “protectable tools”. The Padres took the college guy that could play. (Padres traded Turner to Dodgers in a deal that netted Will Myers.)
  11. jkcarew
    Lot of patience here for a 6-7 team struggling offensively and expected to compete for a pennant. In general probably the right attitude but I’m not sure it needs to apply to Jeffers. Many here want Sano out of the lineup. Sano’s K’ing at a 34.6% rate and walking at over 23%. Jeffers 52.2% and 8.7%. He’s been overmatched. It’s a small sample, but it’s not unreasonable that a team in the Twins position might want to get him ever-day at-bats (C/1B/DH) in AAA for a bit.
  12. jkcarew
    IMO, all recent managers have had their strengths...even when the team has failed. And also weaknesses even when they were winning awards. Rocco’s no exception. Since the mid-80’s, the Twins have done overall better than most in the manager category. Rocco’s still learning IMO...and that’s probably the good news, as he’s already established some strengths.
  13. jkcarew
    You’re way more likely to win the game with the one-out at-bat than the two-out at bat. You can’t bat Jeffers there. Period. He’s K’ing in over 50% of his PA...that’s an actual statistic, not hyperbole...and he’s a rookie. If you’re not going to be aggressive with your bench in that one-out scenario...2nd and 3rd bottom of 8, one out, tie game, 5-game losing streak...when are you ever going to be? Even if they elect to walk Garver and you feel you HAVE to bat Riddle (lord knows why!) it’s still a one-out situation and Riddle has 800 career PA and MUCH lower K tendencies. At this point in time, even JT Riddle is an infinitely better option than Jeffers when you need a ball in play to win.
  14. jkcarew
    Arraez and Kepler take Baldelli off the hook for an atrociously managed game. Atrocious. If his excuse for sending Jeffers (and his 53% K-rate to the plate in the bottom of the 8th with one out and runners on 2nd and 3rd) was because he didn’t want to leave only one catcher available...then I’d use a different word: stupid. It’s the 8th inning and the extra-inning rule practically eliminates the possibility of anything close to a marathon. The things he’s good at have value. But he’s been pretty bad from the start on in-game management and doesn’t seem to be showing much improvement, IMO.
  15. jkcarew
    I am concerned with the offense. On the other hand (going into today)... Polanco’s BABiP: 147...he’s likely to turn back into 2018 Polanco at some point. Garver’s BABiP: 143 Sano’s BABiP: 111...meanwhile, his SO% is exactly the same as 2019, BB% higher Twins OPS is 3rd overall in the AL; they lead the AL in OBP (you read that correctly) Twins team SO% is exactly league average and their BB% is better than league ave. It warps the mind, but this is what baseball looks like now. What the Twins haven’t done is make the big pitch, or the big play, or the big hit to turn close games. That will probably turn at some point.
  16. jkcarew
    I mean, yes, I’d drop Polanco in the order, specifically as it relates to Arraez’s position. I was concerned with how many of these guys were swinging the bat this spring, and some of that has carried over. On the other hand...(doesn’t include today’s 14 innings)... Polanco’s BABiP: 147...he’s likely to turn back into 2018 Polanco at some point. Garver’s BABiP: 143 Sano’s BABiP: 111...meanwhile, his SO% is exactly the same as 2019, BB% higher Twins OPS is 3rd overall in the AL; they lead the AL in OBP (you read that correctly) Twins team SO% is exactly league average and their BB% is better than league ave. It warps the mind, but this is what baseball looks like now. What the Twins haven’t done is make the big pitch, or the big play, or the big hit. That will probably turn at some point.
  17. jkcarew
    We’re making this conclusion based on 3 appearances? Really, it’s 2 normal appearances, because his first was in the make-believe 10th inning scenario where he faced two batters and gave up a single and a ground ball to second. (I do think it strange to give a low K% guy like Dobnak the first extra inning.) Still, in both of the two normal outings, he completely shut down the opposition for his first two innings and then was poor (to very poor) in his third inning of work. It’s seems kinda hard given that small set of outcomes to conclude he’s likely to be more effective as a starter. How about instead we limit him to no more than two innings in tight games, and avoid using him (or defer his use) in extra inning scenarios?
  18. jkcarew
    It’s nice to have that 8-man bullpen for 7-inning games, though...right? Our top two starters did their best to make this look rational. But it isn’t. It’s a joke and an embarrassment to the 150 years of Major League Baseball that preceded this.
  19. jkcarew
    As a Sano fan, I think patience is warranted. He comes across as a great teammate who really enjoys the game and the success of his teammates. And when things turn, the power can win games all by itself. But I have to admit that even I get dejected with the slow overall progress. I wish the concept of letting the ball get deep and going the other way would finally click at some point. It won’t cut down on the HR rate (much) as he’s so powerful he can reach any fence in any park...and it would help the K’s and the BA so so much. It’s exactly what Cruz does. I also worry that he’s starting to get frustrated himself. The happy-go-lucky, everything’s great, body language that he’s pretty much always been able to maintain seems to be cracking a bit. That would be a shame because one of the best parts about watching Sano is that he always seemed to be having so much fun out there almost no matter what.
  20. jkcarew
    One of those games where Berrios had no idea where the ball was going. It works against a lineup like Seattle’s...not against top-end experienced lineups. Still fun to watch him, works fast and never afraid to throw the ball over the heart of the plate (or try to) when the situation is calling for that.
  21. jkcarew
    Theoretically, Buxton. Theoretically. When he’s playing AND hitting, there’s no way a starting pitcher can be that valuable. Having said that, I’m not yet a believer in his ability to play 140 games a season. I’ve remained a skeptic regarding his bat, as well, but I’m seriously rethinking that position.
  22. jkcarew
    Dominate the opener, then lose a game you should have won, then win a game you should have lost. That’ll do.
  23. jkcarew
    Impressive pitching pretty much the entire series. Very encouraging.
  24. jkcarew
    Before the opener, I would have said a postseason series win. But now I feel like it needs to be...consistently know what base you should be throwing to if the ball is hit to you. And winning a postseason series.
  25. jkcarew
    Kinda missing the point by citing Rooker’s ST slash line by itself. It’s the K’s...which are not as beholden to the mitigating circumstances of sss as are the other factors going into the slash line. Rooker struck out in 48% of ST PA’s. 48%. He made Sano, who had an absolutely atrocious spring offensively, look like Wee Willie Kepler. Rooker started out decent, and then was pretty much a train wreck in appearances over the last 2-3 weeks. As someone who was likely to platoon quite a bit (and on the short end of the platoon), I’d much, much rather see Rooker iron out some issues as an every-day player at AAA. He’ll be back when/if he irons things out.
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