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jkcarew

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Everything posted by jkcarew

  1. jkcarew
    Fitting that Cabrera and Pujols retire together, IMHO. Two best right handed hitters I’ve ever seen. (I saw Aaron and Mays…but they were well past their prime.) ‘Generational’ doesn’t do them justice.
  2. jkcarew
    He’s fast, I don’t think he would have made it from the training room.
  3. jkcarew
    It would be a PR nightmare to give up a frontline guy with another year of control, with the deal being headlined by Balazovic right now. More likely Hajjar + another decent non-pitching prospect. I’d try.
  4. jkcarew
    I’ll go with Canterino…a pretty high draft pick, been around a while, and can still be said to be “on schedule”. Probably not close to the best upside of that group, though.
  5. jkcarew
    What is the point right now with Balazovic pitching (attempting) at AAA? Every start is the same…50 pitches over 2 innings, a ton of baserunners, and a home run. If he’s hurt, shelf him. If he’s not, why not get him back to AA? It’s not like he had AA figured out last year. The decision to start him at the AAA level this year is looking bad, given the IL stint to start the year, and a very short (and rough) rehab assignment at Fort Myers.
  6. jkcarew
    I’m not panicking on Buxton. This is who he’s been (when available) for the last 3 years now. Trying to pull the ball and get it in the air. He doesn’t (or can’t) make adjustments…and has streaks where he does nothing but pop/fly out and K. But over an extended period of time now, the HR/FB rate (and ISO) have been other-worldly. His long-range value…say as a 34 year old corner outfielder or DH…may be problematic, but I’ll take what we’re getting. On the flip side…practically the lowest OBP on the team (career safely under 300) and highest SLG by a mile…and on pace to steal 4 bases on the season…where do you put him in the batting order? 4th against lefty starter, 5th otherwise. Then protect him with another power bat that has a decent matchup that day among guys like Miranda/Kepler/maybe Sano. Talking to you, Rocco.
  7. jkcarew
    Fwiw, Kirilloff and Larnach have been just about exactly the same offensive players this year so far. Same OBP, same SLG. Kirilloff strikes out less, but walks less…their XBH rates per PA are also very similar. Meanwhile, Miranda is a lower OBP guy, but a significantly higher SLG guy (so far). I really like the Kirilloff and Miranda upside if they learn how to make pitchers throw them strikes, which is where Larnach is ahead of them.
  8. jkcarew
    Bases juiced, the guy’s walked last two…I’m going to look for the first change up 6 inches outside and crank it. Interesting strategy, Cotton, let’s see how it works out for him.
  9. jkcarew
    The Twins are well under league average this year. 2, 3 more outs hear and there would be huge as we’ve seen. Given the bullpen investment (lack thereof) and resulting lack of depth, along with the relative success of the starting staff, it would seem smart to try to push starters a little more aggressively. Doesn’t mean it will work.
  10. jkcarew
    Wuttdayamean?? These kids are READY!! Can pitch through the opponent’s batting order twice? Check! Can occasionally pitch into the 6th inning? Check! Can max effort each pitch and avoid anything fully within the technical definition of the strike zone, all while completing each inning with fewer than 25 pitches thrown? Check!
  11. jkcarew
    Part of the puzzle has to be getting more innings from starters. Averaging a shade more than 4.2 per start. Even for this ridiculous era, that’s low. Right now, Rocco and the FO are pretending that you can protect your starters and hide bullpen arms at the same time. No, you can’t. Maybe for a game or two, or a series. But not over the coarse of a month, let alone a full season.
  12. jkcarew
    Run? Gifted epic back-to-back meltdowns by the opposition’s bullpen, Cleveland is now 4-6 in their last ten. I think they can, and will, sustain that. I know the bar for ‘run’ is low in this division, but I think Chicago remains the most likely team to eventually blow by the Twins if the Twins remained stuck in this two steps forward, two steps back thing. More than half the season yet to play.
  13. jkcarew
    He’s opting out. The only way he doesn’t is if he’s chronically injured or plays very poorly. Nothing has changed there. If the market is relatively soft, the Twins might have a chance. Otherwise he walks. I believe they’d give Lewis a shot. I wouldn’t consider going with an overall #1 draft pick, who seems to be ready “starting over”…albeit, somewhat of a risk given injury history.
  14. jkcarew
    Like so many games against the Yankees in the past couple decades…we were so close. Just couldn’t get over the hump there in the first. 10 or 12 at-bats go differently (and take away one or two innings) and this things could have been headed to extras where anything can happen. How much longer can the Yankees luck hold??
  15. jkcarew
    This is absolutely a one-year deal (pending a horrible year and/or injury). And that’s fine…. One, He never signs this deal without the opt-out…and one year of Correa is way better than the alternatives. Two, if the team fails in 2022, he’ll bring a good haul at the deadline. It’s a win for the Twins in almost any scenario…other than chronic /catastrophic injuries. It’s the Sanchez thing that has me scratching my head. He really doesn’t function behind the plate…and how many right-swinging, poor contact, power guys that are defensive liabilities does one team need?
  16. jkcarew
    For context, Varland is over one year older than the average competition in his Low-A league…while Balazovic is nearly 3 years younger than his average AA competition. Still, no way to look at Balazovic’s numbers this year and conclude anything other than that he struggled significantly. For those that want the FO to push the top prospects…this is what you’re going to get more often than not. I don’t think it’s anything to be too worried about…but it seems clear he’s not ‘close’.
  17. jkcarew
    Still, a disappointing season. Sitting at 30 innings right now…and still somehow K rate is below league average, although better than last year. Of course, he’ll have a chance (presumably) to make up for all that in the post season…and he has been good lately. Dodgers may have figured out how to deal with Graterol’s chronic injury/durability issues: not only keep him in the bullpen, but also shut him down at least twice per season. They can afford that approach with the quality depth of their pitching…and with no worries to make the postseason.
  18. jkcarew
    Sure…but how many playoff runs have been made when the top guy in the rotation is consistently outmatched? Very, very few. The exceptions…(e.,g. Brewers, Royals) are just that: exceptions.
  19. jkcarew
    I agree that Berrios is a top 30 guy…at least that’s what he’s been in 2021…and he’s definitely young enough to improve going forward. But, if you don’t like this trade, does that mean you’d rather have had the only likely alternatives in the real world: trading him in the off-season or at next year’s deadline for LESS value? Because, otherwise you’d have to believe that Berrios represented the difference between what we’ve seen this year and serious pennant contention in 2022.
  20. jkcarew
    Someone who provides an advantage in top-of-the rotation postseason matchups. And significantly enhances the teams odds of winning random matchups during the regular season. I think that is true even with ‘great’ pitchers only going 6-7 innings. Berrios is not an ace. But I do think he’s still young and that 2021 could be a step toward that status.
  21. jkcarew
    Still, he’s 2nd on the team in RBI. A few more than Donaldson, in the same number of PA, and with 60+ more K’s. The thing with all guys with ridiculous power…they are ALWAYS in an RBI situation.
  22. jkcarew
    Yes, Escobar’s had a great year. Yes, he’s a good guy to have around. But he’s not going to be anyone’s every day shortstop, no matter what defensive metrics might (erroneously) say.
  23. jkcarew
    Just one question… Do the Yankees need Kepler to take Aaron Judge’s spot in the lineup or Joey Gallo’s?…or Giancarlo Stanton’s or Luke Voit’s or DJ LeMahieu’s, or maybe the returning Aaron Hick’s?? Can’t think of a less motivated team, maybe ever, to go after a 100-105 ish OPS+ corner outfielder that can sorta spot in center and maybe possibly play first or DH. The Yankees interest in Twins (position players with the MLB club) probably begins with Buxton and ends with Donaldson…both risks. Buxton for the possibilities, and Donaldson because they’re ‘weak’ at 3rd. Maybe Arraez to bolster the 3B rotation and utility role.
  24. jkcarew
    Not buying this. Escobar couldn’t take the shortstop job from Polanco when Escobar was 27-28…he’s certainly not going to do it at 33. Here are the SS’s that have played the position for Escobar’s teams in the last three years…Nick Ahmed and Willie Adames. Adames is currently injured, and the Brewers responded by moving Luis Arias back over to short. Zero games for Escobar at short for the Brewers despite the injuries…but 9 at first base.
  25. jkcarew
    I think it’s fair to say Balazovic has found AA ball this year…challenging. Wouldn’t be shocked if that’s where he starts next year.
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