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jkcarew

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Everything posted by jkcarew

  1. jkcarew
    The bats have been a bit slow coming out of the gate, to say the least. Gordon, Javier, and Kirilloff being out makes it seem worse, I suppose. Rooker now with 9 K’s in 16 PA at Rochester (after posting 12 K’s in 23 PA in spring training). But there’s no question the results are fantastic when he happens to swing where the ball is.
  2. jkcarew
    I think ranking Colina as a potential major league power starter is more hope than projection. Beware the 6-0 (ish) power starter...they usually make good relievers, and we got a lot of them: Colina, Romero, Graterol.
  3. jkcarew
    Don’t think Cave is going anywhere. A catcher and Adrianza are the most vulnerable, I think...but again, it could be Cave based on his option...and still good chance it’s moot if only one guy needs to DL in the next several weeks. Doubt seriously that any major league team sees Austin as an outfielder, even a platoon OF. In 91 appearances, Austin started 3 games in the OF...that was awhile ago, with the Yankees...and they replaced him in two of those games.
  4. jkcarew
    I tend to agree with this. As far as the Twins are concerned, Romero's a reliever. I suppose things could change in the long-term if he were to start showing command/efficiency, including a quality 3rd pitch. The signs that he would be challenged starting in the majors have been there for some time. Was never an innings-eater or particularly efficient. Tended to fade late in seasons...K-rate took significant hits as he faced better batters in AA/AAA. A lot of us were probably mesmerized by low-level results and MPH...especially the MPH, since it's something the system had lacked forever. Still probably true that if he develops major-league command...even with just the two pitches...he's a good back-end guy. Without the command...well, that's what he is right now.
  5. jkcarew
    IMO, the key for Astudillo's value is the developing power, not the 'defensive flexibility'. A .300 hitter isn't that valuable if it comes with zero walks and no power (and no base-running)...which was the case with Astudillo for the majority of his professional career. But, his power seems to be developing...showing way more SLG in the last couple of years than he had earlier in his professional career. So, if the x-base hits continue to come along, he has a very legitimate shot to hit his way into a regular major-league role. I just think it's going to be as a catcher/DH or as a 3rd-baseman. It seems pretty clear that the Twins consider him only an emergency option in the outfield, and no option at all in the middle infield. So, in that regard, it's not looking, at least so far, like he's going to be a 'super-utility' guy.
  6. jkcarew
    Hope Thorpe is healthy. Wasn’t good in very brief spring training look. Now this.
  7. jkcarew
    In my mind, I had the Twins basically giving up on Diaz. Seems he's been around forever, and his results haven't been very encouraging, given how the bat will need to play at 1B/DH. But the perception has a lot to do with the ridiculous situation for international players where they're professionals at 16 and rule-5 eligible before they can clear A ball. Fact is, Diaz is the same age as Larnach, playing on the same team...even though, at this point, most of us (probably for the wrong reasons) have infinitely higher expectations/hopes for Larnach. Interesting.
  8. jkcarew
    I look at it differently. Helman is a year older than Larnach and Jeffers...played the extra year of college ball (in a top program/conference), which also explains maybe droping a few rounds compared to the juniors. To me, if they like him at ALL they should be getting him to Fort Myers sooner rather than later. Either way, it's encouraging. The absence that has me a bit surprised is Rortvedt. The inclusion that has me surprised is Willie Joe Garry. Did I miss something, or is he kind of coming out of nowhere in your rankings? A 9th round draft pick (article says 10th, btw) that hasn't registered anything positive in an official league as of yet. My guess is you're hearing things regarding Garry from people in the organization?
  9. jkcarew
    How 'bout me... The Twins will play the Royals and Tigers a total of 38 times this year. That's nearly a quarter of the schedule! I don't think there's anything nicer that could possibly be said.
  10. jkcarew
    Have to try to give Astudillo more at-bats at this point and see how he progresses. FWIW, he's younger than Garver. Someone smarter than me would need to calculate the hit defensively vs the likely win offensively if you went the Garver/Astudillo. Something tells me the pitchers wouldn't be thrilled with that. Astudillo's got 101 PA...there probably isn't a pitcher in the league that has saw him a second time yet...or a team that has game-planned him. So, we'll see. But if he hits, he hits...and then it might be time to think about getting in shape so he can take the grind and his club might realize his (potential) defensive flexibility at positions other than catcher. It's funny how being 40 lbs past your ideal body weight is endearing when it's an over-achieving career minor-leaguer, but a lack of dedication and professionalism when it's a struggling big bonus-signing top prospect.
  11. jkcarew
    CF – Jimmy Kerrigan / Tanner English 2B – Luis Arraez OF – Jaylin Davis (Alex Kirilloff) 1B – Taylor Grzelakowski DH – Mitchell Kranson OF – Ernie De La Trinidad / Jaylin Davis 3B – Drew Maggi / Brian Schales SS – Jordan Gore C – Brian Navarreto Are you suggesting that Alex Kirilloff will serve as the 3rd corner outfielder behind Jaylin Davis and Ernie De La Trinidad? I suppose it WOULD represent and new and creative approach to player development...something the previous regime wouldn't have thought of.
  12. jkcarew
    Someone had the nerve to say that the staff wouldn't finish the season leading the league in strikeouts and demolish the all-time single-season record? Ban them!
  13. jkcarew
    Carlos Gonzalez, as well, will be an improvement...even such that he is at this point in his career. That is an awful lineup right now...and then Ramirez wasn’t swinging it...might have rushed him back.
  14. jkcarew
    Next time the Twins see Cleveland will be a long time from now and Cleveland will no longer be playing their B lineup. Still, encouraged that Buxton and Pineda can move the needle some this year...two guys that didn’t help the club at all last year (obviously).
  15. jkcarew
    Well, yes. It does. Pitch number 4 had about a 50% chance of being called ball four in that game...and it was, for all practical purposes, unhittable. At the time, it was hugely lucky that Rosario didn’t get a piece of it and roll into a double-play. Again, with a 3-0 count, runners on first and second, nobody out in a 1-1 game in the bottom of the seventh...it was a horrible decision to swing at that pitch.
  16. jkcarew
    Early indications (to nobody's surprise) are that Rocco isn't exactly one for small-ball...or even "playing the percentages". Let Rosario swing away in the 7th inning of a 1-1 game with a 3-0 count and runners on first and second, and nobody out. Let Kepler swing away in 9th, facing a lefty, with Buxton on second, no outs...down by one. (Go for the tie at home?) Both moves back-fired. To be fair, this lineup probably doesn't have the skill/flexibility to play the small game even in the scenarios where it is justified. Just need to wait for the weather to warm up, so fly balls start landing on the other side of the fence, I guess.
  17. jkcarew
    In terms of avoiding long streaks of outs...if Sano had been in the Twins lineup yesterday, his career OBP would have been the 2nd-highest in the order, barely behind Cruz. So, this lineup definitely figures to be challenged...even in the context of today's game...at finding ways to get on base...and needs to hit the ball over the fence. Of course, they have a few key guys that should still be on the upside of their development...that's where the hope is. I agree that they were being deliberately super-aggressive against Kluber.
  18. jkcarew
    No Lindor for them was helpful...but don't know that it would have mattered given the way Berrios (and Rogers) looked. Buxton's at-bats continued to look encouraging. On the flip-side, you can see how this offense is going to be either on..or OFF. The new power guys are not known for working counts...and it showed. If the ball isn't going over the fence, this lineup has the potential to makes lots of outs...fast. Kepler and Rosario are going to have to look a lot better against good RH pitching, but were bailed out by Berrios yesterday. It was packed...l know it was the opener, but was still surprised a bit by the size of the March 28 crowd, how early everyone showed, etc. Entire down-town area was packed by 1:00. Nice to see.
  19. jkcarew
    Theoretically three of these position players are gone in May. Two pitchers are added and Sano returns. Of course that assumes no injuries in the interim, which seems seldom happens.
  20. jkcarew
    I hope so. A year ago the consensus here seemed to be upper end of rotation guy. Seems kind of sudden that I find myself questioning when he’ll be ready for a relief role...any relief role. He’s 24 and counting.
  21. jkcarew
    There are a lot of living expenses that are covered by the team/organization (and hosts). It's not as bad as the salary number, in itself, would suggest. Having said that, the salaries are too low...lower than the value they drive for the organization...lower than what is fair/sustainable for players that are making personal sacrifices into their mid, even upper 20's. It's all a result of gross under-representation in the collective bargaining process.
  22. jkcarew
    Pérez being brought in meant valuable youngsters expecting their shot in the rotation were made to wait a bit longer. I’m talking about Adalberto Mejía and Fernando Romero... Really? This kind of mushes cause with effect. First, Romero was already headed to the pen with his challenges with secondary pitches and endurance. And, Perez wasn't signed because he's good or projects value to speak of. (See one year contract, team option). Perez was brought in because the young arms...especially the left-handed arms, either aren't ready (Gonsalves) or aren't trusted (Mejia)...and because the rotation is basically completely right-handed without Mejia (or someone). Perez is someone. Sometimes, an emergency stop-gap/place-holder proves to be more than that. So, we've got that going for us...
  23. jkcarew
    Generally, I don't want balls/strikes called by a machine. But, then I'll read an article on pitch-framing. If not for instant replay, I'd guess we'd have data and articles on tag-framing (2B/SS) and ball-in-glove-framing (1B) by now.
  24. jkcarew
    I agree these rules should at least slow the extinction of the "bench bat" player. But at the cost of the LOOGY. I would have added the roster spot, capped pitchers at 13 (some challenges...consideration for two-way players, etc....but there would be ways to do it that would be fair). I didn't mind the managers having the option to deploy a LOOGY strategy...but the 3-batter requirement will impact that in a major way. I get that the idea is to reduce mid-inning pitching changes, but not sure it will reduce that many in practice. We'll see. Overall, the changes are fine, not great, IMO...but, better than no changes and letting current trends continue unabated.
  25. jkcarew
    Tyler Austin kind of having an interesting spring so far. Even before the HR yesterday...and SSS disclaimers aside...seems more balls have been put in play, (although still not getting BB's). See or hear anything indicating a demonstratively different approach? Or just showing some general signs of improvement?
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