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jkcarew

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Everything posted by jkcarew

  1. jkcarew
    I agree with that statement. But that means something far south of Rooker and Cavaco. I’m not high on either, but you don’t give up that kind of capital for Bauer under these circumstances, IMO...at least not without getting something else besides Bauer in return...something that has a chance to contribute beyond the 5 (at most) regular season games Bauer would play and however many he’d pitch in the tournament.
  2. jkcarew
    “A healthy return” for 1-7 Bauer postseason starts? Because that’s what you’re saying. Twins sitting at a top 3 seed without him...with other help already on the way. And this makes sense in a year where a second class championship will be awarded...if it’s able to be completed at all? Umm...No.
  3. jkcarew
    So, Rocco...protecting the hottest hitter in your lineup against a guy that figures to be hard to score on by batting LaMonte Wade behind him? Yuk!
  4. jkcarew
    We all are, buddy! And, in my heart, I just know that Laudner realizes this.
  5. jkcarew
    One of the only “5-tool” players you’ll ever see playing 3rd base in high school . A project...worth $800k, I would think.
  6. jkcarew
    I thought there'd be more Brusdar Graterol obsession here, based on initial reaction to the trade. Maybe because the guy we got is doing "ok" ? Graterol seems to be progressing nicely; headline numbers not what you might expect (low K and BB rates)...and results have been spotty with some L's, etc....but the underlying numbers look very good. Apparently, a lot of soft contact against the powerful sinking FB. Seeing some leverage. Meanwhile, no indication/talk that the Dodgers want him to be a starter 'some day'. But plenty of talk that he'll be the franchise's next Kenley Jansen or Eric Gagne.
  7. jkcarew
    Unclear what's going on with Diaz at this point. Don't see any reports of injury or demotion...but he hasn't played for over a week now after getting action his first few games. Marlins have used Logan Forsythe as the backup to Jesus Aguilar at first during this stretch. Has to be hurt, right?
  8. jkcarew
    Can all three of Hill, Alcala and Duffey pitch really, really well tonight? I think that's what it would take for the Twins to win. If Hill blows up, I'm guessing they will ride Alcala and Coulombe and try to save the bullpen. I'm not a WAR guy for MVP. Not thanks to the defensive metrics included in WAR. I'll go with OPS+ or wRC+, and adjust from there based on what the eyeballs tell me regarding the rest of their games. Team performance means something to me...but not everything. I guess that's why there's often so much controversy. In the AL, I'll go with Bieber for CY; Cruz definitely in the running for MVP even as a DH; great race brewing for RoY among young center fielders Kyle Lewis and Luis Robert.
  9. jkcarew
    Like JLease, I think Garver and Jeffers are potentially redundant longer term. IMO, with Garver and Jeffers you likely have two right handed power bats with relatively high K rates...neither of whom figure to be above average overall behind the plate. Unless one or the other hits so well that you want to play them at 1B or DH at a high frequency...(not exactly likely given other options that should be available)...or there's a long-term injury for one or the other...otherwise, I see them as redundant long term. It's always good to have depth and assets, though.
  10. jkcarew
    Rocco just drew up a lineup with both Cave and Wade starting in the OF a couple games ago. He put Cave in center and Wade in the corner. That tells you where he puts them defensively, regardless of what Statcast says. Still, he was willing to use Wade in center last season for a few games, and if Cave's bat continues to lag or he needs a rest, I'm guessing we would see Wade there. I'm one who thinks Cave is a pretty good major league player, definitely a good 4th outfielder. All other things being equal, the Twins would be better off if the role Cave plays came from a guy with a decent right-handed bat...but that's not Cave's fault. Meanwhile, he's currently one of several players not yet very close to the offensive bar they set last year. The reserve outfielders are never extended a lot of patience, it seems. (See Robbie Grossman, the guy who is OPS'ing 1.038 right now for the Oakland A's....and playing basically full time.)
  11. jkcarew
    “Buxton has reportedly been bothered for some time by his surgically repaired shoulder, not to mention the foot he sprained during Summer Camp.” The surgery was 340 days ago. What’s 10 days going to do? Before the deadline, Twins would do well to find a team willing to part with a true center fielder who bats right handed. Even if the bat is of AAAA caliber...AAA, for that matter. Starting to feel like Gilberto Celestino can’t get here fast enough.
  12. jkcarew
    Missing the point. He had the take sign. The entire issue is that he had the take sign. He didn’t “miss” the take sign...he ignored it. His manager was bailing him out by saying that he missed it. Sounds much better than going public with the fact that the rookie ignored the sign and just did what he felt like doing instead. Should the opposing manager be whining about it? Not in my opinion. 7 run lead...but Texas did have two at-bats remaining. But, it’s not cool IMO, either.
  13. jkcarew
    I actually thought the bullpen looked shakey...other than Poppen and Clippard. Smeltzer, May, Romo and Rogers not so much. Romo inherited the only base runner allowed in six batters faced by Poppen...on first with two out...and made a mess of it. And Wisler was solid in the opener role. Expensive win, though. But it wasn’t far from being a mega-frustrating loss...so I’ll take it.
  14. jkcarew
    Nobody steals anymore. In 2019, there was less than one successful attempt per game...and barely over one attempt per game. Teams don't build around speed...they build for power. Even 2nd basemen weigh 200+ pounds now and hit home runs. And if they aren't, and don't, the next guy in the batting order does. I'm not saying I like it. But just give me a catcher that's a good receiver...and can hit.
  15. jkcarew
    Cave going nowhere. If there was a right-handed bat that could function in CF anywhere near ready in the system...maybe. But there’s not. And in any regard, it’s probably better form if you wait to ask the question on a night Cave was NOT the only outfielder to reach base in the game. Wade could get some starts just for the sake of having a different face...but he’s not as good as Cave offensively, and no better defensively.
  16. jkcarew
    To me, Cleveland remains dangerous in the short term...but I'm not convinced on the longer term. KC just still has such a long way to go with regard to offense. Detroit's a long, long way away. Then, there's the white sox. Chicago's positional core of Tim Anderson, Yoan Moncada, Eloy Jimenez, and Luis Robert are already...arguably...better than the Twins oft-cited core of Polanco, Sano, Kepler, and Buxton. The average age of those 4 Sox players is 24. And it's not like the White Sox prospect cupboard has been completely depleted. It hasn't been. Guys like Andrew Vaughn, Nick Madrigal, and Michael Kopech could prove to be nice pieces. And guys like Grandal, Abreu, and Keuchel will remain good pieces to have around. Twins are more well-rounded and have more quality depth on the major-league roster. But it's easy to see that a couple of the Twins next wave of prospects need to be good, real good, for the Twins to be in favorable position to stay a step ahead of the Sox looking at the next 5 seasons or so.
  17. jkcarew
    Hilarious. But if that had happened to a millennial taking a selfie or posting to snapchat or texting to someone not at the game...it wouldn't have been nearly so hilarious. Oh, who am I kidding...
  18. jkcarew
    His 2020 small sample is now about the same size as his 2019 small sample. This year, he's walking more, and striking out less, and giving up more home runs, resulting in a predictably higher FIP. None of that matters in the face of an unsustainably low 2020 BABiP against of .189. Dobnak is probably better than we THOUGHT he was...and probably not as good as we THINK he is. Taking that further...Twins staff BABiP against so far this year:...Romo, .118, Wisler .154, Maeda .162, Duffey .182, Dobnak .189, Hill .208 Clippard .231. As a staff, it's .254...something you can only see in small samples. So...let's get those bats going!
  19. jkcarew
    The Twins have a grand total of 262 PA against lefties this year. Garver had 23. Sano has had 19. But yes, the trend seems unfavorable when you factor in Buxton (who was good against lefties in 2019 when he played) and Garver seems further rather than closer to turning it around...and relying on Donaldson for anything significant during the 2020 regular season is questionable at this point, IMO. (While we're at it, worth mentioning that Donaldson was replacing CJ Cron in the batting order. In 2019, CJ Cron's splits against lefties were significantly better than Donaldson's.)
  20. jkcarew
    Checking in at the corner OF in the Bay Area... TD favorite punching bag, Robbie Grossman...292/452/615 (1.068) in 21 games Jaylin Davis...homered in first PA, then optioned 11 PA (6 of which were K's) and 3 games later. That was July 28, and he hasn't been heard from since. Strikes me as exceedingly weird for a young guy you traded for last year and more or less immediately brought to the majors...and in a short-season where the club is mega tanking.
  21. jkcarew
    I'd do what they're already doing...I'd have him follow Nelson Cruz around 24x7. It's becoming obvious that that isn't going to make Sano the hitter that Cruz has been over his career...but still, it should help Sano become the best Sano that he can be. Unfortunately, that simply might be less than what were expecting.
  22. jkcarew
    Above average? In this, his "break out" season, Buxton is sporting a .225 OBP...his career OBP...over 400 games now...is 288. Sano has never been even close to the 'guaranteed out' that Buxton has been. Sano's OBP sits at .276 this year and .336 career-wise. I do agree....that as currently performing through these first 25 games, Buxton has value because of the defense, although way less than most here give him credit for, and less than flawed defensive components for WAR gives him. But, still, more value that Sano has provided so far in 2020, which is zero. It's about 20 games played for each of these guys so far in 2020. But based on track records, I think it's fair to say, it's very unlikely either gets to true 'star' status at this point. On the other hand...if the big guy heats up...and Buxton becomes a true/consistent league-average hitter...
  23. jkcarew
    I'm not one to assume that one comment represents the totality of the person. Glimpse into his soul...or stupid mistake? I don't know. The people that are around him, including the people who employ him should have a way better idea than we do. He has to be suspended. And in today's environment, I'm sure there won't be an opportunity for atonement, even if one might be justified.
  24. jkcarew
    It's not bad luck. The thing that has kept him from being elite in the past is command. And if/when that regresses from spotty to bad, he'll be average, at best. Apparently, the 'if' is YES, and the 'when' is 2020.
  25. jkcarew
    He needs to walk two more batters to get us out of the inning. I don't see any other way.
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