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jkcarew

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Everything posted by jkcarew

  1. jkcarew
    Well, the Twins went into the game with the 5th best bullpen ERA in the majors. So, I don't think they're paying for anything quite yet. We'll see how things progress (or regress).
  2. jkcarew
    I don't know if the narrative for this game would be "bullpen implodes". IMO, Pagan imploded... then the rest of the game was low leverage guys challenging every hitter by throwing the ball over the plate early and often to speed things up and get the guys off the field, into the showers, and on the plane.
  3. jkcarew
    Oops.
  4. jkcarew
    He is what he is at this point. I expect the K% to come back 'down' to 30%, his career rate, as the season progresses. But the OBP won't...low 300's is about as good as it's going to get. The biggest problem right now...the biggest difference between 2023 and 2019-2022 for Buxton is that his HR-rate is WAY WAY down. Instead of an Aaron Judge pace, he's on a 162-game pace for about 20. That's not going to provide a ton of value combined with the low OBP. For Buxton to be 'good' offensively, his fly balls need to leave the park at a very, very high rate. That's what he's had in his recent good seasons...league-leading HR/FB rates. That's who he is offensively.
  5. jkcarew
    My bad. Maybe I ignored it because of all the K's :)
  6. jkcarew
    I'm very surprised Gallo came back without a rehab assignment. He was out quite a while to simply step right back in and hit major league pitching. Good for him. (And the Twins!)
  7. jkcarew
    What are they doing with Balazovic? I would have expected them to stretching him out for starting assignments, not bringing him in to get 3 outs at the end of games. If they are all-in to bolster the 2023 major-league bullpen with the likes of Balazovic and Headrick, that might be the 'best' thing to do for the club in 2023...but, not sure it's the right thing for Balazovic or Headrick. Interesting.
  8. jkcarew
    Yeah. Feel bad for any local A's fans. But Oakland wasn't going to work...and for more reasons than just the stadium. I can't blame ownership on this one. I guess they could have been more transparent in the process, but don't know how realistic that is given the need to maintain a little leverage with Vegas and/or whoever else may have been in play.
  9. jkcarew
    I don't think we know yet that Balazovic is "not performing" this year, do we? It seems like they are working on stretching him out since he didn't have a spring training. Ridiculously small sample, but it's significantly better than his typical appearances last year. I'm assuming the appearances will get longer and more frequent. TBD.
  10. jkcarew
    Nice write up! Connor Prielipp. Sigh. Not getting a good vibe watching Rodriquez. I hope he's willing to listen and learn. A lot of success early on...but the path is rarely linear.
  11. jkcarew
    I'm enjoying the results. Sometimes, it just seems like confidence and throwing the ball over the plate early in the count with conviction. I know it's not that simple.
  12. jkcarew
    The 'catch' with Kirilloff is that for him to be productive, a needle-mover in the 3-5 spots...he has to come with power. And the injury (even in the 'repaired' state) seems like one that could possibly negatively impact his power...even while maintaining his bat-to-ball skills. For now, I'll just be happy that it looks like we're going to get to find out. His floor (in a scenario where he is 'healthy'), is still probably someone that helps the Twins lineup. At least the 2023 lineup. But, yes, the jury is very much still out on whether he can be healthy ENOUGH to be a difference-maker in the middle of the order.
  13. jkcarew
    Lee not realistic at all. Polanco, Kirilloff, and Lewis will make a crowded infield more crowded. What are you doing with Solano, Farmer, Gordon, Miranda? If the Twins contend into the second half, Lee comes up only in the event of multiple long-term injuries…and only to take someone’s job and play every day. If the Twins DON’T contend, I could see a fire sale, and then bringing him up. And if they love him as much as they say they do, it doesn’t matter in the least whether he comes from St. Paul or directly from AA. (Buxton came to Twins directly from AA, for instance…not uncommon at all for the top guys.)
  14. jkcarew
    He’s gotta play, though. Hasn’t even started a rehab assignment, right? He’s looking at 20 PA into May…and then, he’s looking at the possibility of getting platooned/sat against lefties (he’s already been pinch hit for a couple of times). Gotta have some counting stats to win that award...not clear whether he’ll get the PA’s needed. I’d be happy if he simply got healthy, and can be moderately productive against right-handed pitching, while providing some defensive flexibility.
  15. jkcarew
    To be fair, Rocco backed himself into a corner by sticking with Moran all the way to the Refsnyer AB. By that time, he’s going to look bad if he leaves Moran in to get beat…but, he also looks pretty silly bringing in a right-hander (even ‘good’ Pagan) to face Verdugo and/or Devers with the game on the line. IMO, he needed to make the move to Pagan right away…and give Pagan a chance to clean up the mess against the bottom of the order.
  16. jkcarew
    If we’re going to score runs…well, like we’re scoring runs…then the pitching AND the defense both need to be very good. Again, the pitching was good enough…but, the defense wasn’t. I didn’t have an issue with Moran in the 10th. Thought it bizarre when he was left in to face Refsnyder. He get’s the DP somehow…then, I’m sure Rocco wants to leave him in against Verdugo to preserve the lefty-lefty matchup. Weird sequence. It’s Fenway…it’s not a great pitching staff…score more than 2 runs.
  17. jkcarew
    I mean, I doubt seriously that they’re in a hurry to move him to AAA. He’s played all of 10 games now at the AA level…and it’s a level at which most organizations have their very best, most talented, young prospects…including pitchers. They’re not close to handing him the big-league starting 3B, 2B, or SS jobs…so no need to have him in the wings at St Paul. If something happens and they do want to give him one of those roles, they’d probably be willing to move him directly from AA. That’s not that unusual. But that’s a long-term injury or two from happening…or a half-season of drastic underperformance from Miranda from happening (and maybe even not then if Lewis is back and healthy). Certainly, nothing imminent.
  18. jkcarew
    IMO, this is what Buxton is. He generally looks clueless in the batter’s box…and I’m always astounded when pitchers throw his strikes. But he has a pretty proven track record at this point…he’ll get scorchingly hot, just when you think he’ll never get another hit…and go ice, ice cold, just when it looks like he’s going to enter into elite status. Incredibly streaky…and now just happens to be at the bottom of the cycle.
  19. jkcarew
    Amazing, no?! I honestly never thought I'd see a regulation 2:07 game played again in my lifetime. The clock has been way more impactful than I thought it would. Incredible. (In this game the trifecta of fast baseball...few hits/runs/runners, get-away day, the clock.)
  20. jkcarew
    The Yankees didn't look or feel like a superior team in this series. Let's hope that means good things ahead. Going into this season, the offense didn't figure to be great. A whole lot of things needed to go right for 'good' to happen, offensively. They haven't so far. I do think it will get somewhat better...especially if Kirilloff can get to 'right'. The pitching continues to be a joy to watch.
  21. jkcarew
    Supper hard to figure out. Everyone says the power will come...and have been saying it for some time. But, it hasn't. Over 500 career PA now with a low SLG and pedestrian ISO. Having said that, he does desperately need a full season of health, which he hasn't really had yet, in which he can work on his adjustments. There are some scenarios out there where he plays the second half of the season in St. Paul.
  22. jkcarew
    AAA is for "4-A", break-glass, veterans...and prospects that have noting to prove at AA. Julien fits that bill, so AAA was appropriate. You can see that he has plenty of work to do...including on defense...before he's in a starting major-league lineup. And you don't bring him up to sit on the bench and PH. Lee, does have a little to prove in AA. I'm fine with that start. I like the aggressiveness. Although, Rodriguez is worrying me a bit with his 50% K rate. Yep, 50%.
  23. jkcarew
    Rodriguez now with 17K in 34PA, for a round 50% K rate. Just turned 20…I like that the Twins started him at high A, but slightly worried about bad habits. I’m sure there’s some rust involved.
  24. jkcarew
    So many to choose from. Full-season projection after first 15 games... Larnach: 238 Taylor: 227 Buxton: 227
  25. jkcarew
    Momma told me there’d be days like today.
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