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rv78

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Everything posted by rv78

  1. rv78
    For 2024 and beyond? = Lee, Lewis, Julien, Salas, Martin, Correa, Polanco, Miranda, all tied to 3 infield positions. Let's face it, that's too many players to get quality at bats for on a regular basis. I see Martin moving to the outfield if he continues to develop. Still leaves 7 players for 3 infield spots. My guess is Polanco will be traded at the deadline in 2023 unless he is raking it and the Twins are leading the division. If they aren't in contention they'll get a better haul for him if he is raking it. Otherwise I don't see the Twins picking up his option for 2024 and 2025. Salas would be a stretch for making it to the show in 2024 so he can probably be scratched from the list but needs to be figured long term. If Kirilloff and Larnach become legit players which is a high probablility that I, and a lot of others are hoping for, then 1B and a CO spot are tied up as well. If Buxton can stay healthy that only leaves 1 OF spot to fill. Wouldn't it be great if Wallner, Lewis or Martin can fill it? Then again Emmanuel Rodriguez may only be a couple years away as well. Who's the odd man out? Salas? Julien? Miranda? What about Gordon? Still too many players for positions available. Good problem to have but eventually it means someone or two or more will probably be traded.
  2. rv78
    Everyone is raving about his defense and this article is no different. If defense was the only thing it took to make a winning team this 2023 version of the Twins will be tough to beat. Unfortunately if you want to win you also have to score runs, not just prevent them. Outside of Vazquez taking some at bats away from Jeffers I don't see where the Twins improved their offense much. Especially if guys like Gallo and Kepler, who can't hit, take the majority of at bats away from Gordon, Larnach and even Farmer. Maybe Kirilloff will be all that he is hyped up to be. Maybe Polanco will have a bounce-back season. Maybe Buxton will remain healthy and produce like he is capable of. Maybe Correa will put together a full season of producing runs instead of his 1/3 season we saw last year. Let's hope that maybe Miranda can be as good as last year. IF all of the "maybes" pan out they'll score enough runs to win, but I am not counting on Gallo to be a significant offensive contributor and IMO, I don't think the FO expects him too either. They got Gallo for 2 things only, defense and to hit an occasional HR. Anything else will be gravy.
  3. rv78
    Is this the same Derek Falvey that built the bullpen in 2022? You are only as successful as what your record indicates and how far you go in the playoffs. Isn't this year 7 of his regime with really nothing to show for it? It stands to reason that so far, it doesn't look like he knows a lot about what he is doing.
  4. rv78
    The Twins FO is banking on a lot of "IF's". Good health has to be the biggest "IF" of all, from Buxton, Larnach, Kirilloff, Polanco, and even Correa to Mahle, Maeda, Ober, Gray, Lopez, and half a dozen others that could popup out of the blue ay any time. Not that other clubs couldn't have that happen as well but the FO hasn't done a very good job of staying away from the injured easily type of players. Then there's the "IF" of can this team score runs? Or if the bullpen can hold a lead until they get to Duran? If Rocco will manage a game by sight, feel and logic instead of by a spreadsheet? A lot of things can go right for this team, but it won't take a lot of things to go wrong to wreck it.
  5. rv78
    No doubt defense is the cue here. The bigger question that carries a lot of doubt in the opposite direction is, can any of them hit? Great defense doesn't win games alone if you can't score.
  6. rv78
    It has been posted before that Gibson had basically the same surgery. Knowing it was 40 years ago and turned out to be reasonably successful is a good sign for Kirilloff and the Twins. I would speculate that 40 years later the surgery has been fine-tuned as well which should make it being a success even more of a probability. A healthy Kirilloff at 1B may be the key to a winning season and the Twins taking the next step towards the ultimate goal of a Championship if not in 2023 but within the next few years.
  7. rv78
    The core of the roster is here to stay and the talent is worthy of starting on a nightly basis. You might want to forward that to Rocco, who uses numbers with no regard to talent, to change the lineup on a nightly basis.
  8. rv78
    The FO has already said the bullpen is not a top priority. That's quite obvious since Pagan is still on the roster.
  9. rv78
    That's asking a lot of the FO. Remember they are the ones who evidently feel Gallo will somehow miraculously repeat his 2019 season. The only one in eight seasons where he hit better than .225. They some how feel Kepler will repeat his 2019 season. Coincidently 2019 was the season of the juiced ball. Chances are slim to none that either one of those 2 guys will be able to replicate those numbers ever again. The FO has little fortitude to make tough decisions. Just look at Pagan and how they've moved on from him, NOT. They used Colome all year in 2021. It took a multitude of horrific outings by Duffey for them to finally realize they had nothing there. Had Sano not injured his knee he would have taken the majority of at bats away from Miranda last year. Why does anyone think the veterans won't do the same this year to the young prospects. Player development won't happen at the big league level this year. Wallner, Martin, Lewis, Julien, and any other top prospect won't play significant time with the roster full of the current veterans. They already committed to kicking that can down the road another season.
  10. rv78
    99 defensive runs saved in 2020 for Taylor, Gallo and Buck. Too bad we aren't playing the 2020 season in 2023. I think it is obvious the Twins went ALL IN on defense for 2023 ignoring offense and improving the bullpen. IMO I think that will come back to bite them. Good Luck.
  11. rv78
    When did the Twins sign Ellsbury and Davis? I must have missed that. It matters if Gallo keeps Larnach or Wallner or Gordon from getting significant at bats especially if they are hitting much better than Gallo. It matters if the FO would have used the money for Gallo and added a few million more to it for a player that would actually be able to hit. Had they signed him at 1 or 2 million I would have no problem with it. It's as if they looked at bringing back Sano for $14M and decided no, Gallo is just as bad and he's only $11M so we'll save $3M if we go with him instead. No matter how I look at it, it was a waste of at least $10M when Larnach, Wallner and Gordon would/could be just as productive for league minimum.
  12. rv78
    Totally agree with LA Vikes Fan. Knowing Rocco, Kepler will play a lot, even if he isn't hitting. Sano was terrible last year and even when he came back for that short period of time Rocco put him in the lineup with no consideration for how inept he was. I may be wrong but I think the FO has specific instructions to the Manager that the guys that earn the most money play the most. That would mean the starting outfield will be Gallo, Buxton and Kepler and the only way a Larnach, Gordon Taylor or Wallner will play is if one of the 3 starters gets hurt or Rocco platoons for a lefty/righty matchup verses the pitcher. 3rd case scenario is if Larnach, Gordon or someone else is just tearing the cover off the ball and they force Rocco into no other choice but to sit Gallo or Kepler.
  13. rv78
    Agree with #7 especially since the Twins got Farmer. #6 should be ranked #99. Absolutely one of the worst moves that has ever been made by the Twins organization. Maybe Gallo's worth something defensively but I don't see where $10+M more above a Wallner or Larnach at league minimum will be money well spent. If Kepler is still around that makes 2 holes in the lineup. I guess I'll hope he makes me eat crow but I'd bet against it. #5 Imagine if you will the Twins having a center-fielder that doesn't require two players. One that can actually play an entire season. This nescessity is of their own making and acquiring a Taylor wouldn't need to be done if they wouldn't have extended Mr. Injured Yearly. #4 Farmer is a good utility player that will help all over. #3 verdict is.... we'll see. Giving up a batting champ for something less than an Ace is tough to swallow. If Lopez stays a solid #2 and they can extend him for 2 or 3 more seasons then I'd agree. #2 Absolutely a good move getting Vazquez. I wanted him at the deadline last year instead he went to the Astros. #1 Correa was their best signing and let's just say they got lucky at that. Only time will tell if he ends up being worth it. There's a lot of reasons to like him and a lot of reasons not to.
  14. rv78
    He'll be ready for spring training and hurt for most of the regular season.
  15. rv78
    Hunter maybe, NO WAY Puckett. Puckett played in 128 games his rookie season, Hit .296 and was 3rd in ROY voting. In his 2nd season he played in 161 games, (unheard of with todays players), Led the majors with 691 at bats, hit .288 and had 199 hits total, Not sure what you are smoking but it must be a little waky tabbaky.
  16. rv78
    Hunter maybe, NO WAY Puckett.
  17. rv78
    Rocco played Jeffers at catcher and Sanchez at DH multiple times last year. He'll do the same thing this year if his analytical numbers tell him it gives him an advantage. The chances of one of them getting hurt when they are both playing are low so that number tells him to take the chance it won't happen. Even with Farmer being able to play catcher in a pinch doesn't help if all 3 of them are in the lineup.
  18. rv78
    I doubt Larnach gets 500+ at bats for multiple reasons. 1.There are 6 outfielders not counting Kirilloff that will need playing time, (Larnach, Buxton, Gallo, Kepler, Taylor, Gordon). 2. Rocco loves a different lineup everyday. He's obsessed with righty/lefty matchups and Larnach will get the bench for that reason alone quite often against lefty pitchers. 3. He's coming off an injury season so Rocco will baby him by limiting his at bats thinking he needs rest to avoid another injury. 4. Even with Wallner (OFer#7) starting in AAA he'll be brought up to spell a player or two during the season, especially if he's tearing it up in AAA.
  19. rv78
    Even if Miranda doesn't ever have a breakout season, more of them like last year will be sufficient. His numbers translated to a 162 game season put him in the 20HR, 85RBI area with a .265BA. He shouldn't and doesn't need to be the one to carry this team but his overall numbers can provide a ton of help in a supporting role. I'll be happy with average desense from him at 3B if he can continue to put up offensive numbers like that. I don't see Rocco using Farmer at 3B a lot since they both bat righty. Instead I hope to see Rocco use Farmer in LF or RF verses a lefty pitcher instead of Kepler or Gallo. I think Farmer can play in the OF but not sure. C-Vazquez, 1B-Kirilloff, 2B-Polanco, SS-Correa, 3B-Miranda, LF-Farmer, CF-Buxton, RF-Taylor, DH-Jeffers would give the Twins an all righty BO, except for Kirilloff, verses lefty pitchers. The more Kepler and Gallo ride the bench especially against lefty pitchers, the better.
  20. rv78
    Absolutely. Larnach or Wallner are capable of putting up similar numbers to Gallo at a league minimum salary. They may not walk as often as Gallo but they would out hit him for average by a significant margin.
  21. rv78
    Outside of Correa I don't see where the FO stuck their neck out to get a true difference maker. The extensions they gave to Kepler, Sano, and Dobnak were mistakes. Yes, I know hindsight makes it easy but they are the experts getting paid to do the job correctly. A mistake is a mistake. I think Polanco was the only correct one made. The verdict is still out on Paddack yet. One could argue that even extending Buxton was a huge risk considering his history, and it is not clear cut yet if that was the right move either. Sorry I just can't give credit to a part-time player when he is so fragile that gets hurt so often, just playing the game. "Seven years in, the group has a team and farm system completely of their own construction." With no Ace pitcher in the rotation. Maeda, Mahle, Ober, and even the newly acquired Lopez all with health concerns. An aging Gray that could have father-time catch him completely. Joe Ryan might be the only one of their 6 starters that doesn't have a health concern. An outfield of players that can't hit or stay healthy. Only Polanco, Correa, Miranda and Vazquez have shown they can hit for a decent average. They have a good bench with Gordon, Taylor, Farmer, and Jeffers but I have yet to see subs get a team to a Championship must less win it. The bullpen outside of Duran is a huge question mark. Lopez could revert back completely to the usual Lopez not the all-star Lopez. Thielbar is 35 and could be at the end of his career. Jax, Megill and Coulombe are average at best. Moran is unproven. Alcala is an unknown at this point going forward. Pagan should be gone. Sorry, can't get excited about the team they have put together. It's there's. Now ownership needs to hold them accountable.
  22. rv78
    The future is now.... for the next 6 years. If a Championship or two doesn't happen within the next 6 years this FO totally blew it. Yes they have depth. Yes they have defense. Yes they improved the rotation. But will they stay healthy, hit well enough and be able to win meaningful games in October without a legitimate Ace? Only time will tell.
  23. rv78
    Exactly. Can't say anyone outside of Cruz moved the needle for the team. Pathetic. It shows how good the FO has been at signing "good" players. Answer = not very. I guess if you are going to call them one year "wonders" you have to "wonder" why they signed them in the first place.
  24. rv78
    Gallo leadoff? LOL! As cHawk said, if analytics says Gallo should be the leadoff guy then this team is in serious trouble. Especially since Rocco lives and dies by them. Other than to get the biggest hole in the lineup out of the way there is no common sense person alive that would put their worst hitter first. here he comes..... Mr. No Common Sense Rocco!
  25. rv78
    One could argue that a AAA pitcher or two could have done as good a job as Shoemaker, Happ, Archer and Bundy did had they been given the chance. Varland, Henriquez and SWR were not terrible once they finally got it. How many at bats will Gallo take away from the likes of Larnach, Gordon, Taylor, Kirilloff, Wallner, all possibilities that could and probably will hit better than Gallo yet Rocco will play Gallo instead because he is getting paid $11M and can hit a few more home runs inbetween his Sano-esque number of strikeouts. If you look at batting average even guys like Celestino, Garlick and Jake Cave hit better than Gallo.
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