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Otaknam

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Everything posted by Otaknam

  1. Otaknam
    A nice group that hopefully stays healthy, as TJ surgery is way too common with young flamethrowers these days. The TWINS haven’t had a true number one starter, like a Verlander, for a long time, maybe since Liriano. I don’t think you are a serious playoff contender without an ace or at least two number 2’s, who can prevent long losing streaks. Hopefully one of these guys can emerge to fill that roll.
  2. Otaknam
    That’s an accurate summary if this team. Somewhat better than middling because of pitching, which now has two starter out, including their presumed ace in Lopez. And mediocre offense that needs everyone to be above average to make it work. I think the team will win around 85 games, but I hope they surprise. But definitely not a threat to make a serious playoff run.
  3. Otaknam
    At best the Twins are a fringe playoff team. They are definitely not a World Series contender, especially considering the mega salary teams, like the Dodgers, Yankees, Red Sox, etc., that make a mockery of competitive balance that MLB doesn’t care about. The Twins’ offense is mediocre, and injuries to Lopez and Matthews will test their pitching depth. Any trade would need to better position them for next year and beyond.
  4. Otaknam
    Eeles journey is a nice story, hopefully one that finds him in the bigs this season.
  5. Otaknam
    I doubt Pittsburgh would consider trading Skenes this year. He may be the best starter in baseball. That said, I would hate to lose Jenkins in a trade package, but Pittsburgh would probably insist on him in any trade.
  6. Otaknam
    No offense, but how would your readers know if Gonzalez is ready for a promotion? It’s about more than the offensive stats.
  7. Otaknam
    Blah, blah, blah. He is giving them 5 or 6 innings, which is what you want in a back of the rotation starter. No one expects him to be a 15 game winner.
  8. Otaknam
    Raya may not have the typical starter build. But not all successful starters have the preferred physical characteristics, 6’4”/215 lbs, Sonny Gray being an obvious example. But I wonder about the feasibility of a six pitch mix, unless they are all at least average, with at least two pitches being above average. This may be is a make or break year for Raya as a starter, since the team is so cautious with his pitch load. At some point Raya needs to make progress as a starter and earn the right to pitch deeper into games. Seems like this is the year to figure that out.
  9. Otaknam
    “The homer ushered in a period of classic baseball emptiness. Surely, the game saw action. One could interrogate the box score to collect the fullness of each minute detail.” ” &nb Love the literary style of this column! Well done!
  10. Otaknam
    Let’s hope the pitching holds up. A lineup of Clements, Fitzgerald, and Kiersey doesn’t inspire confidence long term, though I tip my hat to Clements for getting some big hits. I just don’t think it’s sustainable.
  11. Otaknam
    Normally I would agree with this sentiment. But for a guy like Prielipp, who has had multiple serious arm injuries, it makes sense. The issue I have is the analytics to not let a starter face a lineup a third time. Imagine doing that to Gibson, Koufax, Clements, Blyleven, or dozens of great starters in the past. Sometimes the manager has to show confidence is his starters and not just manage by algorithm, IMO.
  12. Otaknam
    I have been holding my breath this season, hoping the two most injury prone players on the team stay healthy. Then they both get injured on the same play that never should happened! Infielders should defer to the outfielders on this play. So now they have three position players out, including Wallner. And Lewis started on the IL and is struggling mightily, though there are signs that he is figuring it out.
  13. Otaknam
    I am very excited about Eeles, Kulpepper, and DeBarge as high potential infielders. Eeles is a great story and I thought he might make the big club this season until and injury happened. Let’s hope he regains his momentum from last season. Hopefully Winoker starts rolling offensively to add his name to the list.
  14. Otaknam
    It’s Minnesota fans kiss of death to talk about Buxton’s good health. Expecting a pulled hamstring at Baltimore (tongue in cheek)!
  15. Otaknam
    The only reason to trade Ryan, Ober, or Lopez is if the team bottoms out and they decide to rebuild. Even then they’d have to get a haul in a trade. These three starters are the foundation for a strong rotation of a playoff team, which this team will be if the offense starts producing more consistently.
  16. Otaknam
    I hold my breath every time Buxton runs, given his injury history. Let’s hope he can play 150 games for a change. If he does he is a difference maker.
  17. Otaknam
    My definition of an ace is someone who dominates 60 % of the time, has above average starts 30%, and has one below average start or clunker 10% of the starts. Like a Verlander or Roger Clemons. An ace usually has a fastball that ticks above 96-97 mph. BY my definition Ryan is a number two starter, not an ace. But if he keeps pitching like this who knows what he can accomplish? His command is fantastic, and that sweeper!
  18. Otaknam
    I have been often critical of how Rocco handles his starters. He embraces analytics instead of showing confidence in his players. There are too many examples where Rocco removed a starter on low pitch counts because analytics. Sonny Gray objected to being handled like that, getting removed after five innings and a fairly low pitch count. So he left for greener pastures and more money. Then there was removing Ryan after two innings in the playoffs in 2023, a game they lost. There are other examples. This burns out the bullpen and results in a constant stream of relievers from St. Paul.
  19. Otaknam
    The Twins are unwatchable, continuing the failure from the last forty games from last year. Because I seldom watch them now, after being a fan since 1961, I feel qualified to make only two comments. First, about twice a month Rocco loses a game because he distrusts the starters and replaces them, despite low pitch counts, and the BP blows it. Secondly, their hitting approach isn’t working, and the lineup seldom produces with RISP. Neither Buxton or Correa, their two highest paid players, are doing much. And Lewis is always on the IL and appears to be another mash unit like Buxton. The future of this team is bright only because their minor league prospects. The current roster isn’t producing.
  20. Otaknam
    Just a click bait column. Rocco is not being fired.
  21. Otaknam
    They’re not firing Baldelli anytime soon. I’m not a fan of his pitching philosophy, as he dogmatically follows pitch count analytics with starters. His early hook with their best pitchers on low pitch counts likely costs the team wins. The most recent example is the April 10 loss to KC. Ober was removed after six innings, 1 run, 5 hits, 1 walk, 78 pitches. The BP immediately coughed up the lead. But Rocco is not to blame for injuries to Lewis and others, nor the inept hitting.
  22. Otaknam
    Another frustrating loss directly attributed to Baldelli not trusting his starters.
  23. Otaknam
    Couldn't disagree more. Managerial decisions DO affect the outcome of a game, both positive and negative. The issue with Rocco is his over reliance on analytics to make pitching decisions. While I don't have any specific data to back it up, I believe his record for early replacing of effective starters, usually after five or six innings, is in the negative. It also puts tremendous pressure on the BP, causing more upheaval as the season goes on.
  24. Otaknam
    The Twins MiL week in review is a favorite of mine. All TD readers, I’m sure, really enjoy reading it. Thanks for putting it together.
  25. Otaknam
    I was surprised the Twins didn’t resign Taylor, given his productivity in 2023. Margot was paid &10 million for 2024, whereas Taylor was paid $4.6 million in 2023 and $4 million with Pittsburgh in 2024. So the FO paid Margot $6 million more than Taylor in 2024. But both played poorly in 2024, though Taylor’s defense is superior to Margot.
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