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Otaknam

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Everything posted by Otaknam

  1. Otaknam
    The $9+ million DOBNAK contract was always a head scratcher. He was rewarded for being a four inning starter, which isn’t typically the goal for starting pitchers. But, for some reason, the FO thought Dobnak had an upside he never really showed. So it’s not a surprise if Dobnak is up and down over the course of the year, which allows the team to get some payback for the contract. Hopefully Dobnak earns any time he spends in the big leagues, and it’s not just about the fact he is being overpaid.
  2. Otaknam
    Matthews’ rise is very good news. The Twins don’t have an ace, like a Verlander type, who can be trusted to stop a losing streak. Matthews probably isn’t an ace, but he likely can be at least another number 3 starter, like Ryan, Ober, and Lopez. Still, I hope someone emerges as at least a very strong number 2, because it’s unlikely the team can make a serious playoff run without a top of the rotation guy. Right now they don’t have that, just a handful of number 3s, which isn’t bad for the regular season, but not the best for the playoffs.
  3. Otaknam
    One difference is that Morris was an actual ace, which the current Twins do not have. I don’t see any starters having as high a ceiling as being considered an ace. It’s difficult to make a WS run without an ace stopper. They also don’t have both the production and leadership of Puckett. I do believe that Wallner will make a serious positive impact and hit 30+ homers.
  4. Otaknam
    Martin was drafted as a shortstop. So if your point is that Martin shouldn’t have played there, you are wrong. Obviously, they needed to find out if he could play shortstop, and if it took 115 games to see if this high draft choice could actually play his college position, so be it. As for filling the black hole at first base, they have tried both Julien and Miranda there. But I get your point. First base should be the easiest infield position to fill, requiring less fielding skills, speed and athleticism than the other infield positions. And it does make sense to experiment with Wallner at first, given Jenkins and EROD seem to be close to making the team, especially EROD.
  5. Otaknam
    Although Varland has expressed the desire to start, it’s hard to argue with the idea of him pitching out of the bullpen, where he has had success and where his stuff plays up.
  6. Otaknam
    Keaschall, EROD, and Jenkins have also started their careers with injury histories. Is it just coincidence that the Twins best position players and top minor league position players are all injury susceptible to soft tissue injuries? It makes me wonder about their training and injury prevention routines. I believe they did hire a new head trainer last year, but the results don’t seem to be any better.
  7. Otaknam
    It’s a bit of hyperbole to call the Twins top starters as a “three headed monster”, which implies that they are lock down number 1 or 2 starters. None of these three are aces. However, they are very solid starters and give the team a good chance to win during most of their starts. Beyond those three, the strength of the starting pitching is the young but still unproven depth that will undoubtedly be needed sooner rather than later. Hopefully, SWR builds on his 2024 and very solid spring, and maybe adds a couple of ticks on his fastball.
  8. Otaknam
    Brooks Lee’s skills are still evolving and he doesn’t have enough history at any one position for fans to make pronouncements about where he should play, like other postings here have done. I will trust the coaching staff to make informed decisions about where Lee should play because they see him every day and know what his capabilities are. Hopefully, he has earned the second base starting job because we do know his defense is better than Julien’s, and his offense looks promising. We know that Julien is below average at second and first, so Julien’s bat is the key to staying the the big leagues.
  9. Otaknam
    If the coaches deem either Camargo or Cartaya ready to help the team and have the trust of the pitching staff, then make the trade. Vasquez’ value is his defense and pitch calling, and his ability to handle a young group of back end starters. The team would need to decide which is more important, Vasquez’ experience or $10 million.
  10. Otaknam
    Baldelli is so committed to analytics that it makes it difficult for any starter to pitch enough innings to win the Cy Young Award. His dogmatic belief to remove starters to avoid a third time through the lineup must be frustrating for the starters. Isn’t that part of the reason Sonny Gray left? Along with a bigger contract, of course.
  11. Otaknam
    It’s good to get your confidence up in spring training and prove yourself to the new team. But what happens in the spring doesn’t always continue when the season begins, whether a player had a good or bad spring.. The important thing is for France to be healthy for the season, and hopefully he continues to hit.
  12. Otaknam
    I think they would trade Paddock in a second for a AA or A+ prospect if they can dump the $7 million contract. They have other cheaper annd healthier options in Festa, Matthews, Morris, Raya, and the penurious Pohlads still own the team, so cutting salary is still a top priority.
  13. Otaknam
    Wallner had an “outstanding” season in 2024? He hit .259 in 223 at bats with 13 homers and 37 RBIs, which was solid but a small sample size. I think he is capable of 30/100, but let’s hold the accolades until he proves this over an entire season, hopefully in 2025.
  14. Otaknam
    A waste of time clickbait! Trade your top starting pitcher for some convoluted deal involving the always injured Stanton, in the hopes that down the road you would make it pay off for another top starter? Meanwhile, your rotation is kneecapped. No thanks!
  15. Otaknam
    If Keirsey batted right handed he would have a clear path as a backup, given his speed and defense. His defense certainly is better than converted infielders to outfielders Martin and Castro. He sure deserves a chance.
  16. Otaknam
    The prospect games is a great idea! Winokur, Amick, Culpepper and Keaschall all seem poised for breakout seasons, though Keaschall had already done that last year. I expect he will help the team this year. Winokur at 6’6” must be a great athlete, since they continue to play him at shortstop. The Twins seem to be loaded with other good prospects, if they can keep them healthy. Let’s hope the pitcher development yields some potential ace starters in the near future. It should be a fun year in their minor league system.
  17. Otaknam
    “the Twins should prioritize keeping arms in the organization over putting together the most formidable bullpen on Opening Day”. This only makes sense if those arms can help the team. If it’s between Alcala and Tonkin, I’ll take Alcala every day.
  18. Otaknam
    At least the injuries that are piling up don’t yet include Correa, Lewis or the walking mash unit Buxton. But it’s early!
  19. Otaknam
    I don’t understand how Tonkin is a better option than Varland, Alcala or any of the other young pitchers. And I’m hoping they really like the upside for Castellanos and he earns a spot on the roster.
  20. Otaknam
    For the penurious ownership, this is about his $7.5 million contract. They would rather get something from Paddock pitching rather than paying a young starter ML minimum wage. But if Paddock truly has a two pitch arsenal he can’t have much success as a starter against major league hitters.
  21. Otaknam
    The injuries do make me wonder if this is just another perfect storm of random injuries to top prospects or if there is something wrong with their team training routines. It does seem like this team has more injuries to key players than other teams.
  22. Otaknam
    It can’t hurt to give him a shot. But a strikeout rate of over 30% isn’t sustainable unless he hits 40 home runs. So I’m not optimistic.
  23. Otaknam
    I believe the knuckleballer is Cory Lewis.
  24. Otaknam
    Excellent column!
  25. Otaknam
    Good for Mitch having a World Series ring. But the ability to dump toxic Donaldson was worth the trade.
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