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Otaknam

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Everything posted by Otaknam

  1. Otaknam
    If moving to TV is a promotion for Provus then best of luck to him and he’d be a great choice. Clearly keeping Provus should be a priority, as he is on the top of his profession. But radio play by play requires a specialized skill set many don’t have. It’s not the same as TV. A good radio play by play person has the ability to describe the game in real time so the listeners visualize the game while just listening. Many media people do not have that skill. Gladden is below average in that regard as a color guy, and at times is unlistenable doing his three innings. So preferably he isn’t a candidate for a bigger radio role. I’m pretty lukewarm on Atteberry as a full time radio guy, not a bad choice but not a home run hire. I think he tries too hard to provide background and insight. Hopefully they hire another person as professional as Provus and don’t make a decision based on low salary, parochial ties or political correctness.
  2. Otaknam
    Three in the booth would cost too much anyway when only two will do. And they’re not sure of their TV broadcast situation and dollars, so that might have to be resolved before anyone is hired for TV.
  3. Otaknam
    I’m with you. Radio play by play is more difficult. I hope Provus understands that radio is his strength and he stays there. If Provus was moved to TV and Gladden was the primary play by play guy, it would be unlistenable. I can barely tolerate Gladden in the middle innings, as he struggles to describe the action as it happens, like a “pop fly to the outfield that ends up being a home run.” Gladden’s only strength is his stories and experience as a player. But he cannot be the voice of the Twins. Atteberry tries too hard to provide background material, which seems forced to me and doesn’t seem natural. Not a big fan. Maybe Ryan LeFevre from the Royals broadcast, a former Gopher baseball player, would be interested in a return to the Twin Cities.
  4. Otaknam
    If I was Canterino I’d support a bullpen role if that was the fastest way to the major leagues. He can always transition to starter again as he works innings and gets more experience.
  5. Otaknam
    Because their history isn’t paying a free agent starter $30 million per year over 4-5 years. But I’m with you on reluctance in trading high upside position players. Besides, why would a number one free agent starter want to pitch for a manager who doesn’t trust him to pitch more than five innings?
  6. Otaknam
    Hopefully Corey Provus stays on the radio broadcast. Provus is the best radio play by play guy the team has ever had, and I’ve been listening since the first game against the Yankees in 1961. He is the best at smoothly describing the action so as a listener I can see the game in my mind’s eye, a unique skill. Moving Provus to TV would create a difficult gap in the radio broadcast that cannot be filled by Gladden, who struggles to describe the action as it occurs, and is frustrating to listen to.
  7. Otaknam
    I’m curious why Festa wasn’t added to the AFL roster, unless the FO thinks he is too advanced to the league or he needs the rest.
  8. Otaknam
    The teams needs insurance against Buxton’s constant injuries. So signing Taylor or someone else for one year seems essential, Despite his high strikeout numbers, Taylor hit some key home runs and played gold glove quality center field. Martin might be an option in the future, but he needs to keep showing improvement at the AAA level first. I hope they resign Castro and move on from Gordon, as Castro has proven his value and has more speed than Gordon.
  9. Otaknam
    My take is they will move on from Polanco and Kepler, freeing up more playing time for younger players, and almost $20 million. With Lewis now at third and Correa at short, the team can rotate Lee and Julien at second base, with Julien occasionally playing first and also DH. Lee can rotate at third and shortstop too, giving Correa and Lewis some days off, and he can also DH. All this, of course, when Lee makes the big league roster sometime next year. It’s a good problem to have.
  10. Otaknam
    The Soto or Alonso trade for one guaranteed year only makes sense if they are the missing piece of a serous World Series contender, which they might be. But I wouldn’t trade Brooks Lee or Walker Jenkins for one year of Soto or Alonso. That said I don’t think the FO would do it.
  11. Otaknam
    The Twins have a good problem: how to make room for so many infielders. Correa is a fixture at short and Lewis likely at third for now. That leaves Julien, a now proven major league hitter, Brooks Lee as a call up soon, and Junior Severino later. It wouldn’t surprise me if Polanco and Kepler are gone, either by trade or not picking up their option, continuing the youth movement. That would free up around $18 million to add starting pitching, maybe even keeping Gray on a two year contract. But Gray might want to leave and play for a manager who trusts him to pitch six inning or more, unlike Baldelli. I like the trajectory of the team for next year.
  12. Otaknam
  13. Otaknam
    Rocco has shown some growth in two areas: more base stealing and letting starters go deeper. They even had a complete game! In past years they relied on power, not speed, even when a fast runner was on base. So it’s good to see some movement towards adding speed to the game plan. That said, they seldom did hit and run, aspect of adding speed to the game plan. Let’s hope the speed trend continues, and they can start that by signing the super sub Castro.
  14. Otaknam
    Good point on Steer and CES and Steer. But the Twins bench was very good, including Castro. Castro has great speed, and can play multiple positions. Solano and Farmer filled in admirably and provided some right handed punch, which they need with Buxton always injured. Every team needs productive and versatile players off the bench. The Gallo signing was an $11 million mistake that can be better spent elsewhere.
  15. Otaknam
    “why not an article about how they can get out of the Buxton or Correa contracts?” Because they can’t get out of those guaranteed contracts unless they trade them. But I think both have no trade clauses in their contracts. Both need to be healthy in 2024, and if they are they will produce. Sadly they can’t count on Buxton to play more than 120 games when healthy because he is injury prone. Every time he puts on the jets or slides I cringe, expecting another pulled hamstring or broken hand.
  16. Otaknam
    I think Sonny will walk because the manager does not trust him to pitch more than five innings. And Gray has a bulldog mentality.
  17. Otaknam
    Lewis, Lee, Lopez, Ryan, and Julien should all be untouchable. Everyone else should be available for the right deal.
  18. Otaknam
    There is no reason to trade Miranda since he has another option. He should be motivated to earn a roster spot next year. If he puts up good numbers but still is behind Lee and others, then try to trade him.
  19. Otaknam
    Gordon has been surpassed by Wili Castro as a utility player. Castro’s speed was a weapon and separates him from Gordon. So hopefully Castro is on the team next year. I hope Balazovic retains his roster spot and continues to develop as a BP arm if not starter. Henriquez and Alcala have great arms so keeping them makes sense to me. I believe they will also keep Moran based on his stuff. Hopefully he can improve his command. Someone will take a chance on a lefty reliever with great stuff but control issues.
  20. Otaknam
    Hate the strikeout or bust approach of theFO and Rocco! Hopefully the hitting coaches can get some of these guys to do something besides swing from their heels and get on base. Striking out Almost half the time, like they did against Houston, is not the path to success.
  21. Otaknam
    Have some good at bats and stop striking out half the time and your chances of winning are much better. That trend can’t be blamed on the umpires. That said, thankfully Phil Cuzzi and Angel Hernandez weren’t working!
  22. Otaknam
    Hopefully Baldelli doesn’t screw this up with his dogmatic adherence to analytics. Show some trust in your starters to get through 6 innings or more. I don’t know if the team with offer Sonny Gray a contract, but why would Sonny stay when Rocco doesn’t trust him to pitch more than five innings?
  23. Otaknam
    Our opinions are no factor as to what Rocco will do.
  24. Otaknam
    The Tom Kelly approach of pitch to contact and let your defense bail you out. It took years to get past that approach, and thankfully they did. Also the TK approach to hitting was make contact, not try to hit home runs. They lost David Ortiz to Boston with that philosophy.
  25. Otaknam
    Of course all Twins fans are elated now. But this was a frustrating team over the first half of the season and it deserved some criticism. The offense stunk, the RISP was horrible, especially with the bases loaded. Correa was batting in the low .200’s, Buxton was always hurt or recovering from injury, Kepler was inept, and Gallo’s strikeouts made us long for Miguel Sano. On top of that Lewis was hurt again, removing his potent right handed bat from the lineup. It was two steps forward two steps back week after week. The only reason they stayed afloat was starting pitching and the back half of the bullpen. And then the rookies and Kepler started to hit and the season turned around. But give some credit to the FO for staying the course.
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