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Otaknam

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Everything posted by Otaknam

  1. Otaknam
    Injuries are the wild card, but I really like their top 10 list of prospects. I think most of them will make it if injury free. I am especially excited about Raya and Prielipp as potential front end starters….finally! No World Series without top of the line starters.
  2. Otaknam
    It is a head scratcher unless another move is imminent, like a trade or injury announcement. And the addition of Gallo will take even more at bats away from Gordon, who clearly deserves the chance to build on his success from last year.
  3. Otaknam
    Except I cringe almost every time he tries to leg out an infield hit or slides into second with a double, expecting another pulled muscle, sprained ankle, concussion, or back trouble.
  4. Otaknam
    We also need to remember that Rocco seldom let Ober pitch past five innings. In fact there were some four inning starts by Ober, so analytics doesn’t seem to be Ober’s friend with this FO and manager that rely on algorithms rather than manager intuition and decision making. Also the trend in baseball is to give starters coming back from TJ surgery low pitch counts, very short starts and maybe a ceiling on innings for the year, which does make sense. So I think Ober will get some starts along with Maeda. It wouldn’t surprise me if they went with six starters for that reason, but that will put more pressure on the BP.
  5. Otaknam
    You have stated the obvious. If a player can hit the team will find at bats, regardless of his defense. Arraez is a good example. But if he has a solid glove but isn’t a good hitter, at best he will be a twice a week utility player on the team to give better offensive player a day off. Pro baseball has been littered with these kinds of players forever. For the Twins Al Newman and Denny Hocking come to mind, but Martin is a much better prospect and I think will prove that he is.
  6. Otaknam
    Pagan had to many cringe worthy moments that cost games last year. Like Ron Davis decades ago it’s close your eyes time when Pagan enter a close game. 97 mph fastball is excellent but not if it gets hammered frequently. But the team must see something they think they can tweak so we shall see. Spring training will be very important for Pagan. I hope someone passes him by, as that would be a positive sign for the BP.
  7. Otaknam
    The starting staff is definitely an upgrade from what we’ve seen for years, with several AAA starters waiting for their chance once someone gets injured. With some of the starters in their final contract it’s great to have some young depth. Hopefully a couple of the young guys show they can be effective starters at the big league level and move into the rotation next year. But still no apparent ace on the staff, so that’s an issue for any serious playoff run. Maybe someone will emerge as at least a number two. Hope springs eternal in spring training!
  8. Otaknam
    Who is Keith Law anyway? My concern is that the FO will trade another good looking pitching prospect for back of the rotation ML starters, which we have enough of already. Also I wonder if the manager who let Raya pitch six innings was fired, despite only 68 pitches, since computer algorithms drive all decisions for this FO and manager. Intuition not required.
  9. Otaknam
    E Rod is a very intriguing prospect from everything I read. Let’s just hope the Twin FO doesn’t package him or any of the other top ten prospects like Lee for another number three starter, as is their MO.
  10. Otaknam
    Yes it does. It taxes the bullpen and we end up with a constant flow of relievers from St. Paul. That may work for awhile until the relievers run out of options. Also what frontline free agent starter would want to come to a team that doesn’t have confidence in their ability to pitch deep into games? Imagine telling Blyleven, Gibson, Verlander, or even Radke that, no matter how well they are pitching, five innings is the limit because the computer algorithm says so. Whatever happened to a manager trusting his instinct on a player. Ridiculous!
  11. Otaknam
    They must be confident that Thielbar and Moran will fill the lefty BP role. But given the FO and Baldelli’s insistence that no starter pitch beyond five innings will again melt the bullpen. So adding a veteran lefty does make sense because there will be a constant flow of bullpen arms from St. Paul to make up for short starts every game.
  12. Otaknam
    Urshela is a solid player but was a place holder for the team. We don’t know if Miranda is a finished product at third, so it makes sense to find out. Lewis is in the wings and can play third if needed, and they will figure it out. Multiple options at third is a good problem to have.
  13. Otaknam
    I like Ryan but don’t see him as a number one starter. I do think he can win 15 games with a good team. As with all Twins starters they will never acquire 180 innings with Baldelli as the manager, following order from the front office wrapped up in analytics. No manager intuition required.
  14. Otaknam
    Changing a hitting approach can unlock more power. A hitting coach should see if he can help the hitter to do that. Kirby Puckett went from no home runs in 1984 to 34 home runs two years later. But I still like the player like Arraez, who is an on base machine. Hopefully Martin can be an on base guy, with speed, and can hit with a little power too.
  15. Otaknam
    Yup! There is no substitute for top of the rotation starters. Twins have lots of number three starters, maybe a number two somewhere. Hopefully someone emerges.
  16. Otaknam
    FYI, I clicked on the Jose Rodriguez link and got a 27 year old pitcher, not a young hitter.
  17. Otaknam
    I love how Arraez plays old school baseball, something in short supply today with the focus on home runs and exit velocity. But the trade makes sense because of Arraez’ one tool, hitting for average and an on base machine. I was expecting the Twins would have to include some other pretty good prospect too, but the reverse happened and we got two highly regarded, though young, Miami prospect instead. That’s a very good return IMO.
  18. Otaknam
    You only make that kind of move IF you are a realistic and proven contender to win the World Series. I like how the team is shaping up so far. If healthy the lineup should be run producing, and the rotation should give them a chance to win every night. Maybe then you make a trade for an ace. Regardless, Lewis, Lee, Rodriguez, and Raya should all be off limits in a trade.
  19. Otaknam

    Helman

    Otaknam commented on Paul Walerius's blog entry in Paul Walerius

    No small ball for Rocco. No stealing a base, no hit and run, take an extra base once in awhile. Just anchor runners to their base and see what the next guy does Earl Weaver style.
  20. Otaknam
    The more I think about it it’s a point I won’t dismiss. The starting pitching has the potential to be much better, and maybe the bullpen too. Still there is no apparent ace when you need someone to step up. Berrios pitched well but wasn’t and isn’t an ace. But now they have Correa to solidify the lineup and leadership.
  21. Otaknam
    With Taylor here Celestino is out. Agree there must be a trade in the works for an outfielder, likely Kepler, to save some cash. Wallner is likely headed to AAA too, though he I clearly ready for the big leagues. Maybe Larnach gets moved too in a package deal. Whatever they do, please don’t trade Lewis, Lee, or SWR.
  22. Otaknam
    It is ridiculous to pull a starter after five innings and 75 pitches if they are pitching effectively. Imagine pulling Bert Blyleven, Jack Morris, or Bob Gibson after five innings and 75 pitches because the front office dictated it! Or Brad Radke! Even if the bullpen is lights out, eventually it stresses your bullpen too, rendering it ineffective. As a consequence there is a constant flow of relievers from the minors to the majors. Why would any top starter want to pitch for Rocco if they are limited to 150 innings, unless they are jury prone? No wonder they can’t attract top free agent starters. I’m tired of managing by algorithm!
  23. Otaknam
    This list looks very promising. Lewis and Lee seem like can’t miss and I like the upside of Prielipp, Rodriquez, and Ray especially. Somehow this team needs to develop a number one starter. Hopefully no one in the top seven gets traded this spring.
  24. Otaknam
    Rotating Miranda, Correa and Buxton into DH makes sense. A lefty hitting outfielder, likely Kepler because of the money, needs to be traded before adding anyone. I think that’s coming.
  25. Otaknam
    Because he hasn’t played much, if at all, the the bigs.
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