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arby58

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Everything posted by arby58

  1. arby58
    2 for 33 at bats is an awfully big handful.
  2. arby58
    Sure, but some of those have proven themselves in the big leagues. Kiriloff has not. I'd keep Rooker he's done more at the major league level at this point.
  3. arby58
    The article notes that Arraez' lack of power means he's not a great number 2 behind Buxton. Besides, even if Arraez was a 'great number 2' Buxton, with an anemic OBP, is not a great number 1 - except for his speed. Given his decent power, Buxton makes sense at 7, where he is likely to have runners on base to drive around. Meanwhile, the article makes a point I made some time ago that Buxton's first base activity will likely not be much of a distraction for a 'dialed-in' hitter like Arraez.
  4. arby58
    Sure, in a perfect world, but the point is still valid - you're more likely to accept less offensive performance from a center fielder. Paul Blair is the epitome of this - he had a career OPS of .684, but his defense was other world stuff. In 1974, he finished 13th in MVP balloting with an OPS of .730.
  5. arby58
    The point of looking at OPS rather than batting average alone is that not all hits are created equal. If, say, in 500 plate appearances, you have 111 singles, you have a .222 batting average. If you have 20 HR and 20 doubles with 71 singles, you also have a .222 batting average. Plus, what if the player with 111 singles has no walks, and the player with the HRs and doubles also walks 30 times? His batting average is the same but not his OBP or OPS.
  6. arby58
    Donaldson's offensive prowess is the focus, but he is also a very good defensive third basemen. In he and Simmons, the Twins probably have the best defensive left side of the infield in baseball.
  7. arby58
    I remember watching him last year at the plate and wondering why he could look pretty good some games and then become the proverbial 97 pound weakling the next. This explains that. It would be great if the Twins could get him back to the 2019 form - decent speed and power with an .800+ OPS in the Twins lineup gives them a lot more depth and options from 1-9.
  8. arby58
    Nelson Cruz isn't going to play forever, and if this year is his last, Rooker would be a perfect candidate for the DH job - and the $ savings would let the Twins chase a front of the rotation guy next year. He's coming off an injury, so parking him in St. Paul until things clarify makes sense.
  9. arby58
    I'll agree that songs like 'Centerfield' and 'Take Me Out to the Ballgame' are rock stars of baseball songs, but my musical tastes are more 'out of left field.' I'll go with Warren Zevon's ode to a quirky pitcher, 'Bill Lee.'
  10. arby58
    Agree, and maybe move Buxton down to ninth - as you note, he'll get pitches to look at from Arraez, and I doubt it will bother Arraez to have the Buxton commotion going on at first base.
  11. arby58
    Given that the question was 'best pitching prospect' rather than 'best starting pitching prospect' I'll go with Duran. When you can regularly hit triple digits on the radar gun with reasonable command, you are going to attract a lot of attention. While Balazovic has notably increased his velocity, I doubt he's going to be hitting triple digits. If Duran 'just' ends up as an overpower late inning arm, that would make him a highly valued prospect (see Brusdar Graterol).
  12. arby58
    The fly in the ointment on 'an extension soon' for Kirilloff is he is represented by Scott Boras, and Boras doesn't do the 'pre-emptive contract extension' for pre-arbitration players. My guess is they stash him in St. Paul for 'seasoning' in April.
  13. arby58
    I doubt you'll see Lewis in Wichita (if so, not for long) - more likely St. Paul.
  14. arby58
    If Lewis is better than a player who 'will win a couple of batting titles and an MVP' then the Twins are set up well for the future with the two of them.
  15. arby58
    I've been saying more or less the same thing since the Happ signing. If I had a choice between another starting pitcher ala Odo or a couple of quality relievers, I'd probably take the relievers at this point. Berrios is still only 27 - it's worth recalling that Gerrit Cole's breakout year was at age 27 - the year before he was 12-12 with a 4.26 ERA for Pittsburgh. Berrios for one can still get better.
  16. arby58
    Arraez is not 'fleet of foot' and his play in LF was often an 'adventure.' I'd rather have Polanco take a shot at the OF if that is necessary.
  17. arby58
    Trout has only played 10 years and is 28. In that time, he's been league MVP 3 times and finished second 4 times. Aaron won 1 MVP and never finished second. Trout's 1.000 career OPS is far better than Aaron's .928; Aaron's OPS was over 1.000 5 times; Trout has already topped that 3 times (and had other years of .991 twice and .993 last year). Aaron's greatest achievement was consistent high performance, but for peak performance, Trout is already topping him and probably has another 7-8 years of very high level play.
  18. arby58
    With all due respect to Hank Aaron, who is in the discussion for GOAT, I'd suggest we have another candidate in our midst, and his name is Mike Trout.
  19. arby58
    While this is a useful comparison, I would also note that the White Sox have a couple of young, dynamic players who are likely to perform significantly better than their 2020 WAR - Moncada and Robert in particular. Of course, the Twins expect the same from Kiriloff, Rooker, Jeffers, etc. Donaldson returning to MVP (or close) form would help tip the scales, as would resigning Cruz (if he can continue to perform at the level of the past couple of years, not a sure thing). You would expect the Twins to at least add another starting pitcher and resolve the rest of their infield. If they do that with 'positive WAR' pieces, this probably about evens out. That said, IMHO the Twins are no longer the presumptive favorite to repeat as division champs.
  20. arby58
    I suspect that if the Twins had held onto him and kept him on the big league roster, there would have been plenty of 'fan discord' related to performance. Paging Aaron Hicks, who was sometimes painful to watch, particularly against right handed pitching. It's hard to blame the Twins on this one, just as it was hard to blame them for moving Lance Lynn. Unfortunately, they are both now in White Sox uniforms after figuring some things out.
  21. arby58
    Look up his minor league records. In 2012, 2013 and 2016, he played more games at 2B than at SS in the minors. He also played 14 games at 3B in 2011 and 10 that year in the outfield, in all three positions. He's certainly athletic enough for it - there have been several examples in baseball history of players shifting from SS to CF with little preparation and doing just fine out there. Robin Yount is one example, and Paul Molitor (ironically, he had to move from SS because of Yount) also moved around, to 2B, 3B and the OF.
  22. arby58
    I'm not a fan of making Arraez into a utility guy. My observation of his outfield play is that he is pedestrian at best there, and he doesn't have the quickness/agility for short stop. That pretty much leaves 2B and 3B, and there's not much utility in that. Polanco has better all around ability to be a utility player.
  23. arby58
    I don't understand the seeming interest in 'moving on' from Arraez at second base. At 22/23 years old, he has a combined 438 at bats and has hit .331 with an .819 OPS. He's always a tough out, and, major or minor leagues, he's always been a .300+ hitter. Granted, not much power and not great defensively, but Jorge hasn't exactly lit it up in either category of late either. Plus Arraez has longer control/lower salary. I know people say trade him for a pitcher, but I'd rather have him as a table setter playing every day.
  24. arby58
    Granted, you weren't born yet, but the 1970 Twins had a strong rotation, top to bottom: Jim Perry (24-12, 3.04 ERA), Jim Kaat (14-10, 3.56), Bert Blyleven (10-9, 3.18), Louis Tiant (7-3, 3.40), Bill Zepp (9-4, 3.22). Unfortunately, they ran into an Orioles team with even better pitching (and at least as good hitting) that won the World Series 4-1 over a very good Cincinnati team. That rotation was Palmer (20-10, 2.71), Cuellar (24-8, 3.48), McNally (24-9, 3.22), Hardin (6-5, 3.53) and Phoebus (5-5, 3.07). Imagine winning 20 games and having the third most wins in the rotation!
  25. arby58
    The theme of the piece is patience - this would not be patient. The Twins of old (and several other franchises) have messed up young pitchers via the baptism by fire. Let them gain their experience in the minors - pitching wasn't the Twins' problem last year, and my guess is there will be enough this year as well without leaps of faith with the young pitchers mentioned.
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