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Riverbrian

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Everything posted by Riverbrian

  1. Riverbrian
    7 Games into the Lewis is here and everyone is healthy portion of our season. Lewis at the moment appears to be playing two and sitting one. Buxton at the moment appears to be playing three and sitting one. Too soon to lock this in but that's what has happened so far. This has opened up 4 lineup holes against right handers that either Santana, Margot and Farmer will have to fill in. Buxton has sat twice over this stretch. Farmer got the nod once. (June 6) Castro shifted to CF. Margot got the nod once. (June 10) Margot played CF Lewis has sat twice over this stretch. Santana got both of those starts at 1B as Miranda slid to 3B. Santana also picked up two more starts. Playing 1B when Kirilloff sat against a left hander (June 5) Playing 1B when Miranda sat against a right hander (June 10) Right now... it's too soon to tell but Buxton maintenance days have been lightly split by Farmer and Margot. Santana seems to be the primary choice for fill in work against right handers thus far for everyone else.
  2. Riverbrian
    Yep... it takes two roster spots to handle one spot. Which is one less spot for someone to be a complete player who takes up one spot. And they are going to have to do it again next year with a fresh crop of Margot types to try again. There is no indication that they will stop trying.
  3. Riverbrian
    It is... Add Julien and Kepler to your list of Kirilloff and Santana. This is what happens when you are using 6 roster spots to strip mine via the platoon. The problem has always been with the 5 players who will have to face both right handers and left handers. Our every day guys... the top of the pile guys. We started the season with Lewis, Correa, Buxton, Kepler and Santana in those 5 roles. We started weak with Santana in one of the 5 spots to go along with two injury prone players in Lewis and Buxton. The injuries we have suffered this year have come from exclusively from those 5 every day player spots. Losing Lewis as quickly and for as long as we lost him hurt a lot. Correa, Buxton and Kepler have also had injured list time. Even with the struggles of the young left handed platoon guys. They were never candidates to replace the top 5 for full time duty... even if they were crushing left handers like they did last year... which of course they are not. They can't just start playing the left handers every day to replace the injuried big guys with Margot and Farmer needed to get into the lineup against left Handers. Castro is playing every day because we don't have a better candidate to play every day. Even when healthy like they are now... the roster doesn't have an answer to play every day other than Castro with Santana and Kepler knocked down to platoon duty. We are doing OK... If the season ended today we get the last playoff spot but Rocco has to strip mine every little bit of juice out of 13 position players in order to keep them hanging on. We need a top of the pile hitter to add to Lewis, Correa and Buxton (We need Buxton to be better as well). Castro in one of those roles is a problem even if Castro hasn't been the problem.
  4. Riverbrian
    That's why it's not intended as a slam. But... to put it in proper perspective. League Average is leading your team in PA's against right handers? Here are the top 5 leaders in PA's vs Right Handers this year for our Twins. Castro - .690 Santana - .630 Kirilloff - .680 Julien - .637 Jeffers - .840 I know injuries played a big part in this leaderboard but we are healthy right now and Castro can't be taken out of the lineup. This is more a negative statement on our roster construction then a negative statement on Castro. Jeffers who ranks 5th and has actually produced well above average numbers against Right Handers this year has been reduced to a 50-50 split with a guy producing a .503 OPS against right handers yet Castro can't come out of the lineup. I love what Castro has done... Solid member of the 13 position players on the roster this season... I'm really glad he is a Twin... However... with everyone healthy right now... we still can't afford to take Castro out of the lineup? Castro getting Aaron Judge like playing time is a roster issue.
  5. Riverbrian
    We are pretty close to agreement. Although... I think there is nothing the Angels can do to make themselves playoff contenders. Even if Trout, Rendon and Drury come back strong. The pitching is just... well... not good. Bullpen might be the worst in baseball. The Angels and Rockies are in a race for the worst run organization in baseball. I'd vote for the Angels as the worst because at least the Rockies are starting to produce a little something from the farm. The Angels simply haven't developed anything and they should have torn this thing down and started over years ago. The Twins need top end talent. They need to improve the group of 5 players who play every day. They need to add hitters to the group of Lewis, Buxton and Correa. Find hitters that are better than the other two (Castro and Miranda). The 6 platoon guys... you are just moving parts around for minimum improvement. Rengifo a switch hitter while exceptionally strong (2023 and 2024) against left handers still does a decent job against right handers and therefore wouldn't need to be platooned and his contract is still pretty reasonable. Playing multiple positions... He's the only one who makes sense for the Twins but even Rengifo wouldn't be big time improvement over Castro or Miranda. However, he would drop Castro down to a platoon spot which would allow you to drop a player like Farmer for example. I'd be OK placing a bet on Brandon Drury having a strong rebound in the 2nd half but not worth the bet at whatever is left on his contract this year. 4 Million? Because he may not improve... his track record of success is impressive but rather short. Calhoun is a left handed hitter who makes the minimum. He would just get in the way of Kepler, Kirilloff, Larnach, Wallner, Julien, Erod ETC.
  6. Riverbrian
    Castro is the definition of Super Utility. Plays every day and plays multiple positions. What I'm about to say about Willi will not be fair to Willi. Before I say what I'm about to say... I want to be clear that I think Willi has done a great job for us and I don't want what I say to be perceived as a slam against Willi Castro. Here goes: Willi Castro against Right Handers in 2024: BA - .218 OPS - .690 He leads the team in PA's against Right Handers. He leads the team in PA's period. The Twins are offensively healthy right now and Willi Castro can't be taken out of the lineup. Kudo's to Castro for rising to an every day job but let's be clear. Your team has to lack top end talent in order for Willi Castro with a .690 OPS against RH to be played like top end talent. Castro is an example of what you can accomplish if you never give up. He is also an example of a serious lack of top end talent in the Twins locker room.
  7. Riverbrian
    Rengifo is the only player I'd consider giving up talent to acquire. I'd love to see him in a Twins uniform. Add Ben Joyce. I'd love to see him in the Twins bullpen. I'd be real interested in those two. After those two. Not interested in anyone... not even the tiniest bit.
  8. Riverbrian
    Margot, Kepler, Santana, Farmer and Thielbar will not be on the roster in 2025. That is 5 roster spots to fill and the money that comes off the books will be immediately spent by contract increases and arbitration raises. Back to my pet subject... back to it because it's important in consideration of future plans. Margot, Farmer and Santana are currently the right handed hitting platoon brigade. Are the Twins going to find three more of these types of players with almost no money to spend on them? Will they convert Castro, Miranda and Martin to those roles? Is there any reason to believe... that they will suddenly stop sheltering left handed hitters? I ask all of you to look at who is still under contract in 2025 and put them in the roles they have been utilized this year and then look at the holes. The current template is 5 every day players 6 Platoon Players (3 Left/3 Right) 2 Catchers Good luck to all of you with the courage to try making it function.
  9. Riverbrian
    Or playing elite.
  10. Riverbrian
    If a tree falls while the broadcasting rights are being held hostage. Does it make a sound?
  11. Riverbrian
    It’ll never do
  12. Riverbrian
    Don’t Think Twice... It’s alright
  13. Riverbrian
    Brilliant!!!
  14. Riverbrian
    3 Games post Lewis replacing Julien and all of Rocco's cards have been displayed. With Buxton and Lewis both getting maintenance days yesterday not only did we get to see the vs RH and vs LH lineup but we also got to see how the maintenance days will be handled. 1. Maintenance days will occur when right handers are on the mound. 2. Buxton and Lewis are going to get maintenance days and I believe Rocco has decided to rest them on the same day to compromise one single day as opposed to compromising two days with them having separate maintenance days. 3. Margot did not get the start in CF with Buxton getting a maintenance day. 4. Castro has added Julien's role as the 2B against RH pitchers while keeping his backup SS and CF jobs. This will increase Farmers playing time because Farmer has to play 2B when Castro is needed elsewhere. 5. The importance of Castro is off the charts
  15. Riverbrian
    The News is -- Cory Provus is the New Television Play by Play Announcer. Who would the media want to talk to about this? My guess is Cory Provus or Dick Bremer.
  16. Riverbrian
    All you need is Google. Type in "Cory Provus Blackouts" and hit enter. A ton of hits follow. Cory didn't do one single off the cuff interview. He's getting the word out and he isn't getting the word out because he decided to become a rogue messenger the first day on the job. When people are hired for high profile positions like this one. They get the word out. They try to get people excited about the change. Strike while the iron is hot. Cool potential outrage over the replacement of a long time friend like Dick Bremer. This is standard formation directly out of the playbook marketing 101. When "No More Blackouts" appear over and over again... and they appear over and over again (Just do a Google search) they are shaping the message. It's more than a reasonable guess that both Cory Provus and the Minnesota Twins believed that "No More Blackouts" was going to be the result of whatever was about to happen.
  17. Riverbrian
    From Do-Hyoung Park December 1st, 2023 11:48AM "Cory Provus said that accessibility of the Twins TV broadcast for more fans was a very important factor in making his decision to move to TV. He says he's been told there will be no blackouts of the broadcast moving forward".
  18. Riverbrian
    I fear no one and I fear everyone at the same time.
  19. Riverbrian
    If I had to guess. Corey Provus made those statements after he was announced as the replacement for Dick Bremer. That's called marketing. In with the new, out with the old. New broadcast team, new package, get ready to purchase this new exciting thing that will end the blackouts forever. If I had to guess. This was coordinated and something went wrong down the road. Corey was clearly told the plan when he left the radio booth. This was not the plan if I had to guess.
  20. Riverbrian
    I can't speak for everyone... only for myself. I was prepared for the new thing to be rolled out this off-season. I spoke with my wife about the possibility of dropping cable because I thought there was a very good possibility that the Twins would not be available on cable. I was waiting on the Twins... when the decision was made to go back to Bally for another year. The discussion was tabled in our house and honestly... my wife was relieved that it was over for the time being. I understand why exclusivity is necessary in such deals but I never thought that the Twins would end up in the position of selling exclusive rights to a company that can't provide the broadcast. While not intended... In the end it simply means that they bought exclusive rights to prevent the broadcast. People can spin this anyway they want to spin it. If the Twins had it to do over again... I am 100% positive they wouldn't do this again. Signing a deal with a company in bankruptcy proceedings had this potential. Would I pay $180 a year like the D-backs are charging. Yes I would but cable would be gone because I'm not going to add significantly to my entertainment package just so I can be manipulated by whatever version of slanted news programming or watch people try to decide what home they want to buy in the Bahamas. I understand that I can pay $80 bucks a month for Fubo and get my Twins back. I'm not going to do it... mainly out of principle because I didn't ask to be put in this position and I'm not going to make a major entertainment redesign only to have Comcast and Diamond come to an agreement or have the Twins make another off-season announcement that they are back on cable for 2025. I don't blame Diamond and I don't blame Comcast. I blame the Twins because it's their product and they sold it under the terms that allowed this. Diamond - Comcast... they have just taught me to not take anything for granted when it comes to them. I am more than ready to cut the cord as a result. I'm waiting for the Twins to pull their head out of their ass before I determine where I'm going to insert mine. Until then... I'm just getting used to not watching the Twins.
  21. Riverbrian
    Certainly the Yankees have enough money to afford a Margot type so Verdugo doesn't have to face that lefthander. 😉
  22. Riverbrian
    Looking at the lineup... I'm not seeking applause... but I nailed it. Rocco is pretty steady and therefore predictable with his lineups. Here's how he will deploy going forward Right/Left - Multi Position Every Day DH - Larnach/Miranda C - Jeffers and Vazquez (Split Duties) 1B - Miranda/Santana 2B - Castro/Farmer 3B - Lewis SS - Correa LF - Kirilloff/Castro CF - Buxton RF - Kepler/Margot
  23. Riverbrian
    It's interesting to note that the Yankees do not platoon. I'm not suggesting any sort of winning causation. Granted... they have a pretty talented group of starters but I find it interesting that they are not platooning. Soto, Rizzo and Verdugo are their left handed hitters... they face lefties. Verdugo has a career OPS of .666 against lefties. .777 against righties. Verdugo is facing left handers.
  24. Riverbrian
    It just shows the commitment to this platoon system. Along with a larger commitment to shielding the left handed guys against left handed guys more so than shielding the right handed guys against the right handed guys. If you spend 15 million dollars combined on Farmer, Margot and Santana in an attempt to be tougher on left handers and shelter the young left handed hitters... they need to play against left handers. That means the 3 left handed hitters are coming out and replaced by the 3 guys rostered at 15 million dollars who specialize in facing left handed pitchers. I think the Twins would have been better off spending that 15 million on a single player who could strengthen that group of 5 who play every day instead. Someone with better stats against right handed pitching but... it is what it is. With Julien down in the minors... it's one less left handed hitter available to come out of the lineup when Rodon hits the stage. So... if Margot is to play against Rodon who else are you going to take out. It's the lefty... Kepler is the guy who has to come out. Farmer will play tonight... Santana will play tonight. Larnach and Kirilloff should be joining Kepler on the bench. Unless they rest, Lewis or Buxton tonight. Then Kepler will have to play. But... Rocco will grit his teeth making that decision.
  25. Riverbrian
    Agree with you. With 6 spots committed to left/right splits and 2 catchers. We have room for 5 everyday players. If they are currently middle of the order quality is a question. We will find out tonight for sure but right now those 5 appear to be: Correa, Lewis, Buxton, Castro and Miranda. You nail it... This is where upgrading would have the most bang for the buck. Swapping Margot for a different right handed guy doesn't provide a bunch of bang for the buck.
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