Greglw3

We're in basic agreement. Funny I wrote this Tuesday AM and in the afternoon see that Ober has been called up. They must have read my blog post!

Someone posted here on Twins Daily about a sense of a Twins shakeup. I love the Twins too much not to contribute my ideas for an immediate shakeup. Here’s a basic lineup that would represent a shakeup. Of course, Buxton would take over CF when he’s available. I’ve got a keen eye on St. Paul and Wichita and there are myriad good prospects. Here’s a take on a new lineup and a fresh start: 3B- Jose Miranda SS- Jorge Polanco 2B-Nick Gordon 1B-Josh Donaldson LF-Alex Kirilloff CF-Aaron Whitefield RF-Trevor Larnach C-make a trade DH-Cruz and Kepler Super Utility-Luis Arraez Release Jake Cave Starting pitching: Release Happ and Shoemaker and replace with Dobnak and Ober. Griffin Jax could be recalled as the next option. Bullpen: Bring up Thorpe, Vasquez, Farrell and Yennier Cano, consider Matt Canterino currently with 1.13 ERA in high A Cedar Rapids.. Replace Falvey, Levine and Baldelli. Bring in a competent veteran baseball manager such as Jim Leyland. I think he would be Franconia-like in incisive in game decisions, which have been sorely lacking from Baldelli. Keep an eye on: Balazovic (currently injured), Duran (currently injured), Ernie De La Trinidad (OF, solid start at Wichita), Gilberto Celestino The idea here is to create a more balanced roster. My changes could allow a dynamic base stealing element with Gordon, Buxton and Whitefield. The extra speed could be used to garner the Twins some extra inning wins by pinch running Whitefield when Buxton returns. My overhaul also ushers in the era of what promise to be exciting big league careers for Kirilloff and Larnach! I see a very talented and exciting player in Nick Gordon. He had an electrifying debut with the Twins, stealing two bases! He also leads St. Paul in hitting with a small sample size. Plus his 2019 body of work was deceptively above average for a second baseman, with 29 doubles in 292 AB and he slashed .298/.342/.459. Current slash at St. Paul .333/.429/.611. Fun fact: Gordon’s OPS+ with the Twins is 246. Obviously mitigated by one game sample size. Miranda is off to a sizzling start at Wichita with a .370/.400/.652 slash line. Plus he’s only 22 years old. Sano and Kepler would have to reclaim their jobs. They have had not helped the Twins. Kepler may have been resurgent before his injury, but I would go with my new outfield and find ways to use Kepler where he can actually help the team. Twins Daily is my go to place for information on the Twins. I hope my contribution here gets your juices flowing as a Twins fan. We definitely don’t want to tap into the definition of insanity: keep doing the same thing over and over and expect different results. WIN TWINS!!!

Yes, squirrel, I thought of the famous George Plimpton article for SI when I read this piece - the one about Sidd Finch who could throw 150 MPH!

Hi Roger. I was just trying to get Nick Gordon to 2B because I’m very high on him. He would bring speed on base paths, triples likely and SB (look at that first game 2 clean stolen bases) and a little power (.440+ slg in 2019 in AAA). I do think Arraez has been quite competent in LF. Well, we’re both and all just trying to solve this huge dilemma facing the team we love!!!

Whitefield is very intriguing!!! Imagine the invigorating dimension it would add to the hapless Twins offense if Gordon, Whitefield and Buxton were all given a chance to play together. I remember the amazing lift the Orioles received from rookie callups Al Bumbry and Rich Coggins in the 70’s. Three Twins seriously merit reduced playing time in Kepler, Sano and Cave. I’m also disappointed in Simmons and don’t think he’s added anything to the team. I’d play Polanco at SS again now that he looks healthy and play Gordon at 2B. Outfield could be Arraez, Whitefield or Broxton in cf until Buxton returns and Larnach in RF with Kirilloff at 1B.

Cave is hitting .167, with a .239 OBP, didn’t hit much last year. Broxton owns a .220 avg. 20 HR, 20 SB MLB season. He would be the fastest guy on the team next to Buxton and play great defense and maybe impact some extra inning wins as pr at 2nd to start the inning. We all saw how Buxton was a net plus because of his defense even when he was hitting .160.

I do like Broxton also. I think he’d be much better use of a roster spot than Cave. Big time speed and defense.

I think Aaron Whitefield for Wichita looks interesting and might be able to help, especially in extra innings for the twins. He’s got a great slash line and world class speed. We’re 0 for 7 in extra innings. He and Gordon could give the Twins another dimension in base stealing along with Buxton when he returns. The team is lacking in dimensions it requires to win. Why not try those two.

Why let go of Rosario and then use Cave as his primary replacement? Boggles the mind!

I agree with you 100%! 60% to Falvey, 35% to Rocco, 5% to players who are doing the best for who they are.

My sentiments exactly!

I would bring up Lin and have him be the regular 3rd baseman. Fit’s the defensive philosophy and he hit in ST as well. Don’t think it’s likely Kirilloff is ready.

I honestly think Broxton would make the better option than Cave in CF if Buxton goes down. It seems the Twins have really struggled when Cave has had to fill in for Buxton. I’m not a big fan, except he’s a Twin! But he could win me over as Dobnak has. I do appreciate that Cave plays strong defense and plays really hard, like Lenny Dykstra did. It’s just that bat overall has been below major league average for an MLB outfielder, IMO, although I have seen flashes that make me think he could turn that around. Big year for Jake Cave. I think, in reality, the LF position hasn’t been won. Someone may still seize it. Otherwise Rocco will be happy to rotate based on matchups. Don’t count out Rooker and Broxton....it’s a long MLB season!

Waddell or Law. Lean toward Waddell. He could be an awesome bullpen piece!

If ST competition for jobs plus past history means anything, then Broxton and Garlick both beat out Cave and soundly! Larnach looks possibly ready! I’d like to find a way to keep Waddell and I’m not sure Astudillo adds as much to the team as Broxton, Garlick or Waddell.

I just saw a replay of that walkoff single that Buxton beat out on a pretty routine grounder to short. That was amazing! I was also watching that game as it happened.

I can think of one example where a mediocre-poor team bought a championship and that was the Florida Marlins 1st championship. After that, they dumped everyone and stunk for a short time but they always seem to have lots of good prospects!

I respect Buxton’s bursts into a really exciting player at times but I would go with Rod Carew as the most exciting Twins player I’ve watched. Just consistently exhilarating to watch. I take your point however that Buxton can be a very exciting player. If only he could get 600 PA and win games with his speed and defense!

I agree with you. Kepler’s offensive performance except for 2/3 of one year is concerning. I just notice that Broxton has an OPS 1000 points higher than Kepler. I know it’s only spring training so maybe we’ll see the real Kepler in the regular season. If spring training means anything for a player to make a team, Broxton, so far, is a must keep to me. I’m wondering if Rooker might end up being the regular LF?

I’ve been impressed with Lin and the way he plays the game so far. He could be a good choice.

I sure hope they keep him. OF seems shaky at all 3 positions to me. Kepler’s low BAs, Buxton’s chronic injuries, Cave not even an avg MLB OF due to bat. Releasing Eddie leaves that position wide open and the fact that no one knows, even now, who the Twins LF is going to be leaves Broxton with a chance to grab it. Definitely on the 26 man though. He has hit 20 HR in MLB season.

Boy, I’d love Odorizzi & Rosenthal OR Clippard.

I think Odorrizi is much better than Dobnak, maybe 5 more wins for the team. Playoff weapon as well. I’m rooting for a signing.

I thought I heard or read Jim Pohlad saying that the losses from last year won’t effect the payroll this year. And he’s been willing to stretch when Falvey-Levine come to him with a player they want to add. I actually think he would go as high as $150 million for the right players. For the first time in my Twins fanship going back to ’64, the owner is not an impediment. I’ve seen cheap and I’ve seen cheap again from Twin’s owners but I don’t think Jim Pohlad is anywhere remotely where the other two gents were. Calvin was the cheapest of the cheap when he had great players.

His 2018 season was dominant and he had good stats in 2019 for Indians so most of his great pitching, if not all, is his most recent body of work. I would sign him in a heartbeat. I believe you win with pitching, going all the way back to the 72-74 Oakland A’s, the greatest team in my lifetime.