Greglw3

Here’s my Twins 2022 roster. Like Nick’s plan, there are moving parts where Donaldson DHs a decent amount and Miranda plays 3B, 1B, DH. Kirilloff takes over for Max Kepler in RF. Kepler just hasn’t been able to change from an ineffective pull first approach. I see Kirilloff as a hitter who can use more of the field and still blossom into a very fine hitter. Hopefully the second-half Sano shows up next year. I’m optimistic about that. I chose Iglesias as the SS for good D and his .271 average, much better than Simmons but for the same price. I chose Mark Canha for LF, liking his prior 26, 17, and 16 HR seasons. And last year walking 77 times, stealing 12/14 bases, scoring 93 runs. Even with a .231 average, he had a .358 OBP. In any case, he should be much better than Cave, Larnach in 2021. Like Nick I’m signing Byron Buxton with an escalating deal and incentives. I’m banking on Jose Miranda to log 500-550 ABs. I like the Saint’s Mark Contreras as the 4th OF with Jimmy Kerrigan as an alternative at AAA. For the rotation, I’m signing Robbie Ray as the ace with Danny Duffy as the #2 starter. That’s a significant part of my 142.1 million dollar payroll. I think Jim Pohlad will go for that. If they can’t get Ray, then Syndergaard and Verlander are other ace options. I’m bringing back the steady Michael Pineda, his 9-8 record and 3.62 ERA. Both sides want a reunion, so it’s just a great fit. Ober and Ryan start as #4 and #5 starter. I’m one who thinks Charlie Barnes will eventually be a solid major league pitcher but maybe not next year. Cole Sands could be another guy getting some starts for the Twins. Duran has a lot to prove. He would be a bonus. I filled out the BP with some of the most talented AAA relievers and Ralph Garza Jr. who did a good job. Alcala’s continued growth will be a big and important factor. I really like Nick Gordon and hope Rocco steals with Buxton, Canha and Gordon so the offense is more balanced. Celestino also provides depth and could easily be up with the inevitable injuries. I like Kerrigan’s 19 HR and 10/12 SB. I also want to emphasize that I do think that once Rooker gets the requisite amount of ABs at the ML level, he should hit 30 HR with a .240 -.270 average. So, he’s in play also depending on injuries.

Canha would be a big improvement over 2021. My best guess says he’s an .800 OPS in 2022. With that, we could have Canha, Buxton and Kirilloff in the OF w Kepler as a 4th or 5th OF. #B Donaldson, Miranda, Arraez, SS Semien??!!, 2B Polanco, 1B Sano (Kirilloff, Miranda) C Garver/Jeffers/Rordvedt. DH Donaldson/Miranda. I think Rortvedt is gonna be a good one in time w very strong defense and maybe 20-25 HR power...maybe more. So yes to Canha, he strikes me as a winner.

I generally agree with your projected lineup and backups except for the outfield. In my opinion the OF should be a free agent, Schwarber would be nice, maybe Canha or even Rosario if he would come back and the Braves would let him go, which I think is unlikely. Buxton in CF, we agree. Then, we need Kirilloff in RF. Kepler has been out of whack for a long time and has passed up on the opportunity to stop pulling virtually everything, often to the 2nd baseman in short RF. Any breakthroughs by Celestino and others will be a bonus. I do have a feeling that when he has batted enough times in MLB, Rooker will still be good but shouldn’t be penned in for 2022. I have a lot of confidence in Kirilloff and he would be a major upgrade over Kepler. I like your mention of Cole Sands as a possible breakthrough starter and agree Varland has a chance. Miranda needs 500-550 AB and could figure at 3rd, 1st and DH. I think the very first thing to do is make an all out, super agiegressive attempt to sign Robbie Ray and Danny Duffy (and Buxton, of course).

It really is a horrible trade suggestion!

I’m a big believer in Nick Gordon’s talent and his goodness as a fit for being a Twins asset for several years.

I like your thinking, especially on the starting rotation. We couldn’t be more in sync about that. Duffy and Ray would be a fantastic get and could be #1 and #2 and Pineda #3.

I agree. They need to sign him for sure!

#1 I think Lewis could be a guy to come fast based on him being a little older and judged to have big talent. If he could play SS, that would be great! Thinking about it, I think he’d play better than Simmons did, considering offense and defense both. He’d be a nice backup for Buxton in CF and he could be used in LF also. Possibly even some RF. I’m really down on Kepler and don’t think they can depend on him. My answer to #2 is that I think they can contend and should sign Pineda and two more upper tier starting pitchers. With injuries and the two open spots, there will plenty of room for the pipeline to keep moving. I see room for Ober, Ryan, Sands, maybe Duran as a callup, health permitting. Possibly even Varland. I don’t think Balazovich is ready. #3 I would count on Rogers as the closer but make sure we have a setup man that could step up as closer. I’m not so sure that would be Colome. That’s a tough call. #4 I have the most faith in Rogers, Thielbar, Duffy, Alcala, Minaya. Coulombe, I think is a borderline guy to be a steady lefty. So they’ll need to sign a couple of relievers. #5 I have a vision for the DH slot and it revolves around the fact that I want to get Miranda 500-550 AB next year. So Donaldson plays maybe 70-85 games at 3B. Arraez plays some 3B, a little 2B and maybe some OF depending on injuries, then he DHs some. Miranda should be pegged for at least 70 games at 3B, maybe 20-25 at 1B when Sano is slumping or needs rest and then the balance at DH. Sano could DH a little with Kirilloff sliding from a corner OF spot to 1B for those games. I’d like Kirilloff to play the bulk of his games in RF as, in my mind, Kepler's slumps and poor plate approach in pulling the ball stubbornly into the shift time after time is not sufficient for a contender. The Twins also need to sign a free agent outfielder although I think Jimmy Kerrigan or one of Contreras or Cabbage might be able to handle it. I think Larnach needs a good half season in AAA. Schwarber would probably be the top target for LF but may be the target of a richer team. #6 Buxton has to be signed. And I think he will be. Like you said, Nick, you simply can’t let a generational player get away. Jim Pohlad has made it clear that they won’t be rebuilding. It’s probably because I followed the Twins when Calvin Griffith was one of the most penurious owners ever and then Carl Pohlad was so cheap and Terry Ryan part II was cheap even when it seemed he had the green light from Jim Pohlad. From that background dating back to 1975-6, I don’t like to hear that the Twins can’t afford a good team and keep it. In my opinion, based on his public comments, I think Jim Pohlad would carry a payroll of 150-160 million. That’s where the Twins should be and he’ll get a nice return in attendance with a good team. If they need to trade Donaldson to afford a good LF and starters in the Ray, Duffy, Syndergaard category and sign Buxton then it sure looks like Miranda could handle 3B.

The reference to most talented Twins team of the all should specify "greatest offensive team of all"

I wanted to relay my experience about what I consider to be the greatest Twins regular season game of them all. I was 21 and listened to the game from Toledo, Ohio on WMAQ in Chicago. I kept score and had the scoresheet for many years after! Harry Carey announced and possibly Jimmy Piersall. The game took place June 26, 1977 with what I consider to be the most talented Twins team ever with the Great tactician/strategist Gene Mauch as manager and his nephew, Roy Smalley playing SS. The Twins didn't have much pitching that year but made up for it with the bats of Lyman Bostock (.336 avg, 14 triples), Rod Carew (.388, 30+ 2b, 16 triples, 14 homers) and Larry Hisle (119 RBIs). I’m pulling in the boxscore from Baseball Reference. Your eyes will pop out when you look at the Twins offensive performances. What stands out to you about this game after viewing the box score? By the way, with basically ONE starting pitcher, the Twins went 84-77, 4th in the AL West and Rod Carew’s season was so great that he won the MVP award!

I would say the most likely is that Kirilloff develops into a force. But I want him in RF. Kepler’s ultra low batting averages won’t do and he’s had plenty of time to adjust that pull first mentality. The second most likely is that Miranda steps in and plays a lot. I would then sign a solid hitting LF for and OF of new sign in LF, Buxton in CF and Kirilloff in RF. I hope Ryan is like his starts save the last one, which was frightening. I don’t know what to expect there. Falvey and Levine can turn their grade from F to A if they can sign Robbie Ray and Danny Duffy. And re-sign Pineda.

My first choice was Nick Gordon but the arguments made by the reps and the judge’s analysis were all on point and I agree with the judge that Ober is the correct choice!

I'll put my money on Eddie Rosario every time. He’s infinitely better than Jake Cave and Trevor Larnach combined this year. Just making the point that those who are Eddie detractors can’t depend on him staying down too long. He did a lot of special things for the Twins including 15 triples one year, a high ROY ranking and 2 time all star plus the 32 HR and 109 RBIs which lead the team over Nelson Cruz. But the Twins plod on with Jake Cave hitting .185. Eddie has a career OPS+ of 108, solidly above average. Unlikely Twins can reverse their mistake because the Braves will want to re-sign him. Just one of a multitude of reasons that I gave Falvey and Levine and F.

I’m afraid that for the period from the end of the 2020 season until now, Falvey and Levine get an F and Baldelli gets a D. Baldelli has shown slight improvement in the last 3rd of the season, maybe because getting rid of a lot of the bad relievers and bringing in more effective young ones made it easier to manage the bullpen. I think the Twins can contend next year but Falvey and Levine will have to be much more thorough in their planning and realistic in their talent evaluation. I do not think Max Kepler is a major league starter. He’s way too long in the habit of trying to pull everything usually right into the shift. If he’d use the whole field he could be a good hitter again but he won’t make the adjustment. Justin Morneau has commented on it several times in recent broadcasts, I think one time even using the word stubborn. For all the drafted pitchers, I agree with Tom. WE have exactly one pitcher that has proven he’s ready and that’s Ober. We really don’t know about Ryan because he didn’t get a long enough test but that last start was alarmingly bad. Cave has to go. The big hope would be signing a left fielder and Miranda playing a whole season for the Twins plus Kirilloff staying healthy and putting together a credible season. Lots of work to do.

Oops! My bad. I’ll offer up two alternatives for LF. From baseball reference: or

I think the money needs to go elsewhere if the Twins really want to contend. I’d go with this depth chart: 3B Donaldson/Miranda/Arraez SS Polanco/Gordon/Palacios 2B Gordon/Arraez/Miranda 1B Sano/Kirilloff/Miranda LF Michael Brantley/Larnach CF Buxton/Greg Allen or Billy Hamilton RF Kirilloff/Kepler/Cabbage C Garver/Jeffers/Rortvedt DH Miranda/Donaldson/Sano SP Ray or Syndergaard SP Danny Duffy SP Michael Pineda SP Greinke or Ober SP Joe Ryan If Greinke then Ober 6th in line or he could win a spot in Spring training Depth Cole Sands, Charlie Barnes, maybe at some point Duran RP Rogers RP Thielbar RP Garza RP Alcala RP Juan Minaya Long Relief Gant RP Vincent has to "make good'

I’d like to nominate the drop-off from the nearly 100 game 1970 season to the very disappointing 1971 season, where the Twins were basically a very strong hitting team but a poor team pitching-wise. The high point was Tony Oliva winning his 3rd batting title in 1971. Rod Carew hit .307 before raising his game massively and winning 6 of the next 7 batting titles with a string of staggering batting averages!

Young player with insufficient reps in major leagues to know his true potential. Twins let him go. LaMonte Wade? Brent Rooker? Denard Span? Ben Revere? Akil Badoo? David Ortiz? Luis Gil? Ynoa? I think there’s at least a 50% chance that Rooker hits 30 HR in a major league season. But we have too many outfielders to give LaMonte Wade a chance. He would have been our 1st or 2nd best outfielder for the season.

The Twins had question marks in LF, CF, RF, 3B, 1B. Brantley would have helped batting at the top with Arraez. The offense hasn’t been so good this year except Polanco, Buxton when healthy, Arraez.

Fair enough. We’re both just trying to figure out the way the Twins can get better. I did think it was cool last night that Gordon tied for the team lead in stolen bases! Here’s Gordon’s last 15 games (MLB.com) Ya gotta love his defensive versatility and how he’s competent at several position. It strkes me that he’s being groomed as the backup CF if Buxton is hurt next year and backup at 3B, SS, 2B, LF. A better Marwin Gonzalez. For a full season with no improvement he rates as a 30 SB, 15 HR guy,

Surprised you would dispute the point about Andy McPhail. The facts are that he’s in the Twins Hall of Fame and delivered the only two World Series titles in Twins history and signed quality major league players as opposed to what Falvey and Levine did last offseason.

Gordon has played there lately and he’s shown no matter where you put him, he does a major league worthy job because he’s a very skilled athlete. He’s close to the team lead in SB in very limited time. Palacios is 25 but hit 19 HR at SS and had 18 stolen bases. Polanco won 101 games at SS, 70 at 2B. My point is that Simmons has been awful and should depart. It also was to say that rather than make the same BIG mistake of pouring valuable money into a SS and being cheap in pitching, let’s make the choice to stay put at SS with Internal options and pour the money into 2 of 3 of Syndergaard, Robbie Ray and Danny Duffy. How does Ray, Danny Duffy, Pineda, Joe Ryan and Bailey Ober or Cole Sands sound?

If they re-sign Andrelton Simmons, that will be a great start to a 3rd consecutive lousy offseason for the FO. With shifts and some defensive decline and bobbling of balls, his defense is not as advertised. And his low offensive profile is a net negative to the team. I’d sign another FA SS or use Gordon, Polanco, Maggi or Palacios there with an outside chance of Royce Lewis. Cave and Simmons are the two highest priorities for release. Possibly Kepler. Without using Kepler’s name, for 3 or 4 days in a row, Justin Morneau has pointed out the hopeless nature of his approach and the stubbornness that is involved. I’d seriously consider trading or releasing him. My 2022 OF would be Michael Brantley, Buxton and Kirilloff with Contreras Kerrigan as the 4th and/or 5th OF.

I think that was too easy ?

Not blocking Kirilloff with a batting titlest contender? How has that worked out? Brantley isn’t a depth piece, he’s a batting title contender. My hope for 2022 is an OF of Brantley, Buxton and Kirilloff. The farm wasn’t going to and hasn’t provided a player anywhere near Brantley’s caliber. As to the money, pay up! The Twins and many fans are always bemoaning their fate as a non-playoff advancing team but always seem to be saying this guy or that guy is too expensive. I don’t buy it (pun intended). The Twins have been cheap so long first with Calvin Griffith, then with Carl Pohlad and Terry Ryan. I really think Jim Pohlad would spend the money necessary. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. I think the only reason the Twins won those world championships was Andy MacPhail who acquired premium talent to win those both: Gladden, Berenguer, Reardon, Baylor, Morris, etc. Even starting off with Brantley, Buxton and Kirilloff next year would provide playing time for Kerrigan or Contreras, Kepler (backup OF if he’s still around). The FO has bumbled and fumbled and decimated a 101 win franchise to a 70 win franchise. If they hope to contend next year and I think they can, they’re going to have to spend money to rectify their many mistakes - maybe too many of them related to saving money that Jim Pohlad would have authorized.