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tony&rodney

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Everything posted by tony&rodney

  1. tony&rodney
    I'm hoping Miranda is the DH, although Jose is a better first baseman than Ty France. However, France looks like Baldelli's dream. Because Brooks Lee is slow he fits better at third base. Julien has the worst glove and his throws are always a mystery but he does have the best, still not good, range of the choices at second base. Of course, people have serious PTSD reading the name "Julien". The apoplectic responses do not change the reality. We can be certain of one thing though. What Falvey and Baldelli come up with is often a total surprise that elicits a huh. We get to watch.
  2. tony&rodney
    The Twins have a strong starting pitcher contingent. They will need to ride these guys for any success this season. The only question in the rotation is Chris Paddack. Paddack wasn't going to bring anything worth mentioning in a trade and he can be a solid starter for the team. The support behind the staff is good. Festa has good stuff and although he wasn't overpowering this spring he is a guy who can fill in. Both Zebby Matthews and Andrew Morris carved through MLB batters this spring and are solid bets to be good starters when their opportunity arrives. No team is going to trade a middle of the order bat and the Twins have enough 7-8-9 hitters, thus it makes sense to wait until next offseason before any trades. My couch tells me that the Twins pitching is solid and the question marks are all related to the position players. Can the bats score runs and will the gloves corral those routine outs?
  3. tony&rodney
    The Twins and their fans were counting on Royce Lewis, so tough break today. Unless there are further injuries it looks like the 26 person roster is set after the recent cuts and injuries. SP: Lopez, Ryan, Ober, SWR, Paddack RP: Jax, Duran, Sands, Alcala, Coulombe, Stewart, Varland, Castellano with Topa and Tonkin on IL Catchers: Jeffers, Vazquez Infielders: Castro, Correa, France, Lee, Julien, Miranda Outfielders: Larnach, Buxton, Wallner, Bader 26th person: Guessing Martin but one of Martin, Gasper, Keirsey Jr.
  4. tony&rodney
    Better is a subjective word as is best or even good. Why continue then with your good, better, best? I'm not understanding how your first sentence connects to anything else you said. These conversations have been ongoing for more than 100 years. My brother and I argued loudly about the merits of Killebrew versus Oliva. Truth was they were both great. You will always have overwhelming support online for your claim about illegal drugs and Barry Bonds. Although he was tested more than any player ever 12 months a year, he never tested positive and has never admitted anything to date. He was also indicted, tried, and no evidence existed which resulted in Bonds being cleared. Notice I don't say Bonds did not use any substances. Good old clean Barry bothered a ton of people and he is still being punished for his personality. Meanwhile others who did test positive are in the H of F. Ohtani is really good and I tune in to watch him pitch and also when I think I can catch his at bats, but better or best just doesn't exist. I'm not a numbers guy but based just on pitchers I have talked to I would choose Barry every time over Ohtani. But that is just my opinion and I won't claim Bonds is better or the best ever in baseball. If I must choose by force, the choice is easy for me - Babe Ruth and it's not even close.
  5. tony&rodney
    The Twins are going to do whatever they want to do. Our guesses are futile. An infield of France, Gasper, Miranda, and Correa wouldn't surprise me but it would give the pitchers nightmares. Willi Castro is best as a utility player. His defense is suspect except at third base, where Brooks Lee is ok. Gasper is a last gasp. Lee has good hands, footwork, transfers the ball smoothly, and throws the ball to the target but his range is limited. Miranda is tough at first, worse at third, but if he his enough he might not hurt too bad. France is a darling until he isn't. Man, he looks rough at first base. The Lewis injury creates angst because he was inked into the lineup. Lewis isn't very good at third base as we saw in the first inning today, but we had hope. I'm going to guess the Twins go with France, Julien, Castro, and Correa. Hopefully the Twins hit.
  6. tony&rodney
    Makes me laugh to read all the dread about Julien. Somehow, someway, impossibly, Julien is close to being the key to the Twins season. If he hits and makes the routine plays, the Twins have a decent year. Julien doesn't hit or never gets a shot, the Twins have a soft bat and still poor defense at second base and finish .500. Totally off topic, I had not watched Ty France very critically until recently. He makes Jose Miranda look like Carlos Santana. France should just DH if the Twins think his bat is that important. No way is Miranda not better at first base and Miranda will hit. Miranda's one big weakness is that he doesn't walk enough.
  7. tony&rodney
    The number retirement thing is a little odd. One can easily make an argument that Camilo Pascal was the greatest all time Twins pitcher, but his number is not retired. I always hesitate to call anyone the greatest. MLB runs these obnoxious advertisements where the voices scream out that Shohei Ohtani is the greatest ever, greatest living, nothing ever like him, etc. Shohei is indeed a truly wonderful player who has done amazing things on a baseball field and his 2024 season was crazy good. But then you read that Barry Bonds had 10 (ten) seasons better than what Shohei put up last year. Perspective. I just try to avoid the superlatives because we can enjoy excellence without making outlandish claims.
  8. tony&rodney
    This is something that has been a question. The weights and strength training reduces injury when it is specific workouts to a sport but many athletes build muscle mass which can compromise their frames. This is all under study quite a bit. Running for baseball players was always a thing. Spring Training games used to have pitchers and a few players running along the outfield fences during the games themselves, getting out of the way when it was necessary. It was one of the unusual sideshows of a ST game. I haven't seen that for a while now. I am retired so I will need to ask some current coaches what is being done now.
  9. tony&rodney
    Looks like Brooks Lee is our third baseman and Edouard Julien our second baseman on Opening Day in St. Louis. Sure hope fans are able to still enjoy the game and a beer despite their past feelings.
  10. tony&rodney
    Fragile isn't really the term. People have bad backs, heart problems, etc. Athletes put stress on their bodies. Everyone knows great athletes who had to stop playing because of various injuries. It happens all the time.
  11. tony&rodney
    Missed a DP because of a 5'-11' first baseman there, which may answer if a guy a little taller makes a difference.
  12. tony&rodney
    I absolutely loved watching Johan Santana pitch. He was pretty dominant. Naturally, everyone will have their opinions and thoughts on various pitchers over time. There are also all types of statistics and analytics to use as one sees fit for their point of view. I would have a hard time placing Johan above any number of former Twins though. Guys like Bert Blyleven, Dean Chance, Jim Perry, Camilo Pascual, Jim Kaat, and Brad Radke were all really good pitchers. Pitchers who had shorter careers who were really good were Dave Boswell and Jim Merritt. As a LH pitcher myself I did enjoy Santana but he is part of a franchise that has had some really good pitchers. He is among the top ten, for sure.
  13. tony&rodney
    Griffin Jax looks better every year. He looks as dominant as any pitcher in baseball.
  14. tony&rodney
    Ty France and Jose Miranda crack me up on foul ball pop ups. They just turn and take a slight jog and watch the ball drop. Meanwhile, Vladdy Guerrero, not exactly a tiny fellow, cruises after those balls and catches them. Ah, but it is Spring Training.
  15. tony&rodney
    Twins are the worst team in MLB running the bases. They might be working on retaining that designation.
  16. tony&rodney
    No doubt, but will a team sign him? So if he wants to pitch he starts somewhere. What organization would feel like they feel Gallo deserves innings anywhere in their system?
  17. tony&rodney
    Yikes. Not much point there on shallow ball to CF.
  18. tony&rodney
    I'm way, way more concerned about the bats and gloves of the Twins position players than I am about Pablo Lopez.
  19. tony&rodney
    He likes to play baseball. Can't blame him. He could even start in a men's league/town ball situation.
  20. tony&rodney
    Bregman turns two on a near identical play from the top of the 1st inning.
  21. tony&rodney
    I'm going to guess that Brooks Lee opens at third base.
  22. tony&rodney
    Well, Brooks Lee is the third baseman.
  23. tony&rodney
    Do you believe Lewis can play third base?
  24. tony&rodney
    If Julien repeats 2023 there are going to be some very unhappy folks who comment on Twins Daily. Is Awkward Eddie the key to the 2025 season?
  25. tony&rodney
    In the complete other direction, it would be cool to see young Twins players wearing the numbers of past stars. Walker Jenkins sporting #7 and that sort of thing would be awesome. I'm not a fan of #64, #74, or #83. Of course it really doesn't mean too much. Wouldn't it be neat to see Luke Keaschall wearing #27 or Zebby Matthews in #28? In answer to the post I do hold up Johan as a superstar in Twins history but I'm thinking if Connor Prielipp or Dasan Hill could carve out a Johanesque career it should be in #57.
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