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tony&rodney

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Everything posted by tony&rodney

  1. tony&rodney
    Sports are entertainment. A position that requires winning will inevitably ruin anyone's fan experience. The Twins have played some good games and baseball inherently will be frustrating because of the length of the season. Oakland's team is what one gets when all of the prospects are called up and play. They have some exciting moments but cannot sustain for any length of time until the youngsters wade through the ups and downs that most baseball players do in their first few years of MLB. Most baseball fans have allegiance to the team of their youth unless they adopt the local squad when they move as adults to a city with a team. One, almost by necessity, must divorce a love of the game from the machinations of owners and front office folks. I'm a Twins fan and baseball fan, but cannot relate to those who hate or love owners or the office people. I'm interested in the action on the field.
  2. tony&rodney
    The Twins are still playing ahead of their expected 83-87 wins projection. The current stretch of games to the All Star Game could be telling. It is looking like Funderburk does not pitch with confidence at times. Does the team need a reliable lefty in the bullpen and can Thielbar return to his former effective self? Right now the bullpen looks tired. A string of seven inning starts or an offense scoring more runs would help.
  3. tony&rodney
    Hey, anything can happen but it will surprise me if the Twins do anything before meeting up with the Brewers in late July. I also think Falvey has his guys already, which may mean that any additions are already in the organization.
  4. tony&rodney
    Lee looks much better since his return from the IL than he did at any point last season or the season before. The confidence in his current plate appearances is strong. Hopefully Lee can be a big addition to the Twins in time. Right now the sample is still small but who knows. I'm keeping an open mind to the possibilities. Brooks isn't an athlete in the same sense as a Buxton, Lewis, Siemen, or other quick twitch fast guy. He does have solid fundamentals and plays a smooth shortstop. Right now it isn't clear at all that he will be as good at second base. The move is not a simple transfer, although it has been done often. If Lee is to be at 2B, then he will likely put in the time and effort to become a decent defender at the position.
  5. tony&rodney
    My only judgment of Julien as a player is based on my own personal observations. By September of last season I was suggesting that Julien had made major positive gains defensively as a second baseman. The vast bulk of TD disagreed and there were a fair number of thumbs down that followed my comments. The disagreements are fine. In the offseason I suggested that the Twins might benefit from making a somewhat risky and potentially damaging decision about where the team was headed and which players they saw as fit to hold and where a trade was possible. The only untouchables (for me) were Jenkins, EmRod, and Festa. Among those who may have been seen as having decent value were Jeffers, Kirilloff, Julien, Lee, Lewis, Wallner, Raya, Varland, and Paddack. Others had suppressed value (Miranda, Kepler, Buxton, Larnach, Martin, SWR, Vazquez) and were unlikely to bring back anything fair. Still others were too important to let go given their value and any possible return that seemed fair (Correa, Duran, Lopez, Ryan, Ober, Castro). The Twins sat on their stash and are still trying to figure out who is going to play in October, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. The players may be uncertain of their status and futures, which could bring about healthy competition or may cause uncertainty which does not help performance. We shall see. In any event, if Julien can OPS .850 or better he is the guy to play second base. Then again, .... is Brooks Lee going to OPS .900? We are watching for the outcome and hope it leads to a better team.
  6. tony&rodney
    FWIW, even if Kepler goes on the IL, Brooks Lee may get a call before Wallner. Wallner is crushing his pitches but still looks lost with those pitchers who know where the holes are for the big guy. MLB pitchers don't miss their spots nearly as often. Lee, meanwhile, is working over pitchers wherever the ball is thrown. It will be interesting to see who is the next position player suiting up for the Twins.
  7. tony&rodney
    I'm puzzled why you believe that Julien is best used at 2B. Julien was sent down specifically because he had lost control of his at bats. Pitchers were exploiting his weaknesses and Julien saw both his OBP and BA plummet as a result. Meanwhile his defense continued to improve, particularly lateral movement. I understand that the impression (and results) Julien etched in many minds from his opening debut as a second baseman caused many to dismiss him at 2B, but the reality now is far from those memories. Julien is also not a decent fit at first base. Kirilloff looked decent when he first arrived but he regressed defensively and is pretty much a player without a home in the field. AK needs to dominate or his at bats and roster spot are at peril I will grant anyone that both are trending in the wrong direction and may be used in trades. However, a fully functioning Julien, with power and high on base results combined with a good average which results in a .900 OPS, is the Twins second baseman. If Julien cannot return because he fails to make all of the adjustments needed it is likely his career path is with a different organization. Currently, Brooks Lee is pushing hard for a MLB uniform and this makes it even more difficult for Julien to reclaim his starting position. Opportunities are tough to get and more difficult to hold in baseball. Santana and Miranda would have to crater badly before Julien gets a look at first base for the Twins. Kirilloff can get another shot if he mashes enough for the Saints and then finally proves reliable for Minnesota.
  8. tony&rodney
    A healthy Alex Kirillof crushing like he did for St. Paul eliminates doubts and he is welcomed back and appreciated. If AK continues to lurch and be just a decent batsman he will not be back next year. I wonder if Kirilloff is in top physical condition. He looks bigger, more muscled than the last few years. However, I don't have any idea whether this is true. A little injury can make a player slower at the plate and more serious ones can block success. We already saw this with the wrist injury, which was fixed. There is such a fine line for MLB success.
  9. tony&rodney
    Babe Ruth will always be remembered as larger than life and synonymous with baseball. His exploits, real or otherwise, are simply legendary beyond comparison. Barry Bonds controlled the game of baseball in our era with his ability to crush strikes and take bases on balls. There have been a number of other fantastic athletes who accomplished amazing feats playing baseball in short spurts or over long careers. I have always believed Willie Mays to be the greatest baseball player of all time based on his ability to excel at all elements of the game in addition to having more charisma than any player in the past 75 years. In 1979 I bought a Willie Mays SF jersey. Mays' #24 is the only MLB jersey I have ever purchased or worn. You can easily see who my two favorite players were all time, both Twins.
  10. tony&rodney
    Not replaying the garbage can, but several times in the last couple of years I have been present when people were booing Correa and heard individuals say, "Why are we booing him?" Not many people actually are knowledgable. Ask someone next time.
  11. tony&rodney
    Perceptions are realities for many people and these are often shaped by media. Correa may be seen as a villain by fans around the country. He is booed often even if roughly 90% of those vociferous followers have zero idea why they are vocalizing feelings they cannot explain. Both Correa and Arraez are excellent baseball players but should never be compared because of their vast differences. Similarly, Arraez cannot be compared to either Gwynn or Carew. An analogy for the wider public not really TD ... Chicago draws widespread scorn for violent crime and does have more problems than a person would want anyone ever to have within a city. However, depending on what resource one uses, Chicago comes in at 20th (or better) statistically for violent crime among larger cities in the United States and even better if one includes all cities. Still, Chicago is quite frequently cited as an example for this and that. Why? Well, one has to at least wonder about the agenda of those parroting false ideas. Thus Correa gets nailed by strained vocal cords heaping abuse by throngs of angry people who don't actually have any idea why they are hating C4. Perception. Arraez is lovable and we (most of us) enjoyed his at bats. I get the idea to support Correa and agree with the general principal that Arraez has a more limited value than many other players, but I'm not sure that it is necessary to identify one as overrated. FWIW, I'm not from Chicago, have never lived or worked there, and prefer the silence of isolation in the woods. I have been to Chicago though, walked and biked miles through the city, and gone to games at Wrigley and to Comiskey (and its subsequent namesakes).
  12. tony&rodney
    Not long ago, Margot and Santana were struggling but they are playing well at this time and sweeping away the talk of their demise. I'm still thinking the roster stays pretty much the same until an evaluation that follows the series versus Philadelphia.
  13. tony&rodney
    Perhaps the questions will be largely answered by how individual players respond. Kirilloff, Santana, and Miranda can figure out first base. Eventually either Julien or Lee will be the second baseman. Larnach, Castro, and Margot are taking care of LF. Buxton could still get better and keep going in CF and Max is fine in RF. The players will need to earn their playing time and make the Twins management make the tough decisions. The bullpen should be pretty good. Duran, Jax, Stewart, Alcala, Staumont, Varland, Paddack, Okert, and Funderburk are good and can cover for Thielbar and Sands if necessary. Maybe the Twins swing something for Jesus Luzardo while keeping Jenkins, EmRod, and Festa. The Twins could use a player like Bobby Witt Jr. but those guys are just not available, which means the players within the organization need to step forward and put their skills on display.
  14. tony&rodney
    When people are discussing Wallner, his successes and struggles, I'm wondering whether they have watched at least 25 of his at bats or merely looking at statistics?
  15. tony&rodney
    No. Not for Festa, not for Keaschall, and ok .... one for one, Kirilloff for Alonso.
  16. tony&rodney
    I have always liked Kopech but he has not been able to turn the corner yet. Kopech would slot in behind Duran, Jax, Stewart (hopefully he returns in August or September), Alcala, and Staumont. By September both Paddack and Varland may bolster the bullpen as well. That (potentially) makes seven right-handed relief pitchers ahead of Kopech. I like your idea of adding him for a nominal price but it seems like a reach between the Sox and Twins.
  17. tony&rodney
    Not Royce, the milb pitcher.
  18. tony&rodney
    Trade this year? I would offer Lewis or Culpepper. FA signing? I would offer 3/$15. Correct, I'm not interested in a bungled trade and a free agent signing is not happening above my number, not by the Twins.
  19. tony&rodney
    Hard to see the Twins even thinking about Sheets. Santana, Miranda, Kepler, Castro, Larnach, Kirilloff, Wallner, Martin, and more are already in the organization.
  20. tony&rodney
    Wallner has hit some absolute shots in AAA. Numbers aside, he still looks to have a hole in his swing if you watch him hit. To be fair, all players will have weaknesses. We need to give credit to Wallner for working hard but AAA pitchers have been pretty good about giving Big Matt pitches in his whomping zone. Of course, as a Twins fan, I would like to see Wallner hitting those towering home runs in MLB games. Still, the approach doesn't look so daunting to a pitcher with excellent control. I think both Ryan and Ober would have their way with Matt. I really do wish Wallner could find success in the majors but since last October have felt the Twins should have used him in a trade and I still think he might be a piece that another team finds appealing for their team.
  21. tony&rodney
    The White Sox have some talented players who may be changing uniforms at the end of July. I'm just having a hard time seeing the Twins involved unless the deal heavily favors them. Teams trading good players usually are attempting to add a treasure trove of prospects who are likely to be solid MLB athletes. Additionally, the Twins face a bit of a crunch next season in terms of roster salaries which would likely preclude adding any significant dollars in a deal this year. If the Twins were to add anyone from the Southsiders, my aim would be Crochet. Who goes the other way? Not sure what the Sox want or the Twins are willing to check off on.
  22. tony&rodney
    Nowlin has a ton of moving parts and on any pitch where he aligns everything he is pretty unhittable. No, that isn't true for everyone. Nowlin can get great late movement. His future rests in whether he is able to predictable harness his control. That is a common theme for pitchers with great stuff. I try to catch as many innings of Nowlin's games as possible but missed his recent gem.
  23. tony&rodney
    The Twins have had extremely good luck with their catchers. I don't really understand the criticism of a rotation that keeps both guys healthy. Teams need the catchers for defense, any offense is a bonus. I never understood the demand of catching until I caught several games. When I caught fifty games in a year the realization of the demands of the position became apparent. There is really very little comparison between the physical challenges of any position to catching. The Twins are doing well at the position.
  24. tony&rodney
    Lopez, Ryan, and Ober are capable playoff pitchers. Yes, Gerrit Cole would be nice but I'm not thinking he or another top flight pitcher is available at a price the Twins can afford to pay. Paddack, Woods Richardson, Varland, and Festa provide a fair back end to the rotation. It would be interesting to see what the cost is for an arm that makes a difference in the bullpen. The Twins have some weapons on offense. The consistency and health remains a question but the talent seems reasonable. Correa, Buxton, Kepler, and Lewis are supported by Miranda, Castro, and Jeffers along with all of the other players rotated into the lineup. St. Paul and Wichita have a couple helpers too. When the All Star Game is complete and the Twins have finished with the Brewers and Phillies, there may be a quest to add a bat. Fans should not be surprised if no additions are made from outside the organization this year.
  25. tony&rodney
    My comment was a mild attempt to remind those who assess MLB employees that it is possible to be reflective and treat entertainment less harshly and enjoy aspects of games, even when your team is unsuccessful. All opinions are welcome. I have no criteria. Your responses are angry and while it is a wonderful thing that you may be an avid follower of baseball, perhaps allow a little happiness into the experience. Try to enjoy baseball. I'm sorry and apologize for triggering you with my relatively meaningless comments. Peace.
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