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tony&rodney

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Everything posted by tony&rodney

  1. tony&rodney
    There is a clear divide on Emmanuel Rodriguez among folks on Twins Daily. Some feel he must spend more time in the minors to prove himself. A few of those folks believe the best use of EmRod is in a trade because they do not see him as a difference maker for the Twins. The other group, which seems smaller, thinks EmRod should be in the lineup on Opening Day for the Twins. Eventually, we shall get our answer. A couple of points worth considering are that any comparison to Julien rests solely on their high walk rates. Everything else about them is different. The swings, power, demeanor at the plate, speed, throwing arms, and glove work are all very different and one plays infield and the other is an infielder. Let's retire that comparison. Another point that was brought up is that the Twins already have their three outfielders. Buxton holds a spot and Wallner certainly has a leg up for a spot with Larnach also worth plate appearances. The problem is catching those fly balls. Buxton is no longer an above average centerfielder although he is fine out there. Both of Wallner and Larnach are ok, but clearly below average at this time. The pitchers need some help in converting outs into outs and those three together won't cut it in 2025 as a full time plan. I understand the trade EmRod group because they want some value from a prospect that they do not believe in. I'm firmly in the put Emmanuel in the lineup in the outfield right away. He has proven himself already in the minors and has nothing left to learn. Proving himself again and again is a waste of talent.
  2. tony&rodney
    Exactly all of this. If the Twins are not going to play a potential difference maker like Emmanuel, maybe they should trade him and let him play in another system. After watching dozens of his plate appearances, my conclusion is that he has nothing left to learn in the minor leagues.
  3. tony&rodney
    A competent manager would not platoon players who hit well against pitchers throwing from either side. A competent GM would immediately step in if platooning occurred. The Twins are in serious trouble if that were to happen to either of Rodriguez or Jenkins.
  4. tony&rodney
    First thing I thought of was .... wondering how many Twins minor league prospects OPS over 1.000 and play outstanding defense? I have added comments regarding EmRod for two plus years on TD. My concerns before last season referenced the number of plate appearances where Rodriguez displayed a seeming disinterest, almost always due to the score of the game. This was strictly observational. Last summer Emmanuel displayed his talents on a more consistent basis. Yes, there is patience and swing and miss in his game, If one wants to compare ER to a current Twin, the player would be Matt Wallner. They had similar performances at Wichita, I believe. However, ER and MW are only similar at the plate. I think the comparison to Julien is off the mark. Defensively, the two could not be more different and while Julien can muscle some balls deep for HR and XBH, ER has light tower power, an easy 400 foot bomb. Emmanuel is an outfielder with an excellent glove (read what Eric Longenhagen at Fangraphs says about his defense), a strong accurate arm, and really good wheels on the bases and in the field. The Twins absolutely need some help with defense. While MLB pitchers may force him to make adjustments at the plate, I doubt whether Rodriguez will shrink from the challenge. This is a time when I miss Calvin. Among others, Rod Carew was put into the lineup against the wishes of the manager and others at a time when owners and GM's were usually hands off. EmRod is ready now.
  5. tony&rodney
    The Twins can make a number of trades. Money is not an issue unless we are talking about big contracts. There could be numerous moves to improve the roster and reduce the payroll simultaneously. The real question is - will the Twins attempt to make any changes or real improvements to the team? Falvey has specifically stated that the Twins may need to get "creative'. Well then, let's get creative Derek.
  6. tony&rodney
    We are not. However, they don't matter that much really in baseball.
  7. tony&rodney
    I applaud your confidence in merely putting the same team back out on the field again. I'm not too worried about the pitching either. However, Paddack hasn't been able to throw since 2019, when Nelson Cruz was a force. I don't see either repeating their 2019 seasons in 2025. I like Larnach and Wallner too, but they need to share the DH/RF spots so at least the pitchers have some hope. Love the positivity you profess in the players.
  8. tony&rodney
    Yes, it gets hot in Florida in the summer but it isn't that bad. The rain is usually all done by around 7 pm and the evenings are quite lovely with a breeze. I lived in the Tampa Bay (Clearwater) area in the 80s and 90s and played a ton of games in the heat. It is far better than playing in cold weather.
  9. tony&rodney
    Probably a greater benefit for the Twins than the Rays. Seems like moving series might be a bit of a downer for the Rays. I would prefer to play in Tampa on the 4th of July if I were a Ray. This is going to be a tough summer for the Tampa Bay Rays.
  10. tony&rodney
    Prospect - the possibility that something good might happen in the future: I'm not sure why folks get argumentative about "prospect" lists. You can make your own and you may have as much luck as any other guess. There is an entire industry that revolves around ratings, articles, and prognostications of prospects and a fair amount of analysis too. Some of this is from people who spend significant amounts of time poring over data without ever actually watching the individuals perform. Others do get out and watch numerous players and also use volumes of data. The entire baseball industry has a lower probability for the signed prospects appearing at the MLB level than in football, basketball, or hockey drafts. They are not really good comparisons. People make money telling us in various forms who we should pay attention to or not and then along comes a Payton Eeles or Carson McCusker to muck it up. The whole prospect thing, as far as us readers, is entertainment and should be enjoyed without getting tore up about why Willie Banks is not in the Hall of Fame. Let the writers and owners of the site get frothed over this guy or that guy because they have a stake in the game - ads, memberships, clicks, and comments. Chill on final judgments of something that has not yet happened. Sorry to be such a s%&thead, but this is not worth people insulting each other. Marco Ray should be a decent relief pitcher from what I can tell from watching him on numerous occasions. He could make himself a nice career as a baseball player. I have him as #9 on my list of Twins prospects.
  11. tony&rodney
    I'm pretty high on Keaschall, buying the hype more than I did for say Jose Miranda, Edouard Julien, Brooks Lee or Royce Lewis. Don't get me wrong, I like each of those players quite a bit. Keaschall seems to have a swing and presence about him that defies his shortcomings. The lack of a defensive position and carrying reports of substandard glove play in college would normally reduce his appeal in my eyes under most conditions. However, I tuned in as often as possible last summer to watch him play and came away impressed with his abilities. He has consistently good at bats and made the plays in the field. Going into 2025, Keaschall is probably the most interesting player to watch in the Twins system. It feels like we know where Emmanuel Rodriguez and Walker Jenkins are headed, whereas Keaschall could be that guy who surprises us and jumps right into the big picture next summer.
  12. tony&rodney
    There is no doubt that David Ortiz became quite an accomplished hitter, making big news in the postseason. I don't begrudge him any of his success, however, it is beyond comprehension how Ortiz escaped the wrath of the post McGuire-Soto home run/ steroid hate fest. Ortiz was totally busted by testing but the disclaimer is that the test was supposed to be confidential. Yet Barry Bonds, the most tested person in MLB history X4 and a player most people (myself too) believe used steroids, never even once tested positive for steroids. It is an amazing twist and a commentary on how the press controls so much more than we can ever admit. In finality, the steroid era belongs to one man alone, the guy who encouraged and promoted it endlessly: Bud Selig. OBTW, Selig is in the MLB Hall of Fame, the irony of ironies. This is a made for Hollywood story. Then again, I guess we have seen much worse in our lifetime.
  13. tony&rodney
    I could be incorrect, but I believe that the author(s) of these posts tackle the trades in chunks. The entire collection may make for a cumbersome entry due to its length. Bias may exist, but it is at least worth noting that us readers commonly bring a bias to the articles just as easily as the writers. I will say there are times when a writer clearly states their opinion, which seems fair. The reader is always free to disagree.
  14. tony&rodney
    I wondered if Thielbar will be signed by some team or worth an invite with $1M plus a few incentives deal. I would guess he gets more money from some team but I would think he is still interested in another year or two of making MLB $.
  15. tony&rodney
    Uh, I specifically stated that depth is important and acknowledged its importance. Depth should not be the only criteria for making trades. Filling weaknesses in the regular lineup is also possible.
  16. tony&rodney
    Yes, I understand this. However, is it a sound decision? Why emulate poor baseball? Cleveland and Milwaukee both play defense. The Dodgers just added a World Series banner to their collection and a big reason was their ability to play defense. I'm not opposed a couple of DH's in the lineup. Seems like quite a gamble though to have below average defenders as a strategy in six of eight positions with only two at average. That puts quite a bit of pressure on the pitchers and offense. I think we saw the inevitable occur in August and September. Maybe we can all just hope that everyone suddenly improves and I too hope they do. I'm also not sure that hope is a plan.
  17. tony&rodney
    Everything I read or video I watch creates a couple of thoughts for me. 1. I'm excited to watch him this coming season. 2. Do any other teams see high value in his future, similar to Chase Petty? Soto is a potential piece of the organization worth trading if a return is reasonable.
  18. tony&rodney
    Thank you for working on this series. A couple of things jump out to the reader, which you are already aware of, but others may overlook. 1. The paucity of offseason transactions is pretty telling. Seven offseason trades during the Falvey era seems small. Were the Twins really only one trade away each year? Only two of the trades, Odorizzi and Gray, brought in players who could be considered regulars. The others are all 12th and 13th depth pieces, which are also important to a team but not difference makers. These trades are needed but hardly shake the win column. 2. In consideration of the success of trading for Odo and Gray, why have the Twins been so resistant to further transactions of this type? In reverse, where are the trades of good players for better hopes, similar to the Cruz for Ryan trade? I guess one must be clear about stating that there has been some success in the transactions in the past 7-8 years but the hesitancy to go further and take some gambles seems to be a barrier. I'm not totally down on the front office but while most see the current roster as capable of winning the AL Central, I see the Twins fighting to keep their record around .500 unless a few trades are completed to improve the team.
  19. tony&rodney
    The Twins can make a few trades and actually decrease the payroll. Perhaps I stand alone on this but I reject the notion that the payroll ceiling limits the Twins ability to improve their roster sufficiently to compete successfully in the AL Central. No, the Twins will not sign Soto or have a budget to match the large market clubs. That is a reality but no more an obstacle for Falvey than for Milwaukee, Cleveland, and other highly competitive teams. The Twins absolutely can and should acquire a few players to improve their team. Those decisions are strictly up to Falvey.
  20. tony&rodney
    All of these guys are good baseball players and hitters, however, none of them have managed to become average defensively. Who knows? Maybe they will and i guess that is the hope. It is how Falvey rolls. It just doesn't seem like much of a plan to me. To be fair, I am biased as a former pitcher. I liked the balls in play that were expected to be turned into outs to actually become outs. I'm wishing for the best outcome still.
  21. tony&rodney
    The biggest additions to help the bullpen would be a left-fielder and at least one of a 2B/3B/1B who can make the plays behind the pitchers. The Twins have the base of a decent bullpen in place. Varland could be the guy who makes a major step forward and Sands along with Alcala could also improve. Tonkin, with his rubber arm, provides innings at times when the other relievers need a day of rest. Health is always the unknown for pitchers over the course of a season.
  22. tony&rodney
    Did I count 12 of 20 2018 Twins prospects still in MLB?
  23. tony&rodney
    I thought I had responded to this earlier but maybe I did not. I agree that both Detroit and Chicago Southside will have higher payrolls in time, but it may be a few more years. Detroit is about $60M behind MN and has Javy as a gold chain. I want to see the Twins keep all of Correa, Buxton, and Lopez, but if Correa needs to be traded, there will be a team or two willing to have him. The larger issue is a lack of deals seeking to improve the team, seemingly due to a hesitant outlook.
  24. tony&rodney
    Cruz was traded in 2021, Rooker was just arriving, still on team. Both are strictly DH's. I was never a fan of a Rooker type but as a DH only he has shown his worth. My surprise was Falvey trading him. If you draft a DH, let him play as a DH.
  25. tony&rodney
    If Correa is too much, trade him. I sure think someone takes him if the Twins seek out a partner. Worst case scenario the Twins include some money. Same goes for Pablo Lopez and Byron Buxton. The NTC in BB and CC contracts may be an issue. FWIW, I prefer to keep Correa and Buxton but want Falvey to make a few trades to balance the roster. I do sense Correa may be on the move.
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