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tony&rodney

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Everything posted by tony&rodney

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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).
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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?
  9. tony&rodney
    No. Not for Festa, not for Keaschall, and ok .... one for one, Kirilloff for Alonso.
  10. 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.
  11. tony&rodney
    Not Royce, the milb pitcher.
  12. 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.
  13. 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.
  14. 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.
  15. 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.
  16. 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.
  17. 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.
  18. 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.
  19. 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.
  20. tony&rodney
    Thielbar will be fine. He just needs to relax, have a few Surly's, and get back on track.
  21. tony&rodney
    Nothing wrong with the disagreements. I'm rarely watch any sport other than baseball but I coached basketball for near thirty years. I wondered why the Timberwolves didn't just let Doncic get his points and take away his passing options. No double. I also wondered why the Wolves seemed to avoid driving on Doncic to make him play both ends of the floor. Yes, I disagree with Baldelli too sometimes. Certainly the game has changed in my seven decades. It does seem though that some folks belittle Baldelli as if they ever knew a sliver of baseball knowledge by comparison. Pretend is a wonderful thing but comments should also keep a foot in reality which you clearly do from your reply.
  22. tony&rodney
    We all know that Correa has a huge contract. However, it is a big jump from a shortstop like Correa to the next best available option. I choose to ignore the contract and feel the Twins (and their fans) are lucky to have a very dependable shortstop. I watch a fair amount of minor league games (milb.com) and have yet to see anyone remotely close in skills playing shortstop.
  23. tony&rodney
    The Okert for Gordon trade was win-win for both teams because each player was out of options and there wasn't a roster position for them unless traded. The Marlins were keen to add Luis Arraez and thus the Pablo Lopez trade. I'm not too sure who Miami wants from the Twins at this time. Luzardo would be a good addition but the cost would be high (Lee, Raya, plus two?). Last winter I suggested the Twins add Edward Cabrera and use him in the role currently filled by Cole Sands. I have no idea what it would take to add Cabrera but I'm still interested in him. What does Miami want? The Marlins franchise looks to be in some disarray so the plans are unknown, which makes potential trades difficult to guess.
  24. tony&rodney
    It seems pretty natural to be disappointed by the performance of specific Twins players and understandable that folks want the Twins to win games. Some people are suggesting changes that are a little severe. Sports fans are a little like that though, I guess. The comments make me wonder if people who have or once had a job that required exceptional skills, intelligence, training, and experience would accept the notion that any person off the street could step in and do their job. Could Baldelli take your place in your job today or the job you once had? Decades of playing, coaching, and following baseball has given me a relatively thorough understanding of the game, but it was never my sole means of employment much less expertise. I do find myself at odds with some decisions by both players and managers, thus not attempting to correct anyone for their opinions. Levity is a good thing and it is useful to remember that as fans we have little to no experience relative to the knowledge possessed by professionals such as Rocco Baldelli. This doesn't mean that he is above reproach or criticism. There are 30 MLB managers which means that these guys hold pretty difficult to obtain yet surely impossible to hold positions. I'm pretty sure that no one who has ever posted, commented, or read on Twins Daily has anything close to the expertise of these managers. Baseball is entertainment for us and we should do our part to be entertained in order to avoid a sole focus on the negative, which puts a damper on the fun of following the game. Please forgive me if this is too much like wishy-washy philosophy or something else. The people on this site are interested in baseball and I just wish folks would not let their interests in the Twins or game push them into a poor state of mind merely because of a loss or poor performance. It is a long season.
  25. tony&rodney
    Julien has looked worse for the Saints than he did for the Twins; he is lost at the plate. This will be a big week for him. Maybe he rebounds from the past. I was hoping that Julien would be sent down to Ft. Myers to work on his swing. It sure looked to me like a combination of mental approach (hesitancy) and swing trigger was off. Also, I may be the only one but I see Julien as a second baseman only. His lateral movement is fine. He played one game at 1B for the Saints because they wanted to use Tony Kemp at 2B and others elsewhere while thinking a day at 1B would be a possible positive change. Julien doesn't have the flexibility to play a good first base. Hopefully, for Julien and the Twins, the bat returns. Does anyone else think that Kirilloff's swing looks slower than it did last year? AK looks like he is muscled up.
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