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tony&rodney

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Everything posted by tony&rodney

  1. tony&rodney
    Emm-Rod is immature. He has moments where his concentration just wanders. This is pretty typical of young guys. He gets to Wichita and to St. Paul and then we should see him begin to take everything a little more seriously. Do not underestimate how difficult it is to grow up. We shall see soon. It often looked like he was disinterested. However, what about that grand slam in the playoffs. I could see that coming and actually said it out loud, "He going yard in this at bat". Let's check back with Emmanuel on August 1.
  2. tony&rodney
    Last season the Twins starting pitchers were among the leaders in innings pitched as a team because they had the guys to successfully pitch deeper into games. In other years, some of the pitchers often struggled in the 3rd inning. If Baldelli has guys pitching effectively he will let them keep going. It is the weakness of pitchers that results in shorter outings. One example - Greg Maddux could face a lineup four times and the batters would never see the same pitches. That and the friendly strike zone.
  3. tony&rodney
    Come on now. They don't play the same position. Their results are not actually similar, You are being silly.
  4. tony&rodney
    I was more referring to the Giants running into some roadblocks when signing major contracts with star players recently. Sure, the Giants have won three and that does take some luck, but they are also always working to some extent to put a decent team on the field. I'm not sure all teams can make that claim. Your point stands, a ton of teams are in line for better luck.
  5. tony&rodney
    I can't disagree with you really. I'm going off of a couple of things. The Twins (Falvey) loosely indicated a reduction in payroll. I'm guessing somewhere from $120-130 M. Of course this could be far different, it is just a guess. Last year I guessed $150 million. I was low then too.
  6. tony&rodney
    Ok. I agree that this is a problem that should be resolved.
  7. tony&rodney
    That trade includes a prospect and the Mariners have specifically stated that they are looking for MLB ready guys with lower K-rates. I believe it best to take people at their word, although i will grant anyone that people change their minds. Substitute Bailey Ober for Emm-Rod and you might get some interest. Additionally, Julien does strike out more than both Polanco or Brooks Lee, so maybe a substitution is needed there as well.
  8. tony&rodney
    Yes, I agree the Twins are looking to make a trade. There is zero chance in my opinion that the Twins sign a player for big bucks even if they clear dollars first. They have not played in that territory. As I often say, anything can happen. I would bet a grand against a Snell or Montgomery signing.
  9. tony&rodney
    We are likely working from different guesses. I'm guessing the Twins are going to land in the $120-130 million range for a roster budget, but I CLEARLY don't know. Thus, the Twins won't add guys with the knowledge that they have to reduce later via trade because their options would be severely restricted due to a need to sell. I'm also guessing that trades are the path that the Twins are looking towards in order to improve the team. I also believe the Twins are looking to trade for a pitcher that fits in with Pablo Lopez. The Twins are not going to sign a pitcher like Montgomery or Snell because that is not their practice. Now could the Twins do something far different? Of course. They could also issue a statement that they came very close to signing Ohtani. Anything can happen.
  10. tony&rodney
    If the Twins haven't moved on Lugo or Wacha it may indicate that the payroll is at the limit already, which may mean any moves that cost money depend on salary coming off the rolls before a new number is added. If, I mean if, that is the case we should not be entertaining any thoughts about signing free agents above the minor league deals with a an invite to Ft. Myers. Trades remain a possibility. Fortunately the Twins are already in a fair position with their current roster.
  11. tony&rodney
    I had to laugh when I saw this post and the number of comments. Then I looked for what Brock had to say. I'm a big fan of Max Kepler, always have been and have been disappointed at times but hung in for him. I also believe the Twins need him for 2024. A trade would need to return a substantial pitcher. There may be help on the way in a couple of years from Emm-Rod and Jenkins, but the outfield is thin right now. I had high hopes for Trevor Larnach but he didn't look very good in St. Paul and may do better with a change/trade. Wallner made some impressive adjustments but still has a lot to prove. I'm putting him in the lineup every day though. All of Gordon, Martin, Prato, Helman, and Lewis look like decent utility players until they manage to grab a position and prove themselves as regulars. The players who have value to trade include: Jeffers, Julien, Lewis, Ryan, Ober, Varland, Duran, and Lee. Polanco and Kepler are complimentary pieces. Kepler alone returns a relief pitcher. If the return includes a controllable pitcher like Gilbert or Kirby, the Twins may consider adding Raya or Festa to the pile.
  12. tony&rodney
    Money helps but it does not come close to being equal and can never surpass the power of the unknown. The Yankees and the Dodgers have been powerful organizations for a long time. In the same market, neither the Mets nor the Angels have managed to capture similar success. The development of baseball players bears zero resemblance to the developmental paths of sports such as football and basketball. Those highly drafted athletes slot immediately into starting and starring roles for their respective teams. Baseball has Aaron Sabato, Mark Prior, and everything in between. Baseball players have a difficult road to playing time at the highest levels with an unpredictable end point, where injuries or even social problems can end careers quickly. MLB has weak leadership that has failed to access the media and attendance potential of the sport at a similar level to basketball and football. Those who decry the competition should examine the results of the last 40 years in comparison to the preceding 40 years in baseball. There are conversations and negotiations on various details that may enhance the sport for all teams and the players, but the game is not suffering at the moment. The Shohei Ohtani signing has incited a raft of comments that push notions of imbalance and unfairness. The reality is that Ohtani was focused on playing for the Dodgers and the financials were irrelevant. We can be certain that multiple teams were willing to extend more lucrative contracts to Shohei. Baseball players should be able to work wherever they desire if they are able to manage the details. I would think that everyone should understand the allure of choosing your living and employment situation.
  13. tony&rodney
    I always agreed that the Twins could easily afford Shohei Ohtani. Thing is, Shohei just wanted to play for the Dodgers. He is a simple guy, lives in Los Angeles, and wants to work there too.
  14. tony&rodney
    The Twins have a strong team. I am agreement that in order to maintain or take another step the ceiling needs to be raised because the floor is solid. How to do that is tricky because any trade of a big name young player will be risky as depth will be reduced. The pitchers being mentioned thus far are on playoff contending teams (Seattle, Milwaukee, Miami), which includes the Twins. Similar to the Twins, these teams will want players who are MLB ready now. While oft named guys like Polanco, Kepler, Farmer, and Vazquez could have some interest it is much more likely we are talking about discussions that identify younger players such as Jeffers, Kirilloff, Miranda, Julien, Lewis, and Lee (near ready). The Twins also hear interest in all of Ryan, Ober, Varland, Duran, and Jax. The Twins are not going to be able to make a convenient trade but a gamble trade may work. I don't expect anything until January or February, and perhaps Falvey just holds the hand in hand.
  15. tony&rodney
    My first seven decades are in the books, so i qualify for your first point. Money is available to attend games but I'm loathe to spend cash on myself because the prices still shock me to an extent. When I do go to games, it is fun and I spend without worrying. I have had partial season tickets but find myself more comfortable listening or watching from home. Going to games takes time and beautiful days on the lake win out. I'm not understanding the accessibility point. Whenever I go to the games I park in the North Loop. It is really nice around there with a ton of little shops plus a brewery right there. Safety? I'm sure there are issues but I don't go to strip clubs or the bars where all the hip people hang out. I would get carded and refused entry. I just stayed in an Airbnb downtown for four nights during Thanksgiving with my spouse and kids. We went out every day walking for hours and also went out at night. I think the scariest thing I ever saw in Minneapolis was Bob Lurtsema walking briskly along in a t-shirt on a January day where the temperature was -10 degrees F. The Twins will need to figure out how to get their games "out' on various media platforms. I have cable but am dropping it next week. I also have a subscription to mlb.com. There must be someone smart enough to put together a plan to make the games available so that people can watch or listen if they are interested. Lastly, I cannot state what level of appeal the Twins reach as far as younger fans. When I go to games, I usually go with someone in their thirties who has called me up and asked to to a game. Looking around there seems to be quite a few younger fans but there must be someone who works for the Twins who knows all of those details. The Twins are ok right now and old goats who have followed the team have seen plenty of lean years.
  16. tony&rodney
    I hope he is great. The Giants could use a little good luck.
  17. tony&rodney
    Any trade that improves the team should happen. Polanco, Lewis, whatever. Trades to clear money for minimal return will set the team back. Cleveland and Detroit hope for this. Seth Lugo signed a 3/$45M contract with KC today. Clearing $20 million is not going to help the team. The only thing that will help the Twins is a gamble type trade similar to the deal made last season. Given the clear priority towards pitching, the Twins cannot trade their top pitching prospects. Falvey has his work cut out for him.
  18. tony&rodney
    The suggestion of a salary cap with a salary floor is a non starter from the owner's side ..... and the the players', with the owners being much more adamant and vocal that a floor will never happen. Well, unless the team floor is about $50 million for a team. Comparisons with other sports doesn't work. Hockey is small potatoes due to limited media contracts. The NBA has players make huge money because basketball is a global sport drawing huge media deals. Football is the king of media in U.S. sports and their shared revenue and total control of the games means (mol) relative equality of monies. Baseball still has room for expansion, both in terms of teams and through media exposure. The leadership of baseball seems woefully behind other team pro sports. The reason the Twins and other teams could not sign Shohei Ohtani is actually really simple. Ohtani wants to play for the Dodgers. This has been known, discussed, and is now verified through the contract. I, for one, am happy for him. Sure, he would be a good fit for the Twins and they could have easily signed him .... if Ohtani wanted to play for the Twins. So it goes.
  19. tony&rodney
    I know you made your mind up a year ago on both Julien and Miranda, but there are a couple of things worth noting: 1. They are far different players, not many similarities in their approach. 2. We don't know how Miranda turned out because he hurt his shoulder in the first week of Spring Training. If you don't believe that injuries make any difference or that those two are the same, I don't have anything else. FWIW, I'm not worrying about either player because i don't have strong feelings about their worth. Falvey makes the team.
  20. tony&rodney
    Too close to politics .... because capitalism doesn't work. Back to baseball, let each team make their own team.
  21. tony&rodney
    Why do all of the comments that oppose Ohtani signing a contract of his own choosing that adheres to all of the rules of the CBA sound like forms of jealousy. Is this the end of MLB? I do not understand the objections. How many World Series crowns do the Yankees and Dodgers hold in the 21st century? How is this any different than Texas signing Seager and Semien? Deferrals is just a corporate thing. Numbers have always been a thing - they change. The Twins carry debt despite paying $5 million down, $5 million per year for 5 years with a $3 million ballon payment to close out Calvin. Later they paid another $10 million for the minority shares. It's all business and the Twins do exactly what they do and the Dodgers do exactly what they do because they have different markets and they follow their models. They do exactly what they want to do without restrictions. It's just different. Who cares about the money? We have been hearing this trope since Curt Flood won his lawsuit. I'm not seeing the dynasties that we saw in the 1950s and 1960s. Corporate will be corporate. I just want to watch the games and can't care about the money.
  22. tony&rodney
    Add Varland too. I trust all three of Ryan, Ober, and Varland as much as i would trust Heaney and Gray, two good pitchers. The three Twins are getting better.
  23. tony&rodney
    You do remember that deferrals have been used dozens of times going back a couple of decades, right?
  24. tony&rodney
    This. What we all know for certain is that we actually don't have any idea at all of where the Twins roster budget will finally rest. We have expectations, beliefs, and logical conclusions. My guess is anywhere from $100-140 million, which puts the current squad as it sits now right in the middle at $120M. Other than that , we hope ....
  25. tony&rodney
    I am fine with any one of the current five on the roster starting a playoff game because it means we are in the playoffs. The way the pitchers are ranked is more or less how they are at this moment. All of the Twins current starting pitchers are at risk of injury and all could have positive developmental steps forward too. The Twins knew that Ryan and Ober were less than 100% for the playoffs and thus they were well behind Lopez and Gray. We shall see how it plays out, but the odds today are pretty much what Nick has written.
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