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tony&rodney

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Everything posted by tony&rodney

  1. tony&rodney
    If we have to rate top five right now ... 1. Joe Ryan 2. Sonny Gray 3. Bailey Ober 4. Pablo Lopez 5. Louie Varland.
  2. tony&rodney
    I find myself hoping that Joey Gallo can do something positive every time he comes to the plate. He is working hard in my opinion, which I give hime credit for and admire. Baseball is a tough sport. That said, my hopefulness and optimism for Gallo sees a guy who makes a few plays in the field but is not the guy he once was with a glove. He is not close to as good at first base as Kirilloff and does not come close to Kepler as an outfielder any longer. His bat is very sad these days. Since April, Gallo is wishing and searching for the ball and it is increasingly hard to find for the big guy. I remain hopeful but a decision will be necessary if July arrives with Gallo still looking so sad. You pick who takes his spot if the futility goes on another five weeks. Can Joey turn it around in June?
  3. tony&rodney
    Morgan has been interesting to watch but the Twins do not need to draft anyone for first base unless Lou Gerhrig returns. Kirilloff is set for a decade and the Twins drafted a first baseman to serve as an example of why not to make that mistake again.
  4. tony&rodney
    The best position young position player the Twins have in their system is a first baseman, Alex Kirilloff. He is good defensively and is a guy who can hit now and should improve. I'm afraid first base is the most certain positive the team has and that leaves those who want to play first base on the outside. Julien can still hit his way to a regular spot but the Twins better hope Polanco holds the position because he is really good and it would be a shame if Jorge fails.
  5. tony&rodney
    Polanco was announced as returning to the roster last night with Julien returning to the Saints. Julien was fine but I believe Polanco remains the best player on the team and will provide a lift in all ways, shapes, and forms to the Twins and their fans.
  6. tony&rodney
    All credit for Matt Wallner continuing to focus at the plate. He has looked really tuned in and willing to smash the ball to all fields in this streak. It seemed that Wallner was prone to looking for pitches to pull late last season and early this year for the Twins. The Twins will need to evaluate their options and think hard about what Wallner's bat could mean for their season. There may be some hesitancy to move on from Joey Gallo or Max Kepler ( a long time favorite of mine), but Falvey and his study group have a real hot hitter in AAA. Who is likely to help the team win games?
  7. tony&rodney
    Lewis was in a group of five as well. Hunter Greene has some SI hype but it was known that he would need time to learn how to pitch. Greene was never seen as a Doc Gooden. FWIW, the top five this year are supposedly all rated higher than any of the five from 2017. It will be five years before we know enough to judge these guys from 2023.
  8. tony&rodney
    I don't care ..... it's in the past. Falvey gonna do whatever he wants to do. Never liked Mahle even when he was ok with the Reds. Just not the guy for winning against good teams. Still supported the trade for pitching, and yes, I still love the trade for Pablo Lopez. Who would trade one of Kirilloff, Lee, or Lewis for Steer and CES? That said, I always tried to catch as many CES at bats last season as possible. He does hit the ball really hard. Final thought is haunted houses are pretty lame.
  9. tony&rodney
    Celestino.
  10. tony&rodney
    FWIW, Wallner is trying to force the Twins hand. He has a double, triple, and home run in his return to AAA.
  11. tony&rodney
    I take it you are not fans of Ober and Varland? They seem like fair #4 and #5 starting pitchers for most any MLB team.
  12. tony&rodney
    I cannot find the article that involved a discussion among a number of long term scouts who suggested that the top five this year are all better prospects than all but Adley Rutschman in the last ten years and they expect them to be stars.. Time will tell on those predictions.
  13. tony&rodney
    I'm still hoping for Max Clark. He has present skills and fantastic upside. Remember that the Twins didn't think much of Corbin Carroll. I would hope the Twins take a player with a chance to play in the MLB All Star Game and not somebody who projects a s a pretty good hitter. I liked Steer and CES two years ago but neither projects as a Julio Rodriguez. Passing on Skenes is improbable. I watched several of his games and he looks tough. Still, I'm totally confounded by how the Twins management works. Confounded, not upset in any way.
  14. tony&rodney
    Gallo has been doing just enough to keep in the lineup. Most days Joey is at first base and has not been too good in the outfield. Does he need some time on the IL to heal a leg injury? Ideally, Kirilloff is the first baseman. Yes, the team has a glut of left-handed hitting corner outfielders when one lines up Gallo, Kepler, Larnach, and Wallner with Gordon on the 60 day IL now and Castro as an everywhere reserve player. I guess this was a reaction to watching Cave and Contreras last September. By the end of July, I would expect some changes via trades.
  15. tony&rodney
    Good hitting by Lewis to lob the ball into the outfield instead of trying for the three run jack. I almost feel bad for Kepler. He has been a good player for the Twins but is clearly not what the Twins need right now. Maybe he turns it around. Maybe Buxton and Correa turn it around too.
  16. tony&rodney
    Wonder what teams would be interested? Also wonder if the Twins are open to trading either or both?
  17. tony&rodney
    If the plan last winter was to have Taylor in CF and Buxton as a DH, then the Twins are a handicapped team. MAT is a fine centerfielder and excellent base runner, Kansas City did not trade him for salary relief or because the prospects they acquired are so promising. They did not need a reserve outfielder. The Twins need to figure out a configuration which makes sense in the field. They have their best outfielder as a DH, their best first baseman playing outfield, and some good DH guys playing in the field. The Twins have lost four series in a row and are 10-14 going into Houston before they come home to play four games versus Cleveland. These next seven somehow seem pretty important. Maybe the Twins can figure out where their players should play.
  18. tony&rodney
    I'm not at all convinced that Matt Wallner will evolve at a point in time to become a regular starter much less a star, but his athleticism is enticing despite the raw inexperienced nature of his play and it seems necessary to find out. Would the Twins even allow a young player to develop into a star? Wallner reached base in eight straight plate appearances, yet more impressive was the manner in which he accomplished it. He was focused and in control of the strike zone and fouled off some good pitches. Certainly it makes sense to see how his play would proceed in several subsequent games at the very least. Does this portend that the return of Maeda results in Varland being returned to AAA? A shift, even if for a brief time, to twelve pitchers is also something to consider. I expect that to be the norm within a year or two actually. The Twins are confounding to me.
  19. tony&rodney
    Playing the Astros in Houston should get players interested in being competitive even more than one might expect under usual circumstances. Although one could say that every game demands close attention, playing a team in their stadium that has dominated baseball for nearly a decade may increase whatever competitive spirit exists. This is similar to going into Yankee or Dodger Stadiums. We should see some good baseball. On a side note, I wonder if there would be benefits from carrying an additional bat and going with twelve pitchers? Does anyone else find it unusual to send a player to AAA who is clearly your best bat at this moment in time?
  20. tony&rodney
    Castro should have earned a utility spot with his versatility and all around play.
  21. tony&rodney
    Good story.
  22. tony&rodney
    Max Clark would be a terrific pick for the Twins. He has the most upside of anyone since the pick of Byron Buxton.
  23. tony&rodney
    True. I'm not sold. He has a ton to prove in my opinion, but I'm just a small voice that favors different skill sets. I understand those who like his game; I don't.
  24. tony&rodney
    Baseball (2023) managers have less autonomy than in the past. Falvey and Levine (perhaps others) have a significant voice in the game. I'm not sure that is a positive thing. Baldelli was hired because of his prior experience in working with a group of people combined with his low key approach. Managers made in game decisions, player usage patterns, and various other calls based on their knowledge, experience, discussions with other coaches, and feel for what was actually in front of them before the advent of front office involvement. In a sense there is only so much Baldelli can do. He is Falvey's guy. The Twins would never have someone like Francona or Baker. Both of these managers (a few others) listen and converse with a wide assortment of people, including their front offices, but the decisions made on players and in games is their call. If the Twins wanted the best mind possible as a field manager, Paul Molitor would still be in charge. Thus, the extension of Baldelli is easily understandable, actually expected, with Falvey at the helm of the team. Baldelli is fine. What has been a bit of a surprise is how the Pohlads have increased their unprecedented (for the Twins) financial spending under Falvey.
  25. tony&rodney
    Varland is a very solid #5 starter; so competitive and hard working.
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