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tony&rodney

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Everything posted by tony&rodney

  1. tony&rodney
    I like the signings of Rodon and Correa. Wonder if the Twins might be able to shake Murphy or/and Jansen loose.
  2. tony&rodney
    Do you mean at the plate with a bat or behind it with a glove? I guess Tampa Bay had some issues at the catching position, but Houston, Philadelphia, San Diego, NYY, Seattle, Atlanta, LAD, Toronto, Cleveland, and St. Louis were all pretty happy with their catchers. The Mets have a young pup on the rise. The Guardians and Cardinals put a high premium on the defensive side as does Houston. I wouldn't say that the Twins catchers compare favorably to the playoff teams sets of backstops. I do understand that there is a shortage of good catchers across baseball and that the depth is thin for many teams.
  3. tony&rodney
    Sean Murphy seems like a reach. BTV would cope with Larnach, Ober, and Miller for Murphy, but the A's and Twins might not agree. Perhaps Danny Jansen would be a conversation piece. What does Toronto want in return? A catcher worth some thought is Christian Vasquez and maybe he is open to 2/$18M deal. Omar Narvaez may be less costly but he looked to be in decline. This is where those talent evaluators earn their paycheck.
  4. tony&rodney
    Jansen and Murphy may be available and it is possible to sign Vasquez.
  5. tony&rodney
    It is interesting to see both Harper and Schwarber running. The good teams are not afraid to run. The Twins weren't just poor at stealing bases, they were not good at running the bases anywhere as a team. The Twins did not score on doubles from first base very often nor even on singles with two out. While I have no idea why the team was a collective turtle, those of us who watched enough games can attest to the lack of base-running acumen from our Twins squad. Buxton should run. It is a part of his skill set. If everyone is too worried about injuries we are looking at a unique player being held hostage as a DH. If he can't run, he might get hurt in the outfield too. I'm hopeful for a change in ideas for the Twins in 2023. That hope includes improved fundamentals on the bases and behind the plate as well as in the field.
  6. tony&rodney
    The Pohlad's businesses are not emotional ventures. The goal is to maximize the asset, which many would argue (why not?) is the point of business. Carl and sons are not baseball people or fans. That's ok for many businesses but baseball does require some level of risk via spending that may be more difficult than many normal businesses. The alternative is to be superior at scouting, drafting, and developing. A combination of financial risk and an eye for player talent works best. The Twins are currently in a rough spot. Jim Pohlad repeats the same lines spoken decades in the past by his father because he has hired people to run his (the family) baseball business and does not have a vision for the Minnesota Twins beyond the expected financial return, and that is his right. Twins fans haven't seen their team among the highest in MLB payrolls since the heydays of Calvin Griffith's 1960 teams. San Diego has a smaller market but has spent big. Whatever the answer is, spend $140-180 million for 2023 or cut back to $90-110 million, I just hope the Twins are interesting in 2023 because their 2022 product was horrid and I followed them to the end just like a fanatic.
  7. tony&rodney
    Wrong.
  8. tony&rodney
    The question of whether Martin is a decent trade candidate depends on what baseball philosophy the Twins adopt for 2023. Martin is an on base machine and athletic player who will steal bases. The Twins could have a new look next year but their approach has been to play base to base and wait for a home run; they were very poor at running the bases in the last several seasons. If the Twins are going to continue the style of baseball we have seen, then trading Martin is almost certain providing any value comes in return. However, I am hopeful of a shift in thinking and practice that will begin in 2023.
  9. tony&rodney
    Very unlikely, but it could happen. Think of it as something similar to a Joe D hitting streak. Joe Mauer was a unicorn. If I had to identify what Mauer brought to the game that is most missed by the current era of Twins catchers, it is his ability to block everything and reduce the opponent's running game. Imagine a Maldonado or Hedges at catcher and add the ability to hit .300 and run the bases efficiently - Joe Mauer. I doubt any of us lives long enough to see another catcher with his talents.
  10. tony&rodney
    You have included a solid bat in Bogaerts that might be a good choice. Kepler? Maybe Miami is interested in Kepler and Miranda for Lopez? If Miranda doesn't start, he might be expendable? I think Josh Winder could do what we expect from Fulmer. One thing I see from most every list is the hope in Gray, Mahle, and Maeda for $29 million. While I'm thinking that Falvey rolls with those three in 2023, I would prefer different options. What about Rodon, Lopez, and Varland as possible replacements?
  11. tony&rodney
    What's the budget? Sign Bassitt, deGrom, and Correa. Shouldn't cost much more than $95M. ?
  12. tony&rodney
    This was super interesting to me. Correa missed a little bit of time but is generally a gamer. Urshela and Sanchez played through everything. I was very impressed with how tough Sanchez was this past year. That said, he is not a good defensive catcher and his bat has slowed considerably.
  13. tony&rodney
    Yes, sign somebody. The Twins don't need any more piles of Happ, etc. I would like to see a signing of Rodon for 5/$125 and Correa for whatever. I don't expect this to happen. I just threw out those trades but have not made them part of any plan. I'm curious about what possibilities exist. What would Miami want? Polanco or Kepler or Arraez? I suggested Larnach because he has been mentioned as having a high trade value, although I personally do not see that. I'm not sold on Jeffers as a starting catcher and am not enamored with any of Mahle, Gray, or Maeda. Perhaps some other team thinks differently. i believe the Twins have mostly spent their money on stopgaps and still don't understand what the agenda was with the SD Padres trade, except for Falvey has stated that he always liked Paddack. I never stopped following or watching the Twins last season but they were a sorry team in nearly every regard. Thus, I am curious about what options exist. It sure seems like most folks have plans to return the same team mol.
  14. tony&rodney
    Jorge Polanco was injured in 2022 and also disappointing at times. Still, I'm not ready to trade Polanco unless he can bring back a haul. That seems unlikely.
  15. tony&rodney
    This is the magical question. The ideas that get thrown out can be ridiculous but we just don't know what another team values or is willing to give up in return. Would Toronto part with Jansen (C) for Arraez and Gray? Would Miami surrender P. Lopez and Cabrera for Larnach, Mahle, Jeffers, and N. Miller? I have no idea what other teams value but a couple of trades along with maybe two or three additions via signing free agents seems like a way to improve the roster for 2023.
  16. tony&rodney
    The offseason is usually all about optimism and positive vibes that crescendo in Spring Training. It's a ritual for all baseball fans. Your concern is one I share, yet I cling to the ideal that people do not need to repeat their past mistakes because learning is an option. We shall see how things play out. Hopefully.
  17. tony&rodney
    The stress of pitching is quite individual. Every pitcher responds differently or in a way that corresponds to their body. Some guys can switch back and forth, but others cannot. A few can throw 10-25 pitches nearly every day and still others can only throw every 4-5 days. Conditioning an arm helps a few players but not all. Duran could emerge as a rotation option and it would be fun to see his repertoire manage 100-120 pitch outings all year. Because Jhoan had a string of arm issues, the Twins transitioned him to the bullpen. He had a terrific year. It seems like the team is counting on Duran to fill an important role at the end of games. I would love to see him throw 200 innings as a starting pitcher; he is a big guy. There may be understandable reticence in risking that the past arm troubles reemerge with Duran switching to the rotation. Every coach and manager needs to be attuned to the foibles of each player's body. Duran looked comfortable on his new role this year right away. The Twins would need to sign a couple of significant relievers to gamble on moving Duran to the rotation.
  18. tony&rodney
    I hope Sonny Gray wins a Cy Young, as a Twin next year. I really do. That said, there is a part of me that has had a hard time getting behind Gray. He is so good ... for 4 or 5 innings and then misses time for a leg, this, or that. Perhaps I miss something but Gray looks the part of someone we all liked - Odorizzi. Good pitchers and fun to watch but best if they are your #4 guy. I guess the question then is, can the Twins do better and I don't have an answer for that . I hope so.
  19. tony&rodney
    I know you already know this but worst case is that Jhoan ruins his arm and never pitches again. He does have some past history with arm issues. Just saying.
  20. tony&rodney
    I totally agree and had him only in a bullpen role in one iteration of my Twins roster. However, we do need to see what plays out. I am trading him in my November updated roster that also does not include Judge.?
  21. tony&rodney
    I just watched a Julien at bat. He never got a decent pitch to hit but walked after flipping off two tough pitches for foul balls. That plays anywhere. I'm warming to him after his summer and now domination of the Arizona Fall League.
  22. tony&rodney
    I'm sorry, my post should have explained the contract with Maeda more completely. Maeda gets a small (for baseball) incremental bonuses for innings pitched but he makes his real money on games started. One of the reasons the Dodgers traded Maeda was because he wanted to be a starter. Maeda could reasonably earn $9 million in bonuses as a starter if he was healthy, but only $250-500 K as a relief pitcher. I believe there was some spoken agreements in place provided Maeda was healthy. I think we will find out in 2023. Maeda would be fantastic in the bullpen though because he is that rare entity who recovers quickly in 2-4 inning stints.
  23. tony&rodney
    Henriquez could help the Twins in long relief and see what is needed at the highest level of baseball. If he can command and control three or more pitches he could work his way into the rotation down the road.
  24. tony&rodney
    I'm in agreement with a previous comment that names Rodon and Bassitt as the only two guys worth considering in the free agent starting pitching pool. I'm not excited by our triumvirate of Gray, Mahle, and Maeda either. Maeda would be a good choice for the bullpen but his contract is written in a way that he will most likely start. Paddack is a pass with two surgeries and a steep climb ahead. He might be useful in 2025. That leaves Falvey to work on a trade. I want to know what Miami wants for either Pablo Lopez and/or Edward Cabrera. Alcantara may have been available two years ago but no longer is in any scenario. I do like the idea of Varland in one spot and am interested in opportunities for all of Ober, Winder, and Woods Richardson as needed. I see Joe Ryan as the one sure thing in our 2023 starting rotation and he would be best as a #4. Rodon, Lopez, Cabrera, Ryan, and Varland for 2023.
  25. tony&rodney
    Watched Julien hit his first homer last night. He did exactly what he did all summer. He takes pitches that are out of the zone, fouls off tough strikes, and punishes the pitch he has waited for with a quick line drive swing. Julien and Martin could hit their way to positions on a MLB roster. Both are best when they let their natural approach flourish. Sometimes Julien will take a pitch just off of the low outside corner for a K, but it is fun to watch him turn on his pitch. The tough part is where they might fit in the field. Many years ago, young players would fill out a roster as reserves and then hit their way into the everyday role. Young pitchers would work their way up in the bullpen. The factor of controlled years changed that approach. I wonder if Julien and Martin would be good candidates for utility positions. They could work on their defense and hitting until possibly forcing their way into a main role.
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