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tony&rodney

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Everything posted by tony&rodney

  1. tony&rodney
    Agree wholeheartedly with this line, but oh my what a low bar for defense. Brent Rooker can be a very useful DH. Handsome, statuesque sluggers in the corner outfield positions are not a pitcher's friend. Kepler gets a spot every time because he always plays defense and can get on a roll at the plate occasionally. I see Rooker as redundant to Donaldson, Sano, Larnach, and Arraez in two spots, DH and the field. Keep him if there isn't a way to use him as a part of a major trade.
  2. tony&rodney
    This is the crux of whether the Twins can return to relevance next season. One FA signing ($20-30m) and one trade to complement Pineda, Ober, and Ryan would be the minimum expectation. I'm holding out for two trades and a significant free agent signing to bolster the starting pitching staff for next year.
  3. tony&rodney
    A couple of the previous responses to the post are right on - the Twins have better options, especially if one believes in the value of defense, speed, and contact. Rooker will not return any player of value by himself, but in combination with some combination of Larnach, Jeffers, Arraez, Duffey, or others a strong return may be gained. Miami looks like a decent trade partner if conversations can find mutual agreement on needs, maybe Milwaukee or Oakland as well.
  4. tony&rodney
    Miguel Sano hits the ball really hard and is a very controversial player because of his wild swings (pun intended) between strikeouts and hits. He should have value to another team, particularly if the NL adds the DH. Hopefully, MLB will get its act together on this by November. Regretfully, Sano may help the Twins in a trade to a team looking for power and a change may help him too. I would be sad to see Sano go but a shift in employment is often a beneficial course within life. for many people and may push Miguel Sano to a better place professionally.
  5. tony&rodney
    Three solid picks by this post to have better seasons in 2022. For many people, it might be difficult to actually watch Colome after the struggles he had in the first two plus months this year. A return to major league rules in extra innings will help Colome because he doesn't strike out people and the ghost runner is a drag on his work. Colome would also benefit from being used in different situations than just the last inning. Finally, when Colome does not have his cutter working, just take him out. I do believe that Dobnak and Jeffers will be better next year, but I think they are more useful in a trade. Kepler is a player that must make some changes to his game or his career will shift to being a 4th outfielder. There is talent within the struggles of many Twins players and I hope to see some fire in the last two weeks.
  6. tony&rodney
    Luis Arraez may be less than 100% but I haven't heard or read this news from the Twins. If he is less than 100% it sure seems odd to put him out on the field when others could play. Count me among those who believe that Maggi should get a few at bats and innings at the major league level. It would be difficult to explain sending him back to St. Paul because Simmons can play in Chicago. I'm hopeful that the Twins end the season with some upbeat play and decisions.
  7. tony&rodney
    The circumstances this offseason are slightly different than in past seasons. This time there is a decision between rebuilding and retooling. The former means we hang with the Orioles while the latter means we stomp back up front in the AL Central. I loved the trade for Maeda and the Odorizzi trade worked wonderfully. While I welcome a similar "find" this Winter, there also needs to be additional aims for recognizable strong pitchers and a hopefully successful use of the free agent market. The Twins have an abundance of outfielders and redundant infielders as well as an extra catcher. Every player is available, including Byron Buxton, as well as all prospects. This is not a time to panic but an opportunity to use areas of strength to shore up weaknesses. This can be done with a 2022 budget of $125-160 million. There are many options and the Falvine duo has a chance to identify which teams and players to move and acquire. My first three choices (at this time) to add via trade are Alcantara, Marquez, and Lauer. My first three choices to look at via free agency are Carlos Rodon, Marcus Stroman, and Thor Syndergaard. What none of us knows is the interest in our players as a trade partner or the potential cost of the free agents. Realistically, the Twins need to add three starting pitchers and some combination of free agents, trades, and "finds" will work.
  8. tony&rodney
    This post lists three legitimate pitchers to target. Because they remain works in progress, each of Hernandez, Javier, and Toussaint profile as decent middle of rotation hurlers. These are good choices. I would add Eric Lauer as a possibility to that group and hope for some conversations towards a slightly better upgrade by targeting someone like Sandy Alcantara and/or German Marquez. Of course, these pitchers will cost the Twins. Unless the Twins are going to a full rebuild and are willing to lose 100+ games for a couple of years, a few (2-3) experienced pitchers will need to be added through trades or free agency. The Pohlads need only look at attendance figures for those teams that are competitive (TB/Oak = outliers) to see that a rebuild is near a million fans less per year. Prospects who are ready will push their way on to the roster, Tampa Bay being an example.
  9. tony&rodney
    Sometimes his uppercut swing is so severe and patently off that one wonders where the hot streaks come from with Sano. He could be a really good DH and become more consistent. 1B is not a good deal for the team when Miguel is over there, despite his decent ability to scoop errant throws. What to do, what to do .... with Sano. There will be some real interest in the Big Man if the NL uses the DH. It has always seemed possible for Miguel Sano to be more productive and reduce his K-rate and increase his batting average substantially. The number of strikeouts are too numerous and his approach hinders him against the better pitchers.
  10. tony&rodney
    Yah, there were plenty of other choices. I would have kept Wells and likely not protected Baddoo, but there were 5-6 players that has less potential than either Wells or Baddoo .... Smeltzer, Thorpe, Blankenhorn to start.
  11. tony&rodney
    Excellent move by the Twins. Maggi is a great example of the love of playing baseball. Congratulations to Drew Maggi and kudos to Seth for this post.
  12. tony&rodney
    Wells was a bad decision on management's part because of his size, potential, and experience. Baddoo was a tougher call because of his inexperience and injury but his athleticism was important to evaluate.
  13. tony&rodney
    Isn't it fun to watch Big Mike and all of his quirks? I'm thinking he can be an option on an inexpensive contract for next year as he is good for 20 starts of competitive ball. Great game for the bullpen too.
  14. tony&rodney
    Every single player in the Twins system should be available. If a trade improves the team, make it. Josh Donaldson and Jorge Polanco are the only two Twins who can hit and field. Byron Buxton is a true talent but if he cannot be signed, the Twins need to see what other organizations may offer in return for our dynamic CF. Miguel Sano hits the ball as hard as anyone, but his deficiencies are pretty big as 1B and his slumps, K's, and average make him expendable if he returns a decent pitcher. Max Kepler is an enigma offensively but his defense is solid. The team needs good defense and Larnach, Rooker, and Kirilloff do not begin to measure up to Max. Again, if Kepler returns the pitching the Twins need he can be traded. Starting pitching help is needed unless the Twins plan on a full stripping of their current core and totally rebuild. Ryan, Ober, Dobnak, Thorpe, Smeltzer, etc. will result in 100+ losses. I do think Ober and Ryan could work as the back end of the rotation. My comments are not aimed at wholesale trades and sweeping change across the diamond but to those of us who watch the Twins play it is obvious that there are changes needed to the roster if the team wants to be competitive in 2022. I do not denigrate those who are looking for the Twins to roll with the current squad and let the young arms get experience, but am hoping for a return with relevance next season through 4-7 offseason moves.
  15. tony&rodney
    I'm not sure how you arrived at #4, personality. I watch and/or listen to too many Twins games and I do not see any problems whatsoever. Because I have never met JD and do not know him it seems odd to me to include personality in your post. Health is the only item that slows down Josh Donaldson at this time. He and Jorge Polanco are the only two steady figures right now for the Twins lineup. I do wonder if JD can play an effective 1B to add to his play at 3B and use as a DH. There needs to be a place to try Jose Miranda and Alex Kirilloff next season if they are with the team.
  16. tony&rodney
    Simmons is not a reasonable alternative for 2022. It seems like Polanco is the only in house option and count me among the crowd that wants him to remain as our 2B. Javy Baez or Story on one year make good deals? One thing is clear - there is plenty of work to do this offseason for the young Falvine duo.
  17. tony&rodney
    Aaron Whitefield is a great story. We already saw that he can run and play great defense. It would be a wonderful thing if he can put it all together and be an on base machine. The Twins need players who can run and field in addition to hitting. Rooker, Larnach, and even Kirilloff (somewhat) are worrisome in the field. Good writeup.
  18. tony&rodney
    Sad hitting day. The Twins need to run the table to finish above .500.
  19. tony&rodney
    The lower spots in the rotation do allow for some of the prospects to see what they can do. This is what Ober and Ryan are doing right now. To use a third spot would be pretty risky. It is one thing to finish the year with all prospects showing their skills in a lost season but another to begin the year experimenting with prospects. A staff of "seeing what we have" at the start of the year would almost certainly guarantee 100+ losses. Pineda on a lower paying contract with incentives may fill a #3 spot, although that is not a preferred path. I'm hopeful that a few trades and several free agents can right the ship. There is always room for any player to push their way into a lineup or rotation. Lastly, there should not be any repeats of signing "we hope that..." veterans.
  20. tony&rodney
    Big Mike for $2 million is acceptable. He can spot start or be a long reliever perhaps.
  21. tony&rodney
    Not a good showing tonight, but hey, if the Twins wins their last 22 games they finish above .500.
  22. tony&rodney
    At no point was I in favor of adding Andrelton Simmons last offseason, but he has not been the worst free agent signing by a long shot. His defense is decent and his bat poor, but it is pitching that failed the Twins this season.
  23. tony&rodney
    The Twins are not a small market team. There is money if management chooses to go that route. The payroll will not be above $160 million, so we are not competing with the New York teams or Los Angeles. It is extremely unlikely to sign Max Scherzer, agreed. There are options that will be available, however. Miami and Milwaukee both have some needs that match what the Twins can offer. Perhaps there can be some trades. Otherwise, or additionally, free agents are available who will sign if the Twins offer the correct number. If anything, the past month has shown that the Twins can win and good pitching is a must. It is much easier to win when three runs is enough. This year the Twins have given up more than five runs per game, the second worst in baseball. The analysis works and I hope the Twins can agree.
  24. tony&rodney
    Excellent work and a fine piece of writing to support an offseason where the Twins absolutely need to make the best bids for a couple of starting pitchers. On other posts there are questions about how anyone can project for pitchers like Alcantara, Ray, Rodon, and others but the more important point is made in this post - the best players are worth their money. I was a fan of trading Dozier two years before he left because the Twins really needed help and there were few options other than trades. Right now, the Twins have multiple players at the same positions and money to spend on free agents; there are really good options this offseason and the sooner the Twins act the better.
  25. tony&rodney
    Good to see a Twins win. 15 of 25 remaining games are against AL Central teams and despite the Twins limping along with their "new" starting rotation, these games may tell us where the team stands in relationship to their division foes. Ober looks decent and it may be the correct plan to monitor his pitch count so carefully. He could have easily gone at least another inning seemingly. These games do show who can focus and take solid at bats and this is a way to gage who stays and who goes.
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