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tony&rodney

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Everything posted by tony&rodney

  1. tony&rodney
    Nothing electric, but I really enjoyed watching Cody Stashek pitch. With an exception or two, he looked to be in control of the at bats. I hope he improves and makes the trip north from Florida on the opening day team.
  2. tony&rodney
    Donaldson takes really good at bats and crushes mistakes. If Buxton is in the 9 hole, pitchers will have their hands full when he is on base. While I expect JD to sign with Atlanta, it would really be fun to watch the Twins hit. Kepler, Donaldson, Polanco, Cruz, Sano, Arraez, and Garver are pretty patient hitters and Rosario and Buxton are likely the most talented athletes on the team. That would be a lineup worth seeing.
  3. tony&rodney
    Wow. Another example of using baseball and its profits as business. Except, baseball is a closed club. One must be approved to buy a team. Calvin Griffith had to sell to the Pohlads for MLB. Except, baseball clubs (exception SF Giants) have the public fund their businesses like getting stadiums. Except, the dollars we read are all estimates because these are private businesses and we DO NOT know. The Pohlads are decent citizens by many accounts and I have supported them, but they certainly don't need a legion of apologists for how they handle their money. I can't decide which is worse, ripping the Pohlads or being their public defender. To the topic though ... I would like to see the Twins take a chance once or twice on a player. It sure seemed like there were years when the Twins won the division under Gardy when one or two players could have helped. It sure seems like one or two players now could help now too. The Wild took a chance and even their disappointed fans appreciate that effort. One last item - Kansas City was really a fun team to watch and their fans remember those teams fondly.
  4. tony&rodney
    Sure, why not?
  5. tony&rodney
    Who are you suggesting we trade for using only prospects? I'm just curious. Kluber may have been worth a trade but I doubt if Cleveland would trade with Minnesota.
  6. tony&rodney
    Well, we arrived at a place that everyone hoped would not exist; the free agent pitchers are off the board and trades or rookies are the only options remaining. As much as I did believe there was the money and possibility for the Twins to sign one of Cole/ Strasburg/ Bumgarner/ Wheeler/ Ryu or Keuchel, it didn't happen. I really thought Julio Teheran for 2/$18M would happen, if only because of his track record of throwing innings which keeps a team in the game and saves the bullpen. Teheran seemed a good match with our offense; Twins win 6-5 games. A host of other questions and options now emerge if the team decides to enter the trade market: which of Sano, Buxton, Berrios or other core players are Falvine willing to trade; and which of Lewis, Kirilloff, Graterol, Balazovic, or Larnach are available. For now, the Twins will wait to see what decision Donaldson makes.
  7. tony&rodney
    Fair. I expect regression from Garver at the plate. I do think he continues to evolve as a tough guy to pitch to who has quality at bats and also expect he gets more plate appearances in 2020. He had an amazing season last year. I do think he and Avila will form an improved catching corps. Despite the fast start by Castro, there is room for improvement behind the plate by the Twins. I was also lumping the infield and catching spots together and while there is no way the home runs repeat, the overall quality of at bats and defense can improve across the board (c and if). Was I practicing positive pragmatism? Yes. The off-season has moved slowly for the Twins and I am trying to channel my disappointment thus far into some optimism.
  8. tony&rodney
    "It doesn't matter who's right or wrong, the future's now and the past is gone." Yes, the Twins missed on being proactive the last two years in trades and on the free agent market. The ship has sailed on Cole, Wheeler, Bumgarner, Teheran, Bundy, and Grandal. The team has some real strong possibilities still: Ryu and/or Keuchal on decent contracts; Donaldson; trades for someone like Alcantara; and maybe a shot at Alex Wood are fair choices.There is a good chance that the Twins play 2020 with their outfield intact and not the tattered, injured mess it was from late August to the end of the year. I think the infield and catcher spots will be better too. The young pitchers could blossom as well. Now is a good time to add a few pieces to the stocking. It can be done.
  9. tony&rodney
    My favorite Twin when they first played in Minnesota was Lenny Green and in 1964 in April I became a Tony Oliva fan. Tony O is really the only hero I ever really had, although Halsey Hall was a hoot. Still, I agree with the Twins Mount Rushmore Four. Harmon was my brother's favorite player and we argued endlessly; Carew was such a smooth player and gentleman, Puckett was a charm; and Mauer was a gift whose career was abruptly disrupted by the concussions, but still managed to end as a top ten catcher in the history of baseball. It's a great list. One addition: although memory is faulty and I'm not going to search for it, I seem to remember a game that I attended in the 1970s where Catfish Hunter totally owned every Twin except Sir Rodney and Hunter intentionally walked Carew late in the game with a one run lead. That's respect.
  10. tony&rodney
    1. Still try to sign Ryu for 3/67, but also try to sign Alex Wood and Julio Teheran for 2/18 contracts. 2. No to Betances, but Harris for 1/7 if he would - I like the flexibility of our bullpen. 3. A trade for Bryant does nothing in my view; I like Sano better, Arraez is good and if the Twins are going big at 3B they should just sign Donaldson.
  11. tony&rodney
    There is one thing we can be certain of - our collective knowledge of how Falvine operates or their plan is a secret to us. If you follow the Twins, not too much has changed from Ryan to Falvine. I mean, it appears the money is still pretty tight and a Pohlad makes the decisions. Fair enough because they are the owners. What is disingenuous to me is how many "fans" are Pohlad apologist and cast negative thoughts towards the players. Mauer was the 21st century version of Harmon Killebrew - a great player and an amazing human being. But, to the total amazement of baseball fans from outside of Twins Territory, there are those who constantly throw shade at Mauer even after his playing days. Imagine a player landing on your team and being recognized as one of the top ten at his position in the history of the game. The Twins and their fans were lucky to have Mauer and Ryan signed him to retire a Twin. The question is - do we need to wait for another top ten player at their position before the front office jumps in? It appears that this decision rests with the Pohlads and in the meantime Twin fans wish for their team to be stronger and guess about what trades are possible; that is what fans do. I wanted Cole at any price but accept that it may be Wood or Archer or Teheran filling a spot and Thorpe emerging. I enjoy the day to day and pitch to pitch competition and what Falvine and Pohlad decide is out of my hands, which is my cold reality.
  12. tony&rodney
    Hard to think of a single reason to even think about Seager and it would actually be shocking if Falvine had mouthed his name in any fashion.
  13. tony&rodney
    Somebody has a talent evaluation out on Alcantara. Would Larnach and Enlow be enough for Miami?
  14. tony&rodney
    Sure, why not. I hoped that all the bucks could gather a top pitcher but shifting strategies is a good option if the Twins management is stymied. JD should get 3/$75M, but he could really be ok at 4/$100M. He could play some !B and DH occasionally. I would like to see Sano signed to a three or four year contract too. If he is not looking like he is amenable to signing long term, attempt to talk Atlanta into a deal: MS to Atlanta for Pache, Wright, and Toussaint or Anderson.
  15. tony&rodney
    It never hurts to sign a pitcher for a minor league deal with the understanding that a strong spring training gains each a spot on the roster or a release. This would be somewhat similar to the Sanchez tryout from a couple of years ago.
  16. tony&rodney
    Disappointment is natural but this fan from 1961 always keeps hope moving forward, sometimes despite all odds. There are still options, albeit reduced from last week. Ryu, Wood, and Teheran can be signed. I would advocate not going over the top on these three. The trade front is still possible too. There aren't any aces to be handed out but the Twins should be able to turn something over with any luck. Archer and Price should be available for less than any top prospects. Maybe Miami will talk about Alcantara or Smith. The next stage would be difficult - trades from players on the current starting roster. Sano, Gonzalez, and May to Atlanta for Fried, Pache, and Wright; Garver, Buxton, and Berrios to San Diego for Paddock, Gore, Patina, Mejia, and Hedges; and this sort of craziness. I'm hoping the Twins can hold the core and prospects while adding two or three of Ryu, Teheran, and Wood. Something everyone agrees on is that the team needs a couple more pitchers.
  17. tony&rodney
    I like Mike ... to hold down the number four spot in the rotation. This was a very good signing by the Twins, credit due to the front office.
  18. tony&rodney
    Moreland is more than enough for 1B. It's possible to cover 1B with those currently on the roster if the Twins need the $5M for pitching or the roster spot. The bullpen depends on what starting pitcher is signed. I think Treinen is worth a call but I like the young Twins pitchers to cover most of the relief pitching. A signing of Alex Wood and/or Julio Teheran could be promising and hopefully could be accomplished for around $12-16M for both. The Twins should check on Pittsburgh and the possibilities of adding Marte and Archer via trade. Heck, for that matter talk to Boston too. My gut says the Twins should hold their young guns and add a couple of pitchers via free agency. Sign Cole and be done.
  19. tony&rodney
    "It doesn't matter that the money is crazy. The money is almost irrelevant. The Twins can easily spend $140M and still (will) turn a profit." I put forth this argument with an attempt to put aside the rationalization of what mlb players make and how this affects individuals view of the players and their performance. A team works with a budget and must analyze their decisions accordingly. Cole raises the budget the most and presents a risk. There are also rewards. The Mauer contract has been argued endlessly. I think Fangraphs best put this to rest, but quite naturally people have opinions. No way will I return to that discussion. I want the Twins to be better in 2020 because their core team is poised for excitement. Yes, some Twins will regress but others will repeat and still others will improve. The young milb players need a little more time. A Cole, Strasburg, or Bumgarner plus others signing (s) are inherently risky but will not break the budget. I'm not identifying any team willing to trade an ace, even for a boatload of prospects which would cause future financial hardship. The Twins were in on Wheeler precisely because he is a chance worth taking. He chose to go elsewhere despite the Twins' offer. Now the Twins need to pivot to the remaining pitchers. This is the winter to supplement the core.
  20. tony&rodney
    To add to Mike - It doesn't matter that the money is crazy. The money is almost irrelevant. The Twins can easily spend $140M and still (will) turn a profit. The core team is ready. I can agree that a failure to score runs in the playoffs last year was problematic but that is over. The Twins need pitching. Thorpe or Wood or Teheran and possibly someone else might be as good as Bumgarner. So what! sign all three (W,T, for $36M. Better yet, sign Cole. The money will not hamstring the Twins in future years. That much money and more comes off the books next year and the kids are coming and they are inexpensive. The time has come.
  21. tony&rodney
    Great article. The Twins need to offer Cole $245/7yrs. Done. If that doesn't work, sign Bumgarner for $90/4yrs and Teheran for $16/2 yrs and Wood for $16/2yrs. The paradigm of rational thought takes a break this winter because starting pitching is dear right now. A Cole (or the other scenario) signing finishes the front office' job for now. The Twins can rotate Garver, Gonzalez, and others through 1B. This is their one shot - the core gets supplemented and the young pups get a year to develop.
  22. tony&rodney
    True, without a Cole or Strasburg the Twins do not match up in a Game 1 and I am still hopeful of a C/S signing, but Bumgarner plus a few other additions would really strengthen the team in a 5 or 7 game series. Win the division first while going all out to sign whomever is interested in pitching in Target Field from the home dugout in 2020. A Bumgarner, Berrios, Odorizzi, Pineda, and Wood/Teheran plus young guns would play. Go hard at the big three: Cole, Strasburg, Bumgarner - they can only say No. The budget should around $140+ for 2020.
  23. tony&rodney
    The Twins still have options if they are committed to adding free agents to their core. Both Ryu and Bumgarner are available and the money is too. For that matter, so too is Cole - he is available. Re: trades - Wow, does anyone really think the Reds would trade Castillo? I love watching Rosario and am hoping Kirilloff is a masher, but I do the trade noted above (with Sands) if I am the Twins.
  24. tony&rodney
    Never lost the love. Baseball is a drug. I bought a subscription to BA (a guy named Simpson, not Homer was editor I think) in 1983 and remember finding Twins' fans writing about 15 years ago (was either SethSpeaks or Gleeman - was click #11 on their counter) on the internet and have loved the coverage ever since. I never missed a pitch selling beer in the Dome for 3 years and have always found something positive to hold onto, even in really depressing seasons. Last season was pretty exciting and like everyone else I am hopeful for more.
  25. tony&rodney
    I do not think there is a "next" scenario right now. Jow Mauer was an exceptional talent. Jaffe (@Fangraphs) has him at # 7 all time among catchers. Catchy and supportable; he was an amazing player. Who can envision a crazy trade? The cold weather catches us dreaming up nonsense ideas. Would a Buxton, Berrios, plus lower mler for Paddock, Gore, and Patina be crazy enough? How valuable is Garver or Sano to other teams? I can remember Liriano reducing Oakland's best hitters to dust in an April 2006 outing and Nathan's snorting like a horse was the prelude to exciting Twins' victories. Trades are difficult to pull off and I'm not sure there have been as many players in the 21st century as predictable for success as Joe Mauer.
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