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tony&rodney

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Everything posted by tony&rodney

  1. tony&rodney
    Perhaps I'm missing something but it seems like most people have Royce as a core member of the team now and going forward. Certainly there is abundant support from Falvey and Baldelli. My thought is that if Lewis still has legitimate value to another team the Twins need to see if he can be traded, either alone or with another player to maximize a return. We clearly cannot know how other teams look at the Twins based on the recent deadline deals. I'm not a fan of BTV but noticed he has a 30 something number again after sinking below 14 in the early summer. So which teams will need a third baseman? When we watch Lewis are we seeing 2023 Royce or the 2022 and 2024-2025 version? There is a marked difference. Lewis is a bit of an anomaly because he is supposedly healthy but he moves and runs like someone who has either an ongoing injury or limitations based on less than full health or complete recovery. That isn't a good way to play baseball. Brooks Lee is getting a run at shortstop but he would be far better as a third baseman. Of course, Lee has his own issues with the bat and running. It will be a little difficult for the Twins until someone steps forward to claim positions. Who isn't clear at this time. I guess the best mode is to keep an open mind and let the play on the field result in who plays where. To date Royce Lewis has been on a honeymoon with the Twins since his grand slams in 2023. How long does that last?
  2. tony&rodney
    Sure hope reality doesn't come calling.
  3. tony&rodney
    Jenkins just needs to stay healthy and get as many plate appearances as possible. Not sure if the Arizona Fall League is a good thing for him. As the AA season winds down hopefully Walker can stay focused and drive all the way through the last game. He may be fresher than others due to missing time early in the year. Right now, Jenkins is hot. I can see him being at Target field next year. He looks bigger than his listed size.
  4. tony&rodney
    Culpepper as the plan at this time is not a solid plan. The plan at this moment is clearly Brooks Lee, a former high draft choice. The solid plan is to allow for a strong showing in both Spring Training and April. See if Culpepper is ready. Perhaps Brooks Lee takes the job in these next 7 weeks and improves over the winter as well and comes out strong in March and April. So I support your statement. There is time to let things unfold. Right now Culpepper is pushing with a very strong season, although I half expect him to slow down in the last month of his first full season in professional baseball.
  5. tony&rodney
    Nick, let Carlos go. I was extremely appreciative of Correa's consistent play in the field and never cared a lick for how much he was paid. Lee hasn't looked good. Is he pressing? Hard to know. Part of me says that the Twins should play Fitzgerald every day if Brooks can't hustle and make the plays. He missed two today. But I think it is best to be patient unless the jogging on grounders and fly balls b.s. continues. I wish Correa well with Houston and am aware the Twins will keep that savings. Still, time to let Correa go. I'm hoping that Clemens can hit well because he is showing some fire. Hopefully the entire team picks up on Keaschall's relentless hustle. That dive into second base to beat a force out may have been the play of the week. Also, did anyone else find it ironic to hear Justin Morneau discussing the difficulty of Keaschall's home run to right center? Remember when Target Field opened and Morneau was upset that it was impossible to hit the ball out in right center? Bert Blyleven would chuckle and say, "Relax boys, The concrete needs to dry." It's dry apparently. The trip to New York City should be interesting for this group. The starters better pitch 6-7 innings and the bats will need to bang out some hits because those damn Yankees aren't very friendly like the Midwest team from Kansas City.
  6. tony&rodney
    Well, it seemed like the Twins were lifeless before. A tone needs to be established. Do we still have scholarship players who can expect their name in the lineup no matter how they play the game? I'm ready for Fitzgerald at shortstop after today but I'm also willing to be patient with Lee if he can hustle. Which is it? This team with this bullpen should be interesting in New York. Will Byron be back?
  7. tony&rodney
    Some are and some are not. There are a ton of mistakes in the minor league games, especially as you go down the line from AAA to R leagues. One today was very odd. An Omaha player high a very high deep fly ball to deep centerfield. Keirsey Jr. drifted back comfortably and looked like he would make a routine catch but then the ball dropped next to him. It certainly may have been a high sky or sun situation, but the team was ready to jog off the field. It was ruled a triple. Martin was dejected and down after his mistake. He just went into the dugout despite the challenge. Martin plays hard though and it seems easier than watching a few other guys jog.
  8. tony&rodney
    Rankings will come out again this winter. Right now, post trades, Fangraphs has the Twins at #9 and MLB has the Twins at #3. By the winter things will change. I watch way too much minor league baseball. I would agree the Twins are a consensus Top 10 in MLB for prospects. I do like several players in the Twins system quite a bit. I will start by saying that I liked Keaschall last year because he plays hard and takes what is given. Next, I will say that both K. Culpepper and Walker Jenkins have looked really good this year. Jenkins is hitting the ball hard on a consistent basis and is a really tough out because he takes his walks and is difficult to strike out. In today's game, Jenkins roped a single off of the rehabbing Michael Lorenzen, went to second base on a wild pitch, and then deked the MLB experienced pitcher into an ill-fated pickoff. When the throw went into centerfield Jenkins never broke stride and scored from second base on the error. I could easily see both of these players opening for the Twins in 2026. Lastly, Brandon Winokur. Perhaps you have noticed how many times I have promoted Winokur in the last two years. His athleticism is off the charts. I know I have received push back but Winokur can play either centerfield or shortstop and do it well. The jumps, first step, quickness, speed, the arm, and the fluidity are all there. He has, as you say, improved his K-rate and is steadily improving at the plate. If he can hit .250 and OPS .750, he will make a mark for the Twins. I think he will need two more years still. Winokur plays really hard too. Winokur fills the stat sheet with extra bases and stolen bases. Yah, I'm big on him. Worth noting that a number of players have found better stat lines in AA/AAA. The K-rate is big for him.
  9. tony&rodney
    This is going to be very strange for me, because it is my first defense of Rocco Baldelli ever, but I'm not thinking we can blame the manager for some really bad blunders by several players today. I'm handling the crap plays from guys who hustle better than a couple of guys who just seem to cruise.
  10. tony&rodney
    Tonkin, Fitzgerald, and ... Keaschall - What a breath of fresh air. Just compete, compete, compete.
  11. tony&rodney
    Brooks Lee doesn't look good today at shortstop versus KC. I'm not sure he projects but we will need to be patient.
  12. tony&rodney
    Yes. I have been writing about Lewis and his struggle often. Naturally I want to see the Royce Lewis that was athletic from 2023. There have been a very few brief tantalizing glimpses of that guy, not many. We have no idea what is wrong. Is it physical? Get him 100% healthy. Does he need a reset? Send him to Ft. Myers. He just looks so painful, whether it is bending to field, throwing, running, or swinging the bat. He actually is doing ok in the field but the general information from watching Lewis is that something is wrong.
  13. tony&rodney
    Interesting take. We are just throwing ideas into the wind. Did anyone have the Twins moving all those players at the deadline? So I find it mildly interesting to read all of these suggestions. I do think it is fair to criticize anyone but those with different thoughts should then propose their own ideas. My response to the above list: Ryan and Jeffers are ripe for being moved in trades. Obviously, the Twins need catchers and dealing Jeffers requires additions from elsewhere. Ober and Lopez are unlikely to get dealt unless a good offer unexpectedly is brought forth or the Pohlads push the idea, which I doubt. The Twins are unlikely to extend anyone until the ownership issue is settled. Will they sell? Remember, it was going to be completed before the 2025 season began. It will happen, maybe soon, but it might be in 2027 just as likely. Lewis needs to get healthy or he will have trouble holding down a roster spot. He looks weak again. What is wrong? I don't know but all of us can see that his legs occasionally are unstable and he cannot run. That shouldn't play at the highest level. No team in baseball would offer him an extension. Boras would advise him to sign virtually any legitimate multi-year deal at this time. I need some explanation of how anyone on the current roster compares remotely to either of Polanco or Kepler. We don't have that production from anyone other than Buck who is already signed. The CBA will be a factor in decisions, particularly for mid and below market clubs. Money talks.
  14. tony&rodney
    Even me, I am a little surprised at how slow Brooks Lee is. He is almost as fast as Ryan Jeffers and Trevor Larnach and he is slower than Carlos Correa. Only Christian Vazquez is slower. Does that push Lee to third base next year? Don't know but we shall see.
  15. tony&rodney
    I was merely responding to Peter's apparent plan. I wasn't judging him. I just find it interesting to see what other people think. What is your plan?
  16. tony&rodney
    2014. Don't count Covid year. If the team is not sold, it seems very plausible. There is a very weak collection of free agents this winter. Combine that with one or more potential trades and the payroll drops pretty fast. Cleveland and Tampa Bay are both competitive with payrolls below $100M and Milwaukee currently has the best record in baseball at less than $115M.
  17. tony&rodney
    You are planning on a full rebuild. That is one plan.
  18. tony&rodney
    Like the optimism.
  19. tony&rodney
    Amazing to see Lewis included in discussions as a part of the Twins infield. If you triple his stats from right now (61 games) you get .... pretty much an empty spot in the lineup. There have been a few flashes now and then but the jogging down the line and collapsing legs on swings are not pretty sites. I sure hope the guy heals some day because what we see from Lewis these days is a player who belongs on the IL. After trading away 40% of the roster it seems like the Twins should make an attempt to forge a new identity where every batter runs out, at full speed, every batted ball whether that is a one hopper to the pitcher or a pop up. If a player cannot run, put them on the IL and call up someone who can run. Kaelen Culpepper may or may not be ready for a starting gig next season but I hope it is a fair competition for the job in Spring Training. As of today the only Twins who should enter next season as projected starters (provided they are still on the team) are Jeffers and Buxton. Perhaps the next 7 weeks will see a couple of others make their mark and deserve inclusion along with those two guys.
  20. tony&rodney
    Look over the list of free agents that can be signed for the 2026 season. Correa's contract released a bit over $20M ($32-11.33 Twins pay). Who are you going to sign? Who will sign? Does anyone believe the roster payroll will be above $100M?
  21. tony&rodney
    Is Mickey Gasper going to catch today? What am I missing about his hidden talents? Why is he on the roster? An inquiring mind wants to know.
  22. tony&rodney
    The expiration of the CBA definitely complicates any discussion of long term contracts, especially for teams watching their money. I would be flabbergasted if the MLBPA didn't hold firm on time on control being maintained if not reduced, meaning even if the season (2027) is cancelled those who were due for free agency become free agents. I doubt there is much room for discussion on that issue. Joe Ryan can demand some pretty high numbers if he exits this season healthy and with his current ERA through these next 7 weeks. Any extension would be well above $100M. That becomes a quandary for the Minnesota team, which makes him a prime trade commodity whether we want it or not. If Ryan can complete 2025 on a roll his value will be at peak levels. Would I like Ryan on the 2026 Twins? Yes. Do I expect a trade this winter? Yes. Do I understand anything that the front office does? No.
  23. tony&rodney
    Ok. Thanks for the explanation. Royce - 2.4 WAR in 2023 Edouard - 2.6 WAR in 2023 I'm just not seeing it with Royce. I'm waiting for some athleticism to return. Julien is mostly done, but Lewis I'm not sold on at all. Appreciate your response.
  24. tony&rodney
    Ok. Do you extend that same offer to Edouard Julien? Jose Miranda? Julien was arguably better than Lewis in 2023 as you know. Many on Twins Daily have suggested that Royce Lewis is currently at such a low value, similar to Matt Wallner and Trevor Larnach, that he cannot be traded until he rebuilds some value. I have never argued that line. BTV had Royce at a 74 in November of 2023 and a 13.9 in June of 2025, not that I place any worth in the site but merely to trace a number and some support for those who say his value has sunk too low to trade. I'm willing to hear an argument for Lewis, but I cannot see one myself.
  25. tony&rodney
    I'm wondering how you arrived at this idea? More specifically, how does a long term contract make sense for Royce Lewis? I'm just curious how anyone would explain this decision.
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