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tony&rodney

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Everything posted by tony&rodney

  1. tony&rodney
    The passed ball was out number three, inning over. All runs scored after that are unearned. FC is never an unearned run unless an error(s) preceded it which would have ended the inning. Basically, unearned runs were devised as a system to separate what a pitcher was accountable for or could control versus what they cannot control (i.e. - the fielding). It has been severely compromised in the last quarter century because errors are seldom recorded on mistakes in the field unless it is the most basic of fielding plays.
  2. tony&rodney
    Jeffers has worked really hard at his craft. I'm appreciative of his efforts. That said, it is the homer in us that identifies him as an average catcher. Jeffers is a big dude who plays big. His movements are what we see in most big catchers. Joe Mauer was taller than Jeffers but played about 4 inches smaller because of his exceptional athleticism. Details like keeping the throwing hand protected eventually matter. Jeffers is a tough guy and hopefully he is back in action Thursday because the Twins didn't like Jair Camargo too much last season and while Gasper works exceptionally hard the pitchers don't want him back behind the plate (watch a Saints game). For now the Twins need both Jeffers and Vazquez because it is tough to play baseball without a catcher. The Twins have not pursued catching which increases the importance of Jeffers returning asap. I'm still curious if Milwaukee could be persuaded to part with Jeferson Quero? Last November I was wondering if a Brooks Lee for Quero would work and might add a player like Marco Raya to acquire that catcher now. I wonder what ideas the front office has for next season or an injury?
  3. tony&rodney
    I'm not sure the organization totally embraces this concept given the roster. Teams need offense to score runs to win games and good pitching and defense to constrict opponent offenses. The balance can be tricky. Either the offense improves at scoring runs while the pitching staff recovers their recent slide to keep runs off the scoreboard or the season could go off the rails because the Twins are not designed to play small ball, run the bases adequately, or create outs in the field. I'm hoping the bats come around.
  4. tony&rodney
    Pointless to blame Wallner for his play in the outfield when he is a DH. The Twins have had others outfielders like him .... Josh Willingham for one. When The Plan includes rostering multiple position players who are best at DH the ball will find them. It becomes much more noticeable in close games but it is always there. If Nelson Cruz had been the right or left fielder every day for the Twins he would not have been very popular. The players are putting out the effort. The skills in the field and on the bases are just not available. Hopefully the Twins can improve at the plate but we should acknowledge that opposing pitchers are doing their best to thwart that outcome.
  5. tony&rodney
    You are not alone on that front. Julien isn't the only one with that problem either. Today there is an article calling for a return of Gasper. Gasper has had incredible AAA stats with a bat. He might be, along with Miranda, a guy who struggles even more than Julien with the glove. So it becomes an issue of how much defense does a team sacrifice for offense? The patience with the bat is really hard if the glove doesn't play. This has been the fate of the Twins at a number of positions. It also doesn't help if the players are looking over their shoulder. These defensively challenged players work very hard to reach some level of competence but then errors, misses, and mistakes happen because excellence in the major leagues is difficult. Teams have different philosophies on building rosters. The Twins are hoping to win with pitching and position players who are bat first. Tampa Bay and Milwaukee, among other teams, put more of an emphasis on defense than the Twins. The teams we watch reflects the will or visions of the front offices and managers on various teams. When hacks like myself suggest potential trades in the offseason I only have an idea of a team in theory. I cannot know whether other teams would entertain any of my proposals. My ideas include players who could run and play defense at a high level with an allowance for 2-3 DH type hitters. Pitching is always going to be a main focus as well. Right now the Twins roster the slowest team in baseball and a pile of guys best put in the lineup as a DH. If Julien was strictly a DH, we wouldn't discuss his fielding. Since the Twins have not released or traded Eddie, we can expect to see him back at second base for the Twins if a couple current players fail or get injured. The chorus shall rise again if this happens, but remember it is part of the design of the organization.
  6. tony&rodney
    Won't argue that Julien is a below average defender, but your negative fixation on him is a little bit psychotic considering he is but one of two dozen below average defensive players who have been rostered by the Twins since the beginning of the 2023 season. This nearly sounds like someone who lost money on a bet, not saying you have at all. At the close of the 2023 season I suggested that the Twins could sell high on at least a couple of several players and Julien was among them. My reasoning is that there might have been an opportunity to improve the talent in the organization but had nothing personal in a negative fashion towards any player. Everyone will make their own decisions on every player that puts on a uniform but it isn't necessary or healthy to have derision or a negative view towards an athlete. Baseball is a hard game and the ups and downs for individuals can be tough to watch and tougher for the player who is working hard at their craft. The differences aren't all that great. " It ain't such a long drop ..... From the diamonds in the sidewalk to the dirt in the gutter." It's just entertainment. Stay well.
  7. tony&rodney
    Correct. To be fair, neither do many of the Twins. Of course many people enjoy quibbling about who is below average and who is a speck below below average.
  8. tony&rodney
    Hard to be so harsh with Devers when he has been so dynamic at the plate. I have looked and looked and come up empty regarding any single incidence of rancor or less than full positive participation from Devers in the clubhouse. Boston handled the entire situation as badly as could be done and it is worth a reminder that this is a total copy/paste from how things went down with both Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts. The Red Sox front office will manage the press as they did with both of those trades, but one can wait to see how the season plays out to make your own judgment. If you are an old geezer reading this you will remember that Reggie Jackson was seen as the worst teammate ever and a total cancer on any roster according to the press. Hmmm? Why do I remember so many winning seasons from teams rostering Reggie including perhaps the best teams of the modern era, those fabulous A's squads. Hard to pump dirt on a guy that played on double digit playoff teams and in 5 World Series. While I was never a Reggie Jackson fan, he did go by the moniker "Mr. October" and the self-titled "Straw that stirred ... " The press tilts crap when they don't like someone or get what they want from somebody. We don't have to buy it.
  9. tony&rodney
    Julien has a good OBP (.400+) and hits an occasional line drive. There is something there but he still watches numerous pitches right down the middle for strike three. Remember he can challenge the calls, unless the organization does not want their players who have played at the major league level using those challenges due to it not being available in MLB, which makes sense to me. I think Julien might help but he seems like a psychological mess.
  10. tony&rodney
    I advocated for acquiring Alcantara last November and was willing to pay a bundle. I just don't believe the Twins are desperate for pitching though at this time, although I would gladly welcome Alcantara to the team. What package of players are you offering Miami? It needs to be very good. The Twins desperately need players who can field, run, and hit. Unfortunately I cannot think of any team willing to trade away those type of guys. San Fran picking up Devers was a genius move because they needed a DH. The Twins already have 5+ DH's on the roster. I'm afraid we should expect to roll with the current roster.
  11. tony&rodney
    This is another maddening playing style decision. Apparently there are specific metrics which declare pitching to Altuve as opposed to the IBB. I'm putting up 4 fingers every time to keep the DP in order, but this is not what the Twins choose to do. We have seen the Twins pitch to a guy with the tying and/or winning run on third base instead of IBB to create more opportunities for outs. The analytics cannot be that persuasive because a considerable number of teams utilize the IBB to their benefit. So it goes.
  12. tony&rodney
    Have only seen one of the top 50 players in person. Sure hope the Twins take a player with notable athletic talent. Steele Hall qualifies with his hit over power, plus arm and speed, and ability to play defense. The Twins need better athletes.
  13. tony&rodney
    Time to send Walker Jenkins to Cedar Rapids where he can avoid wet fields, rain delays, and rainouts which gives him some regular predictable playing time.
  14. tony&rodney
    Again, no defense of how ownership operates but one must know or be open to knowledge that tells us a couple of things. TheTwins have outspent every AL Central opponent since Falvey was hired and the philosophy, roster, and type of play within the organization is strictly a front office and manager collaboration. Ownership pays the bills but has zero input into style of play or roster compilation.
  15. tony&rodney
    Absolutely love how Milwaukee plays defense and uses every tool available in the game. I just decided to name one team. Milwaukee has the fastest team in baseball.
  16. tony&rodney
    Sad recognition of a Carlos Correa shortcoming. C4 has diminished range this season. I absolutely love what a steady player Correa is at shortstop. Balls hit to him are routinely gobbled up and his throws to first base are textbook perfect on nearly every occasion. Two plays yesterday displayed the cracks in his play though. A grounder up the middle that eluded him and a slow roller that he had to come in on furiously. A couple of years ago at full health Correa makes both plays. Correa and Buxton are both diminished in range from their best days but remain our best defensive players by far. This not is not a criticism but merely a reality.
  17. tony&rodney
    Long way to go as the Twins fight to reach 83-85 wins. Don't give up hope. The bats need to improve. A quick note on Miranda - he is currently the weakest player on the Saints roster by a fair stretch. Jose needs a trip for several weeks to Ft. Myers for a total reset. His defense is unplayable, he can't hit middle middle 88 MPH pitches, and he is the slowest runner in professional baseball. Something is way off and the poor guy needs a break or help of some sort.
  18. tony&rodney
    Reality screams repeatedly - the Twins as an organization do not bunt, they do not run the bases well, and they don't play defense. The chosen position players were carefully put together by design as a collective group that the front office feels is the best for earning a playoff spot. The Twins are the slowest team in baseball and remain committed to smashball. That is the reality. So, do we think the Twins should use a bunt, especially in certain specific situations? Sure, many do, but our thoughts are irrelevant to the organizational plan. We watch the Twins because we are lifelong fans (since 1961, Game 1 for me), not because of how they play the game. At least that is true for me. If you want to watch good baseball, I highly recommend watching the Tampa Bay Rays among some other teams. I love catching the Rays games. However, I'm still a loyal Twins fan even though they are pretty boring. It is what it is.
  19. tony&rodney
    I actually admire these guys, like DeSclafani, who work very hard and keep going for another shot because they love the game. I tried to pitch two years with a torn rotator cuff before surgery myself because I loved playing, even at the hack level. I just think there are better options for the Twins. Arizona is hurting for pitching. The Diamondbacks were a team I wanted to trade with last winter. Still think it is possible but it would be very difficult.
  20. tony&rodney
    Ok. So Julien and Miranda for Kjerstad? Do it.
  21. tony&rodney
    Watched DeScla pitch against the Saints last week. He has nothing. If he gets someone out it is more luck than talent. He understands the game and will allow poor batters to get themselves out but get toasted by competent hitters.
  22. tony&rodney
    Personally have no interest in defending ownership but FWIW the POBO/GM put together the team. The Pohlads likely never heard of some of the players before they were a part of the organization. The authorized the highest budget in the AL Central and deferred to their hires. Is that their error? Perhaps.
  23. tony&rodney
    Most outfielders make that play. The ball was way up in the air. Castro is a super valuable utility player who is best used in the infield. However, you are correct that the Twins do nothing to attempt to score except swing hard. Maybe a bunt would work 5 times a year. WTH, try it once a month. It might make some sense to wonder about the talent level on our favorite team too.
  24. tony&rodney
    So call up Randy Dodnak and sign the savior DeSclafani.
  25. tony&rodney
    OMG ... Disco Dan back peddling to the plate, falling and getting tagged out is one of the most spectacular highlights/lowlights of Twins history. Willie "Mays" Norwood - what a talent. Willie and baseball could not get on the same page. Great names to bring up. Best comment of the day.
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