Jump to content
Twins Daily
  • Create Account

Doctor Gast

Verified Member
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    8,192

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    10

 Content Type 

Profiles

News

Minnesota Twins Videos

2026 Minnesota Twins Top Prospects Ranking

2022 Minnesota Twins Draft Picks

Minnesota Twins Free Agent & Trade Rumors, Notes, & Tidbits

Guides & Resources

2023 Minnesota Twins Draft Picks

The Minnesota Twins Players Project

2024 Minnesota Twins Draft Picks

2025 Minnesota Twins Draft Pick Tracker

2026 Minnesota Twins Draft Pick Tracker

Forums

Blogs

Events

Store

Downloads

Gallery

Everything posted by Doctor Gast

  1. Doctor Gast
    #1. I have asked before earlier this season but haven't gotten a for sure answer, can we send Pagan down to AAA? If the answer is yes Pagan should have been send down to experiment how to use him & let him work it out there not in MLB. #2. IMO Moran isn't the answer & we shouldn't bring him up again just to see if he can stick. We are still in the hunt and we can't just roll over dead (is this the attitude we want to be transmitted to the team? just because they aren't playing up to their potential) because some of us have. I want them to have a chance to win & fight until the end. We have too many questionable short RPs w/o bringing up more. #3. Long relief has been successful, that's where our focus should be. Bridging the gap between the rotation & dependable short relief.
  2. Doctor Gast
    It has to do how well Correa performs at the end of the season and if be post season. If he ignites he'll opt out if he doesn't then the odds greatly increase that he'll stay if he get's hurt then I'd bet he'd stays. If he opts out will MN sign him? I doubt it even if they both would like to.
  3. Doctor Gast
    I thought A. Sanchez & Sands were fine, they gave us a chance to win against an high octane team. Only Verlander unsurprisingly shut down the Twins offense. Not surprised that they put Buxton on the IL but was surprised they called up Hamilton. Palacio has shown they he has mastered AAA and his glove will be a big plus on the main club. Correa has helped Miranda imensely and he can help Palacios even more. Polanco could use the additional rest and an occasional rest for Correa could prove benificial (I wouldn't trust anyone else except Palacios now to do it). Beckman should be sent down because he is useless and remove any temptation to put him in DH. I'm glad we have Gordon & Celestino to continue to fill that big hole in CF especially now that Buxton is down. I'm not a big fan to bring up Wallner up (because of his glove) but because of the present condition of the OF and Kepler's broken toe, it wouldn't hurt to get his feet wet until Larnack returns. I'd send Cave down because his bat has turned dead & to remove any temptation to put him in CF.
  4. Doctor Gast
    It's been evident to me for a little while now that Buck needs some time on the IL to recuperate. Hope that test results show that w/ that time off he can come back & perform at least for post season if we can make it there w/o him but the way things are we won't w/ him. Buck is the spark plug of this team we need him well.
  5. Doctor Gast
    I agree with your rankings Cody & with Mikelink45, who states that our worse opponent is our selves. HOU I see as the which will give us the most trouble, NYY has been slumping but unless we turn things a round, we might just get them out of it.
  6. Doctor Gast
    Our most reasonable hope is that Larnach comes back close to himself in the state was in before he left. Buxton & Kepler desperately needs some time off to recuperate, it's not easy playing through nagging injuries. It's crazy to see Beckman DHing & Arraez playing 2B last nite when we have a very capable glove & probable bat in Polacios sitting in AAA. Polanco never lets on when he's hurt, he could use some rest as well as Correa. I don't see any positive results in trying to see how far we can extend our players, that's include pitchers.
  7. Doctor Gast
    IMO the offense is dead overall because of BP losing those games that the offence had won, in the 1st half. Now that the BP is mainly on track the offense doesn't have that spark Also Buxton is the heart of this team. His defensive plays, stolen bases, triples, taking that extra base & HRs. really fires up this team & fan base. Him playing DH & floundering doesn't help the team. IMO Buxton & Kepler needs another break on the IL to get them healthy again & fired up. I know we really need him right now but not the way he is. I'd like them to bring up A Sanchez & keep him up as long relief even when Mahle returns.
  8. Doctor Gast
    I really liked Berrios work ethic, desire to be great, stamina & staying healthy. I really like SWR's attitude and his potential, his stamina hasn't arrived to Berrios level but he's still developing. I've been higher on SWR than any Twin for a very long time. But pitching prospects can change very quickly and not able to make that jump to MLB but I have high hope in SWR.
  9. Doctor Gast
    Again the offense sputters, not scoring especially against pitchers like these is very frustrating and the biggest reason for our losses. Pitching did well & gave us an opportunity to win, Long relief went very well as it should. Yet they had some draw backs. IMO the special presentation especially the delays distrated from Archers prep, Archer is usually lights out in the 1st inning gave up his only run and Smeltzer had to adjust to long relief which could have affected his prep but after he settled in did well. These 2 hiccup accounted for the runs in the 9 inning game. I missed the end of the game but if Smeltzer was settled in in the 9th, I'd leave him to pitch the 9th and wait with Lopez since it was a tied game. Thielbar had pitched the prior game & had to pitch in a very high leverage inning , I'd try to avoid.
  10. Doctor Gast
    I don't see Gossett having any future with the Twins, I believe he's 29. But he'll always remember that no hitter for the rest of his life, I'm happy for him. Palacios needs to be called up yesterday, his glove has been MLB ready, believing his hitting will come around. He's our best sub for Correa, Polanco & Urshella but because of Miranda's hot bat, will be difficult to man 3B unless there's an injury. IMO Correa & Polanco could use a break before the big push & Palacios could learn a lot from Correa. He can take Beckman's place.
  11. Doctor Gast
    Who sold me on long relief was Pat Neshek. Twins had tons of success having him pitch in long relief. His success proved the necessity of having long relief. I'm all for having 5 SP studs that can regularly complete games or a stable of 5 lights out short RPs that are available in every game but that's only a fantasy. We need to wake up to the reality, we don't have any SP studs because they are absolutely too expensive. Our only hope was Mahle which now there's some doubt to that. In the beginning of this season fortunately we had Duran who developed into a lights out RP, Smith was great in the use of fireman in sparse situations but now is gone and Jax developed into a good set up man. These short RPs could not bridge the gap to complete every single game so they had to use inadequate RPs which caused us many defeats. Thielbar has returned to form with the addition of Lopez & Fulmer we have pretty good staff of short RPs but we can't march them out in every single game. Plus Lopez hasn't been lights out yet for the Twins. The rare times that long relief was used, a couple of times with Winder & 1x Sands we had success, But Baldelli is afraid to use long relief because people will wake up & start to see the necessity of it and he'll have to reduce his analytical usuage of short relief, which he prides himself.
  12. Doctor Gast
    Considering defense, the importance of position & how well they play their positions. There is no doubt that Buck & Correa should be on top. I'd also rate Gordon higher because of his (& Celestino) substitution of Buxton in CF is a game changer. They have narrowed the chasm between Buck & his subs which made the difference between a loss to a win now & through out our journey to the post season. It's very difficult to rank some of these lower players, because they all have potential but haven't lived up to it yet this season. Polanco usually comes alive in the second half with clutch hits & walk offs to help carry this team. I'm excited about this team in what they are capable of, Go Twins!
  13. Doctor Gast
    I agree with you totally Terry that pitchers are programmed differently today. Earlier there were fewer teams and importance was put on SPs to pitch complete games. So SPs trained themselves to pace themselves so they can do that and they had a small BP. Jim Kaat is good example of this type, those who went all out for 9 innings had short careers example Sandy Kofax & more recent Johann Santana, Pitchers like Nolan Ryan are freaks, although he had alot of problems with injuries & wildness early, broke out after most pitchers are done. Now emphasis is put on velo & alot of movement on the ball that's put a lot of strain on any arm. Very few pitchers can maintain that intensity (those are true aces), that's why many are converted to the BP. Most today pitchers today are 5 once in awhile 6 innings pitchers if you can find one workhorse that can give you 6+ innings you are fortunate. I thought we found one in Mahle but it turns out that he's human, that all those innings under that intensity paid a toll on his arm. I agree with you that SPs short innings put a lot strain on the BP if the BP consists only with short RPs with many that are poor and overused as was the case early which multiplied the problem. But if the BP has suffient long RPs we have 1 SP/ 5 innings + 1 long RP/ 4 innings or 1 SP/ 5 innings + 1 long RP/ 3innings + closer. Takes a lot of strain off of every facet of pitching that allows for 2 headers & extra innings
  14. Doctor Gast
    Agree with your evaluations except Strike 2: Short Starts Mean More Bullpen Innings. From the beginning they knew that Archer & Bundy wouldn't pitch much over 5 innings a game and that Ober, Ryan, Paddack and Winder would far pitch more innings. Many didn't think they'd last as long as they have yet they have pitched more innings than any of those mentioned. Every single SP in this rotation has his share of short starts & will continue to have them, that's not the problem. The problem is the many years of absence of long relief and over dependence on short relief which puts too much stress on short relief which in turn puts too much strain on the rotation to pitch beyond their profile which in turn results in injuries & many ineffective innings. This is doubley a problem when you have too many poor short RPs. This problem is easy to fix, establish a strong long relief corp and regularly use them. We have many well proven candidates in AAA. The rare times when long relief has been used, we have always had excellent results. You'd think that after these excellent results it'd dawn on them that this the way. But they quickly resort back to abandoning long relief & stay with using 4-5 short RPs to complete a game. I do agree with you that the BP is over stretched but the problem isn't the rotations short starts (that is to be expected) but the abandonment of long relief.
  15. Doctor Gast
    Yeah, it's a wierd photo, you'd think that the runner should slide in that situation
  16. Doctor Gast
    Santana was famous for his circle change up, I didn't know that Viola was good at it too? I've advocated that they should bring in Santana to teach it but maybe Viola would work if Santana won't.
  17. Doctor Gast
    Beckman, - Correa & Polanco could use more time off. Palacios is our best option and he needs the MLB experience not only for this year but next when Correa will probably be gone. We need someone to learn from the best, the only one is Palacios that fits the bill since Lewis is gone.
  18. Doctor Gast
    I don't call 2 innings long relief, 2 innings are extended short relief in my book. 1 long RF covers 3-4 short RPs innings so a short RP or 2 could be sent down to make room for a long RP. Most of our pitching problems and lost games is the result of no long relief. Even w/ the added proven arms especially this problem w/ Mahle if we wait until the Sept. call up it could be too late and we can send everyone home. Palacios is our best glove to sub SS, 2B or 3B if need be, and should be used as much as possible in those situations, not only for this year but also he might start at SS in the beginning next year and will be our best INF sub. It'd very irresponsible to throw him that situation with very little prior experience. Who can he learn the most from than Correa while he's still here.
  19. Doctor Gast
    I was apprehensive if Mahle had been overused while in CIN, after the 1st couple of games my thought Mahle was indeed a true workhorse. Today proved my orignal suspicion to be true, with the diagnosis of shoulder fatique. Whatever the prognosis we need more long relief, long relief would've been handy to bridge the SP gap instead of overusing short relief. Short relief did a good job but the situation produce unnecessary strain on short relief. If Mahle goes on the IL we need to bring up A Sanchez plus an extra long RP. With Polanco out we really need to call up Palacios last week. With Arraez lack of range at 2B, I really don't like to see him out there especially since we have a glove in Palacios who's really hitting now not mention that he needs that MLB experience. Good job by Gordon & Celestino they have really filled that gap in the OF. Let's take this momentum into the Ranger series.
  20. Doctor Gast
    My impression from early in the off season was that they'd incorporate some form of the piggy-back system. Because they only had 2 rookies & just aquired Bundy, who had some successive in a shorten season but fizzled out during a regular season. They knew Bundy wasn't more than 5 inning guy, the problem came when they tried to extend him to 6 innings on an regular basis. The problem isn't that Bundy didn't live up to expectations, it was trying to make him more than he is. Likewise they knew what they got when they signed Archer, an high upside veteran pitcher who hasn't pitched much for 2 & 1/2 years comng back from injury, building up arm strength. Since his return this season he has steadily progressed in SOs & innings pitched. Archer's best pitches are his FB & slider with his change-up above average. Although his change-up isn't his best pitch but when thrown to offset his primary pitches, he gets alot of KS, KL and weak contact if they do make contact. Which makes total sense to me to sneak that change-up in with a 0/2, 1/2 or 2/2 counts which they never do. The failure of the BP isn't due to Bundy or Archer it's due to the failure of incorporating a strong long relief corp. Any undesireable results from Bundy or Archer isn't due to them not living up to their expectations but mismanagement. Right now I see Archer trending up and Ryan trending down. By the end of regular season, I see Archer able to pitch 5 very solid innings sometimes 6 and with his veteran experience he could line up as the Twins #3 pitcher going into the play offs. IMO both Bundy & Archer has pitched above expectations.
  21. Doctor Gast
    I think management needs to take note that game strategy of hitting "moon shot" don't work. This era of a deader ball, teams need to play small ball. Last nite shows the effeciency of doing so, not taking away from Celestino HR.
  22. Doctor Gast
    Ryan is still a rookie. At the start of the season he was strong so his slider was very good. With a very good slider he can mix it up more & sneak a change up. Now after covid, pressure & a heavy starting role, IMO it has paid a toll on his arm, so his slider isn't as sharp as it was plus the added problem of batters getting used to it he has to throw his change up more often taking away the effectiveness of it. Ryan will come back if he's dialed back.
  23. Doctor Gast
    Good point Mark, we should be in the market for a catcher. Contreras comes to mind as far as FA is concerned. But I'm afraid that FO is sold on Jeffers. I don't think Falvey will actively pursue Correa but he'll portray that he's interested. If Correa can't find any desireable suitors, IMO they'll agree to another short term deal or if they are both serious they could go longer. But right now my concerns are the here & now,
  24. Doctor Gast
    Agreed, just because the big guns were used & are available tonite doesn't mean they'd be as effective. I'd like if were managed a little different. Also IMO, Duran is the man! I'd trust him more to be put in the closer role than Lopez, better idea use them both in those situations. Twins let the wind out of the sails of KC after they beat LAD. Happy to see Kepler hit and we pulled out the win but still not really happy w/ the line up, there's still a lot of room for improvement. Go Twins!
  25. Doctor Gast
    Great you could have this conversation w/ your son, ExPat. This Rogers/ Pagan & Paddack trade was terrible, that this FO should've known better, But they thought the roll of the dice would fall their way & it didn't. SD was peddling Pagan & Paddack hard w/ no takers. Paddack & Pagan were bad before they came over and they became worse with us. SD had the best of the deal because Rogers was good and he was good w/ them but they didn't know how to manage him. I don't blame Baldelli because IMO his marching orders were much like Colume'. Try to put him in a place where he looks good (therefore they'd look good w/ the trade) & shine but it back fired. If they can send him down to AAA, great do that, But can they?
×
×
  • Create New...