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Doctor Gast

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Everything posted by Doctor Gast

  1. Doctor Gast
    I agree that Buck, Bader, Larnach & Jeffers have been our most reliable bats lately & we need them to remain steady & not regress. Correa is a head scratcher & a bit concerning that he hasn't been producing as expected. Lee is producing better than expected but he's hard to predict if he can maintain that (I hope so). From the beginning, I've advocated for France to play mainly DH, so he can focus only on his hitting & forego his efforts of being passable at 1B. Wallner & Keaschall have been 2 of our best hitters while they were on the field. But I'd like to point out that we started this winning streak w/o them, Julien & Gasper, all of whom had steady playing time. Yet, the addition of Lewis & Castro; to quote Correa, "Our team now seems complete" when these guys returned. They brought chemistry, better defense & fire & IMO these intangibles were the difference makers. I'm expecting a continuation of the pitching excellence, production of your 4, that Lee would prove himself, Castro & especially Lewis would shake off their rust & really produce, Correa able to figure things out, Vazquez get key walks & hits with his defense, better defense overall & base-running.
  2. Doctor Gast
    Pitching is rock solid, IMO there is a friendly competition to not throw the next clunker. So SP excellence will continue for a while. As of late, the defense has greatly improved, which also helps the pitching. Our quiet captain of the team has spoken now, "With the return of Lewis & Castro, our team is now complete". The key to our success is chemistry finally kicking in. Once Lewis starts to kick in, (& he will), that can continue to fuel that fire. That is what has been seriously missing. We can always have more fire. We are now in a good place as far as health-wise, I pray for continued health & the return of Wallner & others. I have always advocated that we have a great core. That was never the problem. IMO, Festa & Zebby could come up once in a while to help give the rotation a break. IMO bring up in-house helps the morale.
  3. Doctor Gast
    Buck is a MVP-caliber player. He has been a stabilizing force for the Twins, keeping them from falling too far during their hugh slump. Can he maintain this great start? IMO. no, he hasn't yet put in a full season, so he'll need some rest. I'd only like for him to be 100% for the postseason & be able to cut down on his Ks.
  4. Doctor Gast
    I've been a big fan of analytics, & quick to see that OBP is more important than BA. My pitching career was very short & I have no idea about pitching analytics, so I stay out of it. If it works fine. But IMO, hitting analytics & how it has been used has morphed into something weird that makes no sense. Many baseball nerds who are very active on social media, yet never really played the sport competitively. Now, preach that their analytics are gospel & are infallible. Forget about being hurt or any other underlying conditions, forget about intangibles, because "stats don't lie". I use WAR & OPS but I'm not married to them or believe that they are the only true standard to evaluate players. IMO, there are 2 types of hitters & Gallo & Arraez represent the extreme of both. There are big groups of each & one that are a blend of the 2. My point is not this, but how biased these stats are. I still believe some analytics are viable, but some are created to support their view more than actually help a team. I heard a statement from a coach who was a player saying, "Don't throw numbers at me to try to persuade me not to believe what my eyes are telling me". I am starting to lean towards this camp.
  5. Doctor Gast
    Analytics is based on exit velocity & launch angle, including the luck factor. Where Arraez is the luckiest person in the world & Gallo is the unluckiest, go figure. IMO, all that needs to stop. If you have to dial back on exit velocity to have more bat control so be it, Larnach has figured that out. At the same time, focusing more on line drives & going the other way with 2 strikes. Instead of striking out looking at a questionable ball for strike 3, now he's going after those pitches (he still needs to tune in more those that leave the strike zone but that's ok). Larnach is getting away from new school & is going to what works. Strike-outs do matter & I'm happy that Larnach is reducing his. In this sport you have to take what the pitchers give you & go with it, instead of forcing something that won't work.
  6. Doctor Gast
    What is obvious & true is Alcala, when healthy & managed properly, is a high-leverage RP. Twins were blaming injuries for their bad luck but lot of it was mismanaging their injured players. They kept playing Buxton & Polanco for many weeks when they could hardly take the field, then they & some loyal Falvey fans, would blame them for not putting up the numbers that were expected of them, it's the same old story. It took a long time to get them back to the semblance of where they should be. The best move they made was getting Paparesta, but it seems they still pick & choose who they want to take care of or not. Players get hurt but what is key is how they manage them.
  7. Doctor Gast
    Twins have drastically improved from the recent subtractions & our additions of Lewis & Castro. Our defense & chemistry have drastically improved, along with our pitching hitting on all cylinders, which has revolutionized our team. We are finally playing like a playoff team. Analytically, it doesn't make sense to have Lewis in the lineup (1-37?), but he adds so much more that analytics can't register. Talking about chemistry, the team was just as excited & happy as Keirsey when he got the walk-off. I never blamed this core for their problems. This is a glimpse of what they can do. They aren't completely complete, but they are winning. Go Twins! IMO, in the rotation now, nobody wants to be the 1st to come up with a clunker, so I expect continued excellence in pitching & winning streak.
  8. Doctor Gast
    Alcala missed most of '22 because of a sore elbow, He missed most of '23 because they did a MRI & discovered that he had a stress fracture in his pitching right forearm. '24 during spring training, he got hit on the middle index finger on his pitching hand. After all of this, the Twins were determined to pitch Alcala multiple innings & on consecutive innings. '25, he got hit on his pitching shoulder by another comebacker & they kept him in. Twins haven't yet let up on Alcala, he needs a steady schedule of pitching an inning every other day, not sitting around for a while & then pitching multiple innings & consecutive days. An elite, healthy RP Taylor Rogers had difficulty having quality outings on consecutive days; how much more a recuperating Alcala? Players coming off the IL need to be eased back into a rigorous & sporadic schedule. There is no wonder of Alcala's spotty quality performances, it's how he's being managed. If Alcala returns to the IL, it won't be mysterious, it'd be expected due to bad managing.
  9. Doctor Gast
    I was expecting Lopez to pitch the best against SF, but Paddack & Ryan greatly outshone him. Yet, pretty good pitching all the way around. Who'd thought that we'd sweep the red-hot Giants? Great defense & great job by Brooks Lee. Extremely happy for Keirsey, a great gift for his mother. I've advocated for him to be sent down to AAA to finally get in some regular ABs but I hope this very important walk-off will jump-start something. A great ending!
  10. Doctor Gast
    Alcala should only pitch 1 inning every other day. I suppose they are saving to pitch Alcala multiple innings on consecutive days.
  11. Doctor Gast
    BAL has had a super farm & now most of them are in the MLB. IMO, BAL's problem is a quality rotation & veteran leaders. They spent good prospect stock to trade for Corbin Burns w/o assurance of extending him (big mistake). IMO, they had the making of a perennial powerhouse team but because of lack of planning, they have squandered their opportunity. My main problem with Pohlads is their lack of understanding & love for baseball. Therefore, they ignorantly believe that Falvey knows what he doing & has the ability to get the job done. As long the Pohlads are owners, Falvey & Co. aren't going anywhere.
  12. Doctor Gast
    Twins finally picked up a game on DET, CLE & KC (who had their own 7 win streak) on our 7 win streak with excellent pitching. Larnach stepped up tonight & won it for us. Vazquez scored our 1st run & did smart catching. I predicted a sweep over BAL because of our vastly improved defense & chemistry due to the recent movement. Lewis is still hitless, but the chemistry he brings is an analyst-defying game-changer. But the Twins surprised me with their wins over SF. Following gameday, IMO Baldelli had the right & obligation to argue the game the ump called. I can't wait for an entire ABS called game. IMO, Baldelli has been managing better. Duran pitches much better while fixed as the closer. I'm a big defender of our core. While the Twins still aren't perfect, they are winning
  13. Doctor Gast
    AL Central could have 4 teams in the playoffs if teams continue to resemble their present momentum. Twins lost a lot of close games, which seriously affected the standings. After recent changes, Twins are winning those difficult games. Twins' pitching is in a good place, now the defense has gotten much better. Paddack pitched his best game. Love the chemistry & the fire. Twins could be better but they are winning. Go Twins!
  14. Doctor Gast
    I'm gladly eating crow. Twins had their toughest challenge with Paddack on the mound. He had his best start maybe ever. Taking care of SF very efficiently. Go Twins!
  15. Doctor Gast
    I'll start by saying I'm not ever for firing Baldelli during the season. I don't blame him for the injuries, He's not the main problem. Like I said before, I believe we have a very good core, The team has good chemistry going into the series. I liked how Baldelli managed the last game. I expect good games from Pablo & Ryan (if he's well) pitching. Yet SF will be their toughest challenge so far. It's the little things I don't like that are often debatable among different groups of thought, which are mainly analytically driven. IMO, the main problem is from the top, analytically & otherwise. We have to correctly evaluate, develop, & trade for quality players, to supplement the core & in some cases that isn't happening.
  16. Doctor Gast
    Why don't you try to read whole texts instead of reading what you want? I did my original research & because I got information that used BA (Baseball America) as a resource that confirmed my original research. Doesn't make me lazy, it makes me not stupid. This is not the summit to prevent WWIII, it's a baseball forum where Twins fans get together to share their views w/o being ridiculed for having different views on petty things, for heaven's sakes. I had many debates with fans who had different views, I have admitted my mistakes & have been enriched. But it's a different thing than being A hole & then doubling down on being one.
  17. Doctor Gast
    Corbin Burns was signed by AZ, not SF, SF finished with a losing record & 4th place in the NL West. They lost Snell & some smaller players, & they signed Adames & some smaller players. So it's a wash. The only real difference is the organizational philosophy from weird analytics to smart baseball. & now they are competing with LAD for the NL West championship. SEA also didn't make the playoffs in '24, because although they had a great rotation & lineup, the lineup could not produce. In '25, they brought in (non-analytical) Edgar Martinez & SEA's offense has turned around. Texas was predicted to be one of the major players in the AL but has been floundering until now when they fired their hitting coach & brought in (non-analytical) Bret Boone, with no coaching experience. And TX is turning it around. I'm not against analytics but teams like MN have gone way overboard in how they totally depend on analytics in instructing hitting, managing, player evaluations, everything & they have abandoned what makes baseball, baseball, that is baseball experience & everything that goes with it. Although they look good on paper (have the players), they never accomplish all they are capable of doing. So yes, IMO, the organization has a lot to do with how the team performs. Analytics Oversaturation is BAD for Hitters Here they talk about hitting. But I also think that it's a problem in areas I stated before. Anything is possible, although I'd be happy with 1 win, if everything goes our way, we could pull off 2. But I wouldn't bet on it.
  18. Doctor Gast
    I'm with you, Doc. Twins have a core that can really compete if we had the right organization. I don't take Bowman seriously, his trade offer really sucks. IMO, Os don't have anyone we should be interested in. But what if the Pohlads don't sell & we're stuck with Falvey & Co.? Twins do need a promising young catcher but IMO Bassalo is an overrated big bat that won't stick at catcher. The top of my wish list are Kyle Teel, Edgar Quero & Dalton Rushing. So my preference is a 3-way trade with CWS or LAD together with BAL. Teel & Quero are more reasonable but CWS are not, so this might not happen. LAD could be our best bet. Below is my offer. https://www.baseballtradevalues.com/trades/188041 Bradfield's speed intrigues me and IMO, speed is the future. Knack is a MLB ready LHSP.
  19. Doctor Gast
    Joe Ryan was sick, they should bring up Zebby or Festa. Twins swept BAL as I predicted. Twins have a good team, but as I wrote in a blog, https://twinsdaily.com/blogs/entry/23959-will-clark-rant/ , SF has changed from weird analytics to a Buster Posey baseball smart type of system. That move has revolutionized the team. On paper, Twins may have a much better team, but I'd be happy if the Twins can come out with 1 win.
  20. Doctor Gast
    My original research that I did which wasn't AI, showed the results that I gave with BR stats to back it up on a past post. I'm sorry I couldn't find that past post to confirm it. I only used the AI statement with BA as a resource because it confirmed my original findings. I can't explain the discrepancy but I admit that BR stats that were presented are different from what was I originally found & under those pretenses, I admit I was wrong, & leave it as it is.
  21. Doctor Gast
    IMO, the Saints game could be more about disappointing performances from their pitchers (that included C Lewis & Tonkin) on both sides. Love Prielipp's performance & too I would like to see more innings but the focus has to be keep him on the mound.
  22. Doctor Gast
    Both were good trade bait, But again that ship has sailed. Julien has been given every opportunity & have been propped up to succeed but has failed. With the hype still connected to Julien we could still get someone of value if used with another player. I agree, I'd never say never for Julien but for him to come back he'll have to reinvent himself, both as a different hitter & 1Bman. The deck has been stacked against Miranda. He can come back very easily as a 1Bman but not with this organization. Hopefully the next. Right now his trade stock is very low, not worth trading him.
  23. Doctor Gast
    I only use AI only because it confirmed my original research & it used BA as a resource. I admit they don't line up with BR now.
  24. Doctor Gast
    I know where you are coming from & don't trust it for important things but do you think that THEY will alter the truth on the account of baseball?
  25. Doctor Gast
    I recognized the Twins' 10-5 record against CWS & LAA, & won the series against struggling BOS, in lieu of Lewis & Castro's return & struggling BAL after. But we got swept by struggling ATL & lost 3 games to CLE, IMO we could have won all those games, even w/o Lewis. We lost those close games because of the failure of doing the little things. I also recognize the success of Buxton, Jeffers, Bader & France; I recognize the resurgence of Correa & even Vazquez. But IMO we need to beat teams better than bad & struggling. We need to elevate our game. That's what I want.
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