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mudcat14

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Everything posted by mudcat14

  1. mudcat14
    They've got to send him down now though, before they ruin him. Santana comes back tomorrow and will be the primary CF until Buck starts raking at Rochester.
  2. mudcat14
    I am convinced Polanco would outhit and out-OBP Dozier over a full season. Defense would be down some over the short-term, but Jorge will be at least league average over time. HR's would certainly be down, but Polanco would still flirt with double figures. I think the Twins blew an opportunity to deal Dozier in the off-season and will waste the next year and a half before they realize Polanco is the man.
  3. mudcat14
    I think it's time to make another run at Lucroy. Our catching is woeful, with no relief in sight. Can't have an OF with both Arcia & Sano at the same time. Maybe Oswaldo's offense resurgence will interest the Brewers. Perhaps Nolasco could influence them. To bad Will Smith is an unknown factor due to his knee. Would love to have a healthy version of him too.
  4. mudcat14
    Tonight's line-up has Buxton in, Rosario out. For what it's worth, I see Arcia, Buxton, Mauer, Park, Rosario & Park pretty much rotating at the OF/1B/DH spots, with Joe & Miguel getting the most starts, until further notice.
  5. mudcat14
    If Plouffe isn't DL'd, Kepler going down is the only move. Nunez will be 5th OF and Jorge the primary infield depth until Santana or Plouffe are ready to go.
  6. mudcat14
    While I like having Nunez as a bench performer, his previous six seasons in the big leagues show him quite capable of becoming a solid regular. He's been consistently productive with the stick, despite seeing sporadic playing time his entire career. Defensively 3B is his worst position, but that amounts to about 15 starts per year over these 6+ seasons. At age 28, there are many examples of players who have stepped up when they got their shot. It's not 'super rare' by any stretch. That said, I'd obviously prefer to keep him as a utility guy. They can be as hard or harder to find than regulars.
  7. mudcat14
    Considering Sano allegedly took no infield at all this spring, I think it's Nunez all the way. If Plouffe gets DL'd, Beresford or Polanco get a call.
  8. mudcat14
    I was surprised Kepler got the call. Figured either Beresford or Polanco, with limited IF options on the big league roster.
  9. mudcat14
    OK, I understand that even good young guys will struggle with contact when reaching the big leagues. But eventually it should even out, right? Doesn't seem to matter here. Minor, then Major League K-Rates for several of our Twins; Arcia - .22%, then 33% Buxton - 23%, then 35% Rosario - 19%, then 27% Sano - 30%, then 36% Santana - 20%, then 25% Okay, okay, the sample size is too small. But throw in the climbing K totals for Dozier, Plouffe and Mauer over the last few years, and I'm not at all encouraged.
  10. mudcat14
    I guess what it boils down to for me is that I saw all I needed of Brunansky's tutelage last season. The fact that they are significantly worse through 5 games this year isn't instilling much hope for improvement.
  11. mudcat14
    Err, ...um, ...did you watch the Twins last year? The strikeout rates on this roster are ridiculously bad, and have been for some time. And yes, 5 games is enough to determine that no improvement has been made. 58-K's against an array of hurlers that included one guy (Wade Davis for one inning) who appeared on anyone's Cy Young ballot last year. How deep a hole should we dig before making a change that is inevitable?
  12. mudcat14
    Yes we have a group of inexperienced hitters who are still learning. But I'm seeing no improvement what so ever in pitch recognition or strike zone judgment. Even our veterans are getting worse! Even if Brunansky is delivering the right message, part of his job is getting the hitters to buy in. If one or two guys are too stubborn to change, that's one thing. But we routinely bat 6-7 hitters who go up to the plate with no plan and no idea what to expect. That lands at Bruno's feet and we can't afford to wait for things to improve. I don't know what options they have at this point, but Brunos guidance ain't working.
  13. mudcat14
    Am I crazy, or is there still a chance for Arcia in the starting OF? My reasoning is two-fold. First of all, I don't see the Twins exposing him to waivers or pawning him off for pennies on the dollar. No he hasn't produced much until today's 2-HR outing, but by all accounts he's worked his ass off to come back. Secondly, Buxton hasn't exactly been lighting it up. Any chance he starts in AAA, with Rosario in CF & Arcia in LF? There's no guarantee that Rosario repeats his rookie numbers. If Buck lights up AAA, you have a month to see who's got the hotter hand, Rosario or Arcia.
  14. mudcat14
    The batting champ is back! .338/18/88, in the 2-hole. Optimistic? Sure. But what if I'm right? Wow!
  15. mudcat14
    Sorry, Mods. I don't really ever check out this Forum, and didn't think to post it here. Will do better. Thanks.
  16. mudcat14
    After sitting out 2013 & 2015 entirely and playing a mere 57 games combined between AAA/Majors in 2014, apparently Chone Figgins was the only one who didn't know he was retired. He needed a press release to confirm it to the world. Figgins is gone, ...when will come another?!
  17. mudcat14
    Your right, of course. My big fear is that if we wait too long, Dozier & Plouffe will have about as much value as Dan Uggla & David Freese do right now.
  18. mudcat14
    What I'm arguing is that his performance over the next 5-years will indeed be superior. In 2016 there would assuredly be a drop-off in production if OPS is the determining factor. Polanco is unlikely to ever match Dozier's HR ability, but how many 2Bmen have? Interestingly, both are listed on the roster @ 5'11" & 200-lbs. Dozier's career MiLB OPS is .779 compared to Polanco's .752. Every Dozier MiLB AB occurred after his 22nd birthday. Polanco has had roughly 200 split between AA & AAA since he turned 22. Isn't it fair to assume his extra-base power is likely to improve as he matures? I've seen Polanco play dozen's of times between his stint in Cedar Rapids (his best MiLB season) and last year on MiLB.com. He has consistently exhibited an ability to make contact, hit behind runners & use all fields at the plate. These factors alone make him a better fit for me in the #2-hole right now between Buxton, Mauer, Sano and Park than Dozier's dead pull hit or miss approach. Maybe Dozier can play 3B. He profiles better at the 6-7 spots in the order. I wouldn't have a problem with Polanco spending the bulk of 2016 in AAA, but trading or relegating him to a utility role once he's out of options in favor of Dozier or Plouffe would be a mistake. With Vielma and Gordon nipping at his heel's, I think 2B is his obvious destination.
  19. mudcat14
    I don't doubt that you're right about Polanco's production vs. Dozier in 2016. I do however believe that if we look back in 5 years or so, that Jorge's numbers from 2016-2020 will markedly outshine Brian's. As much as I'd love for the Twins to shine this summer, I think most of us will agree that this team is still a couple of years from it's peak with the influx of young talent we are seeing right now. I believe whatever return Dozier would bring in a deal would be much greater than any short term production loss Polanco would create at 2B. The Yankees gave up Adam Warren for Starlin Castro and the $40mil remaining on his contract. Dozier is much more productive and affordable. I'll bet he and Hicks could have nabbed Warren and Garry Sanchez.
  20. mudcat14
    My personal belief is that he is the best 2B in the system. Including Dozier. Trade Dozier now and slide Polanco into the #2 hole at 2B and the Twins will be better for it in short order.
  21. mudcat14
    IF, ..Buxton is not ready on opening day, he will be during the season. Rosario, Santana, Mastro and/or Sweeney can certainly keep the spot warm until he's ready.
  22. mudcat14
    Sorry, I wasn't suggesting Engelb should be higher, just pointing out the organizational depth. Also,I forgot about Polanco. Probably because I really see him as a 2B more than a SS. Thanks for the very detailed report. I enjoyed it.
  23. mudcat14
    And none of them are named Vielma, who is probably the best glove man and closest to the show of any SS in the system.
  24. mudcat14
    He had already thrown 25+ more innings than he had ever tossed in a single season. Undoubtedly he would have tried to throw out of his shoes if he had been promoted in September. The Twins were wise of avoid the risk of injury to a talent so young. If he earns a rotation spot this spring, I'm sure he'll pitch. But it wouldn't surprise me at all if they give him a month or so in AAA to build a pitch count and a rhythm first.
  25. mudcat14
    We're Twins fans so obviously we're concerned about a Duffy regression, but the optimist in me says that he is a smart kid who has learned how to use what he has to keep hitters off balance. I choose to believe that he will continue to emerge in the rotation and along with good health from others, our rotation will actually become a strength in 2016. Interesting to note that across three levels last year, Tyler hurled 195+ innings while finishing very strong at the highest level.
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