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stringer bell

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Everything posted by stringer bell

  1. stringer bell
    This topic has come across almost all of the threads on Twins Daily for the last week or so. There are about as many different perspectives as their are postings, but I thought I'd bring it together in one spot for debate. I posted a poll here and I'm asking members to predict the outcome, not state what should happen. I think Lewis won't play in Houston, but might return in New York. In the meantime, someone will have an injury that will land them on the Injured List. If Lewis were coming off the IL today, the HBP that Kyle Farmer suffered might have cost him ten days plus a rehab assignment in St. Paul. Another scenario is to give someone like Chris Paddack a two-week break and have 14 position players, using Boushley, Varland or Festa for spot starts sending them down after their starts. It would take a lot of roster manipulation, but it could be done. There is an off day included in that time frame. As much as I hate the move, I think the most likely option of a player is Alex Kirilloff, since optioning him would cause the least disruption. Miranda has earned a spot on the major league team and he can be the alternate/backup first baseman and Trevor Larnach has outperformed AK, hits from the same side and is at least as good of an outfielder. Many of us would prefer a veteran is DFA'd. I don't think the Twins will do it, because the player is most likely permanently lost and will cost the club money, in the millions of dollars.
  2. stringer bell
    Thanks SwainZag, my turn. I saw my first game in person today and enjoyed it immensely. The weather was good, the company was excellent and the game was like a good novel, unpredictable and good to the end. Starting with the starter—Chris Paddack might benefit by being skipped in the rotation. He’s battled his last two starts, but diminished velocity and sharpness of his pitches makes it a hard slog. Durán is also down a couple of mph, making his margin for error smaller and demanding better command. To the rescue is Jorge Alcalá, who looks capable of handling high leverage situations with triple digit heat and a secondary pitch for both left handed and right handed hitters. I haven’t been a fan, but his last two outings looked dominant. The Twins won the series because they took advantage of KC miscues and won close games. The Royals currently are really good, I suspect they’ll regress some and their lack of depth will be exposed and taken advantage of later in the season. Bobby Witt Jr. is going to win lots of awards.
  3. stringer bell
    Getting the count to 3-1, I thought Correa would get on and maybe do more. It happened! Cant help but be a bit concerned about Durán. Velocity is down.
  4. stringer bell
    Rocco, no pinch hit?
  5. stringer bell
    A beautiful day at Target Field!!
  6. stringer bell
    You’re right of course, but it is ridiculous.
  7. stringer bell
    There are 6 million reasons to keep Farmer, as is often noted, the Twins are very reluctant to cut bait on a player when he's a veteran and the Twins owe him money. That said, I was perplexed when they didn't non-tender Farmer in the offseason. It was pretty apparent that his days as a regular were over Father Time often wins the battles with 34-year-olds. He's not as bad a hitter as he has shown this year, but he's below average and possibly a lot below average. Versatility only goes so far.
  8. stringer bell
    Sounds like the mental/emotional problems are not completely behind him. The mlbtraderumors.com account indicates there may be a language problem. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/05/mets-to-designate-jorge-lopez-for-assignment.html
  9. stringer bell
    In addition to to those listed by road trip, Austin Wynns, Austin Nola, Brett Sullivan, Carlos Pérez, Chad Wallace, Anthony Bemboon, Tomás Nido, Omar Naráez, Luke Malle, Tyler Heineken and Tucker Barnhart are all guys over 29 who played in the majors as recently as last year and weren’t starters. I suppose many are unavailable, but I bet most are. Personally, I can’t abide by the absolute judgment s of defense made by the person I’m responding to. I’ll leave it at that.
  10. stringer bell
    Another win would claim the series and clinch a winning month of May. Lugo has been outstanding. I can’t imagine he’ll sustain this. Ober owes the Royals one. Let’s hope he twirls a good one this evening.
  11. stringer bell
    I guess I’m not worried that Vázquez could get injured and there would be no one to replace him. There always seems to be at least a half dozen glove-first catchers available for minimal pay or even major league minimum. I’d actually like to see a left handed hitting catcher share the job with Jeffers, if he was as good or better of a receiver than #27.
  12. stringer bell
    Overall, there is no question who the superior player is--Ryan Jeffers might be an All-Star despite his recent snag and Vázquez is putting up historically awful offensive numbers. Jeffers is an adequate/average catcher, perhaps a bit better than that IMHO. Vázquez has been very good, particularly in throwing out base stealers, as a defender. If the Twins are playing one game to make postseason, I want Ryan Jeffers catching. With the return of Royce Lewis on the horizon, there should be better candidates to DH than there has been up to this point, including José Miranda and Trevor Larnach. If catching 55% of the time doesn't hurt Jeffers' health, I think that is better than the current 49-51% rate. I'll add that I'm not delighted with Jeffers as DH. It limits hitting and running for Vázquez and running for Jeffers. If Vázquez could/can perform at the plate at something like his career norms, I have no problem with a 50-50 split in the catcher position with Jeffers getting additional DH at-bats.
  13. stringer bell
    Onetime Twin Steven Gonsalves signed a minor league deal with the Rockies. I didn't know he was still in professional baseball. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/05/rockies-stephen-gonsalves-agree-to-minor-league-deal.html
  14. stringer bell
    I would hope that Rocco modifies the job sharing at catcher sometime, starting Jeffers in consecutive games behind the plate when there is a day off in between would help. Perhaps starting Jeffers in consecutive games where it is either two night games or a night game after a day game (as often occurs on Thursday-Friday).
  15. stringer bell
    There definitely is a trend throwing the ball more on the first base side when base stealers are running. With the head-first slide, there is a lot of body to tag the runner before the hand gets in and the base runner can more easily manipulate his hands and arms than the rest of his body. Vázquez' throw last night was pretty far to the first base side, maybe a bit more than desired, but Correa made a super quick tag and the runner was clearly out.
  16. stringer bell
    You're right about the first round of the playoffs. I guess I had a senior moment. They would play the Guards in the second round with the current standings (and a win in the first round).
  17. stringer bell
    I didn't see Keirsey Jr.'s name in the box scores. Surprising that he didn't play in either game. Is he on his way to Minneapolis or does he have a minor injury? Martin is doing very well for the Saints. I know he's started both at second and in the outfield. I still hold out hope for him to be a quality major league regular, with a floor of utility guy.
  18. stringer bell
    Agree about Witt Jr., he oozes talent. He hasn't made a positive impact so far in this series, but it seems like it is only a matter of time. Buxton had a great game and he didn't homer. I think that is a good sign. It is also positive that other guys got the spotlight when Buck had a great game. There is more to the Twins than the big-money guys. Last night, all the pitchers did well, and there were positive contributions from Vázquez, Santana, Julien, Correa, Miranda, Castro, Buxton and Margot. I thought Castro's productive out in the eighth was huge and I don't think Julien's hit would have made the OF if the infield was back.
  19. stringer bell
    The Twins are exactly one-third of the way through the regular season. They stand at 30-24, the fifth-best record in the AL, but they are third in the AL Central. Quite the change, eh? If the season ended today, they would snag the last wild card and visit the Yankees Guardians, who (surprise, surprise) have the best record in the American League. The Twins have played 16 games against AL teams with better records and are 4-12 (all four wins coming against the Royals). They have played 10 games against teams that would project to lose more than 90 games and they are 10-0 (thanks White Sox and Angels). They are 4-4 in interleague play, having played two teams with better records, but have not Philadelphia or Atlanta, the other two elite NL teams. They haven't played a NL team that currently projects to lose 90 games. They have so far put up two winning months, although if they lose the last three games in May, they would be .500 for this month. They are 15-12 at home and 15-12 on the road (who says they're not consistent? 🤪). The Twins have a very good 9-4 record in one-run games. So far, they've exceeded their Pythagorean W-L by two games. They have only played one extra-inning game and won it.
  20. stringer bell
    So far, his called thirds are almost half of his total strikeouts, which is really unusual.
  21. stringer bell
    I saw that Castillo was warming up. That is a large human being.
  22. stringer bell
    Nope, can't assume a runner will be out when trying to advance. Was it a mistake and a bad defensive play? Yes, but not an error.
  23. stringer bell
    "Just a little push......."
  24. stringer bell
    Willi moves him over and Eddie needs to bring him in.
  25. stringer bell
    Good plate appearances today for Buxton.
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