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stringer bell

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Everything posted by stringer bell

  1. stringer bell
    While I agree almost totally with Brian's post above, I still think the priority is on the mound. It is pretty close to inevitable that at least one of the projected five starters will be on the IL. Last year, the Twins had relatively good health, but Mahle missed almost the whole year, Maeda missed over a month and Ryan missed about three weeks. With Ober in reserve and Louis Varland behind him, the Twins received competent pitching a great majority of the time. Going seven deep should be the minimum and the Twins look pretty shaky after five. Regarding getting plate appearances for the guys who were platooned, that is why I really don't want to see the Twins get a first base or corner outfield right handed bat. It then provides a rationale for platooning either/or Wallner and Kirilloff and Julien. I would hope all three get increased opportunities against southpaws and respond with better production. Wallner had 18.1% of his plate appearances vs. left handers, Kirilloff 17.6% and Julien 11.8 %.
  2. stringer bell
    I would point out that one area where Castro was weak last year was against left handed pitching (.636 OPS), but I would expect Willi to get several starts in left vs. left handed pitchers, particularly since the young left handed hitters (Kirilloff, Wallner and Julien) were all far worse vs. lefties. Lifetime, Castro does not have severe platoon splits.
  3. stringer bell
    I think the biggest factor in Buxton's offensive struggles last year wasn't that he was a DH, but that he wasn't close to fully healthy. Using BB as the DH a lot (40-60 times) would make sense given his injury history. Probably no day games after night games (in the field) and breaking up eight to ten consecutive game stretches. In 2022, Buxton's stat lines were very close when he was DH and when he was the center fielder. I do believe that a slump can deepen when the only thing the player is doing is coming to the plate, but I don't think using Buxton as a frequent DH should be ruled out.
  4. stringer bell
    As the roster is today: 9 starters--Jeffers, Kirilloff, Julien, Correa, Lewis, Polanco, Wallner, Buxton, Kepler. With a three or four way trade-off for who is the DH. Bench--Vázquez, Farmer, Castro, Miranda. I'm picking Miranda for the last guy because he would get consistent (not frequent) playing time as the platoon partner for Kirilloff and given Kiriloff's health history, AK may get days off even against right handers. With the other 12 guys pretty much guaranteed their spots, where would Nick Gordon get consistent playing time? Is he a better option than Castro to start in center when Buxton is not? Should he start at second base over Julien or Polanco? Should he get time in left field when Castro is probably the better backup option? Even during his "good" year, his splits against left handed pitching were poor. Gordon has played very little third base and not much shortstop. Farmer and Castro are both preferred options to Gordon on the left side of the infield. The Twins could make a place for Gordon by trading Farmer or Polanco (and maybe Kepler) or maybe more accurately, there would be a roster and playing time opportunity for Gordon if one of those three were traded.
  5. stringer bell
    The only guy I can see losing his spot on the 40-man not due to health issues is Jensen. Due to lack of options, Gordon and Balazovic are in jeopardy.
  6. stringer bell
    I just don't see Gordon making the 26-man roster without disabling injuries. He is redundant in the outfield and not needed at second base, with both Polanco and Julien on the team. In order to make the team, he has to be considered a superior option in center field to Willi Castro and for there to be room on the bench for Castro, Farmer and Gordon. I just don't think that is the case.
  7. stringer bell
    I don't dispute that Nick Gordon is a major league player, but even if he's a slightly better hitter than Willi, it doesn't make him more valuable than Castro. I would go so far as to say if the comparison were center field only, I'd still prefer Castro's combination of okay defense (in center), superior base running and comparable hitting (especially since he's a switch hitter) to what Gordon brings to the table.
  8. stringer bell
    I think Keaschall's floor is making the major leagues and his ceiling is becoming a major league regular, probably at a position not high on the defensive spectrum. He is precisely the kind of player that should be included as a prospect in a trade netting big league talent.
  9. stringer bell
    That is a fair critique IMHO. The Twins have far too many question marks to be considered a powerhouse like the Braves, Phillies, Dodgers and Astros. If those question marks pan out negative somebody else has a very good chance to win the AL Central. That said, Detroit has plenty of question marks themselves. Give me the Twins current roster over any AL Central team 100 times out of 100.
  10. stringer bell
    Two thoughts on Bubba: 1) Nobody is saying that he currently makes maximum use of his 100th percentile speed. For him to be an asset, he certainly has to make better use of that speed in chasing down fly balls and base running., as well as getting on base via bunting or base on balls. 2) Bubba is 25 years old. A lot of 25 year-olds get a lot better at 26--Jeffers and Castro last year--so I wouldn't pigeonhole Thompson as exactly the hitter he has been up to now. In order to be a good major league player Thompson has to more completely use his great speed and develop as a hitter. If it would be easy to do either, he already would have made those improvements. Like guys with 100 mph fastballs or 80/80 power, teams will continue to take chances on guys with potential game-changing speed.
  11. stringer bell
    Detroit overachieved in the division and according to Pythagorean computation they should have won five less games. I don't take them as a true contender, but they are getting closer. They'll certainly get better production out of the DH spot this year and they have acquired some decent veteran players. I think .500 will be a worthy goal for them and they should be a few games above or below that.
  12. stringer bell
    Kiersey, Castro, and probably Martin are fast. Bubba and Buxton up until his knee injuries are another level. Just having speed like Terrance Gore or Herb Washington isn't enough to be a real contributor (niche is a good word for it), but if Bubba can develop enough of his game around that elite speed, he can help. Yes, it is a long shot, but he's only 25 and stranger things have happened.
  13. stringer bell
    I'm not sure his hitting can be fixed to a degree that he could establish himself as a major league player. That said, Bubba is a faster runner than Buxton has been since 2019. That kind of speed can be game-changing. I don't think this claim will be a success if he is Billy Hamilton lite, but it could be a consolation prize that could be helpful in September or October, much more so than Andrew Stevenson was in 2023. He stands to be the best defensive left fielder or center fielder on the 40-man (perhaps outside of Buxton). Overall, I'd prefer Castro because of his decent hitting, especially as a LH hitter and proven ability to be a base running force in MLB, but chances are Willi will be needed elsewhere. Austin Martin also could be that guy, maybe right away and maybe by mid season. As long as there are vacant 40-man spots, it is pretty much risk free as long as the Twins don't lose out on a superior player because of Bubba on the 40-man.
  14. stringer bell
    We got him! (Mock excitement)
  15. stringer bell
    I wouldn’t want to go any higher on the prospect list than Rosario, Keaschall and Schobel and I wouldn’t want to part with pitching. I think Rosario is behind and below Rodriguez and Jenkins and the Twins have enough infield depth to trade a prospect infielder.
  16. stringer bell
    He has options remaining. I doubt he makes the club out of ST, but he can maybe find it in St. Paul and if he’s around in September, he could be a real asset as a pinch runner/defensive replacement.
  17. stringer bell
    I find it’s more fun to watch action on the back fields than the actual exhibition games. When I was last there (2020), there was an area where you could get autographs as the players started and ended their workouts.
  18. stringer bell
    Nitpick--I'd flipflop TonyO and Winfield. Tony only played 40 some innings in left. Winnie played over 400 games there.
  19. stringer bell
    Congratulations to Joe Mauer! As to the question of who will have a better season between Gallo and Sanó, they are both flawed hitters, but two of the more powerful guys to have ever played for the Twins. Gallo is a better all-around player, but he has never shown the ability to make adjustments to make enough contact to be more than a mistake hitter. Sanó showed flashes, but his "not hot" zones are too big. Sanó is on a minor league contract after sitting out an entire year. I think he has more to prove and will have the better year.
  20. stringer bell
    I don’t think they’d be that inexpensive. Maybe Kala’i Rosario or Schobel.
  21. stringer bell
  22. stringer bell
    Gallo's OPS by month after April: May .654, June .674, July .567, August .718, and September .856, The September number is 2 hits in 9 AB, with both hits coming off a position player, his August numbers were greatly augmented by a 5-5 game in which he hit a homer off a position player. I would argue Gallo was a black hole commencing on or about May 1.
  23. stringer bell
    Yeah, I was wondering if he would be the youngest HOF member. He might be the youngest for a couple years. I know Miggy is a day older. Incidentally, Joe was born on my birthday.
  24. stringer bell
    Torii did well on the non-public vote, easily clearing the 5% threshold to stay on the ballot next year.
  25. stringer bell
    Mauer made it by five votes. I'm surprised Helton passed him in the private votes. Congratulations to all three new HOF members.
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