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stringer bell

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Everything posted by stringer bell

  1. stringer bell
    Atlanta went through a similar run last year. The Yankees and the Orioles had similar runs of starting pitcher injuries. It is basically a cost of maximum effort hurling in the 2020s. Actually, I'd rather have the injuries occur so now rather than in August so that the Twins aren't fooled about being contenders.
  2. stringer bell
    The pessimist in me is saying it will only hurt more when they lose in the late innings.
  3. stringer bell
    I am getting a 2026 season death spiral vibe right now. The club managed to win three games in Boston, but since then two kinds of news—bad news and worse news.
  4. stringer bell
    I now can be convinced that I am wrong, but I still think there is elite talent there and that the Twins should not give up on Lewis just yet. It's nice that he is slugging in Triple A, but topline numbers aren't that important especially after only a week in the minors. Defensively, Lewis was -2 defensive runs saved in almost 100 games at third base last year. He moved better and better as the season went on and his throwing accuracy improved. I believe he was positive after the All-Star break. on the other major defensive metric (Zone Runs Above Average), Lewis was positive last year and is positive this year. So, if he reverts to form as a hitter, his defense is okay at third base. Move him? Yeah, if Lee hits better than Lewis, maybe Royce should move over to first or left field(?). The jury is out on Lewis. His runway is pretty much used up and he needs to perform in his next chance in MLB. I think the potential is worth the risk, but I think his next chance should be his last chance with the Twins.
  5. stringer bell
    I’m still at about that point unless the disappointments bring their games up to expectations. To carry as weak a bat as Kreidler at short, the other eight hitters need to be far above average. IMHO, Kreidler is the only shortstop above A ball that profiles as average or above defensively. Run scoring has been quite a ways above average, but when the team isn’t hitting (like right now) the team’s deficiencies show up too much to win games.
  6. stringer bell
    Rojas (sore elbow) scratched. Ruh-roh.
  7. stringer bell
    This is why I liked his acquisition, despite his offensive deficiencies. He’s got the tools to be a very good defensive catcher, I think both Jeffers and and Vázquez (and maybe Caratini) were pretty good in skills that sre tough to measure—working with the pitcher, calling a game etc., but stopping a running game hasn’t been a strength since Mauer traded in his catcher’s mitt. It also has been noted that Jackson isn’t a glacial slow runner (in fact above average) and has some power. He’s never hit for average, but a few long balls coupled with good defense makes him an acceptable backup catcher.
  8. stringer bell
    I’m getting “lingering injury” vibes from Buxton. Only has played in the field once since the hip injury was announced. He has so much more value when he can play in the field. Clemens has started at four different positions, but if he’s in the lineup, I’d much rather see him at first base. I hope Jackson can add some offense. BTW, he is a pretty fast runner, faster than any of today’s starting infield. Warm weather in Chicago. If the wind is blowing out, expect a bunch of home runs. The Twins are +11 in homers, the White Sox are +12. Oops, I forgot Keaschall is back. Jackson is not faster than Keaschall.
  9. stringer bell
    The trading deadline is a looooong way away. The season is two months old and there are more than two months until the trade deadline. Think of how perceptions have changed for the following players: Kody Clemens, Royce Lewis, Austin Martin, Matt Wallner, Simeon Woods Richardson, Trevor Larnach, Luke Keaschall, Bailey Ober and Taj Bradley. The meter for Josh Bell and Victor Caratini has gone up and fallen in that two-month time frame. Two months from now, the Twins might be begging someone to take Larnach and feeling like Lewis and Wallner could be stars (probably not). At 26-27, the Twins can't be looking to be in pure sell mode. A lot has worked and we've seen that good starting pitching can make up for a lot of other soft spots.
  10. stringer bell
    To me, there have been a number of games that in the past the Twins would invariably lose and they've managed to win a lot of them. There isn't a signature way to win or a small number of players doing the heavy lifting. There have been a lot of team wins, where four or more guys were crucial in the win. The bullpen certainly has been more than the sum of its parts and run scoring is better than the team OPS says it should be. The Twins aren't even a decent defensive team, but they've made a lot of really good plays in key situations to help them win. This still feels like a lot of good fortune and reverting to the mean would mean these victories might turn into tough defeats, but it has been fun so far.
  11. stringer bell
    Quite a bit of conversation about Lewis in a thread that was supposed to be about Brooks Lee moving to third base. Lewis hit four homers this week IIRC and is carrying a very nice batting line after one week plus his rehab games. I don't think the Twins should rush him back, but if he continues to dominate he can force his way back sooner rather than later. Royce isn't Dr. Strangeglove at third, but he wasn't very good this spring for the Twins. It could be SSS or it could be taking his hitting problems to the field. I think Lee is best suited to play third base. Foot speed isn't as important as first step quickness and a quick release is more essential that pure arm strength. Lee was charged with two errors in the Red Sox series, but I still think his best defensive position will be third base. I don't think he has proven himself as a major league hitter and he is approaching 1000 plate appearances.
  12. stringer bell
    Not angst or frustration, just puzzled that a name that has been in the majors for decades and with this team for over a year can't be spelled correctly. Nothing personal @tarheeltwinsfan.
  13. stringer bell
    Limiting the arsenal is a tried and true formula for relief pitchers.
  14. stringer bell
    As long as Rodgers is on the same team with Clemmons, Grey, Carantini and Able, I’m okay with that.
  15. stringer bell
    They may have lucked into. a key bullpen piece for the next couple of years. Or he could be DFA’d in a couple weeks. Relief pitchers are so unpredictable.
  16. stringer bell
    Health, a bat and an above average relief pitcher (or two).
  17. stringer bell
    Clemens. He's been with the team for over a year and every day we get two or three alternate spellings. On top of that his dad was a great major leaguer for two decades. It shouldn't be that tough,
  18. stringer bell
    Mmm, as much as it b is good to habe Buxton in thr lineup, maybe it would have been better for him to do a mjnimum IL stint, rather than being a full time DH.
  19. stringer bell
    The goid thing about Kreidler is his undeniably above average defense plus his versatility. Unlike a guy like José Miranda, who has to be a well-above average hitter to provide value, if Kreidler hits a little bit, he helps the team. If he continues to hit balls over the fence at above league average rate, he probably will provide enough value to stay on yhe team, even though the BA is nearly certain to drop.
  20. stringer bell
    Fedko looked pretty ordinary in Spring Training this year. I don’t think he had much of a chance to make the team, but he did have a chance to impress the field staff. He actually started real slow at St. Paul this spring, but has been pretty hot lately.
  21. stringer bell
    Lewis, until recently, was below league K average. He had a rash of strikeouts prior to his demotion. Like most teams, I believe the Twins consider a high K rate the price that is paid for slugging. If a player is not getting extra-base hits and striking out a lot, it’s a problem. If you have a high K rate and slug well, it is acceptable.
  22. stringer bell
    The player who I thought of to compare with Carson McCusker. They are pretty different, but it would seem that they both benefitted from playing in a hitter's league. I am extremely suspicious of Triple A stats put up by older players. That said, Fedko is a better fit than James Outman as the fifth outfielder in that he's a right handed hitter. Because he possesses good speed and is regarded as a good outfielder, he can provide value without being an outstanding hitter. The differences between Fedko and Brent Rooker are that Rooker was a high draft choice and a guy who has to hit well above average to be an asset to a team. While I don't feel optimistic that Fedko will make much of an impact, I hope he gets a chance and thrives. ZIPS and other predictions miss often enough that they can't be totally relied on. I'm confident that if he keeps producing he'll get a shot and for a lot of minor league players that is all they can ask for.
  23. stringer bell
    Kreidler has limited value as a glove-only guy. He has more as a low-average hitter with some power and a lot of value if he can hit at league average level. In a really small sample size, he has hit well and with considerable power. I think it is more likely that he'll continue to hit with surprising power, but I doubt the batting average and on base number is close to sustainable. His rep was he was a far better than average defender at five positions and that is something the Twins can really use.
  24. stringer bell
    I'd add to the evaluation that Lee had a similar run of competence eleven months ago and he really hasn't been very good except for the month of June in 2025 and his five week run this spring. He hasn't hit much the last week or so. Martin has regressed the last 20 at-bats. Batters ebb and flow every year. It is hard to stay patient until they are fully established and maybe after they are established (See Buxton, Byron). The Twins have precious few players who can absolutely be counted on. That is IMHO why it is hard to count on them being a good team until they actually show it on the field.
  25. stringer bell
    It's a mixed bag for sure and that the Twins are within a couple games of the Wild Card after 50 games is a surprise. The team has had more than their share of disappointments--Wallner, Lewis, Keaschall, Bell and Caratini from the Opening Day lineup--and a fair number of key injuries in Lopez, Abel and Bradley among the starting pitchers. The bullpen is substandard, although some incremental progress has been made. IMHO, the team that played the first 50 games isn't good enough, even in the weak American League. The question to me is whether there is talent enough to break through and improve this team enough to be a real contender. A return of Wallner or Lewis playing at a high level could give the club a real push. Having someone emerge as a legit high-leverage BP arm would help greatly. The Twins are third in the AL and ninth in MLB in scoring runs. Over the course of a season, that is probably good enough. They are quite a ways below average in Defensive Runs Saved and they have statistically once of the poorer bullpens. I think there is hope for a more middle of the road 'pen going forward. That's a lot of ifs to spend prospect capital on.
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