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stringer bell

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Everything posted by stringer bell

  1. stringer bell
    I think Varland will be a starter in waiting at worst and a member of the rotation most likely. He hasn’t had injury issues to date and he has some (positive) experience in a bullpen role. I don’t think the Twins will use an option on him unless he is ineffective—that is, if he doesn’t make the starting five, he works out of the BP. This thread makes a pretty good case for acquiring a starter. López, Paddack, Ryan, Ober, Varland is a pretty good start, and four of those five were healthy last year, but even in healthy years, a team needs 7-8 starters at some point in the season. Pagán provided a lot of bullpen innings the last two years—much more effective in ‘23. I do think a mostly reliable bullpen arm should be acquired to replace him ( or re-sign him). A lefty would be preferable.
  2. stringer bell
    Yeah and there is a huge gulf between Texas and Baltimore, Philly and Atlanta and Arizona and the Dodgers. The other series show what a crapshoot postseason is. I do think some factors stand out—starting pitchers and power—but really having a healthy roster might be the biggest factor after making the postseason. The Twins need to address their flaws (lack of contact, not enough reliable hitters), but they are fairly well-positioned to compete in October next year and beyond.
  3. stringer bell
    I count ten of the roster for free agency/release, bringing the number to 37. A reduction of a couple more by non-tender is certainly possible coupled with adding players to the 40-man to protect from the Rule V draft.
  4. stringer bell
    Haven’t read all the replies, but I think this year’s Twins team actually compares with the four remaining teams. It certainly does in terms of record and run differential. So, they don’t have that far to go. Losing Gray and Maeda but adding Paddack would indicate that one additional starter is needed. Given the injuries and history of Buxton, Kirilloff and Lewis, depth must be maintained. I would expect a bounce back from Correa in his age-29 season. I also would expect roster turnover to reduce the strikeouts, although Julien and Wallner (added this year) increased the K percentage. If the team loses Pagán they really need to add a veteran reliable reliever and the pitching staff was heavily right handed, so adding a lefty reliever and/or starter would be optimal.
  5. stringer bell
    40-man issues are nonexistent right now with the Twins having about ten free agents. Lee won’t be added until he is promoted to the majors (the start of the 2024 major league season at the earliest).
  6. stringer bell
    I think Lee is far more likely to be a 3B. Perhaps Lewis would move to second, but that is only if Polanco and Julien are not in the picture there. Julien at 1B makes sense given the uncertainty and injury history of Kirilloff. I think Miranda might be in line to take the role that Solano had last year and that really limits Farmer’s role. A similar trade to the Urshela deal might be in the offing. Willi Castro was a premium utility guy last year and I hope he gets consideration for a Gold Glove. That he is younger than Gordon increases his value IMHO. A Gordon trade or non-tender is more than possible. Willi might end up with a multi-year contract.
  7. stringer bell
    The postseason set up to mitigate a successful, but less than awesome regular season. The Twins got a #3 seed and because many higher seeds failed had a chance to play teams on their level all the way through. They lost to the experienced, but not overwhelming, Astros and would have played teams they had played well in the regular season. They couldn’t get by that second step. The remaining teams have flaws on a par with the Twins IMHO. Are the Twins a long way from being relevant in the postseason? I don’t think so. They need more consistent offensive production and continued excellence from their pitching staff.
  8. stringer bell
    The postseason consisted of six games. A really small sample size. Not many guys hit as well as their regular season and a few pitchers struggled. Ober allowed two big HRs in Game 1 and Sonny allowed two for the first time since he came to the Twins. All season strikeouts were a huge problem and it only magnified in the playoffs. It is especially tough to string together hits in the postseason. ThecTwins got a lot of walks, but not enough big hits.
  9. stringer bell
    The roster construction covered the lack of durability in the regulars. I wouldn’t say the roster was “near-perfect” however. At times the bullpen was really thin and the club lacked a right-handed bat with punch to play a corner or DH. Here’s a rough list of IL stints—Kirilloff (2), Polanco (2), Correa (1), Farmer (1), Lewis (3), Miranda (1–season ending), Kepler (2), Gallo (3), Taylor (1), Buxton (2), Larnach (1) and Castro (1). Castro and Solano played far more than anyone could have predicted. The Twins seldom had to go beyond their Opening Day roster to fill the gaps caused by the injuries and Wallner and Julien showed themselves to be major leaguers when called upon.
  10. stringer bell
    NL behemoths Atlanta and LA are down in their first round. All three 100 win teams lost, also all teams with more than 90 wins are out and between them, they won one game. This year’s postseason is topsy-turvy. In the regular season, the Twins won the season series from all four remaining teams.
  11. stringer bell
    Even in a healthy season, clubs need 7-8 starters. The prospective rotation of López, Ryan, Paddack, Ober and Varland is a great start. Put me down for a lefty with more stuff than Keuchel and the return of Kenta Maeda. From the OP, I think Bauer and Rodón are out and any of the others could be added. Also, it may be time for some on the farm to contribute. Triple A numbers seem skewed by extreme offense, but SWR finished strong and he still only 23. So is Henriquez, although I think he’s a bullpen arm.
  12. stringer bell
    I don’t think AK is “three true outcomes”. He has the admirable ability to take pitches out to left, but he didn’t drive the ball to right and right-center. He still hit .270, which is above average and 11 homers would project to maybe 20 over a full season. How much of Kirilloff’s struggles are injury-related is an open question and the other question is whether he’ll get fully healthy.
  13. stringer bell
    The Twins did exactly what many suggested they do—shut down Buxton and try to get his knee right (as right as possible) and it didn’t work. After waiting a month, Buxton wasn’t able to last a full rehab game in center field. I don’t think the odds are very good at all that he’ll ever be able to play in the field more than occasionally and with all the time away, I doubt Byron would be a premium defender. Buxton got a good contract and it’s very doubtful that he’ll get many, if any, incentives included. The Twins are on the hook for the contract.
  14. stringer bell
    Probably needs to be a new thread about perspective for this year and what lies ahead in the next. I’ll say this—just too little contact, the strikeouts were too much to overcome too often. Caleb Thielbar wasn’t reliable in late September and October and the Twins went to that well too often. López. Paddack, Ryan, Ober, Varland is a nice rotation, but they probably need one or two more starters and I think Maeda is more likely to return than Gray.
  15. stringer bell
    The Astros have started Duhon, McCormick and Maldonado. Not exactly future HOFers. Yeah, I wouldn't prefer to start Solano and probably Castro, but they are major leaguers and both have had good seasons.
  16. stringer bell
    Varland, Jax and Duran for the last three innings?
  17. stringer bell
    I can't see any manager doing that, but particularly not Baldelli.
  18. stringer bell
    Maybe I’m greedy, but I would have liked 2-0 with one out so much more.
  19. stringer bell
    Ryan gets Altuve out. Progress!
  20. stringer bell
    Yesterday’s highlight was the ceremonial first pitch. I hope today’s highlight is a Duran K in the top of the ninth.
  21. stringer bell
    Ask Chief.
  22. stringer bell
    mlbtraderumors.com is reporting that Kirilloff could no longer swing due to the ongoing shoulder injury. I don’t know if this is true or not, but Rocco did pinch hit Solano in the sixth inning vs. a RH pitcher. I thought AK took two good rips his first time up and then looked bad on an off speed pitch. This also is a continuation of a trend with Kirilloff. In ‘22, he started slowly and then said that his wrist had been bothering him all along. He went through a bad stretch just after being named Player of the Week and went on IL for his shoulder. Now, after an 0-9 postseason, he’s out from a recurrence of the shoulder injury. It could be he can’t play with a level of pain that others can power through. Maybe he doesn’t heal fast, I don’t know, but it is disappointing.
  23. stringer bell
    Many misspell Mr. Kirilloff’s name. Even more seem stuck on how to spell Paddack.
  24. stringer bell
    I noticed AK was wearing a brace on his right hand/arm. I think that is the same side as his wrist that was operated on. It has been reported that he has continuing treatment for both his wrist and shoulder. I’ve thought all along Kirilloff could be a difference maker, but he’s not been the elite hitter I have hoped he would be.
  25. stringer bell
    That is correct.
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