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stringer bell

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Everything posted by stringer bell

  1. stringer bell
    I would also add that Ortega has pitched every bit as well as Balazovic, with slightly better underlying numbers. It would seem that Rocco has used Jordy Blaze in the higher leverage situations, however.
  2. stringer bell
    I believe Buxton is on paternity leave.
  3. stringer bell
    Assuming no new injuries, here are the players in consideration for the active roster before the end of the season. Currently injured players with best-guess return date. Pitchers: P. López, Gray, Ryan, Ober, Maeda, Keuchel, Thielbar (August 1), Stewart (August 10), Moran, Sands, J. López, Balazovic, Ortega, Pagán, Jax, Duran. Position Players: Vázquez, Jeffers, Kirilloff, Julien, Correa, Farmer, Lewis (August 15), Polanco (August 1), Solano, Gallo, Taylor, Kepler, Castro, Wallner, Larnach, Buxton. By my count that is 16 pitchers for 13 spots and 16 position players for 13 spots. The three pitchers to cut (IMHO) would be Sands, Ortega and Jorge López, I guess. The three position players to be sent down--Wallner, Larnach and Gallo (DFA)? I didn't list Nick Gordon, Gilberto Celestino, Jose Miranda, Headrick or Winder. Gordon and Miranda are currently on major league Injured Lists. I would assume the Twins would add Gordon only after September 1, since he can't be optioned. I also assume injuries will take care of some of this roster glut, but this does point out how difficult making a move at the deadline will be. Players the Twins want to keep in Minnesota will be optioned or DFAed unless they trade someone from the 40-man roster.
  4. stringer bell
    Rocco made a lot of pretty good moves and handled the bullpen expertly. I don't think Baldelli is an expert tactician, but he isn't among the worst at handling his personnel IMHO.
  5. stringer bell
    I also want to say that the most improved player from the conclusion of 2022 to now is Jeffers. The defense has been much improved and the offensive numbers are much better.
  6. stringer bell
    Easily his best season since 2019. Reliever are so volatile.
  7. stringer bell
    Rocco was again super aggressive trying to win by pinch hitting Vázquez, who came up with two really lousy plate appearances in this game. Yesterday, Vázquez was a key player in the victory. MAT got the game-winner yesterday and today looked pretty helpless. That is the way it goes with players of this caliber. I'll not quote the defense above, but Wallner would not have been removed if he stayed in the game to hit (Kirilloff stays at first, Wallner in (probably) right field and Gallo in left). I don't know if I would be willing to bet the house on Vázquez getting a big hit, but I don't think Wallner was a high-percentage play to win the game there either. I don't know if there are any stats that bear out this observation, but of all the players on the team, I think Farmer takes the best at-bats with the game on the line. Today's single to right in the twelfth was outstanding and he has a couple of walk-off hits.
  8. stringer bell
    The Twins stand at 53-48 with a three game lead on Cleveland, with Detroit seven back. Last year, after 101 games, the Twins record was ...............53-48. They were in first place then, as well, but with only a one-game lead. The best the Twins did the rest of the season was to get seven games over .500 and their largest lead from that point in the season was two games. They last were tied for the lead on September 4 and from that point went 10-20 while Cleveland finished 24-6 to run away with the Central.
  9. stringer bell
    Why? The heroes today were Vázquez, Taylor, Buxton, Correa and the pitchers. All of them were playing since before the All-Star break.
  10. stringer bell
    It’s not really close. Castro ranks in the 70s of 500 players measured for sprint speed. Gordon is at 248, behind Lewis, Polanco, Kepler and Kirilloff (Buxton and Taylor, too). His home-to-first time is in the same range, which is surprising given that LH hitters momentum is moving them towards first on a full swing.
  11. stringer bell
    Nick Gordon has played only a few innings at third base and right field. The manager definitely prefers Willi Castro at shortstop (as well as third base and right field) to Gordon. Nick isn’t blessed with the speed that Dee Gordon had. He is an average runner as measured by sprint speed and home-to-first. He has the same sprint speed as Julien and Kirilloff. Castro is much faster.
  12. stringer bell
    I think the decision for the Twins will be affected by the status of Buxton. If he is a DH until he isn’t the Twins need for a CF is pretty strong and adding a major league center fielder becomes a necessity. Losing pitching isn’t ideal, but I think the system can handle it.
  13. stringer bell
    Ruled safe by the ump and I truly don’t know if Grandal’s tag happened before Julien touched home with his hand. The only person that would know is Julien.
  14. stringer bell
    Carlson is a switch hitter, with stronger numbers as a right handed hitter. In addition he’s a capable center fielder.
  15. stringer bell
    15 day minimum for pitchers in IL.
  16. stringer bell
    Former Twins catcher Ben Rohrvedt was recalled by the Yankees. It looks like he will get a decent chance to show what he can do as Jose Trevino is set to have season-ending surgery.
  17. stringer bell
    My priority for Twins trades would be: 1) Relief help. Explanation--always plentiful options. The Twins have used Ortega and Pagán in key eighth-inning situations on the just-completed road trip. No need to say more. 2) Right handed or switch hitting outfielder. Explanation--Prefer someone who can adequately play center field. Kepler, Gallo and Kirilloff have gotten too many at-bats against left handed starters. Having a Tommy Pham or Mark Canha in the lineup against a lefty would improve the offense. My preference is Dylan Carlson, but he will cost more than a medium prospect. 3) Third Base. Explanation--Royce Lewis will be out until after the trading deadline. Oblique injuries are notoriously slow-healing. Ideally adding someone who could move to another position makes sense if Royce is coming back before mid-August.
  18. stringer bell
    Important for utility guys to be able to fill in adequately at the key positions--center field and shortstop. Rocco prefers Farmer over Castro at short and has been somewhat reluctant to go with Willi in center field. According to BBRef, after more than an extremely SSS, Castro is a neutral in center. While that doesn't sound great, being average where the best outfielders in the world are deployed is pretty good. When both players were on the active roster, Rocco used Castro at short. Again, that is telling to me in any competition for a utility spot on the Twins going forward. I would agree with those of you that are saying Willi is good, not elite, in the field. His best position appears to be left field, although he's played precious little second for the Twins, because they had other less-versatile options there.
  19. stringer bell
    Carlson is younger than either Wallner or Larnach. If he were added to the Twins, I have a hard time seeing playing time for both of those guys anyway. If Wallner (or Larnach) would be included as a return, would the Cards need more than Varland/SWR? Of course, from the StL side, if Carlson isn't getting playing time, why would Wallner or Larnach?
  20. stringer bell
    I’ve been a Castro backer since he was signed. He deserves a roster spot for the remainder of the season and a spot on the 40-man beyond the season. He is well-suited to a utility role. By the time Gordon is ready to play this year, it will probably be September. I really don’t see much of a role for him this year and he’ll probably have to win a spot next season. There is no comparison in terms of speed, base running and defense between Nick and Willi. Castro is superior in all of those aspects. Willi also switch hits and plays acceptable defense at more positions. Unless Nick Gordon can hit enough to become a platoon left fielder, there is no role for him on the Twins while they have Willi Castro.
  21. stringer bell
    Carlson is a switch hitter with better splits vs. LH pitching. He’s under team control for three more years. He’s center field capable and was a first round draft choice. He won’t come cheap, but would be an excellent get for this year and beyond.
  22. stringer bell
    Julien has been removed after batting in the 7th or 8th several times, when the Twins were ahead.
  23. stringer bell
    I don’t see the 40-man as a big issue. With De León and Alcalá done and likely done that clears two spots. Gordon and Paddack would be added to the 40-man no sooner than September and neither is a guarantee. There is a pretty high likelihood that by September there will be other injuries that knock a player off the 40-man and if everybody stays healthy there are several DFA candidates from the bullpen. The roster crunch, such as it is, really is the active roster and particularly bat-first left handed hitters. Edit to add: most of my thoughts ninja’d by jmlease1.
  24. stringer bell
    The 40-man is not really full. De León hasn’t been placed on the 60-day IL and could at any time. Also, despite what has been reported, Alcalá is still listed on the 15-day IL and could also be transferred. Recovery from a broken shin (Gordon’s injury) is supposed to be about three months, which would put Gordon out until mid-August and it would figure that he will need a rehab assignment.
  25. stringer bell
    Didn't Jaylin Davis get traded for Dyson, as well? He had a minute or two in the majors IIRC.
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