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stringer bell

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Everything posted by stringer bell

  1. stringer bell
    Or you could say it was an evenhanded analysis. I don't know where to go on the "play Buck in center field" debate. I vacillate depending on how bad I think his knee is. If it's Mickey Mantle or Tony Oliva bad, maybe DH is all he can do, if it's minor (and seeing him run the bases you start to believe that) then get him out there.
  2. stringer bell
    I'd bet a large virtual sum that a healthy Buxton will again to an elite hitter at some point in the future. There is innate streakiness in him and his approach and right now he's in a valley (or maybe a well). So, if all you're waiting for is Buck to be elite, just wait. The larger questions do remain. Is the club better off with Buxton playing at least part-time in center field? Can he stay healthy doing so? What is the condition of his knee (and hip)? I've said it before and I'll say it again--I'd love to see the 2021 version of Buxton (who lasted only 61 games) for as long as he could go. He'd easily be one of the top 5 players in MLB and might do more WOW things than anyone. I lament that that will probably never happen. They've put curb feelers on a Lamborghini and I see little prospect of that changing.
  3. stringer bell
    Didn't he DH for the Astros in the World Series? The hitting has not been what I would expect, and the defense has been OK. Jeffers has been getting the odd game in the job share lately and I think that is fair. Given the lack of options in the Twins system, it would be good to keep both guys as fresh as possible and their jobs appear secure for the foreseeable future.
  4. stringer bell
    Thielbar today maybe? They could use another left hander against the Guards, for sure. I would expect the Twins to use most, if not all, of the 30 rehab days in Maeda's case, particularly since there is no easy move to get him back on the active roster.
  5. stringer bell
    First, I'll offer my definition of a disappointment. A disappointment is someone who performs far less well than expectations after considering mitigating factors. Mahle isn't a disappointment to me because an unforeseen injury has taken away 90% of his season. My number one disappointment is Correa, although I suspect he has been more nicked than the fan base is aware. #2 would be Miranda. #3 would be Buxton, #4 Vázquez and #5 Nick Gordon. Dishonorable mention would be Jorge López, Griffin Jax and perhaps Jorge Alcalá
  6. stringer bell
    I wanted to point out that Jeffers had another strong game. He did not score the run, but it was his double that set up the inning. Good offensive numbers so far and a good receiver. The running game hasn’t killed the Twins as I feared. Vázquez has had a couple of good game recently, as well.
  7. stringer bell
    Nice game story. Nice game. Tough lefty tomorrow vs. the undefeated Sonny Gray. As the commercial says “let’s get it!”
  8. stringer bell
    Agreed, but they may appear to be out of the box.
  9. stringer bell
    I'll agree to a point. "The box" is two-dimensional. Many pitches might be over the front of the plate, but move out of the zone before they reach the catcher. Also, most views from center field have an angle so that the pitcher doesn't block the view. Umps do clearly miss pitches, but no one is saying they favor one team or another.
  10. stringer bell
    Concur. Two totally different vibes from the two young first round draft choices. Fire and ice? Apparently, Lewis wants to claim ice water in his veins, but AK is a different kind of cool.
  11. stringer bell
    Unless someone goes on the IL, Wallner would have to wait another week. Of the three players that went out, I think an IL stint is most likely for Correa. Two days rest didn't work, so I would guess they'll put him on IL and be more aggressive in his treatment. The depth and versatility the Twins have make it possible to add Wallner in place of a shortstop (I think). It would be interesting to see if Lewis goes to short in the event CC is out for ten days or more.
  12. stringer bell
    Incredible team victory last night. I agree with Brian that someone should go on the IL and Wallner should be back in the lineup.
  13. stringer bell
    Larnach will be rehabbing for the Saints in Buffalo. I don’t know if there’s currently a spot for him on the Twins’ active roster, but whichever is swinging between Trevor and Wallner is probably first in line if there’s an injury. Wallner had three more hits today, so Larnach had better hit the ground running.
  14. stringer bell
    Probably today and tomorrow Sands is the long man. They can option him. De León would have to go through the DFA process and possibly would be claimed.
  15. stringer bell
    Well, if Sands is used this weekend, I would expect Thielbar to replace him right away. Otherwise, he probably is activated when the Twins face the Rays.
  16. stringer bell
    I think it remains to be seen if Maeda will supplant any current starter. If they want Kenta in the rotation, there might be a turned ankle or torn fingernail for a minimum stay on the IL for someone. I don’t think any club a couple of games above .500 is ready to tear it down, even if they are in the Rays’ division.
  17. stringer bell
    Concer. Jeffers has 92 PAs, about 45% of the work share, unless he's playing 80% or more of the time going forward, he won't even be considered. Kirilloff only has 85 PAs so even playing full-time from here, he'll only have 200 or so when they consider who should be going to the AS game, not enough to compare with those with 100 more plate appearances. I expect Ryan's numbers will look better than Gray's in a month and Durán and his high-velo repertoire would be the most likely pick.
  18. stringer bell
    Concur. Willi's career numbers at SS are pretty weak and he hasn't started a single game there for the Twins, but they like him over Gordon there. He's younger, faster and with a stronger arm, so if the hitting is close to equal, Castro is the better player and better fit on the roster, particularly because he's a switch hitter without wide platoon splits.
  19. stringer bell
    The Twins are close to as healthy as they've been all season. I think they have superior talent on both sides of the ball. It appears that the Cleveland bullpen hasn't been as stellar, particularly Clase and Karinchak, so perhaps the Twins can turn the tables on what happened in '22. With their positive run differential, good to great starting pitching and a lineup that has added Lewis, Polanco and Kirilloff from Opening Day, I think this club is due for a hot steak. After winning two of three from Houston, I'll predict three of four from Cleveland at home and then good play against two of the "beasts of the east"--Tampa and Toronto.
  20. stringer bell
    Would it be odd to pick up Polanco's option only to trade him? I was also going to mention Brian Dozier for comparison. Dozier relied more and more on pulling home runs for his production and diminished rather quickly. I fear the same for Polanco and again think it is better to trade a veteran a year early than a year late. To me, this will be an off season decision and back to the OP, Julien's progress will be a large factor.
  21. stringer bell
    It is a 13-man pitching staff after all. BTW, I think Baldelli does an underrated job of evening out the workload and keeping everyone involved and no one overworked. It certainly helps that the starters are averaging closer to six innings than five this year.
  22. stringer bell
    There were several hits that weren't hit particularly hard. Both of Kirilloff's singles and Farmer's roller through the right side were hit pretty softly. I think the key was using the whole field. Even Kirilloff, who is (rightly) being praised for his hitting approach and skill, is striking out over 25% of the time.
  23. stringer bell
    López, Stewart and De León all threw 16 pitches last night. I think all three would be on board to pitch today if needed, but Pagán, Moran, Jax would be preferred to pitch today. Of course, if any of the three that pitched yesterday, it is a near certainty that they are out for Friday. In my view, it wasn't optimum that three pitchers were used, but it was necessitated by the López meltdown. Another seven inning start today by Pablo López and finished by Pagán and Moran (or Jax) would be optimum. I do agree that the BP has cost the Twins games, coupled with the inconsistency of the offense. It was pointed out in a broadcast in Houston, that the Twins had gotten a lot of small leads but didn't add on and put considerable pressure on the BP. So, in my estimation, the avoidable losses have been a team effort.
  24. stringer bell
    I was neither encouraged or discouraged by Julien’s play for his stay with the major league team. His bat will play and if his bat plays enough, we’ll accept his defense. The story to watch is whether the Twins will pick up the option on Jorge Polanco’s contract. Polanco is and continues to be a good player, but he seems to be an old 29 year old, with injuries clouding the future. I don’t think his defense is good, even at second and he seems more and more pull-happy and strikeout-prone. If Julien can provide the team with as much offense and something approximating sufficient defense, the Twins might want to part company, perhaps a year early, rather than a year too late.
  25. stringer bell
    Yes, makes sense. I guess at this time the key thing would be to get Jax and especially López right.
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