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stringer bell

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Everything posted by stringer bell

  1. stringer bell
    Recent history certainly suggests that the sixth and seventh starters will see action early in the season. I think the Twins will have Ober making one start per series and probably limit him from throwing too many pitches or innings for the Saints.
  2. stringer bell
    Yes.
  3. stringer bell
    Gray is a vet who speaks his mind. I remember reports of him and the other starters having conversations and competitions. He was and is among the most senior of the starters, so I think his opinions should be respected. As to his workload, Gray was limited several times by muscle issues (pec and hamstring) and it seemed that he was building to be full strength most of the year, and I think that limited the innings.
  4. stringer bell
    Derek Law will open the 2023 season in the bullpen for the Cincinnati Reds.
  5. stringer bell
    Sands has not impressed IMHO, but he can throw perhaps 50-60 pitches, is on the 40-man roster and has an option remaining. I don't expect him to last through April, perhaps losing his 40-man spot. Sands has a pretty good slide, but he doesn't have good enough stuff and control/command to often make it a chase pitch.
  6. stringer bell
    I think bringing up Castro indicates one of Kirilloff or Polanco will be ready to go sooner rather than later. If the Twins saw a long-term absence for both, I think they'd be more comfortable selecting Garlick, even though he is out of options and would have to be exposed if they had to take him off the active roster. Castro can be optioned.
  7. stringer bell
    According to your specifications for long relief, what happens when that guy goes 4-5 innings, how long is he down, so that there's no long reliever? Extending a guy that long pretty much rules him out for as long as the short starter is out and the bullpen is short for the duration. How many times is this guy going to be able to aid in a win? With five quality starters, how many short starts will occur? I think that the proper role for Ober is in the starting rotation and he will get his chance probably sooner than later. I don't think a piggyback scenario is really works either. It would leave the bullpen one short of what every other club has. Maeda probably threw more innings in Florida than any Twins pitcher. He's stretched out enough, so that if he's effective, he can give the club six innings. I think we all want to take too much out of performances in exhibition games. It probably matters for guys who are competing for jobs, but established starting pitchers are working on specific pitches or situations. If they are lucky, the Twins will probably use eight or nine starters, unless they trade for one. Bailey Ober will get plenty of starts and I think he'll establish himself as a solid starting pitcher going forward. He hasn't pitched a lot of professional innings and we probably don't know how durable he will be. It looks like he will be effective when he is able to pitch. I don't get the front office's Pagan love. He just hasn't been effective in years. He doesn't have good enough command or secondary pitches to be above average.
  8. stringer bell
    Larnach is my pick to break through. He's really hit well this spring. I hope Rocco will be willing to take the guy who is going least well between Gallo, Kepler and Kirilloff (if/when healthy) out of the lineup. I really don't think it will be Larnach. Of course, maybe Buxton will be playing center by then and all four of those guys can be in the lineup.
  9. stringer bell
    Of the last guys to make the team, I think Sands is more questionable than Castro. The thing that he has going for him is that he is both on the 40-man roster and has an option remaining. I wrote on another thread that I doubt Sands will survive the month of April on the Twins' roster. I think Castro is a legitimate major leaguer. It wouldn't surprise me totally to see him some in the outfield early this year, particularly with Buxton serving as a DH. It's also important that he has an option remaining so he can be sent to St. Paul if Polanco or Kirilloff is ready. Yeah, it stinks that Ober is sent to St. Paul, but I really doubt he'll be there through April. Spending a month or more in AAA would take him out of consideration to be a Super 2 for arbitration. That would cost him some money.
  10. stringer bell
    He deserves a spot, but I would say the over/under for minor league starts for Ober is 5.1.
  11. stringer bell
    I think he had to pitch himself off the team this spring to be sent out, and he hasn't done that. Given that the Twins five starters (and three most likely replacements) are all right handed, I think having three left handers in the bullpen is not only acceptable, but preferable. That would mean finding a 40-man spot to add Coulombe (along with either Garlick or Castro) and asking the front-end guys in the bullpen to occasionally pitch multiple innings.
  12. stringer bell
    I wonder if Sanchez is waiting for a chance to be a starter. He made good money last year ($9M) and maybe he isn't willing to sign on for a minor league contract. I don't think there are 60 better catchers (counting hitting) in MLB and he's waiting for the right opportunity.
  13. stringer bell
    Ortega was sent down to minor league camp. I think he'll be one of the first recalls to the Twins when they need bullpen help.
  14. stringer bell
    It appears that Coulombe is the only NRI remaining among the pitchers. If they consider Ober only as a starter, then it would be between Coulombe and Sands for the last spot in the bullpen.
  15. stringer bell
    Onetime Twin Taylor Motter is going to open with the Cardinals.
  16. stringer bell
    Thank you guys, I am super optimistic about Larnach and Miranda added to the "trusted guys" you were talking about.
  17. stringer bell
    Cole Sands looks like he’s the last man standing. Not a huge fan, but he can provide multiple innings and can be optioned. Also, if Sands is the long man, they still will have one 40-man space available to add either Garlick or Castro.
  18. stringer bell
    What a great interview. Matt was candid about his time with the Twins and in MLB and shared a lot of behind-the-scenes stories. He's the kind of guy, successful but not a superstar, who is so interesting to listen to.
  19. stringer bell
    In an era where 95 mph is an average fastball, Sano just doesn't have the bat-to-ball skills to be an exceptional hitter. Great power, but just not able to make contact with enough pitches He worked hard and as @chpettit19 points out, the club worked with him, it just doesn't make him a good enough hitter for anyone to want to sign him. With his defensive deficiencies, he needs to be more than okay as a hitter and I don't think he is at this point in his life.
  20. stringer bell
    His numbers at St. Paul weren't very good, but his (about) half season with the Twins was pretty good. He's got to reduce the walks some.
  21. stringer bell
    Kyle Garlick has hit .130 so far this year in ST. Castro has performed well. If they take a non-roster position player, I think Castro has made a case.
  22. stringer bell
    I like Oliver Ortega's chances of helping the club at some point this year. Like Willi Castro, Ortega would have an option to use so that he could go to St. Paul without the risk of being claimed.
  23. stringer bell
    The way I read the article in mlbtraderumors.com was that players with a certain amount of service time who finished the previous season in the majors, but then signed minor league contracts are guaranteed an opt-out. Sanchez meets those criteria. It's been reported that Hoffman has opt-outs and several others might as well.
  24. stringer bell
    One correction Jeremy. If Willi Castro is added to the roster, he has an option remaining, so he can be sent to St. Paul without being exposed.
  25. stringer bell
    I am a pretty big believer in Larnach and Kirilloff.
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