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stringer bell

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Everything posted by stringer bell

  1. stringer bell
    Well, another thing going on is that the team isn't playing very well in practice games right now. Consecutive starts by Ryan, Mahle and Maeda haven't been very good and no one is hitting much. With several of the projected big offensive guns not playing at all in games and one (Miranda) not playing in the field, one starts to look around for someone to be excited about and well...Lee and Julien just were sent down.
  2. stringer bell
    Hoffman threw two scoreless innings today. His roster competition is now only Cole Sands, who hasn’t been outstanding. There is currently a 40-man spot opening, so may the best man win.
  3. stringer bell
    Pretty downbeat, but this is reality. Part of what has bugged me about Twins’ injuries of the last couple of years is that seemingly minor injuries linger. If Polanco and Kirilloff are healthy and playing for the Twins next month, it really isn’t that big of a deal. If an April return becomes May or June or the All-Star break, I’m saying “here we go again”. Time will tell.
  4. stringer bell
    With Varland and Megill optioned, the Twins have 14 healthy pitchers on the 40-man roster in camp. That would include six starters (including Ober) and eight relievers (not counting Henriquez and Winder), Cole Sands hasn't been that impressive and Hoffman threw two scoreless innings today.
  5. stringer bell
    I don't think they can do that. From the ever-popular Wikipedia: "One problem this poses is that a player who is injured in the minors and who would be placed on the major league 60-day IL cannot be placed on the 60-day, meaning the 40-man roster spot is not freed up."
  6. stringer bell
    Moran pitched st least three times in the WBC in pretty high leverage situations. Maybe the Twins and Hoffman will agree to kick the can down the road on his first opt-out. I would prefer the Twins DFA or trade Pagán, both because he’s been bad and because it would open an additional 40-man spot. I think six pitchers are pretty firmly set for the BP—Duran, Thielbar, JLópez, Jax, Moran and Alcala. Depending on patience with Pagán, that leaves one or two spots available.
  7. stringer bell
    It was reported that Kirilloff played in a minor league game today. That doesn't mean that he will be ready by Opening Day, but it seems like he should be available sooner rather than later, barring a setback. So any first base scenarios would be for the short term. I'll be anxious to see if AK is playing in another game tomorrow or the next day. Playing Gallo at first makes sense short term. He has some experience there and he's got a good reach. Larnach and Gordon are decent in left field as his short-term replacement. I don't care for the idea of another short first baseman (Solano) especially if he isn't tearing the cover off the ball. Farmer at third and Miranda either at first or DH works for me against lefties.
  8. stringer bell
    As mentioned above, the price for a legit catching prospect would be steep. The combo of Vazquez and Jeffers will be above major league average, but the depth behind that is not replacement level IMHO. If the Twins can acquire a great prospect, sure go for it, but with Vazquez providing a three-year window, it might be better to develop their own prospect.
  9. stringer bell
    Well, the projections and betting lines all give the Twins a winning record. They are basically slotted together with the Sox, slightly behind Cleveland. I don't think it is cockeyed optimism to expect the Twins will be in contention. The Twins should expect their health to be better and they have much improved depth with some players about ready to contribute.
  10. stringer bell
    Megill is already on the 40-man and also has an option. He can be sent to St. Paul on option without being exposed. Of course, that also means he can move freely all year between St. Paul and the Twins. He gave up a monster homer today, according to GameCast. Regarding Hoffman, the opt-outs change the calculation for players. So many factors--options, 40-man status, contract, opt-outs, and exact role they are looking for--in choosing between pitchers. I'll repeat what I've said before--there are going to be roster moves. Many of the players in St. Paul will log big league time with the Twins. It makes sense that the Twins don't want to lose players they think can help them by cutting them loose at cutdown time.
  11. stringer bell
    One 40-man spot is open, giving all the NRIs an easy path to the bullpen. Personally, I'd like to see Pagan jettisoned so that two guys can make the front end of the bullpen. Perhaps a true long guy like Hoffman and a shorter duration guy like Coulombe. If all the guys not viewed as back of the bullpen options can go two innings, they probably wouldn't need a real long guy. Coulombe and Ortega have had two inning outings in the last week.
  12. stringer bell
    It’s a trend that seems to be expanding. A few years ago MLB dictated that a number of starters had to be playing in road games and teams defied the edict. I don’t know if the rule is in effect at this point, but in reality, the visiting teams will do what they want.
  13. stringer bell
    Does it matter that the Twins have a shortstop signed for six years and both of these guys are nominally shortstops? Neither will likely be playing another position until midseason at best. Is Lee projected to be an elite hitter as a third baseman? Second baseman? How about Lewis? Will he end up a corner outfielder, center fielder, third baseman or second baseman? Too many questions for guys who won't have a full year of active time on the major league roster. A year from now might be a better time to make these speculative deals.
  14. stringer bell
    I think he'll be with the club at some point in 2023. Defensively, he is a better version of Gordon, but as a hitter, his upside is limited.
  15. stringer bell
    I suppose there is a fair chance that Kirilloff will never be able to live up to his potential. I think the Twins, by their non-pursuit of big-time options, seem to be indicating that he will be back and able to perform. I guess no one really knows how this situation will pan out. I'm pulling for AK and I hope he makes it in what is probably a make-or-break year. The veteran players the Twins picked up will all be much better if not pushed into full-time duty. I'm not sure if we should be judging them on Spring Training stats, but none are here to hit in the middle of the lineup and play every day. I agree that Larnach should get a good shot to establish himself. Matt Wallner reminds me too much of Michael Restovich, another Minnesotan, who couldn't make the move from AAA to the majors. Julien will probably get his shot sometime in the first half of the season and he does look like he can be a really good offensive player. Finally, with a little work, I think Miranda can be at least an average first baseman, It's probably his position to play long-term if he stays with the Twins.
  16. stringer bell
    These players are all within a year of being contributors for the Twins. I would agree with the projections that Lee, Correa and Lewis should be he principal three infielders outside of first base. Right now Kirilloff is the least sure bet to contribute, but it appears the Twins still believe in AK. I do think one of Kirilloff, Julien or Miranda will eventually be deemed expendable in light of their defense positions.
  17. stringer bell
    Hard limit on pitchers at 13.
  18. stringer bell
    To my knowledge, Ober was available throughout his rookie season. Due to his lack of innings in the preceding years and being a rookie, he wasn’t allowed to go deep in games that year. Last year, Ober’s injuries were confined to his lower body (if that matters) and he was fully healthy as the season ended. Maeda is older, with a more established résumé, and he so far appears to be injury free. It’s pretty tough to take a guy out of his preferred role because a younger guy looks better in Soring Training. With their new, fortified rotation, the Twins should be able to move to their sixth guy with little noticeable dropoff. That Ober might spend some time in the minors doesn’t enrage me. He’ll get plenty of big league work this season IMHO.
  19. stringer bell
    The CW of Kirilloff going on the IL seems to be right at this time. As far as the last guy in the bullpen, Megill is both on the 40-man and has an option, so he can move freely back and forth to St. Paul. Unless he makes the Opening Day roster, Dennis Santana's demotion will provide a 40-man spot for whoever the Twins choose as the last guy in the bullpen. So far, on performance, Danny Coulombe has a case, Ortega has thrown well and Dobnak, Dereck Rodriquez, Sands and de Leon have thrown well and worked multiple innings. Ideally, these "last guys" would be interchangeable, with their option used and they would be able to come and go from St. Paul. Among the candidates for this role, Sands, Megill and Ortega have options remaining.
  20. stringer bell
    Pagan can't be optioned without his consent. He would be DFAed and taken off the 40-man roster. I don't think Sands has performed the best of possible long relievers and opening a spot for a non-roster pitcher who has pitched better--Dobnak, de Leon, Dereck Rodriquez, and others--and there would be a spot for whoever has p;itched the best.
  21. stringer bell
    I think Ober gets optioned to start the season, but the first tight muscle or tweak for a starter sends that guy to the IL for a two start "break". After that, the next tight muscle or discomfort until someone is legitimately out for a while. I don't think Maeda will be sent to the bullpen early and the only way he ends up there is if he is the least effective starter and Ober is waiting for a spot.
  22. stringer bell
    There are a few guys on the 40-man who aren't sure things or maybe long shots to make the active roster, including Henriquez, Megill, Pagan, Santana and (who the heck is?) Alex Phillips. Pagan and Santana don't have options, so if they don't make the active roster, would create 40-man space. Henriquez and Josh Winder are possible candidates for 60-day IL, which could also create roster space. I do believe Coulombe will be on the active roster at some point and will provide decent results. Beyond that, having a third left hander, particularly when the club's starters all throw right handed, makes a lot of sense. There are downsides. If Coulombe is added, he must stay on the roster or be DFAed. He's well into his 30s and it is a not a sure thing that he will maintain what he's been able to do. Finally, he would profile as a one-inning guy in a bullpen full of them.
  23. stringer bell
    I don't want to go to every thread to defend Ryan Jeffers, but his weaknesses have been magnified to the point that I believe someone should try to balance the ledger. First of all, Jeffers is considerably younger than the AAA depth at St. Paul. He's 25, Sisco is 28 and Greiner and Wolters are over 30. Jeffers has as much offensive upside as anyone above Low A ball IMHO and the defense isn't all about throwing out runners, although I will acknowledge he is far below average. He handles a staff well and if memory serves, his CERA (catcher ERA) was considerably better than Sanchez last year (I couldn't find a CERA stat for catchers last year). Vazquez will not catch 80% of games for the Twins. Mitch Garver was on his way to a Silver Slugger and he only caught 80-some (injured about 25 games if memory serves). If Jeffers' bat comes around as it appeared it was when he was injured last year, it wouldn't surprise me to see him alternate fully with Vazquez. I'd agree that the Twins don't have any stud prospects who are old enough to drink a beer and they would be well advised to draft a good catcher early in this year's draft.
  24. stringer bell
    I think the talk about a 6-man rotation is overblown. How long did it last in 2022? Somebody likely will go down in the first month and Ober will be in the regular rotation (or it could be Ober). Anyway, if the Twins defy odds and keep their top six healthy for the first half, I can see a scenario where they squeeze 6 guys into five roster spots using the IL to rest starters (as the did for Archer for last year) and optioning Ober occasionally. I really can't see the Twins going with only seven in the 'pen (crazy I know). The competition for the last couple of spots in the bullpen looks to be pretty good.
  25. stringer bell
    No.
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