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stringer bell

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Everything posted by stringer bell

  1. stringer bell
    It appears that Winder is around solely for long relief now that the starters are going long enough that a piggyback situation is improbable. With Gray seemingly ready to return to the rotation, there really doesn't appear to be any need to keep him around as insurance. Of course, that could all change in one day. It would figure that Winder will be one of the guys shipped out after May 1.
  2. stringer bell
    Surviving a tough April schedule so far. Within a half game of first place with a much easier schedule in May. So far, most of the hitters have been disappointing, but the rotation has been a real surprise. I think the bullpen is a work in progress, but there are pieces there. Byron Buxton is attaining his offensive potential which is a level that very few people can reach. This is the most optimistic I have felt about the team since they broke camp. One rather large reason for this is the mess that is the Chicago White Sox, although many of their problems are injury-related.
  3. stringer bell
    If Martin keeps hitting (I think he will), I'd like to see him in St. Paul sooner rather than later. The St. Paul outfield doesn't have any real prospects and Martin could get work in OF where his path to the majors draws less resistance. Having Martin as an athletic left fielder who can cover center if Buxton is absent and who can fill in at the infield spots would work out quite well. Adding his speed and (apparent) base stealing ability at the top of a lineup would also provide another weapon that the Twins really don't have. I don't think one can say that a player "has all the physical tools" to play shortstop and in the same paragraph mention lack of arm strength. I think the same can be said for two current Twins (Polanco and Gordon). If you don't have the arm to play short, everything else has to be adjusted. Very few can do it.
  4. stringer bell
    Duffey came in with the score 1-0 Chicago. It was still a fairly high leverage situation, but the Twins were down one, not up one.
  5. stringer bell
    During the Arraez at-bat.
  6. stringer bell
    Wild pitch, in which Jeffers, amusingly, almost did a face plant before making it to third base.
  7. stringer bell
    Only 1.5 behind Cleveland and .5 behind Chi with a week of home games. The Twins could be in first place by Sunday and certainly not getting buried, despite really cold hitting. Pitching has been very good, particularly the starters. Chicago has an Achilles Heel--defense. They have also had more than their fair share of injuries. It's tough to repeat.
  8. stringer bell
    Umm, 4/17? Also, a nerdy nit-pick, going 2-5 lowers a batting average over .400. Get Austin Martin to AAA and in the outfield please.
  9. stringer bell
    Oh I won't yell, but I've come to the realization that the times have changed. Pitchers aren't treated as they were and the expectations are different. Bullpens have guys with great arms and the game is expected to go to the bullpen for the later innings. The average fastball velocity is way up and the exertion on the other pitches is up to. Franchises want to handle their assets so that they get maximum production for the length of their control over the asset. I remember 4-man rotations and guys like Jim Kaat getting more than 40 starts and 300 innings. Finally, this year all of the things limiting extending pitchers into later innings are exacerbated by the lockout and short spring training. Also what we don't know or don't remember is how many guys flamed out with the earlier expectation of throwing nine innings every fourth (later fifth) day. Some guys like Nolan Ryan and Bert too, I guess, probably could succeed in any generation and be dominant. As a post above says, they are among the 1%.
  10. stringer bell

    As I scroll through Twins Daily, I see that the much younger contributor, Ashbury, is two postings behind me in our birthday month. Together forever Ash!

    1. wsnydes

      wsnydes

      Congratulations to the both of you!

  11. stringer bell
    Bundy has thrived with really good command so far. He has been very good, but those 90 mph fastballs have to hit their target. The question on Correa isn't if, but when he will hit. I hope it is soon, but the coming series with the White Sox in mostly lousy weather probably isn't conducive to a hitting explosion. After seeing the way Duran pitched in Spring Training, I am surprised that he has given up four runs. My hopes for Duran are that he maintains his health and the Twins find the best role for him.
  12. stringer bell
    I'd like Larnach to have a fair shot, but Martin gives them speed and versatility in the outfield. With work, he could develop into a plus plus defender, I think.
  13. stringer bell
    I noticed Henriquez’ first outing was very good
  14. stringer bell
    The Twins would be 6-7 if Rogers was in the BP.
  15. stringer bell
    Probably better for Winder’s development for him to get regular work in the St. Paul rotation. I think a Winder for Smeltzer swap makes perfect sense.
  16. stringer bell
    Another good game for Martin and he played center field.
  17. stringer bell
    Minor league baseball. Strange plays that happen once a month in the majors happen about every other day in the minors. Crazy innings happen all the time. Can't help but be enthusiastic about the prospects in the farm system. SWR has been great and consistent so far. Among the top prospect pitchers, he has seemed to take the biggest step forward. I would like to see either Martin or Lewis get some outfield time. That seems to be where they could help the '22 Twins, and in Martin's case, it would seem to be where his major league future lies. Miranda has been (only) decent so far this year and I think the club would like him to prove that '21 wasn't a mirage.
  18. stringer bell
    I pretty much agree that the defense hasn’t been good. Errors are a less than good barometer for defensive ability and efficiency. I’ve long said Arraez graded out well at third, but he’s been a train wreck so far (SSS) this year. In the Boston series , Correa didn’t get to some balls that looked playable and Sanó made a pretty glaring misplay. That said, I’ve seen enough to believe Correa is a first-rate defender at short, Urshela is better-than-average at third and Polanco is a good second baseman. I think they’ll be a good defensive team if their best defenders stay on the field.
  19. stringer bell
    I think that would be Larnach, with Garlick starting against left handed. The Twins made room on the 40-man for him and he has a history of hitting LH pitching. Again, the Twins wouldn’t (and shouldn’t) be concerned about sitting Garlick for days at a time. They should worry about same with Celestino.
  20. stringer bell
    If Buxton returns is Celestino long for the active Twins roster? He would be limited to being a defensive replacement at best from what I can see and I think he needs at bats. The Saints don't have a RH hitting OF on the roster, do they? I suppose if there is another injury to an outfielder Celestino would stay (or return if he is, in fact, optioned). With the cut to 13 pitchers happening, three guys will be sent to St. Paul in less than two weeks (I'm counting on Gray returning to the rotation after a minimum IL stint). So there is more subtracting than adding for pitchers. However, Smeltzer was good in spring training and also so far for the Saints. The Twins staff is RH heavy (no LH starters and only two LH relief pitchers). Even though I don't hold out long-term hope for him, hasn't Smeltzer done well enough to be at the front of the line for non-rostered pitchers?
  21. stringer bell
    As I occasionally do, I checked MLB statistics today. I wanted to see how the team stacked up to the rest of Major League Baseball. Most teams have played about 10 games, so we have an idea of trends, although some things are out of whack. Baltimore has good pitching? Cleveland has the top team BA in the American League? Nah, those things won't last. What about the Twins? Well, with a 4-6 record and and -6 run differential, I figured the Twins would profile poorly on offense and middle of the road on the run prevention side, Here's what I found. Pitching. Far from a disaster, but not league average. The Twins are 20th (of 30) in team ERA and 15th in runs per game. That difference is explained by only allowing three unearned runs despite 8 errors in 10 games. They haven't played any extra inning games and unearned runs really happen there due to the "ghost runner". Other stats--23rd in walks per nine innings, 21st in strikeouts per nine innings, 15th in Opponents Batting Average and 20th in WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched). The starting staff has been better than expected, but the bullpen ERA is over 4.50. This looks like pretty good luck to this point--they're allowing more balls than average to be put in play, walking more than league average and still at the median for allowing base runners and runs. Hitting. The only stat where the Twins are significantly better than league average is home runs. They are sixth in the league in homers per plate appearance. Other key stats--third in strikeouts per plate appearance, 25th in team OPS, 22nd in runs per game. Hitters are more predictable and projectable that pitchers. The Twins have been projected to be a good offensive team, probably enough to make up for their pitching deficiencies and hang around .500, so far that isn't the case. To summarize, it is early. The offense has been a major disappointment, but will improve. Pitching has been better than expected, but there are some number that predict a downturn. After playing three straight 90-win teams (from 2021), the Twins will face a less daunting schedule in the upcoming weeks. Hopefully, the record and stats improve over that time.
  22. stringer bell
    Yes, but a couple of injuries can use up the depth. You didn't mention it Seth, but Palacios played at least two games in the outfield for the Saints this week, probably indicating there aren't many OFs left on the Saints roster with the promotions of Larnach and Garlick. Catching seems to have a bit of a bubble--pretty good prospects in A ball and below, but only two catchers on the 40-man roster. Pickups Cisco and Godoy could probably fill a backup role if there's an injury, but (my guess) the catchers in AA and AAA don't profile to be major league starters.
  23. stringer bell
    The Twins will face starters 4-5-1 in the Kansas City series and will throw their (now) 4-5-1 starters against them. #1 starter for the Royals (Grienke) doesn't throw much harder than Hill, but he has a few more pitches. I think the offense will pick up, but fear a bit of a letdown in the pitching department.
  24. stringer bell
    There is a lot to sort out, particularly with the bullpen. Giving a job to Pagan to close games seems a bit of a stretch, but with Alcala injured, Thielbar (so far) ineffective and Duran quite a question mark (single or multiple innings, can he be used on consecutive days?) I don't know if there are any better options. Most likely, a starter or two will eliminate himself, as well. Glad to see the good work by the starters.
  25. stringer bell
    Hill was out of the game and the Red Sox used all their lefty relievers on Sunday. Kepler hit for Garlick as soon as a right hander came into the game.
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