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stringer bell

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Everything posted by stringer bell

  1. stringer bell
    I don't think the Twins should give up on Thorpe as a starter. While it isn't ideal to send him down because there are still 5+ weeks before AAA games start, having Thorpe available and stretched out at St. Paul makes sense to me. The back end of the Twins rotation has veteran pitchers with plenty of injury history. It is truly doubtful that all of them survive even the first half of the season without a trip or more to the IL. With his refound velocity and a good assortment of other pitches, I'd like to see Thorpe get another chance to have and hold a rotation spot for years.
  2. stringer bell
    Dobnak's rise is a good story backed by excellent performance in the spring. Much like the struggles of some of the hitters, let's remember this is Spring Training. I've seen far too many stories of players ready to break out who never have. That said, it appears that Dobnak is the first "starter in waiting" and if previous years are any guide, he'll be in the rotation before we've settled in for the regular season. I'm confident Randy will get his chances and probably will hold on to a starting role for quite a while.
  3. stringer bell
    What are the odds that Kepler hits the first pitch of the season into the seats? I don't think they are astronomical. Really, that is the mystery of Max Kepler to me. He has a nice sound swing and yet is so slump-prone. We've seen swoons from him every year for no apparent reason. Of course, we've seen the reverse where he's doing damage on almost every at-bat.
  4. stringer bell
    If there is a level playing field for the relief pitcher spots, I think Law should make the big league team. He has been absolutely lights out. Stashak is probably a competent last man in the bullpen, but given the apparent need for multiple innings early, I would expect Dobnak to come north with the team as a long reliever/spot starter. Also, given that Thorpe has an option, it will probably be used right away. He has been impressive so far this spring and may end up working many significant innings for the Twins. Thielbar was effective last year, but I don't expect a successful encore. I am thinking that Waddell will get to Target Field early in the year and will supplant Thielbar, but probably not on Opening Day.
  5. stringer bell
    I agree with those who say that Kirilloff lost the competition for now. Given the projections for him, he should be with the Twins before the middle of June, but he will have to pick himself up after getting knocked down (figuratively). I will be concerned whenever Rooker is playing in left field. I see that he was charged with his second error this spring (don't know if that is significant in and of itself). From the little I've seen of him, it appears he might be closer to Josh Willingham defensively than Eddie Rosario. While there were several "oh Eddie" moments, Rosario had sufficient range and a real strong arm. I have seen neither from Rooker. I realize that Kirilloff isn't noted for his glove either, but I don't think he's as limited as Rooker. If the Twins are ahead late, I presume we'll see Cave in left field.
  6. stringer bell
    Spring training is different for different players. Guys like Buxton Sano, Simmons, and Kepler already have starting positions and just need to be ready when the bell rings. While Cave hasn't been very good, he's had 2+ years with the team and they aren't going to dump him because he was lousy in ST. Kirilloff had a chance to win a spot, as did Rooker and it looks like Rooker has nailed that spot down, for now. Rooker's twentysome PAs last year and nice spring will likely be forgotten if he goes 2-20 in April, as it should be. I'm pretty sure everyone that has made a serious bid for a roster spot will get their chance sometime.
  7. stringer bell
    Four right handed hitters—Rooker, Broxton, Garlick and Astudillo—have hit very well. If Kirilloff makes the team, there’s probably only room for one. If Alex starts at St. Paul, there’s room for two. If Kiriklloff starts swinging well in the next few days, he can claim a spot, but I think it is up to him to do better. He has no absolute claim to a roster spot despite his #1 prospect status. Of note, as well, there is no backup for Sanó if Kirilloff is sent to the minors.
  8. stringer bell
    It's a long season and certainly the Twins will undoubtedly use many pitchers, probably including Smeltzer. I just don't think Smeltzer is going to be anything more than marginal. I think Smeltzer's story is great, but the tools are pretty limited. He doesn't have much very much margin for error.
  9. stringer bell
    I've liked what I've seen from both Garlick and Broxton (who doesn't?), but I don't think either will impact on whether Cave makes the squad out of spring training. The "victims" if either of those guys comes north would be Kirilloff and Rooker. There is a vacancy in left field and it seems that sometime this year it will be claimed by Kirilloff, but that might not be right away and so far he's only 2-13 with four Ks. Rooker has been fine in limited work, but both Garlick and Broxton have been much better. While Broxton isn't on the 40-man roster, he has defensive ability (including being a legit center fielder) and speed that the other candidates don't have. Besides that, as I understand it, Keon has an opt-out so if the Twins would not add him to the roster, he would essentially be a free agent.
  10. stringer bell
    I think a non-roster infielder makes the Twins team to start 2021. Arraez is a good offensive player who plays an acceptable second base. I think he can be deployed occasionally in left field with little negative effect and can probably give a healthy Josh Donaldson a few days off at third, but he will be a defensive liability anywhere but second. I don't think Arraez is anything more than a stopgap at shortstop. With the departure of Marwin Gonzalez and Ehire Adrianza, the Twins have a hole to fill--finding competent and versatile defenders--Riddle, Romine and Lin all seem to fit the bill. Each would appear to have a different strength. Riddle having the superior glove at shortstop, Lin perhaps with the most offensive upside and Romine the most versatile and most experienced and a switch hitter. I think there is a position to be won by one of the three.
  11. stringer bell
    With a 26-man roster, there is room for five outfielders IMHO and I think Cave is pretty close to a lock to make the team. The question is whether he's third (starting left fielder), fourth or fifth. I suspect both Arraez and Kirilloff are ahead of Cave to be the "everyday" left fielder, with Cave a lock and then a competition for fifth OF, which would include Garlick, Broxton, Rooker or none of these. I don't see Rooker as a great fit to be a fifth OF, particularly since he hasn't played first base in years and the Twins have a full-time DH. Of course, this is presuming health and we know that injuries will happen.
  12. stringer bell
    Unless he gets a starting job, I don’t like Rooker as a fourth/fifth outfielder. I think it would really be tough for a guy accustomed to playing regularly to play once or twice a week. His best asset is his bat and I doubt there would be many opportunities to pinch hit. He’s not fast or a good fielder and not really versatile.
  13. stringer bell
    I see a spot for a non-roster infielder like Riddle. Unless the club wants to move Polanco to short every time Simmons is out, there is a real need for a plus defender to back up on the left side. Gordon would also be interesting, but he hasn’t played third at all to my knowledge and I don’t know if he’s even average at short.
  14. stringer bell
    I've wondered if the backup shortstop will be Polanco or if there would be another SS on the active roster come Opening Day. As far as Arraez' playing time, I suspect he'll get plenty of ABs as the left fielder. If a manager tries to put a shaky glove in the field, left field is as good as any. I know it was a small sample, but Arraez played pretty well in the field at second last year. He still doesn't strike me as a true utility man. He seems stretched as both a third baseman and left fielder and he's definitely not a shortstop. I suspect that the field staff keeps a guy who can play above-average SS besides Simmons.
  15. stringer bell
    Trade makes sense. Wade will be better than expected for the Giants, but they get pretty good potential in Anderson. I do like what the FO is doing.
  16. stringer bell
    I think Arraez is more stretched at SS than Polanco and is, if not a better offensive player, at least a more vital offensive player. Yes, the Twins used him at short, third and left, but I think Polanco would be better suited to a utility role.
  17. stringer bell
    Wondering about Freddy Galvis. He's a switch-hitter who has handled both second and short over the years and only a year removed from being a regular. Still seems to have the wheels and range to be a competent middle infielder. He's also had some time in the outfield and third base.
  18. stringer bell
    Also, catchers are given predictable days off—day game after night game, one game of a doubleheader—and often are paired with a particular starting pitcher. Sometimes managers are able to dovetail a platoon split with other priorities, but sometimes it doesn’t work out that way.
  19. stringer bell
    I probably was at the same series. I remember thinking the highly regarded Twins team didn’t have any more prospects than Kane County. I sat next to Berríos in the stands. Vogelbach looked really pudgy and I thought there was no way that he would make the majors.
  20. stringer bell
    I don't pretend to know as much about pitching as the Twins braintrust. I'm certain they'll add pitchers and I expect those pitchers will fit well. I kind of like a couple of the center fielders who were cut loose, as well as maybe our old friend Danny Santana (listed as a first baseman). If Santana could be considered acceptable in the infield and corner outfield, he would be a replacement for Marwin and add some speed.
  21. stringer bell
    Concur with those in favor of Tony in the Hall. In addition to all the stats, he's been a great ambassador for the game.
  22. stringer bell
    Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Even after 4-5 years in the majors, players take different trajectories in their career. I have seen analysis that Eddie will not age well, I certainly don't know if that is true. It seems that being healthy in 2020, he was able to improve his overall stat line from 2019 and not many Twins were able to say that. Rosario is a free agent after this year and he plays a position where the Twins have many of their best prospects on the cusp of playing for the big team. The other three players won't be free agents until later and Buxton plays a key defensive position. Kepler and Sanó both are under contract with cost certainty.
  23. stringer bell
    I like them all.
  24. stringer bell
    I think the ingredients for postseason success are pitching, power, defense and speed in that order. I've said that for a long time. I guess pitching would now mean that there is enough starting pitching and a shutdown bullpen.
  25. stringer bell
    I read a story about Anderson and I wonder how much of his back story is why the Twins were willing to let him go. To me, the miss on Anderson is probably least excusable of the current bullpen stalwarts who were in the Twins' system.
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