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stringer bell

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Everything posted by stringer bell

  1. stringer bell
    Love the optimism! I will believe that Kirilloff will contribute when he’s activated off the IL.
  2. stringer bell
    The roster still isn't official as far as I know. Castro hasn't been added to the 40-man and all the players who will go on the IL (non-60 day) are still listed on the roster as active. I won't be shocked if the Twins claim someone and keep Castro in the minors.
  3. stringer bell
    It was a tribute to @USAFChief
  4. stringer bell
    I'd bet a bit of money that someone will go on the IL before both Kirilloff and Polanco are back. I agree Castro would be the easy choice, particularly because he can be optioned. Performance would matter. If Larnach struggles out of the gate, he could be demoted. If Solano get little playing time and looks bad, they might DFA him, but as I said, I would bet on someone going on IL.
  5. stringer bell
    I don't think anything other than activation from the IL will tell me that Kirilloff is going to help this club. Yes, he's "progressing" and all, but until the Twins think he's ready to play in Minneapolis, I'll doubt his recovery.
  6. stringer bell
    Three different players. 1) I think Larnach should have and will have an opportunity to play himself into a regular role with the Twins. He' s youngish, has big power and a decent defensive OF. Displacing someone (Taylor, Kirilloff, Gallo) could happen if Trevor emerges. 2) Castro is young for a three-plus year vet and has an option remaining. I don't think he's in a fair fight for a regular job, but he might be a valuable piece as the year progresses. 3) Solano isn't in the team's long-term plans, but I'm sure he will get some ABs to see if he's still "Donny Barrels"
  7. stringer bell
    He essentially was traded for Urshela. More flexibility and a special skill, hitting left handed pitching. He will get starts in a lot of places. He'll probably get starts at three positions. Let's hope that it isn't filling in for injured players.
  8. stringer bell
    Actually, it was a two-run single in his first inning and if a play had been made in the infield, he would have already gotten through that inning. The velocity is there for Maeda, it is the command that has been shaky and he just needs to get the rust off IMHO. He has thrown in excess of 70 pitches in both of his last outings, so he is as stretched out as any of the starters. I don't agree with you on this one. This is spring training and yes, Bailey Ober has been impressive, but Maeda and Mahle are established pitchers who are getting ready. Frankly, I'm more concerned about Mahle than Maeda, at least in proportion to their expectations. This isn't going to be JA Happ and Shoemaker or Archer and Bundy.
  9. stringer bell
    I'd rank all three impressive performances (1) Larnach (2) Miranda and (3) Ober. 1. Larnach plays "bat first" positions and is 26 years old. I think this year is perhaps his last chance to establish himself as a regular. I believe he can be a very good all-around corner outfielder, but the clock is ticking. 2. Miranda, similar to Larnach, needs to hit well above average playing at bat-first positions (first and third) and not being a particularly adept defender. For most of last season and this spring he has looked the part of a middle-of-the-order masher. 3. Ober has stepped up his velocity which moves his ceiling up, almost commensurate with his height. It is important for him to remain healthy and provide the Twins with innings when he is called on. His performance this year will play a big part in his role with the Twins in 2024 and beyond.
  10. stringer bell
    That's what I would have done (Coulombe for Pagan). I only hope it isn't purely a money thing. The FO and Rocco seemed determined to have a guy who can go multiple innings, so it was a competition based only on that ability. Add in that Coulombe would have to be added at the expense of a DFA (or 60-day IL assignment for someone) and that he couldn't be optioned and the Twins chose the "more flexibility" route. One thought that occurred to me is that maybe this indicates that either or both of Winder and Henriquez is closer to being ready to perform than I've thought. First of all, neither was placed on the 60-day IL, secondly one of those two will be a candidate to switch places with Sands if the 40-man roster remains full.
  11. stringer bell
    Danny Coulombe is a 33-year old relief pitcher, who hasn't gotten a major league contract since before the pandemic. He has been effective in low-leverage situations. If the Twins were to select his contract, they would have needed to clear a spot on the 40-man roster. I thought the Twins could clear a space for him by putting someone on the 60-day IL, but the Twins haven't done that so far. Coulombe couldn't be sent down if his contract was selected. Sands has value because he's on the 40-man roster and has an option remaining. Any modern bullpen needs pieces that can be moved back and forth to Triple A. He also is one of the few bullpen pieces who can go longer than 30-40 pitches. I know there is value in that, but personally I just don't think he can be effective enough to stick around. Apparently the Twins value the flexibility that Sands provides. As for Coulombe, it seems his minor league contract includes the newest thing, not an opt-out as such, but a chance to find "greener pastures" if someone is willing to sign him on another teams 40-man roster, they either get promoted or move on to the new team. It wouldn't surprise me that many of the other veteran minor league contracts have similar provisions.
  12. stringer bell
    Sandy León released today by the Rangers.
  13. 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.
  14. stringer bell
    Yes.
  15. 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.
  16. stringer bell
    Derek Law will open the 2023 season in the bullpen for the Cincinnati Reds.
  17. 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.
  18. 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.
  19. 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.
  20. 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.
  21. 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.
  22. stringer bell
    He deserves a spot, but I would say the over/under for minor league starts for Ober is 5.1.
  23. 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.
  24. 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.
  25. 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.
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