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stringer bell

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Everything posted by stringer bell

  1. stringer bell
    These are all small sample sizes. Everyone in questions can be optioned, including Godoy. It does make sense to keep Godoy in the system. Thre is a near certainty that more than two catchers will be needed down the road. I disagree with the contention that the Twins benefitted most from the expanded rosters. They are in the upper tier for starter innings pitched and have had two occasions to have a long reliever. I’m confident that other teams have had more need for long relief. I also understand that if the situation could change immediately. The Ober injury could trigger changes to the team’s plan.
  2. stringer bell

    2.5 game lead with three days left in April. The May schedule is very favorable. Things have really broken well in the last week, despite the struggles of Sanó, Correa and Polanco. 

  3. stringer bell
    Also nice to see back-to-back wins when Buxton doesn’t do anything special. With their good days, Larnach and Jeffers moved their OPS above .700. Polanco, Sanó and Correa need to get it going. If the starting staff can continue at anything resembling this rate, then the big area of concern has to be the bullpen. Two more late-inning arms are needed IMHO.
  4. stringer bell
    There was one out when Sano had his at-bat. I don't think it was an easy catch for Grossman or any right fielder, but I think that ball gets caught far more often than not. Larnach did the right thing, especially with the way the pitcher was throwing the ball all over the place (possible wild pitch). He probably scores more than 50% of the time, even though he tagged up when the ball got past Grossman, but there was only one out, so it figured he'd be held at third. Sano messed up but could have gone back to first--no one was covering there (I think). In the end the Tigers screwed up in the field worse than the Twins ran the bases. Crazy!
  5. stringer bell
    I liked Rogers a lot, especially when he wasn't confined to the traditional closer role. That said, if getting the Paddack we saw last night (he was pretty good at KC, too), it is probably worth it to make the trade. Losing Rogers leaves a hole in the bullpen, however. I think, to be competitive, the Twins need to add two quality arms for late-inning leverage and at least one of them should be a lefty. If it requires a prospect, so be it. The bullpen, as put together now, isn't good enough.
  6. stringer bell
    The Twins BBB should be Build a Better Bullpen. Only one other team in MLB is carrying as few as two left handers on their active roster, so I think it behooves the Twins to look especially for left handed talent. At St. Paul, the only lefties are the much discussed Moran and Smeltzer. I think that if the Twins want to improve their bullpen they either have to go outside the box—promote a prospect and convert him, at least temporarily, into a reliever. Or they must go out of the organization. Make a trade and sacrifice a prospect.
  7. stringer bell
    If I recall correctly, the Twins are in the top quadrant in innings pitched by their starters so far. I don't think their "advantage" is that great. While I don't disagree with your analysis that the pitching staff is veterans coming off injuries and younger players who were innings-limited, I am not sure how things will pan out. It is good that there is pitching depth this year and I hope it is utilized well.
  8. stringer bell
    Jeffers OPS+ in '21 (83) and '22 (89) is better than Willians OPS+ in ;21 (74). I loved that the Turtle almost always made contact, I didn't love all the first pitch pop ups and GDPs.
  9. stringer bell
    I agree that both for the short term and the long term, the Twins are counting heavily on Jeffers. He really swung the bat well and it would be really bad luck if he was out of the lineup for an extended period, but so far, it doesn't look like that is the case. I am certain that Jeffers will get plenty of time off going forward. When Garver had his breakout season in 2019, Rocco made sure to give him adequate time off. I don't think anyone sees Jeffers becoming such an offensive force, at least not this season, but I think he'll get a lot of days off during the long season. Sanchez has looked satisfactory behind the plate and has gotten a few big hits. I hope he can stay healthy as well and help the club. I was surprised that Godoy got promoted ahead of Cisco. It does occur to me that Godoy might be a better defensive catcher. I read somewhere on the site yesterday (probably the game thread) that Godoy was doing a fine job handling the pitchers and receiving. If so, that alone could be the rationale for his being promoted. Another thought was that Godoy might be able to be optioned. If that is the case, then the Twins wouldn't have to make a 40-man move to bring him up if they choose to send him down when the roster sizes are reduced. Finally, Godoy did catch several of the members of the pitching staff late in spring training, while Cisco has not. Cisco has three years of big-league service time and was once a Top 100 prospect. If one of the other catchers goes down for a significant amount of time, perhaps he then would be an option to step in for significant playing time.
  10. stringer bell
    To clarify further, Garlick did stay in the game after he pinch hit for Larnach, but was replaced by pinch runner Celestino when he walked in his second plate appearance and Celestino stayed in the game.
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. 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.
  14. 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.
  15. stringer bell
    During the Arraez at-bat.
  16. stringer bell
    Wild pitch, in which Jeffers, amusingly, almost did a face plant before making it to third base.
  17. 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.
  18. 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.
  19. 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%.
  20. 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!

  21. 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.
  22. 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.
  23. stringer bell
    I noticed Henriquez’ first outing was very good
  24. stringer bell
    The Twins would be 6-7 if Rogers was in the BP.
  25. 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.
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