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stringer bell

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Everything posted by stringer bell

  1. stringer bell
    I doubt Adrianza gets DFAed any time soon. Gonzalez has not played an inning at second or short, so the obvious preference is to go with Ehire. Also 46 at-bats is a really small sample size. If Adrianza goes 4-4 or more realistically 6-14, he's hitting .200. Adrianza doesn't hit enough to be a regular, but he's a plus defender and a switch hitter who is accustomed to a reserve role. I'm sure there are many similar players, but they don't exactly grow on trees. The Twins don't want to lose him. (IMHO)
  2. stringer bell
    Adrianza has decent speed to pinch run. Nobody steals any more, certainly not a pinch runner unless it is Buxton. Bringing up Gordon for less than full-time play would be a mistake, I think. I would like to see a situation where 12 guys shared 9 positions, each guy getting >450 plate appearances. In my mind, it would be four guys sharing 3 positions in three groupings. #1–catcher first and DH. A guy like Garver could start 40 at each (especially the way he’s hitting). #2–second, short, and third with a Marwin-type starting 40 at each position and #3 the outfield with a “fourth regular” replacing each starter for 40 games. The 13th position player could be a pinch hitter/runner or third catcher who might spend half of his season in AAA if 13 pitchers are needed.
  3. stringer bell
    Watching Pérez' first couple outings this year, I thought he would be helped greatly by an off-speed pitch. Against right handers, he worked almost exclusively in with fastballs and sliders. He seemed to lose command after 50 or so pitches. Now he's throwing both the cutter and the change and is working both sides of the plate. He's also been solid through 100 pitches. The Twins currently have three of the top 10 pitchers in ERA. One is Berríos, who would have thought the other two would be Odorizzi and Pérez?
  4. stringer bell
    I think it is up to Sano how soon he is recalled. If he hits and fields his position, he will be up by 5/20. If the Ks keep coming and the hits stop, he'll be optioned. I don't think there are any guarantees. I just checked BB Reference for something and each day they have assorted photos of player all the way from the 19th Century to today. Right next to each other were two guys who were going to be superstars, Gregg Jeffries and Grady Sizemore. Both had their moments, but weren't all-time greats. Sano was promoted that way as he came up. I just don't know if it will happen for him.
  5. stringer bell
    The Twins are averaging the second-most IP per start in the AL (heard on a Twins' broadcast). I don't see the need for all of Morin, Magill and Romero. For now, they can cut to 12 pitchers easy enough. Yes, they have to at some point add Reed and Meíja, but they should be able to do that and someone will suffer some sort of injury. They would have to add a 13th pitcher for the doubleheader next week. My guess is that Romero will be the "shuttle guy"going back and forth from Rochester. If they have to, they would DFA either Magill or Morin before they would lose Meíja or (from the position side Adrianza). If they are forced to go to 13 pitchers for a week or two, it is my guess that Astudillo is optioned.
  6. stringer bell
    It is Cave that goes down. Adrianza is the backup in the middle infield and has a good glove. He isn't a regular and not a big league average hitter, but he isn't an automatic out either.
  7. stringer bell
    Yes, to only get one of three vs. the wounded Yankees is disappointing. Friday was a lousy game and Sunday was disjointed. Pineda got swings and misses, but couldn’t put away the #9 hitter when he was ahead 0-2. It was the fifth and he was around 80 pitches. His pitches and command weren’t as sharp. Conditioning? He’s become a five-inning pitcher? I think he has to have a short leash.
  8. stringer bell
    There certainly is room for more pitching. Not factoring in injuries, the bottom half (less leverage) of the bully has been poor, the top half is OK, but besides Rogers, there isn't a guy I feel comfortable with pitching in high leverage situations. A right handed complement to Rogers would leave lower leverage situations for Parker, May and Hildy. As far as the rotation, Perez has been outstanding, Pineda pretty poor and Gibson's numbers are not good. There is room for better in the rotation and there isn't a season without pitchers missing significant time with injuries, so the club should have a plan when a guy or two go down. From what I've seen of reports from Rochester, there isn't much help there.
  9. stringer bell
    My thought is that when (and if) Sano returns next month that Cave goes back to Rochester. The extra outfielder is Gonzalez/Astudillo/Adrianza (probably in that order). That is assuming that everyone is healthy when Miggy is ready for the majors. 12 pitchers should be enough. Getting length out of the starters is the key factor.
  10. stringer bell
    I confess to not watching as much as usual so far this season. In another thread, I said Schoop's contributions had been "inconsequential", mostly because he hit his homers in one-sided games. I think he is fine defensively, but I haven't seen anything that sets him apart. I think he'll be OK this year and yes, probably better than Dozier (I really liked him while he was here), but I'd like to see him change a few games before I call his addition a masterstroke.
  11. stringer bell
    Castro is OK. Yes, I agree it is unlikely the Twins will want him back next year, but for right now he belongs on the team. With three viable catchers, all of them will be underworked, but they probably can stay fresh into the heat of the season. I like that he has a lefty bat in the bottom of the order.
  12. stringer bell
    Thanks. Very informative. It does show that having options remaining is very important. Probably why the Yankees were willing to part with Tyler Austin, for example. Not having options remaining forces the issue for players such as Magill and Adrianza. Meanwhile, Cave will probably be up and down several times on this year's option.
  13. stringer bell
    Media attention doesn't matter much to me. The thought that it matters to prospective Free Agents is also a bit far-fetched as far as I'm concerned. I think it matters what club houses and agents think and are talking about a lot more than what leads ESPN or mlb.com. As far as this year's additions, I think they are doing well as a group. Schoop hasn't been consequential and Gonzalez hasn't hit much, but I expect all will be OK offensively. This season will hinge on run prevention IMHO. Berrios looks ready to take a step forward, but no one else in the rotation has really stepped up. I'm disappointed with May and Meija in the bullpen, perhaps I was expecting too much.
  14. stringer bell
    The guys that competed for the last spots mostly did well--Harper of the relievers, plus Austudillo, Austin and Cave. I'm glad they're all going north. I wonder if Adrianza is 100%. Can he hit right handed? We'll probably forget about these decisions by June, but rewarding those who've played well with their jobs on the line is a good thing.
  15. stringer bell
    What does Romero need? Confidence? Relief experience? Or just more innings? I suspect it is confidence and a month or less of success in Triple A will be just the ticket.
  16. stringer bell
    I expect Rosario to spend quite a bit of time in right field. I believe Marwin is more comfortable in left, so if he’s in the OF for Kepler or Buxton, Eddie will move to right.
  17. stringer bell
    The Gonzalez acquisition knocked both Reed and Granite back a peg. I would hope the Twins could get Granite to Rochester. They really need more guys 23-40 with options.
  18. stringer bell
    Absolutely Ash. All players are not equal when it comes to making the 25-man roster.Adding a player not on the 40-man would necessarily cost the team the services of the player they take off the 40-man roster. Players out of options like Austin, Adrianza, and Meija get the longest looks because they are likely lost if they don't make the 25-man squad going north.
  19. stringer bell
    When I worked for the Postal Service, they had positions known as "unassigned regular". I believe that is what Marwin Gonzalez will be for the Twins. While I'm being arbitrary in going back two seasons and using WAR, a stat I have some trouble with, Marwin does have a higher WAR in the past two years than any player on the Twins' roster. I presume he will get as many plate appearances as anyone, just not at one specific position. Gonzalez has gotten full-time work (more than 500 PAs) on a team that won over 100 games each of the last two years. Will the 2019 Twins be better than that? With the addition of Gonzalez, they have a buffer if a player they are counting on this year doesn't pan out. They don't have a player in the minors who is ready to be a major league regular, so it will be good to have a proven major league regular available when the need arises. It's a bonus that wherever Gonzalez lands, he would figure to be at least league-average defensively. It is also really good to add a switch-hitter who has pretty even splits. When all the Astros were healthy the past two years, Gonzalez didn't play much at second, short and third. Then again, the 'Stos have All-Stars (and potential MVPs) at all three of those positions. I actually think Gonzalez would be fine defensively in the middle infield or third base. I can't find the quote, but his manager said he was as good defensively at every position for the Astros as the nominal regular.
  20. stringer bell
    Escobar and Gonzales are similar players, but Gonzales is more versatile. He played more 1B and LF than anything else last year. The lack of depth at second, short, and third in the high minors would mean trouble if Sano, Polanco or Schoop is injured or ineffective, it could be a season-killer. Marwin covers all of those spots and more and can be a platoon partner with anyone who struggles against same-side pitching.
  21. stringer bell
    I went four consecutive years with my older brother. Always enjoyable. Everyone is friendly and accommodating. You’ll never get closer to the players. We especially enjoyed watching minor league games on the back fields. My brother had a long conversation one year with Niko Goodrum’s dad. I met Jared Burton’s grandparents at a game and another time had a long conversation with a writer for Minor League baseball. My favorite experience was doing an impromptu Q & A with Terry Ryan. He was watching two minor league games and about a half-dozen of us fans peppered him with questions. I remember he was honest and didn’t dodge any questions. I don’t think fans could ever ask for better access than that. I had planned to come this year, but I’ve put it off ‘til 2020. Any baseball fan should go if they have the chance.
  22. stringer bell
    Sanó is much more replaceable than Garver unless he becomes the elite slugger we envisioned in his rookie year. How long does the team give him a spot on the field and in the lineup based on potential? At some point, it has to be basis of performance, and Miguel’s hasn’t been good since the first half of ‘17.
  23. stringer bell
    Such an eneven season! Shellacked by the likes of Illinois, Nebraska, and Maryland (and Iowa), but then good wins against Purdue, Fresno and Wisconsin. A really young team who lost too many of their proven veterans, but still competed at the end. With so many young guys returning, they could/should take a step forward.
  24. stringer bell
    For about 40 playing minutes, the Gophers looked like a competent college football team. The other 20 minutes were really, really bad. There is talent there. I think the coach is more than a motivational speaker/salesman, but there is a long way to go.
  25. stringer bell
    Buxton and Sano have some similarities, but real differences too. They are similar ages and have both shown All-Star performance, but never for a full year. Sano looked like a certain star his rookie year and then in the first half of 2017, while Buxton looked like he was emerging in the last half of last year. With the position he plays and the defense he brings, Buxton is an asset as an average hitter, especially since his speed makes him such an asset on the bases. Sano has to be well above average at the plate, because he plays a corner (not especially well) and he isn't a game-changer on the bases. I do agree that Sano needs to alter both his attitude and approach. It is not okay to strike out 40% of the time. The .199 batting average and .679 OPS aren't pretty. Buxton's numbers were pathetic as well. He needs to find an approach at the plate that works and stick with it. If the Twins are to contend in 2019, one or both of these guys needs to realize much more of their potential than we saw in 2018.
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