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stringer bell

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Everything posted by stringer bell

  1. stringer bell
    Regarding the bullpen, my biggest gripe was keeping Fien for a role that would be better suited to a young developing reliever or (as it turns out) a guy who can on occasion go three or four innings. I have liked having May in the 'pen and think Tonkin deserves a legit shot. Pressly won a spot and Abad might be OK as a lefty arm there.
  2. stringer bell
    OK, where and when is Kepler going to get his chance? Comparing his situation to Rosario's is instructive, because there was a 39 and a half year old starter in right and a waiver claim starting in center. The possibilities for Rosario to get a shot were all over the place. This year, Kepler is looking at three guys--nine years out of ten Rosario's stats would have netted a team ROY, the team MVP is on the other corner, and a top five prospect in baseball is starting in center. The oldest of these guys is 24. Besides this, there are two young guys who already have experienced some success in the majors who probably would get a chance before Kepler--Santana and Arcia.
  3. stringer bell
    Small sample size, but Arcia is moving better and fielding his position(s) better than in seasons past amiright? Certainly, from what I've seen, Oswaldo is in better shape.
  4. stringer bell
    I never thought Quentin was a good good fit with the Twins. It seems like there is something left, but I don't think he'll get an opportunity with the Twins.
  5. stringer bell
    I'm asking those of you who have been in Fort Myers--has Centano been as impressive as I have seen? I don't know about his defense either, but he's had good ABs and hits lefty. He's gone from off the radar to the last cut,so he certainly has upped his profile.
  6. stringer bell
    Cuddy is 49? No wonder he retired. Actual DOB-3/27/79.
  7. stringer bell
    Santana played a lot of second in Winter Ball.. I don't know how much he has played the outfield corners.
  8. stringer bell
    This is my biggest complaint about the Sano to RF experiment. If Kepler is as good a prospect as most believe here, it doesn't make much sense to have 24-year old Eddie Rosario and 22-year old Buxton and Sano manning the outfield. First base and DH aren't optimum for Kepler and the Twins have two guys committed for the next three years at those positions anyway.
  9. stringer bell
    I dub this phonomena "Pelfrey'd" as in, "will the Twins be Pelfrey'd by Nolasco?"
  10. stringer bell
    Bullpen depth is important, who goes north in 10 days isn't that important.
  11. stringer bell
    It should be noted that Nolasco was facing 100% minor leaguers because the Rays' plane from Havana was delayed. In my book, the real competition begins now, in the last couple weeks of spring training. Milone has solidified his position in the rotation, while Duffey has forfeited his edge (IMHO). Duffey certainly has a chance to claim the spot while Nolasco needs to sustain good performances. The decision was made to move May and they are not going to undo that because Duffey got knocked around by some minor leaguers.
  12. stringer bell
    Don't count Nolasco out of the rotation. Today: 6 IP 3 H 0 R 0 ER 2 BB 7 K. The battle has been joined.
  13. stringer bell
    I heard Reusse discussing Quentin with Rob Antony--he has an opt-out but it isn't until something like June. Quentin can be assigned to Rochester. I believe the opt-out for Sweeney is earlier, perhaps as early as April 1, meaning he couldn't be sent to AAA without agreeing to go. I don't think it is out of the realm to suggest that Sweeney might see a chance for a recall fairly quickly if a) Buxton starts slow or Santana can't handle a utility role. I still expect the Twins to keep their out-of-options position players, but it would help them if they started to hit a little bit.
  14. stringer bell
    Thanks Thrylos. I hope you're enjoying the trip to SW Florida. It does sound like the gun at Hammond is pretty hot. Santana at 97? I know Gibson was clocked a few times at 96 on Wednesday. Didn't see that kind of clocked velo at all during the regular season.
  15. stringer bell
    Abad with another scoreless inning. I think he's in the lead for a spot in the bullpen. Here's my projected roster: Pitchers: Santana (SP) Hughes (SP) Gibson (SP) Milone (SP) Duffey (SP) Nolasco (LR/SP) Abad (RP) Pressly (RP) Fien (RP) May (RP) Jepsen (RP) Perkins (RP) Catchers: Suzuki ® Murphy ® Infielders: Mauer (1B) Dozier (2B) Escobar (SS) Plouffe (3B) Nuñez (U) Designated Hitter: Park (also 1B) Outfielders: Rosario (LF) Buxton (CF) Sano (RF) Arcia (LF/RF) Santana (OF & IF) Adding Abad would mean one guy needs to be taken off the 40-man roster.
  16. stringer bell
    Graham has been underwhelming in the spring. He wasn't great last year. IMHO, he is closer to DFA than he is to making the 25 man roster.
  17. stringer bell
    I don't mind the May move at all given the composition of the Twins staff and who their prospects are. IMHO, May would be a solid starter, but he could be better than that in the bullpen. I haven't seen enough either in the rotation or the 'pen to be absolutely sure. There is a recurring theme that the Twins should have enhanced their bullpen so that May could claim his rightful place (emphasis mine) in the rotation. I, for one, wanted the club to add a good reliever, probably at the expense of Casey Fien. It sounded like the Twins were willing to do so until the contracts for solid relievers got longer and more expensive than they were willing to go. With quite a few prospects ready to contribute by next year, if not sooner, the Twins passed on the likes of Tony Sipp, Anthony Bastardo and a bunch of RH relievers. I'm not sure I agree with their rationale, but it is defensible. The rotation is overpopulated with mid-rotation guys with little upside. However, they have seven guys competing for five spots and IMHO they all belong in the majors. It looks to me like Milone is head and shoulders ahead of both Nolasco and Duffey. I also believe that is the proper decision. I hope Duffey fills out the rotation and Nolasco is assigned to long relief, but Nolasco's resumé tells me that he might have value as a starter although we haven't seen much of it at all since he came to Minnesota.
  18. stringer bell
    1) SSS- Buxton's spring numbers could be changed dramatically in a day or two. If he goes 4-4 on Wednesday, he would be hitting .333. If he goes 0-4, hitting four BBs, he's hitting .167 2) Prospect ratings--A lot of players have failed, but not many when they are ranked first or second. Buxton has been in the top 5 since he was at Cedar Rapids. The people who do the ratings know a little bit. The most likely thing to stop Byron Buxton from being a star is injury. 3) Speed--A few years ago Terry Ryan told me Buxton was the fastest player they've had in the organization since he (TR) had been there. That's pretty fast. That doesn't automatically make Buxton a cinch to steal 50 bases--he needs to work on his jump, his recognition and getting on base--but he's blessed with game-changing speed. I've always thought it was really tough for a right handed hitter to be a speed guy. I hope Buck proves me wrong. 4) Protection--Buxton is not Aaron Hicks, but the Twins should learn a lesson by what happened to a pretty good prospect. Don't pin offensive hope on him early. Don't bat him at the top of the order until he shows he's taking good at-bats. 5) Fatal flaws--Thrylos has constantly pointed out that Buxton has a pitch recognition problem. I do agree to a point, but as a hitter matures, they learn. Buxton has missed a lot of time due to injuries so far in his career and he hasn't dominated really dominated a league since A ball, in part because he's moved up quickly. I think Buxton's first adjustment will be hitting mistakes and hitting them hard, then he'll probably chase fewer balls and finally will be a consistent threat. He's got a long way to go as a hitter, but I think he'll hit .300 before the decade is over.
  19. stringer bell
    Rogers wasn't very good in his first outing, but has been fine since. I think he still has a chance to make the team, but more than that I think the Twins want to get more of a look at him against major league hitters. Dean can't be take off the 40-man until later, am I right? He pitched a good clean inning today.
  20. stringer bell
    Keep him hitting ninth for now. Echoing everyone else, beyond hitting he provides a lot and if he hits acceptably that will be more than enough
  21. stringer bell
    In my admittedly short look at the box scores, it appears to me that none of the out-of-options guys has taken the ball and run with it. Tonkin, Arcia, and Santana all have started slowly. I'm sure they will continue to get chances, but none of these guys has claimed a spot.
  22. stringer bell
    For the difference right now between and Milone and Berrios, I would at least go the three weeks in the minors with Berrios. Sometime this year, he will get his shot and I doubt he'll ever be optioned again. Having Berrios for a seventh year is good (general) managing.
  23. stringer bell
    That is correct. Vargas has an option remaining.
  24. stringer bell
    Early spring training stats are close to meaningless. See: Hughes, Luke and Hicks, Aaron for two Twins examples. If the competition is between Carlos Quentin who can't play in the field or Eduardo Nuñez, who can play several positions, I take Nuñez. Nuñez performed well recently (last year) whereas Quentin hasn't performed well since 2013 and he's now 33 years old. Quentin also hasn't played a full season since 2011. Nuñez is well-suited to his role and performed well at it last year. If he doesn't make the team, he'll be claimed by someone else. It doesn't make sense to bring young players like Polanco and Kepler north to be bench options. Both of those guys need more minor league at-bats and Polanco needs reps to help his defense.
  25. stringer bell
    If Polanco is a second baseman primarily and only an emergency shortstop, I think he is a trade chip. It would be between him and Dozier and although Polanco is much younger, I like the proven performance that Dozier has provided.
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