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stringer bell

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Everything posted by stringer bell

  1. stringer bell
    I don't think Nick Gordon is a candidate to be a regular in left field. First of all, in 200+ plate appearances last year, his WAR was .2. Secondly, he wasn't rated that high defensively in left (SSS). To keep Kirilloff at first and Sano in the DH role, it would be ideal for Larnach to step up and perform like he did for the first month in a Twins uni. Having Sano at first and Kirilloff in left hurts the overall defense in both positions.
  2. stringer bell
    I know that he hasn't exactly like doing it, but Sano is the logical choice to be the DH on this club. I see that Miggy has lost 25 pounds, good for him and his long-term health, but that still isn't going to make him a good defender anywhere on the diamond. Some guys aren't good fielders and two of them are Rooker and Sano. Kirilloff may be needed in left and right field, but easily his best position is first base. I hope he plays a majority of the games there and that the injury bug doesn't continue to follow him. There are knots in this roster that need to be unraveled. It is my hope that youth and superior defense will be served in unraveling most of those knots.
  3. stringer bell
    There is Enlow's spot, but if the Twins sign Cueto, then they'll have to let someone go and Romero does figure to be the one.
  4. stringer bell
    From the time they made the Garver trade, it seems that the Twins were convinced that Jeffers is a starting catcher. Despite the low BA, his OPS+ was 83, okay for a catcher and he's 24 years old, the same age as Ben Rortvedt. I don't think Jeffers' defense is outstanding, but he's not bad. The team has lost their depth pieces at catcher and it is crucial that the catchers they have stay healthy.
  5. stringer bell
    I don't care if Rooker's speed is average, by every metric I seen he's a lousy outfielder and he doesn't hit enough to overcome that or to be a DH. I agree on Sano. He should be the primary DH. The way that Rocco handles catchers, both will get a lot of starts. I would expect the breakdown is somewhere betweeen 50-50 and 65-35. Depending on how much of that time, Sanchez is behind the plate, he should get some at bats as a DH. I do think the pairing of Jeffers and Sanchez is unfortunate--their strengths and weaknesses as hitters are similar and neither is much of a limitation of limiting base stealing.
  6. stringer bell
    What I like about this contract is that Correa should be expected to perform at the highest level for the whole thing, no declining years figured into a long-term contract. What I don't like is that he can walk after a single season, but walk years are often the most productive in a player's career.
  7. stringer bell
    Okay, players who are below average defenders: 1) Sanó 2) Sanchez and 3) Kirilloff (LF). Arraez is okay (neutral) at both second and third. Sanó has been the superior hitter to Sanchez and if he’s the primary DH, Kirilloff can play first where he’s above average. Baldelli had a silver slugger catcher in 2019 and played him about 60% of the time (when healthy)), so if Sanchez is the second catcher, he gets 30-40% of games behind the plate. Arraez should platoon at third with Urshela and get some starts at second when Polanco gets a day off or is the DH. A left fielder is needed in this scenario (with Kirilloff also serving there on occasion and also to give Kepler a day off). Hopefully Larnach or someone else steps up.
  8. stringer bell
    Sanó at DH for 100 games. Arraez at third, Kirilloff at first. Left field? Sometimes Kirilloff, but Larnach and maybe someone like Garlick against lefties.
  9. stringer bell
    2022 has gotten off to an interesting start with the lockout and then for the Twins a frenzy of trades. The roster has a whole new look and just three weeks from Opening Day, it is a pretty good bet that the current 40-man roster doesn't contain all 26 players who will line up for the opener at Target Field. We plan to do a game thread every day that a game is played (only one thread for a doubleheader) and as before plan to utilize volunteers to introduce each game thread. We have several regulars on Twins Daily that have done introductions before and plan to do them again, but there is space for new talent to volunteer to do introductions. New voices and different perspectives are encouraged. It is an opportunity to show off your writing ability, your wit and baseball insight. There aren't many rules about the introductions. They should be submitted at least an hour before first pitch, they should include the lineups for the game and there is a format for the title. I will post a simple Google Doc with the schedule about two weeks from Opening Day, covering the month of April. I will repeat the process for each month, If anyone would like to volunteer to do an introduction, please message me. Also contact me with any questions you might have. I will respond within 24 hours. Thanks in advance for helping out.
  10. stringer bell
    I just don't know what to think with the acquisition of Sanchez. Will he be satisfied with starting 30-40% of games? DH seems to be the logical destination for Sano, and if Sanchez is DHing frequently, it will require adding a third catcher. I think Jeffers will be a good overall catcher, but it remains a risk to bet so much on him.
  11. stringer bell
    Do we have any reports on Godoy's defense? I think the most important thing a third catcher needs to provide is major league defense. I like Rortvedt for that reason, and was disappointed that he was included in the Donaldson trade. This season Godoy might be as good or better than Rortvedt, but it is doubtful that Godoy will ever advance beyond the role he has with the Twins. There is certainly more hope for Rortvedt to advance beyond that limited role.
  12. stringer bell
    Not saying that I agree with this, but another way of looking at it would be to take the 73 win team, double Buxton's WAR (play 120 games instead of 60) and figure that the team won't trade their top starter and their top hitter at the deadline and see at least an 80-win team.
  13. stringer bell
    Unless someone who played part of the season with the Twins (Larnach, Rooker, Celestino) seizes left field, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Sanchez at DH, with Sanó at first and Kirilloff in left field. Arraez could also get some starts in left. To me, Urshela is the shortstop until someone is added. This does give Miranda a spot. If Sanchez is DHing more than occasionally, they probably need a third catcher. Ugh, what a mess.
  14. stringer bell
    I won't quote Brian, but I will comment on a couple of things that he mentioned. The Twins (under Falvey & Levine) have been known to try to wait out free agents to get more reasonable contracts, with less than great results (e.g. Lance Lynn and Logan Morrison). I think they are trying to do the same with the remaining free agent pitching pool and Story. Given their track record, I wish they wouldn't I've wondered if there is an alternative to Story who makes sense for the Twins. Perhaps Andrus needs to leave Oakland to again be a decent major league hitter, I don't know. While I'd like to see Story in Minnesota, I would have liked much more to see proven pitching with the salary room that is now available.
  15. stringer bell
    I think there was consensus when JD was signed that the window was open and adding another slugger to a team that set a record for home runs might get them not only in the postseason, but a favorite to win it all. It didn't pan out, thanks in large part to the funkiness of the pandemic season and the injury Donaldson suffered just before the playoffs. Then came Part II, the unexpected flop of a season in which Donaldson wasn't able to lift the team to be in position to even sniff a wildcard berth. Giving a player in his mid-thirties a four year contract was a bet that the first two years production would blunt the ultimate falloff in the last two years. The pandemic and (very predictable) injury woes that Donaldson suffered limited what he could offer when the window was open. I suspect Priority #1 at the trading deadline last year and this off-season has been to get out from under Donaldson's contract. The front office has succeeded at the expense of catching depth and huge holes at shortstop and the pitching staff. They have the payroll space to buy their way to respectability or maybe better than that. I'm interested to see what happens next.
  16. stringer bell
    I disagree with terming the Cruz trade a salary dump. He became a free agent at the end of the season and he's 41 years old. Sending him to a contender netted talent that figures to far exceed the production Cruz could have offered in a lost season. That the team saved money there was an added bonus.
  17. stringer bell
    With the current roster, I guess Urshela is the starting shortstop? Miranda or Arraez would be the third baseman with Kirilloff in left, Sano at first and Sanchez as the DH. Goodness, that is not a defense that will inspire confidence and it is a strikeout prone low BA group. Well, maybe Gray can be traded at the deadline.
  18. stringer bell
    I think there's room to grow in many areas for Kiner-Falefa. The OBP would really be aided by getting more walks. I wonder if he might add more XBHs to enhance the slugging percentage. As mentioned, he probably won't be hitting at the top of the order for the 2022 Twins, and I think he might do a bit better hitting 7-9. As for Garver, he has not ever had more the 359 plate appearances, mostly due to injury, but also because his manager really makes sure that his catchers don't get overworked. As far as playing other positions, Garver has played three complete games at first base, none since 2018. There probably will be opportunities for Garver to play first for the Rangers, but I don't think it is a situation where it can be assumed he will suddenly get 600 PAs. Nelson Cruz was able to cheat Father Time, but he was a DH. I don't know if Gaver will. The Twins best player in the mid-teens was Brian Dozier. He was basically done at age 31. Hard to say how long Garv Sauce will be an offensive force.
  19. stringer bell
    Sano has turned out to be closer to Mark Reynolds than Miguel Cabrera or Frank Thomas. Given the hype that surrounded him as a minor leaguer and then as a rookie, he has been a disappointment. The power is there, but making contact has been a perpetual problem. He has hurt the team in the field, despite a rocket arm and more quickness than one might expect from such a large man. The problem with Sano has not been his work ethic or commitment. He has gaps in his game that he has not been able to fill and he approaches his 29th birthday.
  20. stringer bell
    I'm an old guy dealing with arthritic knees and my PT is exactly what bean has stated. I would think that Arraez would benefit from both strengthening the muscles to relieve stress and losing weight. It will be interesting to see his condition when he reports for whatever kind of spring training they have. One thing to remember is that this is a young man at age 24.
  21. stringer bell
    While Arraez didn't play much left field in the second half of the season, I think who was on the roster had more to do with that than his perceived ability to play there. When Donaldson was out and later when he couldn't run, Arraez had a home at third base, but the rest of the season, there really wasn't a place for him to get regular at-bats. I'd much prefer seeing Arraez in left field than Rooker and I think he's superior offensively, as well, although they are totally different types of hitters. I don't think left is Arraez' long-term spot though. As for Arrraez' skills--great contact, excellent strike zone, superior on-base skill--Martin projects to be similar and also have the ability to play the same positions, probably with a better glove. The key word though is "projects", we don't know if Martin will pan out and if he doesn't no one else at the top of the prospect list or on the roster can provide what Arraez brings to the table. Another prospect who compares in some respect is Miranda. Again, infielder, but not a shortstop with a plus bat. If the Twins are confident that Miranda and/or Martin are ready to contribute, then I think Arraez is expendable. The injury history and the prospect of recurring knee problems tell me that he can't be relied upon to give the club enough plate appearances to be an All-Star.
  22. stringer bell
    I think it was a reasonable gamble that hasn't really worked out. I think Miggy's improved health the past two years bodes well for a productive 2022. I hope the Twins make a good decision about whether to pick up his option for '23. He should be the primary DH this year. I just don't think he'll ever be a good defender. If the Twins don't contend, he might be playing elsewhere in August.
  23. stringer bell
    It would be a good idea if the utility infielder could play shortstop. The Twins management team seems to have misgivings about Gordon’s ability to do so. Apparently Robertson and Beckham are competent shortstops. Of course, there is still a need for a regular shortstop.
  24. stringer bell
    He's young. He may well be the first Twin to make the majors born in this century/millennium. The guy has the pitches and the makeup to be a star, as well as the body type to be durable. So much could go wrong, of course, but having the tools and makeup to be great moves him up the prospect list.
  25. stringer bell
    Picking nits a little here, but I wouldn’t consider either Carew or Tovar part of the “early 60s” teams. Carew’s first season was ‘67 and Tovar had a “cup of coffee” in ‘65, but was a rookie in ‘66.
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