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stringer bell

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Everything posted by stringer bell

  1. stringer bell
    Why is the time past? Dozier was 25 when they sent him back to AAA and he came back the next year and performed very well. I'll be charitable and say that Hicks failed once and disappointed the next time on the big stage. It makes no sense to me to try a failed strategy a third time. I still believe he could be a good major league player, but it will take more than a tweak or magical mentoring from Torii Hunter to make him a productive major leaguer. Because he still is a prospect, it is ridiculous to pencil him in as the right-handed half of a platoon. BTW, I think we have found the Twins' fourth outfielder/platoon partner for Schafer. In minor league talk, it is reported that the Twins signed Shane Robinson, a 30-year old with 452 plate appearances with the Cards spread out over five years. He is a capable outfielder who doesn't hit much (plays all three OF positions). That kind of guy will do until Hicks/Buxton/Rosario take over center either this year or next.
  2. stringer bell
    Ricky Nolasco last year was exactly what you are advocating for this year--a proven arm with a history of at least being adequate or better and providing innings. That didn't pan out. Just two years ago Masterson was an All-Star. He suffered injuries and was terrible last year. If he regained his 2013 form, he would be #1 or #2 on the Twins staff. That is exactly what I think the Twins should look for.
  3. stringer bell
    So this is a two-fer? They sign Hunter and he fixes right and center field? Nonsense! If Hicks can play, he should play, but he needs to master AAA. No showing in the spring can change what happened previously. I think the Twins paid Torii Hunter market value (and ignored his age) to play right field. The intangibles may have helped to make the price tag easier to swallow, but if Torii doesn't perform, no amount of mentorship and leadership is going to make his pay check worth it.
  4. stringer bell
    IMHO, the Twins have to send Hicks to the minors to start the season. His performance has been poor at the major league level and he hasn't mastered AAA. He has shown that spring training stats (for him) should be disregarded. It doesn't make sense to platoon him as the RH component (they only start between 20-30% of the games) because he still needs development. Find a 4A player to platoon with Schafer to start the season. If Hicks tears up AAA, recall him as the full-time CF, if Rosario or Buxton jump ahead of him, so be it.
  5. stringer bell
    I didn't hear Torii's press conference, but according to Barriero, Torii will finish his career as a Twins, so (if true) all this talk about a trade at the deadline is a non-issue. I still don't like the move, especially moving Arcia and probably hurting the already-porous outfield defense. I wrote this earlier, but Hunter has been a marvel, producing at a high level in his late 30s. However, he could fall flat at any time and I have to believe that hitting between Kinsler and Miggy offered him a huge lift in his numbers. I want to yell "BS" about leadership. I don't think the Twins have had bad chemistry, they've had bad pitching and overall talent. I think Souhan's column is illustrative. Torii is interesting and quotable. That in and of itself doesn't make him a leader, but it sure makes reporting or writing about the Twins a lot easier. He does provide a great example of what staying in shape and working on one's craft can do for a career.
  6. stringer bell
    But how do you really feel about it Levi? I tend to ignore some of the off-field stuff, but I don't think leadership is the #1 problem with this team. Hunter doesn't fix what is wrong and I'm scratching my head trying to figure out what Ryan and Molitor are thinking.
  7. stringer bell
    First of all, Torii has been a marvel since he left Minnesota. He certainly can be an example on how to take care of himself, and probably how to prepare for each and every game. Obviously, his hitting has remained strong despite his advanced age. However, the move smacks of a blind spot or willfully ignoring Hunter's regression in the field. Further, I liked leaving Arcia in right field and I think putting him in the larger corner is a tactical mistake and moving him back and forth depending on whether Hunter is in the lineup is the worst idea. I think Hunter's value off the field is real, but a mixed blessing. The $10.5M is real money, but it only becomes important if it means the Twins check out of all free agent shopping for this off-season. Now, what happens if Buxton, Rosario, and/or Sano tear it up in Chattanooga or Rochester? Hunter takes at-bats from the future and most likely isn't enough of a positive to make the Twins a contender in 2015. It also means we're stuck with Schafer as Plan A in center fielder or giving Aaron Hicks another chance after failing/disappointing the last two years. No, I can't buy into this move. I would much rather have seen the Twins trade for Chris Heisey from the Reds and save the money spent on Hunter for pitching.
  8. stringer bell
    Now I like the deal even less.
  9. stringer bell
    Does he play left? Where will he hit in the order? How much will he play? Don't like the move.
  10. stringer bell
    If the Twins add no position players, I have Nuñez making the team and serving as a platoon left fielder. Is that ideal? Absolutely not, but until the Twins add someone who offers what Nuñez provides (versatility, RH bat, speed) I think he stays with the Twins. On the pitching front, injuries and ineffectiveness happen. Milone and Pelfrey currently slot as starters #6-7 and I think one of them (Pelfrey) fills the role vacated by Swarzak. Milone has an option remaining, so if he doesn't make the rotation in the spring, he could be sent to Triple A. Specifically regarding this thread, I think his track record is too strong to non-tender him.
  11. stringer bell
    I think the article reflects the consensus of TD posters this offseason. This is probably pretty close to an accurate prognostication, as well. However, while I am intrigued with Schafer's base-stealing tool and his decent hitting with the Twins, I wonder if his career numbers speak louder. I also like Nuñez as a utility guy, particularly if he could play a decent left field (the metrics were pretty good last year, my eyes saw an infielder playing outfield). He also offers very good speed and a righty bat.
  12. stringer bell
    Jorgenswest, I used actual age at arb and also said that Plouffe could sign and play (about half the season as a 31 year old). Same with Dozier, now Dozier's BD is in May so he'll only play six weeks of each season at the younger age.
  13. stringer bell
    Concur with most of your thoughts above jorgenswest, however, a factual nit to pick: Plouffe was a Super2 Arb last year at age 27 and will FA eligible at 31, and could sign and play for another team at age 31. Dozier will be 28 a year from now when he is eligible for arb and like Plouffe could sign and play for another team at 31 (only six weeks into the season would be his birthday).
  14. stringer bell
    Agree with Hosken. Hicks hasn't pitched in seven years. No way is he going to become a pitcher now. Ankiel switched from pitcher to hitter, Tim Wakefield switched from minor league hitter to knuckleballer. There have been a couple others, but none that I remember switching at the stage of career Hicks is at. I am convinced that this still-young guy needs to master Triple A. Perhaps then he can move up to the majors and fulfill some or most of his potential.
  15. stringer bell
    I mostly agree that the pitching coach can't make chicken salad out of chicken s$#t. However, it seems that Anderson wasn't able to get expected performance out of a lot of guys recently. Perhaps he was too locked into his "pound the strike zone" philosophy, perhaps he wasn't able to communicate with his pitching staff, perhaps he didn't keep up with the way the game has changed. It was time for a change. Is Allen up to the job? Time will tell.
  16. stringer bell
    Do remember that most of Kubel's playing time came when the Twins were down not one but two regular outfielders. The Twins didn't have anyone ready to play corner outfield that was left behind because Kubel was in the lineup. He actually had a decent April, as well, IIRC. It didn't turn out that Kubel wasted too much lineup time at all IMHO.
  17. stringer bell
    I've seen the "good" Masterson pitch enough to believe that if he's healthy, he can be a far above-average starter. He throws hard enough and the sinker is an extremely effective pitch. He was very effective just one year ago. One year plus a team option sounds about right.
  18. stringer bell
    Precious few long term free-agent contracts for pitchers pan out and even fewer are good value in the last half of the contract (when the Twins are being assumed to be contenders). Going for the elite guys isn't the right move and isn't the Twins style. So, pulling Scherzer, Lester and Shields off the table, what is the best move to be made? I think a Masterson or Anderson short-term contract would be the right move to make. I've said this in other threads--I think there is a decent chance for the Twins to be relevant next year. They had a playoff-caliber offense, but need to improve their run suppression dramatically by improving outfield defense (Bourjos, Schafer, perhaps Rosario) and getting much improved production from three spots in the rotation (a healthy Milone, a healthy Nolasco, May, Meyer, Masterson, Anderson, and maybe Pelfrey). They don't have a lot of depth among the position players and they need to replenish their bullpen, but they have a chance.
  19. stringer bell
    After Masterson, Anderson is my second choice (Josh Johnson #3). Nice writeup by Nick highlighting his positives. I think an incentive-laden contract makes sense, because if he stays healthy, there's not much question he'll be worth pretty good money. Also, maybe a vesting option so that the Twins could perhaps get another year out of him if he's healthy.
  20. stringer bell
    I agree that it is a long shot for Rosario to make the team and further, it is probably best to go with veterans or at least have veterans available to play. I want to make the point that Rosario isn't Aaron Hicks. I also would point out that in 2014, Rob Antony said (paraphrasing) that Hicks hadn't done anything to win a spot with about two weeks before they broke camp. I would dispute the "All-World" description to both 2013 and especially 2014. The Twins thought they saw a foundation and maturity that wasn't there when the games started counting. Just because Hicks failed and then disappointed in two chances to claim a job doesn't mean that Rosario will follow the same script. As I said before, the Twins may have learned it is prudent to have a decent Plan B for a 23 year old rookie who hasn't played above AA. Hicks also had the legacy of Kirby, Torii and Denard weighing on him, as well as being the only African American on the team (I don't know if that effected him or not). The last thing I want to see is having a position handed to Rosario or Hicks. I think that Hicks absolutely has to go to AAA and master that level. I would be less averse to giving Rosario a chance on the team despite his poor season last year because he hasn't failed twice at the highest level.
  21. stringer bell
    Protect the pitchers along with the obvious Sano and Rosario. Position players are very tough to keep if they're not playing and there is a 12-13 man pitching staff. Stashing a pitching prospect in the bullpen (in long relief) is a much more viable plan (it worked for both Johan and Pressly). I can't see a team keeping a Goodrum or Michael for a whole season.
  22. stringer bell
    I'm going against the grain and I am pretty optimistic about the 2015 club. I think the Twins added several players who are part of the future, and adding a good starter and perhaps a strong reliever and an outfielder could improve the club greatly. From the OP, I don't agree with Colabello on the bench. He's had his chance and except for a hot month of April, he hasn't done the job in the majors. He's not really a left basher and he can only play first base (I never want to see him in the outfield!). I guess I mostly agree with the rotation and understand that a couple of runners-up will end up in the bullpen. Milone does have an option remaining, and if he doesn't make the rotation, he should be optioned. BTW, Escobar missed out on arb by a couple of days, so he won't make anything close to $2M.
  23. stringer bell
    While I don't totally disagree, I think Rosario's sharp fall has papered over most of his disappointing regular season. For him to advance he needs to show maturity that some believed was lacking before his suspension. He also needs to show he has the tools, the temperament, and the production to succeed as a major leaguer. As far as his at-bats in Spring Training, I don't think they are "irrelevant" for a player trying to make an impression or make a team. It will go much deeper than Rosario's (or anyone else's) batting average. Hitting against big-league pitchers or candidates late in Spring Training is much more important than rapping a couple extra-base hits against a Double A pitcher who only was throwing fastballs during the first week of games. A lot has to go right for Rosario to make a run for a spot out of Spring Training. Since the minor league seasons ended, he has done what he needed to do. He would have to continue good performance at the plate, plus field his position well, plus demonstrate his attitude and off-the-field problems are behind him. If he is one of the three best outfielders in Spring Training, he should make the club. Still a long shot, but something that could be done.
  24. stringer bell
    Rosario did what he had to do to undo his disappointing regular season in New Britain. Most would agree that the quality of play and players in the AFL is a step up from AA and he had a good turn of about 115 plate appearances. There are gaping holes in the outfield and I still believe that Eddie could stick with the major league team this spring.
  25. stringer bell
    Certainly, the years of poor production have limited what is reasonable to expect for him. What he supplied to the Twins in 41 games was certainly serviceable. The team, of course, needs to have a backup plan. I think that he can provide such a contribution again. The speed and base-stealing is an elite tool. To me, that is the difference between him and a guy like Tyner, or actually Mastroianni, for that matter.
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