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stringer bell

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Everything posted by stringer bell

  1. stringer bell
    There are a lot of bullpens that could benefit from one of the remaining free agents featured here. Why aren't they signed? It appears almost every 40-man roster is filled and no one seems to want to expose more players to be claimed. Perhaps the price tags are higher than the teams are willing to disburse mid-inning and setup people. I personally like the idea of adding another lefty to the mix, but it doesn't appear the Twins or anyone else is that interested at the rate currently demanded by the free agents.
  2. stringer bell
    Locke St. John signed to a minor league contract. St. John is a 30-year old left handed relief pitcher who has had a cup of coffee in the majors. He provides more southpaw options along with Coulombe and Moran. The Twins also signed Aaron Sanchez to a minor league deal so they are adding pitching depth. A lot of ex-Twins have signed minor league contracts. Waiting for Rosterman to update us.
  3. stringer bell
    I'm still questioning the Gallo signing, but I don't think it's just comparing Gallo to Urshela. Gio had a nice year last year, but he remains a slow right handed hitter with marginal power, who was going to get (I'll call it) star (not superstar) money. The moves the Twins have made and not made indicate confidence in Alex Kirilloff, perhaps indirectly related to retaining Gio. I think the left side of the infield had a lot more to do with cashiering Urshlela, with the uncertainty to start 2023 at shortstop and right handed hitting Royce Lewis and switch hitter Brooks Lee on the horizon.
  4. stringer bell
    There is a lot of room and a lot of players between "all" (three All-Star level performances) and failure (an outfield of Contreras, Cave and a not-ready Wallner). About nine outfielders are in contention for three positions and DH. If every single one of them don't reach expectations, this truly will be a lost season. I expect, with this many candidates, that the Twins will have some not perform to expectations, but a few who do. Because of the injuries suffered in the past two years, the Twins aren't going all in on three of their home-grown number one draft choices--Buxton, Kirilloff and Larnach--and this makes sense given the time this trio has missed since the COVID year.
  5. stringer bell
    I’m not sure, but I’m guessing he stays on the major league roster.
  6. stringer bell
    Regarding Canterino, they had a near identical situation with Enlow two years ago. The team didn’t use the major league 60-day for Enlow, so I doubt they would for Canterino. There will be a 60-day assignment for Paddack and I believe also for Lewis. The Twins might be offering minor league contracts to guys who really aren’t minor leaguers. A pitcher receiving such an offer would probably wait and see if he got a major league contract offer before accepting.
  7. stringer bell
    I like BBRef for a quick bio or split stats.
  8. stringer bell
    Marginal stuff, so he’s got to have excellent command keep hitters off balance. I really doubt that he’ll get back to MLB, but I’m pulling for him.
  9. stringer bell
    I was there! It was a packed house and the Twins staff and player were well received. Good time.
  10. stringer bell
    Most of the time, the “best shape” line is just words. Sometimes players do look different. José Abreu is one example. Arraez looked less puffy last year and maybe Miranda will this year.
  11. stringer bell
    What is obvious is that the Twins have a different take on top-shelf free agent pitching. They don’t compete in offers for the highest-priced arms meaning that the eternal search for an ace is limited to internal options and somehow undervalued arms. In their pitching acquisitions, the club has considered injury risk seemingly less than other organizations and has acquired a stable of pitchers with whom “injury risk” has to be in their bios.
  12. stringer bell
    I don't think that it right. The whole thing about managing Buxton started when he was injured in Boston on the first road trip of the season. The knee was a problem from that point and the decision was to try to play him throughout the year with frequent days off and a lot of DH time. Buck lasted until mid-August on that plan. I'm sure that the manager is not counting on Buxton to play 162, but as far as I know the Twins aren't going with last year's plan. The acquisition of Taylor does indicate they feel a need to protect for the loss of their starter, but until we hear officially from the Twins, we are free to speculate how much they use their All-Star center fielder.
  13. stringer bell
    I haven’t heard if there is a plan for Buxton this year, but would assume Rocco will give him several days off and DH days. In those days, Taylor would figure to start almost 100% of those games. I would assume that Baldelli will use Buxton as the DH against left handed pitching, with Taylor then in center.
  14. stringer bell
    The 40-man roster is full and there aren't any "easy" cuts. It is know that Paddack and Lewis will go on the 60-day IL as soon as is possible, so there are two spots to be used to bring non-roster players to the team on Opening Day. Perhaps the Twins have minor league contracts offered to legitimate relief pitchers like Chafin and Fulmer. Guys like that are probably waiting for a major league offer, but as time dwindles before pitchers and catchers report, maybe they will sign one of those types. A right handed bat capable at first or the outfield would still make sense as well. Free agents are pretty picked over, perhaps Gurriel being the best available.
  15. stringer bell
    Taylor plays center when Buxton is not there. He’s an outstanding outfielder and a better hitter than Celestino.
  16. stringer bell
    I would hope that the Twins don’t put the expectation of All-Star performance on what (I hope) is his first full season. Making up for Arraez’ contribution should come from improvements from Buxton, Polanco, Gallo, Kepler who are coming off disappointing seasons mostly due to injury.
  17. stringer bell
    They have a somewhat weak RH bat in Taylor. Most likely lineup vs. lefties would be--DH Buxton, C Jeffers, 1B Miranda, 2B Polanco, 3B Farmer,SS Correa, LF Gallo, CF Taylor, RF Kepler. That is 7 RH bats and only two LH. Lots of tweaks to that lineup--Kirilloff at first or left Miranda at DH with Buxton in center and Taylor in left or right. Suddenly, there is not a real role for Gordon, until and unless a LH outfielder is traded.
  18. stringer bell
    Two clear moves can/will be made ASAP. Paddack and Lewis will go on the 60-day IL. Two non-roster players can make the Twins Opening Day roster without losing another player.
  19. stringer bell
    Gordon hasn’t played right much at all. He would be in left with Gallo in right.
  20. stringer bell
    Do we also consider what Gurriel had an excellent post season?
  21. stringer bell
    For the regular season, it is great to have a guy start start every time where it is a better than 50-50 chance you'll see a high-quality start. I think the Twins have a bunch of guys in that category although there have been a lot of issues with injuries. With a number of the Twins pitchers, they are young enough to develop into more than mid-rotation starters. I don't think that a slot is guaranteed for each starter.
  22. stringer bell
    I respect Reusse's opinion more than most on this board. He's seen more good and bad baseball than almost all of us and had access to baseball guys for decades. Regarding contract negotiations, I suppose it isn't the dollars, it is the difficulty and perhaps resentment built up in what was the first two of as many as four seasons of arbitration. I don't know if the team is right in bailing on first Berrios and now Arraez, but they would know how contentious the contract negotiations have been.
  23. stringer bell
    I think Arraez benefits not at all from the cessation of the shift. He has always sprayed the ball and will continue to do so. Secondly, if you want to talk about downturns in the second half of the season, Arraez fits that description as well. Both Arraez and Lopez had more major league work last year in their careers. They both might have been fatigued either mentally or physically in the last segments of the season.
  24. stringer bell
    I agree that both Martin and Julien, for their table setting skills, both look like more immediate options to help the Twins this year. Both also have had a lot of success stealing bases in the minors. As far as Buxton's spot in the order, with all of the power he has displayed in the past three years, I'd like to see him hitting a little lower in the order (3 or 4). I don't think we'll ever see him stealing 30 to 40 bases, in part because of his position in the order and in part to save his body.
  25. stringer bell
    Gallo has experience in left, correct? I don’t know if Kepler has played any left field at all. I presume those two will flip-flop if they are both in the lineup.
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