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stringer bell

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Everything posted by stringer bell

  1. stringer bell
    Where's Halsey? The trap has been baited.
  2. stringer bell
    I agree that taken as a group, the decisions don't figure to build enthusiasm. As you know, I totally concurred with the Hicks decision, but would have liked to have better alternatives. I thought the bullpen should have been blown up and rebuilt with young arms. Reusse's column yesterday really hit the nail on the head about the whole roster.
  3. stringer bell
    On Dozier's SBs--I don't know if I can look it up, but most came early in the year when he hit leadoff. He ran considerably less when hitting in front of Mauer (perhaps to give him the 2b-1b hole?) and IIRC many of his steals from the #2 spot were double steals with Santana. Just checked BBRef, and he stole 13 bases when batting leadoff, only 7 batting second in 81 games.
  4. stringer bell
    Stolen base numbers for Dozier will drop off this year, mostly because of where he will hit in the lineup. After watching him hit in the spring, I think the extra-base hits will slightly increase, but more doubles. 40 doubles, 12 steals, 15 homers. .267 BA. .335/444/.778 Best in the division.
  5. stringer bell
    I've been thinking that the Twins needed help from the left side since the offseason started. Duensing isn't ideal, but he is the best the Twins have.
  6. stringer bell
    I wouldn't mind Aaron Hicks doing a Glen Perkins imitation. Perk was thought to be a lost cause after being sent to the minors. He came back and became an All-Star. I have been of the opinion that Hicks had to be sent to the minors and it has come to that. Now I can hope that he figures out how to use his tools to become a standout baseball player. Many are complaining that the rebuilding Twins are using zero rookies. Remember Vargas and Santana didn't start 2014 with the club and Arcia was sent down briefly. They are now considered the first wave of what could be something very exciting. One of Rosario, Hicks or Buxton will man center field at some point this season and Miguel Sano will undoubtedly make some noise starting in Chattanooga. Pitching and young fleet outfielders will make this club much better pretty soon. I hope it is this year, but it will be soon.
  7. stringer bell
    While I don't disagree with the comments above, there are differences between last year and this. First and foremost, there is a new manager and pitching coach. Secondly, beyond Pelfrey, the young pitchers most of us are calling for are in line. I can't even remember the names of the guys who got starts, but they are all out of the way now. Will it make a difference? Time will tell.
  8. stringer bell
    Actually, if Hicks or Rosario push someone out, I'm guessing it will be Schafer. I would expect Robinson to get most starts vs. lefties. That would be a little more consistent than what he saw with the Cards. I don't expect miracles, but I don't expect him to be an embarrassment either.
  9. stringer bell
    I'm glad to see Pelfrey walked back his earlier comments. I try to take such stuff with a grain of salt. Pelfrey is going to the bullpen and likely will get a shot sometime in the first couple months. It might help Pelfrey's career if he shows he can function out of the bullpen.
  10. stringer bell
    Because, on average, he will start between one and two games a week in center. Shane Robinson is a role player with the 2015 Twins. He'll start against most left handers in center, pinch run and be a late-inning defensive replacement. If you want Rosario or Hicks for that role, you are sacrificing their future development and adding service time while they mostly sit on the bench.
  11. stringer bell
    Hicks springboarded back to the majors and hit .348/.300/.648, which told me that he still had work to do offensively to be a major league regular. His time in winter ball and this spring have yielded similar numbers. If any move would sound like "scholarship", it would be to anoint Hicks as the regular center fielder with the results he has put up. If we are talking about bringing Hicks north instead of Robinson, with the assumption that he platoons in center, then the questions are whether Hicks is a good fit for the role and what it will do for his development as a player. IMHO, Robinson definitely fits the role better, despite not having nearly the tools of Aaron Hicks.
  12. stringer bell
    Today the posts have mostly been negative with three young players optioned to AAA. Many have pointed out that the rebuilding Twins won't have a single rookie from their system on the 25-man roster going north. The average age of the team won't be considerably different. Despite all of this, I'm optimistic that the Twins will improve. The next wave is very close and they could provide a real boost. I have predicted/advocated for Hicks to be demoted since the end of the regular season and while Schafer/Robinson isn't optimum, the better of Hicks or Rosario should be ready before mid-season. The pitching rotation will be better. Any regression from Hughes should be matched by regression for Nolasco. I think Gibson will be really good and Santana will be the best #4 starter the Twins have had since the 90s. I hope the leash isn't long for the bullpen. I have predicted 85 wins, really against all odds. I think there is enough talent there to improve even though the division will be tough. It will take filling of inside straights and rolling sevens, but I'm sticking with 85 wins, with or without Meyer, May, Rosario or Hicks and a bunch of relievers.
  13. stringer bell
    Hicks had 84 PAs at AAA (SSS), he hit .278 w/ a .738 OPS, not dominance, not mastering that level. No, that isn't enough to convince me that he has mastered AAA. His September numbers were fine for OBP (walks fueled), but he hit for virtually no power. It is unlikely that Schafer duplicates his performance, but I wouldn't rule it out any more than I would rule out Hicks hitting in his next try with the Twins. Schafer's defense in center probably isn't much better or worse than Hicks'.
  14. stringer bell
    The right handed half of a platoon is basically a bench player. Putting Hicks in that role pretty much assigns him to that status. It could end his development well below what was perceived to be his ceiling. We don't know if he could handle a part-time role and he's only played a few innings in right and left. Shane Robinson is the best defensive outfielder that competed for a position and he has been in a backup role. He is a good fit for the platoon CF/fourth outfielder role.
  15. stringer bell
    I would dispute that Hicks did well in AAA last year and his performance in September was pedestrian as well. Nothing he did from the time he was demoted last year screamed readiness. Hicks continues to have tools and potential, but the performance has been pretty abysmal.
  16. stringer bell
    Good report and nice photos.
  17. stringer bell
    Of the names listed in this thread here is my opinion: I think Darnell and Achter could be 40-man casualties and I think that would be fine. There is a pretty large number of guys who didn't make it who could be decent contributors for the Twins (don't give up on them): Oliveros, Pryor, Pressly, Tonkin. Hamburger has mostly looked good for the Twins, I think he is the last cut. Graham has made the club, but could knock himself off the ledge with a bad performance or two in the next week. I wouldn't want more than one fifth starter candidate in the bullpen. If Pelfrey could add a couple ticks to the fastball and utilize his new change-up, he might actually work well there. Milone should either make the rotation or go to Rochester. Boyer probably makes the club, too, on merit, unless the Twins decide to keep two #5 starter losers in the 'pen. I am not a big Thielbar fan, if he is pushed out this spring, so be it. He should be able to get another chance if he performs well in Rochester. So, if I am in charge (and you can't unmake the moves already made) the bullpen is Pelfrey, Graham, Boyer, Fien, Duensing, Stauffer, Perkins. Short leashes for most of those guys, with a nearly equal number champing at the bit in Rochester. Midseason could bring Reed, Burdi and the rest.
  18. stringer bell
    Again, Hicks' "success" against RH pitching thus far is a .689 OPS in Spring Training. Of course, it is a small sample size and of course, he might have raised that number because of the level of competition. On top of that, even with the two caveats, is that mark "winning" the CF job? I think not. Schafer was, by far, the superior offensive player for the Twins in '14. If anyone is the incumbent this year, it should be him. Rosario has impressed with good at-bats and good defense (mostly in LF), Robinson has shown he is a good defensive OF and not a sure out at the plate. None of them have won the job. Both Hicks and Rosario should be in Rochester. Let's see if the approach that Schafer seemed to acquire last year can carry over and, as I've said for awhile, Robinson is a good fit for the fourth OF slot. If Schafer flounders, certainly a good possibility, the better of Hicks/Rosario gets the nod to fill the spot until Buxton is ready.
  19. stringer bell
    But, but , but, it's spring training. In his two months with the Twins, Schafer was serviceable, Hicks was not. Hicks has been very good in spring training the last two seasons and that didn't translate to good performance when it counted. We don't know which RH pitchers Hicks hit against, but if it's a bunch of minor leaguers, it mitigates his "success".
  20. stringer bell
    Yes, he does.
  21. stringer bell
    Warning: After watching Buxton in person for most of the week, he has a very long way to go. He is still a supremely talented athlete, but the hit tool seems to have regressed at this point.
  22. stringer bell
    Reusse's column is on the strib website. He is saying that Arcia has been disappointing this spring. Reusse seems to be saying this is Hicks' last stand.
  23. stringer bell
    I'm still wondering about Pinto. He is doing baseball activities, but probably won't play on the major league team for several more days. LEN3 said that he thought that Fryer was in the lead for backup catcher (ugh!), which would also cut loose somebody on the 40-man roster. With Pinto losing at least a week, it kind of figures that Molitor might go with someone else to back up Suzuki. Does anyone know the rules for the concussion DL? Can Pinto be placed on the list retroactively? Can he do a rehab after being cleared? It would save using an option for what could be a short-term demotion to Rochester. It is legitimate that Pinto has been set back by his injury. I still think they will send him to Rochester for rehab and go with Herrmann (on the 40-man) for the brief duration when Pinto is unavailable.
  24. stringer bell
    One starting pitcher loser in the bullpen is plenty, maybe too much. Get real bullpen guys in the bullpen.
  25. stringer bell
    Well, LEN3 hosted Twinschat on the strib today. He thinks Fryer is in the lead for backup catcher after Pinto suffered his shots to the head. Secondly, he seems to be hinting that Rosario is in the lead for left field, meaning either Vargas or Arcia are in jeopardy of being dispatched to the minors. As for the pitching staff, it seems Boyer and Graham have excellent chances to make the bullpen.
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