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stringer bell

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Everything posted by stringer bell

  1. stringer bell
    Recent transactions involving ex-Twins: Billy Hamilton (17 games in 2022, mostly as a PR) signed a minor league deal with the Cubs and Caleb Boushley ( 2 appearances with the Twins last year) was DFA'd by the Rangers.
  2. stringer bell
    Correa has been good, but not crazy good. .290 BA, .342/.413/.755 triple slash. 4 homers and 16 RBI.
  3. stringer bell
    The players aren't tanking although when you're behind five in the first inning, it is pretty easy to go through the motions. The active roster is dotted with guys who shouldn't be in the major leagues or shouldn't be in the role they are playing (Tonkin, Sands, Topa, Fundy). If anyone is tanking it is the front office. There are a lot of questions to be answered in the final three weeks. Many of these guys have their future on the line. It's a lot more fun for my team to be in a pennant race, but every game matters to somebody and the numbers put up when the chance for contention is over still go on the back of the baseball card.
  4. stringer bell
    With that short porch, Wallner could hit 40-50 homers for the Bronx Bombers. Wells is a good defensive catcher who hits lefty, sign me up! The Yankees have to plan around Stanton like the Twins plan around Buxton--you need to allow that he'll be on the IL for at least a month during a season.
  5. stringer bell
    When do you go with "lost cause"? Outman and Keirsey Jr. were born a day apart (28 years old) and Outman had a nice rookie season three years ago. Otherwise both are AAA All-Stars who can't hit in the majors. Yes, now is an OK time to evaluate since the season is lost. I wouldn't be surprised if either of Outman or Keirsey Jr. is bumped off the 40-man roster. OTOH, I think there is a decent chance that either one would get picked up and make a major league roster in 2026.
  6. stringer bell
    Regarding Martin’s utility, he really isn’t that versatile. He plays left field and could start in center or second base for a day or two. That doesn’t compare with Castro’s six position versatility. The combination of Clemens and Martin might equal Castro. Martin has hit better since his recall and I will accept that his defense has improved. I’ve seen him make a year’s worth of outs on the bases, so I can’t see him as a base running asset.
  7. stringer bell
    I’m enjoying the rare wins and good play when it happens. It could easily happen that not one person in the current bullpen makes the club in 2026. I agree that Outman looks overmatched and that Pereda has shown something in his brief audition. I hope Topa isn’t badly injured. He has almost made it through an entire season active and healthy. Buxton has had a fine season and I hope he can add more career highs to an already gratifying season. Ober can be okay with diminished velocity but each mph more makes him more effective. I suppose he wants to put up higher counting numbers to parlay more $$$$, but it might be better off taking the rest of the season off. The Twins aren’t the first team to disappoint and appear to be at rock bottom Other teams have got off the mat, but ownership and the front office need to commit to improvement and make necessary improvements.
  8. stringer bell
    Jeffers to 7-Day IL, Kriske DFA. Ohl and McCusker recalled. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/09/twins-place-ryan-jeffers-on-7-day-il-designate-brooks-kriske.html
  9. stringer bell
    I've found other things to do during Twins games, but tuned in today to watch López pitch. As a fan since 1961 which indicates my age, I'd hate to see Pablo traded. I'm too old to watch a total rebuild.
  10. stringer bell
    Jhonny Pereda recalled, Keirsey Jr. optioned. Pereda is in the starting lineup tonight. No transaction (yet) for Jeffers.
  11. stringer bell
    I agree that Trevor’s trade value is indeed limited due to his arbitration status and middling numbers. I do believe a trade partner can be found that lacks LH hitting and power. Trading Larnach for someone with a similar arbitration and service time situation who offers a different skill set (speed and defense and probably an infielder) could improve both the team acquiring Larnach and the Twins. Another possibility would be acquiring a bullpen arm.
  12. stringer bell
    I'd put Trevor Larnach in there. I wouldn't say his value is at an all-time high, but he has sustained average production for the first five months of the season and stayed reasonably healthy. Trading him for a similarly experienced player with a different skill set makes sense to me since the Twins have a number of lefty hitting corner outfielders who won't make as much money.
  13. stringer bell
    Yuck.
  14. stringer bell
    I find it interesting that you bring up Wallner in an Arraez discussion because I thought about it too. I agree wholeheartedly that OPS and OPS+ paint an unrealistic picture for guys like Joey Gallo and Matt Wallner. Wallner hasn't had a good year and his comparatively high OPS+ shouldn't hide that. Arraez hasn't been good for two years in a row and his batting average shouldn't paint a different picture. Both guys are extreme examples of one-trick ponies. Arraez hits singles, Wallner hits bombs. Neither guy helps his team much on the bases or with a glove in his hand. WAR and OPS+ probably penalize Arraez too much for his lack of slug and add too much for Wallner, but neither is someone to build a team around. A team can probably thrive with one guy who has one major skill, but too many slow singles hitters with high batting averages and too many "three true outcome" guys won't win. I'll add a response to this post as well. The '77 Twins won 84 games and finished fourth in the AL West despite scoring the most runs in the American League. Rod Carew was the deserved MVP with a season for the ages and the other guys named above were terrific as well. They led the league in both BA and OBP and OPS but were only fifth in OPS due to lack of slugging. By any measure that is an effective offense. The '77 Twins had quite a bit of speed--Carew, Bostock, Hisle--but stole a middling 105 bases but they were second in the league in both doubles and triples. Only winning 84 games shows how important pitching is and always has been. 48 years later, the game has changed quite a bit. With all the hard throwing pitchers who get more than a strikeout an inning, it is harder to string together singles to score runs without extra base hits. A club with too many Luis Arraezes just won't score enough runs especially when they can't take an extra base.
  15. stringer bell
    The .316 OBP says otherwise. Arraez is unique in his ability to make contact, but the one skill in which he is elite, actually otherworldly, doesn't make up for the areas where he is lacking. The just completed series with the Twins is a microcosm of his season. He was 3-12 and reached once on a walk. He had a sacrifice (probably was bunting for a hit) and had a sacrifice fly, he didn't strike out once and hit into two double plays. Since the Twins have traded him, Arraez has become more of a statistical anomaly. He has struck out less each year, but also walked less with limited power and he has moved away from second base just about completely, becoming a 1B/DH.
  16. stringer bell
    I’ll make my annual statement—as far as I’m concerned, a player isn’t an ex-Twin if he never played in a major league game for the team, so Anderson and IKF are not ex-Twins. A case could be made for guys who were on the active roster but didn’t play—the three I know of are Tomás Telis, Drew Maggi and Jhonny Pereda.
  17. stringer bell
    That’s three NL Central teams Slamtana will have played for, along with three AL Central teams. He has been in demand for a long time. I am glad he will be getting another chance with a contender.
  18. stringer bell
    Any rumors about who the Twins will be adding? I'd really like to see Fedko and I expect the pitching spot will be taken by a pitcher returned to health (López).
  19. stringer bell
    I'll comment here on the thread most critical of Wallner. OPS and OPS+ presents the most positive light on Wallner's offense (and value). WPA shows quite a different picture. I do think reality is better represented by WPA. Wallner isn't real slow and has actually swiped a couple bases in the last week, but he's been really uneven in his almost three years on the scene for the Twins. It's pretty hard to keep him in the middle of a lineup. To my eye, Wallner has looked rougher in the outfield this year than he did last year, but according to the two most quoted defensive metrics, he is not that bad on defense and it is undeniable that he has a strong arm. Also he isn't really slow. His sprint speed is in the 36th percentile. Carrying one guy like that is fine with a lineup of more balanced players, but carrying three or four guys who depend on slug for their value makes the offense very inconsistent. I keep seeing people suggest converting Wallner or Larnach to first basemen. I believe the die is cast and neither will be considered to change positions.
  20. stringer bell
    Since the selloff, I can just celebrate the rare victories without saying "but whatabout this (or that)". The Twins won a game and saddled the lefty starter with a loss. That hasn't happened much. The last month will serve as audition time for a lot of players. Martin, Larnach and Clemens had good games which will help their stock in the offseason. I do think September is an opportunity for Lewis to put a better spin on what has been a really disappointing season, especially if he finishes healthy. When Funderburk, Sands, Topa and Tonkin are your top bullpen arms, it shouldn't come as a surprise if the Twins lose some leads late in games. Each of those guys has stepped up at some point since the bullpen was decimated.
  21. stringer bell
    Carlos Santana released by the Guardians. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/08/guardians-release-carlos-santana.html
  22. stringer bell
    And then, what’s a sweeper?
  23. stringer bell
    Mickey seems like a nice guy who works really hard with his God-given tools. I think he’s going to end up a baseball lifer and might be a really good manager some day. As a player, he’ll always have August 26th 2025 to remember.
  24. stringer bell
    Released yesterday I believe.
  25. stringer bell
    I guess I’d be upset if they were really trying to win. Fitzgerald is what (?) 32 years old. He is magically going to become a competent major leaguer? Keaschall (23), Lee (24) and Lewis (26) are the present and near future for the Twins. Seeing if Clemens and/or Julien can perform well enough to help next year should also be a priority. That doesn’t leave much time for Fitzgerald.
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