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stringer bell

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Everything posted by stringer bell

  1. stringer bell
    Yet another ex-Twins reliever finds a home. Jackson was mostly unimpressive last year and now takes his game to Mexico. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/03/mexican-leagues-bravos-de-leon-sign-jay-jackson.html
  2. stringer bell
    Zebby might have tweaked something. Doesn’t look too serious. BTW, the screen is saying the feed is from the YES network. I assumed this was Yankee broadcasters since I started watching.
  3. stringer bell
    Lee homered and Julien kicked a ground ball and then hesitated before throwing to first base—advantage Lee.
  4. stringer bell
    Brooks Lee!!
  5. stringer bell
    Red “M” hats, better than I would have thought. Ryan has a red glove too.
  6. stringer bell
    Good to hear that Martin made some plays in the outfield. The metrics didn't validate the scouting report last year (not even close), but it would be good for him to be an asset in the field. I'm not convinced, but maybe there is hope.
  7. stringer bell
    That is the way arbitration works. Service time is part of the equation and Topa added a full year of service time.
  8. stringer bell
    In parts of three seasons, Royce has played 100 games at third base, a little less than 2/3 of one season. He didn't play a lot of third in the minors, so I think there is room to grow as a third baseman. If the defensive problems continue or get worse, I think that a move across the diamond makes the most sense and the Twins could have multiple years of Lewis as a first baseman. I would hope that being more healthy would help Lewis to restore quickness, mobility and even arm strength. He was regarded as a premium athlete when he was taken first overall and seeing low sprint speed and below-average arm strength at age 25 doesn't make sense to me, unless impacted by injuries.
  9. stringer bell
    José De León signed a minor league deal with the Red Sox. He pitched 17+ innings with the Twins in 2023 and his season ended with TJ surgery. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/03/red-sox-jose-de-leon-agree-to-minor-league-deal.html
  10. stringer bell
    Also to fill the grid entry for Tampa and St. Louis, I used Twins immortal Taylor Motter (1-19 in nine games with the 2018 Twins). I checked BBRef afterwards and from what I can tell Motter is the only player in MLB who has played for the Twins, Rays and Cardinals.
  11. stringer bell
    I used Leon on today's Immaculate Grid, always trying to get ex-Twins in every space. He played for both Cleveland and Texas, as well as the Twins, of course
  12. stringer bell
    Cuddyer is probably my all-time favorite Twins player. He was always team-first and always played hard. There are no black marks on his record and he went on to have success with the Rockies and Mets. IMHO, he is the kind of guy to be emulated.
  13. stringer bell
    Well, it took a bottom of the ninth rally to get a tie and outhit the Rays, but it wasn't a loss and some guys got some key hits. I also noticed that Gasper actually got behind the plate and got a hit in the ninth inning. That he played catcher seems to put him in Willians Astudillo territory. I don't think he makes the Opening Day roster, but he might still be a useful role player and I do like the idea of being able to pinch run for a catcher or hit for Vázquez and not worry about an injury.
  14. stringer bell
    Two ankle sprains and a mild quad pull. It's not like all three of these guys won't be back until July. Nonetheless durability seems to remain an issue for Twins prospects.
  15. stringer bell
    I think the OP is an excellent analysis of the 2025 Twins prospects of success. On the position player side a lot will depend on guys who have played well for a stretch or have the luster of being a high draft choice and a rated prospect. There is reason to believe in each of these guys, but there is also a reason to doubt they will be successful. This is the team that Falvey has put together and if most of the gambles work out, they'll be pretty good. If not, ...... I guess I have more belief than most that major league managers and coaches can see things that predict success beyond the stats of minor leagues or spring training. I expect the right choices to be made for who makes the team and who gets the playing time. We shall see.
  16. stringer bell
    I recall when AK was drafted he was regarded as a first baseman, even though he played more OF in high school (and through the minors). An enduring memory of mine of 2020 spring training was Kirilloff do drills at first base. He looked great to me. I recall Morneau making similar comments and yet he never developed as a solid defender. I don't know if large and long guys like Larnach and Wallner don't at least work some at first base. I regard both as close to average in the field, but it seems the Twins under Baldelli have regarded positional flexibility highly and yet both Larnach and Wallner have been exclusively corner outfielders.
  17. stringer bell
    Larnach throws right. It seems like back in the day that every corner outfielder had a first baseman's mitt in his locker, not so much anymore. The Twins (and other teams) have moved guys from catcher or the infield to first. I've been carping all off-season about relatively short guys playing first base (Arraez, Solano, France, Santana) and there have conversations about Keaschall and Julien moving to first. I believe 6'4"LH thrower Max Kepler played a game or two at first, but other corner outfielders have not played at first at all.
  18. stringer bell
    There will be injuries and somebody will disappoint. I fully expect Martin to get at least 150 PAs this year with plenty of time in center field. The same for guys on the 40-man not expected to make the Opening Day roster. I want Martin to thrive because he brings speed to a team that is really lacking that quality with the (more developed) potential to be an asset on the bases. That's really a niche though and he needs to improve both at the plate and in the field to be more than a 4A player.
  19. stringer bell
    The poll question was where he would play on Opening Day.
  20. stringer bell
    It seems Rocco isn't as into analytics as some have been stating if he sees hope for Martin to be an excellent defender. I think the hourglass is running out pretty fast on Martin being a significant player.
  21. stringer bell
    I think Castro will play less at short and in center field than he did last year and that will be good for him and good for the Twins. It will be interesting to see where Willi is on the depth chart for center field, shortstop and third base. He could be behind Miranda and Lewis at third and I can see the possibility of Bader getting more time in left than Castro. Second base looks to be quite a jumble. Apparently Martin is not in serious consideration for playing time there, but both Lee and Julien could be candidates for a majority of playing time there. Also Lee could figure in as Correa's backup at short and at third base, as well. It seems to me that Willi is kind of the default setting at all his best positions. As a switch hitter with good speed and base running instincts, he provides the Twins with skills that are in short supply with the rest of the squad and getting him on the field a lot makes a lot of sense. Injuries and ineffectiveness will happen, so I have no doubt Castro will play plenty in 2025 if he stays on the team.
  22. stringer bell
    Thanks Doc, we were writing much of the same comment at the same time and you posted first. It may well be injury that slowed Castro or fatigue or both.
  23. stringer bell
    Willi had a more palatable .750 OPS and accrued 2.7 WAR in 2023. That kind of production would be terrific as a 10th regular. I guess I believe he can be closer to that kind of production when not overused (400-450 PAs), or at least maybe split the difference between '23 and '24. Castro also had a very nice .774 OPS at the All-Star break. While we can't count on it, I think there's a greater than zero chance that he can sustain far above average performance for an entire year, especially if he's not in the lineup six days out of six week after week.
  24. stringer bell
    I concur that the jury is still out on Miranda. In his rookie year, he was a key cog and perhaps even carried the team for part of two months. Last year, he was almost an All-Star at the break, but wasn't even a replacement player afterwards. It might be the injuries--shoulder, back and a pretty serious beaning--but we said the same thing for Alex Kirilloff for years and only saw a complete hitter in glimpses. The toolchest isn't full--he's really slow, with an average at-best arm and so-so power--so he has to maximize what he's good at, which is hitting the ball hard. This thread was started about defense and Miranda worked very hard to be an acceptable third baseman. I'm confident he would do the same at first if allowed. He won't ever be a plus fielder IMHO, but it's good enough if you hit as well as he has in stretches.
  25. stringer bell
    As for the other categories, I guess there is a possibility that Castro could not be in the starting lineup due to injury or if everyone steps up, but I doubt it. He also could be the starting shortstop or center fielder if Buxton or Correa were injured in ST. Of course, Spring Training trades happen and Willi has been rumored to be on the market this off season.
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