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stringer bell

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Everything posted by stringer bell

  1. stringer bell
    Yeah, two years of pretty rigid alternating and if one is better than the other at preventing runs, it is Jeffers. I'm sure some stats really have variability, but two years with only two catchers mean a lot of information and none of it shows a huge benefit for Vázquez to be behind the plate. 1400 innings caught should limit a whole bunch of the variability. 1400 innings is 7-8 years of full-time work for a pitcher and that many innings would eliminate almost all of the variability.
  2. stringer bell
    These stats on the run prevention side coupled with the offensive numbers put up by Jeffers as compared to Vázquez show Jeffers to be the superior player by a lot. Nothing indicates that Vázquez is among elite receivers or that he is some kind of a pitcher whisperer. If he is a good guy in the clubhouse, that's good, but it doesn't turn replacement player production into someone worthy of $10M per season. As for arguments presented in this (and other) threads: 1) Jeffers now has four plus years in the majors, does he need a mentor? I think not. 2) Jeffers best has been when he was alternated with his catching partner. Is there any reason why he can't assume a more regular role? Maybe Rocco and his staff see reasons in the clubhouse, but Jefers is 27, big and strong. Perhaps this will be the year when he catches closer to 100 games than 80.
  3. stringer bell
    I guess I fall in the Topa camp if he is healthy. If healthy, he should be the third or fourth-best option in the 'pen and that would be a good thing. Sands and Alcalá after that (if they are effective) would make the bullpen a real asset and really deep, as well. It's prudent to expect and allow for injuries, especially to guys with extensive injury histories. I sincerely have my doubts that Stewart will ever be able to log more than 30 or so innings and Topa has only had one injury-free season in his career. Alcalá missed the bulk of two years, although he was mostly healthy in 2024. My feeling is that at any one time the Twins have four of these six healthy and available, they'll be all right. Of course, the true late-inning guys (Durán and Jax) are more vital than the others.
  4. stringer bell
    Triple A catchers who a team is willing to unload are almost by definition no better than the better of Cartaya and Camargo. There will always be Sandy León and René Rivera types available, but those guys don't hold steady jobs because they aren't really major league hitters. The question to ask in almost every trade scenario is "is this player more valuable to another team?" I think there are teams where there is an affirmative answer in the case of Paddack or Willi Castro. I'm not so sure it is the case with Vázquez. The other question is whether the player has value equal to or greater than their contract. In Vázquez' case the answer is almost certainly "no". Then the question is how much of the salary the trading team is willing to swallow. Most estimates in Vázquez' case, that is about $5M. Is $5M in salary relief worth it?
  5. stringer bell
    Another Twins legend finds a home on a minor league contract. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/01/cubs-sign-trevor-richards.html
  6. stringer bell
    Yeah, I don't expect Stewart or Topa to be healthy throughout the season. That is too much to ask. It makes sense to have multiple options because there are fragile arms there, but if not overworked, they can thrive. I suspect that many of the head-shaking bullpen decisions all managers make have to do with the health of guys and that this is particularly true of Baldelli.
  7. stringer bell
    You've consistently been the least Jeffers-friendly poster on this site. That is fine, but I disagree. Jeffers has compiled 5.4 WAR (BBRef) over the last two seasons, which is among the top ten in catchers for that period in exactly 800 plate appearances, so less than full-time duty. He turns 28 this year, so it should be his peak year and yet you say that Vázquez is the one who should be extended (if any)? Jeffers isn't a superstar, but he's a good catcher on balance. He makes a lot less money than Vázquez and he's eight years younger. If you want a competitive team on the field, getting Jeffers in the lineup more should be a priority. As for the other catchers--progression isn't linear. Neither Cartaya (at age 22) or Camargo (at 24) was ready to help a big league club last year. That doesn't mean in 2025 they won't be good enough to be better than what the club has received from Vázquez in the last two years--minus .5 WAR. I've said I think spring training will be huge for those two. They have a chance to put themselves in line for a promotion to the big leagues and if there is an injury or trade, one of them could be a backup this year. No guarantees that either guy solves the catching depth problem, but both have enough tools and youth that they have a chance. Gasper is another matter altogether. I don't believe he'll be competing for the third spot in the pecking order, but he will be looking to make the club as a utility guy who can hit and play a couple of positions of need for the Twins (and those positions are ones that Castro doesn't play).
  8. stringer bell
    Cartaya is 23 and Camargo is 25. There's a reasonable chance that there is more upside in them than they demonstrated in Triple A last year. If, and I'm not saying this will happen, but if either of them moves forward offensively and is able to demonstrate they are a capable receiver, it makes sense to proceed with a guy playing for the minimum rather than having a guy making $10M and accumulating negative WAR. As I've said several times, it will be interesting to see if he reports with the pitchers and catchers and whether he's catching in Fort Myers and considered only as an infielder. Gasper is in another category. He's already 29 and isn't regarded seriously as a catcher. He's an infielder who can catch and if he hits sufficiently there might be a spot for him on the active roster.
  9. stringer bell
    If one of Vázquez or Jeffers is traded, then one of Camargo or Cartaya is the backup. If no catcher is traded, I'm quite sure neither Carmargo or Cartaya is a serious candidate to make the 26-man roster. Gasper is another case altogether IMHO. He's a candidate for a utility job and he can catch. I doubt he would be starting games, but if he makes the roster, he might catch a few innings in blowouts and maybe grab the gear if there was a situation where the Twins used a pinch runner or pinch hitter late in a game. Pretty much in line with what they did with Willians Astudio.
  10. stringer bell
    Super Bowl.
  11. stringer bell
    I think the three best teams going into the weekend were Buffalo, KC and Baltimore. Barring a big injury, the AFC team should be a big favorite. The better QBs are from the AFC, and I don’t think the Commanders or Eagles can win on a neutral field unless they get multiple turnovers (like the Bills did).
  12. stringer bell
    Niko Goodrum signed a minor league deal with the Padres. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/01/padres-sign-niko-goodrum-to-minor-league-deal.html
  13. stringer bell
    I have tentative plans to watch the Twins in Houston.
  14. stringer bell
    I actually think that with the Twins apparent depth in the bullpen, they’re best served with eight relievers.
  15. stringer bell
    There might be a benefit to using the “best” pitcher more often, juggling the other guys into a more irregular schedule most likely negates the benefit of getting the #1 more starts and innings. It only takes one guy who is affected to negate the benefit.
  16. stringer bell
    Reese has played the most innings for the Twins at first base of any left handed fielder. I thought Kirilloff would eventually pass him, but..... I remember Reese as a decent hitter and fine fielder. He was pretty strictly platooned throughout his career, although as mentioned he hit a grand slam off a good left hander (Dave McNally).
  17. stringer bell
    The Twins signed Anthony Misiewicz to a minor league contract. Since he is left handed and breathing, I expect he will make it to the Twins sometime during the season, unless he has an opt-out. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/01/twins-sign-anthony-misiewicz-to-minor-league-deal.html
  18. stringer bell
    The majority of articles are not overly positive or optimistic. This one was, of course. It's really tough when there is no team news to report. That is why too many of us know who Diego Cantaya and Mickey Gasper are. I don't know how many angles of inertia can be written about and there has been much written lately about ownership.
  19. stringer bell
    Is my memory correct? The Twins DFA'd Henriquez during the 2023 season, correct? BBRef says he signed as a free agent in November of 2023. I don't recall Henriquez being on the 40-man when he was recalled the first time in 2024.
  20. stringer bell
    It's hard for me to see Tonkin as a lock for a roster spot.
  21. stringer bell
    It wouldn't surprise me if the IL is in use early in 2025, as it was in 2024. Further, I think Tonkin could be DFA'd and outrighted and if he were claimed, no real loss. Finally, I don't think being left handed is enough for Funderburk to stick. He'll need to be as good or better than the other options for the BP. I agree with Cory that Varland and Topa are likely ahead of Henriquez as well, but if the young man out of options shows enough, they'll find a way to keep him. They will likely need all eleven bullpen arms and probably more going through the season.
  22. stringer bell
    First of all, Camargo turned 25 in July. He’s more than two years older than Cartaya. The other fact in evidence was the handling of Camargo when he was on the big league roster. Everyone plays when Baldelli is calling the shots, but not Camargo. I don’t claim to have any special insight and as long as Camargo is in the organization, I hope he excels. I really believe the third catcher will be determined by the players’ work in Fort Myers. If I’m handicapping, I’d give Cartaya a slight advantage.
  23. stringer bell
    I like the bullpen components, but I don't think they were that good in 2024 and I'll believe it when I see it in 2025. Jax was great throughout, Durán was better than most of his topline numbers and Sands was a revelation. That's a great start. Between Topa, Stewart and Alcalá, there is much chance for injury, but if the Twins can get over 100 appearances from those three, they'll be deeper than last year. That is assuming that Durán, Jax and Sands stay healthy. It would be optimum if the Twins had an effective lefty to mix in and IMHO if they can swap out one of the second three I listed for an equally effective lefty, it would make sense. Deeper outings from the starters also would help.
  24. stringer bell
    Yeah, I'm much more of a casual football fan, but I looked at the schedule after their bye and said that they should win every game until they played Green Bay (and that was a home game). Because their weaknesses weren't glaring, they ended up being in the second tier (below elite) but still winning a surprising 14 games and just missing the payoff of having home field in the playoffs. Looking forward, it would appear that they will have the basis for a good offense if they have a decent QB, but I wonder if the defense might take a step or two back.
  25. stringer bell
    Mauer would be ideal and it would seem like he would be able to invest a decent amount to ne an owner of the only team he ever played for.
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