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stringer bell

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Everything posted by stringer bell

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. stringer bell
    The poll question was where he would play on Opening Day.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. 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.
  14. stringer bell
    Ideally, Willi starts fewer games than he did last year and isn't a regular at any position. He literally could be a one-man bench and a true tenth regular. Obviously injuries will be a key as to where Castro plays. It would be ideal if he played mostly second, third and left field and doesn't have to play a lot of innings at short or in center.
  15. stringer bell
    I would like Brooks Lee to seize second base, but if he doesn’t, going to St. Paul is quite reasonable and might be best for Lee’s development.
  16. stringer bell
    Prior to the Bader and France signings, I thought left field would be the most likely spot. Still a good bet IMHO.
  17. stringer bell
    I think there's a decent chance that Willi starts the first game at third base because Lewis will DH quite a bit and Willi might be the best defensive option at third.
  18. stringer bell
    The exhibition season has started! I haven't seen a poll on this site in a while, so I thought I'd post a poll with a prediction for the 2025 season about Willi Castro. Castro led the 2024 Twins in games played and plate appearances by a considerable margin. He was a regular player without a single or preferred position and was named MVP of the team so it figures he'll be in the lineup when the Twins face the Cardinals and most likely Sonny Gray on the 27th. Where will Castro start the season? I'd be interested if people have predictions for Castro's usage during the 2025 season if they want to add a comment.
  19. stringer bell
    Back in the day, the Twins major league and minor league training camps weren't in the same city. A player couldn't easily be called up to play a few innings in a ST game and the major league field staff wouldn't get a chance to see prospects for the entirety of ST. I don't think minor leaguers in big league camp make more money or have more rights, but they get seen by the major league staff and can make an impression. Players on the 40-man who have no chance of making the squad get cut early because if they get injured they have to be put on the major league Injured List and accumulate major league service time.
  20. stringer bell
    Andrew Vasquez, who logged five innings in ten appearances for the 2018 and 2019 Twins, signed a contract to pitch in Mexico. Vasquez is one of my favorite players to use in Immaculate Grid because he played for six teams in a relatively short career. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/02/andrew-vasquez-signs-with-mexican-leagues-tecolotes-de-los-dos-laredos.html
  21. stringer bell
    I'd put the over/under of Willi Castro starting a game at DH at 1.5. With the players you are suggesting, Larnach would be the most frequent DH, followed by Lewis, Buxton and Wallner.
  22. stringer bell
    With his relatively low walk and home run rate, José Miranda needs to hit for a high average and with his lack of defensive tools, he needs to be well above average as a hitter to be a major league regular. I think these are facts not in dispute. I don't think Miranda will be a star or a guy who the Twins extend beyond his arbitration years, but he's valuable while his salary is low and under team control. I think he could be okay defensively at first with a bit more experience, but he won't win gold gloves there either.
  23. stringer bell
    I agree with portions of just about every post on this thread. Julien's swing and swing speed were different (worse) in 2024 compared to 2023. He improved his defense early in '24, but seemed to regress as he continued to struggle at the plate. I don't think that now or later this year is the time to trade him. In the OP, it was mentioned that he might be non-tendered if he doesn't recover from his struggles. That won't happen next year, since he won't be eligible for arb after the 2025 season even if he stays with the major league team all year.
  24. stringer bell
    Listening to this podcast right now. Gleeman said that "at no time in the last five years" has Bader been an effective hitter against right handed pitching. He is neglecting Bader's postseason run in 2022.
  25. stringer bell
    I am not as high on Miranda as you. He's had times where he's a very good major league hitter, but he's also struggled, although probably impacted by nagging injury. First base isn't a panacea. He could get nicked up there almost as easily at third base or moving back and forth. I think going with Miranda as the primary first baseman is okay, but depth is extremely questionable. The collapse of last year showed why depth is essential. The Twins had three rookies starting along with Lopez and Ober and both Buxton and Correa were injured and Lewis ran out of gas--that is the best three players that the Twins had last year. I also am not sure that Keirsey is a major league player. He might be another Celestino, although he's put up superior numbers to Celestino in the minors. Keirsey Jr. is pretty old to be finally breaking into the majors. It appears that Bader will get platoon at-bats against left handed pitching and also might get part-time usage against right handers even when Buck is in the lineup.
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