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madtowntwin

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Everything posted by madtowntwin

  1. madtowntwin
    I distinctly remember watching the video on Brandon after the Twins drafted him last Summer...The fluidity with which he moved - So smooth. No awkwardness with that height. Then reading his Bio and the multisportality. I am fully aware of the prematurity of this conclusion / label, but Dave Winfield came to mind. I know....
  2. madtowntwin
    "Fixing" a pitcher and tweaking a pitcher's delivery after analysis of mechanics are worlds apart. Bio-Mechanic analysis and adjustment are common throughout the world of Sport. Several Twin's pitchers added the Sweeper last Spring - It's really not Rocket Science. The choice that Mr. Desclafini made in terms of off-season training could be hugely contributory. Strong Training / Coaching / Biomechanic Adjustment can often approach "Miracle Working" when properly performed. Let's hope our newest starting pitcher has a strong spring training / first half of the season and lets reanalyze this at the All Star Break.
  3. madtowntwin
    The Phillies, Rangers, and D-Backs are playing all around good to great baseball at the best possible time....The Playoffs. The Twins beat Toronto in the first series relying mainly on pitching and timely hitting with Lewis' performance initially and Correa's game 2. It was a slight return to seasonal median performance, but the Lopez / Gray combo overcame some typical offensive performance in terms of offensive numbers regarding hits with RISP, contact in general, and strikeouts. Over 162 games, it is difficult to overcome "They are who we that they were" phenomenon in the playoffs... The Astros series was simply continuation of the above with a few exceptions. The Pablo / Sonny combo demonstrated a bit of disparity in that Lopez tantalized and dominated as an apparent Ace. Gray, unfortunately threw his worst game of the season with some credit to Houston hitters. Poor hitting with RISP lingered. The season long strikeout binge lengthened. Starting Ober may have been a mistake. Caleb still looked a bit wobbly after his injury. Bullpen overall was pretty strong. A dominant baseball team and annual threat to make the World Series stayed to last decade norm. The Twins generally stayed to seasonal form. The aforementioned Phillies, Rangers, and D-Backs have somehow flipped a team switch and are playing good playoff baseball in all facets of the game. More of a "Lightning In A Bottle" phenomenon. Yes, the Rangers looked great in the first half of the season but lost big divisional lead and were very beatable in the second half and were fortunate to make the playoffs. The marathon season left Philly and Arizona far back in their respective division to superior teams within that context. The present format of the MLB playoff format is more of sprint in initial series and a hot team can over perform and over achieve....The Twins weren't one of those teams this year. Personally, I eagerly await the rest of the playoffs to unfold. The 7 game series returns to more marathon format. These hot teams will meet head to head with only one winning longer series. The decade dominant Astros reign has obviously not ended. I look forward to how all this plays out. Last night was a gut punch. I look forward to Minnesota's off season and 2024. Win Twins.
  4. madtowntwin
    "Reverse The Curse." Win Twins!!
  5. madtowntwin
    Speaking of the Braves, Elevation, and Home Runs....Atlanta's team home run total is now 304 - 3 behind the Twins record 307 (2019) with two games remaining. I guess I find all the stadium elevation conversation somewhat interesting. More appropriate to teams in the playoff hunt would be heat index / AC and their toll on position players, but more so pitching staffs. How would Arizona, Texas, Houston, Tampa be doing without climate control?? How many consecutive days above 100 degrees would the D-Backs, Rangers, and Astros have faced this year?? The Braves, on the other hand, have thrived despite the "Hot-Lanta" reputation. The Twins Series in Milwaukee and Chicago were brutal enough....Could not imagine the majority of the Summer Ball under such conditions. Whew!! Win Twins.
  6. madtowntwin
    Only saw the end of the game and caught Stewart pitching....Looked comfortable and back in form. Peering at the boxscore Solano was 4 for 4 and plated 3 runs - Wow. Lot's of understandable angst in losing Arraez, but did the Twins gain a hitter! A few games ago Baldelli switched out Kirilloff for Donovan to face a left hander and Alex struck out in an RBI opportunity situation. I wasn't shocked, but surprised in that I felt at the time and still do now that Solano was the better option for that situation - The man can bat! In terms of negative team records - Your Minnesota Twins are all time strike out champions! And now for positive team records - Atlanta sits at 299 home runs trailing the Twins season record of 307 with 5 games remaining. Win Twins!
  7. madtowntwin
    On the concept of "Bringing Rain".....Atlanta presently sits at 288 Home Runs - Is the Twins season record of 307 safe with a half dozen games to go and the Braves probably resting players?? Also - Will Josh Donaldson make the Brewer's playoff roster? My mind wanders....Win Twins!
  8. madtowntwin
    Love these minor league summaries and player updates. Noah Miller seems to be "In The Red" rather frequently this year. Living in Wisconsin myself I pay particular attention to his movement through the system and stat lines. He seems to be a player gathering some momentum at the plate while his glove is more than adequate...If a certain SS Near & Dear to our hearts makes a "Major Move" soon - Would he be next man up?? Oh, and Dylan Questad - I'll be watching you to!! Win Twins and On Wisconsin.
  9. madtowntwin
    10 runs scored in multidimensional fashion.....HR power, savvy alert base running, and capitalizing on your opponent's defensive miscues. Such offensive prowess will be important in the concentrated pressure games that the MLB playoffs present. Oh, and then there's Pitching & Defense....Win Twins.
  10. madtowntwin
    Playing Devil's Advocate here...There has been all this angst about Sonny Gray being gone after this season. Much of the speculation has resulted from perceived or projected friction between he and his manager. After watching the respectful meeting on the mound last night between two competitors, I saw a manager and pitcher focused on winning. Obviously one individual has the reigns 162 games a year and has had ups and downs within that role. As has the one behind the wheel every 5 days. Both are league savvy and have an understanding based on experience and performance of what winning looks like. It was just a snapshot moment captured in midst of a long season, but I sensed no discord. Baldelli made that trip to the mound himself. What if Sonny's early season retirement comments were centered on the here & now. What if he truly has enjoyed his "Twin's Experience" and caught in a reflective moment - Expressed his satisfaction. Contentment in the present and reluctance to move himself and family around after another off season. I'm not naive...Obviously his performance has earned him a nice potential payday. But what if he was saying - "Make me an offer, This Twins Uniform feels nice - Even if I'm ritualistically adjusting it all the time." Hmmmmm.....
  11. madtowntwin
    I think there's more than a little "Buxton Carryover" going on here...Two players with immense talent to change the game when healthy and in the lineup. Yet, we as fans, are more than a little traumatized by how injury has flattened the curve in regard to the careers of these two players. "Show Me" pessimism is easy result and response....Royce's faith is his body's recovery and innate talent is now on display as we all watch in wonder with held breath and crossed fingers. Oh to have Lord Byron roaming center field, galloping the base-paths, and crushing home runs again....Win Twins.
  12. madtowntwin
    Hentges and De Los Santos have thrown 2 days in a row for the Guardians and should be unavailable today...Lopez, and to a greater extent Maeda, both look like they could use some respite. Gray is on the mound today with Joe tomorrow. Ryan seems to be trending back to baseline in terms of recent performance after his 'IL Rest." Three straight over the Guardians and getting to their bullpen early again today would be huge for a number of reasons obviously. One of which would be getting our starters extra rest as the "Dog Days" extend....Ober back after this series??? Win Twins.
  13. madtowntwin
    I am still consternated at how both player and training staff "sat" on this knee all of last off-season....Buxton arrived at Spring Training with the joint already being an issue after exiting the regular season last year in the same manner....What gives?? Given that, would it not be prudent to surgically correct the issue STAT if such approach is feasible?? This is the first time I've heard Patellar Tendinitis as descriptor...Has this been the issue all along or only the most recent knee issue for Byron? The control of information by the Twins and apparent medical training staff ineptitude is frustrating double play. Hopefully Buxton has private clinician input to make all this right if that is still a possibility. He is a game changer when healthy. Please get healthy Byron.
  14. madtowntwin
    When Festa "Fills Out" his physicality could approach Bailey Obers....Isn't he like 6'7'' and 170#?? His combination of "Stuff & Wingspan" must be very off-putting to hitters. Ohl certainly is making the best of his opportunity. I find these write-ups fascinating and informative.
  15. madtowntwin
    I agree with the Bryce Harper comparison and would add Mike Trout in terms of his physique at 18 years of age. The things the kid can do with that body are thus far transitioning well at low minor league levels. Speed, power, arm, baseball moxy all seem part of his player recipe. Long way to go of course, but his performance thus far is certainly encouraging.
  16. madtowntwin
    I had not even considered Stevenson for the September roster....He did impact the game with both his glove and his legs. Is there any way the roster could include he & Castro? "Piranha Lyte" on the bases and two strong defensive replacements. How many runs could those 2 steal the next 4 weeks?? Win Twins.
  17. madtowntwin
    This is not a "Static Situation" or comparison....If the Twins are truly able to ADD Buxton to the field and the plate as well as Castro, Kirilloff, Stewart, Paddack, etc. - How much better will Minnesota be?? How would Varland look coming out of the bullpen?? I guess if the team were 5 games down to Cleveland I could see some of the doom, gloom and despair...Those two losses to the Guardians were tough, but I sincerely hope the internal fortitude of the players is greater than some of the Senior Members who post here. In '87 the team really struggled on the road and took every advantage the Metrodome had to offer. Toward that end and during September road games Lobardozzi taped a photo of the dome to the inside of his cap. We are in this thing. We have the lead. It's Scherzer on the mound tonight. It was Morris in 1987. Believe!!?? Win Twins.
  18. madtowntwin
    Some thoughts on Ober and Maeda...They may both be "Hitting The Wall" for different reasons. Ober has entered rarified air in terms of his innings pitched. It's such a long season and the unprecedented number of pitches he has thrown are demonstrating the grind on his arm / body / psyche. He is an intimidating physical presence on the mound, but he is obviously not immune to the season's wearing effects. Maeda is a veteran coming off of TJ Surgery and is seemingly in a similar physical state for different reasons. Kenta's missing all of last year has to effect his physicality in terms of this season. A previous post mentioned concern for another injury causing last night's performance. Watching him on the mound I saw only frustration - not pain...He was struggling to locate both his breaking pitches and fastball. MPH was fine. Most likely fatigue?? Both Bailey and Kenta threw well against the Brewers, but if you recall - Maeda's day involved a heat index of 115+ degrees. That had to be draining... Being older and coming off of an injury a "Speed-Bump Performance" wasn't surprising...He seems to take good care of himself and as a veteran his next turn in the rotation will hopefully be "Bounce Back. "Similarly, some time off will most likely reinvigorate the younger Ober for the stretch drive / finish line. Win Twins.
  19. madtowntwin
    Ohtani WILL come to Minnesota!! Only he will be in the visitor's dugout once again....
  20. madtowntwin
    Watched the game on TV here in Wisconsin....FWIW - The In-Game announcers voiced surprise and relief when Ober did not come out for the 6th. It was also one of the first mentions by the Brewer's post-game show. The game time temperature last evening was a comfortable 78 degrees. Today's game will be nearly 20 degrees warmer with an equal bump in humidity. Would that not play into your managerial strategy with said "Fresh Bullpen"??!! Ober appeared to have 1 - 3 more outs in him. Why not have arms up in the bullpen with watchful eye. Facing Burnes today the pressure is on Maeda. Conditions such as these can wilt a bullpen quickly. The effects of a short start could have large repercussions. Remember the series at Wrigley a few years ago??? Whew!! Did our manager and shortstop wilt a bit last evening??
  21. madtowntwin
    A 4-2 record against the Guardians would really force the issue with Cleveland in terms of the weak American League Norris Division....I'll have to look at their schedule and see how it matches up. Unless....Win Twins.
  22. madtowntwin
    The combination of an experienced ground ball pitcher like Kuechel, the pitch clock, and the lineup deployed yesterday, made for an MLB defense primed - ready - and able to go....Castro was wizard. Though not as precisely as Maeda on Saturday, "One Of The Best Beards In Sports" generally hit his spots and pitched to said defense. A little luck here and there helped and the difference in a few MPH was also apparent compared to Kenta's effort (in the Maeda side of the ledger). I was concerned about the two pitchers with not dissimilar styles going back to back, but it played out OK. Perhaps a turning point both for the Twins Season as well as Wallner as player?? Let's hope....But on that theme - When was Kepler's "Turning Point"?? As many have stated - His play has been prime of late. Win Twins.
  23. madtowntwin
    In commentary to the lead article photograph of Walker Jenkins pointing his bat at the camera...At 18 years old the kid (and I mean kid) is an absolute physical stud. I remember Tori's good natured "Rookie Ribbing" of Mauer which was basically just wait until this kid gets his man body!! On a weekend commemorating Joe's myriad accomplishments could another legendary chapter be opening?? If a picture is worth 10,000 lakes - How many hits, RBIs, and HRs does that equate.
  24. madtowntwin
    Sonny had location of his fastball all night long - Particularly up in the zone. That was the major source of his struggles in previous efforts...Interestingly, that seemed to be the area of difficulty for Jax as well during his earlier "rough patch." Recently - Both Ryan and Duran seem to be battling themselves in this same regard. Joe has less latitude for error in this capacity due to less mph. Jhoan CAN "Misplace" a fastball at 102 mph with greater room for error most of the time...Major league hitters CAN get to such a pitch with an idea it's coming. Perfectly placed at the top of the zone said pitch is virtually un-hittable. Ryan"s (as Griffin and Sonny have also experienced) fastball is even more susceptible to being hit hard without "Surgical" location. Arm fatigue could certainly be contributory. Pete Maki must be keenly aware of this and working toward correction. Obviously - And as very direct parallel to hitting - These things must be easier seen and said than done.
  25. madtowntwin
    The man has one of the "Best Beards" in sports....Option #4 - Trade him to Manscape for cash and a cache of razors.
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