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jokin

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Everything posted by jokin

  1. jokin
    The performance by Stewart really stands out tonight. Given that he's been all but a left-for-dead prospect by many, a couple more of these outings and he's going to need a special in-depth write-up on what a difference a year makes- and- what it is that he's doing differently so far. I don't recall his net velocity numbers from 2015, any idea how much higher this performance was over the 2015 net-net velo? What about the breaking stuff? Do we know how many of his 7 strikeouts were on whiffs? How many first-pitch strikes tonight vs. last year's average?
  2. jokin
    Yup, that's the proper take. He didn't let the poor start get him too rattled- the only thing he needs to show is improved command & control at the High A level- there's nothing else blocking him from a quick bump up to AA. Success there and he'll be knocking on the major league door. Great pick by Ryan- would love to see him challenging for a rotation spot by mid-2017.
  3. jokin
    Thanks, Seth. I watched a lot of ST ball and I mis-remembered on Tanner's alma mater gaffe, but being that it was Bert- it makes sense now... still surprising that Dick didn't correct him right away. Sorry to see Ryan giving up on Polanco at SS- that diminishes his value somewhat as trade bait if the Twins are in a position for a major league upgrade in July. There now might be no position for him if Escobar and Danny Santana have strong seasons.
  4. jokin
    One more: Palacios and Wade didn't waste any time acclimating to cold weather ball (38 degree windchill at game time).
  5. jokin
    Concur. I'm wondering why Polanco played 2nd? Is the Nick Burdi DLing an "injury" injury? All we need now is another TJ to a power arm. Any reason why Palka was not in the starting lineup for the Lookouts- (Chatty started a journeyman in LF and Hicks at 1st)? Raul Fernandez looks somewhat intriguing, is he filler or are the Twins giving him a serious look-see? Is Tanner English a future MLB 4th OF (he was sure impressive in ST)? (I had a laugh when the Pirates broadcasting crew thought "USC" on his bio obviously meant "Southern Cal".)
  6. jokin
    But Jepsen was perhaps just too lucky last year (.242 BABIP, 82% Strand)- maybe not overly worried, but cause for a little concern.
  7. jokin
    Not only that, but I would think that last year's decision to put May in limbo for a month in the middle of a pennant race, then to a defined bullpen role, followed by the inevitable decision for May's continuation of that role for him in 2016 are all likely going to prove to be very costly to Trevor when he first becomes eligible for arbitration in 2018.
  8. jokin
    You left out the prospect of Esco sliding over to 3rd and one of the others moving in at SS. (BTW, Vielma may not be ready with the bat, but it's widely reported that his glove is not only major league ready, but that he is the best SS in the entire Twins system, majors or minors- if defense becomes a priority- if Vielma holds his own in AA, I can easily envision the Twins making the emergency call-up and sliding Escobar to 3rd.)
  9. jokin
    I agree with the factual content in all of your points, but I 'm also aware that the Twins braintrust don't always make decisions based on the most obvious and logical sets of facts that would best help the team (Just look back to how May was handled). Based on their history of confounding personnel decisions, I don't think anyone can guarantee that Sano will make a mid-season transition to a much more difficult position, especially if it's in the glare of the Twins being in a competitive position for a post-season spot.
  10. jokin
    Thanks for the update. That's great news, although I would expect nothing less from Allen in support of his staff. The times I saw him working out in February he looked like he might have trouble even touching his toes. Obviously, a bounce-back year akin to 2014 is going to be a critical component in the Twins success in 2016. Did you hear any word on if his velo is bouncing back, as well?
  11. jokin
    It was a question of ineptitude and futility being exposed for all to see, not comparable K-rates. A heralded Japanese League batting champ in a better league who ended up looking like a woefully overmatched slap hitter (in 2011 led MLB at his position by a wide margin in his oppo field contact rate (40%) and virtually tied at the top with nearly a 60% GB rate) and entirely out of place in MLB. Now we have another heralded slugger from a lesser league, hopefully the Twins scouted Park better than Nishi- can he hit presumably superior breaking stuff, lay off the sliders off the plate... and still keep his timing on a regular dose of 95MPH+ FBs? And how would they know it for sure, if he can?
  12. jokin
    The problem is Hughes was said to have worked harder in the offseason to be ready this year. A little less unproductive weight off his body-frame, a little less stiff-looking in workouts (he looks like his back is still aching) and a little more zip returned back to his ST pitches are still worth looking for as indicators that perhaps he's past last year's health and funk issues- even if he doesn't start getting it rolling until May- as is his career MO.
  13. jokin
    I don't know how anyone can make a guarantee on something like this. There are loads of other in-season moves the Twins could make- Esco to 3rd w/ Vielma called up Polanco Santana Nunez And Polanco and Santana could both platoon w/ Nunez. A lot depends on how the Twins value their IF and OF defense of each player at the time of a potential Plouffe trade or injury.
  14. jokin
    Not true. The Twins won't "have" to do any such thing. Walker was just added to the 40-man roster. This is just the first of 3 option years for the Twins to decide when/if Walker is ready for a call-up.
  15. jokin
    Great summary. One minor exception, Sano was HBP in his third PA. Questions, so many questions. 1) If Buxton proves not to be ready, is Santana automatically the opening day CF? 2) How bad did Park look at the plate on his 3 Ks.... Nishioka bad? 3) Does Park look like he has a "major league" body and swagger at the plate? 4) What is the percentage chance that Park starts out the season in AAA, with Arcia and or Vargas going north instead? 5) Other than Murphy's bonehead mask miscue (a little disconcerting, but only the first game, to be sure), what do you think of Murphy's presence behind the plate? The Ks weren't exactly piling up for Twins pitchers today. 6) Assuming that the Twins look to move Plouffe at some point during the season, should they receive an attractive offer, is there any chance that the Twins are considering Polanco as his replacement at 3rd rather than Sano? 7) I thought Hughes looked a little stiff and slow in the preseason media workouts that I've viewed, any signs that he's still nursing the same nagging injury stuff that hampered him in 2015? Those first two innings sound efficient and encouraging, I know it's just his first appearance, but does he look on pace, "so-far-so-good", for the "good every-other-year" type of year in 2016?
  16. jokin
    Yep, E-Town isn't exactly a great place to properly evaluate a college player. Still, I like that he obviously has/had a solid support group between both parents and his past and present coaches. Kudos to the Twins for finding a true sleeper in the 9th round (still scratching my head that Wade played 1B his first two years with the Terps, all reports say he can play a good CF- He was a good HS pitcher so he has an arm). Hopefully he can make the double move in the two A classes in 2016 and debuts in AA by mid-season in 2017. Looks like his brother is a sophomore at Maryland and might be a sleeper prospect, as well.
  17. jokin
    You've cherry-picked some numbers here- his not just solid, but dominating numbers deserve equal mention in order to make the full evaluation of Meyer's potential. Let's not forget, that he was on everybody's Top 10-Top 30+ prospect lists, going into 2015. IE- Meyer led AAA baseball SPs in 2014 in K/9 (10.54), K% (27.15%) and K%-BB% (15.8%).... by wide margins.... to the second place SP finisher in each category. He ranked 4th overall in OBA @ .236... whereas, even with that low batting average, his BABIP was 7th highest overall @ .321- that's a lot of bad luck and bad fielding, and further indication that he wasn't just "solid", but a dominating International League SP. And forget about assuming that Meyer must have been subject to the gopher ball to inflate the ERA... His HR/9 ratio was a paltry 0.69... ranked 13th best among IL SPs. And also obviously, the aforementioned WHIP and ERA, while certainly being inflated by the higher BB% were offset by the ridiculously high K/9, along with the lowest LD% (15.9%) in the IL and 6th best GB% (45.3%). Let's face it, the kid has (had?) some pretty unhittable stuff. Kind of the epitome of the term, "effectively wild". The previous poster was right, Meyer's 2014 performance contained the numbers of an absolute blooming, yet wild, SP stud. Something(s) went severely off the rails since then- only assigning the percentages of blame for what has transpired since then remain to still be meted out.
  18. jokin
    Follow the $$$$, tobi. Think how much Ryan saves when May first goes to arbitration in 2018 if he stays in the pen for the next two seasons.
  19. jokin
    Where's Os-Waldo? http://i1.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/masonry/000/725/373/479.jpg
  20. jokin
    You really nailed it with this post. I think the OP has made assumptions regarding Buxton that are not going to play out coming out of ST. Rosario, Santana or a Bargain-Bin FA are the favorites to be the opening day CF- not Buck.
  21. jokin
    Good post, I fully concur on Wade... it seems he could be end up being a real good sleeper pick, works hard, and continues to develop. His initial results against Class A pitching weren't great, but if he comes out of the gate strong in 2016, his defense and ++OBP ability could propel him as either a fast-riser in the organization or intriguing throw-in trade bait as part of a bigger deal.
  22. jokin
    He's 25 next Friday, and he went backwards in 2015. I don't think he will be taken, this is a much better gamble by the Twins than leaving LHRP Sean Gilmartin unprotected last year- Jones isn't far along enough on the developmental continuum to be an automatic Rule 5 candidate- unless a prospective team feels comfortable bending the rules a bit and possibly parking him on the 60-day DL for much of the season.
  23. jokin
    I mostly concur, but if Buxton isn't ticketed for CF until perhaps June or July, as is the initial indication from the front office, the OF defense will take a huge step backwards for at least much of the first half of the season- and it will be reflected in the overall ERA when all is said and done. Escobar was less rangy than Santana but more sure-handed- perhaps a slight upgrade, but the IF isn't likely to show a net improvement over 2014, especially if Sano takes over @ 3B. Murphy playing 25% of the time is about the same as Fryer and Hermann, so if there is an improvement at the position, it will only be minimal. (Suzuki is making the big money, and he had 123 starts at C in 2015, 115 starts at C in 2014, I suspect that he will have at least 110 starts in 2016).
  24. jokin
    Not sure, as of November 24, how we can be hopeful of a defensive uptick in 2016. It's almost a certainty that the OF defense will take a step back, at least through the first two months, or more. The IF looks the same (READ- near or slightly below average), and most likely slightly down further if Sano takes over @ 3rd. And Murphy playing 25-30% or so of the games- if that is how it plays out- won't really move the defensive meter up at that position, either.
  25. jokin
    Not if Park were to have an Jose Abreu-type debut year.
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