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jokin

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Everything posted by jokin

  1. jokin
    Roy Smalley isn't necessarily my cup of tea as a broadcaster, but this is a guy with more MLB pedigree and his own professional experience- and the resultant qualifications to discuss the science of hitting- than anyone else I can think of on the local scene. Buxton has started slowly at virtually every new level along his developmental path- and then proceeded to master that level in short order. 121 PAs is way too soon to draw meaningful conclusions other than that he's in an extended adjustment period to the level of the pitching. Right now he's strictly guessing early in the count, and can't recognize breaking balls out of the zone late in the count- as Rob Antony has oft-stated- there's nothing else really close to the level of major league pitching. The only way he can take better control of his MLB ABs, is by experiencing more MLB ABs. I'm pretty sure the combination of 1) facing nothing but MLB pitchers, plus 2) the daily input from hitting coaches, video/cage work and peers, plus 3) his own talent and self-driven work ethic will help him turn the corner at the plate in short order. He'll end up the year with close to 200 PAs this year, let's revisit where he's at once he crosses 300 more PAs next season. I think his professional history strongly suggests we'll be very pleased with his BB%, OBP and OPS.
  2. jokin
    Roy Smalley noted upon Buxton's second call-up that "there's nothing else for Buxton to learn in the minors", and I tend to agree. He OPS'd at .986 in his brief stint in AAA. It's painful at times to watch him struggle, but getting close to 200 MLB PAs and working directly with the major league hitting coaches as well as his helpful peers is the best way to prepare him for 2016 and beyond. No reason to be careful with Buck, this kid's psyche is solid.
  3. jokin
    Ugly announcers. Ugly refereeing. Ugly coaches. Ugly game. Who's aged worse, Berman? or... Peterson? Who's holding the real Bridgewater hostage?
  4. jokin
    Thanks for posting. This quote is prime example for the extra value derived from drafting an obviously talented kid with the born-with-a-glove-in his hand acumen of baseball pedigree: A 19 year old who has the wherewithal to know what an obscure Class A reliever is going to throw -- - by Reading The Pitch Out Of His Hand- and knowing the situational, risk-reward value of stealing 3rd, in that critical situation? And it's telling that Jake Mauer gives him the green light in that critical situation. The second quote (and his performance in crunch time to back up those words- he not only had 3 big hits and the SB, he also had 3 fantastic plays at SS) is reminiscent of Kirby Puckett. Someone noted how skinny he looks in the videos from the game. In truth, he looks like he's playing in the body of a 16 year old, not 19. That only can portend well for Gordon's continued upside. I think we're seeing the chrysalis bursting open on a new fan favorite.
  5. jokin
    AS always, great, great stuff, JC. (As the old saying goes... "Whatever they're paying you, it's not enough" ) Good point about the coaching staff, I seem to remember a conversation with you in April about a pretty bare Kenels cupboard for 2015 and low expectations on my part. The interviews with Henry Bonilla have really impressed me, he sounds like he's a deep thinker about the pitching craft and a major league pitching coach position is perhaps somewhere in his future if he continues to demonstrate his recent success. I was going to ask about Anderson and omitted that question. Immediately thrown into the high leverage role upon signing. Does he look like yet another Indy League Twins-find with a fast upward trajectory?
  6. jokin
    Great stuff, JC. If you can indulge me with a few follow-up questions if you have the time or inclination... Great to hear the opinions on Navarreto's future. I know Stuart Turner never played in the Midwest League so you may not have eyeballed him. But it's clear the Twins like him alot... I'm wondering if you've heard any staff/management offer defensive comps of Turner's college polish vs. Navarreto's high school athletic upside? Do you have any thoughts on Navarreto's progression at the plate over the course of the season? Speaking of plate progression, I had very faint hope that Nick Gordon's progress with the bat this year might have given the Twins the inclination to consider Gordon for an AFL nod. Gordon has hit .307 and OPS'd at .761 since May 30. It appears that he has the major league chops @ SS, how would you rate his ceiling projection at this point of his career at the plate? Any early thoughts on Cedar Rapids' likely CF next year- 9th round pick, LaMonte Wade? Finally, this year's Kernels squad looks like a good future source of the plugger/grinder type of players that are indispensable to a successful major league team in order to complement the marquee names. I don't know if you've done this or not, but do you have a Top 5 position player/Top 5 pitcher list of those 10 current Kernel players most likely to make the major league club some day?
  7. jokin
    After last night, it's now 24K/11BB in 14.2 IP since his return... but I'm with Seth, it most likely isn't going to happen. But I wouldn't mind seeing them roll the dice, give Burdi a low-leverage MLB taste and, for good measure, remove more of the 40-man roster detritus in the process. Burdi is actually wilder after the demotion, than before: First stint in AA (4/9 - 6/25): BB% 15.0% Second stint in AA (8/14 - 9/10): BB% 17.2% But, it was good to see that they did give Nick the high-leverage, "it's-the-playoffs-here's-the-ball-kid-it's-your-game-to-win" opportunity. And some of his other peripherals have improved incrementally or better after the call-up, like WHIP, strike % and GO/AO. (The WHIP has improved a lot since the call-up [1.36], but his combined stat of 1.65 is still in the bottom 9 of all Southern League pitchers with more than 43 IP). And as Seth also said, call-up or not, he's most likely going to throw some AFL innings regardless, which I think is going to be a great opportunity to get a few new sets of pitching coach/manager/peer eyes to help him with his overall pitching approach- while he goes up against some of the best AAA-AA free-swinging prospects in all of MiLB.
  8. jokin
    Buck may, or may not, have much impact. But the alternatives to Buxton are demonstrably worse- or in the case of Kepler entirely untested. The ultimate benefit being that Buxton gets 200 more much-needed MLB PAs this year in preparation for next year.
  9. jokin
    \ Except it's already been demonstrated over and over again on this thread and others, that there is plenty of flexibility without Robinson on the roster to get Buxton playing time almost every day of the week between giving days off to the other 3 OFers and Mauer.
  10. jokin
    <1> The fact that he was called up, did a fine job in CF, and was learning on the job how to hit MLB breaking balls- his one and only impediment to MLB stardom. <2> Last time he dominated in the minors...? Gee, how about the month just before July? <3> And I don't think anyone has argued that he's going to be better than Hunter right off the bat. That's a "Look! Squirrel!" argument. <4> The rehab has evidently gone fine, he's 5-12, stolen a base, played CF flawlessly... OH! and the Twins FO has determined he's plenty healthy enough to remove him from his rehab assignment.
  11. jokin
    I'd like to hear from just one person on the other side of this debate- who evidently all believe that the Twins are still in the thick of the playoff hunt- who can therefore logically defend starting Shane Robinson ANY days of the week... ???
  12. jokin
    Precisely, by working on the exact thing he needs to master in order to become a perennial team leader as quickly as possible, yeah, it's very arguable that that is exactly what will give him the best chance to succeed.
  13. jokin
    Yeah, and I suppose that's because the magic major league cruveball-hitting beans don't kick in until August 22nd?
  14. jokin
    I don't think anyone disputes this, but taking him off rehab after 3 of the possible 20 days makes it look like it's probably not going to be a week or two.
  15. jokin
    And Rogers...
  16. jokin
    Arm/shoulder issues?
  17. jokin
    Since Arcia is out of options, I get the feeling that both sides are more or less resigned to a parting of the ways in the offseason.
  18. jokin
    Good call. Hughes had never pitched 210 innings before, his previous high was 191, 3rd most was 176, after that, much much lower, his totatl this year is within 1 IP of his 4th most innings pitched- he just doesn't have the history of a reliable big innings eater. He looked pretty shell-shocked in the dugout after getting taken out on Saturday. The Twins owe him over $50M through 2019, discretion around potential injury seems prudent.
  19. jokin
    http://i1.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/masonry/000/540/667/795.gif I think it is a key missing element from the OP... so, "yes", in a good way. Wake up Twins management and see your obvious blunder for what it was.
  20. jokin
    In regards to Hughes, he has been complaining about a "dead arm" for quite some time. It was reported today that he was struggling to reach 90 MPH. He has been trending downward in velocity since his second start of the season. Something is definitely wrong with him.
  21. jokin
    Yep. But I bet he is up by September.
  22. jokin
    Chris Paul's promotion was a logical move. LaMonte Wade is also slightly older than the Appy League average, seems he might be deserving as well. Why not share time with Tanner English and get Wade up to finish out the season in CF/RF in the Midwest League? Palacios is definitely blocked at Cedar Rapids by Gordon, and the kid just turned 19. Probably just fine to leave him in E-Town for now. Perhaps they can give him a look-see when Cedar Rapids starts their playoffs?
  23. jokin
    Uhh, Mike is correct, actually, they kinda did: And from the Pioneer Press: "More Prepared"... "More Qualified" These things are pretty easily verified.
  24. jokin
    Yeah, "minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery", to be precise. Either infection, poor rehab habits, or further complications related to the surgery and injury, or some combination of any or all above, led to his 2011 debacle of a season, but the same knee has been bothering him since 2004.
  25. jokin
    Uhh, yep. His knee surgery in the 2010-11 offseason led to the bilateral leg weakness disaster. And he had surgery and ongoing issues with the same left knee in 2004.
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