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TopGunn#22

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Everything posted by TopGunn#22

  1. TopGunn#22
    Wow, where do you start with a day like this in the farm system ! I'm not going to suggest who should be sent out, but it's looking very clear that Miranda has nothing more to prove at St. Paul. With Kirilloff's season in doubt and Sano just being Sano, the sooner they get Miranda up and into the regular lineup the better. He could play LF, 3B, 2B and 1B as well as DH once in a while. I wouldn't send Gordon down. I like his speed and versatility. But Miranda needs to be brought up in another couple of weeks at the longest. It's GREAT to see Royce Lewis off to such a good start. And Palacios isn't disappointing anyone either.
  2. TopGunn#22
    There is no doubt that patience has run out on Sano for Twins fans. The current situation is just exacerbated more with the continuing wrist problems of Kirilloff. I disagree with the take that you can't bench Sano for the likes of Miranda. Get Miranda up to the Twins and in the lineup consistently. It was already a huge risk to have BOTH Sano and Gary Sanchez in the lineup at the same time, especially hitting in any proximately to each other. Twins fans have seen enough. it's time the front office did. Package him in a deal to Colorado where he can DH and hit 80 HR's every season.
  3. TopGunn#22
    I put this on Rocco. Last year, he totally mismanaged our BP by constantly going to Colome when Colome just couldn't get it done. Whoever said "If Duffey was the plan all along then Rocco is sleeping standing up" hit the nail on the head. I don't care if we "just" acquired Pagan and we hadn't seen him pitch yet. We "acquired" him for a reason. The guy can close games. He was in uniform. I'm sure we scouted him prior to acquiring him. I was certain the reason we traded Rogers and got Pagan included in the deal was for him to close games. And as others have pointed out, it's not like Duffey has been lights out this spring, Far from it. I know it's only game #2 of 162, but the way last year started and the way this game ended after Buxton's dramatic 2-run BOMB is just deflating. I don't have a lot of faith in Rocco's ability to manage a BP and I don't have a lot of faith in his ability to manufacture runs unless we're crushing HR's. To me, this is kind of a make or break year for him. I need to see improvement in how he handles a BP and I need to see an improvement offensively. Unfortunately, with strikeout hogs like Sano and Sanchez he may already be somewhat hamstrung in that capacity.
  4. TopGunn#22
    While I will always be a fan of Rogers I think the Twins FO made a great deal. As has been stated previously this was all about "value." Pagan, may or may not prove to be as effective as Rogers will be in 2022. If I had to choose between the 2019 version of each, I might lean a little toward Pagan. But Rogers has been the most consistently "better" bullpen piece. Paddock is indeed a gamble with high upside and concerning downside. Let's see what we get out of him THIS year first. I've got a feeling we will get more out of him in 2023 and 2024. The Twins FO is certainly not done dealing for this year. Once the Twins hit the All-Star break, we will probably need to assess and reevaluate where 2022 is going.
  5. TopGunn#22
    Yeah, hate to see him go, but with his free agent status coming up next season and the fact that his softball crushing prowess has been slipping the last couple of seasons (his Mascot WAR has been slipping toward no more than league average) we all could see a change coming. I heard a rumor the Tampa Bay Rays may buy his contract from that zoo and stick him in the middle of their lineup now that they traded Austin Meadows. If Tampa is sniffing around TC Bear, you have to be a little worried the Twins cut bait too soon on the furry power hitter. We can't have a Wolf, or even a Wild Wolf. Can't have a Viking or a Gopher. A Lynx would be cool but I heard that's not available. So I wonder what is possible ?
  6. TopGunn#22
    They called Tom Hall "The Blade" because of his slender, wiry build. He could bring it, and his 1970 season was pretty darn good going 11-5 with 184 K's in about 150 innings. He was so/so in 1971 so prior to the 1972 season the Twins surprisingly traded him to the Big Red Machine in Cincy. We got back Wayne "The Whip" Granger who along with Clay Carroll had divided the Reds closing job. It was a curious trade for the Twins. Hall was younger and had better raw stuff and was left-handed. He went on to be a valuable piece of the Reds bullpen for several years. Granger had an O.K. 1972 for the Twins, but not as impactful as Hall was for the Reds and Granger wasn't long for Minnesota after 1972. The only reason I could come up with as a kid back then was that Ron Perranoski was getting older and not nearly as effective in 1971 as he had been in previous Twins seasons and the Twins FO felt they needed a proven closer in their bullpen. I always thought Hall would have made a decent closer. But 1972 was the beginning of the end for elite production from Killebrew and Oliva and despite his excellence Rod Carew couldn't carry the whole team. With Killebrew, Oliva, Tovar, Jim Perry, Jim Kaat, Dean Chance and a whole host of other Twins on the downside of their careers, it didn't really matter in the large scheme of things that the Twins had shipped off a good, young, left handed pitcher to the Reds in 1972 for a closer that only had one good season left. Plus the Oakland A's were emerging as an American League powerhouse.
  7. TopGunn#22
    GREAT Article ! I wonder what it would look like if you added that 3rd player. 1964 Oliva, Allison, Killebrew already mentioned. I wonder what 1969 Tony O's numbers would add to Killebrew & Carew. Add Hisle to 1977 Carew & Bostock...THAT would be interesting. And if you DID add pitchers, add Santana to a Mauer and Morneau years (2009, 2006). Another interesting question: What would some of the all-time trios look like ? Ruth, Gehrig, and...Irish Meusel ? What about 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers: Duke Snider, Roy Campanella and either Carl Furillo or Jackie Robinson ? How about 1961 Mantle, Maris and Elston Howard ?
  8. TopGunn#22
    I gave it an "A." We gave up a good pitcher in Taylor Rogers. One I very much liked as a Twins fan. We were able to send Rooker packing which to me was a win. We got back a young SP with good potential who we have 3-years of control. We also got back Emilo Pagan who was lights out closing games for Tampa Bay before being traded to the Padres to be a set up man. Pagan will now be our primary closer. But I think Duran and possibly Alcala could also get opportunities. Taylor Rogers will be a free agent next year. Maybe we sign him back ala Rick Aguilera ? (Doubtful).
  9. TopGunn#22
    I'm not terribly disappointed in not acquiring Manaea. My eye has been on Montas from the outset. Oakland didn't name him their opening day starter to try to gin up more interest in someone acquiring him. He's their BEST pitcher. He SHOULD be their opening day starter. He will still be a hot trade commodity well after his opening day start. I also agree that Montas shouldn't be the only target...but he should be high on the Twins list of preferred candidates. Montas and Gray going #1 and #2 in a playoff series would be fine for me. Especially if someone like Ryan, Ober or Winder flashes like Liriano did in his rookie season. THAT would be very interesting for our home-town team.
  10. TopGunn#22
    This is a smart move for Cleveland. They get some degree of stability, but it also provides "certainty" for teams that might be interested in trading for him. I predict Cleveland will not be very good this season and a trade of Ramirez to a contender is still very much in play.
  11. TopGunn#22
    I agree that he should not be considered a #1 or #2. But with youngen's like Ryan, Ober, Winder, Balazovic and Canterino waiting in the wings he could/should make Archer and Bundy un-needed depending on what THEY show this year.
  12. TopGunn#22
    I expect the Twins to get far better production and impact from Urshela this year than Sanchez. I hope I'm wrong, but I think Urshela will be solid. He gives the Twins a guy that can help out with some games at SS if Arraez is playing 3B and Correa gets a day off to DH. I for one am pretty disappointed the Twins are starting Miranda at St. Paul. He should be playing LF, 3B, 2B and 1B as a super utility guy with a bat you WANT somewhere in that lineup. The only way Sanchez out does Urshela this year is if he hits .240-.250 and mashes 25-30 HR's. If THAT happens all will be good.
  13. TopGunn#22
    I kind of expected this. The weather on Friday won't be "rainy" but it will be COLD (especially if there's any wind). Still don't understand why "northern" teams don't open on the road in warmer climes as standard operating procedure.
  14. TopGunn#22
    I went "B" as well but agree, B+, B-, A-, A+ grades would have provided more nuance. With the re-signing of Buxton and Taylor Rogers, the signing of Correa and trade for Gray, I was leaning "A." But the failure to address SP in FA when all we had to do was be aggressive, have a plan and spend money was VERY disappointing as a Twins fan. Imagine Eduardo Rodriguez in the #2 SP slot at $16 million a year for 3-years. Instead, we're going to need Rosary beads every time Bundy, Archer or whoever pitches. I don't mind the Urshela/Sanchez for Donaldson/Rortvedt/IKF swap at all. I'm willing to give it some time. Although Sanchez's Spring Training isn't helping. After seeming to have no plan and/or willingness to do anything after getting Buxton extended our FO rebounded with some solid moves. I'm cautiously optimistic.
  15. TopGunn#22
    Lots of good input here. I'm DONE with Cave. Garlick is a better option as he hits LH's well and Gordon can cover CF on occasion. I like the idea of trading for someone like Lewis Brinson if Garlick is not deemed "acceptable." As for Rooker, I was thrilled when we drafted him. He was in elite company with Will Clark and the cheater Raffy Palmiero as the only Triple Crown winners in S.E.C. history. Sadly, I've seen enough. He's not even as good as Michael Restovich, and obviously THAT never worked out for the Twins. I sense there's going to be some last minute "maneuvering" by the Twins FO before this MLB roster and the 40-man are set.
  16. TopGunn#22
    This is actually a good trade for BOTH the White Sox and the Dodgers but of course, both teams are risking a lot as well. White Sox get a solid bat and glove in LF'er Pollack who just has to stay healthy and give the Sox 500 AB's. With Kenley Jansen moving on to the Braves the Dodgers surely weren't going to entrust "closing" to Blake Treinen exclusively. I actually thought Graterol would get some chances. Kimbrel has a strong track record and if he's anything close to last year it's a GREAT pickup for the Dodgers. The risk is which Kimbrel they get...2021 or the abyss of 2019-2020 ?? The opportunity this presents Gavin Lux to play steadily in LF and 2B is the hidden bonus for L.A. I think Lux breaks out this year and this could work out tremendously for the Dodgers.
  17. TopGunn#22
    I think Otto Von Ballpark needs more rec's JUST for using the word "cromulent" in a sentence ! Way to go Otto !!
  18. TopGunn#22
    Ace...NEVER underestimate the POWER of STRATO !!! I for one think the Tigers are going to be sneaky. Torkelson and Greene will probably be solid and contribute a lot. I agree with Karbo: Signing Ed-Rod was very good. I wanted the Twins to get him. Imagine what OUR outlook would be if we had Gray and Ed-Rod fronting our staff with the lineup we project. I also agree with the prognostication that Cleveland will slip. Bieber has to prove to me that he's healthy and will be the old Bieber. Jose Ramirez is GREAT, but who else does that lineup have?? I could see Ramirez traded at the deadline or even before and when that happens the Guardians will be just as pop-gun as the 60's White Sox lineups were. The Royals are a lot like the Tigers without as much young pitching. The key for the Twins is how good (or bad) their young pitchers are. From Ryan & Ober to Winder, Balazovic, Duran and whoever else gets a chance, it will be interesting to see who shines and who struggles.
  19. TopGunn#22
    That is QUITE a list !!!
  20. TopGunn#22
    This move doesn't really push the needle but I can see the logic. Like last year, the Twins FO is putting their eggs in a basket of a couple veteran pitchers to regain some of their earlier career "magic." Last year, it turned out to be an epic fail. The leash for Happ and Shoemaker was far too long. But as others have pointed out, the injuries to pitchers and the weird 2020 covid shortened season messed things up royally. I'm hoping for the best, but I'm also hoping for a quicker pivot if Bundy and Archer trend more like Happ/Shoemaker than Rich Hill. This year, we have the young pitchers ready and knocking on the door. It's clear, the A's and Reds are holding out for King's Ransoms. Better to wait the market out at this point. In fact, Luis Castillo is experiencing "shoulder soreness" right now. The Reds certainly need to wait until he shows he can pitch before dealing him. It's not how I "hoped" the rotation would look when the season started, but the current situation probably makes this necessary. I'd still like to see the Twins try to get Max Meyer from the Marlins. I think Max is close to being a big league SP and right now, Miami has no place for him.
  21. TopGunn#22
    Cody, this is a PERFECT time to bring something like this up and I believe there will be a LOT of opinions and none of them will be wrong. Here's what I think: 1. Arraez DH 2. Buxton CF 3. Polanco 2B 4. Correa SS 5. Kiriloff LF 6. Urshela 3B 7. Kepler RF 8. Sano 1B 9. Sanchez/Jeffers C This lineup doesn't have Miranda in it. I think he should also be a consistent piece in the lineup. Let's suppose Sano is off to his usual "slow start." I'd shake things up like this: 1. Arraez DH 2. Buxton CF 3. Polanco 2B 4. Correa SS 5. Kiriloff 1B 6. Miranda LF 7. Kepler RF 8. Sanchez/Jeffers C 9. Urshela 3B I would still want to keep this lineup pretty steady. I just swap in Miranda for Sano. I want Arraez at the top and I don't care if he can't run. He gets on base at a .380-.400 clip. Set. The. Table. Buxton's power and speed slot in well at #2. Polanco's switch hitting and solid bat to ball skills work well at #3. Correa at cleanup is my desire. He's clutch and will drive in runs. Kirilloff is a future #3 hitter for the Twins who slots in well at #5 with bat to ball skills and power (plus some protection for Correa). #6-#9 are fluid depending on who's swinging a hot bat. Urshela has the most movement in my lineups and he's a bit of an unknown. Do we get 2019 Gio or something quite less? It remains to be seen. I would just like Rocco to finally (if we're not going to trade him for pitching) put Arraez in the leadoff spot and leave him there.
  22. TopGunn#22
    I think Doc Bauer laid this all out quite nicely in his post. It's obvious the A's demands are STEEP. Otherwise a deal would have already been made by the Twins or a dozen other 2022 "contenders" to get either Montas, Manaea...or both. The Reds have said Castillo is off the table, but now he's hurt. He has a "sore shoulder." That makes dealing for him impossible until he can prove he's ready to pitch. Mahle would be a good target, but the Reds have to have somebody to pitch. Finally, with all the young arms the Twins have literally knocking on the door, they just MUST provide an opportunity for a couple of them right out of spring training. To me, that means Winder is the #5 and I'd have Duran up as an "opener" and/or long relief guy. I still think the Twins WILL pull of a deal, and I think it will be with Oakland. But it won't happen for a couple weeks. The best OF'er available is Conforto. But as a LH hitter and with Kiriloff & Larnach I just don't see a fit. If it was up to me, I'd stick Miranda in LF opening day and see what happens. I'm not too hot on recycling the Garlick's and Rooker's. And my opinion of Rooker kind of bugs me. I was really happy when they drafted him. He was an SEC Triple Crown winner !!! Will Clark and Raffy Palmiero have been the others. But what I've seen of him so far is just uninspiring.
  23. TopGunn#22
    These are great points, and until we see some of these (or all of them) at the Major League level it's hard to accurately guess how they might affect the game, much less specific players. But I believe change IS coming. MLB needs to find some way to speed up the pace of the game without artificially making it SEEM unnaturally "sped up."
  24. TopGunn#22
    I still have to believe a blockbuster trade is percolating out there somewhere. Cueto is fine for depth and to eat some innings. I see innings limitations and pitch counts for young Twins pitchers ALL YEAR. The other thing I see is a whole BUNCH of young Twins pitchers and the 40-man roster seeming to be pretty clogged right now. I'm not sure what Oakland wants, or Miami, or the Reds etc... but I've got to believe that something could be worked out, and fairly soon at that. I really appreciate those who listed the WAR's or projected WAR's of the A.L. Central Starting Pitching staffs. It really does help put things into perspective. I have an out of left field question about them though regarding the Tigers. How does Matt Manning have a higher WAR than Tarik Skubal ? Skubal was better last year by far. What am I missing ??
  25. TopGunn#22
    I'm all for this, whether Duran is an opener or is used as a RP. Young arms can and will flame out. Get his arm up to the Big Leagues and see what he can do. I would hate to see him included in a trade, but if it's part of a package that brings Montas or better yet Montas AND Manaea I'd do it. Canterino is another possible Starter or dominant closer candidate. Trading one of those two still leaves us the other possibility.
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