Jocko87

Live look in from Wichita. Chris Paddack is in fact a major league pitcher. A very tired one but he certainly looks the part. He sat comfortably at 95 and hit 97 but it felt like he got more tired noticeably each inning. Man among boys first two innings, then some foul balls, then some hard hit. I wasn't able to stay for Alcala but it doesn't look great from the box score.

Live look in from Wichita. Chris Paddack is in fact a major league pitcher. A very tired one but he certainly looks the part. He sat comfortably at 95 and hit 97 but it felt like he got more tired noticeably each inning. Man among boys first two innings, then some foul balls, then some hard hit. I wasn't able to stay for Alcala but it doesn't look great from the box score.

Bro.

Had that been the obvious plan all along I’d be ok with it. That it looks like the last resort and would be a lucky break if it happens makes it a problem for me. They don’t really have a history of bringing up starters to get a taste as relievers so it would be hard to believe this was a long term plan. I have long been calling for some young starters to get innings in the pen and they have been seemingly reluctant to do so despite claiming the bullpen is relatively easy to fill. It’s true that the bullpen is the easiest hole to plug but if you aren’t going to do it with your most talented young pitchers a move at the deadline is required. I’m otherwise pretty comfortable with the deadline but man, one nice reliever would be a world of difference.

I’m going to try to sneak out and see the first couple innings. Hopefully I can get a decent in person review.

There’s the answer. https://x.com/windsurgeict/status/1701372666815389762?s=61&t=yidxjkE21iQzCNapDBvNPg

In somewhat related news, Zach Wilson in at QB for the Jets and Rodgers on a cart to the locker room. I am not one to cheer against. Tee-hee indeed.

Thought about that after I posted but don't think it changes much. Same statement a month ago when it would have saved money. The DFA calls have been out for months when it did apply. Now that there isn't money involved DFA is off the table.

What the Brooklyn Dodgers' manager did say, before a 1946 game with the New York Giants, was: “The nice guys are all over there. In seventh place.” I got that from Google, so your mileage may vary. Its not about being nice guys. As someone who has also had to manage through several RIFs (reduction in force, HR speak for layoffs) what is being discussed is not being nice, its your organizational culture. They have a well earned reputation for standing by their people, on and off the field. Even a disaster like Donaldson was exited very gracefully. Overhauling the training department was not a bloody mess when it certainly could have been. The million bucks saved by cutting Gallo isn't a factor for an organization that pays employees through COVID. So much talk about how cheap the Twins have been but they have always spent money when its the right thing to do. Responsible business sense keeps them out of situations where they would be forced to take drastic actions. Having lived through several RIFs now it's sad to look back at the dumb decisions made that led to a most of them.

When is his next appearance? It's been very quiet since the one rehab spot and with that season over we should see some movement? With three weeks left its getting late soon for any confidence for the playoffs. We need to see something probably this week? If he can come up and take a few innings of load off the rest of the pen so they can rest up he will have contributed to the playoff run.

Not only is the bench a strength for the playoffs but the depth gives Rocco some great options when creating a lineup. Luplow bats in the hole where he will be most effectively pinch hit for, that's it. On Saturday, against a lefty, the most likely to be pinch hit for were in the 1, 5 and 6 holes. When that spot comes up against a RH reliever there is significant upside in having some elite LH hitters on the bench. That will be the approach against lefties, make them work and get them out of the game in the 5th and let the bench take over. Against righties it will be less apparent but we will still see Solano in place of Julien or Wallner in a key spot. Lineup creation is much more fun when you can game plan options. Having options to game plan with is even better. They have options for pinch hitting, pinch running and defense that can be deployed as weapons rather than just a replacement. I really haven't gotten too worked up over the lineups this year as I can see them trying these things. I would love to see Taylor as the primary bench weapon but it doesn't look like that will happen. We probably should have Buxton on this list as a bench option. There is a chance he doesn't get the DH start against the RH starter at this point but would hit against a lefty reliever. I hate to say it but it has to be in the possible range of outcomes.

It was priced in. Absent the ankle stuff he gets 13 years and $350m from Giants. The Giants would have signed up for the same deal the Twins got in a heartbeat. For reference, he will pass the max vesting PA threshold this week to give a idea how the back of the deal is going to work. It will only take a 2-3 week IL stint to be able to exit (or restructure) the contract if it goes bad. Every team in the league would have signed up eagerly. Especially considering the ankle concerns were long term rather than immediate.

For starters, I'll say it. Carlos Correa is having a bad year. On offense. I'm not the least bit worried about it and if he keeps getting hot in time for to postseason no one else will either. The exit velo on the GIDP's is north of 94 mph so regression is coming. As far as the quoted statement, there is no case to be made not to bid on his services at all. None whatsoever. I'm sorry, but that's an absolutely absurd statement and must be addressed. The Mets agreement was $315m, not 150, if that helps your perspective. The contract signed would have been signed by 30 of 30 major league teams, including the Giants and Mets had it been on their table. It was a masterstroke by the front office to get in and stay in where they did. Everyone else tuned out at Christmas but they scored massively. I can't fathom the revisionism that we would be subject to if he had gone to the Mets for that money and been solid. Three years from now it would be legend on these forums how cheap the new Polhads were. Yeah, he's not been great with the stick this year. Neither have Javi Baez, Zander Bogarts, Darby Swanson or Trea Turner. Believe it or not, they are still 27-30 year olds who are dealing with crazy stuff. Correa had one of the craziest offseasons in memory and it matters. Go look at Corey Seager first year after signing his deal and compare to this year. Did Texas sign the .770 OPS guy or the 1.040 OPS guy? Check back with me in three years. Correa probably won't OPS 1.000 but I'm willing to bet nobody regrets the contract.

Biggest news of the week is slightly underwhelming. Julien looking functional at first base is enormous both for this year and going forward. It makes Gallo completely redundant and opens very tantalizing lineup opportunities. Varland getting leverage looks is a big deal as well as Stewart, Alcala and Paddack rehabs. Two solid arms out of that mix would be fantastic. Correa must not want time off and it may not help his foot anyway.

With Ft Myers done where does Paddack go on the next rehab step? Been quiet since he pitched.

Wait, wut?

Today was a good example of what this team will need to do to be effective against a lefty starting pitcher. They will need to be better against someone like a Framber Valdez but this is the template. The lineup was set with the most likely pinch hit spots in the 1, 5 and 6 spots and the starting lineups job is to have good at bats, work pinch count and get the starter out in the 5th or 6th. After that the advantage can swing hard to Rocco and his very good pinch hit options. Bullpens being RH dominant generally will present spots in the course of 3+ innings. If they let the starter go 8 they are probably screwed but we already knew that. It’s not so much about how much they can score on the lefty but how fast they can get him out of the game. That also makes Kepler off the bench make more sense, at least in the regular season.

That's part of why I loved him in that spot. Couple really good hitters in a lower pressure spot, they can keep cranking up the leverage and getting him used to it. They got him this time but I bet he's figuring some things out.

He's gotta find out what he can get away with somehow. He's not pitched with 100 very much. Good place to work it out.

That's what Lewis GIDP yesterday reminded me of. Just in the wrong spot.

Oops. Good experience hopefully.

Love Varland here.

Was just thinking as Kepler came to the plate that the lineup doesn't need to destroy LH starters to be effective in those games. They just need to not get destroyed. If the lineup can make them work and run up a pitch count the advantage really flips in the later innings for pinch hit chances. With the 3 batter minimum Rocco can really force positive matchups late in games with some very good options off the bench. Might also be another reason for Wallner starting rather than Kepler. 3 at bats of experience for Wallner, one prime PH chance for Kep.