Jump to content
Twins Daily
  • Create Account

Mark G

Verified Member
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    1,153

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    3

 Content Type 

Profiles

News

Minnesota Twins Videos

2026 Minnesota Twins Top Prospects Ranking

2022 Minnesota Twins Draft Picks

Minnesota Twins Free Agent & Trade Rumors, Notes, & Tidbits

Guides & Resources

2023 Minnesota Twins Draft Picks

The Minnesota Twins Players Project

2024 Minnesota Twins Draft Picks

2025 Minnesota Twins Draft Pick Tracker

Forums

Blogs

Events

Store

Downloads

Gallery

Everything posted by Mark G

  1. Mark G
    I remember a day on another planet when a gold glove had nothing to do with the alphabet or the arithmetic table, just the WOW factor and how often you found yourself saying WOW! Urshela has made me say WOW more this year than any year I can remember at 3B. He reminds me a lot of how Mientkiewicz played the other side (and he won 2 gold gloves). I wonder how Doug would be graded today?
  2. Mark G
    Agreed! And to piggy back on that thought, I have always wondered why so many people care about the mph numbers off the bat, or how hard a ball was hit. If I know Max is going to pull the ball into the shift. I make the shift, and I pitch him in a location where he does, indeed, hit it into the shift, why do I care how hard he hits it at somebody. All the exit velocity you can muster is nice in analytics, but you are still out. To me, it is the least meaningful stat in the bunch. Hit it at somebody and it doesn't matter how hard you hit it. Hit it where they ain't, and it doesn't matter how hard you hit it.
  3. Mark G
    My sentiments exactly. I know I have beaten this drum into submission, but Rocco does not believe in what used to be called the fundamentals of baseball. Sacrifice bunts, bunting for hits, hit and run, stealing bases,. He believes giving up an out for a base (sacrifice), or risking an out for a base (rest of the above), does not succeed often enough to be a part of the game strategy. He has articulated that on occasion, and it has been consistent from the first day he stepped into the dugout, and it won't change. For all of his analytics, he is the reincarnation of Earl Weaver; ride the pitching you have and wait for the 3 run homer. Problem is, we don't have the starting horses he had, and most of our homers are solos, so................
  4. Mark G
    It's always a debate; that is what we are doing, isn't it? Seriously, analytics aside. I always have, and always will live by the eye test, and I like what I see in Urshela. And since I can't have any of the 4 you listed, then maybe the debate is should Urshela or Miranda be in the position? And since Urshela is already there and doing fine, and we don't have a steady DH, hhmmmmm.....you were right; there is no debate.
  5. Mark G
    Thank you, but I could read that from now until the end of the season and still not have a clue what it means. I guess after a century plus the baseball boys decided to enter the computer age; wish they hadn't. All I know is after 55 years of watching, I know a good player when I see one and Urshela is a good player.
  6. Mark G
    Seriously? What if Arraez replaced him? Or Miranda? What was the stat when Urshela "replaced" Donaldson? In other words, what if a AAA never enters the picture? What happens to the stat?
  7. Mark G
    Can I ask a serious question about this? Exactly what constitutes "replacement"? Whomever takes his place that day from our roster, or other players around the league? I have never understood that stat, as I have never understood whether there is a consensus on the definition of "replacement".
  8. Mark G
    I guess I will be the lone voice again, but I have seen enough of Urshela to have seen things I haven't seen in years at 3B. His bat is so so, but I love the left side with him and Correa defensively, and we have bats that can make up for him when he is lagging. I would like to see Miranda DH instead of Sanchez or Jeffers, absolutely, and sprinkle in a little 3rd now and then to keep him as sharp as possible, but putting him at 3rd the majority of the time is wasting a talent in Urshela that I think is worth keeping on the field. If it is such a problem, trade one of them, but don't put Urshela on the pine. Isn't the DH for players who can hit but struggle in the field? The question is: does that describe Miranda? If so, the answer is self evident; if it doesn't, find a spot for him, but don't sacrifice the left side defense.
  9. Mark G
    "Either change players or change strategy. The easiest change is likely changing players. But they need to start those changes now." Might be easier, but not necessarily possible. And, when it isn't, the only other option, as you said, is change the strategy. And I don't see that happening. And it makes me wonder why.
  10. Mark G
    I would submit they not only thought it would be, but think along the lines of Rocco and believe in the pen being used the way it is. Rocco and Falvine are one in the same, just in different offices.
  11. Mark G
    "I can't believe anyone is still blaming Rocco. It's not like he has a choice between a putting in Mariano Rivera and a bus driver and keeps making the wrong moves. These are grown men, major league baseball players. If the manager doesn't trust Duffey enough to put him into a 2-run game in the 9th inning, what the hell is he even doing on this team? If Kirilloff and Celestino and Larnach can't make major league plays in the OF, why are they all on the roster?" Agree with quite a bit, but this paragraph made me pause. The manager plays just an important part of the game as any player, maybe more of one. He decides which pitcher starts and what order they start in. He decides how long they stay in the game, and which pitcher(s) follow him and how long they stay, etc. He decides who plays what positions that day, where they bat in the lineup, pinch hitters, if any, if bunt signs are put on (or not), steals (or not)............and so on. Who he trusts (or doesn't) to put in what situations can decide more games than we think about, both in pitching and in lineups; who he sits against which pitchers, and what pitchers he uses against match ups, etc. Their decisions play an important part in a lot of games during the season and they have to take the heat when things go bad; it's part of the job. Rocco hasn't made the best decisions at times, and folks say so in different ways. The manager looks like a genius when their guys come through and a dork when they don't; I get it. But Rocco in particular just doesn't seem to have a feel for some things other managers do. He is like a piano player. Many can play the correct keys in the correct time, but a true player has a FEEL for it and makes it sound good. Rocco plays it by how the computers tell him the best odds are and makes the right decisions often based on that, but doesn't have the FEEL necessary to buck his spreadsheets when the time calls for it and it is noticeable at times. He has the brains, and knows the game, but sometimes folks question his gut when calls have to be made. That is when the arrows come out and they can be deserved. Anyway, that is my sermon for the day; not picking on you.
  12. Mark G
    There must be a mistake in the article toward the end. It stated Cleveland sacrificed the runner from 2nd to 3rd and he scored on a sacrifice fly (the winning run, by the way). How could that be? Haven't we been told for 3 1/2 years now that sacrifice bunts don't work? You never give up an out for a base? Even in the 9th inning or extra innings? Then how could that have happened tonight? Did Francona violate a code? Or did he forget briefly what year it was and play the game the way he was taught? This sounds very suspicious to me; I want someone to look further into this and maybe fine Francona if he broke the computer code.
  13. Mark G
    Might be worth it. Blyleven only hit .131 for his career and he won 289 games. Just take your best hitting pitcher (if there is one) and let him hit. Could it be any worse than Jeffers? On 2nd thought, two Jeffers? Let me ponder that for a while.
  14. Mark G
    I like him a lot too, and I am willing to pay him. Unfortunately for him, and me, I don't have the money to pay him , so I have to ask Big Jim to pay him and I don't like my chances (sigh).
  15. Mark G
    He does have 19 home runs, but look at the rest of the stats. Buck has become an all or nothing hitter. Have you seen his swing and the "launch angle" he is using? I took away the 19 at bats the home runs produced and he is hitting .144 when not hitting home runs. What would be more preferable against the back end of a bullpen with a runner on 2nd and no out, especially with your 3-4 coming up behind you? Swing for the fences, or move the runner over? I get he didn't get much to look at, and no, I would not have bunted Correa; we don't pay the man 35 mil to sacrifice bunt. But this is FAR from the 1st or only time this has come up in extra innings the last couple of years. He likely "showed bunt" the first pitch to get the infield in to swing through, not to actually bunt. Past history somewhat proves the theory. My overall question was why is the tool not in the shed? Because it is not, by Rocco's own statements in the past. Add to that we don't bunt for hits, don't hit and run, don't steal, etc., and the tool box is becoming considerably lighter. Picture a pitcher only having one pitch and throwing it exclusively; how long would he last? (actually we might know after watching Pagan pitch to Reyes) I just wish someone could articulate why it is sound baseball to enter a drum duel with only one drumstick in your hand?
  16. Mark G
    Good points. Remember when they first brought in the "quality start" stat (6 innings or more, 3 earned runs or less)? And they all kind of laughed at it at first? Now if you give up 3 runs in 4.2 or 5 innings you have "kept your team in the game" and they pat you on the back. It would be fascinating to get Blyleven, Kaat, and Morris together at a kegger, loosen up their tongues, and hear what they honestly think about it all. Wouldn't you love to be a fly on that wall?
  17. Mark G
    I, for one, love the rule. Of course, I am old enough to remember how many years teams went with 10 man staffs and had a bench that was flexible and gave the manager far more options. The starters had to do their jobs and, if they got bombed early, the long relief would come in until the short guys could finish. It worked just fine. Today, we have a manager shedding alligator tears about not being able to have 14 pitchers AND the shuttle bus to and from St. Paul, while only having a 3 man bench. It will take better minds than mine to figure that position out but, again, I am happy with the rule and look forward to starters going deeper and having that extra option on the bench. I would much rather be able to keep a Kirilloff or Miranda or Gordon, etc., than have a AAA pitcher in the bullpen to pitch for Archer or Gray when they can only work 4 innings.
  18. Mark G
    Stealing is just one of multiple components that are lacking. Bunting for hits, bunting runners along, the classic hit and run, and, as we are talking about stealing bases are all things Rocco doesn't believe are consistent elements of the game we need to incorporate. Can't give up, or risk giving up, an out for a base. Keeping the defense honest and going on the offensive in all aspects of the game is simply not his style. We have been at or near the bottom of the league in all of those categories since Rocco stepped foot in the dugout. Whether it be his analytics or simply his fear of injury every time a player makes a baseball move, he isn't going to change, so we better hope we hit a lot of home runs and throw a lot of low scoring games.
  19. Mark G
    And not to belabor the point or anything, but that covers the 10th. Why not Urshela bunting him over in the 11th for Gordon and Miranda? Comes across as pure stubbornness.
  20. Mark G
    Have you EVER seen him do it? Even the TV guys ask the question at times. I personally don't know of a time since the rule was put in place to put a guy at 2nd to start the inning. Not saying it isn't possible I missed one, but I am not nearly the only one wondering why it is rare or never. Just appears to be one of his analytics things he won't budge from and no one can tell me why. Not that that's your job.
  21. Mark G
    Can someone answer the question: why won't Baldelli sacrifice the runner over to 3rd in extra innings? Far wiser folks than myself have asked (and asked, and asked..........) this question and I have never heard/read an answer. When are we going to accept the fact that a runner on 2nd is not necessarily in scoring position. Can't score on a fly ball, well placed ground ball, passed ball/wild pitch........any or all of the above. When you HAVE to have a hit to the outfield to score are you truly in "scoring position"? Put the pressure on the pitcher/defense and make them work, not just play their shifts at normal depth and make you work. Hell, we don't even make the defense play for the possible bunt, because they know we won't do it. I know he has said his analytics say the sacrifice doesn't pan out often enough to use it and all that, but in the 10th? Tie score? Handed a runner on 2nd? What have you got to lose? I know I am spitting into the wind, so to speak, when it comes to Rocco, but if someone has an insight as to why he is so dogged in his approach, maybe I will stop spitting.
  22. Mark G
    Correct me if I am wrong, but they have no choice! At least for two more years. And I'm glad they don't.
  23. Mark G
    And yes, I know I left off Buxton, because he has never stayed on the field long enough to prove superstar status. If he does, I will take the flak.
  24. Mark G
    I believe they are in contact with Boras as we speak, but are in the preliminary stages still. And it will come down to more than dollars and years; it will involve things like options (opt outs?), and what years they kick in, and no-trade clauses or, at the very least, a list of teams we can trade him to. The numbers he may settle for would be 8 and 285-290, that is if Boras doesn't hit him upside the head. I think we have the ability to pay with all the young talent (aka cheap talent) we have to surround him with, and I hope they get it done. But it may have to be by late July, or we may panic and sell while there is still value. The best chance in decades, with the possible exception of Mauer, to secure a superstar in his prime. Get it done, boys!!
  25. Mark G
    I am getting used to being a minority voice on TD, so I might as well take a shot here. I can't believe we haven't had discussions with Boras about a possible long term deal for Correa and what he would want to take it to that next level. If, by late July, we don't have a good feel for being able to get this done, and an offer comes along that helps the pitching staff, it might be the best move for now to move him. We forget sometimes that Urshela has played short before in the bigs and is a pretty decent defender. We move him to short, Miranda to 3rd, DFA Sano and play Kirilloff and Arraez at 1st with kirilloff in the outfield when necessary and Arraez spelling Polanco once in a while. Pick up Urshela's option and pencil him in at short next year until Lewis comes back (which it sounds like will be mid season). For the record, my first hope is we sign Correa long term. It would prove we are all in and might convince other free agents to come, kind of like when we had Cruz the first year or two. But if we decide not to put the money and the years out there that it will take, now would be the time, not waiting for him to opt out, because every year he waits is one less year on the career long term deal he will get, or one more chance to get hurt before he gets it; he isn't going to go year to year here. Boras won't allow it. Throw in one good prospect as well and we could get a return that would help the pitching staff get us over the hump in a pretty weak division and help in October. But, again, it all boils down to can we sign Correa long term, and, if not, what is the return coming back? Otherwise keep the team intact; I don't see anyone else bringing a return worth the breakup.
×
×
  • Create New...