Jump to content
Our first free agents ranking has launched, click here to see the top 40+ names in free agency! ×
Twins Daily
  • Create Account

LA Vikes Fan

Verified Member
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    5,241

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    2

 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

2026 Minnesota Twins Draft Tracker: Picks & Bonuses

Forums

Blogs

Events

Store

Downloads

Gallery

Everything posted by LA Vikes Fan

  1. LA Vikes Fan
    Good attitude. What do you see as the two necessary additions? A bullpen piece and a bat?
  2. LA Vikes Fan
    Well, we started out well for these games but then just fell apart. It's hard to know what to make of this stretch where we are out out best player in Correa, two of our other "best" players haven't hit in a month (Polanco and Buxton), the IL is full, and our top two starters are on the shelf. Still, this stretch has been really bad offensively and the bullpen is starting to fail regularly. The starters have actually help up OK, but can't go even 6 innings most days. It's hard to see the bullpen or even the lineup improving in a real significant way although maybe the lineup could get better when guys get healthy. I think all of this shows that we just aren't very deep in the lineup, rotation, or bullpen and cannot withstand much attrition. I can still see us winning the division or getting a wild card given the weaknesses around us. Still, this should be a year to give experience to the next wave - Ryan, Ober, Duran, Alcala (when he's back), Larnach, Lewis, Kirilloff and Celestino. We just don't have the horses to be a real competitor this year so let's use this year to sow the seeds for a real competitive team next year.
  3. LA Vikes Fan
    Any rumors that Speer will get a shot during this time of need? I know there are 40 man issues but I see now as a possible time to give him a chance at 2B. Polanco needs some time to heal that ankle.
  4. LA Vikes Fan
    I was hoping Archer would improve over time, but I really question if it's going to happen. He just doesn't have the control one needs to make his arsenal of pitches work. It just doesn't work to have to throw 80-85 pitches to get through 4 innings for a guy with good stuff and Archer no longer has good stuff. He has to pitch to contact, induce weak conduct and throw 10-15 pitches for 5 or 6 innings to have any chance. He just isn't getting any better with his control and he won't be a passable starter until he does. Hey, we can't expect a lot out of a No. 5 starter but Archer isn't even making that mark right now. I think Archer is the guy Paddack was supposed to replace by now. Instead, I see Smeltzer as his replacement once Gray and Ryan are back, hopefully within a week for Ryan. I wonder if Archer can provide value in the bullpen given his inability to throw enough strikes. I hope he can, we need the help, but he isn't inspiring a lot of confidence. Second half rotation - Gray, Ryan, Ober, Smeltzer, Winder/Bundy/Archer, with the two losers either in the bullpen or released. I think the hope is Winder hits the #5 spot, and we keep one of Bundy or Archer as the #6 starter/long reliever, I don't see much of a trade market for either Archer; Bundy may be tradable as the second player in a package with a good but not great prospect to a mediocre team for a #3/4 type starter. .
  5. LA Vikes Fan
    That's right, we don't have to add Palacios to the 40 man since he's a Covid replacement. Great way to get a look at someone before having to use an option or DFA someone else. It would be nice to find a way to get that same kind of look at spencer Steer.
  6. LA Vikes Fan
    Looks like they called up Palacios. I'm guessing he's the SS, not Gordon so less need for an OF. Interesting choice. Shows that they prize defense over having Polanco at SS. I'm glad because if Polanco's ankle is barking now, it will just get worse if he ahs to play SS every day and Miranda is a bit of a train wreck at 1B.
  7. LA Vikes Fan
    Makes sense, particularly if Kepler is ready or only a day or so away. Miranda was actually starting to hit when he got demoted so he's the right choice. Kirilloff needs to show consistent pain free play and is still a ways away from that. It's Buxton and Gordon in CF.
  8. LA Vikes Fan
    Thanks for the interesting information. Sounds like we’ll see him again after the AS break between healing and a rehab assignment. the other thing I find interesting is the search for someone to blame. The FO, the manager. Maybe the team made a perfectly reasonable move with a guy who played CF in the Arizona fall league, who was hitting and showed great promise, and we just got unlucky? It happens. Let’s focus on the game and the team rather than blaming guys doing their job fairly well this year. Not every bad thing is someone’s fault.
  9. LA Vikes Fan
    No worries. I was just thinking forward - we need offense, maybe these guys might be a way to help that. Frankly, I think the way to improve the offense is to put Lewis in the lineup instead of Urshela, make Urshela the primary super utility and the RH 1B (since Arraez can't hit LH pitching), keep playing Larnach daily at DH or LF, and have Celstino and Garlick fight it out for ABs as the other LF/DH spot. Sanchez plays only C, no DH.
  10. LA Vikes Fan
    I used to Live in San Antonio years ago and still have family there. BBQ? Rudy's, BBQ Station, Smokeshack, County Line. Depends on how up or down scale you want to go. Payne's in Burnet, Opie's in Spicewood, Alice's in Dripping Springs, and the Switch in Austin also worth your time.
  11. LA Vikes Fan
    I know about that. My point was that these 3 guys may be our best OF at the plate without considering the other issues. Maybe we use these 3 guys plus Buxton regularly in the OF, with Kepler playing 1B, or even better have Garlick play 1B in a platoon with Arraez and the one of these 4 guys sitting is the DH. The lineup needs a boost at the plate. I'm wondering if more regular playing time for Garlick and Lewis might provide that boost. By the way, I read that Kirilloff is still feeling pain in his wrist, even though he is overpowering AAA pitching. I think he's still a ways away unless it's a real emergency and another surgery would not be surprising.
  12. LA Vikes Fan
    Interesting OF lineup. Arguably better hitting group = Lewis, Garlick and Larnach. Better defensive group = Buxton, Kepler, Celestino. Latter group better overall but we do need some offense.
  13. LA Vikes Fan
    You're right, and it's Lewis up, Maranda down. Nothing on Kepler. Looks like they might be giving Garlick some run by starting him against RH pitching. Interesting... bigger part of the team? Showcasing him for a trade?
  14. LA Vikes Fan
    No, my bad. It's Lewis up, Miranda to St. Paul. Lewis in CF, Garlick in RF, Larnach in LF today.
  15. LA Vikes Fan
    MLB App has Lewis starting today in RF and hitting #7. Sounds like Kepler to the IL although I haven't seen an announcement.
  16. LA Vikes Fan
    MLB app has Lewis starting in RF and hitting #7. Sounds like Kepler to the IL.
  17. LA Vikes Fan
    The offense is what separates us from being the solid #3 in the AL. Last night was a great example. Bases loaded, productive out leads to a tie score, and the hitters are Miranda and Gordon against a nasty reliever. Both hitters are young and learning and it would be a good learning experience for young up and coming guys on a non-contending team. But that isn't what we want to or should be. We're a contending team. That's why I say the lineup is a hitter or two short. My take? I would rather that those two spots were Lewis and Kirilloff (but only if his recent surge is real). To me, that's the kind of marginal improvement we need to be making if we want to take this year seriously. I know it's tough because unless we make a trade, Gordon is probably good enough that he would get claimed if we DFA him. Still, I think his days are numbered any way. Bring up Lewis for Miranda and give Arraez and Garlick or Sanchez First Base until we think Kirilloff is really ready. When he is, try to either package Gordon and a decent prospect for a reliever or trade him for prospects to create the spot for Kirilloff. Lewis is in a 3B/LF/DH grouping with Urshela, Garlick and Larnach until then.
  18. LA Vikes Fan
    Somewhere between 4 and 6 behind Houston, the Yankees - both clearly better- and Toronto. The Blue Jays rotation and lineup are both better than the Twins. We are right there with the Angels, Rays and White Sox in that second tier. I thank for the Twins to move up to the first year is entirely dependent on that lineup hitting better. The rotation is what it is and unlikely to get better. I think the bullpen will be fine with one more arm that we could pick up for prospects at the trade deadline. The way to get better is to get more offense. There is a possibility that the lineup could get better if Buxton remembers how to hit, and one or two of the Lewis, Kirilloff and Steer group comes up to replace Miranda, Gordon and/or Urshela. Correa Is actually hitting about what you would expect, his value is that he hits like this and plays gold glove defense at a premium position at the same time, and I don’t think we can expect a lot more out of Polanco, Sanchez, Jeffers, Urshela, or Kepler other than marginal improvement. We need another bat or two so we can stop playing the backup catcher as the DH. Those two guys should only catch and the DH spot should then be available for Arraez or one of the starters taking a half-day with one of those three AAA guys playing the field. I hope we call up at least Lewis and Kirilloff within the next 2-3 weeks and they give the offense a boost.
  19. LA Vikes Fan
    interesting article. It sounds like "active rest" is exactly what the Twins are doing wiht Buxton. It also looks like a 10 day Il stint isn't going ot help much and may even be counterproductive. It seems like what they're doing may be the right to do.
  20. LA Vikes Fan
    Like this idea. It's only 10 days and the next 8 are games against KC and Detroit. He would probably miss the Toronto series 6/3-5, although he could come back on 6/5, and be ready for the Yankees at home starting Tuesday, June 7. This would give him time to hopefully clear things up through the All Star break.
  21. LA Vikes Fan
    I agree I think that's exactly what they intend to do. He has played four games at AAA, 2 at SS, and 1 at both 3B and LF. I would expect a similar situation in their six games this week (he played SS last night) and then I think he's back as a super utility player.
  22. LA Vikes Fan
    I could actually see the Twins trading Gordon individually or as part of a package for a non-40 man A ball type with potential but not a premium prospect. He has hit and played SS well enough that I can see a weaker team looking for a young shortstop taking a chance on him or a better team in desperate need of a utility guy being willing to give us at least a little something for him. I like him as a player but given what we've seen so far from Lewis Gordon's value to the team is a little superfluous so I think his days are numbered.
  23. LA Vikes Fan
    Bummer on Ryan. Good thing we have at least a little SP depth. I guess the silver lining is that we can't expect Ryan to throw more than 130 - 150 innings this year given how few he threw last year so I was always expecting that he would start 25 – 28 games, not 32 – 35 games. This might be a good way to limit his innings now during this stretch against weak teams and then probably do it again in say August.
  24. LA Vikes Fan
    Chemistry is one of those ephemeral things that is very hard to measure but actually seems to make a big difference on sports teams. I guess is like any other group effort at work; that effort tends to be more successful if the participants get along well and really work for the group rather than for their individual glory. For some reason, this team seems to have good chemistry and that tends to create success (or is it the other way around?). I think that's a very important part of their success so far this year. What's the big difference? I would say adding Carlos Correa and Josh Donaldson playing somewhere else. I also think losing Eddie Rosario last year killed the team in the clubhouse because I think he was their leader. Correa has taken over that mantle.
  25. LA Vikes Fan
    I concur. It looks like Buxton is playing through an injury. His swing is off. Maybe a 10 day IL stint would help?
×
×
  • Create New...