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LA Vikes Fan

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Everything posted by LA Vikes Fan

  1. LA Vikes Fan
    I think you're right on the current approach but it would be nice to have another late inning option that you can count on to close. Morris throws hard, which helps this group a lot, but he is properly targeted as more of a long man given his starting experience. Is there anyone in AAA that could be a late inning guy/closer? Altavilla was good last year in ERA and throws 98, but his FIP was lousy and he's 33. Do you guys think Klein or Baker can pitch late innings in the majors? The other obvious choices are Prielipp and Matthews but I'd like to see both try to be starters first. We are going to need another late inning reliever or 2 by mid season if not sooner.
  2. LA Vikes Fan
    I like Martin's game on this team. We need guys on base or our collection of plodding power guys isn't very useful. He should be playing every day and absolutely should not be ceding ABs to Clemens, who cannot hit and is not part of the medium or long term future. Long term, Martin probably profiles as the 4th OF once the AAA guys arrive and at least one establishes himself. I like his defense in LF. I have to think with practice and coaching he has the tools to play an average or slightly above average CF. We need a backup CF now and we're going to need a new starting or backup CF in a few seasons. We should see if Martin can be that guy, even if Emma or Jenkins becomes the starting CF in a couple of years. I think he could be very valuable for the next 4-5 seasons as a 3rd/4th OF getting 400-500 ABs a year hitting .275-.300 with an OBP over .350 and a .375 SLG. He would even be more valuable if he could competently play 50 games a year in CF. That player can play on a winning team.
  3. LA Vikes Fan
    I think this is really the important issue. What we need to do is make sure that our priorities are straight on who plays most of the time. Clemens is not part of the long-term roster; he is at best a nice bench piece. Don’t find him at bats. Play Wallner, Larnach, and Martin against most right handed pitchers with Bell at first base. Clements can get an occasional start at first base in place a Bell or at DH in place of Larnach, but don’t put him in a regular rotation. He just isn’t good enough and he’s already 30 years old. Play the guys who hope to be part of the near to medium term future.
  4. LA Vikes Fan
    I think you’re right on Lewis. A knee sprain is not an insignificant injury. It’s also the kind of injury that needs to heal completely or there’s a very significant risk of re-injury, particularly since this is his plant leg which takes the heavy twisting force when he swings. I think he is probably out at least three or four weeks if not longer.
  5. LA Vikes Fan
    Agreed. I would actually like to see them play Kreidler at short 2 or 3 days a week with Lee or Gray at third. He is far and 80away the best defensive shortstop we have. I am very much with you on the outfielders. Martin is far from perfect, but he shows some real potential and should be playing regularly, not just in a platoon. Let’s see if you can hit .280 with a .375 on base percentage like he did for two months last year while playing good outfield defense. That’s hard to do if you want to play Wallner every day and still get Larnach into the lineup. This gets us back to the same roster construction problem that this team has, too many limited corner outfield types. I would like to see them make some kind of move to break that log jam by trading Larnach for a relief pitcher. If they did that, they could then bring up Roden, Emma, or GG, have Wallner DH at least half the time, and have Wallner, Martin, and the call up man the corner outfield spots. That does mean Josh Bell playing first base at least halftime, but I think that’s inevitable. The most likely result, though, is that they’ll leave things as is until there’s an injury of some kind. Sometimes these things have a way of working themselves out when someone gets hurt. I actually think what’s likely is that all of these moves to get the younger guys up will happen this year, just not as soon as many of us would like. I expect to see a much different roster by July.
  6. LA Vikes Fan
    Glad to see the Twins go for the 24 year old Morris rather than a waiver pickup/retread like Kent or Altavilla. This year is for development. Let’s see what the young guys can do. I get bringing up Kreidler for defense at SS and CF, and I hope it’s a prelude to sorting out the bench. We now don’t need Outman since Kreidler can back up CF. I’d really like to find a way to bring up GG or Emma and get them playing time. That probably means losing Outman and either Larnach or Clemens so we’re still a couple of steps away.
  7. LA Vikes Fan
    For your mouth to God's ears. I would do that deal.
  8. LA Vikes Fan
    We need a RH hitter and 1B is open First, pick up Christian Encarnacion-Strand, just DFA'd by the Reds. May not work, but has a chance. Was good in 2023, not so good in 24 and 25 due to injuries. Second, trade Larnach for a RH stick and/or bring up GG.
  9. LA Vikes Fan
    This. Martin needs to play so we can decide if he's part of the developing core or not. I know Bell stinks at 1B and Larnach can't play there but those are two facts we just have to live with. I'm willing to give up 1B defense so Martin can play regularly in LF. What I'm not will to do is trade Martin ABs for Clemens ABs, which is essentially what they're doing. Martin may be part of the near and long term future. Clemens is not.
  10. LA Vikes Fan
    Interesting, because at $13-15M a year, the case for paying Jeffers and retaining him is pretty compelling. I think the bigger issue might be whether he is willing to stay or will want to go to a team that has a larger competitive window. I wonder of the managerial shift will impact the Twins' ability to retain players. The little I've read suggests that Shelton is pretty charismatic. Where the money is roughly the same, I think players really think about whether the team is committed to being and staying competitive, where their family is comfortable, and where they are comfortable with management. I don't think a manager can cause a player to stay for $5m less a year, but it can really make a difference if the money is roughly the same. The Twins obviously have a long way to go to convince anyone that they are committed to being and staying competitive but if they can, Shelton may make a difference.
  11. LA Vikes Fan
    I'd actually like to bring him back. He was good in 2023 but hasn't played well the last 2 seasons, although that seems to be due to injury. I think he's better than Wagaman and we don't have a 1B at AAA or, for that matter, at the MLB level. He's also only 26 and I think has 2 options left. He's worth a a waiver claim or a minor deal to see if he can perform like he did in 2023. By the way, Steer is league average at best so I don't think any of the players from the Mahle trade have done a lot to help their new team. Here's the posting on CES == https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/04/reds-designate-christian-encarnacion-strand-for-assignment.html
  12. LA Vikes Fan
    Here's the link to see more about the move: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/04/reds-designate-christian-encarnacion-strand-for-assignment.html
  13. LA Vikes Fan
    I live in LA and my primary loyalty is to the Twins, but I root for the Dodgers (fun, go to 6-8 games a year) and the Angels (incredibly frustrating, my son drags me to a game or two a year). You think the Twins ownership is bad, you ain't seen nothing yet until you look at the Angels. Still, I have to admit I cheered for the Twins when they were out here last year playing the Dodgers. I've sought medical and psychological help for my Twins addiction but I've been told there is no cure, there is only hope through research.
  14. LA Vikes Fan
    The Reds DFA'd former Twin Christian Encarnacion-Strand (aka CES) for assignment today, His overall MLB stats are not great, but not horrible, and he is a RH hitting 1B. Probably as good as or better than Wagaman, and with more power potential. What does everyone think about bringing him back? It looks like he has one option remaining for 2026 and is in AAA now., although it's a little unclear. He's available on waivers and would need a 40 man spot if called up but not now. I say why not? Wagaman wasn't that impressive in ST and isn't hitting in AAA, so I say bring CES back.
  15. LA Vikes Fan
    Well put. I said at the time and still believe that this trade was the closest to a "win-win" of all of them and I still think that's the case. Bradley has been great so far, but is more likely than not to settle in as a good to very good #3 type starter. That's not easy to find, especially on a team controlled contract. Jax is a good high leverage reliever under team control, also something that isn't easy to find. The trade made sense because the Twins were/are rebuilding and Tampa has/had a chance to contend so each had different needs met by this deal.
  16. LA Vikes Fan
    Agree overall, but not sure why you say Kreidler would not be an upgrade on defense. I think the opposite is true - Kreidler would be a HUGE defensive upgrade at SS. The problem is that he just can't hit water if he fell out of a boat. We could send Lee down to work on his bat and call up Kreidler to give the pitching staff a quality defensive SS. The cost is 4 automatic outs a game - kind of like playing Outman except you get defense from Kreidler in addition to the golden sombrero. And 4 automatic outs are really only about half an out more than we get from Lee.
  17. LA Vikes Fan
    Agree with you on showcasing Larnach, but not on how to do so. The way you describe gets more ABs for Clemens at the expense of ABs for Martin and Roden, assuming a DFA switch of Outman for Roden. I want to see Martin in the lineup most every day supplemented by Roden, who can also back up Buxton and Wallner to get on the field 3-4 days a week, The only way I can see to do that and still keep both Bell and Larnach in the lineup against RH pitching is to play Bell at 1B most days. Clemens is not part of the medium or long term future of the Twins, so let's not give him the extra ABs. Let's give those to guys who might be part of that future.
  18. LA Vikes Fan
    I remember a lot of questioning on this board as to why Larnach (and Wallner) wasn't given a chance to hit LH pitching and try to be an everyday player. Well, he got a chance against LH pitching last year and didn't get better. I agree that the optimal way to use Larnach is to face righties only, to the extent that's possible, and mostly out of the DH spot. The issue is that doesn't work on this team unless Bell plays 1B every day (or at least against RH pitching). That also makes it hard to both play Wallner and give the present AAA guys plus Martin much of an opportunity to play. If the team was a contender, I would keep Larnach and try to squeeze out 2-3 more wins But we're not, not really even close to a contender. Miles away, in fact. Time to move on from players that are this limited and try guys who might be more. By the way, same goes for Lee and most of the bullpen.
  19. LA Vikes Fan
    We need to do something to jump start the offense. It seems like at the very least we should DFA Outman, call up Roden, and have 4 OFs playing 3 spots - Buxton, Roden, Martin, and Wallner. Larnach can be the LH DH/PH. and Bell needs to play 1B pretty much every day to get his bat into the lineup. I know we need to wait one more week for service time reasons, but it's time to give Culpepper a try at SS, with Gray a UTl, and Lee back in AAA trying to find his stroke. Move Buxton back to lead off - he just seems to hit better there. It may all be mental but that counts too. Run out a lineup of something like Buxton, Keaschall, Larnach/Wallner, Bell, Lewis, Wallner/Martin/Roden/Larnach, Jeffers, Roden/Martin, Culpepper. Caratini is the backup C/only occasional 1B, Clemens 5th OF/backup 1B playing 2 days a week max, Gray primary IF UTL. Consider a Clemens DFA so we can get Emma up and then play him. Not great, but better than what we're doing now, Here's another option. Send Lee down and call up Kreidler. Lean into the low scoring game thing with a SS who adds real value in the field. I know he can't hit MLB pitching but he's hitting in AAA so maybe he can get by at a roughly .200-.210 BA and add defensive value. Again, not great but at least it shores up the defense.
  20. LA Vikes Fan
    The Twins might be maximizing Larnach’s value, but to what end? His skills could have value on a decent team hoping to become a good/better team, but that’s not who the Twins are. We may only by 9 games in, but it is becoming pretty clear that this is a bad team in desperate need of full time starting talent. That kind of team needs to give opportunity to a new group of prospects ready to get their feet wet if they have them. We do in the OF. I have nothing against Larnach but he is in the way of playing the guys we need to play. He needs to be moved so Martin and Roden can play regularly and, if/when one or both fail, Emma, GG, and Jenkins can play regularly. That’s the only way this team has a chance to get better.
  21. LA Vikes Fan
    This. Caratini isn't on the team to play 1B, he's playing 1B on occasion until Jeffers is gone so he can do what he's really here to do - be the bridge catcher for the last half of 2026 and 2027. He's just playing more because we've faced 4 LH starters in 6 games. The real "bad fit" on this roster is having Larnach, Bell, AND Wallner on the same team. It's particularly bad if you can only play one of them in the field at a time which seems to be the situation. I'm not sure what the thought was if Bell isn't going to play 1B.
  22. LA Vikes Fan
    Agreed and maybe that means its time to put in someone new. Start with the SS position.
  23. LA Vikes Fan
    The obsession with Wallner is an unfortunate by product of our lack of game changing offensive players on this roster. Buxton is a good but not elite hitter, Keaschall ahs shown great potential, Jeffers is a pretty good hitter for a catcher (but not so much for any other position), and ......Well, that's pretty much it. We need a couple or really at least 3 of the following guys to become consistent, well above average hitters - Lewis, Wallner, Larnach, Lee, Martin, and the AAA guys. Having a wRC+ above 100 does not make one a consistent, well above average hitter. It's just a number that doesn't discriminate for situational hitting or consistency. Moreover, a guy with a wRC+ of 110 should be hitting in the 6 or 7 hole, not in the middle of the lineup. Wallner has not yet shown that he can be that consistent middle of the order hitter who drives in runs that we desperately need. Our problem is we got nobody else. Let's not pretend that Wallner is anything but a decent hitter with the potential to be more. That doesn't mean he should be replaced. On the contrary, he should play every day until we can see if he can become more. But if he can't show that in this his age 28 season, he probably won't be more and we should be looking for a replacement. Until then, we have to focus on him (and Lewis, Lee, Martin, Larnach, etc.) because we need him to be more if we have any hope of competence this year.
  24. LA Vikes Fan
    You're right, but I guess I don't want to wait a couple of months unless Lee shows some life at the plate at least. Right now, he's pretty much an automatic out and he provides negative defensive value at a key position. This team just doesn't have enough offense to survive without good defense. I almost want to play Kreidler for a month if we want to give Culpeper time so at least we get above average defense form the SS spot. With that bat, though..... almost.
  25. LA Vikes Fan
    That was trying to say that we will have a much better handle on Lee after 15-20 more games and we start a swing of 15 games in 15 days tomorrow.
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