LA Vikes Fan

While we need a replacement for the second half of last season Kepler, I think we may have that in a healthy Kirilloff. So far, Kepler has not been that replacement and the 2.5 years prior to last July suggest he is at best a 50/50 shot to be that guy. I wanted to DFA Kepler in June, 2023, and then really enjoyed Max's 2023 second half. I think it is unlikely and perhaps very unlikely that we will see that again. The replacement for Kepler is Kirilloff, with Kepler back to being the no. 7/8 hitter he's always been. What we need is a #5 hitter who can play either 1B, DH, or OF. None of the older guys can be that guy - Margot, Santana, or Farmer - and Castro has been around long enough that we now know he's not an MLB regular, he's a good UTL. The hope was Wallner would take the step to be that guy if Kepler regressed back to his mean. Wallner hasn't and likely won't the first half of this year. He needs to go back to AAA, clear his head, and fix his swing. Where does that leave us? We need one of Miranda, Martin, Larnach, or Keirsey to step up and be that guy or it's going to be a long season. I like the fact that we're giving some ABs now to Martin and Miranda. I hope they play every day through this tough stretch of schedule so we can assess what they bring to the table. I would send Wallner down and promote Keirsey or Larnach now while Kepler is out. I would then play the promoted every day in RF with Martin in LF, Kirilloff at 1B or DH, and Miranda at 3B or DH. Santana, Margot, and Castro can play 2-3 days a week in advantageous matchups. NOW is the time to do this. We need to know if this team can compete without Lewis. Santana, Margot, and Castro aren't going to tell us that; they aren't good enough. We need to see if Miranda, Martin, Larnach and/or Keirsey are.

At least Martin looks like a starting OF. Much as I dislike Santana, put him in at 1B, Kirilloff in RF, and Miranda at 3B. Sit Wallner or send him down.

Tough call. Keirsey if Lewis is going on the 60 day IL. Otherwise, Larnach comes off of the 7 day IL on Friday. Or even better, DFA Tonkin to create 40 man room.

Time for Wallner to get a re-set in AAA. He's mentally not there.

Am I the only one wondering if maybe Varland should be in the bullpen? He doesn't seem to have it as a starter.

Tonkin is the man because they can use him for a few days and then DFA him when Theilbar is ready next week. If they bring up one of the Saints B starting relievers or Henriquez, they then have to DFA someone for Theilbar next week who they might want to keep. Tonkin is here because he only cost cash and he can go bye-bye early next week without losing someone in whom they have an investment. Teh other way to do it would be to put Lewis on the 60 day Il but I think they're still hoping he can come back by mid-May.

Good to see Miranda playing, at least hitting tonight. Same for Martin and Kirilloff. Given all of our injuries, let's use this time to find out if these guys can play rather than doing out ABs to Santana, Margot, and Farmer. We already know they can field but don't hit a whole lot. In other words, they are bench depth. Now Wallner, on the other hand . . . let's hope this is just a slump. After the playoffs, ST, and the start to this season, it's starting to look like a trend; a bad trend.

I'm hopeful that the FO and Baldelli see the problem and are trying to address it, albeit with mixed results. The two FA acquisitions are both contact oriented - Santana struck out 16.8% of his PAs last year and Margot 16.3%. They just called up Miranda and Rocco was quoted saying his bat to ball skills and lower SO rate are important additions to the lineup. Correa is typically in the low 20s% and Kirilloff is about the same. Kepler was at 21% in his breakout year last year, less than 20% when he couldn't hit. Julien is fixable if he'll just expand his zone 5% on the corners and actually swing at low strikes. The real problem children are Buxton, Jeffers and, of course, Castro and Wallner. Buxton and Jeffers hit enough for power and provide the defense to make up for it, and Castro is a reserve for a reason. Any more than 300 ABs for Castro means we have a problem. I think the short term solution is fairly obvious - (1) play Miranda at 3B, not Castro who is a 2-3 day a week UT, (2) hope Julien snaps out of his funk or play Martin more at 2B, and (3) send Wallner to AAA until he finds a groove. I know #3 will hurt some of the group since he's a local boy and had a great month last September but he didn't hit in the playoffs (41% SO rate), didn't hit in ST (38% SO)and isn't hitting now (53% SO rat ) - his combined SO rate in those 3 time periods is well over 40%. He's been figured out and cannot seem to adjust. You can't have a Sano plus black hole in the lineup. A lot of guys need a AAA re-set as they develop, I think he's one of them. Keirsey is hitting in AAA and has a historical 25% SO rate. So, send Wallner down when we need another relief pitcher or now for Keirsey, play Miranda every day and see if he can repeat 2022, limit Castro's time, and hope Julien and Jeffers get it together and soon. I don't see a lot of other options other than a trade and it's too early to get anybody any good. My other option? Send Larnach, Keirsey, Schobel or any body else that they want not named Lee or Festa, plus Santana (salary) to Miami and get back Arraez. Pipe dream but it would help.

Cool. I hope he shows well and gets some more run against both righties and lefties.

I like it. He can be the DH if nothing else while Kirilloff plays 1B or the OF. It would be great to see him taking away at bats from Santana, Margot and Farmer. I hope he starts today. They can send Martin back down if/when the need another BP arm since they aren't gloing to play him anyway. Play Kirilloff every day at 1B or in the OF (including aginst LH pitching), cut back on using Santana (never DH him, he can't hit), and make Margot what he was always intended to be - a 2 or 3 day a week fill in for CF and a defensive replacement.

I don’t think the issue is Miranda vs. Martin. The issue is Wallner looks lost at the plate (6 SOs in 12 PAs hitting .125) and Kepler is actually worse (.059 BA, .118 OPS). Normally you say it’s early and they’re just off to a slow start, and that may turn out to be the case. But it might not. It’s worrisome because neither has shown a lot in the past. Wallner had a great September last year, a lot of it against weak pitching as teams tried out, young players, but he was horrific in the playoffs, awful in spring training, and abysmal so far this year. Kepler was bad for basically 3 1/2 years and then had a great second half of last season. While I don’t think either players this bad, the bottom line is they may not improve a whole lot and that puts a serious hole in the lineup since I think a plan for them hit in the five and seven holes. I would shake things up but slightly differently. I would send Martin down and bring up Miranda. I would give Wallner about another week and then send him down if he can’t get going, telling him he’s back as soon as he gets it going AAA. I would bring up Keirsey and give him a shot in left field in a platoon with Margot, who only plays vs. left-handed pitching and does not come in when the opposition puts in left-handed reliever. Miranda plays DH and third base with Castro at 3B some and Farmer back on the bench most nights, playing second base against left-handed stars only. Farmer cannot hit much and does not hit right handed pitching at all. This does sacrifice a little defense at third base but we need offense more. The only way they’re going to get it is to give the guys who are hitting it. AAA shot. By the way, I would also sit Santana and play Kiriloff every day at first base or sit Kepler.

Why is Sands in the Majors again? I've forgotten.

Abd Santana strikes out by swing at Ball 4 twice in a row. This is exciting baseball! I just don't understand why this team doesn't draw better attendance. . .

At least Correa can hit. We need to get him up with men on base. Hard to do when he's hitting behind a guy hitting .077 with an .077 OBP.

Funderburk's line looks much better than his pitching. He did not look good at all.

Poor Pablo. Leaves down and is followed by Funderburk and Sands. Chances of holding the line se we can come back? Not so good.

Another fine Kepler AB. Thank goodness for the wild pitch. Kepler needs to be hitting 7 or 8, not 4. I'll throw in today's hot take - DFA Margot, option Wallner, call up Keirsey and Larnach, play Kirilloff at 1B, put those two in the OF.

Anyone else think Wallner may need a trip to AAA to re-find his swing? He didn't hit in the playoffs (8ABs, 5 SOs), didn't hit in ST, and now isn't hitting at all in the regular season (8ABs, 6 SOs). I know its early but he is really struggling. .

While I don't necessarily agree with your choice chpettit19, I think you accurately presented the choice. We could have signed a Hoskins type (assuming he would come here) at the expense of having a bench full of Miranda, Martin, Severino, Keirsey, Goodrum, Balazovic, etc. types at the end of the roster. Instead, the Twins spent the same money on Santana, Margot, and Farmer and is starting Santana and playing the other 2 quite a bit. I think the Twins strategy definitely raises the floor by giving you injury protection and proven performance, but it lowers the ceiling because you don't have the one big bat like Hoskins and you don't get the unexpected breakout of a young player. I think in this division it makes more sense to raise the floor but it's a close call. 90 wins should win this division; 87 probably will. Better to get that division win knowing that your bench will see limited time in the playoffs absent injury. I get it; it's the conservative approach that helps this year but not in 2025. Still, I have to wonder if we aren't selling ourselves a little short by not auditioning Miranda, Larnach, Lee, and Martin at 250-300 ABs apiece this year. Detroit is coming on and may be a real competitor next year. We'll need those guys next year because Kepler, Santana and Margot will be gone unless we sign some more retreads next year (unlikely with the jump in payroll coming in 2025 for the current group). I'm more of a "let's go for it this year with Correa and Buxton healthy because next year isn't promised" guy but I can see the other side and it is tempting. Too late now but other similar opportunities may arise.

Well, news just broke that Clevinger signed wiht the White Sox of all teams. The terms were not disclosed. Why he would go to a bottom dweller is a bit of a mystery. We may find out when we find out the terms.

The lack of news on Clevinger is odd. The Mets had a starter go down and they are supposedly talking with Julio Teheran. No one is reported to be negotiating or talking to Clevinger at all. He turned down a $12m option if memory serves. Maybe he just wants too much money?

Hilarious. I hope there's follow up during the season when scoreboard mistakes are made. I want to know if Sully is able to take Cunningham to the next level. Lord knows we need it; it's going to be a tight race this year. By the way, celerity look alike for Lou Hennessy - Richard Thomas as John-Boy on The Waltons.

Well said. The trade ws basically Polanco for Topa and Gonzalez. Seattle forced DeSclafani and $4m of his salary on the Twins, for which we received Bowen. If one looks at BTV, Topa is 7, Gonzalez 11, Bowen .4 (DeSclafani was 2.8 but he is effectively a negative number for the Twins this year), and Polanco is a 9.4. Throw in $4m effectively being paid by the Twins to take DeSclafani and the Twins are a little ahead. I know some of you don't like BTV but it is objective and fairly authoritative, certainly more than any of our own at best semi-informed analyses. Basically, Polanco for Gonzalez would have been a fair straight up trade and we got Topa and a flyer on top of that in return for taking on a $4m obligation. Not a bad deal at all., some might even call it good. There are a lot of moves the FO has made that one can criticize, but this isn't one of them.

I don't think Miranda is throwing across the diamond yet so I think he is limited to 1B/DH.

I like it. Get Julien and Castro in the lineup every day as the 1 and 9 hitters. Farmer can hit for Julien against a tough LH starter (would like to see Julien getting ABs against lesser LH pitching). Martin plays 3-4 days a week in LF while Kepler goes to DH to heal his knee bruise, then as the 4th OF replacement for guy who goes to DH for a half day off.