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Otto von Ballpark

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Everything posted by Otto von Ballpark

  1. Otto von Ballpark
    JJ Hardy was demoted to AAA in on August 12, 2009. He was having his worst MLB season at the time, and the Brewers promoted BA's #19/#12 overall prospect prospect to directly take his place, Alcides Escobar -- and Escobar did in fact outperform Hardy in terms of OPS the rest of the year. Hardy was also recalled immediately when rosters expanded on Sep. 1, 20 days later. Of course, the Brewers also didn't keep Hardy around to deal with any potential acrimony -- they traded him for Carlos Gomez basically as soon as the offseason started (Nov. 6). So even if holding down Buxton was easier to justify, it could be a bigger deal down the road for the Twins.
  2. Otto von Ballpark
    All of those guys had service time manipulation at the very beginning of their careers. If you have never promoted a player to your MLB roster before, you can pretty much always find a justification for keeping them in the minors. And the player can't do much about it, because he is not even in the MLBPA yet -- he is not the union's primary concern. Not so with a player like Buxton. The Twins have promoted him to MLB several times already. To skip out on a promotion after the minor league season ends, the Twins would need a reasonably compelling reason, or they probably could expect Buxton and his union to file a grievance. I expect the Twins could present such a reason, but if Buxton demonstrates health and good performance at AAA, it will be tougher. And it could be acrimonious.
  3. Otto von Ballpark
    Isn't this kind of Odorizzi's M.O. this year? Some decent, not very deep starts mixed in with some poor ones? He still hasn't recorded an out in the 7th inning all season, didn't even complete 6 last night....
  4. Otto von Ballpark
    Okay, this would probably invite a service time grievance. Seriously, I think it is easier to justify the "falling just short" thing at the start of a player's career, before they have been added to the roster. Harder to hold back vets -- they've met your requirements for a call-up numerous times before, just not now until they are 1 day past a service time threshold?
  5. Otto von Ballpark
    Unless his performance is off the charts, I am not sure that claim would mean much. The reasons for his initial demotion this year would still be largely applicable in September, maybe more so with the continued health struggles. Buxton is also arb eligible this winter. Maybe we settle at whatever his side submits to stay in his good graces and sidestep a service time grievance?
  6. Otto von Ballpark
    A good night for Rochester is definitely better than a bad night, but worth noting that Gordon and Vargas had good nights at the plate too. Buxton really needs a series of good nights down there.
  7. Otto von Ballpark
    So with that 2019 option remaining, it is still possible to get that extra year of team control, even if they recall him this September. If they recall him after Rochester's season concludes, it looks like he would finish this year with 3 years and 14 days service time. If he was optioned for at least 29 days in 2019 (or 2020), we'd get that extra year too. A little trickier, but not implausible, especially if we acquire another outfield option.
  8. Otto von Ballpark
    You are correct -- Buxton has only burned options in 2016 and 2018, so he has one left for 2019 or beyond. In 2015 he spent fewer than 20 days on optional assignment; in 2017, he wasn't optioned at all -- just rehab. Roster Resource agrees -- they show Buxton with 2 options left (they haven't deducted his 2018 one yet). https://www.rosterresource.com/mlb-minnesota-twins/
  9. Otto von Ballpark
    You sign something pledging to be a designated driver (don't worry, you don't actually have to do anything to fulfill that obligation!), and they give you a coupon for a free regular soda at any concession stand.
  10. Otto von Ballpark
    Kepler's expected wOBA is .332, which is a career high for him but not notably above league average of .328. Benintendi is at .380 this season, also a career high. (The league has been trending up every year since this started being tracked in 2015.)
  11. Otto von Ballpark
    Probably not on its own, no. (Keep in mind I have no problem with Rodney.) Although it would be refreshing to see a ballplayer point down to the ground for a change, acknowledging the contributions of Hades and the underworld.
  12. Otto von Ballpark
    FWIW, Oakland claimed Rodney for middle relief. The M's picked up Colome for middle relief earlier this year too. I am not an expert on their roster, of course -- it could certainly be that they just want a starter. But Ervin doesn't look particularly appealing yet.
  13. Otto von Ballpark
    The Marlins wouldn't offer it. Seriously, they don't really need payroll relief anymore. And neither of those contracts is particularly onerous for them (both expire after 2019).
  14. Otto von Ballpark
    Maybe they're looking at Ervin, and Shields, and Estrada, etc. Acquiring one might preclude acquiring a different one, so they probably can take some time to evaluate. If it's just depth, and Erasmo Ramirez is capable of similar production at the moment, it's not exactly urgent to acquire one of the other guys. FWIW, they could probably use bullpen help too, especially if Ramirez is starting, and they apparently passed on claiming Rodney just a few days ago. So I am not quite sure what parameters they are working under. Is it? That's not what I've been reading here. Things aren't always so simple and linear.
  15. Otto von Ballpark
    I know you're joking.... but Murphy has more offensive upside than Mauer, he's a couple years younger, he's generally been healthier. Plus some versatility to be able to cover 2B if needed. I think you could justify it to the public without declaring martial law.
  16. Otto von Ballpark
    True, although May will finally be out of options next spring, so he can be reasonably confident he's not going back to Rochester anymore (he would be claimed if we tried to waive him). Not that it gives him much leverage to demand starting or anything. And FWIW, while he has spoken of a preference for starting in the past, he has moved to the pen in 2015, 2016, and now in 2018 without incident as fas as I know.
  17. Otto von Ballpark
    Has May expressed that recently? I wonder if he has changed his tune at all after his surgery. At the very least, he might be sick of the back-and-forth, which another return to starting now would represent.
  18. Otto von Ballpark
    Actually 3 years. Most good players like Gibson leave college after their junior season. Seniors don't have much leverage in the draft.
  19. Otto von Ballpark
    Gibson's first 47.2 innings at AAA, age 22-23, featured the same 21.7% K rate I quoted earlier (which was just his age-23 season there), versus a league average of 19.7%. In Stewart's first 45.2 innings at AAA, age 22-23, his K rate is 18.0% compared to a league average of 22.0%. There's no question that Gibson had a stronger baseline for missing pro bats at age 23 than Stewart.
  20. Otto von Ballpark
    Murphy's 2B defense has always been suspect. What about signing him for 1B, or DH? His bat could still play there -- his wRC+ marks in 2016 and 2017 were 155 and 136, respectively, and after a slow first month back from knee surgery this year, he's got a 161 wRC+ over the last 30 days too. Nice low K rates as well, which might be welcome in our lineup.
  21. Otto von Ballpark
    Outside food is definitely allowed. Generally no outside beverages, though: "Sealed, bottled water 32 oz. or less, and soft sided single juice or milk containers for children are the only outside beverages permitted into Target Field." https://www.mlb.com/twins/ballpark/information/guide I bring empty an empty water bottle and fill it up at a water fountain, and/or get a free soda coupon at the Designated Driver booths by sections 130 and 222.
  22. Otto von Ballpark
    Well, he was placed on the DL for this back in July, at which time he said it was "kind of a chronic thing" (as diagnosed by the physician Dr. Dre, I am sure ). https://www.twincities.com/2018/07/12/minor-hip-injury-lands-twins-morrison-on-10-day-dl/
  23. Otto von Ballpark
    I guess the thinking was, there wasn't a better alternative earlier than to hope Morrison comes around. But I agree, I probably would have used it as an opportunity to shake things up no later than mid-June somehow.
  24. Otto von Ballpark
    To be fair, we didn't have a double-digit deficit when the trades started -- we were 7 games back when the first trade went through. Still not that close, but you can perhaps see how a player like Ervin might think it wasn't as cut-and-dried of a decision as you suggest. (I think Ervin just threw out "10 games back" off the cuff because it was a nice round number, I wouldn't pick on it too much specifically.)
  25. Otto von Ballpark
    We actually don't have too many guys who need to be added to the 40-man. I think Graterol and Alcala don't need to be added until after 2019, contrary to Roster Resource. Here's the list I compiled in another thread: Gordon Wade Wiel Arraez Jay Stashak Vasquez Stewart and Reed were the only "bubble" guys I saw beyond that. So I think Stewart's 40-man roster spot is safe into 2019, even if he's not deemed ready for the 25-man.
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