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Kwak

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Everything posted by Kwak

  1. Kwak
    "...need a superstar big bat..."--are there any teams that don't need one of them? "They are a key injury away..."--I'm guessing there aren't many teams that wouldn't be deeply affected by one. In fact, I think the Twins fall squarely in that class that needs a superstar big bat and most definitely don't need a key injury.
  2. Kwak
    NO! Omit the extension and Hughes has several years of success as a starter including the especially good season with the Twins. May has one month of stink in 2014 and 3 months of mediocrity in 2015 as a starter.
  3. Kwak
    It is difficult to admit failure--but it is inevitable. The question is: do it in Spring training or wait until May/June? The write-up on these guys was oh so kind. "While no one thinks or expects to put up the numbers in 2014...". Since he isn't an OF ("...Hunter will spend a lot of time...") and now it is accepted he won't hit much--he should receive a spot on the active roster? At 25 he is no kid--and his ceiling is as a bench player who isn't much defensively and can't hit--why keep him? There are many better options on the team. Arcia--he can't play either corner--he can only be inserted there (like Willingham was) and hope they don't hit the ball his way. "He catches most of what he gets to..."--so do little league kids. As a hitter, he "disappoints" (to be gentle) and quite frankly there are many better options in the minor leagues for the OF. Tonkin--relief pitchers cycle in performance frequently. If he has a strong Spring--keep him. Else, cut him loose, there are lots of good candidates in the system. In short, very little time should be spent on bench players. If they don't quickly succeed--cut them!
  4. Kwak
    Neither Hicks nor Buxton were "rushed"--they simply learned one of life's lessons--success doesn't come easy! Virtually everybody stumbles in life (Einstein even flunked math once!) and adjustments must be made. Sadly most of life's success come with overcoming hardship, sailing calm waters just isn't possible everyday. Should Buxton start this April? Taken as a standalone problem of Buxton as the long-term CF--then yes. Ah, but Buxton and CF aren't the only issues that need to be addressed. There is LF and RF to decide. Where to put Sano? Is Arcia viable anyplace? Or is he destined to be DFAed? Rosario--a flash-in-the-pan (like Santana in 2014 or Scott Diamond in 2012)? Or is he 2016's version of D. Santana? Or, is Rosario a fixture in the OF? As a starter? or as a reserve? More time and information is required which includes the performance of other players in order to decide. Sano? OF, DH? Which? To say 3B is as much of a crapshoot as RF--DH is the only place where the Twins can safely deploy him. Thus, the CF decision is not as simple and straightforward as Buxton. These threads are woven with each other. The optimum solution for the team will likely not be optimum for one position or certainly player.
  5. Kwak
    Instead of cut and paste--I summarize: The entire first paragraph of the Rosario section supports why he is a viable candidate to be the Twins starting CF in April. Then a sentence fragment dismisses him as "less than ideal..." without any supporting evidence. Huh? If the ideal is Griffey Jr. or Trout, or Willie Mays clones--then at least say so--rather than leave us dangling with an empty "less than ideal". In that scenario, every Twins CF candidate is "less than ideal" (and everybody knew that) but still is a very good choice. Given that "a good look" is likely for certain players for the corner OF (before deciding said player belongs someplace else than in the Twins OF) Rosario is the best option to accomplish all of the following: have a viable CF to start the season, "season" Buxton in Rochester, give suitable "looks" to these "bat first" (IMO "bat only") players in RF and LF.
  6. Kwak
    I agree--you are an optomist. I am just hoping the Twins have one catcher to keep.
  7. Kwak
    Despite all of Suzuki's struggle last year--he was still the best catcher in the franchise! Hmm, sounds to me like there might be an elephant in the room.
  8. Kwak
    I hearing the choir in chorus!
  9. Kwak
    "...that Quentin will need minor league time." For what? Instead of who--the real prospects that the Twins have (Kepler, ABW, Buxton, and many other names included in the OF "prospect" thread. Are these the guys that sit so Quentin "can play"? If Quentin needs "time"--let him play for the Saints.
  10. Kwak
    The Twins are loaded with real ML prospects in the OF--more than they can actually play! They need to be evaluated and separated into two groups--the future and those to be traded for help elsewhere (3B, C, and always pitching). Every inning, AB, fly ball, practice time used (wasted!) on guys like Quentin is one less opportunity to evaluate the prospects and make the necessary decisions. The "silver medalists" must be ascertained before the rest of MLB also determines that they don't "have it" and their trade value disappears. The Phillies decided Meyer didn't "have it"--and traded him for a useful ML CF (Span) while the Twins are still trying to determine what to do with Meyer. Similar logic applies to the Twins' MiL OFers--wait too long and you wind up with nothing.
  11. Kwak
    There is no connection between Park and Quentin. Maybe Park only has the skill level of a AA player--I don't know one way or the other. But that doesn't alter the (non)relevance of Quentin. It's decision's like this that make me conclude this Front Office is better suited for a team like The St.Paul Saints than for any major league team.
  12. Kwak
    There certainly are a lot of names listed--many of them who were touted as "top-of-the-rotation" pitchers. It seems that a very good bullpen resides in this group. I hope the FO doesn't panic, or get bogged-down in shibboleths like BB/9, K/9, or mph, but focuses on actual success on the mound. I find it curious that so many posters are certain that internal options (rookies, minor leaguers, ) in "starter" ranks (position as well as pitcher) will definitely succeed (often stated as excel) but that the one-out to one-inning guys must be premium-priced veterans.
  13. Kwak
    Leading off with: "They went from the worst starting staff in baseball to merely being in the bottom quadrant." Parsing this--merely in the bottom quadrant--like "hey, no big deal. We're good [enough]." Oh so many posters got bent out of shape because of the bullpen--specifically a LOOGY--yet here is a far more serious problem! Continuing with "...depth in AAA and AA..." The only "depth" I see (and smell) is the BS about what (who) are at these crucial levels. These guys were "glossed-over" with references to many who will be promoted from the A ball levels--presumably to replace those beginning the season at AAA and AA levels. At best, depth = placeholders. Then, we read in Summary: "...but there are a lot of #3's and #4's...". Are we to infer (considering the quote about the cost of pitchers) that this is "a good thing", or is the statement an explanation of why the starting staff is in the bottom quadrant (wretched)?
  14. Kwak
    I reject the entire premise: " ... have a glaring need for left-handed relievers." RP's aren't even the #1 need for the entire team, much less LHed ones. Scoring runs in key situations was far more important--putting an opponent away when having the lead. The throwing arm of a pitcher isn't key--it's whether he succeeded or failed. The top pitchers (RP or SP) succeed not because they are (or are not) LH. The "need" for LH pitching is simply a crutch (excuse?) posed by management--a "slippery slope argument". The Twins have lots of RP-candidates in their system--it's time to use them. I readily admit this argument is useful for a blog to elicit discussion--but little else. To recommend spending on mediocre pitchers because they are LH is self-defeating--read the discussions on certain Twins starting pitchers as examples.
  15. Kwak
    CF: If the Twins believe Buxton needs more seasoning before handing him the job (frankly there is plenty of evidence supporting that position) it makes far more sense to put Rosario in CF than anybody else. Santana "success" in 2014 wasn't in the field--it was as a hitter. As a CF he was over-matched--throws off-line and circuitous routes. Showcase his ability as an all-around OF and be prepared to trade him next year if Buxton "takes ownership" of CF. RF/LF: Clearly Sano will play someplace, but it's backa**ward to award major league jobs on the basis of "he's out of options". I earnestly hope that ABW and/or Palka step-up and show that they are true sluggers so that one of them become a starting OF and provide another source of consistent power-hitting. Kepler will likely become a more "rounded" type of player--and there will be two corner OFers in the line-up! So, no need to worry about him. You ask "well what about Rosario?" (and others). This is why executives get paid--to make the tough decisions. Select the starters--and trade "the silver medalists" while they have considerable value. Stockpiling "options" because an executive is afraid to make a mistake (or just needs a security "blankee") is destructive to the franchise. Only nine are in the field, and talent can't be wasted on "options". The "2nd place" talent must be exchanged for youth to maintain a constant reloading of talent.
  16. Kwak
    Meyer is a failed starter. The Randy Johnson straw man is obscuring reality. Meyer is more like Jim Hoey. Give him time in Rochester's pen and ascertain if he can command the strike zone. If Meyer can't command, he is just a thrower and not a pitcher. Beware, there are lots of prospects coming up the system and the Twins must not let pride and the shame of a failed trade block better talent from promotion.
  17. Kwak
    Honesty and Twins PR? Oil meet water.
  18. Kwak
    Could the Twins have multiple closers? Of course--but that isn't part of the Twins' way. For many years the Twins have operated with a defined closer, 8th inning guy, 7th inning guy, LOOGY, long-man, etc. Will they change that philosophy? I doubt it. They are more likely to simply reassign personnel in each role that to craft a new bullpen philosophy. Question marks. As far as I'm concerned signing veteran free-agent relief-pitchers doesn't eliminate question marks--they simply make it easier to identify the guilty parties for failure. The Twins have many candidates for the bullpen (plenty of TD threads on that!) it's time to start using them. The 83-win season eliminated the losing streak and the pressure to stop the bleeding. Now is the window to complete the development and transformation of the Active Roster to one of a consistent winner--and that requires some risk-taking. Continue the internal promotions to build the consistent winner.
  19. Kwak
    I remember Mitch Williams coming in to close, walk the first three and then strike the next three out. BB's and for that matter, K's, are simply interesting statistics. What actually matters is--did the pitcher pitch a scoreless inning and get the "save"?
  20. Kwak
    OK. If [we] use the $118MM number, it's easy to see why a premium-priced relief pitcher wasn't signed to a contract. I conclude that the Twins viewed any debate between adding a hitter (Park) or a premium-priced relief pitcher (Bastardo) was an either/or but not both, decision.
  21. Kwak
    Mauer belongs in Hall of Very Good Players--period. Compare to Oliva/ Sure! Tony played Hurt--frequently. He had a finger so badly swollen the bat would repeatedly fly out of his hand if he swung and missed. Mauer--well, let's just say he spent a lot of time on the injured list. he mostly had knee problems. Did catchers have knee problems (and concussion-symptoms) in the 60's and 70's? Of course, but those guys played! Joe is a hometown favorite. It's great to be a huge fan--but was he great? Great players are leaders. Joe? I can't remember anybody extolling that quality in Joe (as a Twin). Post-season success? This is often cited as a huge factor in HOF consideration. Sorry, Joe doesn't have much. That sort of forces Joe to the Ted Williams/Ernie Banks model for HOF consideration. Sorry, Joe's numbers aren't at the level of those two.
  22. Kwak
    BB/9 innings shouldn't be the metric to evaluate RPs--try scoreless innings. The guy's job is to pitch one inning--especially a scoreless inning. If he walks someone--so what? Pitching around a batter (BB) can be sound strategy for a one inning stint--yet it will become a stat at the end of the season.
  23. Kwak
    Much of the discussion is based on the myth that KC wins because of their bullpen. NO! They are much better than that. Their team defense and speed is excellent permitting them to record the outs that should happen and some of those that appeared unlikely. They "gut things out"--frequently coming from behind to win. They "add-on"--not coasting but continuing to score. Contrast to Twins teams of the past (and dare I say 2015 also)--are teams of momentum. When things go well (like May) they really go well--but if the "wind shifts", the trend continues, witness the end of '11, '12, and '13. Character is developed over time--and the Twins need seasoning. Spending the owner's money for veteran pieces is fine--until he holds management accountable. The commitment to Park is comparable to the proposed level for Bastardo--if normalized out to 4 years. Which helps the Twins more--an every day hitter, or a one-inning set-up relief pitcher? As the article points out (OK it does read like a press release) there are plenty of options and one (maybe two) is all that is needed. The Twins bullpen is not wretched and the internal options also demonstrate management's commitment to careers for prospects. That provides incentives for the prospects to focus on success because their really is a path forward. The FO has boasted about their system--now rely on it!
  24. Kwak
    WAR is a fool's way to evaluate pay for players--it's spurious and ignores financial reality. Examine revenue streams. Things like merchandise specific to the player, cost to replace player, impact on broadcast (all media) revenue/ratings. Not long ago, Houston played a $25MM (or so) team--yet many revenue streams are unchanged. to say Plouffe is worth $20+MM is ridiculous. One win is not worth $10MM--Houston (and Miami) just proved that! In a roundabout way, so did Detroit. The 2016 salary (for Plouffe) misses the point--it's his future free agent salary--which will dwarf the 2016 numbers. Given such a lack of depth the Twins are basically forced to keep Plouffe--unless they trade some valuable players (youth) for 3B depth. Plouffe shouldn't be paid a qualifying offer--he's not worth it.
  25. Kwak
    I think Jim Kaat has a better chance through the Veteran's Committee than anyone who built their reputation as a Twin.
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