Jump to content
Twins Daily
  • Create Account

PatPfund

Verified Member
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    666

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 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 Pick Tracker

Forums

Blogs

Events

Store

Downloads

Gallery

Everything posted by PatPfund

  1. PatPfund
    I can't believe how every day there is a new scheme to push Lewis to the majors. He needs to stay in St Paul until an everyday slot opens for him at his most valuable positi.... oh. Never mind. I'm pumped! (Though I want Correa back as soon as he can play, too.)
  2. PatPfund
    I heard the target market is someone who wants local sports, doesn't get (or want the extras on) cable, and likely trends younger. That absolutely nails me!!! (Well, two out of three, because 63 ain't the new 28.) I'll probably give it a wing for a few months. (Though I risk losing the time advantage I have over my TN friend. We watch (him)/listen (me), and I seem to have about 20 seconds to get 'future peeks/teasers/spoilers' in before he sees it happen.)
  3. PatPfund
    Well, it was always of some concern. It sounds kind of good when you say Sano has had an OPS+ of 105 for six of seven seasons, but all that means is he was 5% over league average in hitting while playing an offense-first position, and being among the worst defensively. For context, the better 1-baggers field better (because everyone else does if you are the worst), and have OPS+ numbers more in the 135-150+ range. I think Sano is the best option when healthy, but that says a lot about the limitations we have there. Hopefully Miranda hits (and fields better than his start), and things will look up. Not believing Alex is a factor until he shows he can hit with pop again.
  4. PatPfund
    I think the rotation is going to hold up pretty well not (just) because of the names mentioned, but because there is far more depth than in the past. Winder looks like a real starter in search of a slot (which he has now, and might not give up easily). Archer isn't mentioned here, and has better stuff than some who are. It isn't piling on after tonight's outing, but I do think Bundy is the most likely to not last; the game is slowing down for the hitters, and 89 mph fastballs get real marginal real quick. (You can find me elsewhere on the site in late April worrying Bundy might be like Geoff Zahn.) But even if he doesn't last as a starter, there are good-to-decent arms ready to step in and pitch now, or very soon. (Winder, Gray, Smeltzer)
  5. PatPfund
    The Twins have been half-decent lately (giggle), so injuries or recovery are the most likely factor if the call-up is a position player. I still wouldn't be counting on Kirilloff until he shows he can hit with the wrist discomfort (which he hasn't done yet in limited play; .200 average on 2/10, both singles). Doesn't sound like the Twins are going to rush that either when they talk about Miranda getting a lot of at-bats. Another outcome of being good; you just don't jump people straight from AA, so anyone in Wichita is more likely to go to St Paul. If Miranda can stick a while, I'd like to see Steer go to the Saints, and Encarnacion-Strand jump to the AA Wind Surge. Don't want to see Lewis moved around as I'm pretty sure he is the everyday shortstop of our future. (While Correa is definitely showing his full value now on D and at the plate, the Twins simply aren't the type of franchise that can afford the ten year deal Carlos is seeking, especially with a younger, cheaper replacement in the system.) The bullpen's early awfulness has been muted of late with a better sorting of roles, a few better outings, and lots of low-leverage mop-ups, but I suspect any non-injury need will be here. Moran will get a chance to stick, and while I think they have good 'non-prospect' options sitting in St Paul, Henriquez is intriguing as a prospect bullpen arm.
  6. PatPfund
    I'd rather see Miranda get a shot first (since his 2021 was spectacular, he has more AAA experience, and he actually plays positions of need like 1B). Lewis looks like a future star at SS, and he should be on max innings there instead of being rushed up to play out of position, and hit once in a while. Larnach looks like he's taking the next step (finally), and with Kepler, Correa, and now Polanco all having their bats wake up, the Twins no longer need to warp their top prospect's development to rush him (or Miranda) up to the bigs. Catcher is back to be the weakest part of the lineup, and that's okay with the rest of the order hitting.
  7. PatPfund
    1. Collegial supportive atmosphere that mixes individual effort fairly seamlessly with teamwork. 2. I grew up in a family with 8 kids, most of us playing various sports, several of us being coached at least a couple years by my Dad (in baseball). I don’t see a lot of separation here; I truly think one of the best lessons you can get from sports is how to work together for a common goal. It pays off outside the white lines, big time. 3. So far the chemistry looks good. Most of the imports are working toward bounce-back years, and most are doing that well and with smiles. Correa indicating he is interested in a long-term deal is a great early indicator. Chemistry is such that you can’t credit one area. The players have to be engaged (and Byron sets a great example), you have to have the right people (credit the front office there), and you have to have a supportive, respectful atmosphere with clear communication (and that is one of Rocco’s strengths). Things can turn, but good start! 4. I think chemistry exists outside of winning. Top of mind example would be the ‘80s Twins when a batch of young players came up together, and despite the beatings they took, hung together, and hung together, and then won a title in ’87. But just like in real chemistry, you can speed things up by adding the flame of winning, or potentially shatter them with the deep chill of being bad.
  8. PatPfund
    Winder for the reasons you give, Celestino for development as well. But this isn't just about numbers, the bullpen is an active problem right now, which is why people want Winder to stay. The Falvines have done a good job of stockpiling good arms, but they are in the wrong place, and that should change. We have players whose gutsy performances in lean times just aren't good enough any more, and they need to move so better players can make the team better. Stashak taking a role in St Paul doesn't appeal, because he is actively worse than several pitchers there. Minaya, Cotton, Smeltzer, Cano; three of those with good MLB experience. So no more Stashak chances with the Twins; switch him out for one of those players now (including on the 40-man). We've seen Cody's ceiling; if he has more he should prove it in St Paul or someone else's uniform. The same with Caleb Thielbar, though they don't even have to waive him, because he still has an option. Use it, DFA Vallimont, and call up one of the St Paul Four. Smeltzer is left-handed, but isn't it more important that the reliever is good? Isn't the left-right thing overblown in the 3 batter minimum MLB? I would give Duffey a bit (not much) more time, but the clock should also be ticking on that mess. When your team is crummy, you can play a personal favorite game, but the Twins actually appear to have a chance to be good. So use your best relievers, the ones you've worked hard to develop and accumulate, and have some tough, but needed discussions with once key players about their future here.
  9. PatPfund
    Though in all fairness, I was pretty pissed when I went to Tortuga Day in my new Tortuga shirt, and Rocco kept him out of the lineup. (Though he did get to pinch hit, and got hit, so all's well that ends well.)
  10. PatPfund
    One of the funniest things in life is how everybody thinks their job is hard, and everybody else's is easy. If MLB was just showing up in the afternoon, shagging a few flies on green grass, and taking a few cuts, you could stock the roster from any rec softball team in the state. Or any town ball team. But it isn't, and you can't (and if you played a townball roster 6-7 days a week for six months you would wreck them all). These players do things with their bodies (things nobody reading this can do) that have physical consequences, and then they have to come back and do them again the next day (or 90 minutes later for a double-header day). ALL of the successful managers work their benches to keep their players fresh, and their role players sharp. ALL of them. I have no idea how many players appeared in all games last season, but I'd be more shocked if it was 10 or more than if it were none. And frankly when I go to a game live, I much prefer to see my team win than amp about somebody getting a day off. And the Twins tied the game in question thanks in part to Godoy, and then they won it, thanks in part... again... to Godoy. (Who didn't even have a healthy replacement at a critical position if he had been lifted, and, say, Correa had come up and struck out.)
  11. PatPfund
    I get the Boston Globe and also follow the Red Sox, and I distinctly remember an article in Spring 2018 ripping new manager Alex Cora for potentially giving away May games for maybe the chance to have players fresh in the fall. (The Red Sox won the Series that year.) Lost a bit in all the 'what-ifs' and 'should haves' about Sunday's game is that the Twins won. And Godoy worked two good at-bats for walks, and scored two critical runs in front of Byron Buxton (who even credited the batters ahead of him for getting on, and getting him to the plate). Nobody wins a title without their bench contributing, and benches contribute only if they get play. (Different sport, but one reason I think the Timberwolves got seriously better this year, is when they lost their starters all at once, mostly under Covid rules, and had to live with their bench for a week or so. Eyes were opened.) I have a bunch of Rocco-issues, but this isn't one of them.
  12. PatPfund
    Vallimont may have future value as a reliever, but emphasis on "may" and "future". The Twins have serious bullpen issues in the majors right now, and right now they have non-40-man-roster pitchers (like Minaya and Cotton) who have already produced in MLB at rates far better than Vallimont has produced in AA. No realistic fast-track is going to leap him to the majors ahead of the two named (or Cano or Smeltzer or... well about 4-5 others). Right now he simply smells, and waiver wires are about to be clogged. The Twins should bounce him off the 40-man now at his low point and when others have a bazillion options, then work on a redemption scheme when/if he clears waivers. Because he WILL need to get bounced at some point this season, and if you do it after redeeming him to some extent (but when he is still a year-plus from the majors), and when waivers are relatively clear, you are far more likely to lose him.
  13. PatPfund
    Man, I hope he is on the verge. Because the difference between competitive Twins (somewhere 5 games either side of .500), and dynamite Twins (winning the division, and maybe even a playoff game! or series!!!!) is getting regular and solid contributions from Kepler and Sano. (And both gave rays of hope last night. Yep, Grossman probably should have caught Sano's line drive, but that was a solidly struck ball going with the pitch; two things that look great on Miguel.)
  14. PatPfund
    Not sure he is fine (yet), but it could also be as simple as he got used to saying nothing while out of touch, was super tentative in ST, then finally said something, saw a doctor, got a scan, and was told discomfort was coming from scar tissue, etc, and he couldn't damage it by playing. And got cortisone to deal with the immediate discomfort. (Having come back from a serious injury, it is fairly amazing the relief that comes from professional feedback like that. And how doubt can cripple/slow recovery if you aren't getting feedback.)
  15. PatPfund
    Great article, and you've identified some good arms to help. My order for call up would probably be Minaya (now; for late mostly single inning use), Cotton (now as a bridge following the starter or otherwise as circumstances dictate), and Cano (soon, as in 2-3 weeks). The crunch is definitely on for 40-man roster spots, but also the soon-to-be 26 man active roster, because none of them can help unless they are in the bigs, and that means somebody (somebodies) need to go. Assuming Winder is optioned as the pitcher who needs to go to get to 13 arms, the bullpen would be Coulombe, Duffey, Duran, Jax, Pagán, Smith, Stashak, and Thielbar. Plus one of the current starters if they are sticking with a 5 man rotation when Gray comes back. (Probably the end for Stashak unless Coulombe or Jax has options and Cody doesn't. If someone has options, they could go down, and you'd DFA Vallimont to get a 40-man spot. Or do the Enlow thing below.) To get my three up, I’d DFA Thielbar (for Minaya), Jax (for Cotton), and likely give Duffey a little more time to work things out. Then DFA him if/when that doesn’t happen, and call up Cano. That gives Strotman and/or Vallimont some time to right their ships as well, though they should be skating on thin 40-man ice. The Twins could also buy a month of flexibility by not rushing Blayne Enlow back from Tommy John, and just put him on the 60-day IL retroactive to the start of the season. Gives him a few extra weeks of rehab (wasn’t due back until mid-May), and opens a 40-man slot until he is activated. They could also consider flipping one of their six starters for a starting corner outfielder. Dylan Bundy’s value may never be this high again. (Wouldn’t open a 40-man slot, but would open a space in the ‘pen.)
  16. PatPfund
    Good article, though I agree with the other that Neshek doesn’t belong here. Clear injury related decline in MN, and a long multiple All-Star appearance career after he left. But yeah, the others. Thielbar is in his age 35 season. His stuff looks to be declining, and I bet he knows it, because despite his history of decent to good control, he now seems afraid to throw it over the plate, walking more than a batter per inning pitched. And I get that fear since batters (in a very light-hitting April league-wide) are pounding him for a .375 BAA. The Twins have better options now, and they should waive him on May 2nd. I like Caleb, and hope he gets a chance elsewhere, but either way his skills and age probably mean he is out of baseball soon. Duffey’s leash is probably longer, but shouldn’t be too much longer. Look up his career stats, and he is a distinctly mediocre pitcher (with a negative WAR from 2016-18) until things click in 2019-20 when he became very good. Last year was solid, but with some flags popping (like declining velocity). One can only speculate on how the banning of tacky stuff affected Tyler (though his second half was better than his first). Overall, he looks like a pitcher in his early thirties losing speed he depends on. Some pitchers can reinvent themselves, and extend their career (like Caleb Thielbar). Some can’t. Either way, Tyler looks a lot more the Early Duffey than Dominant Duffey, but I’d give him some more time to work that out. But not forever, and not 8th or 9th high leverage until he shows he has worked it out, because the Twins have options in their system.
  17. PatPfund
    Dick Bremer is great, and I hope he keeps at it a while yet! Too young (hah! at 63 I don't type that too often any more) to know some of the early candidates, but off the top of my head, I can't think of anyone other than Herb Carneal that I'd rather listen to on the call. They have/had the same relaxed way of letting the game breathe around the call (and both have/had professional-grade pipes). (Plus there was the 1987 'so did you hear about the Lindbergh baby, Harmon?' comment that knocked me off my chair with surprised laughter.)
  18. PatPfund
    Yeah, we have prospects, but... Lewis needs to stay in AAA, hit, and play shortstop every day. He looks good, it is likely a position of need, and the Twins have a habit of scattering people all over the field to the point. Bring him up later in the year (or at the trade deadline, because if we stink, Carlos might like a trade out of here to a contender) to give him a taste before taking over next year. Martin plays AA middle infield, and from what I've seen (maybe a distorted picture) defensively, he looks... umm... sub-optimal (to steal a description of Thielbar's meltdown the other day). But given Lewis's sharp defense, maybe it's time to jump Martin to AAA for a stiffer hitting test, and play him in the outfield where the path is clearer to the MLB roster. And you can't promote Miranda, because... because... umm... I stumped. Miranda's been playing first base. He plays a solid 3B. He is the reigning Twins Minor League Player of the Year after shredding pitching at AA and AAA, and his admittedly cold start of .245, 1 HR, 8 RBI, and 13 hits would rank him as a top four Twins hitter (and his bat has been warming the past two weeks). Give Miguel some time on the pine (which is the only thing that fires him up), play Miranda at first, and DH him when Sanchez catches. (Because Jeffers can't hit, and until he does, he shouldn't DH.)
  19. PatPfund
    Agree with the OP about Duran. Pretty much don’t agree on Tyler and Caleb. Come May the roster reduces to 26; likely 13 pitchers and 13 hitters. I’d have these 13 pitchers: Archer, Bundy, Gray (when activated), Ober, Paddack, Ryan all stretched out to starter length. Middle or post-starter situational: Duffey, Smith, Cotton (track him down, apologize, get him back), and one of Jax/Coulombe/Smeltzer. Late (mostly single) innings: Minaya, Duran, Pagan I also like the Thielbar story, but his stats last year stepped down from a terrific (and short) 2020. The arm is 35 now, speed is down, and the 3 batter minimum means no more cherry-picked lefties only. He simply is not good enough any more, and leaning on him is like leaning on Colomé last spring. Duffey is in a similar boat, but has probably earned a bit more leash. I’d still only use him in mop-ups until (if) he figures it out, because he absolutely does not look like a good arm with the lower velocity. Winder is probably one of the five best starters right now, but until he actually is put in the rotation, he should pitch for the Saints so he is fully ready when needed. Which will happen this year. Barring injury, I’d guess Bundy or Paddack are most likely to pitch themselves into the second group, and Smith or Coulombe most likely to pitch themselves into the late inning picture. (But heaven help us if it is as closer.) (In reality, the Twins probably keep Jax and don’t re-sign Cotton. Seriously, what happened there? They claim him early, he does well in ST, then gets waived after two scoreless innings against a good team?) Send down/release Jax, Theilbar, Stashak, Romero. If they have options, fine. If they need waivers and get claimed, good for them. Bet most clear, though, and get a chance to redeem themselves with the Saints.
  20. PatPfund
    I'd rather see Contreras get a shot before Cave. We kind of know by now what Cave gives (decent defender, sub-par to terrible batting range). Enjoying the bejeebers (technical term) out of watching the minor league teams this year. Thanks for the excellent report!
  21. PatPfund
    Mostly like the Larnach take, and this is pretty much his time. He has the tools, and if he figures out MLB, the Twins are good in left. Kirilloff isn't even worth discussing at this point. He still has pain after surgery and months of recuperation. He couldn't hit with the pain last year, and hasn't so far this year. The LAST thing we need is Kirilloff trying to gut it out as a no-power .189 hitter on the 26/8 man roster. He should stay on IL until they have a plan and execute it. (I'm doubtful he is of use at all this year; hope I'm wrong.) The part that made me giggle a little was the "if there’s a place that Minnesota has options, it’s in corner outfielders" statement. Several years ago when Max, Bryron, and Eddie were slugging, and we had Kirilloff, Larnach, and Rooker coming up, well... then we had riches in the OF. But Eddie is gone, Max hasn't hit in two-plus years, Byron gets hurt, Rooker is gone, and Larnach/Kirilloff have yet to click. Celestino is raw, Gordon is still a question mark, and Garlick is a one trick journeyman pony. Sure we can put bodies out there, but other than Larnach, I'm not seeing anybody other than maybe Contreras who can play defense and (maybe) hit at the MLB level right now.
  22. PatPfund
    Worth a look back, but I just don't know how you wouldn't sign Sano after 2019 when he looked like he'd figured it out under Cruz's tutelage. (And Cron had an injury plagued year.) Sano's $10 million isn't over the top for pay; the frustrating part is he still may or may not be on the verge of figuring it out (three years after we thought he had).
  23. PatPfund
    I'm laughing with pain. Not because of Sano, but for the flashbacks to reading the Godot play. Which was excruciating. (FYI, I originally typo-ed the name as Gadot. For the record, Gal would definitely be worth waiting for...)
  24. PatPfund
    I agree we are probably stuck with Sano for the year, because of everything the article said. But I disagree about Sano needing ABs to work through this; he pretty much does his thing until his job is threatened (one year getting sent down; last year being effectively benched), and then he seems to adapt. So bat him ninth when he is in the order, and start taking him out of the order as soon as you can figure out an alternative. Or even if there isn't a great alternative. Bring up a minor leaguer to play at first (though having seen some of the Saints this year, Miranda has looked a little rough at 1B). See if Urshela can do it, opening up more playing time for Arraez. Work the free agent/trade market. Anything to plausibly make it look as if Sano is being bypassed. Because that is the only time he turns it on. (FYI, I don't think it is a "caring" thing. He is in great shape and playing pretty good D because of that. He has a pretty good eye, and a low chase rate. But he might just not be good enough to hit the pitches in the zone on a consistent basis, or he refuses to take advice on how to be more consistent, or a bit of both. Either way, and garbage time stats that make him look 'above average' aside, I hope he is not around after this year.)
  25. PatPfund
    Kirilloff is a super gut punch. OF was clearly the position of need that received the least attention in the offseason. I get that; SS and SP were glaring holes, and there were some good in-house prospects led by Kirilloff and Larnach. But Larnach hasn't made the step beyond AAA (and hasn't even been hitting there so far, though it's early), and now Kirilloff is out and very possibly for the year. Maybe Larnach is struck by lightning and takes off (though Contreras is probably a better bet), or a Gordon comes out of nowhere. But most likely the Twins will need to find a free agent or trade to put a real MLB bat in LF. They have enough questions about catching offense that they can't continue to carry low-pop .200 hitters in both corner OF positions.
×
×
  • Create New...