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JD-TWINS

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Everything posted by JD-TWINS

  1. JD-TWINS
    Buxton has 7 HR & 12 total XBH ……. all appears great! Bad news is he’s around 0-20 w/RISP and only has 10 RBI. He obviously needs to get it together with RISP! Also, he needs to move out of the One Spot in the line-up……….it can’t be that big of a deal for him psychologically - it’s not a good strategy for Team’s run production!!!!!
  2. JD-TWINS
    So today, in game 31, it was my first time thinking Shelton really influenced a negative outcome in the game. Now, granted, if OFFENSE puts up just one more run prior to the 9th, Shelton doesn’t pull the infield in to face their hottest hitter. Infield back - ground ball out - they are still up one with 2 outs. …….. in Shelton’s defense, he’s got nothing close to a closer to call in in this situation. - Pulling infield in with one out in 9th, and guys on 2nd & 3rd. Team (Manager) increases the opponent’s BA greatly when brought in on the grass. - WHY is Rogers on the Team if not to come into pitch to their hottest hitter (LH hitter) with one out in the 9th & guys on 2nd & 3rd? Orze was struggling with control - not his day. Right/Left match-up. Rogers had been up a few minutes…………they may counter with Mitch Garver but the kid IS their hottest hitter. Take your chances with Garver - not with leaving Orze in the game. That said - pulling infield in, nearly made Orze’s job “strikeout or bust” ……… not fair to a guy with his stuff. The hitter slapped a roller just past Keaschall - Orze didn’t make a bad pitch. Can’t score less than 4 runs/game and expect a real shot at winning ball games! (2-8-2-2-1-11-1-3 is 30 runs in 8 games, an average of 3.75 runs/game) Only went over 3 runs twice in last 8 games. Not “competitive” - which is Tom P.’s goal.
  3. JD-TWINS
    They were hitting .315 with RISP earlier this week ……………. something like .350 BA through a specific game w/RISP and since like .171 BA ……….. previous to today. Stuff levels out. Would be nice to level run production but it’s linked to line-up and what pitchers they are facing - and execution. 4 guys had 2 hits - 12 hits as a Club - 3 walks …….. gotta score more runs!
  4. JD-TWINS
    Caratini’s OPS+ is in the 50’s - he’s declined steeply over past dozen games - essentially non-existent offensively. Bummer, but he seems to be headed to Vazquez territory without an about face.
  5. JD-TWINS
    Is $35M worth another win or two? He’s not able to play SS with back & feet ailments. He’s not a high level offensive player anymore. To me, that was the most obvious and BEST move……….. gotta SPEND the $25M saved though or it’s a detriment to the roster!!! Didn’t do that! Rojas will be as good or better than Varland over time. As I’ve said many times here, if Louie was from Kenosha it wouldn’t be that big of a deal. Loved Louie as well but the talent trades is not a bad move for the organization.
  6. JD-TWINS
    Why? Why does he NEED to & why is it best for him to make adjustments “in the majors”? If a guy plays 26 games a month and he has 3-4 “decent games”, he’s not getting it done anywhere near a needed level. His Slug% is like Team has a pitcher hitting in his spot. I like Luke - think he’s got a great future. Can’t help but like his attitude and style of play………..he’s got 7 stolen bases through April 28! There’s value for sure!! He needs a re-set over 2-3-4 weeks to get more comfortable. I realize he’s a wound up guy but he sure seems to be bringing an anxious (anxiety filled) look to the plate.
  7. JD-TWINS
    PEN is not good - no doubt. Caratini & Bell have come back to earth and are headed further south - disturbing from 2 guys that started VERY well. Offense though - runs scored over last 7 days per game ……. 2-8-2-2-1-11-1……one win …… potentially, the ONLY game the PEN actually played a part in the outcome was last Thursday………..however, opposition got 7 runs while Ryan was in the game (3 unearned) last Thursday. There are 3 guys that shouldn’t be on the roster at this point & 2 others that are borderline “playable”. Can’t have success with this level of very little contribution from 5 of 13 guys. Wallner - Outman - Clemens need to be changed out! They are not going to get better with more opportunities! Keaschall OPS+ 55 ……. Caratini OPS+ 59 Absolute worst case for changes - Outman & Wallner (fake an injury if you’re Matt - whatever)
  8. JD-TWINS
    To each his own - this is Matt’s FOURTH season I’m tired of being frustrated by watching Matt Wallner - he’s had numerous extended periods of poor performance. I can’t expect any fans to like what I said - it’s targeted toward the guys running the Team, responsible for trying to generate Team Wins. I don’t dislike Matt Wallner. I’d love to see him succeed. I’ve been calling here for him to be sent down to re-set, as he was in ‘23 & ‘24, successfully. He had a bad year last year but was injured a couple times, at least twice, so that makes things difficult. Granted! His value is power - it’s not his arm in RF…….it’s certainly not clutch hitting….. arm that’s fun to watch, but it only plays into the game 2-3 times per month. He’s borderline leading the A.L. in strikeouts all year - his Slug% is .290. Weak hitting Luke Keaschall has a Slug% of .282. In my opinion, the organization should not keep playing guys that continually do not add to the offensive goals. …….. everyone can have a high point every 2-3 weeks but that’s not enough for winning baseball. Guardians fans (opposing pitchers) have to be giddy when they see a line-up card with Wallner - Keaschall - Clemens penciled in for that day’s game.
  9. JD-TWINS
    Should Gray get more playing time - at least v. RH pitching? Luke Keaschall - 119 PA’s - 13 RBI - .269 OBP - .282 Slug% Royce Lewis - 65 PA’s - 10 RBI - .308 OBP - .393 Slug% Tristan Gray - 54 PA’s - 13 RBI - .340 OBP - .500 Slug% Pretty sure he should play more!
  10. JD-TWINS
    It’s a Professional Sports Team………. why does anyone care if Matt Wallner plays another game in Minneapolis? ……. Matt should care - his agent & his family and friends, that’s understood. The organization needs to put players on the roster that actually help win games - not guys that helped win games a couple years ago. In ‘24, same time of year, Wallner got sent down - came back in July and was solid. …….. similar approach in ‘23. He’s got an option left - let him go find himself, with some help provided. Or, move on.
  11. JD-TWINS
    He’s only got about 120 innings left ………. if 140 is the mythical ceiling. ….. 5 starts per month (minimum) at 5 innings each is another 125 innings. He’s going to have to be monitored pretty closely to get through September. Innings pitched per year: ’20 - 21 ‘21 - 7 ‘22 - 0 ‘23 - 6.2 ‘24 - 23.1 ‘25 - 82.2 6 seasons and a total of 140.2 innings and 59% were just 2025. To me, he’s the Poster Boy for potential arm issues!
  12. JD-TWINS
    I’m in Cincinnati but this “internet” forecast says rain is done for days in Minneapolis by 7:00-7:30 tonight…….. seems by 8:30 great chance for first pitch?
  13. JD-TWINS
    Outman .115 BA - 3 OPS+ - with (-.200 WAR) Clemens .175 BA - 60 OPS+ with (-.200 WAR) Keaschall .208 BA - 44 OPS+ with (-.200 WAR) Matt Wallner (-.800 WAR) No roster moves as of 10:30 a.m. CST
  14. JD-TWINS
    FIVE HITS Saturday……. 2 walks …….. Tampa kicked it around on 2-3 plays to allow more base runners. Our OFFENSE sucks. Team got to 8 runs Thursday night …….. Jeffers grand slam made things close for about 15 minutes. 2 runs Wednesday - 2 runs Friday - 1 run Saturday. So far this year, 6 games Team has scored 1 run and 2 games they have scored 2 runs ………. 8 of 27 games the offense has given them essentially no chance. No offense is perfect - Teams face great pitching occasionally, understood ……….30% of the time with no offensive support is not going to bode well for Tom Pohlad’s competitive desire for thus year’s Club. Can’t worry about individuals “as the primary concern” for roster construction. Outman - Keaschall - Wallner should all be moved after tomorrow’s game for a more fresh approach by Monday………with some commitment/confidence in Bell & Caratini splitting 1B duties, Clemens could go as well.
  15. JD-TWINS
    Needs to release Outman & Clemens to get things started.
  16. JD-TWINS
    Let’s make it simple, where do you think Lee should play? He’s not going anywhere. He’s not a DH. Where?………..I’m talking about in the future, not next week.
  17. JD-TWINS
    You have Zero idea how good he would be at 1B. He’s slow as hell at SS, given, hence the reason to move him. I watched former 3B, Harmon Killebrew play 1B for a decade - Lee is certainly every bit as capable defensively as Harmon. Nobody said 1B is easy (don’t lump me in with “others”) …….:nobody said 1B doesn’t matter! If Ty France can win a Gold Glove at 1B, our current SS should be “able to maintain” at 1B! He’s got the foul line to protect him to his left……..pretty sure he could figure it out with some focus between now & next March. ……. I specifically said he can’t make the move this year.
  18. JD-TWINS
    EVERYONE wants better bats through a whole bunch of the positions. Lee will be on the roster for a few years ……. I DON’T want him playing SS, even in a reserve role. Carlos Santana - Ty France - Kody Clemens - Josh Bell - (anyone in the minors) - Brooks Lee……… who (which of these cloned) would you prefer at 1B for ‘27-‘29? ………..they have nobody obvious in the pipeline and refuse to spend on a first baseman! The vague, “I’d like somebody that hits better…..” - me too! Maybe, maybe with less pressure with the glove every inning/day, he settles in at the plate. Definitely has 25 HR power with 600 AB’s……….he’s arbkeast at least a Rhys Hoskins level guy at 1B, IMO.
  19. JD-TWINS
    Pitching is NEVER going to be good enough to carry the load if Team scores 2 runs. Will lose 90-95 of contests Team scores 2 or less. Buxton’s big swings in variability have always been frustrating - too many strikeouts are often a problem. If healthy, he’ll still hit 30 HR and play decent centerfield, at a minimum. Getting his average above .250 is always a big plus………it’s April 24th……. Byron has a bunch of games to get squared away!
  20. JD-TWINS
    “Gold Glove, gold glove …. who’s talking about Gold Gloves??” …. in my best Jim Mora voice! He’s got MUCH better range for 1B than he does at either SS or 2B ………Clemens/Bell/Caratini don’t exactly scream “range”. Trying to figure out where he has most value with his, realistic, skill set. As you well know, sometimes it’s a process of elimination before one finds the right fit. …….. he can’t pitch/catch nor play OF………. then you get to the four options on the dirt.
  21. JD-TWINS
    Slowly - encouraging for Lee! With Culpepper - Houston - Keaschall in the middle, apparently, going forward……..is it plausible to move Lee to 1B, (future) Sound glove there - mobility isn’t an issue - better for his back, possibly - he appears to potentially have 25 HR power. If he can maintain OPS above .725 going forward, 1B might be his spot? I think Buxton likes leading off - better for Team to get him in an RBI spot …….. completely agree on XBH v. RBI ratio being “off”.
  22. JD-TWINS
    Kriedler can play OF better than Kody Clemens. He can play 2B better than Kody Clemens. Kriedler has more value than Outman due to flexibility on D and having a pulse in the batter’s box. Gray isn’t going anywhere. There are no hard fast rules about guys coming up and never going back down. None. Wallner fixed himself in AAA in both ‘23 & ‘24, to then help the Big Club for significant parts of the season…….Lee as well was up & down - back when he was the “next star”. Lee is NOT the long-term SS - for sure. He could hopefully play 1B in the future - not in ‘26. He’s competent at 2B or 3B………Lewis has his spot locked up (short term) much more than Keaschall has. Lee’s gotta move ultimately, just want to start the transition to benefit the Club. ……..then hope for Keaschall to force his way back on the roster with some SUCCESS in St Paul.
  23. JD-TWINS
    He’s beat up (mentally) having to play everyday, IMO. His lack of ability to drive the ball, even occasionally, is a concern. He brings nothing positive defensively to off-set SLOW start offensively. His OBP is extremely low at .245! He’s got 4 XBH in 99 AB’s. His OPS+ is 42. Somebody comes up when he gets optioned. You are right, Gray - Krueger - Clemens offer no upside. Culpepper to SS & Lee to 2B helps up the middle defense, frankly, reduces pressure on Lee and gets Culpepper’s glove in the game while allowing him to get his feet wet - ALL while Keaschall finds himself over the next few weeks……btw, Lee is a better 2nd baseman. It’s a Major League Sports Team not some grade school activity group! Other Teams send guys up & down all the time looking for the right spark. It’s not a punishment - he’s not being banned - it’s for his own benefit! Also, it may help Team WIN more games……to paraphrase Herm Edwards.
  24. JD-TWINS
    If Keaschall & Wallner were optioned for Culpepper & Emma with Outman released: Lewis - Culpepper - Lee - Bell (infield) Martin - Buxton - Emma (outfield) (Catchers) Larnach (DH) Gray - Clemens - Caratini - Kriedler (bench) ……. first 3 guys play semi-regularly at 1B & DH, etc. and Kriedler is late inning D, pinch runner, ……guy that can bunt. Near-term “Step in right direction” offensively & defensively - right? Hopefully, Keaschall & Wallner are back in 3-6 weeks to push Clemens & Kriedler off roster……or Culpepper, if things aren’t going well.
  25. JD-TWINS
    Scoring 8 runs in a loss (Thursday) can be misleading for run production totals, particularly sandwiched between 2 runs on both Wednesday & Friday. Pitching is what, I assume, most expected …… a bunch of “OK”, 70/80% of the time with some great and some terrible 10-15% on either side. Typical, “OK staff” in MLB. Defense is pretty much what Team and fans would have expected. Only real Average to above average defender is Buxton. Everyone else is hoping to “attain average” and most are incapable of that happening. Maybe Lee could at 2B ….. maybe Lewis could - Martin is average to be fair. That’s it though. Difficult to be effective offensively with 4 guys really not contributing in any key situations with any consistency. Scoring in Baseball is hard enough with good hitters 26% - 30% success rate with hits & mediocre success 8-10% of the time with walks. 65% failure rate at the plate is norm for “good players” Outman - Clemens - Wallner - Keaschall (BA & OPS+) respectively (.091 & -15)-(.170 & 63)-(.195 & 72)-(.202 & 42) OFTEN, 3 of these guys are in the starting line-up. Team needs to make AT LEAST 2 roster changes upon returning to Minnesota………personally, I’d like to see Culpepper at SS (to address the 29th in defense issue) ….. Lee at 2B (also helps defensive profile) Emma in RF with Wallner being optioned (better defense) …….. Keaschall being optioned with Kriedler adding defensive depth infield/outfield. They don’t burn Clemens and Outman via DFA until a couple other guys get some exposure & prove themselves OR Keaschall & Wallner find themselves over the next few weeks - month +. Gotta help defense & can’t hurt offense!
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