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JD-TWINS

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Everything posted by JD-TWINS

  1. JD-TWINS
    Unfortunately, Kepler & Jeffers are squarely becoming the problem. Being hot for 3-5 weeks is great but completely going in the tank for the next 3-4 weeks is not cool and that is where Max & Ryan are at right now. Kepler has had a couple hits and Jeffers had a 2 HR game last week but other than that they are both spiraling downward, hard! He looked like Carl Yastrzemski for 3 months last year & for a 5 week stretch this year - it seems to have ended, unfortunately. He was amazing. Definitely needs to find himself. Dropping Lewis into the line-up to replace Julien’s performance should be a lift and everyone else seems to be in relaxed mode.
  2. JD-TWINS
    Unfortunately, Kepler & Jeffers are squarely becoming the problem. Being hot for 3-5 weeks is great but completely going in the tank for the next 3-4 weeks is not cool and that is where Max & Ryan are at right now. Kepler has had a couple hits and Jeffers had a 2 HR game last week but other than that they are both spiraling downward, hard! He looked like Carl Yastrzemski for 3 months last year & for a 5 week stretch this year - it seems to have ended, unfortunately. He was amazing. Definitely needs to find himself. Dropping Lewis into the line-up to replace Julien’s performance should be a lift and everyone else seems to be in relaxed mode.
  3. JD-TWINS
    It’s the Manager - seriously? Shut-out two days in a row…….also, after 6 really solid innings SWR gives up a HR to a guy that had his last HR in March. Duran looked like he was still getting warmed up as he pitched ……velocity was 96-98, looked like, on fastballs and then he got them to 102 eventually. He seemed to only throw fastballs for the whole outing……maybe he threw a couple splitters but they weren’t moving much if he did. He just seemed unbelievably uninspired. I just don’t see any moves that 95% of all Managers in the game wouldn’t make when I watch the Twins. Most of it is just basic logical moves with the roster/talent they have. Do not get the continual bellyaching about the Manager. Players play & right now the Twin’s players are stinking it up.
  4. JD-TWINS
    So, I don’t like the thought of “blaming losses” on umpiring ball/strike calls. When you come to the plate late in game after a number (7-10) of strikes being called that weren’t strikes you adjust……..w/o swinging at bad pitches. How does one do that effectively? Kepler comes up in an RBI situation and his first pitch seen (with a 17” wide plate) is 5” inside and called a strike. It’s nearly debilitating as a hitter. How do you settle in when there’s no reality to the zone? Kepler’s in a funk - struck out on a slider that hit him in the thigh earlier in the game - but the guy can’t get any breaks either. He & Jeffers & Buxton need to step up ……maybe just one at a time but all 3 being non- productive is not going to work - regardless of others production. Keller did get his 6th straight win - so he’s pitching pretty well, routinely! His “go to” was certainly exposed last night as he had Kepler, Lewis, and one other at 3-2 counts ……great slider to all 3, to end the AB’s.
  5. JD-TWINS
    Twins have $50M tied up in Correa & Buxton and have gone backward 19% from ‘23, down to $124 M……, back to 2021 level. Other teams have increased……..Royals $116M - Tigers $107M - Guardians $117M - White Sox - $187M. I don’t have that much of an issue with the $ spend - it’s the blaming the Manager for poor performance from players that bugs me. If they choose not to spend & the best player is hurt 99% of the season, gotta cut the Manager some slack when pitchers give team little or no chance!
  6. JD-TWINS
    Wow - that’s the problem - the Manager? How about (2021 level) $124M payroll?? Louie Varland sucked in 4 outings due to zero 5th starter option ….. Lopez looks like a guy that’s in his own head in most outings…….6 walks last night & 0-2 count Hit Batsman - that sucks a bunch!! That’s 5 of the 29 losses, w/o much thought, squarely on starting pitching! Joe Ryan gave up somewhere near 4 HR in a start in last couple weeks. Starters are going to blow up occasionally - understood - it’s not a Manager problem though. They have been competitive to pretty good in a whole bunch of games as well but Managers can’t pitch or stop run scoring onslaughts - guys gotta perform.
  7. JD-TWINS
    He’s Giancarlo Stanton with less power and better speed……his pull rate going up over 10% from one year to the next is not great! He should be hitting double after double to right center on the away pitches - easier said than done - can’t pull sliders away!!!
  8. JD-TWINS
    Am totally unfamiliar and essentially ignorant of what’s going on at AAA with the electronic zone. Do know it’s been used regularly at times (some rotation of human and electronic). My question is, are we assuming there are no problems, minimal problems, based on reality or just much less scrutiny because it’s AAA and not as many eyes on the approach? Am curious. If it’s substantiated as Useful & Highly Accurate, it should be used in Spring Training ‘25 or on Memorial Day weekend next year for a 3-day trial or somewhere in the Show to get everyone’s feet wet. I guess, umpires are “highly accurate” so the electronics need to be essentially flawless…….that’s a high bar!
  9. JD-TWINS
    I get the doom & gloom v. Yankees. The going back over 20-25 years every time they play seems over done - gotta talk about something I guess. This year is disheartening, but as another contributor pointed out, they have a $306M payroll v. our $124M (approximately?). Last year the Twins were 4-3 v. Yankees. Couple of BIG catches in OF for them last night and a couple of non-plays by Margot & Castro made a bunch of difference. Paddack’s throwing horace pitches in zone on 0-2 is unacceptable (Rizzo’s AB in 1st - double) as are his failures to not throw middle-middle with his fastball. After 1st inning he did neither, and had success. Good stuff - terrible execution early! Yankees have best record in the game & we face them once more……….hopefully, Pablo is ready to go tonight……and some bats, other than just Lewis.
  10. JD-TWINS
    Agreed! ………also, 100 games left to improve the record v. teams over .500. They were very competitive last year and I think they are, with health, a better Team this year.
  11. JD-TWINS
    Are they 7th & 6th in A.L. or in “baseball”?
  12. JD-TWINS
    So, I yelled at the umpire through my TV on the missed strike 3 to Judge - that’s what fans do. After seeing the replay……Vazquez sets up down and away and Ober throws a slider that backs up and barely catches the zone up & in ……probably only a strike to guys over 6’4”…..the guy missed it but it had no effect in runs scored nor a balloon in pitches thrown. Not really anything other than an irritant relative to the game! So Classe lost 9 games last year, I believe. He’s been nearly perfect. It’s a long season. The kid that threw last night is pitching through injury and could drop any start the rest of the year - much more potential than with others for injury. They are playing great - no doubt!!! Are they great? I think they are pretty good and finish in the low 90’s for wins. Just my opinion. Don’t understand the Polanco dismay other than it being sentimental? Polanco has performed worse than Julien. We got 4 players……one pitcher is way more than a long shot, agreed. Gonzalez may become something or we may make him part of another trade - perceived value at a minimum. DeSclafani an obvious bust! Topa is here at least through next year if not longer and he can still bring considerable value. Frankly, there’s no production from the traded player that makes any difference for the Twins - right? 2-3 weeks ago, Polanco was leading the A.L. in K’s and was hitting .196……haven’t looked since.
  13. JD-TWINS
    Varland - Em Rod to get a pitching talent like Luzardo could be interesting. Keeping Varland around for 4-5 more years of control, particularly in a relief role, has some significant value. ‘Em Rod seems to be progressing pretty well. No trade Twins like has the value Marlins want at this point…… Can’t just trade non performers……..am assuming there would be plenty of competitors around baseball looking to gain his services. Luzardo, couple young guys they have now, along with both guys coming back from surgery gets them competitive from a pitching standpoint, as soon as ‘25.
  14. JD-TWINS
    So who is your left field choice that insulates them from not making the Playoffs? They were 6 games over .500 on September 5th for the first time last year……..if they’re swept in New York, it hardly sinks the Team’s chances. I’m not suggesting that Margot is a star, but last year most fans (nearly 100%) wanted to lynch Max Kepler by this time of the season…..Margot is historically a better average hitter than Max and now he gets to platoon to fit his ability v. LH pitching. I just think it’s silly to think Margot being on the Team is going to sink it …….and that there is no potential for improvement. Is Julien a below average? Vazquez below average? Farmer below average? Was Kepler below average last year? Do you cut half the Club every 6 weeks? Rake up the acorns in your yard.
  15. JD-TWINS
    Seriously? After 1/3 of the season it appears they have a great shot to Win 91 games. How’s…..the math tells you they would be expected to win 91 games? They have won .559% of their games and that projects to 91 Wins, is that more eloquent? My WAG is they will win somewhere near 91 games.
  16. JD-TWINS
    Apparently not, since they are on a 91 Wins pace without Lewis since the 3rd inning of game 1. That’s w/o ever seeing DeSclafani and Varland going 0-4 in 4 starts. Duran down, Topa down, Correa down, Buxton down & Wallner disappearing, along with Julien not performing……not to mention the hated Margot - Farmer - Vazquez trio. Somebody’s gotta play. Kirilloff is coming around again…..Santana has steadily climbed ………Margot has hit .254 - .274 - .264 the past 3 seasons ………he was hitting .150 a few weeks ago and is trending in the right direction as he’s now at .209…..I’d expect .230 by All-star break.
  17. JD-TWINS
    If he was a 29 year old he’d be a bum is my assumption? ……….As mentioned previously, he hasn’t hit a home run since April 25th so taking those 7 HR’s and blending them over 10 weeks of play is just fooling oneself into thinking he’s a “league average” hitter. How is .207 over the year & zero power for the last 60% of the season a league average hitter……..? If he was League average he’d be in the line-up Tuesday night. Can’t imagine that Martin wouldn’t be more effective at 2B at this point……but that shouldn’t be the bar. He’ll be back within a month if/when he responds in St. Paul.
  18. JD-TWINS
    Not trying to be smart here but Eddie needs to focus on hitting RH pitching as that is where he’s been at .190 for the past 6 weeks……it’s also who he’ll be facing when he comes back up. He needs to add some level of being able to be more aggressive on pitches in the zone and not just try to outguess the pitcher. Hitting a home run or three in AAA might help his mental make-up as it’s been since April 25th since he’s had one of those.
  19. JD-TWINS
    Are we crippled if Margot doesn’t play CF. Julien plays ONLY 2B! I really like Eddie!! He’s not performing at the plate - nowhere near good - that’s a fact or he wouldn’t have been sent down after the Manager stood behind him and said “he needs to work things out here”. He hit 7 HR’s in 24 games and hasn’t hit one since April 25th……through June 2. 4 good weeks don’t make 10 acceptable weeks…..he has stunk at the plate for the most part for 30 plus games. His OBP is almost 80 points lower than last year and 55 of those points are batting average DROP. He strikes out trying to walk, routinely. He needs to figure out a way to be more of a complete hitter with 2 strikes - coaching, mental refresh, something! What???? Seriously do not believe sending him to the plate in the Show & having him work it out now makes sense. If he gets help & then can still get plenty of opportunity from July 1 forward, that seems smarter. He can be back as soon as June 14 series if that makes sense - he’s not banished from the Roster. The converse situation………They DFA Farmer - Julien pulls a hamstring 3 days later - they are scrambling……Castro loses position flexibility & Lee isn’t ready……..It’s only June 3rd lots more changes to come.
  20. JD-TWINS
    His last HR was April 25th after 7 in his first 24 games. He strikes out routinely while trying to walk. He’s hitting a few points less than a struggling Margot. All of these things point to this being the right thing for the player because he needs a mental refresh.
  21. JD-TWINS
    Julien has had way more OPPORTUNITIES to play well, as he should. 169 AB’s v. 92 AB’s for Farmer……..he had a .380 OBP in ‘23 as a Rookie - big shift so far this year and he needs a refresh. Options, when faced with a Roster Crunch are always part of the deal. Farmer hit .256 last year in 120 games & he was out a month after getting hit in the face……his career Average coming into ‘23 was .255. To me, Margot is in the OF playing time mix with Larnach, Castro, Kirilloff, & Wallner……he’s becoming more effective, slowly bringing his average up. With a .255 career Average as well, he’s hit .254, .274, & .264 over the past 3 seasons. Wallner had a really good 10 weeks ….. Julien had a really good 4 months…..hasn’t hit a HR since April 25th ……,something needs to get fixed …..,maybe a coach or a Sports Psychologist or maybe film study - I don’t know, but he’s better than his performance over the past 6 weeks. The fact that Margot is 45 points under his career Average & many want him DFA’d and Julien is hitting lower says a lot about Julien’s performance.
  22. JD-TWINS
    Unless somebody gets hurt during a game, I can’t imagine Miranda at 2B! Castro regularly v. RH pitching with Farmer v. LH pitching AND more innings in 2nd half of games as needed/appropriate for Farmer. I think this is a two - four week opportunity for Farmer to get in the mix or he may be gone in July. He & Vazquez have improved contact and aren’t getting very good fortune but at some point the numbers are what they are & a change will come. I think Farmer steps up!!
  23. JD-TWINS
    Unless somebody gets hurt during a game, I can’t imagine Miranda at 2B! Castro regularly v. RH pitching with Farmer v. LH pitching AND more innings in 2nd half of games as needed/appropriate for Farmer. I think this is a two - four week opportunity for Farmer to get in the mix or he may be gone in July. He & Vazquez have improved contact and aren’t getting very good fortune but at some point the numbers are what they are & a change will come. I think Farmer steps up!!
  24. JD-TWINS
    IMO, Farmer for sure v. southpaws, or he shouldn’t be on the roster. Can’t imagine Kirilloff or Larnach sitting v. RH pitching anytime soon!………..seems Santana will be the odd guy out v. RH pitching, much more often. Kirilloff at 1B - Larnach in LF - Castro at 2B - Miranda at DH……….v. RH pitching would seem to be the regular line-up. What an interesting position the Team could be in, IF, Wallner & Julien & Lee all come together over next 3-6 weeks…..hoping for tough decisions!
  25. JD-TWINS
    Agree about nobody getting Alvarez out ……I think the Thielbar comment refers to broad problems historically & potentially more going forward in key spots. I do think the Catcher pitch calling issues are a “group effort”. Meaning the coach & Catcher & Pitcher are mostly on the same page. They get together between nearly every inning. I’m not in love with the calls for certain pitches either through the season but the pitcher can shake it off OR execute. (Also, there are 140 to 175 pitches thrown per game - lots of chances for 3-4 bad choices or poor execution - they’re human) Typically, more about where the pitch is thrown v. what pitch is thrown.
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