Jump to content
Twins Daily
  • Create Account

JD-TWINS

Verified Member
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    4,898

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    4

 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

Forums

Blogs

Events

Store

Downloads

Gallery

Everything posted by JD-TWINS

  1. JD-TWINS
    He went 0 for ? one game 8-10 days ago and hit 3 balls to the wall, 2 in center and 1 in left center gap……..not all good luck.
  2. JD-TWINS
    Not studying the stats but with every success he’s had with a first pitch, it seems to me, he’s had an at bat where he’s fought off pitches - come from behind in count - and just grinded out a great at bat for solid contact somewhere or a walk. Just looks so much more like a competitive hitter over last 6-7 weeks well past first pitch hunting. Seldom seeing the pop outs to Shortstop nor rollers to second baseman. Hope he keeps things rolling!
  3. JD-TWINS
    CC can’t be moved and the other 3 IF spots are rock solid for years………..Lewis-CC-Julien/Lee-Kirilloff……….Solano/Farmer depth 2 Catchers through ‘25 Wallner - Unmovable Buxton - Kepler Martin/Rodriguez/maybe Lewis?/Castro Don’t see room for star bats……..guys don’t hit better than Kirilloff - Julien - Lewis!! Couple bullpen vets - YES! Re-sign Maeda. Early deals for Duran…….Jax……….Ryan……..consider Ober.
  4. JD-TWINS
    I like Cleveland - Detroit - Milwaukee - Minnesota as balance of like markets & geography……..Chicago clubs should hook up with Missouri clubs. Cleveland/Detroit/Toronto/Cincinnati makes sense as well. Too many options & doesn’t matter what I think. Tough to continually take advantage long-term of a Division that only exists a couple more years. Lee, as an additional effective RH batter in ‘24 at some point, added to Lewis/Kirilloff/Julien/Wallner/Jeffers……. is really exciting. Kepler/CC/Buxton as the low end performers in a line-up is encouraging to me…….need health. Re-sign Maeda and look at a veteran or two for our bullpen. Solano will be tough to let go…….Farmer is CC insurance and solid everywhere else as a platoon. Castro can be the speedy glue guy. Leaves a spot open for a bat (Martin?) and we should have $52M from this year’s payroll after Gallo-Polanco-Mahle-Gray-Taylor are gone.
  5. JD-TWINS
    Pen by Oct. 2: Varland - Kuechel - Ryan - Jax - Thielbar - Pagan - Duran - Funderburk or Ortega (8 guys) Maeda - Gray - Ober - Lopez for starting options Gallo will be here, even if they have to place him on IL for 10 days, until roster expands…….then he’s along for ride through September. Mr. Insurance for “D”. Roster with Kirilloff - Buxton back in September:…………nothing positive on Kirilloff to date - will he be back??? Lewis-CC-Julien-Kirilloff - 2 catchers Wallner-Buxton-Kepler Castro-Farmer-Solano-Gallo-Taylor-Polanco………Luplow may have a spot if anyone is on IL October…….could carry only 4 starters & 7 relievers for playoffs?? That would allow the same or some combination of 15 bats used in September. 15 bats & 13 arms on the Staff in September. Possibly only 11 pitchers for Playoffs? Certainly do not need more than 12 arms for Playoffs.
  6. JD-TWINS
    I don’t like it - Stewart’s hurt…….Lopez was a mental case……..tough to completely re-tool on the fly…….Try Funderburk & let’s give Ortega another shot. I don’t want to punt now, just trying to be optimistic for playoffs.
  7. JD-TWINS
    Haven’t won enough games due to Buxton & CC underperforming for sure. Bullpen doesn’t suck - pitchers give up runs - 1.0 - 1.2 runs for the 7th/8th/9th is good ERA!! Teams that win 90 games & compete for Division Titles still lose 45% of the time - that’s baseball. Our Pen can be frustrating but I must say our starters have spoiled us. We throw deeper into games more than any other staff. It’s not Rocco’s change of approach, our guys are pitching well very often!! When starters leave with a lead we all expect a win. We may give up 2-3 runs over 6th-9th and we’re pissed. Score some more runs!!! Agreed, we’re 2 guys short in our Pen at this point but I think we’ll be fine in October when we go to 4 starters & Ryan/Varland are in the Pen.
  8. JD-TWINS
    Agreed. Just because you don’t hate on a player doesn’t mean you think he’s Wille Mays One thing I know is I am so happy to have had Taylor playing CF most of the year v. Celestino!!!!!
  9. JD-TWINS
    ……correct. He’s doing a commendable job as a platoon CF - base stealer - depth piece & he’s got 16HR! Not his fault that Buxton has been hurt essentially all season & not available. Taylor has helped immeasurably as the guy in CF any day you need him! Going forward he can still help us as needed. Great sign by FO.
  10. JD-TWINS
    His assumption is he’s got a better chance for runs (progressing the inning) in that instance with a LH bat & the majority of remaining innings pitched would be by RH pitchers. He’s got access to their roster. Insert Gallo …….maybe not a tremendous option but his best option. ”Letting Luplow have a shot against a right handed pitcher - why not…….” isn’t what managers get paid to do……they aren’t fans. He’s trying to do the right thing for success!
  11. JD-TWINS
    Reminds me of a Traffic song, Dear Mr. Fantasy………. 4 guys averages in the minor leagues do not a successful MLB team make. Some optimism is great ……..I think Martin has a shot in ‘24. Lee is nearly a certainty by the middle of ‘24!! We need, any MLB team needs experience. Why hire Dallas Kuechel on a flyer v. just sticking with Varland. Why sign Taylor & Solano & Vazquez? They get it - the grind - the mental side - how to get confident when things aren’t going great. Gotta have a blend and it needs to be more than CC & Buxton….,,two # 1 picks in the draft. I see Polanco moving on after ‘23 due to lack of health. Out of Soring Training: Lewis-CC-Julien-Kirilloff ……Kepler-Buxton-Wallner…..2 catchers. Farmer-Solano-Castro…….,,room for 1 new guy in ‘24. I think this is reality.
  12. JD-TWINS
    I assumed we would carry 4 starters & 8 relievers in October……..giving us an extra bat on roster. Never thought we might carry one less reliever as well. I gotta think the fact that the team could potentially use 4 guys in a game would mean they would carry 8 guys in the Pen - right? ALL managers have a quicker hook in the playoffs. Playoff Pen: Ryan - Varland - Kuechel Duran - Thielbar - Jax - Pagan - Funderburk
  13. JD-TWINS
    With Kuechel going today, Sands might be used for 4 innings and thus burned up for 4-5 days……..When do we tap into Louie’s talent and availability?? Need some solutions in the Pen.
  14. JD-TWINS
    Seems Funderburk & Ortega for Winder & ?????, maybe Balazovic would be a potential shot in the arm for the pen. Funderburk on 40 man by moving Alcala seems easy enough. This makes Floro #7 guy and Sands remains as #8. Let’s do it!
  15. JD-TWINS
    In what reality does anyone want Byron Buxton on their club? That said, trying to get 2 quality players for Buxton is an exercise in futility…….similar to getting Ohtani to Lake Calhoun. Mahle - Maeda - Gray - Gallo - Taylor - Solano - Polanco …….assuming we keep Farmer & Kepler, allows for a recoup of $60-$65M from current payroll. New revenues of around $40M between ticket sales & concession net revenue. I honestly think we could offer $55M/year without it being at all restrictive on budget…..7 years to get him to at least consider.
  16. JD-TWINS
    >.500 opponent data is interesting…….I do recall that we had a couple games snatched from us v. Orioles to finish 2-4 on the year. Swept by Braves…..slowed their role but still lost all 3. Not sure but I think we got swept in 3 by Tampa. So 3 opponents/4 series and we’re 2-10………v. 3 of best 4 or 5 teams in the game. Seems we didn’t do that poorly against the rest of Baseball (above & below .500) if we’re 13 games over .500 in remaining contests. Our pitching is more credible than most teams, however, our 2 most logical opponents (with 25% of season left) Toronto & Seattle both have very good starters and depth. I think I’d rather see Toronto pitching & Seattle bats. Great to have the games in Minneapolis!! I see Lopez, Gray, & Maeda as our starters with Ober in the Wings. Ryan & Varland are both built to let it fly for an inning with fastballs in relief. Those 2 plus 6 core guys from Pen should allow us 14 bats to work with in October. Duran - Jax - Thielbar - Pagan - Balazovic - Floro - Varland - Ryan seems like a very credible bullpen.
  17. JD-TWINS
    Didn’t check the list…….Alex Kirilloff & Donovan Solano……..total cost $4.5M.
  18. JD-TWINS
    I’m worried what Jeffers may be in October of ‘23 if all of a sudden he’s catching 5 days per week. Not concerned about 2030. Organization may have some concerns about 3-4 years out but that’s not the topic. Jeffers bat in ‘23 & how it may help is the topic. Yadi caught all the time because of his defensive abilities and his handling of the staff……not because he might hit some HR’s. We want Jeffers to play more for his bat and if he catches 50% more down the stretch than he has been, in my opinion, he may not hit as well which would be diminishing returns.
  19. JD-TWINS
    Seems he’s on pace for same or maybe a couple less innings than last year……..higher leverage this year as a rule. His problem is he’s throwing too many pitches per inning! Mental fatigue, maybe, but he isn’t physically overworked.
  20. JD-TWINS
    He seems to be a real Team guy. If the Option is picked up, regardless of playing time guarantees, don’t now how he could be disappointed? He’s played in 48 of 122 games this year. I like Polanco & if healthy I’d libby for him to be the guy!! ’24: Lewis - CC - Julien - Kirilloff ……. Jeffers/Vázquez ………..Buxton Wallner - Castro - Kepler……. Solano - Farmer - (Taylor/Martin/Gordon/Lee - RH Free Agent OF??) Don’t see a need nor a spot for Polanco…….could drop Farmer but we NEED availability!!!
  21. JD-TWINS
    He was hurt last year & has played 48 of 122 games this year. Farmer has played 88 games & got hit in the face to force him to miss around 25. Defensive stat shown here at TD 3-4 days ago regarding 2B defense for a Julien comparison, had Polanco at -2 whatever’s….., Julien at -1 …….Farmer at +1. The availability is the big issue & risk. I don’t see Kepler crumbling over next month the way he’s going right now……..I think they pick his option & that locks Kirilloff out of the grass & on to the dirt!
  22. JD-TWINS
    Completely agree!! With Duran, his Splinker is nearly impossible to hit at 98-100. His fastball, if elevated or just moved in or out is very difficult to square up. His “best pitch” according to the Team is his curveball. I see the nasty break but I also see it’s the easiest of the 3 to catch up with and to slap somewhere. I think if he threw his fastball 60% of the time (v. 46%) - splitter 23% of the time - curve 17% of the time (generalities) …….the curve and splitter appear more devastating with their movement. I get the fastball may be more taxing but I think he’d be more effective and throw 80% as many total pitches. Locating his fastball 4-6” up out of the zone is something he needs work on - currently his “show” high fastball is often a foot high…..just leads to more pitches. His out pitch should be a fastball an inch or 3” in or out OR fastball up 3-4”. Now he’s 0-2 & throwing curves over the plate to guys that are in protection mode - not effective! It’s the same approach Gray has taken over past 3 starts - off the plate sliders are starting in the zone now not spiking 2 in dirt every other at bat 58ft from mound - those waste pitches are worthless. He’s recognized & cut back & now throwing less total pitches per inning.
  23. JD-TWINS
    Agreed - just taking a “practical” look from Twins standpoint. They could afford to take a big swing…………probably a different FA & we could win more games with, more than ‘23, and it would kick up attendance as winning usually does. Get a $22M - $26M guy into the line-up & drop him in the middle of our anticipated order. OR we just wait for Lee & figure out how to mesh him & Julien & Lewis into the every day line-up.
  24. JD-TWINS
    $24M from additional tickets is pretty reasonable. I’d add another $8M, net, on concessions. Payroll saved from ‘23 could be in the $40M range pretty easily…….as we’ll need to keep some veterans around the youth movement. Maeda seems to be an obvious re-sign. I’m thinking another $5/ticket on the existing 1.8 million fans drawn in ‘23 - estimation of total……$9M to the total. 24 + 8 + 40 + 9 = $81M/year ….,,Ohtani is responsible for $41M according to the logic above…….we throw in another $14M and he gets $55M/year for 6 years - maybe 7? Our total payroll only increases approximately $15M/year. Seems affordable. NOT MOVING TO MINNEAPOLIS though! . …………………. Julien - Lewis - Wallner - Ohtani - Kirilloff - CC - Kepler - Jeffers - Buxton (Wallner would see lots of good pitches) Vazquez - Castro - Solano - Farmer ……………………. Lee up at the deadline Buxton has to play OF or we need to trade & eat 50% of his contract……no real choice.
  25. JD-TWINS
    The organization’s inflexibility is granted & not appreciated by me either! 130 games is too many to me. Realmuto is a unicorn. Guys like Molina are the typical “catcher” profile and theoretically is what organizations are trying to guard against. Lost power & can’t run at all after 9-10 years. See Vazquez. I get they weren’t burners to start but they appear really beat up. Hoping for a heavy dose of Jeffers through October!
×
×
  • Create New...