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JD-TWINS

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Everything posted by JD-TWINS

  1. JD-TWINS
    I would focus on Ryan & Ober this off-season for early deals…….maybe Duran & Jax. Re-sign Maeda for 2 years. Let Lewis play for 3 months in a row at some point before considering any type of deal. He’s fun to watch - a real talent! Can only hope Lee is 85% as good. Kirilloff is the same deal - need 3-4 months in a row……….he too is a talent!
  2. JD-TWINS
    Kepler is having his 2nd best season as a Twin. There’s no question about these facts. If we said Kepler, in 2023, will hit .243 BA (career .233) - strikeout less than 25% of the time - hit 20 HR (in 98 games) potentially 25 for the season - .780 OPS………We would want to trade for him! Still playing very solid defense as well. I wanted to DFA him in June……he’s earned respect with the change in his approach at the plate. He hits the ball hard WAY more often than he did the first 3 months……the numbers have come up accordingly. Pagan still drives me crazy - great stuff - loses focus and command about once a month. Gallo’s defensive flexibility & competence on defense is the reason for keeping him, along with clubhouse continuity. He’ll be around through September with the expanded roster and then to watch the games as a non-rostered teammate in October. Not fortifying the Pen at the deadline was disappointing! That said, we need 4 starters for playoffs, maximum: Lopez, Gray, Maeda, Ober Pen: Ryan - Varland - Kuechel &/or Funderburk - Jax - Duran - Thielbar - Pagan…….7 or 8 guys for playoffs. Possibly only 7 in Pen to keep 15 bats available?
  3. JD-TWINS
    The differences between the guys make sense…….maybe a little low overall though? You didn’t have this information - Winder threw 3 innings of hitless tonight, big HOLD & got the win. Jax-Thielbar ….8 Duran….9 Pagan……7 Floro-Ortega-Balazovic-Winder…..6.5 Sands …..5 I look at these numbers as how many times out of ten they will be successful…….not necessarily perfect but not terrible. Pitchers give up runs once in a while through no fault of their own……..Duran in Milwaukee - Taylor has a one base error and the guy scores with 2 outs in a chopper to 3rd. Similar rankings. Every time I get soft and start believing in Pagan he breaks my heart or makes me want to put out a contract on him. Tough watch!!
  4. JD-TWINS
    With 35 games left, and postseason a strong possibility, it seems buying roster space for healthy guys while putting him on IL to prepare for maybe 12-15 starts in CF makes perfect sense. Sense of urgency changes as playoffs are more near & Twins need him in CF or possibly not at all. Time to find out what he can do over a short burst of games.
  5. JD-TWINS
    OK - not being critical of you here - why isn’t Taylor assigned blame for not being able to execute a sacrifice bunt & much worse, having an obvious 1 base error in the 10th allowing the winning run to get to 3rd & score with 2 outs on a grounder to 3rd? Don’t understand the assignment of blame. I get this isn’t your system, but if Pagan does his job Duran potentially doesn’t need to come into the game…….not tied up anyway.
  6. JD-TWINS
    I thought that was crazy - he pitched a scoreless 9th & then had to start with a guy on 2B in the 10th. Pagan gave up 2 runs in 6th with one swing …..no pre-set runner in scoring position. 2 runs prior to recording an out. Pagan has 1/3 the blame v. Duran????
  7. JD-TWINS
    We can fly people to Milwaukee & don’t need to bus them in overnite. Not replacing Ortega is truly one of the first FO/Management issues I’ve had with the Twins this year. No excuse for not having a full roster, particularly with a tough 4 games series starting tomorrow evening. Where the hell is Funderburk??? Why are TD contributors giving Duran a hard time? He pitched the 9th, no issues. He came back out in the 10th with a runner at second base with the designed intent from MLB of promoting scoring. He gives up a line drive to center and our former Gold Glove centerfielder butchered the play and turned a single into a double (1 base error). This guy ends up at 3rd after a fly ball to right. The next guy tops a pitch 5 feet off the ground to 3B so slowly Lewis can’t throw him out. The guy who got the extra base earlier scores on the chopper to 3B. Duran pitched well - things don’t go right sometimes but no fault of his! Kenta - Emilio - Caleb all made Willie Adammes look like Willie Mays……ahead in the count then leave a pitch thigh high in middle of plate. If pitches are thrown there they will be punished, even by a guy hitting .212 or whatever ugly BA he has. I don’t know who hit all the homers - felt like it was all Adammes. Cannot give up HR when ahead in the count …..same thing Ober did last night. HR’s after getting behind happen…..gotta throw strikes at that point, I get it……..cannot give up 1-2 or 0-2 jacks! Pagan & Thielbar killed us today……both have good stuff, particularly Pagan. Lack of thought or command is my problem. I do wonder about the pitch calling/location demanded by our catchers in some instances.
  8. JD-TWINS
    Harmon scored 106 in ‘69 & drove himself in 49 times. Carew had a .440 OBP in ‘77 & hit .388…….he batted 3rd instead of lead off like Knoblach….less good hitters to drive him home & he scored 128 runs with 100RBI.
  9. JD-TWINS
    He’ll have an aliment for sure if they are ready prior to Roster Expansion. Great way to keep him accessible w/o clogging roster.
  10. JD-TWINS
    The good news is Kuechel - Funderburk - Ryan can displace guys in the current bullpen. No extra spaces needed. Especially if Floro would develop a blister or have a back strain………Winder/Sands can be optioned along with Ober, since he could really use missing 2 starts to refresh. Kirilloff - Castro - Buxton in order of importance for the 2 extra spots. Gallo/Luplow are potential guys that can create openings. 13 pitchers & 15 bats in September….. 12 pitchers & 14 bats in October……maybe as few as 11 pitchers?? 4 in rotation & 7 in Pen seems to work with a day off every 3rd or 4th day.
  11. JD-TWINS
    Gotta try him for 2-3 games in St Paul……that’s plenty……..he’s almost 30, he’ll know if it’s a go & so will the organization. If St Paul works, he needs 1/2 dozen games in CF throughout September to feel good about it, while DHing maybe 7-10 games. Roster is expanded by 2 in another 9 days……..playing him in LF helps v. LH pitching, but that’s it on LF. Where & when for Kirilloff return????? Much bigger issue than missing Buxton! Best line-up was original Q: RH starter……Castro/CF…Julien/DH…Lewis/3B…Kepler/RF…Kirilloff/1B…CC/SS…Wallner/LF…Jeffers/C…Polanco/2B Can debate order but Castro protected by Julien and best speed at top of line-up. LH starter……CC/SS...Castro/LF…Lewis/3B…Buxton/CF…Solano/1B…Jeffers/C…Farmer/2B…Taylor/RF…Polanco/DH Vazquez in the wings. Would be great to carry 15 bats (Luplow) with 7 relievers! 14 bats minimum rostered in October - only need 4 starters in rotation.
  12. JD-TWINS
    If you’re playing wiffle ball…….MLB players can’t be that fine with their ability to make good contact. Most guys are trying to hit the ball back up the middle as a rule for “good approach”. The ball goes all over the field - in the air - on the ground. Nobody is going to make Buxton chase the ball around.
  13. JD-TWINS
    This doesn’t allow for Julien & Polanco to be in the line-up………that’s the point of moving Buxton out of DH spot…….Wallner is fine in LF.
  14. JD-TWINS
    Reasonable plan but I may want half-dozen games in OF & a dozen games at the plate prior to playoffs………maybe 3 weeks to go?
  15. 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.
  16. 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!
  17. 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.
  18. 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.
  19. 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.
  20. 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.
  21. 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.
  22. 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!!!!!
  23. 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.
  24. 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!
  25. 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.
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