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JD-TWINS

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  1. JD-TWINS
    The guy has watched his 2nd game of the year out of 35 games because of his disinterest. Seems disinterested in baseball - right? We’re in first place with the lowest team BA in the league. We are at .220 as a team & MLB average is .248. CC is a problem that will get better……Kiriloff should help. Gordon has to get his act together with plate discipline or we should consider DFAing……..I’m Gordon’s biggest proponent (.279 BA - 28 doubles last year……just waiting for a change) but coming to the plate after a HBP, walk & walk……(your rock head teammate Miranda swings at ball to pop out after a pitch)………..first 2 pitches are balls to you & you swing at two balls (should be 100% RED light on 3rd pitch) to ground out & fail to get out of box clean, so it’s a double play. Really disappointing after recent XBH over previous 2 series. Miranda needs an assignment to help him get it together. They both seem to be way too anxious and very immature in their approach. We’re in first place though with nowhere to go but up offensively.
  2. JD-TWINS
    After seeing Miranda over the first 6 weeks of season, he looks like a project at 3B. The intuitive aggressiveness isn’t there & the routine plays seem less routine. That said, Polanco - Correa - Farmer - Lewis - Lee are our likely infielders with Kiriloff in ‘24. Julien doesn’t feel like he has a fit with the Twins due to fact that he’s only a 2B. Polanco may turn into a RH hitting 1B by next year for more flexibility. Because of 1B - RH hitting combo, Miranda has a better chance of making team than Julien. If Buxton stays healthy & productive through ‘23 there won’t be many AB’s at the DH spot in the foreseeable future. Again, despite the promise, Julien is on the outside………..there is a chance they don’t pick up Polanco’s option for ‘24 but if he is close to what he’s shown early in ‘23 for the balance of season, they have to bring him back. Farmer is signed for ‘24. Walner is able to put up similar stats to Kepler, we expect/hope! He should be in right next year. Larnach - Gordon - Taylor or new young guy from system (Martin?) Walner ………..Gallo & Kepler gone. I see Miranda & Julien as excellent trade chips for an arm………if Julien started getting reps in OF soon he may have a shot at making ‘24 team but that doesn’t seem realistic. Could drop Polanco but, again, if he performs around his historical numbers this year he’s going to be tough to displace……..Lewis is awfully talented & Lee is a switch hitter that can play multiple positions. Julien on outside!
  3. JD-TWINS
    When I watch, it seems his key to success is his ability to throw to spots with his fastball (not surprising), especially up in the zone. His outward demeanor is great for a young pitcher. In control. He seems to be a good “pitcher” without necessarily having the best stuff. Lots to like with Ryan!
  4. JD-TWINS
    My assumption has been that Castro would go down. His switch hitting capability is still a lower output than Miranda’s, even at the low level of ‘23 to date. Your point about Miranda sitting many days & Castro being more comfortable or built for that role, is very valid. Castro’s upside is his speed & ability to play OF if needed. Miranda needs work in the cage & between the ears. May be best for him to go down and get some work for a few weeks & if he turns it around, he can displace Solano in early June.
  5. JD-TWINS
    I’d be ecstatic if he hit .245 - still a long season so he’s got a shot at getting to this level. He’s missed a little time & still he’s on pace for 24 HR. He’s still very much above average in RF! With Larnach’s swoon & Gallo reverting to his past, Max looks solid in his position for the foreseeable future! Hope he stays hot with the HR power - he looks like a doubles machine with his speed and power, would be great to see a couple doubles per week……..I guess he only gets 5 hits per week, so can’t be greedy.
  6. JD-TWINS
    Gordon will start in CF more & more v. RH pitchers now that Farmer will be back. He’s coming around with the bat. Playing good OF! He had a hard hit single up the middle and a triple in the series prior to White Sox. He’s part of the Twins plans for the season - .265 hitter with some extra base pop. He can play 4 positions………… .279 & 28 doubles & 9 HR last season.
  7. JD-TWINS
    Exactly, can’t waste limited healthy innings at AAA. Should have been up since March 30. Maybe Maeda isn’t struggling as much with his health if we start with Ober? Anyway, we need him now & so far not only capable but dominant!……..if we can get 10 more good starts from him and we get a couple poor ones that’s great. That gets us to July & hopefully a choice between Mahle - Paddack - or somebody else from the farm……if Ober runs out of gas or good health. I hope he sticks!
  8. JD-TWINS
    The idea in today’s game is to reduce risk & not use gut feelings. That’s reality. Ryan had a 10 pitch at bat in 6th & got a double play to get out of inning. It’s a 1 run game and the least stress for a high leverage guy out of the Pen is to start with bases empty, not after Ryan gives up a single or double……..Lopez was set-up to succeed and didn’t - not the manager’s issue!! In hindsight it’s been made public on broadcast Wednesday that Duran wasn’t available Tuesday. The best way for us to take a 1 run lead through the last 3 innings is to use our 3 best remaining relievers. Lopez gave up two & we needed to adjust.
  9. JD-TWINS
    Gordon has a triple & 2 HR with a single in last 5 games………once again, hit .289 with 27 doubles after May in ‘22. He plays 4 positions. I believe he’s here to stay. Castro is a fill-in for depth. Gordon was/is part of the plan for ‘23. Have been upbeat & positive about our offense to date (patience) but when 2 of our top hitters for the month are Max & Joey we need to get our top line guys going. Polanco has had a real nice start - Miranda’s discipline sucks, no other way to describe it, frankly, he may need an option down after Farmer is back for a couple weeks - Correa showing some better contact over past few games…….wish he was more cerebral at the plate - Gordon starting to move needle forward - looking for another shot in the arm from Kiriloff in a couple weeks. Gotta broaden the choices for Bat of the Month by end of May.
  10. JD-TWINS
    End of March, Larnach was the last add to the 26 man & he had Kiriloff’s spot. Really nice couple weeks to start season. Haven't thought much at all about Gordon getting DFA’d. He’s coming around & in some big spots - plays 4 positions - w/o options left, he’s going to stick. It comes down to displacing Solano’s AB’s with Farmer (Farmer for Castro) when he comes back - Miranda plays 1B when appropriate & Farmer plays 3B. OR they dump Larnach back to AAA to figure out how to get better at 25-26 years old. Needs lots of work v. off speed! Solano has generally delivered with bat, mediocre on defense - Larnach is on 100 RBI pace……with Kiriloff back, Gallo goes to LF & we have the same line-up mix of LH hitters. Solano only cost around $2.5M ……can afford to release him. Theoretically, we may be able to mix him with prospect for trade in July. Another, less likely move, is send Larnach down until we can trade Kepler in 3 mos. & use that opening to bring Larnach back or audition Walner again. What’s the move?
  11. JD-TWINS
    He means we need more than 3 hits before we get to the 10th inning. Can’t score without hits. Agreed, batters looked foolish in the box against their pitcher in the 10th - Vasquez probably should have sacrificed to get Gallo to 3rd & apply pressure. Vasquez swung at a minimum of two pitches over shoulder height - Gordon took a cut a ball outside the zone & made an out - Buxton went way up & out of the zone to end the game. Don't understand playing for the big inning when you have a runner in scoring position to start the inning. Gotta score that guy from 2nd as the priority!!! Lopez was subpar!
  12. JD-TWINS
    Unfortunately, López has had 3 subpar outings in a row after being essentially perfect. Don’t see what next level Ryan can be expected to leap to this season? He’s 5-0 with a sub 2.50ERA & in his only no decision he gave up one hit & no runs over 6 innings. Pretty top shelf to date!
  13. JD-TWINS
    Rocco’s misstep w/Pen - don’t get it? If López does his job, there’s no angst. Even if he’s not perfect - can’t give up the HR!
  14. JD-TWINS
    Current record projects to 92 wins. There are no perfect teams nor perfect results. They play, sometimes better than others. Frustrating! (3 hits v. a guy with a 6.92 ERA)……….Really frustrating! Lost a HR by Correa in 1st………maybe 10” further & gone. Gordon pinch hit HR in 8th. Great outing by Ryan………,some positives but López didn’t get it done. Frustrating!
  15. JD-TWINS
    The deadline potential trade is 3 months - half season away. With the 2 guys we’ve brought up & potentially either Maeda or Mahle coming back in June……..along with SWR in June if needed. We should be OK til the deadline. Hopefully, they’ll have a better feel for potential of Paddack helping in August/September sometime in June. My bigger concern is the swift decline of Jorge López. His first 8-9 outings he was aggressive all around the edges of the zone, with an heir of confidence. Now (last 3 appearances) he’s pitching with a nervous smile - getting behind - throwing thigh high fastballs after behind. Not looking good at all — reverting back to August of ‘22 —- looks a lot like Pagan.
  16. JD-TWINS
    All excellent points on López - he might be our Ace but he’s not a Top 15 pitcher in the big leagues. Big deal. His contract is typical for a guy one hopes to earn 15 W’s…….Ryan will probably get a similar offer next year. Gray isn’t an Ace either but I’d offer him $43M for 2 years tomorrow! That’s the market for guys that are proven winners. Buxton is on pace to hit 39 HR & he’s in the line-up 90% of time v. 46% of the time, his norm for 7 of 8 years of his career. Taylor - Gordon - Gallo have CF covered. Correa has a career AVERAGE of around .275……not his April average. He’ll come around similarly to the ‘22 season. Look forward to the contribution!
  17. JD-TWINS
    14th in Slg% of 30 in MLB 21st in BA in MLB 17th in OPS in MLB Kepler becoming more consistent - Miranda coming around - Gordon will slowly work back through May - Polanco really helped over past week - inevitably, CC gets back on track - Buxton is in a groove - scored 6 or more runs in a number of recent games - HR in last eleven games - Kiriloff and Farmer coming on to 26 man in May. Offense is looking up! We’re 17-12 with a somewhat underperforming offense to date, compared to expectations/capabilities.
  18. JD-TWINS
    Correa will get going - ‘23 not that different than ‘22 start. The thing that needs to happen with CC is time……..more reps & he’ll figure it out. Can’t be a career .275 hitter & then only hit .200 in your physical prime. Jorge López, as was mentioned above, has slipped noticeably in his last 2 outings - nobody’s going to be perfect but we can’t have him revert back to last summer.
  19. JD-TWINS
    The reality flip side is that if you build a lead you don’t want to change your players…….maybe a guy or two in the bullpen?
  20. JD-TWINS
    Good list - fun to have guys with these types of stats! I wrote in TD about 7-8 days ago about how I was a new believer in Jorge López after wanting he & Pagan gone after last summer …..he had pitched 10 1/3 at that time & looked flawless to that point. I’m nervous now though. I get that guys aren’t going to be perfect nor even average all the time. However, I’ve seen his last couple appearances and they harken back to his time last year with Twins. He loaded the bases & narrowly escaped 2 outings ago - last time out he gave up a runner that Jax had walked, needing one out in 8th………..he’s just looked a little different trying to locate in recent couple appearances……he’s going to give up runs eventually I just hope he doesn’t revert to 2022 Jorge, his stuff is too good for that. Great pitching month!
  21. JD-TWINS
    Alcala, if healthy, will be back to help Pen. Headrick & Winder will combine for long relief help in Pen. Moran needs to throw strikes or be demoted - can’t start outings with a walk and put yourself in a hole every 3 of 4 appearances. Stewart looks like a better 8th guy than Pagan! Maeda will/should go to the Pen in a month when he feels ready to throw. Pagan is our harmless innings 8th guy but I still wish he were gone, no upside. I think Solano, due to a lack of defensive effectiveness, will be DFA’d if/when we run out of roster space. Started season with 1B & 2B on continued spring re-hab……Polanco has provided nice shot in the arm over the last week & it was needed. Kiriloff will help at some point in May. Farmer will bring back the stable depth he provided the first 3 weeks of the season. Balazovic as another arm in Pen by June could be helpful. Steady start for May this week in Division & we’ll know more about the roster in 3-4 weeks. Farmer will get a couple starts at 3B & SS as soon as he’s ready - both CC & Miranda could use an off day or two. We’ll be better in May with CC starting to thaw out at the plate! 27 games in May ……can we go 15-12 for the month? Nice goal that is attainable. Play some good clubs throughout the month! PEN by May 20: Duran - Stewart - Jax - Winder - Headrick - Thielbar - López - Maeda……… guys in wings ….Moran, Alcala, or Balazovic
  22. JD-TWINS
    Buxton is 7-23 over last handful of games with 4 HR & 10 RBI. He’s started 25 of 29 games and PH in a 26th. Playing 90% of the time in ‘23. Has played 46% of the time in 7 of 8 seasons up until ‘23. Seems we should have tried something different? We have a Gold Glove CF 80% of the time with Taylor. Nick Gordon or Joey Gallo (former G Glove OF) the balance of time in CF. Byron is on pace to hit 39 HR if he keeps playing at this pace…….he’ll be in 145 games at this pace. Buxton will get 30 starts throughout the summer in CF……..it’s May 1, we’re on pace to win 95 games and everything seems to be going fine!
  23. JD-TWINS
    Castro has Farmer’s spot on the roster…..he’s 2-3 weeks away. Gordon - Solano - Larnach & his own ability to prove he’s healthy are the issues blocking Kiriloff from being brought up. Larnach being sent down while at a pace for 110 RBI seems slim. Gordon hit 27 doubles & 8 HR & batted .289 after May last year……plays 4 positions. Solano is mediocre on defense at either 2B or 1B………an asset against LH pitching! ………….to me, Solano gets optioned before Gordon. Farmer & Miranda can pick up his slack on the roster. Injury to someone is Kiriloff’s other path.
  24. JD-TWINS
    Now that Mahle is definitely out through most of June, at a minimum, Headrick will be in the staff & not bouncing up & down. Still a long man though, as that is our need, stable long man!!
  25. JD-TWINS
    $35M per year & one of the faces of organization is plenty enough pressure. Batting 2-3-4 in our line-up is CC’s expectation, no more pressure with position in order. Anything lower than 5 is a showing of lack of confidence - last thing any struggling hitter needs. Correa’s start to ‘22 wasn’t significantly different than his start to ‘23. He’ll be fine……….until 8 days ago Miranda & Kepler were both pretty bad as well - now they’re hot. It will come for Correa.
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