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JD-TWINS

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Everything posted by JD-TWINS

  1. 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?
  2. 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.
  3. 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!
  4. 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.
  5. 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!!!!!
  6. 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.
  7. 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!
  8. 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.
  9. 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
  10. 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.
  11. 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!
  12. 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.
  13. JD-TWINS
    Didn’t check the list…….Alex Kirilloff & Donovan Solano……..total cost $4.5M.
  14. 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.
  15. 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.
  16. 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!!!
  17. 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!
  18. 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.
  19. 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!
  20. JD-TWINS
    Good news is Festa/Raya are 3-4 or 4-5 or 5-6 on a bunch of lists, nearly all lists! Encouraging. Glad there is still some others that see potential in Headrick going forward.
  21. JD-TWINS
    Catching 4-5 games over 6-7 day series is a piece of cake for Jeffers ………..no argument………for a couple weeks……i.e. Playoffs. The debate was about physical/mental fatigue doing it throughout 162 games. The game is a grind for left fielders in August let alone a catcher playing the bulk of the time. They signed a guy for $30M and have been waiting for him to come around. Probably too long! Vazquez is hitting around .260 past few weeks. Still inferior to Jeffers for sure. Organization likes the results they are getting between the pair and seems they aren’t going to vary the routine this season. Next Spring, hopefully, the target for total games is well above 100.
  22. JD-TWINS
    Thought Jax would right himself & then his worst outing pops up. Bummer! Henriquez - Ortega - Funderburk are all worth looks………not sure if Ortega has regressed? Seems he had like a 3-1 good to bad outing ratio with Twins?……,we’ve proven over & over nobody is perfect. Funderburk is intriguing due to his look/delivery and being a leftie.
  23. JD-TWINS
    What do you or I know about the demands of catching in the major leagues? All opinions. 4-5 games per week average is 50% more than what he’s been doing. It’s not all physical - it’s wear & tear of being responsible for every pitch. You don’t think that playing 50% more may affect how he feels, then how he hits? We’re going to win the Division and if we don’t it’s not going to be because Jeffers didn’t start 5 or 6 more games from here to Oct. 1. The most important factor is to have him fresh to catch 3-4 games in a row in October as needed. Can Jeffers catch 23 or more out of 40 games left - sure. Is the change worth a change in routine - change with his offense? Only reason to catch more is so he hits more & effectively. Regarding next year, he catches 65% of games (105 total) if he goes into the year with the mindset that he’s the guy that’s got the majority of the job. Nothing like what’s been represented to him nor put into practice for ‘23. In ‘24, Team wouldn’t wait until April 3 to tell him he’s going to catch 2 of every 3 games. IMO, managing guys heads and keeping their heads clear on their roles ahead of time is as big as the physical rest………should be discussing his bigger role in playoffs in a couple more weeks. In the end a player’s confidence and ability to stay composed is what makes things go.
  24. JD-TWINS
    Also, if we want to not go from a guy catching 40% of the first 1/3 of the season, to then going 50% of the time, to then 60-70% of the time and changing his stamina to hit well, let’s ease into more time behind the plate. His BAT is why we want him to catch more. Do not want to get diminishing returns at the plate from playing more than he’s used to, too quickly. Completely agree that if managed correctly, he should be able to catch 110-115 games next year. At least target those numbers from start of the season.
  25. JD-TWINS
    I get you like Jorge. Me too. Switch hitter with pop & a good glove…..career .270 BA. He’s injury prone over a minimum of last 2 years. Played a bunch on a bad ankle another year. Again, played 47 games of 121 games this year. Letting go of both is interesting but that adds a lot of pressure to the young guys for not a lot of financial gain. Love Nick Gordon but he’s a really big risk at the plate after his last 3 months……deserves a chance, probably in CF & LF? Another LH bat on top of Julien. Need a RH bat, on paper, to play off of Julien. Polanco is a lesser hitter from right side, or a draw at best with Farmer. They are both getting paid in ‘23………the $10M saved in ‘24 is to spend “on pitching”, not a $10M pitcher. The clear delineation that Farmer is a platoon guy in the mix with Julien at 2B may have things shake out better going forward. With Polanco & Julien on the roster & with Lee coming for somebody’s spot, could get sticky. Gallo - Gray - Mahle - Polanco (potentially a piece) - Taylor - Maeda $55 - $60M total saved from ‘23 to apply toward pitching or other needs in ‘24. Assuming they act on Kepler. I think Castro as depth piece (switch hitter - base stealer - position flexibility) is a better value than Polanco at this point. Farmer & Castro for less than Polanco’s salary. Available.
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