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JD-TWINS

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Everything posted by JD-TWINS

  1. JD-TWINS
    Do we sign Gray? 2024 - 26 man: Julien & Farmer at 2B CC & Farmer at SS Lewis & Farmer at 3B Kirilloff & Solano at 1B Wallner - Castro - Taylor - FA signing - guy from system (Martin/Rodriguez?) or trade piece?…….OF needs to upgrade!!! Vazquez & Jeffers at C Buxton/Solano - DH Dropping salary from Gray - Mahle - Maeda - Gallo - Kepler - Polanco………$65 MILLION from existing budget that will be freed up……use $ on OF guy and a depth starter and MAYBE a depth reliever. Am seeing this year that relief CAN be built off others scrap pile & with internal system options. More youth v. keeping Solano? Is Taylor blocking someone? I like vets that have done it & aren’t expensive………these guys could be signed for this year’s number plus $2.5M …. $10M total. Not too costly to DFA either! Is this COMPETITIVE?? Julien/Kirilloff/Lewis all ready April 1 & security in their positions. Paddack - Ryan - Ober - Lopez - Varland (Gray? or an inexpensive Maeda or a FA at $15-$18M) Headrick - Stewart - Ortega - Balazovic - Moran - Jax - Duran (Thielbar is probably done)……..some add from system or a FA at $8M or less. Can’t imagine Lopez or Pagan remain. Extend Ryan & Duran & consider Ober……may need 3 months of ‘24 on Ober prior to offer.
  2. JD-TWINS
    The “let’s see what we have for the future” approach is for after you are eliminated from post season, IMO. AAA and Spring Training is for evaluating, not the Show in August when you are in first place in your Division - right? We outta have a pretty fair idea of who Varland & SWR are by now! Not a real big proponent of signing Gray v. some other potential FA arm in off-season……his salary must be approaching $15M now - we are paying Maeda $5-$7M - Mahle $12M…..generally good numbers. Not signing Mahle nor Maeda in ‘24 are nearly certainties…….this leaves $$$ for Gray within this year’s current budget. We also trim Polanco - Gallo - Kepler at a minimum after ‘23, that’s $34M or in a close range saved from this year’s budget………spots filled with guys in our system. Sign Gray for $23.5/year for 2 years and have $40M plus leftover from the existing budget. One way to go. I make the offer to Gray now to see where his head’s at - the security he gains & confidence shown in him could propel him through the remainder of this year & forward!
  3. JD-TWINS
    I don’t understand dismantling the league’s best overall starting staff prior to letting guys like Lewis heal - Polanco as well. Wallner gives us a potential new look if not only addition by subtraction (Gallo or Kepler). Hope is an unknown with an upside…….panic is not good in any sense. Not trying to put down fans that are skeptical - but it seems not supporting decisions/a path until it comes to fruition is just……… Trading Gray is going to yield very little value. I think that’s real whether we are panicked or hopeful. Can we get to 86 wins? Seriously - that’s 8 games over .500 and getting close to unattainable by the Guradians. If so, we host a first round series. With our starters & Thielbar/Stewart/Maeda displacing some of our questionable guys in the Pen, we have a shot at advancing! We’re 2-10 v. Tampa, Baltimore, & Atlanta. Lost 2 in extra innings v. Orioles and a couple tough ones in the other 2 series. We aren’t in Tampa nor Atlanta’s league in the playoffs - granted. Probably able to compete with anyone else in the game though……don’t think that’s just based on hope.
  4. JD-TWINS
    Trade DEADLINE is 13 days away, not another month. Can’t imagine we aren’t still competitive in the AL Central in 2 weeks, so we need to go for the Division title. Another contributor mentioned that we’d be fine in the playoffs with Lopez - Ryan - Ober…….Way too many possible HR’s with Lopez & Ryan. I really like them both & understand there are no perfect players but they have both shown major weaknesses at various spots (lately in particular). Ober seems rock solid to date but after another 12-13 starts, who knows. Need to hang on to the veteran presence with Gray. You & other contributor mention the lack of probable value we can get for Gray - agreed. If he’s a FA next year we aren’t going to get anything of real value for a 2 month rental. His comments about his potential future actions don’t really play into our reality. Taking calls is part of the everyday routine for the FO…….no reason not to do this but as we’ve both mentioned, a worthwhile offer probably doesn’t/won’t exist.
  5. JD-TWINS
    Relative to fighting off pitches…….he got an RBI yesterday after a 10 pitch AB for a walk. No reason to give him an award, but it seems to be much better than taking 3 strikes in a row!
  6. JD-TWINS
    I get it - his most recent swoon. He has had to tip his hat to opposing outfielder 3 times in past handful of games. An HR - single - double mixed in over those games & he’s at his typical, ugly .205 with a high Slugging%. I wish there was a better short-term answer but with Lewis out & Polanco out, I don’t see any.
  7. JD-TWINS
    Jax was NEEDED to extinguish any upstart in the 7th! The A’s had comeback 4 times prior in the game. He can’t throw into a second inning after throwing the night before. Ortega did a nice job, & if anything, I thought he may get the 9th. Duran did his job. Jax may be able to get an out or 2 today after only throwing 6 pitches Saturday. Disagree on any issues with how the Pen’s been used through the 2 games we won. Need a starter to perform or BP will get burned up on any team…….Maeda’s 3 inning debacle on Friday got the problems started.
  8. JD-TWINS
    Hit a 109 MPH rocket to 3B Saturday - he’s had some terrible AB’s in the past couple games but from the “team only meeting” to the All-star game he had some hits - few K’s - 3-4 times robbed on D of big hits, couple times in 2 days at the Wall v. Baltimore. We don’t have a better definitive option. He only plays if the team thinks he can contribute - nothing to do with $$$.
  9. JD-TWINS
    We’re thin in the Pen today - let’s go Joe! Agreed - O’s are a solid club! Four former Twins on their staff makes it sting a little bit…….We win 2 of 6 in the 2 series v. Baltimore and lost 2 of those in extra innings…….it’s not like they crushed us. An aside - the Braves were in the middle of a streak of 20 games averaging 7.2 runs per game when we came into Georgia………I think we gave up 2 - 3 - 6 runs over the 3 game sweep. Great club - results not that terrible. Tampa & Braves swept us……6 losses to them & 4 to Baltimore. Other than those, we’ve been very competitive in other series with teams that have a wide range of ability! Don’t understand the attitudes that dismiss any chance for us in a playoff series?
  10. JD-TWINS
    There are probably a handful of other seasons better than the shortened 2020 season from Maeda. Thanks for pointing out an obvious one!
  11. JD-TWINS
    We lost 2 games in 10 innings v. Orioles & won 2 of 6 - played Boston well - played Yankees well (w/Judge) - played Angels well - played Dodgers well - played Houston well. Some tough losses mixed into these series. Played a couple good games v. both Tampa Bay & Atlanta but lost all 6 (6 of your 9 v. baseball’s best 2 teams) these offset our KC success. We’re a game under .500 in 7 games v. Tigers & a game under .500 in 7 with Guardians. A bunch of good teams in our rear view mirror! If we stay above .500 in division, the balance of our schedule should allow us to level up our record v. non division teams.
  12. JD-TWINS
    He’s super competitive and a hot head to some level. Nothing wrong with a tough competitor wearing it on his sleeve! Rocco has treated him as well as he could be expected to treat him. Our staff has thrown more innings as starters than any other in ‘23. Reasoning is because they’ve pitched well. Same manager both years. Last night Maeda was pulled after 3 innings not because Baldelli doesn’t like him or is trigger happy with bull pen but because he was protecting Maeda & trying to win a ballgame. Same approach as in ‘22 with Gray/Ryan/Bundy & the other 2 guys at the back end of the rotation……if guys were failing in middle of fourth they need to be replaced, period. Gray pitched lights out in April…….pitched really well in May………pitched not much better than average since beginning of June. He’s effective with his 6 pitch mix but doesn’t seem to have the mental toughness/focus to work through 6 plus innings routinely. Not many pitchers do have that kind of focus. Not the manager’s fault! Hope we re-sign him by using his current salary along with some of the dollars saved on Not Signing Maeda & Mahle in ‘24. Offer $43M for 2 years……..I’d offer it soon so we can pump him up (financial security) if he’s interested or we can determine it’s inevitable that he’s done in MN. Can’t afford more risk on his health than 2 years! He’s a luxury going forward. A “no” and we early extend Ryan. Ryan/Lopez/Ober are our best pitchers and Ober is starting to look like our most consistent. Short sample but awfully good so far! ……Paddack is under contract for ‘24 as well……Louie V. is still learning & improving. Maeda could/would probably come back as a depth guy for & $8-$10M/year. Maeda - Mahle - Kepler - Polanco - Gallo - Gray could/should all be gone in ‘24 & that’s approximately $60-$65M in available $ to spend without increasing our budget. If we could get 2-3 proven (reliever - OF - pitcher) players with these funds and have our young guys in place to start ‘24 it would be ideal.
  13. JD-TWINS
    Seems obvious to me as well!!! Nobody cares what a guy says if you’re looking to rent him for 10 - 11 weeks. Unless we collapse over the next 15 games, he’s not going anywhere.
  14. JD-TWINS
    Buxton was worse - a couple other times this year! I have to say that from the “Player's only” meeting he was crushing it until the break. He was robbed at the wall 3 different times - line out to SS - line drives to left - foul HR’s……..his contact rates were way up & exit velocity was great over those 6-8 games. Ge managed to mix in some hits as well.
  15. JD-TWINS
    I’m in Eastern Zone - took a little nap when Pagan came in & back to the action with Jax cruising once again. Missed about 1:15 w/o any consequential action.
  16. JD-TWINS
    I called for it after he went hitless in first 4 games back with Big Club - “…….,Miranda needs to pull something to make room for Wallner…”
  17. JD-TWINS
    We get it - He’s an offensive juggernaut!!
  18. JD-TWINS
    I believe everybody else plays Kansas City & Oakland………. Better than our record against the mighty Tigers.
  19. JD-TWINS
    If we are going to compete - Miranda can’t be on our roster after July 25. Hoping we have other options from IL &/or AAA.
  20. JD-TWINS
    Not being difficult here but who are the range of players (even 1or2) on current roster that are better choices at DH? Solano is getting in the line-up regularly. Can’t imagine who it might be? If Lewis is on roster along with Wallner or even Polanco…….then we have some options with Julien mixed in as well. Now Solano is at 1B - 2B - 3B nearly every game & Julien is at 2B v. RH pitching. Who might it be?
  21. JD-TWINS
    They are both brutal …….that’s the point. Both are gone after this season, right? If that’s assumed & the premise is one of them has to go now, it’s gotta be Gallo. Our offensive output in LF is 26th in MLB……19th in RF. I realize neither of these guys are singularly responsible for these stats, but generally, I’ll take Kepler’s D in RF & his occasional offensive streaks - also more important in the clubhouse after 7 years. Gallo has to go - may find a trade partner that would just take on his salary? If not, DFA.
  22. JD-TWINS

    2nd half moves

    JD-TWINS commented on Doc Munson's blog entry in Fantasy GM

    ………….As well as Miranda & Polanco stinking it up or not being available! Vazquez down year at the plate after bringing him for consistency. Many under performers!!!
  23. JD-TWINS
    i.e. Luis with a .314 Career BA over 4.5 years…..Steer has excelled after a rough start last year in Cincinnati. Encarnacion-Strand is raking at AAA for Cinti. Rooker has been up & mostly down in Oakland. Not sure on other guys (former Twins) hitting elsewhere? ………………… FO needs a bit of a break in that going into ‘23, Buxton was fully expected to be able to play 40-50% of the games, sharing with Gordon/Taylor, in CF. Polanco was expected to play 70% of this year’s games, easily. Buxton playing in CF some allows for Wallner/Julien/Larnach to get AB’s at DH. Miranda was supposed to be a 3rd or 4th best bat in line-up. CC was assumed to be a minimum .260 BA guy with 75RBI at an absolute minimum. Built a solid rotation - decent Pen! Miranda a negative - Polanco a negative - CC a negative - Buxton a negative - Gordon backward steps - Larnach no progress……….no crystal ball for the FO……disappointing group effort from the core players!!! Kepler/Gallo/Pagan/J. Lopez are all 4 squarely on the FO!!! I have been SLOW to move this way but we need to move forward or at least laterally with new faces in the line-up. Gallo needs to be displaced from roster. Julien needs to be allowed to flourish or not by getting another 11 weeks of MLB AB’s. Fill 3B with our bench guys until Lewis heals. Kirilloff at 1B everyday at v. RH pitching……Solano v. LH pitching. Play Castro as needed in CF or 3rd & continue to use both him & Taylor to try and manufacture runs via steals & bunts. Kepler in RF & hope we get an offer so Wallner can play last 8 weeks in RF. Castro - Julien - CC - Buxton - Farmer - Kirilloff - Wallner - Kepler - Jeffers - Vazquez - Taylor - Solano - Lewis OR (trade piece or youth bat in 13th spot)………trade piece would displace Kepler eventually as Lewis comes back.
  24. JD-TWINS
    Fixing the Pen…..adding to Pen: Robertson - Brad Hand - Kid from Cubs……would take most guys with experience. No need for Fulmer - he’s just a mild improvement over Pagan. Still think Headrick is a real option……Sands does not appear to be an option…….Crossing fingers on Stewart & Thielbar - they could both be big additions!
  25. JD-TWINS
    I assume the values you have shown for players are accurate but I have to wonder how they are derived? The Padres wouldn’t trade either Hader nor Snell (singularly) for Miranda & Polanco. If they would, we should jump on it immediately! How can Polanco be rated less than Miranda? Miranda has performed terribly in ‘23……..don’t get the player rating system? Polanco has played maybe 35% of the games over the past 12 months……Miranda is just OK in AAA this year…..these guys for 1 or 2 pitching stars seems like a non possibility.
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