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JD-TWINS

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  1. JD-TWINS
    He’s 35 & has X years experience in MLB. Long relief today is more than 3 outs…….I think he’d be great in 1.3 - 2.3 inning stints! The other long relief options I’ve seen posted are Ober & Winder. Their experience is measured in multiple months.
  2. JD-TWINS
    It appears they are holding still with current relievers until that point. Maybe they have a deal outlined with one of these guys? Fingers crossed! I still want the Maeda contract adjusted slightly so they can use him in the Pen. BEST long relief option. Any of the 4 guys above are worth signing, not because they have outstanding stuff, but because they won’t blink in the 8th inning in July nor September after they just walked a guy. Our current relief corps is young or not a lot of intestinal fortitude (J. Lopez/Pagán) shown to date. We’d be really solid with one of those guys & Maeda displacing Pagán & López. PEN: (1 of FA above) plus Maeda - Jax - Duran - Megill - Moran - Thielbar - Alcala
  3. JD-TWINS
    Kenta Maeda is my choice - comes with experience in that role!!
  4. JD-TWINS
    Seriously - I’ve never heard of a guy named Brown? Unless Taylor gets hurt or hits sub .150, Garlick - Contreras - Celestino don’t even get free tickets to games in Minneapolis. Gordon - Larnach - Buxton - Gallo - Kepler - Taylor is about as deep as an outfield can get. If Kepler’s traded, that change’s the possibility that somebody from AAA is involved at some point in the year. Gotta think Walner would be the logical choice. Celestino has 3-4 ifs in his description for future. Martin - Lewis seem to be ready to go, at least with what’s been seen so far. Give Martin a couple months this spring & let Lewis finish his re-hab and they will jump ahead of the other AAA alternatives. They can hit!
  5. JD-TWINS
    I’m a pro Gordon guy after 2022! He’s an OUTFIELDER! To me he’s got enough speed & hits with enough consistency against RH pitching to be as close as we can get to a prototype lead-off guy. He could be more selective and maybe walk 3-4 times more per month! With 575 AB’s this year he could be a 38 doubles guy. He won’t be cheated on swing. Vs. Left handed starters I think Michael Taylor makes sense. He can steal a base occasionally. He can run & his spilts against Lefties suggest he’ll start against all left handers. These guys are athletic & durable. I like Gallo 1st maybe 10-15 times per year if Gordon is sitting against a RH. He would be good against power arms or somebody that isn’t a great control guy early. With the former he might turn a fastball around & with the latter he can use his ability to walk. Julien’s gotta make the team before I speculate with him in any spot in order. Lewis could drop into the #1 spot after July & we probably shed ourselves of either Gallo or Kepler. LH opposition starter (30 games): Taylor - Buxton - Correa - Polanco - Miranda - Farmer - Gordon - Jeffers - Keppler RH opposition starter (130 games): Gordon - Kirilof - Correa - Larnach - Polanco - Vazquez - Kepler - Miranda - Gallo Obviously, Buxton will play 100 games or so against RH pitching and alternate with Larnach at DH & Gordon in CF. With LH pitching being a personal target for success and the fact that he’s spelling Miranda - CC - Polanco ……….Farmer will be playing 120 games this year……….maybe a surprise?
  6. JD-TWINS
    Correct, we don’t have an obvious guy and match-ups will drive who gets slotted there daily. One thing I don’t have to IMAGINE is that Gallo has hit at a .199 clip over his career, and this has a great chance of not having success as a “get on base” guy. Considering other options.
  7. JD-TWINS
    Sure - am concerned about every player’s health that has been on IL previously with more than a minor ailment. Your examples of other guys shoulder problems & recovery rates were informative but nothing gives the FO nor the fans a warm feeling. Lopez’ 2022 is encouraging but not any kind of guarantee. P. López - yes Maeda - fixed? T. Mahle - yes Gray - routinely tender Ober - yes Larnach - routinely out Polanco - yes Winder - in & out Buxton - YES Kirilof - YES Am probably missing an obvious one or two guys? These guys are key pieces to our success, so, fingers crossed. Health killed us last year & there’s 38% of our roster listed here that we should have legitimate questions about……..how many of these 10 start the season healthy?….,,how many get through June unscathed??
  8. JD-TWINS
    Taylor upside v. Celestino: .257 BA & .722 OPS vs. Lefties for career (9 yrs) - at least solid. 32 yrs. old with World Series experience. Since beginning of 2021, HIGHEST graded outfielder in baseball!!! Big deal & contrast. Likelihood for mental errors are way low. Seems durable as well. Can steal a few bases as well in right situation…….he may bat lead-off against Lefties?
  9. JD-TWINS
    Guys have been making errors with the mental game aspects of baseball forever………the problem with Celestino comes in when most fans realize after 1 season that he has an issue with base running & outfield play judgement. I get he’s 22-23 years old and theoretically has time to learn. As a guy who played baseball from age 8 - 14 & watched from 6 to 60, Gilberto has had plenty of field time & coaching & practice to be aware of “baseball situations” and know, out of wrote, what play to make. Awareness & smarts in sports are difficult to teach……you coach and then at some point the player absorbs and routinely does the right thing. Or not! Not trying to just be a negative take, but his lack of ability to hit the ball to the left of the 2nd baseman, coupled with the issues with making the right play in clutch or simple situations tells me he may never develop into a guy we want playing outfield in the Show in Minneapolis.
  10. JD-TWINS
    Am hoping for a FA reliever still to come for ‘23 - just about any of the quality guys left would get me excited!!!!! Reality signing - VÁZQUEZ is going to change our view of Catcher as a better defender & more importantly, he hits .274 for his career……40-70 points higher than Sanchez or Jeffers. Much bigger delta upgrade between Vázquez and our previous Catchers v. CC & Farmer!!!
  11. JD-TWINS
    SURELY!!
  12. JD-TWINS
    Not sure why Gordon can’t play 135 games in OF in ‘23? He gained 25lb from January - June and played whenever needed & wherever needed last year. Much stronger & more stamina. 85 starts in LF - 50 starts in CF in ‘23. .272 BA in ‘22 28 doubles - 9 HR - 98 OF starts in ‘22 - 405 AB’s Why wouldn’t he hit 38 doubles & 12 HR in 575 AB’s in ‘23?? I think he’s gotta play daily & deserves to play daily after last season.
  13. JD-TWINS
    Bat him 4th then, at least against RH pitching. Put Polanco behind him to help keep him protected. Assuming he didn’t bat 3-4 against any lefties NOR after he got hurt!
  14. JD-TWINS
    Agree - the lift of the shift was/is my hope for Kepler to come around. Had not seen the Gallo signing coming!! I think Max hits .255 or more this year. Kepler was amongst the 85% of left handed batters that never bunted nor hit the ball to the left side - hence the rule change. I was sure Kepler would be traded by now. I guess we keep him, at least until the deadline & we can evaluate Gallo, because we can’t trust the health of Kirilof nor Larnach. I like Gallo - Gordon - Kepler left to right against LH starting pitching!!!! Larnach at DH & Kirilof at 1B. Big possibilities!
  15. JD-TWINS
    Winning is the only thing……unless you get caught like the Astros. Seriously though, I hate Arraez isn’t on our roster but if we win 90 games, even if López is a minor contributor, I’m good. Luis could have pulled a hamstring or messed up his knee in May………Lopez might have elbow surgery in July……..it’s a team game and basically, all I care about is the Team Winning. Probably, a pretty obvious statement but the details discussed here are for fun & all that matters are W’s. i.e.: I live in Cincinnati & have for 30 years - got here year after the ‘90 Series Win. ………25,000 at the park routinely in ‘91…………That was the start of the Bengals worst W-L decade of any other NFL team. Games were blacked out locally often due to seldom sold out games. Mike Brown makes Cal Griffith look like a big spender!! Now, nobody goes to the Red’s games unless there’s fireworks or some Bobblehead giveaway - 40% of the daily attendance are not really at the games. Sometimes less than 7,000 - 10,000 actual people in the park, fairly often. The Bengals are on their way to 2nd straight Conference champ game. Can’t get Bengals tickets with unlimited budget. It’s all about Winning!
  16. JD-TWINS
    BIG IF is correct with Kirilof - he had career saving surgery. Fingers crossed!! If he can’t get on the field we’ll have to roll with Gallo. Still sensitive about Arraez trade. I see you are “bummed” to. Signing a free agent pitcher with 2-3 years of control and having Arraez in our lineup made most sense to me. Always risk with pitchers & health! I just don’t like that many contributors here feel the need to tear down Arraez capabilities to justify winning the Trade. If CC doesn’t sign he’s no question our biggest contributor on offense. Arraez was up for Gold Glove at 1B! ……he played some 2B & DHed I could name tons of good hitters with not great speed……….how about Morneau & Mauer. I believe Arraez would hit just as many HR & doubles as Joe if he batted 3rd & his job wasn’t just “to get on base”. Arraez hit .366 with RISP in ‘22. Enough said - he’s in Miami and wish him well!
  17. JD-TWINS
    How can we move Kepler - Celestino - Pagán - J. Lopez? These are my bag holders for a potential bad year. Last 3 guys are just a cloud of bad mojo to me. I don’t really have a problem with Kepler but you can’t sign Gallo and play both Gordon & Kepler with Buxton in OF, to me,…… Gordon earned the starts in ‘22. I would rather “free” Max and play Larnach in OF as needed. However, OFTEN against right handed pitching (I think we face about 80% of the time) we could DH Larnach & play Gallo - Gordon - Kepler in OF. These guys are all high potential offensive threats against RH pitching! This could work during the 35-40 games Buxton will rest! Somebody must want these 4 guys - right?
  18. JD-TWINS
    I live in Cincinnati - I wish we did that trade for Castillo last year v. the trade for “OK” Mahle! Castillo does have ACE stuff & mentality. Understand the risk……….with Castillo on the staff we would still have Arraez. We may or may not have Correa? If we traded 3 guys for Mahle……we trade the same 3 guys and add a Top Prospect or a younger arm. It was doable even if I’m undershooting the cost. Maybe add an Ober or Winder? Gotta roll with reality this Spring - fingers crossed.
  19. JD-TWINS
    I’m stuck on the Marlin’s Luzardo! Why - seems really talented & yet completely unproven after only one successful season of 100 innings. Also, less costly than the ACE types. Marlins are moving Arraez to 2B - moving 2nd baseman to CF for first time ever in OF. They are in last year of contract with 1st baseman. Luzardo to Twins for: Celestino (CF with upside & control) - Kepler (starting OF with upside as shift is lifted). These guys address their everyday OF problem - also, lets the Team options on how to get Arraez into line-up. There’s some talk that the former 2nd baseman should move to SS & not CF. I’m not a Marlins expert but these two guys help them with issues they have……….if we add Martin it helps with their SS deficiency. I’d add J. Lopez for pitching help as an upside veteran! 4 players that can contribute - 2 under long control. All for a young Lefty. Thoughts??
  20. JD-TWINS
    We are in a deep minority but I agree completely on Gordon! If you take away Buxton’s ability to contribute as DH, it wouldn’t be close. 2022: .272BA - 50 RBI batting 7th or lower - 405 AB’s & had 28 doubles. Played OF for first year in career, 2 positions. Gained 25lb from January to June & is getting stronger after overcoming intestinal ailment. How do his stats project in a better line-up & him getting 575 AB’s? Larnach - Kirilof - Kepler - Gallo all need to Show Me something this year to move Gordon from 80 starts in LF & 50 starts in CF. Martin - Lewis are in the wings……..no mention of Celestino is on purpose.
  21. JD-TWINS
    I hated the Arraez trade!! Agreed on offense……..just trying to stay upbeat. We needed/need more front line pitching. If he was still in line-up though and we were minus a prospect or two (bird in hand) plus Kepler - Celestino - maybe Pagán, I’d feel a lot better.
  22. JD-TWINS
    There’s a lot of talk in the various Twins Daily posts regarding Miranda not being good enough at 3B nor Gordon being good enough to play every day. Already taking two big success stories from ‘22 & predicting failure for ‘23. Always looking for the next guys to come up and the grass that’s greener on other side of the hill. Miranda will be fine at 3rd and should hit in the line-up playing 3B 60% of the time. There will be opportunities for him at 1B & DH as well. Gordon was the 2nd best bat in the line-up over the course of the year. .272 BA - 28 doubles with limited AB’s. Solid OF defense - durable. I see these guys being a real important part of our core in Minneapolis going forward!!!!! Everyday starters!
  23. JD-TWINS
    I saw somebody commented on Duran’s location on the list. My assumption is that if we offered up Duran as a trade piece we could get back almost anything we asked for in an everyday player. He’s lights out & maybe 25 yrs old at most - 4 more years of control. Pretty valuable!! The only real thought I have on the list is what is, in my opinion, a big slight change n Nick Gordon. Gordon’s health has been messed up since he got drafted 5-6 years ago. Last year he gained 25lb from January to June. His health is good and he’s getting stronger. He came up as a SS but is limited there - he became our Utility Guy. All good. Due to injuries to our outfielders he was forced to move & start in LF every day. He then became the best option in CF He hadn’t played OF in pro ball. 2022: 65 starts in LF & 33 other starts in CF. 1st year as an outfielder! 405 AB’s - .272 BA ………9 HR ………28 doubles. With 575 AB’s in ‘23 he has a respectable BA - 40 doubles - 12 HR…………he’s gotta be in the Top 20 assets. Larnach - Walner - Kiriloff haven’t combined for a year that good yet. Gordon is in Left everyday this year unless he’s in CF filling in for Buxton - he’s earned it!!
  24. JD-TWINS
    Yep, give him a look as a starter over 2-3 months this year……….if still struggling, take a look at him the balance of the year from the Pen. Hopefully, this approach will tell the organization what they want him to do going forward in ‘24!
  25. JD-TWINS
    Fulmer & Chafin have experience & are still on FA market. One of them for the 8th & Maeda to Pen as Long Man & we’d be set!!!
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