Jump to content
Twins Daily
  • Create Account

JD-TWINS

Verified Member
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    4,889

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    4

 Content Type 

Profiles

News

Minnesota Twins Videos

2026 Minnesota Twins Top Prospects Ranking

2022 Minnesota Twins Draft Picks

Minnesota Twins Free Agent & Trade Rumors, Notes, & Tidbits

Guides & Resources

2023 Minnesota Twins Draft Picks

The Minnesota Twins Players Project

2024 Minnesota Twins Draft Picks

2025 Minnesota Twins Draft Pick Tracker

Forums

Blogs

Events

Store

Downloads

Gallery

Everything posted by JD-TWINS

  1. 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!!!
  2. JD-TWINS
    SURELY!!
  3. 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.
  4. 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!
  5. 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!
  6. 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!
  7. 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!
  8. 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?
  9. 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.
  10. 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??
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. 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!
  14. 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!!
  15. 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!
  16. 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!!!
  17. JD-TWINS
    I really like 5 guys in rotation with Maeda in Pen. He’s the bridge from middle of 6th through the 8th. Does that twice a week & rest of Pen is well rested. Other option is to piggyback Ober/Maeda as one guy (one starter) & get them to throw 7-8 innings, combined, every 5th start. This helps Pen a bunch!
  18. JD-TWINS
    13 & 13: Larnach will DH & play LF Gordon - Buxton - Gallo is base OF Larnach - Gordon - Gallo is OF v. Righties Gordon - Buxton - Taylor is OF ……OR ………Gordon - Taylor - Kepler is OF v. Lefties Buxton - Larnach - Gallo will DH Taylor in CF as pinch hitter late in games - late inning D - plays against all LH pitching Kepler is traded or plays RF when Gallo is at 1B or DH or resting. Can’t start him and sit Gordon……..,Not often at least! Kirilof - Miranda - Gallo at 1B Hopefully, CC will play 140 at SS with Farmer spelling him. Same with Polanco at 2B with Farmer spelling him for 25 games. Farmer at 3B when Lefties start & Miranda at 1B……….Farmer also spells Miranda for rest - maybe 55 starts at 3B. Lewis up at end of July & either Kepler or Gallo goes at that point.
  19. JD-TWINS
    Pretty negative & not much of a realistic view of the Roster in that previous comment. I’m with you on the facts & opinions!
  20. JD-TWINS
    We have plenty of LH bats……Larnach & Kirilof will be in the roster if they are healthy - no worries. Kepler - Gordon - Gallo are the other Lefty bats we have to play with as well. Walner is our LH last resort!!
  21. JD-TWINS
    Gallo in LF Gordon in CF (unless somebody has a stroke, Gordon is a full time OF) ………Farmer has IF covered. Larnach at DH Kepler in RF Kirilof at 1B If they don’t trade Kepler, this could be a routine line-up vs. RH starters. All of the games Buxton doesn’t start…….at least 35 games up to maybe 50 games. If they want to play Buxton, he’s probably the DH. They have traded for Taylor. No more searching for RH bat, nor anymore rostering of Garlick. Would love to sign Fulmer……or Chafin. Need Pen depth & we’re set!! Piggyback Ober/Maeda for a month in the 5th starter spot and then shift one of them to long relief in Pen after 5-6 weeks.
  22. JD-TWINS
    One view of potential line-ups: Against Lefties: Against Righties: Taylor - R - CF Gordon - L - CF CC - R - SS Kirilof - L - 1B Buxton - R - DH CC - R - SS Polanco - L/R - 2B Larnach - L - LF Miranda - R - 1B Buxton - R - DH Jeffers - R - C Polanco - L/R - 2B Gordon - L - LF Gallo - L - RF Farmer - R - 3B Vazquez - R - C Gallo - L - RF Miranda - R - 3B Am assuming Kepler is traded prior to start of season. Jeffers - Farmer - Taylor are all optimized vs. left handed pitching Gordon - Gallo - Larnach - Kirilof are all optimized vs. right handed pitching Miranda - Buxton - CC - Vazquez - Polanco are always going to be in line-up unless resting, regardless of pitching opponent. Buxton in CF against a lefty just moves Taylor to right to spell Gallo. Hopefully, Lewis will be around to provide Dog Days rest by end of July for Corner Outfielders as well as Polanco & CC perhaps.
  23. JD-TWINS
    It’s not all doom & gloom on offense: Gallo - career .199……. Buxton - career .244……..Larnach - .231 very limited career ………Kirilof - .250 very limited career………Taylor - career .250….,.Jeffers - career .225 (guessing) ………….Farmer - career .254……..Kepler - career .238 MLB AVERAGE BA for 2022 - .243 CC - career .279…….Polanco - career .270……..Miranda - career .261……..Gordon - career .261………Vazquez - career .274 The assumption is that Larnach & Kirilof will far out perform their numbers to date. Both inexperienced & who knows? Taylor will be platooned against LH starters and used to PH against LH pitching & late inning D!! His numbers should be above his career average as his splits against LH are much higher. Farmer will play often and will certainly be maximized against LH pitching. He’s over .800OPS against lefties for careeru
  24. JD-TWINS
    ASSUMING GOOD HEALTH: Gallo can DH - Buxton will DH - I do like Larnach getting nearly 1/2 of the DH at bats though - Miranda may see a few games here at DH for rest - same with CC. Gallo will plug the hole we need filled between RF - 1B - DH as needed. Kirilof, if healthy at 1B - Gallo if needed - Miranda against LH pitching. I believe that Gordon & Larnach have LF covered. I still see Gordon in CF against RH pitching for 50 games. Taylor has all CF starts against LH pitching, maybe 35. Buck has the other 75? No Celestino on roster - LARNACH will be on roster. Hopefully, no Pagán on roster - Ober/Maeda piggyback for first month & then one goes to long relief, 2-3 innings twice per week. This really saves others in Pen!!
  25. JD-TWINS
    I’d completely agree, essentially I do, but I have to see how he hits at DH vs. CF - can’t imagine any difference though. How the team hits - how many wins we get when he’s DHing or in CF should drive the playoff line-up choices. Maybe seems to be knit picking here but you can be sure someone in organization will have the data on these variables. The one thing that’s difficult to do is to admit we love watching Buck in CF but we don’t need him with Taylor’s World Series experience AND his 2021 Gold Glove. IMO, our need for Buxton in CF is a bit emotional. Definitely NEED him in the offensive line-up!! Potential play-off line-up v. Lefty pitcher: Vazquez - Farmer - CC - Polanco - Miranda Gordon - Taylor - Gallo/Kepler (whichever is on roster) DH - Buxton BENCH: Kirilof - Larnach - Lewis - Jeffers Also, IMO, to make room for Lewis late July……..either Kepler is traded at deadline or Gallo is traded or more likely DFA’d. If Kepler isn’t traded before season it will be fun to watch the competition with Gallo for RF innings & AB’s!
×
×
  • Create New...