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JD-TWINS

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Everything posted by JD-TWINS

  1. Joe Mauer’s athleticism and most other humans are not on same page, to be fair. Also, pretty sure he spent more than a few weeks getting acclimated to 1B. IMO, Julien’s mediocre at the only position he’s ever played. Not a bunch of learning opportunities at 1B in the off-season…….giving him 2-3 months to get sharper at 1B is worthwhile, if he’s producing with the bat.
  2. If having a left handed bat in CF. Castro is probably the guy in ‘25. 2 Catchers - Lee - CC - Julien- France -Miranda Castro Larnach - Buxton - Bader - Wallner I think Martin has inside track but if Gasper keeps hitting it may be him……Kiersey would really have to be better on fire the next couple weeks.
  3. The article says he has 2 HR & a .727 OPS this Spring - what’s real?
  4. Don’t need to play in games every day to improve or feel comfortable at a position. Practice makes perfect. No reason Miranda can’t improve enough with drills & other practice activity to become a competent 1B. Psychologically, one needs game reps at some point but getting confidence through practice reps should earn time in games……I like Miranda at 1B and assume he’ll play there v. RH pitching or DH as he’s a reverse splits guy.
  5. Julien for a warm body does team no good. Nothing about his ‘24 would entice a trade partner for more than an A ball guy with a moderate ceiling, IMO. Seems if there was a guy to trade, along with an arm to get some real value back, it would have been Castro. Also, $7M or whatever in saved $$. I’m hoping Keaschall is good enough hitter to be the long term guy at either 2B or 1B……have fingers crossed. While not impressed with Lee at the plate in ‘24, he’s worth giving some time to develop and try to figure it out. An opportunity for the FO may have been missed with Castro’s value coming off ‘24 but they are scared none of the young guys will hit effectively……need the depth.
  6. Who’s on the roster? Martin - Bader - Kiersey - Castro - Gasper - Miranda - etc……. somebody has to go & this assumes Julien isn’t on 26 man. Can’t just list guys that could be helpful.
  7. Trading a real chip - IMO, Castro or Keaschall or maybe Lee - these all weaken the club going forward in ‘25. The other guys bring back nothing of value. Not really sure what “plus value” any of the 3 chips bring back? A chip with another arm in the deal may have worked but to gain what? Julien - Martin - Gasper are all long shots to make the club they are with now……who/what do they bring back in trade?
  8. I struggle with Eddie as well. He’s gotta hit at a high level to be on 26 man. Lee at 3B long-term seems almost a certainty. IMO, if Martin can’t play OF he can’t be on the 26 man. Lee/Castro/CC/Lewis/Juilen/Keaschall/Miranda/France/Gasper………whole bunch of guys with potential to be ahead of Martin in the IF.
  9. The only two guys hurt more than Emma are Cantinero and Prielipp……..he’s got a sprained ankle now. I have no expectations of Emma in the Show until he can play 60 days straight in MiLB and have success. To me, he’s mostly hype at this point. I don’t dislike him nor think he isn’t talented but “little availability” is of no interest in Minneapolis!
  10. Hoping he’s our 1B of the future OR Lewis goes there and Keaschall plays 2B? Either works with Lee at 3B eventually.
  11. Trading for Stanton is the most bizarre take I’ve seen in my 3 plus years following TD. This is regardless of who trade pieces might be. Trading Lopez & Larnach or Wallner to free up $$ to pay Stanton (who is always injured) so they might get Alcantara and Meyers from Florida………it reads like……, I can’t say it here. Bizarre thought. 1 of 2 prospects from Yankees for proven MLB players like Larnach & Lopez…….again, bizarre. “screaming to be done…..”?? NOT. You “clear $21.5M for 2 years……” but you don’t have Pablo Lopez ……you may have some arm the Yankees or Marlins don’t think is good enough to start on their teams.
  12. If they just throw him in the Pen without trading for him, he has no options. If he sucks BUT with upside, they cannot send him down all year without Philly just getting him back. If he has perceivable value to organization based in n what they’ve seen & know, they should make a trade.
  13. We disagree on Alcala details - that’s all. He had a 1.08 WHIP & 3.24 ERA with 58K’s in 58.1 innings…….really very good overall! He appeared in 54 games not 50. He had 3-4 not great outings…….pretty typical for any reliever or any pitcher over 54 appearances. My position is just because a player doesn’t shine 100% of the time it’s not mismanagement. IMO, he’s mentally fragile - trouble focusing at times……him & 75% of pitchers in MLB. Bullpens - individuals in bullpens get stressed. Roles evolve through the season. Sands was a “long guy” and then became more situational through the season. Alcala’s role evolved. He went into the Rangers game with a 4-0 lead & got roughed up over 9 pitches - his ERA was around 2.00 or less going into the game. That was middle of August, long after any multiple inning appearances. ………he threw 58.1 innings all year (understood he threw in St Paul as well)……not exactly a terrible load. I look forward to him being the solid #3-#5 guy in ‘25! Brock Stewart - as many here state, getting 40 innings from him over 6 months may be the realistic ceiling. I certainly don’t see him as a “lynchpin”. He’s fun to watch when he’s healthy.
  14. PEN: Do we think Castellano sticks? 6 months is a long-time to commit to a guy without any MLB innings. Sounds like there’s upside from all the stuff in print since the Rule 5 draft. It just doesn’t seem real to me …….with Topa & Tonkin iffy with 3 weeks to the opener, he probably has a real shot for the 26 man. Man, I’d really like to see Paddack displaced by Festa in the rotation. To me, Paddack has zero chance of a successful year as a starter over the length of the season. He could spot start a handful of times (3 plus innings) & be a max effort guy out of the Pen. Seems the best way to get 80-100 effective innings v. 110 innings of mediocrity as a regular starter. Varland - Paddack……Alcala - Sands ……..Coulombe - Stewart……Jax - Duran. That’s a very good group! Blewett & Castellano are other possibilities. I assume they still might look to trade an arm or two before the end of March. Sure hope there is a surprise deal yet to be made!
  15. When Morneau states out loud during a broadcast, “……..how did we get this guy?…….he looks great…..” that’s validation enough for me on Blewett. I thought he would have Tonkin’s spot in ‘25 before they signed Tonkin in the off season. Surprised he’s still in the system and not in the Opening Day mix for the PEN
  16. Sands: WHIP, excellent - ERA, very good & 10.7 K’s/9 ……….pitched in numerous situations from 5th innings through 8th inning ……maybe has 2 bad outings all year………I too, don’t know what else he may need to do to get respect?
  17. Pretty common knowledge that Paddack doesn’t have the arm durability/stamina to start throughout the season. One could argue that anything over 100 innings (with effectiveness) is a stretch. Paddack as a monthly spot starter and a 1 inning plus reliever a couple times per week, this is IMO, his best role. Can pitch with max effort & best stuff in limited innings. Varland - Paddack - Coulombe - Alcala - Sands - Jax - Duran are my top 7 PEN guys. Topa-Stewart - Tonkin - Castellano - Funderburk are all guys trying to fill the last spot, depending upon health & effectiveness. Tonkin & Paddack are both potential trade guys as other teams lose options in Spring Training.
  18. Tonkin & a single A guy to Phillies for Castellano? Phillies get a veteran at $1M and a youthful flyer……….Twins need some roster flexibility if they like Castellano - can’t be locked in by the Rule 5 considerations.
  19. I’m sure everyone here is shocked that Matt is hurt!! His career seems to be down indefinitely. Too bad but typical.
  20. Keaschall & Lewis cover the right side, agreed. Not sure who fits at 2B & 1B at this point. Those 4 guys seem to create best offense with decent defense.
  21. IMO, regarding Julien, is that it’s unlikely the opposing team has “the book on you” when you intermittently take fastballs for strikes. Often, more often than anyone else in MLB, on strike 3! There’s no great strategy from the pitcher it’s just Julien’s lack of mental alertness/psyche to be able to pull the trigger and swing and make contact. He needs a sports psychologist IMO.
  22. Not many Billionaires have a such a farcical view of value of money to be willing to lose, potentially, hundreds of millions on any investment. Extremely doubtful more than a couple tens of millions in losses once in a great while….not sure what (how many) people at TD think either of these is realistic or worth dreaming about, The Pohlad’s burned cash year in & year out? I think that’s a point you are making but not totally sure? I agree, one doesn’t become a billionaire spending on things that don’t ultimately generate profits…….no matter how big of fans they might be.
  23. They spent money on Durant - Beal - etc. and paid Devin Booker ………FO builds the Team, owners approve spending/budget. I would have liked the possibilities!
  24. IMO, Varland - Paddack are very good options for 1-2 inning stints as needed. These two, at max effort can get guys out, particularly if they aren’t facing anyone twice! Also, available for the 3 inning spot start every 5-6 weeks. Topa & Coulombe seem to be key pieces. Alcala - Sands - Jax - Duran Stewart starts season on IL. Tonkin is insurance - he’s traded late in Spring Training if no insurance is needed. They have Blewett at AAA for this type of depth. Castellano is a detail - don’t see a guy that hasn’t been past AA clogging a roster spot for 6 months. If they like him they change the Rule 5 designation & make a trade……he then has options. If they don’t like him he goes back to Philly.
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