JD-TWINS

Didn’t watch video - Duran dipped from 103.8 max at times in ‘23 to 103 max in ‘24. He was being scrutinized for “only throwing” 99-100Mph “…..lost his velocity….” I saw him throw 20 times minimum and his curve was still around 87Mph …… Splinker 96-97 Mph …..Fastball 99-101Mph. So he’s not at his career peak……do these numbers show a guy that’s losing it in a dramatic fashion? Clase throws 100 to 101 maximum. Jax has “electric stuff” and his fastball is 97Mph. Pitch sequence and execution are the only thing Duran has to worry about/fix. Stay healthy!!

Surprise…….watching MLB Central this a.m. & “Thad Levine has left the Twins to pursue other opportunities inside and outside of Baseball……” That should make some people here smile!!

The other Teams use a different ball in 2019? Wallner was sent down after a glowing ‘23 stint - he fixed himself in St Paul with a bit of coaching in ‘24 and seems OK. Julien, not so good. Lee can’t hit at proper level, he needs more time in St Paul OR he was a poor draft pick? Lewis seemed to transition just fine, until he had to play regularly and pitchers made some adjustments to combat his aggressiveness……..players come and go at the AAA/MLB levels in every organization in the game initially. Then they either sink or swim with that organization or they pursue opportunities elsewhere…….very common! A Manager that can coach and understand a tight budget situation seems to be in Baldelli’s wheelhouse per his numerous seasons in the Ray’s organization - right? Maybe he doesn’t embrace the approach but he surely understands the nuances.

Add 2019, also under Baldelli as Manager of the Year, they are 421 - 389. Facts in the big picture w/Baldelli. ……..I don’t love the guy but nobody gets on Rob Thompson when Phillies go in the tank for 6 weeks - hitting coach isn’t blamed when Castellanos goes Ofer a series, in 3 of 4 series, because HE’S expected to come out of it on his own and does. Players play, and Managers give guys an opportunity to succeed in differing situations. Lewis has to get HIS act together, for example. My assumption, other than not having a better idea, is that Management kept Rocco to send a message to the players in the entire organization that they won’t be bailed out by placing blame elsewhere……it’s up to them.

The assumption is the Manager should get the Team into the playoffs every year he manages regardless of player performance?

‘22? AAA club for last 60-75 days due to injuries ……..anyone could have managed that group because where Jake Cave & Celestino & Contreras hit in the line-up didn’t matter. They tried out Billy Hamilton. Nick Gordon was a star on that club.

He played for them for multiple years after this incident - right? I don’t think anybody (small%) even thinks about that issue with him. Would the Twins or any organization not hire Barry Bonds if he wanted to be a hitting coach? I’m old school but this seems to be a non-issue to me. I do like, as suggested, Cruz as the assistant. Maybe Joey Votto is bored playing chess in Toronto?………great contact hitter…..,,,high OBP guy with 350+ HR’s. Don’t know if he can teach or would want to try?

Camargo is not the answer unless absolutely unavoidable! Helman is not going to make it past St. Paul without serious rash of injuries above him. I think I would protect Kiersey as at least defensive insurance in CF. I could see him starting 30 games or more in ‘25 for the Big Club. Lee - to me - major disappointment. He grounded out weakly to 2B more than Jeffers popped out & that’s hard to do in only 40 something games!! 3 HR is not an issue - hardly any well struck line drives is very worrisome! Martin will be taking Margot’s spot as the RH bat as a platoon. He’s gotta WORK on stealing bases to bring value & help offset his mediocre defense.

First, Alcala threw 9 pitches and the game was tied………once it was tied he got the 2nd out……seemed to have settled himself. Not burning a stopper at 4-4 in mid August. Alcala sucked and it’s in him - 100%. Second, rules are a pitcher starting an inning has to face 3 batters. There is no 2 pitch appearance that’s feasible nor logical. Three, the guy was put into the game to do his job. His ERA at that point was under 2.00. Why, with a 4 run lead would a Manager freak out and get somebody up after 2 pitches when Alcala has been nearly bullet proof for 60 days? Everything is SO CLEAR in hindsight……,getting Alcala out of that game in a heartbeat made no sense in real time.

It’s not & the Twin’s season turned south with their inability to hit and score runs! Strategy and line-up choices didn’t lose games it was guys not performing in the batter’s box over vast majority of 6 weeks.

Carlos Correa just needs a little veteran company to lead the youngsters ……..maybe an arm? I see their needs as 100% on offense but that’s just me. Adding “successful” veterans is the point.

WHY is the sentiment that the Padres have done something magical with their salary spend in ‘24? With Maeda and Baez the Tigers payroll in April was $98M ……. very modest!! The Padres payroll after the trade deadline is $169M. I get the enthusiastic S.D. crowd and players reactions after winning makes everything seem cool! The reality is that the Tigers and Padres payroll couldn’t be more different…….$73M different. I don’t get the comparison or supposed symmetry? $90 million reduction in payroll from some drunken sailor spending at $260M isn’t some great feat by Preller. I like their Team and they have spent at a level that would almost certainly take the Twins into a great spot in the AL. Sure, Tigers caught lightning in a bottle but 8-10 games under .500 in August is a tenuous spot to be in and it’s doubtful a Team will find themselves in the playoffs from that spot.

Not really sure what this article nor your comments are supposed to compare? Both Team’s had to cut payroll in ‘24 is the baseline I guess? How is there any real comparison that makes sense if the Padres cut to get to $162M ($169 after All-Star break adds) and the Twins cut to get to $124M? There’s a payroll discrepancy of $45M……and Preller is made out to be a genius v. Falvey……what am I missing. The Padres are 14th in MLB in spending and the Twins are about 20th or higher in MLB & the Padres are doing better with their roster……surprise?? Do we really think that with $45M more to spend in ‘24 the Twins wouldn’t be in the Playoffs? Last year Falvey got nothing but static about signing Solano & then he had a really good year and nobody said a thing, other than, don’t re-sign him……let youth have a chance! Acting like not re-signing Solano was a mistake compounded by signing Santana is nuts. Santana hit .238 but he played Gold Glove first base and he lead the Team in HR & RBI…….hardly a mistake!! Wallner had consistent playing time in April and hit .085 - had to be sent down. Julien had consistent playing time and was terrible and sent down in June/July. Kirilloff had a 117 OPS+in ‘23 and with his playing time in ‘24 he managed to hit around .208. Lee, when he was healthy enough to play, got chances at 3 different positions so he could be in the line-up regularly and he had under .600 OPS. Who signed Farmer in ‘23? Who signed Solano in ‘23? Who signed Castro in ‘23? …….he can’t make a good deal to save his life……

TWINS beat Toronto last year in the Wildcard round - right?

$98M for their full ‘24 roster (Baez & Maeda make up $39M) ………Skubal - Keith and another guy bring the total to $46M for 5 guys……everyone else makes essentially, $740K. It’s a huge leap of faith leaning into ALL young guys.

Festa has 3 pitches (needs a better change of speed pitch) - he’s got 96Mph velocity - good slider - in his debut season he was a #5 - #4 guy. With Lopez/Ryan/Ober, he’s not passing them most likely, in ‘25. He’s definitely got an opportunity to be a Top of rotation pitcher going forward though. Raya, drafted at 17, does have smaller stature. Would assume, he was probably still growing and filling out through ‘22-‘23. 5 inning start in St Paul recently at age 22. He’s going to be OK with this progression. Woods was #6 - then #5 - then all the way up to #3 down the stretch. He’s 23. His velocity is better than Ober’s, with less extension and a more traditional release point, but it was his first season in MLB. For instance, Ober was on innings limit first couple forays in the Show. I don’t think SWR’s stuff has him vaulting forward in the rotation but with experience and gained stamina, he can be a solid guy extending his successful start in ‘24.

Festa potentially to the bullpen? Waaay premature for that thinking. I agree with the World that he needs a change of speed pitch - occasional curve ball. SWR is the #4 starter in ‘25 unless he’s hurt. Festa is #5 unless he’s hurt. If they are flipped - no big deal - they are in the rotation. Would like to see Raya in long relief by September at Target to get a little experience and, obviously, help the Club. Looking at ‘26 for a possible competitive look at the Rotation. Matthews needs to develop his “in zone command” with his fastball. Gain experience with his off speed. Slider is encouraging! Would like more info on Morris’ stuff. His MiLB numbers look great but don’t know what he throws nor velocity………..he appears to have promise.

I don’t doubt that this may be a positive move. In late April he had to go……..by the All-Star break he had righted the ship & guys were striking out much less with the bat to ball approach…way better approach…….the last 6 weeks were a consistent failure. (in the middle of bat to ball they hit a Hime Run in a bunch of consecutive games) I struggle with coaching being the driver for a batter’s success…….players play. Hitters have been prone to multiple week slumps at various times through the summers for as long as there have been baseball seasons. Coaches try to create a positive mindset - a process to use as a crutch - history and strengths and weaknesses, the tendencies of opposing pitchers. Bat speed and bat to ball skills & confidence are all on the hitters. I don’t think he waved a wand after game 20 in April to get things going and I don’t think that the approach with nearly every guy in the line-up changed for the worse in mid August. Guys get dinged up - guys go 0-10 over 3 days and lose their edge - guys get mentally & physically fatigued in the dog days of August/September. I struggle with “things were great & then the coaching got bad” type of thinking. Hope new guy helps bring some success!

They went from 10 games over .500 to 17 games over .500 without Correa….. Santana on both D & O is tough to argue - the guy Posts as well!! Buxton was effective for 3 plus months after a couple lulls. Correa was definitely their most polished hitter and his D was consistently good, when he played. Jax, maybe not the MVP but he played the best……. appearance after appearance. Great mindset - great stuff!! Aggressive and competitive on the mound in every situation. Fun to watch………reminds me that at one point this year I referred to him as a guy with “wiffle ball stuff”. He’s electric!

Agree - apparently, what was anticipated/expected and how they performed against that expectation, that is the scale. Starters, on a level curve: Ober B+ …. Lopez B- ….. Ryan B ……. Festa C ……… SWR C+ …….. Matthews C- ……..Paddack C ……. Varland D- Pen is too big…….Duran C+ (1.16 WHIP - 3.64 ERA - 9 LOSSES) ……Jax A ……Sands A- ……..Alcala B- ……..rest of guys were all over the place and a bunch of it was poor. In ‘25 Lopez needs to tighten things up some - B+ would be fine! Ober and Ryan keep doing what they did, with a bit more run support & all is good. SWR just needs to continue to refine - he’s 23!! Festa has stuff - needs more durability and maybe some off speed variant pitch. Maybe a curve every 10-12 pitches. His change-up is 90 - his slider is similar speed - fastball ……..needs a “once in a while” off speed pitch. New grip change-up? Paddack - Varland - Sands could be a 3 headed middle relief bridge to Jax & Duran……..I like the two former starters in the Pen….. it could be the Team’s strength - they need one!!

Santana is maybe a 30% chance of coming back. …….. ”…….one of the least clutch hitters the last couple weeks”…..Santana & about 6 or 7 other guys! Lead the Team in HR & RBI - Gold Glove at 1B……big hole potentially…….$5M and he starts at 1B v lefties, starts maybe 30-40 other games at 1B and pinch hits……batting 8th in line-up. Good depth guy - insurance! Correct, he cannot run well but that seems to be the Team mantra - Jose Miranda is 13 years younger and doesn’t have more than a half step on Castro.

I love Kyle Farmer and he deserves nothing more than a D ………..Brooks Lee deserves a D-…,….Martin, relative to expectations, deserves a C in my opinion. Vazquez had a hot 5 week stretch, probably a C-. Miranda doesn’t seem to have the physical strength/fitness to play a whole season at a reasonable level. I really don’t care if he hits 5 HR for the year but the line drive doubles gap to gap need to happen regularly for him to be on the Team as he has no defensive strength - he’s maybe OK. C for Jose IMO. Jeffers is C- at best ……he had 10 of his 21 HR before the end of May. He had a nice 2 strike approach and then he seemed to lose that ability to choke up and make contact. As strong as he is, he should choke up ALL the time - his higher barrel rate would allow him to continue to hit HR’s and Doubles and make more positive contact to RF. Julien, D-! That’s a D ….. D- …… D- for the core 2B on our roster according to me. It’s rough any way you look at it…..

Dobnack is shown not because anyone thinks he’ll be on opening day roster nor “any day roster” hopefully, his salary of $3M is committed as part of the ‘25 budget spend. I think Raya may be available as long relief by August. He had at least one good 5 inning start late in St. Paul. Keeping Paddack for Pen and lining him up as 6th-8th inning guy with Sands & Varland sounds really good to me. This lets Stewart & Topa be spot guys 5th-7th innings. Jax & Duran cleaning up late! ………Henriquez - Funderburk - Winder - Headrick - Blewett all in the mix for the 8th spot. Maybe Canterino & Prielipp will surprise us all and be able to pitch in ‘25? Festa - Lopez - Ryan - Ober - SWR works for me ….. Zebulon gets some time to refine for a few months. I think any spending has to be on BATS!!!

Whole bunch of differing or alternative thoughts. Will wait for the Complete Plan coming later. First thought though is the budget will not pass $140M and I think that’s very rich based on comments to date from ownership. You or DF may be selling but I don’t see Pohlad’s buying. Your $165M needs to be tempered, IMO, before any real potential plan is out together.

I noticed Jax $$ value that’s assumed as well ……….can’t imagine how he’s not worth at least as much, if not more than Duran? I’ve seen a couple places now that Duran will get $3M. Doesn’t add up to me………..on another note, Jax stuff doesn’t play over multiple innings because his success now is ALL OUT for 3-5, outs, maximum…..,hope he doesn’t have angst staying a reliever!