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JD-TWINS

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  1. JD-TWINS
    Actually, there are 26 spots. I get your point but Castro can play one spot at a time, so, 2 of the 3 guys I suggested can displace him, his versatility, are going to be on the roster anyway.
  2. JD-TWINS
    Sure, Buxton & Correa are key pieces! However, they played pretty well over the last couple weeks they were back and still very few runs & very few wins. Wallner went down late - didn’t help. The issue is the rest of the gang……Miranda - Jeffers - Lee - Julien - Lewis - Castro, they all produced very little over either a few months or at a minimum, the last few weeks. One night Team had 7 hits from top 3 guys in line-up (Buxton - Larnach - Correa) and ZERO from the remaining 6 guys……Lewis got a PH. That lack of contribution from “the cast” is what is of concern to me, not Buxton & Correa’s salary nor their performance.
  3. JD-TWINS
    Santana had 2.5 WAR …….109 OPS+ ……..lead Team in HR & RBI. Big hole with him gone & nearly all year every one of us thought it would be best if he were not around in ‘25. Risk at age 39……..other player reports suggested he’s a health and physical fitness enthusiast……maybe worthwhile. Somebody will pay him $5-$7M.
  4. JD-TWINS
    Haven’t given next year’s roster a bunch of thought - will try to enjoy playoff baseball for a month………..in reality, $$ Twins will spend is complete guess work at this point. Again, maybe more emotional than rational? To me, Paddack is a decent value for many MLB Clubs…….probably not for the Twins. I can’t see how Festa isn’t one of the Top 5 starters going into ‘25. I would love to have Paddack as part of the Twin’s Pen in ‘25…..he and Varland combined make Stewart a real luxury! Paddack to the Pen v. signing a “real experienced reliever” seems to be better than a push for the Twins. We’ll see - $7.5M Castro can play a bunch of positions and is competent at nearly all 5 of them. Most AB’s on the Team and offensive production that is/was OK (.247 BA - same as career average …..with 12 HR….102 OPS+) at best in the end. A combination of Lee - Kiersey - Martin cover essentially everything Castro provides. But not Lee has less speed. Not pushing Willi out the door but - $5.5M. Jeffers, (haven’t looked at associated Catcher Defense thread) to me, just isn’t cutting it 70% of his games behind the plate. His offense completely tanked after May. A “probable All-star” at beginning of June & ended up hitting 2.5 HR/month the last 4 months. 103 OPS+ at season’s end. With 2.1 WAR, he’s affordable at his salary but another guy that brings better defense for $2M may make more sense - doubtful, but worth considering. Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear Twins have any reasonable depth in the system - Camargo looked brutal at the plate in his handful of opportunities this year. I assume there would be interest but is Jeffers worth moving - $4.5M. This is $17.5M……if payroll is increased a modest 5% ($6M) ………potentially could have $23.5M to spend, less Kiersey & Festa at $.8M each. Need a catcher in this scenario…..,maybe Jeffers is the guy at $4.5M? Somebody of $$ value has to replace Julien in the DH slot above. Santana in ‘25, batting 8 or 9 along with his defense, is a serious option. He did lead Team in HR & RBI. Gotta ease somebody else into 40-70 starts at 1B as the future……..not sure that Miranda’s body holds up playing 1B everyday. Maybe 40 starts there and 40 starts at 3B for Jose?
  5. JD-TWINS
    I came here to echo what you said - 3 runs or less, through 9 innings, in 11 of last 16 games played. What’s the expectation for winning ballgames scoring 3, 2, or 1 runs? Offense, lack of, was the problem!!! Weak performances by staff and overuse of bullpen show up when Team is under stress due to no offense. Miranda hurt in the end & ineffective mostly since late July. Castro faded back to just OK after a ton of use. Jeffers disappeared after May (10 HR over last 4 months). Wallner not up to speed until nearly August. Julien completely crumbled after April. Lewis was bad after July. Lee was terrible at the plate after about his first 10 days…………….to blame the FO for not signing different complimentary, depth players and saying that’s what sunk the season…don’t agree with that sentiment…...the core for the future didn’t perform as a group over a third of the season or more. Scary for the future - the pitching staff going forward looks bullet proof compared to the offense! Larnach - Wallner - Buxton - Correa - Lewis are what Team is leaning into for ‘25. 2 up & down guys that are showing real promise after ‘24……………3 other guys that can be big stars but are all injury prone. That’s it………FO has a lot more line-up work to do for ‘25 than I thought!!
  6. JD-TWINS
    ……Or, instead of pointing at front office & owners for more $$ (always nice - but necessary?) or the Manager for not understanding baseball after 20 plus years affiliated in MLB, the guys who said they were to blame - the players - showed some character and played to their abilities as grown men & professionals!! Guys that are 24-38 years old should know how to execute their profession….,,,run bases …….bunt……..put the ball in play to drive a guy in from 3B. The fans here act like Baldelli is managing a bunch of ignorant, mind wandering 16 year olds. Jeffers doesn’t know how to execute a bunt to the proper side of the field?………..Santana isn’t aware enough to watch the bunt & when it’s popped up, haul ass back to 2B ?……these are not things MLB Managers should need to worry about Teaching grown players getting paid $750k - $35M!!!!……….the players said it was “their fault” and they are right? Detroit - K.C. - Cleveland all managed to get past us in ‘24 and I don’t think any of the 3 outspent the TWINS. Their players sure seemed to have more enthusiasm and energy than the Twins……..I guess that’s the Manager’s fault though?
  7. JD-TWINS
    Just to be clear, there are many more Packer fans in Milwaukee and suburbs than there are in Green Bay. The Packers operate (due to chance, of the Team history) in what would be Winona relative to the Twin Cities. The competition in a metro area is still there, 100%. I used to attend Vikings games in Milwaukee…….. Anyway, Cards are heaped in History, as you point out and Winning! The Brewers Win regularly and are a great underdog success story year after year. Being successful on the field - court - rink will always bring fans!! Once people start to come for a winning product, optimism gets into fan’s blood and they come back under all kinds of circumstances. Twins reverting to ‘21 payroll, having major local TV issues, and starting 6-13 all contributed to this year’s issues with fandom.
  8. JD-TWINS
    St Louis secret sauce is two fold, IMO. (I worked there 5 years from 2011-2016) Tradition & location. The Cards have won the 2nd most Series titles behind Yankees. Kids grow up going to the Park and it gets in your blood as part of a fun/winning experience! To be succinct, there’s nothing else to support in St. Louis and surrounding area……it’s a big draw for people from Western Tennessee - Western Kentucky - Arkansas - and a bunch of Missouri - Illinois - Iowa………….the radio history getting to people for 100 years (mostly 100 - 40 years ago) got “families” attached to their Cards and the fandom perpetuates through to today’s generations. Many of the Twins fans at TD are obviously 60+ and attach to their team similarly ………..the Twins lack of real success, other than just making the playoffs, over the past 30+ years has caught up to Today’s potential fan base. The historical connection is waning and it reflects in attitudes about the Team from many aspects & points of view. Winning cures all ills: 2006 & 2011 Series Titles in St. Louis and ELEVEN overall. 100 wins in 2015 & over 90 wins three other times since ‘15. That’s probably the obvious “secret sauce” in St Louis.
  9. JD-TWINS
    The broad array of outdoor things to do in Minnesota makes some sense but there’s LAX & Soccer in every MLB team’s city. Costs to stay in a city are no higher in the Twins than anywhere else. The Griffith’s and the history they had with the fan base is pretty much past tense…….,Carew getting traded is 46 years ago and the vast majority of the Twin’s target market is 50 & under & never saw Killebrew - Oliva - Carew step on the field. I agree with the author that the level of angst and venomous behavior on TD is over the top. It’s a game that’s played nearly every day for 6 months so there is much more exposure to the Team than in other sports. The fact that a very good baseball teams lose 46% of their games seems lost on TD readers and posters. This % over 6 months offers up a whole bunch of opportunity for disappointment and for the ability to incessantly complain about anything that comes to mind to complain about. The viewpoint is that every inning and every game needs to be managed to win at any costs and if the next 6 days of games are considered to be equally important, the Manager should be fired! It’s nuts. The TV situation can’t be helping over the ‘24 campaign. Tough to get fired up to go out to the park to support a Team and Organization that you can’t follow on TV, in 2024…….that too is nuts and inexcusable from an organization standpoint. If I could watch the Team in the 70’s on TV with an antenna ….,, 2024 should be pretty simple to solve for ownership. The numbers year to year aren’t disturbing. People take baseball for granted as there’s always “a game in a couple weeks”. I live in Cincinnati & the media and general fan feel is this fan base is “very knowledgeable” & part of MLB history since they have the oldest franchise. ……….. some of the worst attended games year after year. Sure they have struggled to be playoff competitive. Last year I went to the 3 Twin’s games here in town and the Reds were on the edge of Wildcard………,hardly anyone at the games. It’s taken for granted in many cities. Why some more than others - complex question with a bunch of reasons….,,not sure? Reds in 2022 - 1.395 million …….’23 & ‘24 just over 2.00 million ……..they must be selling a hell of a lot of corporate season tickets because there are tons of empty seats, regularly. the Twins are going to finish behind Cincinnati the last 2 years - I guess the attendance problem is bigger than I thought in the TC.
  10. JD-TWINS
    So, 3 straight soft contact hits are “soft contact hits”. He wasn’t pitching poorly - he didn’t get outs. That’s exactly what Maki said when he came to the mound. Even the last run they got off him was a high two hopper back to the mound and he picked it allowing another run to score. Could have done things differently - can say that every time an opponent scores all year. Lopez was all over the place & gave up a homer early……..nobody clamoring for him to get yanked in the must win game. Bottom line is at the end of 8 innings they had zero runs. Never, or seldom, scoring puts undue pressure on the Pen - happened nearly every day for a few weeks.
  11. JD-TWINS
    It’s not irrelevant if guys aren’t going to be effective - it’s not fantasy baseball. I’m not concerned with innings for the year at this point but guys can’t throw 20 plus pitches 3 days in a row at the end of September. The announcers were discussing the topic from 2nd inning forward ……,”pen is extremely short tonight”. Sure 2-3 of those guys were available if absolutely needed but not with 14 outs to go.
  12. JD-TWINS
    You say attendance is poor, or going to drop, 3 times a day for last week ……, don’t recall a lot of posts nearly all season …….maybe I missed them but I’m on here every day so doubtful. 26,000 and change last night with the season essentially over from a competitive standpoint. People in MN will go out and watch Pro-sports - no matter which team, if they’re competitive. Twins will be competitive or better making nearly zero changes to pitching and only a handful toward refreshing the offense. 2 days ago I said any forecast of more than 2% increase over ‘23 draw of 1.97 million would have been careless with all the TV issues that came out of the Winter. I also said they wouldn’t be more than 35-70K light on attendance (using your $75/fan revenue number) that would result in a maximum shortfall of ($75 x 70,000) $5.25M max. …………my comments were in response to what you had called out ……… then, you gave my comments a thumbs up!!! Today you’re back at the chicken little attitude on attendance……let it go instead of acting like the definitive Nostradamus .
  13. JD-TWINS
    Mr. Upbeat in New York………
  14. JD-TWINS
    ????
  15. JD-TWINS
    Look at the Bullpen chart above - Blewett threw 39 pitches Thursday - Tonkin threw 18 pitches on Thursday - Thielbar had already pitched in the game - Funderburk is the only guy left that hadn’t thrown the two previous days consecutively. 3 soft contact hits and he was in trouble - not pitching poorly just getting nicked to death. They DO NOT SCORE runs………. the Managerial decisions to use pitchers that are available aren’t the problem - strategy isn’t losing games - averaging 1-2 runs per game is a real problem………hitters need to look in the mirror!
  16. JD-TWINS
    156 - 147 - 126 - 121 - 120 are the top 5 guys on the roster for games played. I thought that with decent fortune that Buxton would/could play 120 games a year and hold things together. He’ll get to 104 in 2024 assuming we don’t make playoffs. Correa should get to 88 games. Celebration for Buxton is definitely over the top and unnecessary! However, getting to 85 games last year when he got completely shut down a couple times - not even jogging well, that was improvement. This year his knees seemed to be managed properly and he showed signs that he could play CF routinely. 104 games is a good next step. another 20-25 games next year gets him to 75-80 RBI & 22-25 HR. His defense isn’t as flashy as it once was but it’s still reasonable! I like the WAR # and with 20 more games in ‘25 he should reach 4.0 WAR plus - that’s a very good player!! 20 more games from Buxton and 35-40 more games from Correa and it should add up to another 1/2 dozen - dozen wins.
  17. JD-TWINS
    Maybe they should trade Jeffers - Julien - Martin ………. free up Kepler - Santana - Margot - Farmer………that would be a fresh start that may have a serious effect in the Clubhouse. Don't promote trading Jeffers but am pissed off at his offense since early July & after dropping ball last night & popping out in his last 2 AB’s, 2nd time while bunting, I’m kind of fed up. If the Team wins you or I could be the Manager. Lewis is an OK player last 2 months - Lee is a major disappointment at the plate. If these guys get it together they’ll succeed with or without Rocco at the helm. 3rd base coach & hitting coach seem to be appropriate staff moves IMO. Ober - Ryan - Lopez - 3 Rookies - Paddack should be deep enough for Spring Training staff………..I’d highly promote moving Paddack to Pen to join Varland ……..those two with Topa and we’re off to a much better start in ‘25…..,………I think Maki does a decent job - guys are developing new pitches - very high in MLB on staff strikeouts.
  18. JD-TWINS
    Completely agree 100% - why do we think nobody has been critical of Martin not scoring on a ball that was hit hard but took 3 hops in the grass to the RF? I thought that was the end of the game.
  19. JD-TWINS
    I get everyone putting there own “accurate” spin on what the issues for not getting things done. My thoughts from different view. Margot has made a bunch of unexpected plays and gotten key hits in a number of games. His performance v. LH pitching is at or above what Team expected. He wasn’t great but they knew they didn’t sign a star - they signed a depth guy that, due to other’s injuries or zero performance, had to bat v. RH pitching more than was desired or expected……….. Nobody expected Wallner to get sent down - Castro having to play infield all the time due to Julien’s poor performance & CC being out as well as Lewis being out. Kirilloff also disappeared and Larnach was hurt early. Santana has been great glove at 1B & leads Team in HR & RBI. He was signed as depth guy and then Kirilloff disappeared in the batter’s box. Gotta play him. Okert was consistently not consistent, brutal over all - no doubt. Farmer was laughable , in a sad way, to mid June - then hurt & on IL. He played 2B more than he should have because Julien sucked - Lee was hurt early - Castro or he had to play 3B due to Lewis lack of availability……. He’s 4th-5th in Slug. % in AL in September.? IMO - Julien - Kirilloff - Jeffers - Miranda ………all guys that at one point were key to the line-up, all disappeared last 6 weeks or earlier. Lee has an OPS in mid .500’s - brutal for our previous Top Prospect. All have had some highlights here and there but when crunch time arrived in August - they weren’t contributing at all.
  20. JD-TWINS
    Wasn’t paying attention in ‘84 and was only 5 in ‘67 ………older brother was 19 & he filled me in on that torture. This year is no piece of cake for the fans! If Atlanta takes out the Royals first game & if Sox keep their winning streak rolling, Baltimore might punt on last 2 games? Tigers aren’t losing 3! Royals have at least 30% chance to lose 3 in Atlanta - Braves are scratching for each win! Weather in ATL seems to be good going forward. Twins chances to win 3??? Correa better be ready to run out grounders………
  21. JD-TWINS
    He battles - he seems to have gained confidence and mental strength as the year has progressed. The confidence makes him appear stronger physically. He has some holes but most guys do - gotta work around his issues. He’s got 4th OF and emergency IF spot in his future, somewhere - maybe at Target!
  22. JD-TWINS
    Same comments and specifics for success can be applied across MiLB. Nothing new in these comments. I’m much more concerned about the ability to cultivate pitchers - behind the 3 Rookies currently being used. there are reasons to think they have 6 more guys that should be ready by ‘26. Even if just 2 of them hit, I’ll take that as a success. Matthews - SWR have OK stuff. - need to gain experience and guile - SWR is ahead between the ears, he’s 23. Matthews has enough stuff - probably needs another well executed pitch, same as Festa. Slider - Fastball need some more complimentary help.
  23. JD-TWINS
    I don’t blame Baldelli…….. He did have Ryan into August though, and to that point he may have given them the best overall performance as a starter. Relief core has lost games but that happens all over baseball. Twins were 17 games over .500 and could have coasted to the #2 Wildcard by finishing 2 games under .500 from there. COMPLETELY lost their offensive punch! Last night: I get people being on Santana a bit for getting doubled off but when Jeffers can’t get the ball on the ground but it’s a force at 3B and the bunt was going to the right side. Jeffers - popped out with no outs and bases loaded - popped out on sacrifice bunt attempt - dropped throw that was chest high for a force out at the plate. He was rough!!! Threw well to 2B to be fair but he butchered up some BIG opportunities/plays!!!
  24. JD-TWINS
    Way to not watch all summer and then post that you support a rebuild and that the farm system “isn’t in great shape……” If you haven’t watched nor paid attention since May I don’t think you have any clue on how “slow - undisciplined - lack of fire” the Team shows. If you don’t care to watch it’s your call - trying to recruit baseball fans to “join you…….for a free summer…,,,” is silly. Organization’s future isn’t bright? Look up the organization’s farm system rank. You read a lot this week for not caring. Team absolutely sucked offensively for the last 5-6 weeks - no doubt. Not going to quit following the club because of your negative spin………my assumption is since you don’t care about the Club and are freed up, you won’t care about what I post here either.
  25. JD-TWINS
    THAT would raise some eyebrows. Braves fans/organization - Twins fans/organization - VEGAS for season long wagers - etc.
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