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JD-TWINS

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  1. JD-TWINS
    Thanks! Does 5 fastballs in 22 pitches sound like a recipe for success for Duran? To me, which doesn’t mean much, it would seem 9-11 fastballs would be more prudent if he throws 22 pitches. His fastball should lead the AB’s and the other 2 pitches should work off the fastball. Pitching backwards and trying to fool hitters with breaking balls while having 99-102 in your pocket is mystifying. Pitch mix to lefties - 5 splitters, only splitters. Do not get it at all.
  2. JD-TWINS
    I didn’t see the game last night - am wondering how many of the 3 base hits were off his fastball? In many games this year his struggles have been with him hanging curves to LH hitters ……..am curious. His fastball is intimidating so hitters choose to sit on his off speed because they have better chance of putting those 2 pitches in play. A 97 MPH splinker is devastating as well, only IF it moves down through the zone and isn’t thigh high.
  3. JD-TWINS
    Tigers v. Royals next Monday - Wednesday…….while Twins are in Cleveland.
  4. JD-TWINS
    He’s done a nice job! He’s 23 - younger than Festa. His ERA jumped nearly half a run after his rough start v. the Mets. His innings, per the author, are up 20 innings over last year at this point……..20 innings over 23 starts isn't a big leap from one year to the next. I’m hopeful he’ll hold together and give Team at least 4 decent innings per start from here through end of the month. …………….. Lopez quietly 15-8 with ERA down to 3.88…….165 innings with 183 K’s. Ober is 12-6 with a 3.77 ERA and a WHIP under 1.00. These two can take up a bunch of slack in a playoff series. ……….. Zebby has got to give Team a chance in his last 3 starts!!!
  5. JD-TWINS
    I think that there will be a move this offseason with Watkins, possibly motivated by some people in the F.O………Watkins is apparently a great guy but he’s getting guys thrown out by big margins - not bang, bang plays!! He seems mentally locked up for whatever reason….. judgment is not good.
  6. JD-TWINS
    I agree that the Sunday loss in Texas started a time filled with a lack of confidence. Alcala came in with a 4-0 lead and after 9 pitches it was tied……he then gave up another HR for the loss. I don’t see that collapse falling on Baldelli either though….,,,,need more than just 1 win, for sure.
  7. JD-TWINS
    Eddie’s error was an error on Eddie…..the umpire had no effect. It was unusual for sure, the ball came up on him a bit (not mentioned by broadcasters) but his inability to get rid of the ball was the issue - he could have and should have made that play even with the umpire being in his line momentarily. Assuming CC is back……Who does Team roster in October……Lee or Julien/Farmer for 2B?
  8. JD-TWINS
    Maybe the PLAYERS played well & hit pitches they should hit? I don’t think Baldelli had much at all to do with the outcome - just like he didn’t lead them into a tailspin over last 3 weeks. Could use another W today!
  9. JD-TWINS
    I was impressed last night as the success was shared by 4-5 guys through the line-up! I gotta say though, sometimes the “feeding off each other …..” is just a handful of guys facing the same mediocre pitcher and knocking him around. Whatever, I’ll take it …….
  10. JD-TWINS
    Everyone’s so upbeat on this one!! If they get in, they’ll have their hands full without Correa and Buxton! IF those guys can play and aren’t limping around, the line-up gets pretty long and they have some flexibility later in games with the depth. Everyone’s anxious about their Team once playoffs start! Lopez-Ober are not as flashy with their stuff, but they get guys out as well as any other 1-2 in the A.L. Gotta piece together shorter starts with Festa - SWR & longer bullpen with 9 relievers (4 starters rostered) Would be really nice if the two guys currently out could get back to playing to get a handful of starts in prior to October. Seems that 84 Wins gets them into 3rd spot as of this morning. ……they own series tiebreaker with Tigers & Mariners……currently up 2-1 v. Red Sox. If we’re at 84 W’s Tigers and/or Mariners gotta get to 85. Twins currently at 77 W’s……Tigers at 74….Sox at 73……Mariners at 73. Sox & Mariners need to finish 12-5…….Tigers need to go 11-6 to overcome Twins with 84 wins. Good guys are close but not quite comfortable yet. ………Whoever they play, if they are their better selves, they can win a series.
  11. JD-TWINS
    Eovaldi & Montgomery…….then they were piecing it together with Gray & Heaney…..3-4 guys in Pen throwing a bunch of innings……Twins still have a shot.😉
  12. JD-TWINS
    Can the TWINS go 8-10 over last 18 games? I’m assuming yes. That’s 84 total wins. The 3 teams chasing them are all 73-71 and 3 games back. 1) Detroit has easiest schedule - since Twins won the season head to head they need to finish better than Twins to advance. The Tigers need to go 12-6 to best the Twins, assuming Twins get to 84 wins. 2) Mariners again are at a disadvantage since Twins won the season head to head. They too would need to go 12-6 to get in front of the Twins, assuming Twins get to 84 wins. 3) Red Sox host the Twins next week for 3 games. Big head to head match-up! Twins currently lead the season series 2-1. If Sox take 3 in Boston, Twins could be in real trouble. Sox go 11-7 with a sweep of the Twins, they have a very good shot at the 3rd Wildcard. IF Twins can go .500 over remaining games they are almost certainly a lock for playoffs……my point is, I don’t see them as being done quite yet.
  13. JD-TWINS
    I get the bitterness with the ownership - with payroll - with lack of action! Pham was 2-4 on Friday - he was 1-4 Saturday with 3 strikeouts - he was 0-2 on Sunday. He’s -.2 WAR for the year …….he’s got 370 AB’s with 8 HR & he’s hitting .253. My point is just because they are different names, & names you recognize, it doesn’t mean they are a good move, IMO.
  14. JD-TWINS
    Assuming it’s runs scored & we’re down 16 - it’s not real clear.
  15. JD-TWINS
    ?????? … I don’t think it’s the Manager.
  16. JD-TWINS
    Martin - Helman - Kiersey - Lee - even Castro & Santana were never penciled in to all be playing together and most not assumed to be on roster at all……… yes, average. Three rookies in the rotation is not a recipe for success………I don’t have any angst toward front office……….Ryan got hurt - Correa was hurt - Buxton got hurt again - Kepler’s hurt as well - oh, & Paddack has been out forever. 20% of the active roster and 5 of the Top 12 guys on the roster going into the year. ”We could have signed Imanaga” ……we could have done a bunch of things (so could every other club that’s not thriving)…….could have cloned Bert Blyleven too…….guys get hurt & sometimes they are very key pieces - can’t have an experienced, depth piece for every position on the Team. There’s a static roster to start the year & there’s a budget. The guys they have can get them into the playoffs - essentially this same group of guys on the dirt/grass/batter’s box are the guys that took them from 10 games over .500 to 17 games over .500. Matthews is a problem - gotta figure out a way to maximize his abilities and not expect to lean on him. Bottom line is they have to start manufacturing runs. They haven’t pitched perfectly nor played defense perfectly all year …….. they scored SOME runs though. Hope they pull together a string of AB’s and gain some momentum starting today!
  17. JD-TWINS
    Jenkins is #3 prospect in MLB at 19……..to me, after signing for $5M plus after being drafted, he’ll not be a cheap long-term signing guy. Not a bad thought for sure. (agent?) I would really like to see Festa as the #5 guy in the rotation with Paddack moving to the Pen. Theoretically, with the potential of Varland being in the Pen along with healthy Stewart & Topa………adding Paddack as well could really lift the Pen’s stature.
  18. JD-TWINS
    Jenkins is at AA in Wichita as of this weekend. My assumption is he’ll start there in the Spring and be possible MLB guy by Spring if ‘26. Keaschall just had Tommy John, so his ‘25 is a little up in the air. I’d hope he may be in St. Paul by June or July. My assumption is Lewis/Miranda/CC/Lee have the left side covered heading into ‘25. 2B still seems to be an option for Keaschall at some point next season if he continues to hit. IMO, if - if Buxton is healthy, nobody is taking his job. If he’s not, Kiersey-Castro are both probably well ahead of Emma at this point……assuming they both are still ahead well into ‘25. IMO, Julien is really going to need to hit well the remainder this year and through next Spring to make the Team in ‘25. He gets no breaks with his marginal defense and there are other options!
  19. JD-TWINS
    Walker is a stretch for ‘25…….just arrived at AA a couple days ago. Emma will be in AAA to start next year but if he finishes this September strong …….another 60-90 days in ‘25 & he may actually be an option? Larnach/Wallner/Kiersey/Castro/Helman/Buxton/Martin ……maybe even Kirilloff are all options ahead of Emma in my opinion starting out ‘25. Kepler’s 2nd half last year seemed so very encouraging! He was one of 4 guys in the game in the 2nd half of the season that hit .300 & had 30 XBH ……along with Corey Seager and a couple others……..,,obviously, he has regressed - injury hasn’t helped. I have zero issue with him not playing CF!!! T hi is issue is overblown and has nothing to do with him not getting re-signed. He’s going to be too expensive for his meager & inconsistent offensive production……..even if he’s a $3M guy he’s still not a good offensive fit for a Team with high aspirations. Kepler may make $7-$10M per year playing for somebody else for a couple years? The defense and the offensive potential is there - he’s just seldom consistent.
  20. JD-TWINS
    2 runs in 3 games…..Rocco can’t pinch hit himself.
  21. JD-TWINS
    First. I like him and his future potential, but Matthews has not been amazing in the Show. Ober - SWR - Festa have all come up as very positive in their different rolls, agreed! Buxton and Correa will play as soon as they are able - does not seem mysterious in any way other than nobody knows a firm date for either. Having regular meetings with F.O. and scripting things or trying to formulate plans for games seems to me to be just good preparation. I do know, even if these plans seem to be restrictive on some level, that there is nothing in the plans that assumes the Team is going to score 11 runs over a 6 game stretch nor 2 runs over a 3 game stretch. Offense is pathetic - execution on offense and defense is pathetic - 3rd base coach for last 3 weeks has been pathetic. Tough club to watch - tough to be excited about club on any level.
  22. JD-TWINS
    THEY DESERVE IT - BIG TIME!
  23. JD-TWINS
    If the players need their Manager to motivate them with 20 games left in a playoff race they have no individual character! Respect yourself & the game and get off your ass and start producing…….that should be the message to each other……Baldelli should not have to point that concept out to his Team.
  24. JD-TWINS
    Agreed! Player (Duran’s) mental toughness is what was tested. 2 run lead, get 3 outs whether in 8th against bottom of line-up or in 9th against whoever. Execute pitches!!! I know you didn’t elude to this, but how can Jax be part of the problem at all? He comes into a situation with flames all around him and gets a chopper to SS that gets butchered by two guys (tough play!! probably just an infield hit) and a run scores. He got 2 outs on 8 pitches.
  25. JD-TWINS
    IF they have just 3 runs, Ober goes out in the 8th. Can’t risk a loud drive nor a walk in a 2 run game with a guy that may be tiring somewhat. A reliever starting an inning with a clean slate is a much better situation than coming in with a guy on first and having the to g run in the box to start. While I understand Rocco’s reasoning to try and protect Duran after he got lit up by the Top of the K.C. order not long ago, I think it’s best to leave the back end duo in proper sequence so they feel comfortable in specific roles. The managing aside, and the meager offense set aside as well, this one is squarely on the shoulders of Duran! He continually comes in and tries to use his “pitch mix” to dazzle. He routinely pitches backwards - starting hitters with a curveball out of the zone, just to “surprise” the batter. He gets behind and is then overly excited and can’t locate his fastball. He’s pitching himself into jams routinely. He throws 100-102…..,,get your fastball over and pitch off that. Guys hunt his curve and splitter because they don’t think they can hit his fastball. Players gotta perform …..Baldelli didn’t give up hit off splitter - HBP with a curve, ahead in the count - and then a hung splitter that’s thigh high!…………can’t expect Jax to come in and wave a wand - he got 2 outs on 8 pitches. Tough to watch Royals get to 63-7 when they give up 2 runs or less……….they got it done in a desperate situation………they’re pretty good even without their best RBI guy.
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