JD-TWINS
-
Posts
5,522 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
4
Content Type
Profiles
Minnesota Twins News, Rumors & Analysis
Minnesota Twins Videos
2026 Minnesota Twins Top Prospect Rankings
2022 Minnesota Twins Draft Picks & Signing Bonuses
Minnesota Twins Trade & Free Agent Rumors
Minnesota Twins Fan Guides & Resources
2023 Minnesota Twins Draft Picks & Signing Bonuses
The Minnesota Twins Players Project
2024 Minnesota Twins Draft Picks & Signing Bonuses
2025 Minnesota Twins Draft Picks & Signing Bonuses
2026 Minnesota Twins Draft Picks & Signing Bonuses
Forums
Blogs
Events
Store
Downloads
Gallery
Everything posted by JD-TWINS
-
Jeffers isn’t a great option for long-term to me. I don’t dislike him by any means but over the last 3 months, other than he looks good in the uniform, he’s not done a lot on either side of the ball. His defense, outside of framing metrics isn’t great. The framing metric is a bit subjective and not a perfect way to evaluate - another data point. Blocking balls - throwing guys out….,,he’s not really good at any of these things. Framing was never analyzed the way it is today with databases …….however, getting your pitcher’s a call with subtlety has been around since I started watching baseball in late 60’s and probably well before. The pitchers being different than they were 2-3 years ago is silly - Vazquez is 7th & Jeffers somewhere around 75th in framing under same circumstances. Jeffers needs to pick up his game …..,IMO, he should got to the plate with a 2 strike mentality - choking up and trying to make contact. He’s string enough to hit HR’s without big swings - more along the Miranda approach and his offense would benefit, again IMO.
-
To me, that OF that can hit LH pitching and not look bad against RH pitching is Willi Castro……….Could be Royce Lewis as well. Gotta assume Lee will play on the dirt for the Twins on a regular basis in ‘25. 3B or 2B? Keaschall - Julien - Martin …..or somebody new at 2B? Margot, if he played less and was used more as a straight platoon guy he wouldn’t be so beat up here on TD. Problem is other circumstances have forced Team to use him a bunch. Buxton hurt early - Kepler hurt early - Larnach hurt early - Correa out 2 different times - Lewis hurt a bunch - Wallner couldn’t hit - Julien couldn’t hit……the infielder issues pulled Castro out of the Outfield. The Outfield issues forced Margot to play more & more. They didn’t sign him with the expectation he’d have 3rd most games played……,he was to be a depth bat and a platoon v. lefties.
- 37 replies
-
- 6
-
-
- manuel margot
- tommy pham
- (and 1 more)
-
I thought it was 10 days - I really have no idea but I do know there’s a restriction on timing……that’s why I said a week. Sooner the better - he looked good!
-
Can’t really think there’s quality from the waiver wire in August……Winder - Henriquez - Blewett all seem to be prime candidates to displace them……Richards & Thielbar. Can’t imagine Caleb is going anywhere…….maybe a Varland/Paddack combination forces him off roster?
-
Winder should be back in a week as well - 4 appearances with a 3.00 ERA & .888 WHIP & 10/1 K’s to walks ratio.
- 46 replies
-
- 2
-
-
- carlos santana
- royce lewis
- (and 2 more)
-
Lewis fits in a lot better mixed amongst Miranda/Correa/Buxton …..guys (Managers) don’t want him to beat them and he’s getting pitched accordingly. Can’t hit 15 HR in 40 games and not have other Teams notice.
-
I know he can play 1B - don’t think anyone disagrees with that premise. He’s in the line-up either corner spot he plays - how is offense lost? Nobody gets points on the scoreboard because a certain defensive position has a better hitter than the opponents. That said, 1B is typically a spot for a power bat - (Royce) and a spot for a guy that you don’t want to risk at another spot, in Lewis’ case, not because he’s a poor player but because their trying to keep him as healthy as possible. Theoretically we don’t have enough offense at 1B now. Lee is a better 3B & will remain so even after Royce “works on his defense there”. Lee is supposed to be a regular on the club with great upside. There are 4 other guys that can play 2B in the organization, at a minimum. Some think they may sign Santana again - love what Carlos has done in ‘24 and have been behind him all year. Don’t want to see him playing 1B again at age 39.
-
Not ARGUING with anyone. On page one 8 of 10 responses are ….Royce can’t play 1B, it would be terrible - I disagree.
-
Sorry - can’t read al 76 submissions….. got through page 1, maybe duplication here? I have been a proponent of him playing LF or 1B since Lee got to AAA. I didn’t know Julien was going to disappear though. 2B is too risky for Royce even with the protective rules now in place. His legs don’t need any unnecessary torque. 3B should be manned by LEE……he looks fantastic there. LF - Greg Luzinski played LF ……Killebrew played LF ……Royce can play LF and not get hurt - if he and his mgmt team are going to push back big time, he should go to 1B. Why are people here dismayed by him playing there? Lee at 3B - Julien/Martin /Castro/Keaschall are all possibilities at 2B …..Lee doesn’t NEED to play 2B! Power hitting Royce Lewis at 1B for the next 13-15 years ……solid defender. What’s the rub? He’s a more athletic & way better hitter than Rhys Hoskins…..and everyone here was upset Twins didn’t sign him. He has 20HR and a WAR of zero in mid-August because he doesn’t play defense much and hits .230. Miranda can DH - spell Lee at 3B - spell Lewis at 1B. Castro and Larnach (DH) can play LF - Wallner in RF. Castro is essentially the RH OF free agent we all keep pushing for …... Lewis is the solution at 1B.
-
Varland & Festa are #5 & #4 respectively. That’s our rotation …… gotta get used to it……Matthews didn’t get sent down this morning so he’s going to factor in again very soon……if Louie slips up Matthews may immediately be positioned at #5? They may go piggyback in another 5 days? Varland to the Pen after today, with a decent start, is a big stretch!! Louie has 3 separate years in MLB with 20 plus starts…….seems he’ll get the benefit of the doubt, IMO.
-
VERY surprised - just looked and they kept Matthews on the 26-man and optioned Winder. Maybe, going forward they’ll piggyback Varland & Matthews. Can’t imagine sending Louie down after today……doubt they take the leap and put him into the Pen with this many weeks left……..should be interesting.
- 52 replies
-
- 2
-
-
- zebby matthews
- matt wallner
- (and 3 more)
-
Seems to me Varland is squarely the 5th starter……I guess, after Matthew’s first start, Louie cannot back slide today. Varland has pitched parts of 3 seasons and he’s had 3 straight very reasonable starts. Last outing v. Cleveland he gave up a HR on a hanging curve and then 2 consecutive singles - so 3 hits in 3 batters before he left the game and he gave up 8 total well into the 5th……not bad against a really solid line-up. I’m interested in seeing who goes down today to make room for Varland on 26 man. Does Buxton go to IL? Does Matthews go down (not available for 10 days if so) or Winder? Winder has pitched really well over 4 appearances …..tough call!! If it’s a spot start for Varland (he’s sent back down) and they keep Matthews up, makes sense to give Ober another 2 days rest.
- 52 replies
-
- 1
-
-
- zebby matthews
- matt wallner
- (and 3 more)
-
Winder ……9 innings over 4 outings. .888 WHIP 10-1 ….K/Walk ratio 3.00 ERA Between Sands & Winder, seem to have some very nice, somewhat unexpected Pen depth! Sands …… 54 innings over 45 outings. .963 WHIP 7.63-1 ….K/Walk ratio 3.33 ERA BOTH converted Starters over last 2 seasons…….Varland may join these two in ‘25.
- 52 replies
-
- 3
-
-
- zebby matthews
- matt wallner
- (and 3 more)
-
The guy is 44….the Pirates didn’t re-sign him. The mentoring thoughts are nice but if he gets signed, the assumption is he pitches for the Big Club per some predetermined conversation, as I assume he’s looking to help and be part of a MLB club with only 43 games remaining in the season…… He may never meet Zebby Matthews let alone mentor him. His stuff hardly plays as well as Matthews, as evidenced last night. He would displace Matthews in any rotation spot and he needs a 40 man spot immediately even if he starts in St Paul for a week or two. All these same things could be said about Varland as well. Varland twice through the line-up is way more suited to MLB competition v. Rich Hill twice through the line-up.…..in 2024. A guy throwing 3 2/3 or maybe 5 1/3 on a good day, isn’t eating innings. He’s a stress on the Pen! TWINS need to be as competitive as possible and don’t need “a guy” to throw out there every 5 days. Would Team rather have Matthews start 3-4 more games between now and October in order to give guys a break v. Hill? To me, this being considered is not a realistic path for the Club…….just my opinion. Lopez - Ober - SWR - Festa - Varland …… Matthews, as needed. I get these guys are young and unproven over long stretches but I cannot come up with any desire to have Rich Hill displace any of the 4.
-
Gotta be able to plan ahead more than 3-4 months……..I do not recall a big push immediately following being eliminated by Houston, regarding the budget being slashed going forward. Ownership brought the organization back to 2021 salary total in ‘24. If most of the budget is spent when the GM was informed what the budget would be - that is principally on ownership. They can choose to spend whatever…… not the GM’s fault he has no remaining resources based on a screwed up TV deal and a $30M reduction in player spending……..decided upon on the fly.
- 54 replies
-
- 2
-
-
- derek falvey
- david festa
- (and 1 more)
-
If Matthews has success, shows good promise…..Varland to the Pen in ‘25! I think Varland - Festa - Matthews & the group behind them (pipeline) should be only part of what Falvey is credited for …….Ober has been developed internally ……. trading for SWR - Ryan - Lopez while signing Paddack…..it’s his job, but Falvey is doing it at a high level IMO!
- 54 replies
-
- 2
-
-
- derek falvey
- david festa
- (and 1 more)
-
He’s getting paid - I’m sure he sees himself as a Professional MLB player - the pressure this August, after half dozen starts, isn’t any more than it would be next June. Guys are up & down with performance……part of the pro sports deal……(see P. Lopez) …….I like Festa’s demeanor and competitive fire. He might struggle - gotta roll with it at this point. Festa is older than SWR …… Simeon got thrown in the fire early and, generally, he’s been exceptional at age 23! Festa seems to be leveling off and just relying on his stuff…...I think he’ll be OK.
-
Agreed - I never heard of him until May or June……he’s been as good as anyone could be!! If his stuff is as good as it looks in print, he’s a no brainer to contribute next year! My assumption, with others good health, either Paddack or Varland is in the Pen from the jump next Spring. Ryan’s back - SWR - Lopez - Ober - Festa …….Paddack or Varland …….hoping Zebby forces one of those two aforementioned into the Pen.
-
So, it’s 1:30 Central and Matthews isn’t on roster and nobody is off…….only exchange today is Okert for Dobnak. Am concerned they are waiting on some health news on Buxton and may put him on IL to make room for Matthews today. He’ll be optioned Wednesday. Could bring in a player overnight from Indy to take Buxton’s spot. ????
-
Keaschall may not be able to throw regularly until June (Tommy John)……….don’t see the FA signing…..I think it will be a youth movement. Castro essentially fits the FA/OF role if Julien & Kirilloff are back as depth at 1B & 2B……..been saying for over a year, I don’t expect Julien to ever see time at 1B. Hoping Rodriguez matures and is capable by July/August of ‘25.
-
Today is my timing, not 1-3 months ago v. AAA guys. DeScla didn’t throw an inning in MLB this year so I didn’t really consider him to be in the mix. At any rate - he’s clearly #8 as of 8/13/24. With Ryan & Paddack unable to pitch, he’s up to #6 as of today. ……I want him to succeed but I sure hope this is as far up the pecking order he gets this season!
-
I think that might be SWR at age 23.
-
K.C. isn’t electric offensively but they are right behind the Twins in Runs Scored…..decent line-up. The Pen did a great job Monday night! Looks like Winder - Alcala - Duran are most likely today …….,hope Zebby can stay away from the long ball and keep things competitive. Ryan Jeffers looked great in the 2nd, 0-2 with his shortened, choked up approach……,and then……brutal after that AB. Really hope he can get things going……seems to have potential to be a lot more at the plate but can’t find much consistency.
-
Over 1.000 on the OPS - I thought you were making fun of him at first.👍 He’s much more tolerable at the plate with 2-3 hits per week!
-
Rocco said all the right things after the game to downplay this ……..didn’t appear to be a minor discomfort as he walked off and went straight down the tunnel. Needs to have an MRI by 1:00 today to see what’s up!
