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JD-TWINS

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Everything posted by JD-TWINS

  1. JD-TWINS
    Nobody else left - had to throw 2nd inning.
  2. JD-TWINS
    SWR - 5 runs in 4 1/3 has some responsibility as well! Sands not stellar! Okert - Jackson - Thielbar were ALL sub par!!! Alcala back in 5 days - Stewart in 3 weeks - Topa in June. Gotta hold it together in short-term. It’s a loss - tough to watch and worse for position guys to get behind - but just a single loss. Funderburk - Jax - Duran - Sands can get a bunch of outs…….Staumont has some value. Thielbar will contribute - really bad day. Okert & Jackson are minimal contributors 2 decent outings & 1 bad outing seems to be their level……consistently.
  3. JD-TWINS
    8 runs - along with inexplicable outcome of Julien being thrown out by 3 steps trying to score from 2B with 2 outs on a hit to LF - is enough offense……even if it all happened in the 1st inning! It was squarely on SWR & the Pen……..SWR was responsible for 5 runs in 4 1/3. I’m sure it’s difficult to sit for 30 pitch opposition innings for 3 straight innings - difficult to get rhythm and maintain concentration. 5 runs is too much. Topa & Stewart being out is a hole …….. Thielbar was really disappointing as he was theoretically the best option they sent out there. Gotta throw strikes………he’s devolved to the #8 guy if everyone is healthy. Jackson, honestly looks like he’s 42 on the mound. Seems the tank is empty. Maybe he needs a 10-15 IL stint for “tired arm” or some ailment? Okert’s slider seems not quite as effective as we all might have hoped. Gotta have MLB stuff to get guys out.
  4. JD-TWINS
    All good for Zebby! Will check back after a half dozen starts ……. sounds intriguing with multiple pitches and ability to go 6 1/3! 9 K’s good at any level.
  5. JD-TWINS
    Castro had a solid year last year - really good compared to his history. I was hopeful - expecting something similar - he’s exceeded that so far. Maybe he’s more relaxed not having to play SS? He won’t get much time from here on out at 3B with Lewis back in 3-4 weeks. To me, he’s a solid parallel to Buxton in CF! Should see 600 innings out there this year. He’s really hitting well right handed this year. He’s a better option in LF against left handed pitching v. Martin, if Buxton plays CF.
  6. JD-TWINS
    June 15 line-up for kicks v. Right handed pitching: Julien - Buxton - Kepler - Lewis - Jeffers - Correa - Larnach - Castro - Miranda Kirilloff - Santana - Farmer - Vazquez on the bench………..Wallner may squeeze in somehow? This line-up is exciting with guys just playing to their norms!!
  7. JD-TWINS
    Larnach should be getting lots of credit - Team was desperate when Wallner didn’t show up!! Larnach had been out hurt ….,,,he has a quiet stance with a real heir of confidence going. Sweet production! Hope it holds up!!! Kepler - can’t say enough…… .444 since his return. Jeffers - really locked in with his approach. “2 strike, short stroke Ryan” may be how he should hit all the time? Saw a breakdown in last couple days on MLB and he spreads out and doesn’t lift his foot nearly as much with 2 strikes. His average is higher and he has similar power with 2 strikes. Odd! Something he should consider? Too aggressive last night for a guy that looks really, really good after he see 3-4 pitches in an at bat. I generally support Baldelli in everything he does because it is at least thoughtful. He has a reason - maybe don’t agree 100% but he’s nearly always got a good argument & nobody has a crystal ball. HOWEVER, what the hell is Ryan Jeffers doing batting lead off? Castro batting 3rd? ……..tried to get over it last night but can’t just bat guys in a descending order of OPS or whatever. Castro is a switch hitting speed guy and Jeffers is around top 10 in baseball in RBI. Can’t justify it at all. That said, I do not believe for one second that the Team’s hitting philosophy changed on April 20 to a level swing, let’s make contact approach. “Barreling the ball” is, and always has been the mantra. They are just getting it done! The coaching doesn’t deserve any more credit now than they deserved blame previous to April 20. Can’t just flip a switch and coach up guy’s ability to hit. THEY, can start executing more than one guy at a time though……that’s been the genesis of the success over last 20 games.
  8. JD-TWINS
    I like the Royals veteran pitching additions……Lugo & Wacha & reliever Will Smith. Ragans and Singer are very good young arms! Salvador Perez may flame out, but if he doesn’t…….he’s an MVP vote getter ………Witt could win MVP! They look good collectively and I think they are an above .500 club for sure! The Guardians cannot sustain everyone having success cumulatively!! Kwan is out for a month - they will level out. Their pitching will keep them competitive, so they are the 2nd worry. Detroit is counting on Maeda & Flarhety and it’s not happening over a 6 month season. Quick start and now are at, where they will finish, around .500. The Twins too will not continue to play .850 ball as they have over last 20 games, surprise! Anyway, I do not see the Twins drifting below a .500 record from now to mid-June. Meaning, they are still 8 games over .500 by June 15. Another roughly 30 games between then and now…….,predicting 38-30. That’s a 90-91 win pace…….Then Lewis comes back!!! When is Lee healthy, Stewart healthy, Topa healthy, & will Wallner come around - few big questions!
  9. JD-TWINS
    Another 2 out - RBI from Max……he’s up to six now, at a minimum, since coming off IL…….he’s gotta be the MVP of this run! Bunch of contributors, obviously! I’m just jazzed that after his 1-20 start that he’s capable of this level of play.
  10. JD-TWINS
    If you see the replay he’s trying to grab the ball but more focused on getting to first base quickly…….had Biggio at 2B all day I would think? Either way, that ball can’t get through the infield - to me, that negates his WPA and that value should go to Kepler!……..don’t really care about WPA but that play was weak.
  11. JD-TWINS
    I like Christian, but inexplicably dropping a probable strike 3 didn’t do Jax any favors!!
  12. JD-TWINS
    BTW - is that a Doc Holliday, Tombstone reference with your handle? If so, love it!
  13. JD-TWINS
    He just got to AA & SWR has pitched in the Show over a handful of games - over 2 seasons & he’s 23. His ERA after 4 starts is 1.74. He too has a 4 pitch mix. I guess if “prospect” is the key term vs. “leading guy” some of these other guys may be more highly rated. I don’t really care about 2025 & beyond in May of ‘24 if we’re scrambling for a 5th starter & trying to win a Division. SWR is doing a fine job and should be valued appropriately!
  14. JD-TWINS
    He had 281 AB’s in ‘23: .270 BA - .348 OBP - 118 OPS+ ………that’s a successful major league hitter!
  15. JD-TWINS
    2023: .270 BA …… .348 OBP …….. 118 OPS+ and we know that at least a few weeks he played hurt. He was a lone offensive bright spot for most of 3-4 weeks. I completely agree he stinks right now but considering him a bust seems out of bounds. My assumption is that if he were not healthy somebody would have said something by now. A few other guys are rolling to help alleviate any pressure but he needs to get it going. So does Mr Julien!!!
  16. JD-TWINS
    BTW, when are they going to fire the hitting coach that was poisoning the entire team? ………except Jeffers & Kirilloff …….they were ignoring him. This was routine banter 3 weeks ago. Players gotta play and figure it out. Kepler started 1-20……..he’s 24-54 since he’s come back. Larnach has been hitting since his call up. Castro was terrible for a period and recently had a 10 game hit streak. Glad they’ve come around ……..up to a tie for 7th in baseball for HR’s and up to .242 BA from .195 BA 3 weeks ago. Nice shift!
  17. JD-TWINS
    Watched the game tonight and couldn’t wait for Kikuchi to get out of the game so we could bring a barrage of LH hitters lead by Kepler. Correa doubled in the 9th to get into scoring position and Castro went to the left side & got him to 3rd with a ground ball, two outs. Kepler to Pinch Hit ……,Toronto counters with a lefty. Kepler then gets ANOTHER 2 out RBI & it turns out to be the critical insurance run. Kepler has been waaay clutch! He extended his hits streak to 12 games as well. He’s hitting .444 since returning from injury. Just huge for the Team’s momentum continuing over these past 18 games! Hoping Wallner and Lewis are back and ready by first week of June to support the effort. Julien & Kirilloff need to get a pulse going soon - need those two!! Last - gotta admit I was wrong about Miranda. Had low to no expectations from him for this year. He doesn’t have much pop in his bat but his bat to ball skills sure are playing well and they seem to be consistent. Big RBI tonight on a ground ball through the right side - good piece of hitting.
  18. JD-TWINS
    IMO, Martin has to be screaming that it’s his ball - also, Kepler could have helped call off Julien…….he has the angle and everything is happening right in front of him. To me the issue is Martin’s inexperience in CF - he’s “the guy” in the Outfield at that position and he. reds to be more emphatic on letting all know he’s going after the ball. To me, it appeared there was indecisiveness all around. I’m sure it got discussed in the dugout with coaches and will be again between games.
  19. JD-TWINS
    I do not understand the Alcala sentiment. Yep, he was used for more than one inning and it didn’t go well - granted. HE didn’t get the job done and thus had to throw more pitches than optimal. There was nobody left that was available - maybe not fair, but no options for another path. He has options to go up & down - Jackson, Okert, Thielbar do not - gotta take advantage of the situation to keep the Pen as fresh as possible. It’s not some mis-treatment, it’s professional sports.
  20. JD-TWINS
    Personally, not interested in Kepler being best player from Germany nor his place, at this point, in Twin’s record books. Cool to know but not a hot topic for me. I am interested in the guy that is only one of 5 guys in 2nd half of ‘23 to hit .300 or better AND have 30 XBH. Kepler, Cory Seager & a couple other guys. Impressive!! Interested in the guy that was 1-20 to start the season and the went on the IL, and since his return has hit .433!!! The guy is only behind Juan Soto for best overall RF in the game at this point in ‘24. Hoping that he stays healthy!!! I realize the productivity has come over only 17 games but he sure looks locked in as he’s brought his BA up from .050 to .329 since his return……he’s got 2 HR off left handed pitchers…..he just looks like a complete offensive machine right now! Does the pitch clock have him thinking less and just being aggressive? I don’t believe for a second that it is connected to this being a “walk year”. My impression is he’s about happiness most and $$ less…….. if he’s still above .280 BA in mid-June, it seems a two year deal for $17.5M/year should be an offer for consideration. An aside - how about that Trevor Larnach over the same stretch of 17 games!!!
  21. JD-TWINS
    The 1970 Cy Young got him some notoriety as well!!
  22. JD-TWINS
    Keeping Jeffers fresh and able to hit much more often is a big value! Guiding pitchers and throwing guys out is a big value! Providing depth & experience just in case something happens to Jeffers health is a big value! If he hits .220 and his OPS is only .575 I’ll take it combined with the other positives. Good to point out his value, thanks, as many think he should go away.
  23. JD-TWINS
    They scored 6 runs. The bullpen gave up 8 runs in 4 innings. The managing did not lose the game. I agree, Margot sucks!! Until he has been removed from the 26-man roster he’s going to get opportunities when he has the “statistical advantage”. Mgmt. determining a better guy on the roster will help Baldelli look much better……maybe Kiersey? So, once Lewis comes back as there is some stability, it’s possible to move Martin back down for a couple weeks to take a look at Kiersey……in 4-5 weeks. If Keirsey can prove himself for a bit, Martin can be recalled and Margot released, with some confidence. The early - mid June call up might be Wallner as well? Something will change eventually - may be end of July though before they intentionally rid themselves of depth.
  24. JD-TWINS
    Not personal here, general observations: Canterino & Prielipp are WAY out on the fringe of being contributors, ever ……..IMO, they’re on a par with decent A ball guys when considering their potential to add value…….they don’t actually play/pitch! SWR is going to have to throw more innings than was anticipated in January. If he holds up (regardless of AAA previous ERA, his stuff plays in MLB) I like the prospects of him being the 4th starter in Playoffs, when needed. Paddack - Varland - (maybe Topa) added to Stewart - Jax - Duran - Sands - two of our 3 lefties in the Pen in October (9 relievers). This would be a lights out Pen capable of picking up a starter whenever needed. Festa will certainly get a look to give guys a skipped turn as soon as June. Raya maybe up for a spot start or three in later July/August. The idea that the organization should kick up a “good starter” every other year from the Pipeline is a tall order……,difficult to imagine. A team would continuously have 4 home grown “good starters” under their control at all times. My expectation might be 4 relievers from inside system on a staff as guys slip out of the running to be a starter for health reasons or other issues. Then maybe a reliable starter every 2-3 years from inside the system. Now - forward in short-term….1) Ober is a guy. SWR was obtained, purposefully, at age 20 and is succeeding……2) he’s a guy. If Festa or Ryan work out by ‘26 & maybe Varland later this year or even in ‘25…….3) a third guy. The team is developing arms at a solid rate IMO. Smoltz started outside of Atlanta, Maddux was obtained, Liebrandt was obtained, …….Glavine was 2nd round pick & Avery was 1st round pick. Seems normal to have a mix of how to put together a successful staff.
  25. JD-TWINS
    If a team isn’t competitive, they are better off waiting for suitors to have more desperation to get a better return. Other than maybe 3-4 teams, I doubt many other teams have given up on the season…….even if their goal is to just return to .500 to gain fan respect. Stewart is probably a month away. Alcala will be available by the end next weekend. Topa is just a POTENTIAL benefit by mid-June the way things are going (MRI Sunday to re-evaluate), not very positive so far!! I like Staumont is up and getting a look. Almost a certainty he pitches today. 10.73 hits per 9 innings isn’t sustainable for success…….gotta strike out 10 per game every game to get through that amount of traffic on the bases ………his WHIP is 1.50. I like his stuff and think he’s a positive for the rotation! He’s gotta keep tightening up as he has been over last few starts.
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