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JD-TWINS

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  1. JD-TWINS
    Exactly!! Buxton is OUT for a bit. Can’t displace Margot with anyone from the minors with any level of confidence. Martin will take Buxton’s roster spot. Margot is a depth guy and will be kept into July as that piece, at a minimum. Farmer is clubhouse glue and the new defensive replacement everywhere on the dirt with Castro in CF - very likely anyway. I do think if Castro keeps playing near where he’s at today, he’ll be around in ‘25. Switch hitting veteran that can play 6 positions……with a good arm & speed. Sounds like the definition of the Utility Guy.
  2. JD-TWINS
    Whether CF is Castro’s BEST position isn’t the question. Martin has Zero power and was hitting .226 in his first stint. Castro isn’t displacing Larnach or Kirilloff in LF v. RH pitching so Martin can start in CF. Not happening unless it’s a must need rest day. Castro was hitting .150 11 days ago but is now up to .273. Not necessarily a model of consistency - he did hit around .258 last year. I’m not a huge believer in the Miranda project either but he’s starting to soften my opinion with his bat & his defense. What’s desired and what makes most practical sense is my argument. Martin doesn’t hit well enough right now to play every day CF, particularly with Castro as an option.
  3. JD-TWINS
    I agree - not thrilled with a .242 average but it’s slightly better than his declining career average. He hit .205 or something last year, with no legs under him. Gotta assume, even though it’s a real drag, that most here had to be just waiting for Byron to suffer some issue with health! I have no problem with his performance this year - been available - a spark at times (involved in scoring with Kepler’s help twice this week late in games) - 10 XBH in April translates to 60 for the year…….decent production. He had a .8 WAR for the first month - translates to 4.5 - 5.0 for the year. SOLID! Hope he’s back sooner than later!!
  4. JD-TWINS
    Why would it matter if he’s playing CF 600 innings or LF & CF 300 each? He hits from either side. Seems continuity is good for him and others around him - right? Margot - Martin can play right & left. Kirilloff - Larnach - Kepler LF & RF. With Correa back - Miranda hitting well for now and remaining on roster at least until Lewis is back & Farmer/Martin available for 3B/2B platoon……….it seems Castro is the natural choice in CF.
  5. JD-TWINS
    Castro has a great arm - he’s got good speed - he’s fairly durable - and after today’s game his BA is at .273 for the season. He’s as good as they come for a depth guy. 295 innings in LF & 265 innings in CF in ‘23. Correa is back (no need for Castro in infield) - Miranda is hitting and will play 3B a bunch now. Farmer will get some off days now v. RH pitching. Should be OK……..Kirilloff in LF - Castro in CF - Kepler in RF with Larnach at DH v. Right Handed pitching. Byron’s out 3-8 weeks after what it looked like this afternoon. Martin back up Friday I guess.
  6. JD-TWINS
    Completely agree on the offensive mediocrity shown. He had 4-5 peaks in there that helped them win a few and be competitive in others. Defensive flexibility is good! Looks like he may be back up Friday with the injury to Buxton’s knee this afternoon. What a drag to see him pull up and then complaining about right knee soreness. Cannot imagine this is a rest and ice kind of injury. Expecting something in the 4-8 week range. He may need another meniscus clean up? He didn’t twist it so it seems something popped or tore in there. Not a physician but have terrible knee and this looked serious - unfortunately!!
  7. JD-TWINS
    Nobody mentioning our BEST hitter, maybe don’t want to jinx, Trevor Larnach!! He has been solid and has started good innings and has some clutch hits to keep things rolling in others. .394 BA & 2 Hrs through 10 games…. nothing but solid so far! Didn’t get the author’s comment on Buxton’s pop out when pinch hitting & saying ……”it’s been his struggles at the plate that have kept him out of the line-up on a daily basis more than anything.” ……..Buxton has been in 27 of 29 games so far and I’d estimate he’s started 24 of those 27. He’s on pace for a 5.0 WAR and his power has been minimal to date. I’m ecstatic with the fact that he’s playing CF more than 50% of the time (I thought lofty goal) and running the bases with speed and his usual aggression! I’ll take Buxton at .242 BA - 10 XBH per month - starting in CF 70% of the time!! His power will come - 15 HR is just fine ……his value is being in the line-up 80% plus of the time. Huge step up over ‘22 & ‘23 so far in ‘24.
  8. JD-TWINS
    He threw 65-70 times last year……….. high leverage guy on a really good staff…….. Stewart threw 30 plus innings in ‘23. Neither have years of success but both were pretty good last year. Funderburk - Alcala don’t have lengthy track records either but I have confidence in them to have a role in ‘24 if needed.
  9. JD-TWINS
    Nice depth!! Bowman is gone DFA’d - Winder threw competitively the first time yesterday after coming off 60 day IL. Never heard of Wittigen?? Funderburk - Alcala - Staumont after Topa is activated is what my assumption is for Next Up.
  10. JD-TWINS
    Saw in Athletic this morning……Kepler, since coming back on April 22…… (.417/.490/.625). He’s had 5 successful AB’s getting an RBI with 2 outs. Big Sac Fly last night after going 1-3. He sure seems motivated……..whatever works between his ears, contract related or not.
  11. JD-TWINS
    I wasn’t completely clear. Varland is the 6th starter! My point was, after a BRIEF uptick from Sands, the fans shouldn’t anoint him The Guy to fill the potential void in the rotation. He’s having some success & IMO, he should be left where he is to try and build on that success. If, after another 45 days, he’s still looking good………the Pen will have many options and Sands could be moved to stretch out for a month. Still available for last 10 weeks as a potential starter. To me, they aren’t getting through the season without 7-8 starts from Festa. Continue to lengthen him out through May. He could spot start as soon as June to provide some rest for the rotation guys. No hurry for any changes on May 1, IMO.
  12. JD-TWINS
    So, related to Sands, and his success this year. Are there many of us that think Varland, if used in 3-6 hitter stretches, out of the Pen, wouldn’t excel? He too may have a sub 2.00 ERA through 14 innings or whatever Sands has thrown. Not throwing shade on Sand’s efforts but he’s not the “let’s stretch him out” answer for the rotation any more than Varland.
  13. JD-TWINS
    ………AND if he didn’t shake off Vazquez twice and then threw fastball on 0-2 count that got drilled into the OF, nobody would have any angst about last night. Luckily, next batter he got to 2 strikes on - he stuck with the Deuce - game over! Even with good stuff - can’t fix stupid.
  14. JD-TWINS
    Keep progressing - stay healthy! Will check back in July.
  15. JD-TWINS
    Way to be upbeat!
  16. JD-TWINS
    Gotta say Santana homering from both sides 4 times in 5 games was not something I saw coming. How about MAX KEPLER!!! He was 1-20 before going on the IL ……….he’s been back since the 22nd and taken his average from .050 to .244 over the last 8 games. He has FIVE two out RBI since returning. The definition of clutch! Oh, and he never looks like the Angels/White Sox outfielders going after a fly ball, thank goodness!!
  17. JD-TWINS
    Jeffers went into last night (Monday) hitting .305 and they said his average with 2 strikes was some 40 points higher. Impressive! Lewis is more than likely mid-June return.
  18. JD-TWINS
    Nice win - not always going to score a bunch (coming off 16 & 11). The SOX big lefty had nice stuff and I was ecstatic when they removed him after 5 innings! Q: When will Castro start being instructed to bunt, a minimum of twice per week, or no paycheck………..he had a swinging bunt hit last night. He puts pressure on people with his speed. Need him on base more! Teams continually play him with SS up the middle and 3B at shallow SS spot when he’s batting LH. Put the ball on the ground and get on base!!! Left handed pitchers fall toward 3B naturally, so pushing the ball toward 1B makes the first baseman make some Circus Play to get him out. Gotta add to the arsenal soon.
  19. JD-TWINS
    He’s got Stewart & Jax used up in their “usual spots” to get the team to the 9th with “a chance”. Somebody has to pitch the 9th - 37 years old & rested!! How about not shaking off Vazquez twice, with an 0-2 count, to throw an average fastball that got ripped into the OF & put them into a real pinch? I almost jumped through my TV screen to get to the mound! His curve is so unique to today’s hitters - USE IT…….particularly when ahead in the count!!!! His stubbornness almost cooked the Team. Credit to him for clearing his head for the last guy …..that he struck out with the Deuce.
  20. JD-TWINS
    When I look at WPA my mind just reverts to “whatever” ……,often doesn’t seem to add up.
  21. JD-TWINS
    They are paying Jackson more - more experience which at various times, has value - he’s got an ERA of 4.30 early in season….14.2 innings with 17K’s ……don’t see him going anywhere until they may trade him in July if still “average”. Pretty sure Bowman will be dfa’d, without some mysterious injury to someone. I guess one other possibility is Option Sands to stretch out and let Bowman have his spot………I think Funderburk is more valuable on the 26 man though.
  22. JD-TWINS
    Seems to me Vazquez caught Sunday so Jeffers would be up tonight. Pretty sure they have been on the strict “every other day” rotation for catching duties without fail. Whoever didn’t catch yesterday will start tonight behind the plate.
  23. JD-TWINS
    I think they’ll load up on LH hitters as usual on Tuesday/Wednesday: Kirilloff - Buxton - Kepler - (Larnach at DH) Castro - Correa - Julien - Santana - Vazquez Depending upon how Jeffers is feeling, he may DH and Kirilloff could play 1B with Larnach in LF?
  24. JD-TWINS
    Spring of ‘25……somebody is always on your heels as a pro athlete! Margot - Farmer - Santana will all be gone next Spring & things will start look much different………..Martin - Lee - Wallner are the probable replacements.
  25. JD-TWINS
    Correa was getting paid similarly in ‘22 - right? Can’t have payroll revert to 2021 totals in 2024, particularly when the TV deal seemed to have been resolved at least for short-term. After winning a playoff series, it would seem that with Ticket Sales bump - mild ticket cost bump (inflation/success) - memorabilia/apparel sales - concessions increase…………ALL these seem to be able to handle an expected revenue bump of near $8M. Chasing other $25M players doesn’t make sense for mid-market club but tying the F.O.’s hands w/o being able to TRY & sign arms in the $10-$16M range has put the team in a tough spot with starting pitching.
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