Hawkeye Bean Counter

Last year was a tad disappointing, but all things considered with the plantar fasciitis, honestly a pretty solid season. My concern was whether the bat speed was declining. Last year in the playoffs and this year that is a negative. We get 3-4 solid years out of this contract and its a win. I wouldn't be surprised if this is one of the best long term contracts ever signed when the contract is finished. If you get 1-2 WS (big dreams right) you could even see him go to Cooperstown in a Twins Jersey. Him and Lewis is the best 1-2 is the best left side we have had potentially in the entire Twins history. Lets see how the next couple years go.

I think the original seemingly success of Petty in 2021 even though traded, was enticing enough to try again. Right now the 2 high school bats taken in last years draft are doing pretty well, while the 2 high school pitchers are scuffling. I still think it is early on both pitchers to write them off. However, the Twins have done well to follow the percentages and I would be fine if they did it again. I like Brecht immensely but would be fine with 2 bats in the 1st round.

As long as the velocity stays up, which it is actually increasing, he will continue to have good success. He was billed as a potential top of the rotation pitcher (a #1 or #2), that was if his velocity increased due to excellent command and very good secondary pitches. I think he has focused a ton on control and quality of the secondary's with the decreased velocity, so now with nearly 3-4 more mph, everything is coming so much easier. I have a lot of confidence he will be able to maintain and be solid 2-4 pitcher for the Twins.

Holland finding a hit tool, holy crap. Likely a one off, but a very good development at this point. He has the athleticism and defense to be a player at the mlb level. The question was always if he could hit enough.

I would still lean into Brecht if available. I'm not sure he will be available and not sure the twins will give a shot but let me give my reasoning. The pitching coach for Iowa was abysmal. Gone after 2 years. The coach had immense talent on team struggled to get it to perform and specifically to throw strikes. Second Brecht has until last summer been playing both football and baseball, not a full commitment to baseball so I think there is a great chance for additional instruction (especially considering the firing of the pitching coach to improve mechanics and command. The knock on Brecht has been an inability to locate the fastball, and questions about the third pitch. The elite velocity on his fastball and the elite slider are reasons why the potential is so high. This year, his ability to land the slider waivered (what has been considered his best pitch). However, his command of the fastball improved and the splitter he has been working on, really started to become affective. Now some of this was against lower level competition but his stats the last month were crazy good, like Skenes good. The question has been the walks and the velocity. Worst case I think you have a potential elite closer. Otherwise you have a shot at a #1 pitcher with more refinement. I see no other batter that has the potential to be elite like Brecht. I've mentioned before I really think Langenberg will be key on getting intel on both Iowa pitchers in the draft and discussing the issue with the coach. Its not surprising Langenberg struggled last year when the the new coach arrived. Langenberg has done extremely well with the Twins and we just promoted him to A+ ball.

Its amazing how a pick or two changed the draft. There was talk Pirates wanted Clark on a discounted deal, had that happened, wouldn't have been unreasonable if we got Skenes or Langford. Texas at 4 was interesting because they were very high on Jenkins. At this point there has been a clear top 3 so far, Skenes, Langford and Jenkins. Will be interesting to see how this progresses but this has still been an epic draft as a whole.

Give me Brecht. His Pitching coach was fired this year, issues with the entire staff. He still improved this year. He has 2 elite pitches, 1 being a slider that the Twins love. If he gets there, you take him and run is my opinion. He has the highest potential of being a #1 pitcher, of almost any other pitcher this year. The other I look at is Morgan if he is willing to come out from Iowa. Both solid pitchers. You should be able to get good intel on both players from Langenberg. I could see the Twins picking both personally.

Twins can afford it. They won't have to because he won't take it, because last time to cash in, and someone will pay him more than $50 million. He has been very good for almost a full year now, and a damn fine player since he came up with the Twins. If he remains healthy he is a lock. As is, he is a top 30 positional player. (slightly below currently due to time off for injury)

Disappointing appearance by Soto, but it happens. Hopefully does better in his next start. Professional ball is a big step up from high school. Winokur with 2 more steals. He is definitely strike prone, he has racked up several the last week, but continues to put up counting stats and picking up steals. I was not expecting that from him. Who would have thought he would be on pace for 30+ steals. Power speed combo.

Miranda will be able to continue to help at 3rd, 1st and DH. At this point he is a better option than Farmer to give Lewis some off days. You can have some platoons advantages with Santana and then is an above average bat at DH. He will get more than enough opportunity. Right now Kiriloff needs a break. Not only do you have Buxton coming back but you have Wallner figuring it out again down in AAA. Then you have Lee getting healthy potentially around June. Its a long season and lots of bumps and bruises but we have quality bat options. Larnach and Miranda have been revelations. I have said if 2 of the 3 of Miranda, Larnach and Kiriloff could figure it out, this team would be pretty darn good. Add in Kepler and Jeffers playing like All Stars. The heavy bat approach in the draft is beginning to pay off.

Right now this looks like a pretty loaded team with decent depth at all spots except SP. We have a couple minor leaguers moving up levels, and Festa may be seasoned enough later in the season, but Varland can't cut it as a SP. Revert him to RP and lets move on there. The hitting approach has improved immensely. When you are crushing Seattle you are doing something right. The other argument that we play in a poor division is also falling by the wayside. The central has 4 solid teams. Currently record wise the Central has the 6, 8, 9, and 12 best records in baseball. This isn't an easy division by any stretch of the imagination. You also have the White Sox who have gone 3 and 3 since finishing playing us. I think we will be glad that we got a lot of our games against them out of the way. Kepler is continuing to be a stud this year. SP is firing on all cylinders and the relief pitching could be dominant by mid season once we get everyone health and Staumont built back up. Lastly most of the consternation in this thread is now looking pretty silly a few weeks later.

Our hitters are pretty decent when not trying to crush everything.

Staumont, primarily hung out at 94 mph with fastball but did hit 96 mph. That is encouraging. Hopefully can continue to ramp it up this summer.

9 of Keplers 22 hits this season, of which 3 were doubles were to left field. When the defense continues to play an extremely heavy shift on you, taking the pitches on the outside of the plate to the opposite field is become an easy hit for Kepler. He is starting to realize that. Then when teams start to play him more straight up, watch the hits to right field explode.

Lets just discuss the Trade Polanco - -.1 War Twins - Topa - still on the mend looks solid. He is likely our #3 or #4 reliever when healthy. Gonzalez - showing he can still hit at the A+ level can keep this up at AA will remain top 100 prospect. Bowen - Legitimately might be the best player out of the trade. His stuff looks nasty and he just looks like a solid confident pitcher out there. Yes its A+ ball but there is a lot to like there. Disco - as a throw in Cash Santana's (5.5 million contract) bat is slowly starting to warm up. Still solid defensively. With Kiriloff struggling again, very nice to have him. Better than Gallo immensely in my opinion.

The 5.5 million we got from that trade effectively paid for Santana, I could see why some include him.

The trade was a steal for us, if we would have gotten anything from Disco it would have been amazing. The arm was toast all along. Go watch some of Bowen pitching. He looks like a legit prospect, he was no throw in. Gonzalez is pushing towards .800 OPS in A+, would like to see a little more out of him. Biggest thing is need to hope Topa gets healthy. He really adds a lot of depth to the bullpen.

Looks like its Pablo. Nice.

Is Pablo getting another inning, or a reliever?

Pablo showing he is our ace. Really rounding out nicely. In some aspects even better than last year.

Would love to see Larnach or Kepler end Gilberts day with a HR.

Lopez at 11 pitches to after an inning, and 5 runs in support, should make him very comfortable to attack the zone. May end up with an easy day for the bullpen, they need it.

Santana and Margot making Baldelli look smart 🤣

Kepler with another, hit run and rbi, helping the counting stats and set up well to take another bump in increasing his WAR.

The guy is a very good when not trying to pull everything and just hit the ball hard. Since July of last year, his BA is over .300. For a hitter that has basically averaged below .240 that is eye catching. Many have argued that the clock would strike midnight and he would revert back to his past 3-4 year statistics. That doesn't appear to be the case. I would love to get him at a decent extension price, but if he continues this he is effectively a lock to get the qualifying offer.