specialiststeve
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Everything posted by specialiststeve
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Always going to be an issue. The owners are smart in that they are not just going to spend to get a "little" better and lose money.... not a good strategy. I am cheap as hell and understand that if product "A" is 15% better than Product "B" but 30% more cost the cost ratio is not worth it. Period. As fans we always want the best product out there but most understand that this IS a business and owners are going to look at the financial end first. The good news for smaller market teams is that the "cost" of FA has come down and picking one here and there to fill needs is more attainable. Not what the MLBPA is looking for but for the owners and the fans it likely a better situation. Simple supply and demand economics.
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There were many teams that used this new rule and I am sure you will see a TON more of this year as teams try to figure out what they are wanting and needing to do with their rotation and bullpen... heck also their position players if there is some question. Love the new rule though as it gets folks back when they are ready.... or when the team is ready
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Boshers is waiver wire fodder..... Presley has bullpen stuff.... not game stuff. Kind of like batting practice power... nice to watch but when it is game time he misses in the middle of the plate.... not good. I would move him in an instance for a decent prospect or in combination for decent prospect. Much rather have Alan Busenitz in the 7th inning roll with Reed in the 8th and old man river finishing it up.
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Inching toward being good. Is at this time solid. Sometimes it feels like he is trying to do to much like a lot of young players. The more AB's he gets the more comfortable he will be. I would look for him to hit 20 HR with 15 SB and a 275 ave. Again very solid. Good defense and still huge upside. As far as the launch angle stuff I always laugh a bit as an old school guy.... Launch angle increases and his popup rate increase and folks are concerned? Um that would be logical scientifically! Some of the sabre metrics are interesting some are just silly.
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If we are going to go after a big name pitcher we should go after Darvish. He had an awful WS but is the best pitcher out there. Also may be able to sell Otani to come this direction... Darvish, Santana, Berrios, Otani and Mejia. Flip Santiago and Gibson to the pen. As far as the infield the transition for Sano to first will continue. Play Sano at 1st against all LH and rotate him in the DH spot at least 2 days a week unless he loses 30 pounds.... Give Escobar the odd starts at 3rd and let him be the DH otherwise. Adrianza has shown to be a quality cheap utility guy... continue. Granite is the 4th OF that is cheap and has nice speed late in the game.... continue. Starting OF set. Relief pitching will be overhauled and to many guys to ch
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We have better than Lackey on our 40 man and our OF is stacked with depth so neither really makes much sense. Go all in on Shohei Otani as is a young stud that can grow with our team and can be our ace for years to come with Berrios being a formidable 1-2 punch. Shore up the relief pitching and let's go. Really if we can get that done we are good to go.
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So why isn't Sledgers pitching on the big club. God knows we need some help. Next injury let's see what he's got!
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Wow - I better not look up as the sky is clearly falling..... Poor understanding of where we are at as a team and what are needs were/are in the relieving area. We need arms that can throw strikes and has the experience of getting guys out. Which is what we have. Not sexy but hopefully effective. Take a look at the roster of teams that are successful and you will see veteran bullpen guys that have been there and done that. Sprinkle in a couple of guys that are up and coming and put in low leverage positions and that is what we have. I am fine with this area and think the club did what was best to try to actually win games.... that is the point of playing isn't it?
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that is the whole point.... The pitching NEEDS good defense behind it to be good pitching. If he can be league average I would be happy.... and stunned. He did work with David Eckstein who was a weenie armed guy that was able to make it work so hopefully he will be able to get it done.
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Eddie has GREAT tools! He has the ability to be a very good player but..... Why in the world haven't the hitting coaches over the years worked with him to get the "hitch" out of his swing? This directly is the reason that his pitch recognition is bad and he strikes out way to much. Some will try to say it is a timing mechanism... hooy! Timing mechanisms are intended to at the end be in the correct hitting position. His hands are going backwards while the pitch is coming at him! Watched over and over again last year... drove me nuts! He makes the slight change to where his hands are back at the release of the pitch and I tell you he has a chance to be fairly special ... if not he is just another 4th outfielder type. I had a hitch in HS and was blessed to have a guy that had played minor league ball help me get rid of it. As a coach later helped kids get rid of it and made the world of difference. I think it would for him to.... c'mon Mr. Bill Smith you can do it.
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Max Kepler Looks To Bonds For Hitting Inspiration
specialiststeve replied to Parker Hageman's topic in Minnesota Twins Talk
^^^^^ Charlie always had a great launch angle!! -
Terry Ryan Getting Real Tired Of Putting On Derek Falvey Disguise Every Morning
specialiststeve commented on Jon Marthaler's blog entry in Marthaler
that is pretty weird! -
What To Make Of The Twins Utility Scenario
specialiststeve commented on Ted Schwerzler 's blog entry in Off The Baggy
I have made this argument in other places as I think that given an everyday opportunity Adrianza would have a decent shot at hitting 250. That with his superior glove should put him as the starter at short. Given the hopeful new commitment to better pitching and defense this would seem to make all the sense in the world. SS is arguably the most important defensive position on the field. Polanco is not the answer there. Polanco has the ability to play SS, 2nd and 3rd so why not make him the utility guy. Hit it tool is good but it is not like he has the impact bat that can't be in the lineup. Likely long-term should be at 2B but not an opening there ... at least not yet. If we are committed to helping our pitching out this is the most logical situation. Otherwise all the banter about improving the defense is just lip service. -
Article: TD Top Prospects: #6 Wander Javier
specialiststeve replied to Seth Stohs's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
Looking at the video don't see the big leg kick that was mentioned. Which is a good thing.. Don't see any hitch.. a bit of a loop in his swing but not bad and should be able to correct pretty easily with instruction. Will have to see if can find any video of his defense which from all accounts sounds good and would be of great interest. A long way out but hopefully he will continue to improve as he matures. Still 4-5 years out which seems forever but nice to have this kind of talent n the system. -
Understand and agree....
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As I have tried to state this is not about offense but defense. I understand the masses think that this is "fantasy" baseball and everything is about the offense. Reality is that defense is just as important (for winning teams ) and putting "passable" defensive guys at the most important defensive position is not a good idea long-term. I think we all agree that Polanco's preferred position would be second but that does not appear to be happening. What the Front office and the manager as well as fans need to weight is the do we want a "passable" offensive player which I do think Adrianza would be with regular at bats and "excellent" defense..... or do we want Polanco with "passable" (I would say that is questionable) defense and a "good" (not great) bat. As a former college player and HS coach I can tell you at that position 100% of the time I would go with the high end defense and less of an offensive player as long as passible is not Mendoza like..... 250 is okay if his defense is top notch.
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Probably true. But moving Polanco around getting AB's versus setting him at short and not having a quality Defensive player at arguably the most important defensive spot on the field day in day out also to me seems silly. Watched Polanco play in person a half dozen times and he just did not appear to have "it" as far as being the everyday SS. Bat is fine but he is no Cal Ripkin so saying his bat is why we need to keep him there is really not a good argument. Good bat but not an "impact" bat.
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Well we will agree to disagree..... Actually I didn't say that each would DH 2 times a week - I said possible one time of the 2 days off. Leaving plenty of time for Polanco to play. Again I would love to have Sano be the guy at 3rd as I think he can be a superstar. I also understand that our new FO's priority is to improve our pitching and defense. They go together. If he can't play defense the team will find a spot for his bat that is certain. Nothing more deflating as a former player as not trusting that a guy is going to make a play and he doesn't .... over and over again. I am sure we have some former pitchers in here that can tell you this first hand. Don't have the stats but I am sure that one of our metric dudes can connect good defense to good pitching as they go together. More importantly good pitching and good defensive teams have a much better chance of winning.
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Could be the actual situation but according to the MLB office it is for a player to be named. Either way Light gone and cash or a minor prospect..... not a major situation.
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As the super sub position he won't play DH at all unless something unforeseen happens. You could see that Dozier needed a blow more often last hear and one or 2 days off a week where Dozier could play DH or have a full day off. = 2 days of playing time ...... multilply that at SS and 3rd and you are looking at Polanco playing about 5 days a week. As far as Sano playing every day I would be jumping for joy if he shows he is competent there. That has yet to happen. If he "shows" that he is incompetent there like he has in the past we just keep running him out there? That is a good way to lose a team ( or a GM ) ... If he is the same guy as last year he won't be out there everyday.... He may be batting everyday at the DH but I don't think the new Front office is going to sit on their hands and watch him make a fool out of himself. Let's all hope he has made major strides in the offseason!
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Actually per MLB "Minnesota Twins traded RHP Pat Light to Pittsburgh Pirates for Player To Be Named Later." Which would suggest either they are still trying to agree on a prospect or agree to a cash transaction. I have not seen anything suggesting there has been a resolution either way.
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The more and more I think about this the more and more I expect Adrianza to be our SS this year. Polanco will be our super-sub and play 2nd, 3rd and SS. If Sano can't handle 3rd I would expect Polanco to end up there with Sano being the DH or start taking some grounders at 1st where I think he projects when Joe hangs them up...... or sooner.
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Actually I am not talking about the whole metric statistic system ... just the defensive ones. Here is the deal with the "stat" you are talking about... it is taken by the eye. I do understand the offensive metrics are used more because they are much more reliable as are more objective. I understand that teams have been using the metrics but to my understanding it is more on the offensive side than the defensive. But I am sure there is some value but my point is it appears limited in it's validity. It's okay we can agree to disagree on this as I am sure the old guard likely leans my way and the new guard to your side.
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Respectfully you miss my point. The scout(s) which I have met and discussed baseball with do go and see a variety of different players and the good ones will watch players play for extended games and chances to look at their fundamentals etc.... I have coached and been around baseball for 45 years and am likely just an old fart but I can go to a game and Know a player that has good range as well as mechanics. Scouts notes can vary but DO put in variables that explain things in detail. Metrics unless have the same person doing the input and under the same conditions simply are also subjective. They may have some value in a "general sense" but saying a player is a good or not a good defensive player by "just" using these statistics would be a bad idea. Mind you some scouts are better than others and is also a subjective venture at best. My point is that you can't trust the statistics as the variables are WAY to inconsistent. Not a math major but do know in order to have statistics be accurate and valuable the variables need to be consistent and thus the validity is questionable.
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Defensive metric stats are not reliable. Unless they have the same person going over the positioning, exit velocity of the ball hit, air temp, ground crew average pay..... it is just a poorly conceived stat. There are SO many variables that it just can't be measurable on the defensive side of things. I wonder what Cal Ripkin's metrics would have been..Likely pretty low... The guy knew where to be, knew the hitters, had a great glove, etc... There are some things in this game that need an old fashioned scout.
