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1985Fan

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Everything posted by 1985Fan

  1. 1985Fan
    A good point of this posting is to not give up on young players. And, maybe more importantly, you can’t count on young players production, because, as this posting points out, their progression is not linear. Have to give the FO and the player development team kudos for Miranda and Larnach. As fans, we need to be patient with guys like Kirillof, Julien, and Wallner.
  2. 1985Fan
    Twins FO should bring in an impact arm to the bullpen and rotation. I’m more concerned about Duran and his drop in velocity. He has been very hittable this year. Is there something going on with his arm or body? Bringing one of the guys proposed here will help, but not enough to make up for a diminished back-end. What has happened to Stewart? Seems like his injury is more serious than announced and Topa doesn’t seem any closer to pitching than when he went down. They need late inning, high leverage arms. BP is falling apart right now and future doesn’t look good. Then there is the rotation…..
  3. 1985Fan
    You’re not wrong that Castro is playing well. I’m not saying he should be replaced for poor play. You’re not considering that no FO can survive if their high draft picks don’t make it to the SHOW. Draft position does matter. Looks like Lee is raking, so it’s only a matter of time before he is in the SHOW. Like it or not, the draft has to pay dividends for the organization to succeed, especially for the Twins. Similar to how the Rays are managed.
  4. 1985Fan
    Understand. That’s one opinion. If they’re trying to improve the team, see what you have ASAP. Martin is supposed to be able play 2b as well. Schobel is 23 at AA, Keaschall is at AA moving quickly. Infield is a logjam that needs clarity. What to do with Julien? Is he finished or can they count on him this year after a reset?
  5. 1985Fan
    Regression to 2022 and earlier. He’s a career 700 OPS hitter. Didn’t do well in the playoffs last year and not good against quality pitching. Is he the long-term answer at 2b? They have a 1st round draft pick that they need to decide what to do with long term and 2b should be a spot for him. Time to see if Lee is the answer. Rocco plays Castro somewhere everyday whether he needs to or not. Im not saying get rid of him, but start using him as a utility guy should be used, 3 days a week max. If you play him in the outfield, he’s blocking 2 other 1st round draft picks. Like this article says, time to make decisions on what they have before the deadline.
  6. 1985Fan
    If Rocco was not the manager, one of the goals should be to stop playing Castro full time. It’s been great to have him fill in for injuries in CF and SS. This current stint at 2b seems like it’s going to be longer term. I know his offensive production has been good up to now, but we all know there will be regression. Not sure what defensive metrics say, but the eye test doesn’t look good. It will be difficult getting value for Farmer. FO will have to move Farmer off the roster to get Lee playing 2b and move Castro to the bench.
  7. 1985Fan
    For where the Twins are right now, I think they should stand pat. They’re not in the upper class of the AL compared to NYY, Orioles, or even the Guardians, if they need to replace an injury or non performing player, they’ve got reinforcements at AAA. Julien, Wallner, Lee, Severino, Festa, Varland, Camargo, and others should be able to step up and contribute. If Kiriloff gets back on track and Kiersey comes back healthy and productive, they have plenty of internal depth.
  8. 1985Fan
    Adding these players could be an”addition by subtraction” scenario. Subtracting Farmer or Margot alone might boost the offense. I doubt the FO will subtract veterans like Farmer or Margot. Their MO is to stick with guys they sign until the end.
  9. 1985Fan
    The most frustrating play with Rocco’s analytics is pinch hitting in the early innings. Pinch hitting in the fifth or sixth inning when the opposing team brings out a LH relief pitcher. Why he insists on this move when you know the opposing team is going to follow with RH is more than frustrating, it’s just dumb. When this happens in late, close game, the Twins are handcuffed with RH bench bats taking AB’s in the 7-9 innings. Definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results. Someone should ask Rocco if he is aware of that.
  10. 1985Fan
    It’s a situation that doesn’t help young players. When a team calls up a young player to MLB, it’s expected that the player will struggle. No matter how well they played at AAA, players rarely perform well right away or even for a season. The best situation for young players in MLB is to be on a non-contending team that can tolerate below average performance and losing. Those teams have the luxury of patience with young players. Like it or not, young players need patience and teaching. The other thing young players need is playing time. You can’t learn on the bench. OJT is the only way. As other posters have said, Rocco can’t or won’t let the young guys play every day. His rigid analytics approach won’t let him stretch out pitchers or give learning AB’s. It’s possible that Kiriloff, Julien, Wallner will do better on another team in a different situation. Not sure Rocco/Twins have the patience or coaching staff to teach the young guys.
  11. 1985Fan
    Here’s the problem with Baldelli. When the entire offense is struggling, try something to get things going! How about stealing a base once in a while?! Get the runner to 2nd and eliminate the DP. They hit into 3 today. Maybe bunt runners over when you have 1st and 2nd with no one out. Or hit and run to stay out of the double play. Something, anything than just standing there watching chance after chance wasted. why is he putting Kiriloff in LF? He lost one in the sun today?! He has no business in the outfield and he’s not very good at 1B either. Once again he got outsmarted by Shelton with the Margot pinch hitting appearance. Baldelli should be optioned to the minors where he can try to learn how to motivate your team. And learn how to think a couple steps ahead so the opposing manager doesn’t make you look foolish,
  12. 1985Fan
    Lore is bringing in Bloomberg (former mayor of NYC and one of the richest people in US) for part of the $300M installment payment to assume 80% ownership with ARod. Once Lore and ARod take over ownership(if they win arbitration case against Glen Taylor) they want to work with Redbird capital to create a regional sports network similar to YES. Apparently Redbird helped create the Yankees regional network. All this is according to a recent article in the Athletic. I read this in Hoops Rumors post on June 6th. https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2024/06/bloomberg-to-join-wolves-ownership-group-led-by-lore-a-rod.html
  13. 1985Fan
    The broadcasting situation MAY have a solution on the horizon. Marc Lore(36% Twolves owner) has brought in Michael Bloomberg as a “partner”? A guy that works for Bloomberg is the same guy that helped create YES (Yankees) regional broadcast system. Sounds like the plan is to create regional sports network here. Twolves & Wild are in same situation with Bally as Twins are so it makes sense they join forces to offer one package deal for all.
  14. 1985Fan
    Twins should focus on internal help from Lee, Festa, Julien, Wallner, and possibly others in their MiLB system. Finally decide what they have in Kirilloff and Larnach. Doesn’t look like there is enough talent on this team to compete with NYY, Orioles, or Cleveland. The cost of bringing in impactful talent at the deadline would hurt down the road. If they were one pitcher or bat away from beating NYY, then go for it. But that is not the case.
  15. 1985Fan
    No doubt. The point is Twins should measure themselves against “very good” teams. There should be no illusions by the FO that they’re one trade away from being serious contenders. I’m hoping this reality sinks in for FO so they don’t mortgage the future on a win now deal like Lopez and Mahle trades.
  16. 1985Fan
    It’s looking like Twins have a mental problem facing the Yankees. They lose confidence and look defeated from the start. As soon as NYY score a run, it’s all over. Lewis on the other hand looks like he is enjoying playing in Yankee stadium with a larger audience (on TBS last night). He thinks he’s better than any pitcher from any team in any stadium. What a difference in his AB’s vs. the rest of the lineup against the same pitcher. Castro was the only other guy to even draw a walk. They’ve been owned by Cleveland, Baltimore, and NYY. Maybe they should stand pat at the deadline because they don’t look like they have a chance in the playoffs.
  17. 1985Fan
    Are the Twins willing to trade Lee? I think he’s tabbed to be the super utility guy that Castro is now. Castro is only signed this year. Falvine is counting on Lee to step into that role when Castro is gone next year. On paper, Lee fits perfectly; a switch hitter that has played all over the infield. The way Baldelli relies on Castro in his everyday lineup, replacing him is going to be important. They’ll have to consider other prospects in a deal for Luzardo. It does look like there is a position player logjam, so dealing from that surplus could be less painful.
  18. 1985Fan
    I’m surprised to read Keaschall is not being played primarily at 2nd base. If he’s good with the glove at that position, don’t try to “hide him” in the outfield. Julien is still brutal defensively, so if/when Keaschall is ready for the big leagues, Julien should be the one they try to hide somewhere. I’d be ok trading Julien if they feel Keaschall or Lee can replace him.
  19. 1985Fan
    One thing is clear, Julien and Miranda are brutal on defense. Along with Kiriloff. Those players would need to put up big offensive numbers to make up for their defense. None of the three should be playing in the field. Castro is also not a good outfielder. Watching Jeffers completely miss popups and passed balls makes him suspect behind the plate as well. There are too many defensive liabilities in the lineup that will need to be addressed. It seems like Lee is going to step into 2nd base. I’m hoping he is a good infielder so he has value when he goes through offensive slumps. Twins need to emphasize good defense during development so they don’t have such terrible defenders costing outs for their pitching staff. If they get to the playoffs, bad defense will lose games.
  20. 1985Fan
    Should add that the competitive window judgement by the FO takes into account the competition. Based on Cleveland throwing in the towel last year, the Twins underestimated Central division landscape. Everyone thought Cleveland wasn’t going to be in the running for playoffs this year. Credit to them for bringing in a new manager that is getting great results. Not sure if KC will be there at the end of the year. Twins thought they could take the Central with reduced payroll and basically standing pat. Could be that is a fatal mistake.
  21. 1985Fan
    I think roster management and player development strategy is based on the teams competitive window. Cleveland did not think this year would be a title contending situation, based on last year’s decisions to sell at the deadline. Twins are thinking that this year is their year to make a deep run in the playoff’s based on last seasons results. Two different scenarios that affect roster management. When you think you have a chance to go deep in the playoffs, you’re not in position to give young guys a long leash to see what they can do, you need reliable production. That’s why championship teams usually go with veterans. Argument can be made that the FO has misjudged the competitive window. There have been injuries that have derailed some of the veterans brought in. Falvine thinks this is the chance to go for the brass ring, so they don’t have the patience to let young players get their feet wet. Even though the young guys they have counted on aren’t producing either (Julien, Kiriloff). Nor are the veterans to this point (Santana, Margot).
  22. 1985Fan
    Letting SWR get one more out is how you build his confidence. Unless Abrams was hitting SWR hard in previous AB or some other indicator that disaster was imminent. The automatic decision based on some standard data is what frustrates pitchers. Remember Sonny Gray complaints? It’s frustrating as a fan to watch. I think the best managers are the ones that understand how to use data but also know that decisions have to accommodate players and game situations. That’s not Rocco.
  23. 1985Fan
    Duran giving up another home run is concerning. Wonder if he is not fully recovered or if he has another physical issue. I didn’t see it, was the home run off of another curve?
  24. 1985Fan
    In the Pioneer Press, Duran said “he would have preferred to throw a fastball”. He‘s also quoted : “it’s not my decision… I’m an employee here, so whatever I need to throw, I need to throw”. Someone dictated the curve. Rocco has also made comments about the detailed and thorough game plans not being executed when they lose. It sounds to me like analytics gone too far.
  25. 1985Fan
    It sounded like there is a scripted “pitching game plan” that is being dictated. Not sure if it’s Baldelli or pitching coach or someone else. If it is someone other than Vasquez or Duran, then shame on them. If you get beat on your 3rd best pitch to lose the game twice in a row, that person needs to quit calling pitches. I can’t understand why he wouldn’t throw his fastball or splitter after giving up the home run on Friday on a curve. Terrible call that has cost the Twins two games. I also wonder why the Twins beat writers haven’t asked about it.
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