mikelink45
Old-Timey Member-
Posts
10,082 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
27
Content Type
Profiles
News
Minnesota Twins Videos
2026 Minnesota Twins Top Prospects Ranking
2022 Minnesota Twins Draft Picks
Minnesota Twins Free Agent & Trade Rumors, Notes, & Tidbits
Guides & Resources
2023 Minnesota Twins Draft Picks
The Minnesota Twins Players Project
2024 Minnesota Twins Draft Picks
2025 Minnesota Twins Draft Pick Tracker
Forums
Blogs
Events
Store
Downloads
Gallery
Everything posted by mikelink45
-
The One That Got Away from the Twins Bullpen
mikelink45 replied to Nick Nelson's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
I fear that you might write this article about Graterol and the trade for Maeda in a few years. It is a sad, but excellent article. Your writing makes me think you will be a future Athletic writer - you really do a good job, even when I don't agree I enjoy your essays - of course when I do agree, like this one they really standout. Thanks. -
". The base rate for relievers is that they don’t last — when viewed over four-year periods, they either get hurt, lose effectiveness or both." Law on the Athletic talking about the Diaz contract, but it is something we need to consider. We signed Pagan thinking we could fix him, we traded for Lopez because he was hot and we hoped it would continue. RP are an issue. In this era we overuse them and a good year is often follow by a bad one. We do better to develop a RP (we have a lot of minor leaguers who will not be in the rotation) and avoid the veteran trap and I think that is true of going backward for relievers we have had in the past. Move on.
- 26 replies
-
- michael fulmer
- taylor rogers
-
(and 1 more)
Tagged with:
-
What Can We Learn From the Playoff Catchers?
mikelink45 replied to Matt Braun's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
Note that Vasquez had a single to drive in runs in the game clincher for the Astros - the bat does matter. I do not see Houston letting him go. Pitch framing or not - those Astros pitchers were dealing this series and they should get the credit for their control and their quality pitches. You can't frame pitches that are going to the backstop.- 12 replies
-
- cal raleigh
- j.t. realmuto
-
(and 3 more)
Tagged with:
-
Unsung Heroes of Twins Baseball: The Catchers
mikelink45 replied to Sherry Cerny's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
I love the article and agree with the others who remember Earl Battey - great catcher! But as I read this and think about other articles I wonder how we judge the ability to call a game - I think it is top of the list and Vasquez is getting lots of kudos for the no-hitter.- 5 replies
-
- joe mauer
- brian harper
-
(and 3 more)
Tagged with:
-
I enjoyed this - that does not mean I agree, but I like your logic and approach.
- 26 replies
-
- carlos correa
- carlos rodon
-
(and 3 more)
Tagged with:
-
I just do not think much of defensive metrics - the eye is still the best. Interesting to me how Houston got the SS rating after Correa left. Is Correa overrated? Polanco so low at 2B after being so low at SS - maybe he just is not a good defender.
- 18 replies
-
- luis arraez
- max kepler
-
(and 3 more)
Tagged with:
-
Planning for the Future Behind the Plate
mikelink45 replied to Cody Pirkl's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
What are our real options - Contreras sounds good, but if not do we resign Sanchez or Leon? What will the larger bases do to Jeffers ability to control the run game? His 674 career OPS is 88 OPS+. That is pretty weak. I see Tim Laudner as the third comp for him on BR Behind Danny Jansen and Carson Kelly (who are they?) at age 25 and Taylor Teagarden career stats. Not great company. He has 1.9 WAR for three years. Sandy Leon is the most affordable and got us a -0.5WAR last year with an OPS+ of 48! And a total of 1.2WAR for 11 years. Not him. Gary Sanchez 0.9 WAR last year. OPS+ of 89 - he is not the answer either. Rortvedt in the minors had a 218/311/394 slash line for three minor league teams in 22 - we don't need him back either. Time to be creative.- 26 replies
-
- ryan jeffers
- mitch garver
-
(and 1 more)
Tagged with:
-
Twins Trade Target: Sean Murphy
mikelink45 replied to Ted Schwerzler 's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
I would love to have him. Figure out our young roster and trade the excess. Minor league ratings mean nothing if they are not moving into the majors.- 27 replies
-
- sean murphy
- willson contreras
-
(and 1 more)
Tagged with:
-
How many need to be framed? If the pitcher is hitting the zone we do not need to fool the umpire. And I hope the teams start running wild.
- 20 replies
-
- byron buxton
- nick gordon
-
(and 3 more)
Tagged with:
-
I hope the SB is back, but please not Buxton - he could be our best, but he could also be hurt - again.
- 20 replies
-
- byron buxton
- nick gordon
-
(and 3 more)
Tagged with:
-
Can Catcher Be Where the Twins Find Offense?
mikelink45 replied to Ted Schwerzler 's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
Unless he is related to Perez or Molina- 20 replies
-
- gary sanchez
- ryan jeffers
-
(and 3 more)
Tagged with:
-
Can Catcher Be Where the Twins Find Offense?
mikelink45 replied to Ted Schwerzler 's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
Keith Law had this to say about Contreras "He’s an athletic catcher with a strong arm, but is a below-average framer " Our front office is big on pitch framing (although they took Sanchez). Contreras is the only Catcher FA worth looking at and he would be a big upgrade at bat and with his arm. None of our minor league catchers have that much promise so this could be a significant move.- 20 replies
-
- gary sanchez
- ryan jeffers
-
(and 3 more)
Tagged with:
-
When I think of Jeffers stats and reports from his minor league days and the drop off in MLB - none of these prospects look like more than back ups.
- 21 replies
-
- andrew bechtold
- david banuelos
-
(and 3 more)
Tagged with:
-
Theses three pitchers do nothing for me yet and I cannot see any of them in 2023. But at least you have added the first two to my attention since I knew nothing about them.
- 20 replies
-
- marco raya
- twins pitching
-
(and 2 more)
Tagged with:
-
Will a Catcher Ever Win a Batting Title Again?
mikelink45 replied to Nick Nelson's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
Great article and a good question - the answer right now is no - will the game change again, I hope so. The years I began to love the game we had Yogi Berra, Del Crandall, Sherm Lollar, Roy Campanella among others who caught and played most games - you depended upon them. Of course you bring back thoughts of the good old days and at the same time make a really good case for why Joe Mauer should be in the HOF. Our problem is that Jeffers, so far, is just not that good. With a poor arm and a poor bat he is nothing but a pitcher framer who plays catch and if they go to the electronic ball and strike call he his value drops again. I had great hopes for him and still think he might turn into what we had expected from his rookie year. I do not see the Twins going for Contreras, but in fact Catcher is nearly as important as SS. -
Rumor: Dodgers Interested in Carlos Correa
mikelink45 replied to Brock Beauchamp's topic in Minnesota Twins Talk
I know what you are saying, but when you finish 481 it really doesn't matter what you might have finished. We stunk and one player could not raise the sinking ship. -
Handbook Preview: Framing the Catcher Market
mikelink45 replied to Nick Nelson's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
Jeffers has disappointed since his rookie season and we need to see something change before he can be considered a starting catcher. I like Murphy, but the A's do not give their players away. -
Twins AFL Report (Week 4): Edouard Julien is HIM
mikelink45 replied to Steve Lein's topic in Twins Minor League Talk
I do not know the answer, but I wonder how many of these players will be on the Twins Roster in 2023 (at some point - not necessarily out of ST)? Julien breaking out reminds me of Miranda the year before. I hope all the young players are healthy this year and we get a real chance to see who the Twins are.- 16 replies
-
- edouard julien
- austin martin
-
(and 3 more)
Tagged with:

