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mikelink45

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Everything posted by mikelink45

  1. mikelink45
    I just went to the combined standings and we are 15th - which matches our 500 play. We are just ahead of the White Sox, Giants and Red Sox and we play two of those teams in this articles rankings. Can we stay ahead of them? And stay out of the bottom half of the combined standings?
  2. mikelink45
    It is sad to read the comments and know that these are all people who really care about the team. Yesterday we talked about the lack of fire in the team, but they have now taken the fire out of the fans and Rocco and the FO just don't seem to get that. Beckham and Cave were miserable call ups for the team. If he were doing rehab, I would be happy to see Sano come in and do his big whiff routine. I am hoping something happens to give us at least a 500 finish, but I am not sure what it would be.
  3. mikelink45
    Their toughest opponent is themselves. As another article pointed out, they do not show the fire that is needed to make victories happen when things are tough or tight.
  4. mikelink45
    It is hard to see those recovering players making the difference we need. Sanchez and Leon are a terrible pair of catchers (217 and 160) and that hurts the lineup. Kepler has one big game in the month and bats in the key 4/5/6 slots - this is where we need Garlick and Larnarch. Buxton's big HR total has been stagnant and his RBIs are poor. Polanco has not been the player we have seen in the past and Cave and Beckham have earned a vacation in St Paul for the rest of the season. The player you did not mention for September is Varland. Right now he is one arm that is producing.
  5. mikelink45
    This is a challenge because the team should have the talent to be more than a 500 team and we are playing as if we're going to end the season at that meaningless neutral place. I'm trying to see where fire comes from and it's a difficult thing to define we have no stats we have no analytics that define this. But how a team is run means a lot. I know that we no longer want the fiery managers like Leo Derocher or Billy Martin. But I believe an aggressive manager creates an aggressive team and that means things like stolen bases and bunts and all of the things that we have talked about over the year that Rocco won't do. When we get to a culture where our stars have to rest every fifth day it creates a sense of no urgency. When starters are not pushed to work a little harder than five, six and seven it gives a message that we can do well for a little while and somebody else can take over. None of those things create a team of really hard-nosed - I'm not coming out - players I like Jack Morris was. The player who plays really hard is Miranda, but you can't ask a rookie to be the leader for the team. We need an attitude adjustment and we need it throughout the team.
  6. mikelink45
    Yes, I am concerned. We gave away a lot in trades and those players we acquired need to give us real value in the short term since they are replacing long term assets. Balazovic has regressed in a way that has me puzzled. The minor league pitching has a long way to go to being the asset we need and with Kiriloff and Larnach out our OF replacements are slim. The call up of Cave and Beckham did not harm the minors, but have done nothing to help the majors either. I would love to see an article on who is next - which minor leaguers are most prepared to be the next call ups. If I am reading things right - it should be Varland pitching and Helman instead of Cave for right handed OF, and Contrares instead of Beckham (or Palacio). I look forward to your thoughts.
  7. mikelink45
    I am confused about many things. Miranda has to be in the first four Buxton and Kepler are both too high. At one time are hitting was supposed to be our strength, but we have been playing teams with losing records and are hitting has been atrocious. Nice to see smeltzer go three innings. We need more of that and we should rely on both he and Sands With our two top pitchers we have to win the next two games. Then who do we start?
  8. mikelink45
    I am always curious about outside perspectives on our prospects. ESPN's top 50 does not include any Twins and ranks Rodriguez as our top prospect. I do not know Kiley McDaniel's qualifications, but the fact that Austin Martin is not making these outside lists bolsters my feelings. s
  9. mikelink45
    Thanks - I corrected it to Wallner. But I have learned my lesson - voice recognition does not like how I talk.
  10. mikelink45
    I would say yes, maybe, but doubtful and no.
  11. mikelink45
    What I don't understand is why Rocco who says he doesn't have set bullpen rules insist on bringing in Duran and then finishing with Lopez. I would prefer to see Duran go two innings and then if we're still trusting Lopez have him go the next night. Instead we burn out all of our high-end arms in the same games. Makes no sense to me just like it doesn't make sense for them not to use Sands to cover multiple innings and save the bullpen. The next game with Archer starting is a perfect time for Sands to come in. But I'll be curious to see how our manager uses his bullpen again. I'm just glad we're playing a lousy team
  12. mikelink45
    I know that Austin Martin came with high expectations and a high rating but somehow as I read through these daily reports I just don't understand how he ranks so high. I know that Noah Miller is ranked on his potential because he's so young but Martin has struggled with a position and I don't think he has played as well as should be expected. Varland is really an exciting prospect and it would be amazing to see him move on up and make an impact on his home team. I'd also like to see Wallner continue his rise, but I'm not sure where he will play
  13. mikelink45
    This is timely and really accurate. It's so hard to believe that we have still not developed a sense of what roles the various relief pitchers can fill and that we still have such faith in Pagan. I know that I'm just a fan like the rest of the writers on this site, but we watch and analyze every game I just seems so apparent that bullpen management despite the myriad coaches just does not have a good plan. I don't think anyone saw Cole Sands is a one inning relief picture. I am sorry for the errors. I am on a boat in Louisville and did that with voice recognition - Obviously I talk funny.
  14. mikelink45
    Glad to have Gardy recognized.
  15. mikelink45
    NO. Baseball injuries are too frequent. Sophomore slumps are too frequent. What is the rush? Wait a year or two. Did we really do well with the Polanco, Kepler, Sano extensions?
  16. mikelink45
    don't forget Celestino - he has been really important all season.
  17. mikelink45
    I would add Emilio pagan to the list not because he's great but because he's going to be used and we can't afford to have more meltdowns from it. If he can just work his way through lower leverage situations and keep from blowing up that will go a long ways towards helping the season and well
  18. mikelink45
    Give me a Smeltzer or use Bundy or Archer or Sands to fill innings. Save the short time - one inning RP.
  19. mikelink45
    Miranda has really stepped up for a club that has often had trouble hitting with runners in scoring position - he seems to be able to get the bat on the ball no matter the situation. He is Arraez with power. I want him on my team. With Kiriloff, Lewis, and Larnach down how great it is to have a bat like Miranda step up. And so glad Ryan and Duran keep taking the ball while Ober and Winder are hit by injury.
  20. mikelink45
    I am glad that Pagan got through the innings but if you look at the number of runners on base and the excellent Fielding that bailed him out I don't think we can celebrate his rise to reliability. It really is a puzzle why we don't have a true Long relief man in the bullpen. We see a nice group of young players in the positions who can take us into the future. I keep hoping to see the same thing in the pitching side.
  21. mikelink45
    I don't see him.
  22. mikelink45
    This is hard. I think they did what was expected, but we should have expected more. Ryan is not an Ace, just a good pitcher. Gray is what we wanted and hopefully Mahle will deliver like the last game. But the rest of the rotation is not championship quality. If they had been piggybacked - each doing half a game and still being treated like starters how much would we have saved the BP and how many games would we have gained?
  23. mikelink45
    mlb put up its new prospect list. At 33, Brooks Lee is on the list with Emmanuel Rodriguez at 97. Let's hope some others rise quickly. Although the AAA players are showing that they are learning the Yankee/Twins way!
  24. mikelink45
    Thank you KC - we needed that. Miranda, Arraez, Celestino, Gordon are showing that we have youth to move forward - if only Kiriloff and Larnach could stay healthy. But Kepler has now batted 4 and 5 after his one good game. Rocco, let him prove himself before putting him in key lineup positions. Love Gray's desire to pitch longer in games - we need that. It is not just fans who hate the early hook.
  25. mikelink45
    I can see how Rortvedt needs to improve his ABs, after all our catcher is batting 182.
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