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mikelink45

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Everything posted by mikelink45

  1. mikelink45
    I am delighted, all three really deserve to be in. Tovar was one of my favorite players in an era that was rich with good players. He was the first of the ultimate utility men who played all over and did well at every position. He was a favorite of Billy Martin and an excellent base runner. It is about time! Gardy was the face of the Twins for a long time, a great personality and longevity as well as a winning record makes him a good choice. Gladden will now be introduced as Twins Hall of Famer on the radio broadcasts which is where most of his recognition is now, but he had a really fun career with two Twins championships and a Japanese championship too. I loved his hustle. He and Tovar make a good pair.
  2. mikelink45
    As much as I dislike Manfred - he is the same toady we have had all my life - Ford Frick had been a writer and a teacher, He helped establish the HOF, He was there for the expansion of the leagues, but was criticized for his hands off and inaction work. Eckert knew nothing about baseball He admitted he had not attended a game in the previous decade. In fact, he did not know the Dodgers had moved to LA, but the owners were tired of a strong leader. Marvin Miller was then hired by the union and he was too formidable for Eckert. He also mishandled baseball response to the Kennedy assassination. Bowie Kuhn was terrible and a racist, He lost the reserve clause which was a boon to players, but owners hated it. He had a seven week strike in 1981. When he was let go by the owners in 1983, Hank Aaron applied for the job and said, "“I’m not saying I’m the one who should get the job — maybe I’m not — but I do think we need a baseball man. A baseball man would be more conscious of what is good for the fans. When I interviewed with the search committee for the job, they told me that baseball has grown so much we need a commissioner who understands finance and marketing. If that’s what they want, fine. But I think a baseball man knows more about marketing our game — about bringing players into our game and fans into our stadiums — than someone who doesn’t know anything about the game.” Ueberroth settled an umpire strike, and also ended a one day player strike and most importantly for the game got big TV contracts, but most importantly he was an Olympics guy, Giamatti was the exception, but only lived another year, Fay Vincent was also a good man, Selig who had lots of mixed moments, and the all star game kerfuffle was a signature moment finally the ultimate corporate man and gunslinger for the owners - Manfred.
  3. mikelink45
    I vote none - it is time we started getting pitchers who do not need to bounce back or comeback. I am much more intrigued with the young arms. I looked at the Bundy record and was not sure where the optimism comes from. Maeda was great in 2020 too - it was a half season and those performances do not give us a true look. In 2019 7 - 14 with a 4.79 ERA, in 2018 8 - 16 with a 5.45. Baltimore thought he was going to be a difference maker and do not have enough talent to give away potentially good pitchers. Dobnak is another mirage. I really like his story and I would love to meet him because he seems like a great guy, but I know a lot of great guys and that is not the quality that makes a great pitcher - look at Schilling and Carlton. Randy is a career -1.3 WAR. His era progression is 1.59 - 4.05 - 7.64. Yes he is not a relief pitcher, but if he is a good pitcher he should get someone out. Jharel has the following eras 2.15 - 5.58 - 3.52 but there are no stats for 2018, 2019,2020. That is a big absence. Except for his year with Oakland he has pitched 60 innings. Texas needs pitchers why didn't they keep him? He is the mystery of these three. A good article on Cotton is from Off The Bench - "In case you missed it, Jharel Cotton is back in the Major Leagues and is pitching out of the Texas Rangers’ bullpen. Jharel Cotton is an easy player to root for; he was drafted by the Dodgers in the 2012 draft out of East Carolina University. In the summer of 2016 in need of a pitcher and an outfielder, the Dodgers sent Cotton and Frankie Montas to Oakland in a trade for Rich Hill and Josh Reddick. " About his injury the post adds, "In the time since that fateful elbow pop, Cotton jumped from the frying pan into the fire. While recovering from his elbow surgery, he suffered a hamstring tear which also required surgery. " At age 30 with a lot to prove he is still the best of these three.
  4. mikelink45
    The points against extension are Age Injury history DH already has a number of options and Catcher is where he has value Points for extension are Lack of belief in Jeffers It makes a stronger trade case and gets us a better return.
  5. mikelink45
    The dreaded Tommy John is always lurking for big armed pitchers. Let's hope he can somehow avoid it. The comp of Hunter Green is good, but Green missed 2019 for TJ surgery and is now 22. Will he make it this year? He and Royce Lewis were 1-2 in the draft that year. Who makes it first? Both have missed a year for injury and a year for covid. For that high a draft pick it is time to move up. If we look at it without the TJ he would have already been locked in for the Reds at 21. If Petty stays healthy that is the earliest I would think we could look for him - if he lives up to his scouting potential.
  6. mikelink45
    We lost the trade, so we move on. Yes I want Alcala and Celestino on the team, but what Pressly did for the champion Astros is not something we can match unless we also get into the WS and win playoff games. Otherwise they are good players on an okay team and do not raise the bar. Pressly has been everything that the Astros wanted and they have been winning - good job Astros. Let's see what you got Twins.
  7. mikelink45
    I spent my life as a wilderness guide and I have degenerative knee issues. It is not something you cure and it is really debilitating for the kind of quick reactions that a 2B or hitter needs. The fact that it has already caused so much problems at his young age is a significant issue.
  8. mikelink45
    I am the outlier - this year we should see which pitchers can start and which will be in the BP from our own prospects. Let's not trade our relievers for someone else's relievers
  9. mikelink45
    He was the future for us. It was so exciting to think of Johann, Francisco and Brad as the top three. Not that the Twins would have afforded all three, but for a couple seasons I think we would have dominated the league. To go from Liriano to Bonser was going over the cliff.
  10. mikelink45
    The year that ended in injury was electric. We all thought he was the new Ace. He had so much stuff we thought we have another Santana, but alas, the fairy tale ended. Good luck Francisco.
  11. mikelink45
    I am a fan and I say trade him. I made a statement that someone disagreed with on another thread - he is our Tony Oliva - not that he hits like Tony, but he has the bat control of Tony and the bad knees of Tony. We saw what happened to Oliva as his knees gave out and he went to DH. Luis does not have enough power for DH. I see him as a trade chip, but don't other teams know the same things we do? His value is not going to be high. As for Gordon, I do not see him as a Twin in three years. The prospects will knock him out. Then there is the question of who wants these players? The Orioles need everything and the once again bargain basement A's will need players too and they seem to know how to get more out of ex-Twins. Pittsburgh needs lots of help and the Reds are all about going cheap. Maybe there is a market, but then those teams are bad because they lack what we want back in a trade.
  12. mikelink45
    Thanks for the update. I am not sure I have an feelings about these Twins being in the hall. Nathan has the best case, but his career is pretty unusual and he did not pitch in New York or LA. Tough for him, but it would be a shame if he did not stay on the ballot a few years.
  13. mikelink45
    As I read these recaps and the end of so many lists I have to wonder what you will have to write about if the CBA does not get settled. Until then these players cannot prove themselves, get traded, or even practice. What a terrible loss this is. I posted a forum looking at the lack of Twins in the MLB position rankings by Buster Olney. I see players like Kepler no where close to being rated and wonder how much value he actually has to the rest of the league. Same with Arraez, Sano, and these other position assets. Are we fooling ourselves?
  14. mikelink45
    Not for me. Grienke is not the kind of mentor/team player that you describe for our young rotation. He is a very independent person who goes his own route. I see him on a very good team filling out a rotation. Give me Rodon.
  15. mikelink45
    No No, No. Odorizzi was not even trusted enough to take the post season mound when the Astros needed a starter. How many pitcher leave the horror of Rockies stadium and then perform well elsewhere? If this is as high as we are reaching start the Duran/Balazovic/Winder/Sands/Jax/Dobnak/Canterino/Richardson/Strotman merry-go-round and let's see what we have.
  16. mikelink45
    I do not see as much potential - Texas was desperate but did not choose to give him the time to prove himself. What I see is that our minor league rosters are a little light after the Larnach, Rooker, Kiriloff, Jeffers promotions (and hopefully Miranda) and we still have them plus Sano and Garver to fill 1B and DH.
  17. mikelink45
    The answer has to be Duran because this team really needs him. We have talked about him long enough. Its time to put it together and dazzle the team in spring (summer) training.
  18. mikelink45
    Round one was due 30 days ago
  19. mikelink45
    Baseball continually shoots itself in the foot. Every step forward is dragged out in the public forum and the sport itself is injured by the delays, the rhetoric and the posturing. I love the sport, I do not love the leagues.
  20. mikelink45
    That was really an excellent summary. You have provided us with a lot to think about. Thanks for doing all the work.
  21. mikelink45
    I have finally reached the end of my acceptance of the apples and oranges cliche - sorry, nothing personal, but what does this really mean? Both are fruits, but are full of vitamin C, but are American products. But what does it really mean when we are talking baseball players.?
  22. mikelink45
    Seth, I always enjoy your ratings and descriptions and as usual I disagree with many or if you are right I am disappointed. I know we moved a number of bats up, but is this all we have left? Of course Miranda and Martin are there, but Lewis is old news until he proves that he is not and the rest????? Who are they, what have they done. Not a list that excites me for the future.
  23. mikelink45
    Why not? I see no controversy. Good players and good people need to be made examples. New fans look at those numbers and wonder who they are which leads to baseball history and that is essential to the fullest pleasure the game can give. Congratulations Kaat - like others I wonder why it took so long.
  24. mikelink45
    He will fill a minor league spot as the real prospects flow to the majors.
  25. mikelink45
    Nicely done and Canterino was a surprise - an excellent ending to the pitching prospect novel - surprises, good stories, some question marks and then a twist for the ending. I do hope that we see most of your top five this year. I have been hoping for Balazovic for a while and the injuries are the big unknowns in all their paths. Richardson would not be this high for me. I would slide him back a few places until I see some of the potential displayed. Thanks Seth
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