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mikelink45

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Everything posted by mikelink45

  1. mikelink45
    I would love Bauer, but the relief names do not really interest me. Beyond Smith and Watson.
  2. mikelink45
    I would love to see them dip down into the talent below AAA.
  3. mikelink45
    I do not call this a hard luck loss. Errors, wild pitches, caught stealing are just bad baseball. As is Sano's last two strikeouts. If he is not getting all the calls he should it could be that he has set the expectations. Arraez at bat should be studied by all the Twins. Magnificent.
  4. mikelink45
    When I read of Cody Allen giving up a run as the opener it brings two things to mind: 1. Cody Allen is not ready to help in MLB. 2. How frustrating must it be for the "primary" to have a one or more run deficit before throwing their first pitch. Anxious to see Larnach at this new level, as well as Albie!
  5. mikelink45
    Very nice summary. I am impressed overall, but have to say that AAA rotation seems to be of lower quality than Fort Myers.
  6. mikelink45
    I think that if we lose it is a big deal. It will create a narrative that will take a few weeks to erase and that is not good for a team that is just finding its way to the heights.
  7. mikelink45
    I am not sure about this and the other Schoop posts I have seen. Are we sure that we are not going to start seeing the early season Schoop again? Unless we have someone who is pushing his way onto the bench Schoop is a good player for us.
  8. mikelink45
    Seeing Javier's line was a real treat this morning. I do hope he goes on a tear and that he justifies his high ranking among prospects. I love it when the prospects are trying to tear down the barrier between them and MLB. Isn't it time to challenge Larnach in AA?
  9. mikelink45
    My biggest worry is Rogers. Can he handle the frequency of use for the rest of the season. I know why Baldelli calls on him, but we either need Parker to step up or we need another pitcher we can rely on the way we do Rogers. I am fine with the idea of bringing up minor league arms, but we have to try them all, regardless of league level until we find what we need.
  10. mikelink45
    Great ball game. I think it is time to stop the Molitor comparisons. We have had a few games where we have questioned Badellis decisions on pitchers - like last nights Rogers decision. Managing the pitching staff is certainly the most difficult task and no one has it down perfectly. Sometimes I think we should be questioning the bench coach or pitching coach in these situations.
  11. mikelink45
    Okay - Mejia is gone for nothing - Boston got Cashner for their number 5 starter for basically nothing. Baltimore should now grab Mejia.
  12. mikelink45
    I am struck by some comments about Gibson and Mejia and Littell in the July 13 recap and it makes me wonder how we would rank our own pitchers right now. I would certainly have Rogers first and Blake Parker does not rate high on my faith index. Here is my attempt at ranking them all. Taylor Rogers - two inning saves are great. 41 innings in 34 games, 1.73 ERA and for what it is worth 13 saves. Jose Berrios - He is our Ace Jake Odorizzi - I hope he can keep this going all year. Ryne Harper - who would have thought this. I still do not like the fact that 50% of his inherited runners score, but he seems to have gotten the faith of the manager and pitching coach. Michael Pineda - I am finally coming around on Pineda - his last month has been excellent and I hope that trend continues. Trevor May - he has not become the relief stud we hoped for, but he has stopped inherited runs and not given up runs, what more can we ask for. Martin Perez - Loved his first two months, has he turned things around again? We could use that stud who dominated April/May Kyle Gibson - 4.03 era better that Perez and Pineda, but last year's Gibson has not shown up and he does not look like a playoff pitcher. His average inning pitched per game is 5.1 Blake Parker - I am not a believer, but he has pitched 31 innings in 32 games and despite giving us acid reflux during his innings, he has maintained a 3.77 ERA Devin Smeltzer - currently off the roster, but he seems to have the sixth starter position. Lewis Thorpe - good audition, may also rotate for sixth starter and next year he and Smeltzer could be in the rotation. Tyler Duffey - He does not seem to be putting batters away, but at least his era is under 4. Kohl Stewart - not sure what his role will be but we keep seeing him pop up - currently off the MLB roster. Mike Morin - His whip is under 1 which none of the relievers I have already listed come close to, but his usage seems to indicate that he has not yet gained the faith of his manager. Zack Littell - The good innings are really good, but Adalberto Mejia - has had many roles and a few years and still does not have it. Matt Magill - 4.67 era, 1.481 WHIP, 2 WP, 2 HBP, So what do you think? Rearrange and give me your input.
  13. mikelink45
    I am disappointed in Romero and Allen - they are not the answer for the Twins pen this year. I posted about Javier earlier in the week. He is definitely doing something wrong. After all his IL issues and now bad bat, I hope his fielding is holding up. I am anxious for one of the TD crew to do an analysis of this fading prospect
  14. mikelink45
    I am happy we have him, but that does not mean I do not want him to improve his fielding even more and based on what we have read, he is going to continue to work on his skills. I love a really good fielding SS.
  15. mikelink45
    I understand and I love having him, but I still want him moving forward with his skills as fielder. I think he can still be much better.
  16. mikelink45
    I like the NL/AL difference and the arguments it creates as well as the strategies it forces on the manager. I love the idea of 3 mound visits per game. It's like the Intentional walk - wave your hand in the dugout and make the change. Sometimes I think managers like to get on tv and enjoy their walk in the spotlight of the camera. I like the clock - the NBA has learned to adjust to many changes including the time clock and now people cannot remember when teams would just hold the ball because Mikan and the Lakers had too much talent to take them on at full speed - 19 - 18 Fort Wayne Pistons Minneapolis Lakers 1950-51 (RS) / Nov 22, 1950 / at Minneapolis - and the NBA widened the lane because Mikan was too good. Changes happen. The anti-tanking rule is a bad one. Sometimes a team is just bad - and this would keep them that way. This is too hard to administer. Remember our team's record over the last ten years! I do not like reducing rosters to 28 in September. Many times this is the only place rookies get a chance to prove themselves and at the same time give vets time to heal and rest before the playoffs. Keep it at least at 30. I love the three batter rule! I have wanted to limit the teams to four pitchers per game and of course that will never happen, but this could!
  17. mikelink45
    Still not the level of SS that you really hope to have, but right not Polanco/Arraez looks like a really solid center of the infield and I am really pleased that Jorge really has worked on his fielding - his intensity is his greatest asset and he will continue to get better. with Lewis a couple years out and Javier - who knows - the position in Polanco's. Then comes the inevitable and positive challenge of multiple good players for the same position.
  18. mikelink45
    It seems like Javier has been in a slump - I feel like there have been a string of hitless days. I checked his MiLB line - .146 .250 .211 .461. (34 games) I hope this changes soon, but as I mentioned in a previous post I do not see him as a top ten prospect at this time.
  19. mikelink45
    https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/09/sports/baseball/mlb-baseballs-juiced.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_190710?campaign_id=2&instance_id=10739&segment_id=15062&user_id=df677009e65a80ff046d9aedfdc120f5&regi_id=275511920710 The New York Times also talked about this with a lot of quotes from Verlander, but also a quote from Odorizzi who has a take on the situation: "“If there’s something that’s potentially altering that, just come out and say it,” Odorizzi said. “I think, as players, we’ve gotten to the point now where we’ve accepted it." Scherzer - "“With the ball changing as much as it has over the past handful of years, the players have had no say in that whatsoever,” Scherzer said. “We’re left, as players, wondering why the ball can change that much, that fast, and have that big of a result.” Sabathia has a different perspective - The active leader in home runs allowed, the Yankees’ C.C. Sabathia, said he was not concerned about the trend but did see a downside to the modern all-or-nothing game. “The ball is a little different — whether it’s the seams, it feels a little different in your hands,” said Sabathia, who was here to be saluted by the fans in Cleveland, where he started his 19-year career. “But I enjoy offense. I want to see runs scored, and my kids love it. The thing is, though, there’s not a lot of contact on some of these teams. So it’s either home run or strikeout, and it’s kind of hard to watch.” I have posted many times that I miss the stolen bases, bunts, hit and run style of baseball. If we want to eliminate the shift, run the bases and force them to cover their area. Somehow the ball has to be uniform year to year. The HR has lost its luster. I go on ESPN to see game highlights and all I get is HR swings and tracking the ball. I want to see close plays on the bases, hustle, and heads up playing. In the fielding highlights how often is it an outfielder grabbing a ball that is going over the fence? Yes I want a few less homers, more Arraez getting on base, Buxton stealing, Polanco hit and run.
  20. mikelink45
    I really enjoyed this and I am one who does not like Harper's rate of letting inherited runners score - 50%, but still he is a surprise. The biggest surprise - the team is in first place! Number 2 is roster flexibility, the opportunity to use so many players in so many positions and keep winning. Number 3 is my favorite player Arraez reminding us why a good batting average, a good at bat strategy, and consistency are so important to a team. Number 4 Willans Astudillo is injured, but it is because of his fielding efforts. He has played every where and he plays hard. It is more than his anti-strikeout stance that makes him valuable on the bench. Number 5 is Polanco who has been criticized for his time at SS and now is an All-star. Number 6 is my controversial stance - that we are in first place despite a still questionable a pitching roster.
  21. mikelink45
    Quite an ending to the pre all-star season. I enjoyed the review but I do have some questions about the notes - Tyler Duffey has a -0.3 WAR and according to Baseball reference has a runs allowed per nine innings of 5.72. where he has been stellar is in not allowing inherited runners to score. Ryne Harper has a 50% rate of inherited runners scoring compared to Taylor Rogers 33% stranded and Trevor May has allowed only one of 12 inherited runners to score. In relief pitching I consider this to be a very important stat.
  22. mikelink45
    There is not much to complain about, it was a baseball game that was tight and could have gone either way. The only real disappointment is Mejia who had a lot to gain by a good outing.
  23. mikelink45
    Good report - I always question high rankings for players who have been out for extended time and that is true of Wander Javier. He has potential I know, but for me he should be stashed in the second ten, not the first. Hopefully he will use the second half to show he deserves such a high position. Cabezas is really impressive and so is the Kernel Manager for letting him pitch nine innings. I love it.
  24. mikelink45
    Add LaMonte Wade and Lewis Thorpe!
  25. mikelink45
    Harper yesterday and Duffey today did nothing to stop the angst and anger that demands some new BP arms.
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