mikelink45
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Everything posted by mikelink45
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Fascinating. It really comes down to the young players moving the needle - it is a good lesson to learn.
- 28 replies
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- nelson cruz
- andrelton simmons
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Interesting speculation - the beginning of the Hot Stove discussions. Of course I have no idea (other than getting rid of Gallo). So much depends on reading the minds of Falvey and Levine and I am not ready for that challenge. FA, resignings, and trades are all part of a mix that is too convoluted to figure out. It is also the mystery of injury recovery, staying healthy, youth versus veteran and finally the budget. I will stay tuned and enjoy the speculation.
- 19 replies
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- sonny gray
- michael a taylor
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I am not excited about pursuing older players after their career year. We use that term because it is an outlier. Career years seldom repeat. Gray is 98 - 85 career with a 3.74 ERA. I looked at his BR page and could not find three consecutive productive years like the last two. In fact both MN years have been his best - ask the Yankees about their experiment with Gray. I sign him if the price is right and for one year only.
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What a Year for Matt Wallner
mikelink45 replied to Cody Pirkl's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
I am always excited to see a Minnesota player - all the sports teams in all the leagues play on fan sympathy - we are your team - then the off season comes and where do they live? This reminds me of Hrbek who gave such joy. Just as Winfield, Molitor, Mauer, and Morris both performed and brought a Minnesota attitude. Then there are players like Oliva who came and stayed. It is a pleasure. Varland adds another level like Dave Goltz, Jerry Kindall, Jerry Koosman, Jim Eisenreich, Caleb Thielbar, and Glen Perkins. According to Twins Trivia 32 Minnesotans have been Twins. The Twins more than the Vikings have had a big MN presence. The Vikings gave up on one of the best - Adam Thielen and they have had others play a big role. Of course will all the gear and all the substitutions only a few are recognizable. The Lakers (who actually played in a city with Lakes) started out with a Minnesota Hall of Fame - Mikan, Mikkelson, Joe Hutton, Howie Schultz, Bob Pollard and Whitey Skoog. Loved it. It was a rule in the NBA that a team could forfeit a first round pick to obtain a player within a 50 mile radius. The Lakers took advantage of this, but so did others. It really created a home team feeling. In the NHL there are 38 Minnesota players. If you want to be overwhelmed look at the number of Minnesota born players who have been on the North Stars or Wild. Even the Gophers seem to lack the home town feeling for me these days. Forgive the nostalgia.- 17 replies
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- matt wallner
- max kepler
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Any Interest in Non-Tender Candidates?
mikelink45 replied to stringer bell's topic in Minnesota Twins Talk
No. We have turned a corner and no longer need to be okay. Pick up players that move the needle. -
This was a good read. 1,6,14 look really good - that is 10%. Rooker and Baddoo on other teams did not bring us any talent - those are losses. Alcala looks lost, Larnach seems to have plateaued at 4th OF and Winder looks like a journeyman pitcher. With Rortvedt a yankee and not producing these 5 are disappointing that is 16% not real contributors. Then there is the seemingly always injured - Kiriloff and Canterino. I hope that they turn it around, but need proof. Played in 2023, mostly in the Minors or Indy Ball Ten of these 12 do not look promising for the home team - that is 33% misses. We still have two who could be contributors to the Twins. And then there are four officially done. We have done alright, but really have to hitch our hopes on Lewis as the all-star to make this an A+ prospect list.
- 16 replies
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- royce lewis
- ryan jeffers
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Nelson Cruz Calls it a Career, Retires at 42
mikelink45 replied to Matt Braun's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
Nice write up. The comparisons with Tony O leave out the bad knees that cut Tony out of many counting stats. I went to BR for more of a look at Nelson. Since he was known as the boom stick I looked at his HRs - four years with 40 and three years in the 30s. I like his lifetime BA of 274. I know he had a suspension which would count against him, but looking at the BR HOF statistics makes him below the mark for induction. So let's just remember him as he was during his Twins days - great memories. Coach? I have no idea. -
Matt Canterino: Bullpen Force?
mikelink45 replied to Cody Pirkl's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
I don't have an opinion. I need to see what he has when he returns. We read reviews about Winder and Balazovic in the past and they still look lost in the BP and the majors. I love the idea of building a starter, but is he going to be a health risk going forward? I never mind seeing a starter (Santana) start in the BP, but I do not like to see them stuck there.- 42 replies
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- matt canterino
- griffin jax
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Two Paths for Emmanuel Rodriguez and the Twins
mikelink45 replied to Cody Christie's topic in Twins Minor League Talk
It also depends on whether he is heir apparent to Buxton in the minds of the FO. Lots of questions, but good speculation. The two above him in rankings are way above him in my thoughts. -
I expect Cossetti to do really well. I agree that the way they are using him does him no good, but why have they done this?
- 12 replies
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- kalai rosario
- aaron sabato
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Actually he is not progressing in my mind. His line last year in Wichita 221 .329 .430 .759 is in line with his 3 season stats - 212 .348 .426 .774 I would be happier if there was progression.
- 12 replies
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- kalai rosario
- aaron sabato
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Carmago is the only one I spend time pursuing. If there is a lack of interest in the others I would sign some minor league contracts, but this is not a group I see making the Twins better (aside from Carmago)..
- 21 replies
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- jair camargo
- blayne enlow
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Unlike the others, I am not a Sabato fan and would not 40 man him. I think we have much better and his progress through the minors his line for three seasons is 212/348/426. I am not seeing great pitching in the AFL so his HRs are not as impressive as I would like to see. The one who really disappoints me is Cossetti. I have high hopes for him and he is not making an impression in AFL. Rosario is really turning things around, now to cut down the Ks.
- 12 replies
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- kalai rosario
- aaron sabato
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What I would like is to see Lewis, Kiriloff, Lee, Wallner, Julien, and the addition of another two good prospects coming in (step up Austin Martin and Severino) and hitting the ball. No more Gallo moments, contact and enough power from Severino and Wallner.
- 41 replies
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- juan soto
- pete alonso
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I am loving it. Why not enjoy - it is baseball and if we love the Twins we should love the game. I do not need NY or LA to make the games enjoyable. I love watching the young AZ team with speed and determination. Kelly pitched a wonderful game last night. Marte and his 18 game post season hit streak is amazing. And Corbin Carroll is a wonderful player to watch. I love their attitude and they are the team I am rooting for. AL - NL does not matter I like teams that I enjoy most. But on the Texas side I love seeing Garver, but even more the young catcher that took his position away and Seager is amazing - it begs the question of which of the many SS that were available for the highest bidder two years ago are really worth the most - I put Seagar number one, then Turner, Semien is at 2B or would be number 3. Correa 4? or is it Lindor or Bogaerts for 4th. Swanson and Story on the bottom of the list. Sorry, but I do not even consider Simmons and Baez to be part of the discussion.
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I am not ready to have Buxton at DH full time. I prefer Julien, Solano, or Wallner (if he is not in the OF).
- 70 replies
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- brooks lee
- yunior severino
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I do not see anyone except Taylor and hope that we can develop Keirsey or another prospect. Martin might become a CF option, but he has been an IF and I like someone who owns the position. Buxton is not in my discussion of CF anymore. Not sure he is even desirable at DH with the players we not have. Taylor got more criticism than he deserved - he gave us what we needed. So Byron - surprise me - shock the world and discover CF again or Falvey make a move.
- 23 replies
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- michael a taylor
- byron buxton
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I have less faith in Martin than the article or the commentators express. I still prefer to have Taylor out there. We are accumulating so much infield talent that we have to figure out trades to clear the path. Just think what we would have if Steer and Encarnion-Strand were still with us. Of course that also brings up the thought that we need to be careful about who we expend prospect talent on. I think that there are a few more players that could be added to this list. I do hope we have a pitcher or two that can be better than the Headrick/Winder/Sands trio.
- 70 replies
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- brooks lee
- yunior severino
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I think you chose well. It is always a gamble to try and predict the future of prospects. Two years ago I though Balazovic was going to be a frontline starter. Now I think he is falling off the roster. Headrick, Winder, Sands have all been prospects and call ups - none looks like they are going to have a long and productive career in the majors. I have disagreed with the Prielipp hype since we got him. I need to see players on the field before I can see them ranked. I also thought Larnach would be a stud and Celestino would develop into a starter. My how time changes perception.
- 23 replies
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- simeon woods richardson
- connor prielipp
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