mikelink45
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Everything posted by mikelink45
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Twins Daily 2023 Awards: Most Valuable Player
mikelink45 replied to Ted Schwerzler 's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
Lewis is my choice- he came in with a hot bat, a great attitude and energized a team that was just playing 500 ball no matter how good Gray and Lopez were pitching. He was the difference maker and I look forward to a long productive career. This is my MVP even though all the others are worthy contenders for the honor.- 18 replies
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- sonny gray
- pablo lopez
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These Ain't Your Older Brother's Houston Astros
mikelink45 replied to Nick Nelson's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
At this stage, I am just happy to be watching playoff baseball and I think the Twins have an excellent chance in this series. I would not favor them, but the odds are closer to 50-50 than many would have predicted. -
No to Buxton - his statement about not being 100% is enough to convince me. Yes to Ober, I might start him over Ryan.
- 28 replies
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- byron buxton
- bailey ober
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Brooks LeeWalker JenkinsEmmanuel RodriguezMarco RayaCharlee SotoDavid FestaAustin MartinTanner SchobelBrandon WinokurLuke KeaschallConnor PrielippYasser MercedesKala'i RosarioYunior SeverinoSimeon Woods RichardsonJordan BalazovicJose RodriguezDanny De AndradeBrent HeadrickMatt Canterino Not sure how the voting procedure works - but I have Walker Jenkins Brooks Lee Luke Keaschall Austin Martin Kalai Rosario Brandon Winokur Yunior Severino Davis Festa Andrew Cossetti Emmanuel Rodriguez Marco Raya Yasser Mercedes Pearson Ohl Zebby Mathews Jair Carmargo Charlee Soto CJ Culpepper DaShawn Keirsey Cory Lewis Simeon Woods Richardson Cory Lewis
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So great - Lewis confirms my belief that he is the MVP for the team this year.
- 114 replies
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- royce lewis
- jhoan duran
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3 Options: The Royce Lewis Contingency Plan
mikelink45 replied to Cody Christie's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
I see him at third. Players seem to do best when they have a position rather than just a bat.-
- royce lewis
- byron buxton
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Week in Review: Wrapping Up and Moving On
mikelink45 replied to Nick Nelson's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
I take Larnach - not Buxton, I think Ober has passed Ryan in reliability, but it is too late to line him up for game three. Paddock in - Keuchel out. And most important - we need Lewis! He is more valuable to us this year than Correa or Buxton. -
Good luck Celestino - he will be like Rooker and catch on someplace - maybe the A's. I think he is a good player. Alcala is not someone I trust at this point. It is hard to be out all year and suddenly appear and be good in the playoffs.
- 32 replies
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- bailey ober
- jorge alcala
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Larnach over Buxton. Lewis the most important player to bring back for the playoffs. Paddock over Keuchel. Good writeup Nick - I am ready for the playoffs this year and I think the Twins are too. Game three I prefer Ober versus Ryan.
- 23 replies
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- sonny gray
- royce lewis
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That is an amazing roster of managers. Only Schneider is an unknown for me. The experience of the other managers is outstanding. Like everyone else I think Cash is the best and has been for a long time. Dealing with issues in TB - every year he could be the MOY. Baker is a good story, but I see him as a manager who keeps his team on an even keel and is not a strategic manager, but someone who can prevent panic and keep his team happy. Bochy is an excellent manager and has a proven track record. But Hyde came out of nowhere - can Schneider be that kind of manager. I am really impressed. I am not trying to knock Rocco, but in this list I would have him rated number 5, but this is an all-star list so 5 is still good and Schneider is a strong 6.
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I know I have been criticized by comments in the Bench article, but I will stick with my thoughts - Larnach is healthy and hitting and I would take him over Buxton in the playoffs. Nice to see things work out for him. I still worry about Kiriloff's and Lewis' health. These two top prospects have had so many issues over the last three years and if they can get past that the lineup with Julien, Wallner, and Jeffers as a magnificent young core. I agree with those who see Paddack over Keuchel in the playoffs.
- 30 replies
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- chris paddack
- matt wallner
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Projecting The Twins Postseason Roster: The Bench
mikelink45 replied to Ted Schwerzler 's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
We don't know Buxton's health, he has not been hitting for a long time and he was not hitting that well before he went down. I don't hate Buxton, I just think you go with a more known bat (if he can't be in the OF Buxton's glove is not part of the equation) and health.- 31 replies
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- willi castro
- kyle farmer
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Projecting The Twins Postseason Roster: The Bench
mikelink45 replied to Ted Schwerzler 's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
Like others I would not take Buxton, Gallo, Gordon, but would take Larnach. We need someone who has been hitting and has some potential to make a difference.- 31 replies
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- willi castro
- kyle farmer
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I agree, but 1050 feet versus 5280 is a pretty dramatic difference and the Atlanta humidity would also diminish the contrast.
- 30 replies
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- joe ryan
- ryan jeffers
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Watching the ball movement in Colorado I cannot imagine them ever winning and being a good playoff team. Imagine Atlanta playing in that stadium.
- 30 replies
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- joe ryan
- ryan jeffers
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Twins Playoff Roster: Infielders
mikelink45 replied to Cody Schoenmann's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
Lewis is good at many things, but to me he was the second half catalyst. He brings more than a glove and bat to the team and could be crucial to playoff success.- 12 replies
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- christian vazquez
- alex kirilloff
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Gray should have twice as many wins and fewer losses. Let's hope the trend of not supporting him stops in the playoffs. He deserves a laugher.
- 19 replies
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- sonny gray
- kenta maeda
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Wait a minute - how could I forget Larnach. Add him to OF mix.
- 29 replies
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- max kepler
- matt wallner
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Stevenson is the only question I have and I don't have a good alternative. I see Castro as the true 4th OF.
- 29 replies
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- max kepler
- matt wallner
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I agree with you. Just look at Kiriloff and Lewis and Julien going to all fields. Our approach has been too much all or nothing and the young players are showing that you let hitters hit and use their natural talents. Think of all the years that they tinkered with Byron Buxton - he was up and down, frustrated as can be. What might he have done if they let him be comfortable and hit the way he wanted?
- 29 replies
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- pablo lopez
- max kepler
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Don't Be Silly. Jhoan Duran Is As Good As It Gets.
mikelink45 replied to Lou Hennessy's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
All RP have struggles at times - it comes with the territory, but I will take Duran and I am happy to see the BP lining up. Still question if Paddock can do it, but otherwise I am fine with the group we have. In fact, I hate to say this, but I am feeling confident that the losing streak is going to end - quickly. Did I just jinx them? -
Twins Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Year - 2023
mikelink45 replied to Seth Stohs's topic in Twins Minor League Talk
Being a relief pitcher in the minors is not a role anyone should want. Who did we bring up - starters Winder, Headrick, Sands.- 12 replies
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- kody funderburk
- regi grace
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Twins Make Dubious History with Strikeout Record
mikelink45 replied to Matt Braun's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
They did that for Bob Gibson, maybe they can pitch from a hole instead of a mound! -
Twins Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Year - 2023
mikelink45 replied to Seth Stohs's topic in Twins Minor League Talk
Looking at the careers of past winners I am not sure how much honor this award presents! But then all honors are good honors.- 12 replies
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- kody funderburk
- regi grace
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Twins Make Dubious History with Strikeout Record
mikelink45 replied to Matt Braun's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
I am one of those old timers who just cannot stomach the Ks. Yes we create laboratory fastball pitchers and watch them limited to five innings and twice a career TJ surgery and yes first MN and now Atlanta set HR season records, but if the only pleasure I get from BB is the HR then let's change the format and have a HR derby instead of a game for each team meeting. Look at this list of players with more HRs than Ks! Johnny Mize hit 51 and still only struck out 42 times. There are some great names on this list and people might be surprised by Barry Bonds being there - in 2004 - 45 - 41. Good hitters get HRs without being a Joey Gallo bag of whiffs. On the other side do the new K records for pitchers really mean anything when everyone is swinging from their heals? Nolan Ryan's record really stands out and even today no one can come close. Bob Feller won 266 games and had 2,581 strikeouts in 3827 innings while losing four years to military service. 1941 - Feller 25 - 13 had 260 strickeouts and 3.15 ERA. Only three hitters struck out more than 100 times - Dolph Camilli 115, Jimmy Fox (58 hrs) 103 times, and Vince Dimaggion 100. This year we have had 161 batters strikeout 100 or more times so far! So how do we compare pitchers and their K rates with pitchers in other eras?

