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Jham

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Everything posted by Jham

  1. Jham
    Personally, I have a few reservations regarding Ohtani. The guy seems to have a huge sense of entitlement. It makes me wonder how coachable he'll be, and what sort of a team mate. I have huge concerns about how he'll deal with adversity and real struggle. It seems like he's coming in expecting things to be easy. $20 million is a relatively small investment for a talent with that upside. At the same time, we're entering an important stretch for our organization. $20 mil can go to a big FA, a number of useful pieces, absorbing a contract in a beneficial trade, or extending a current or potential trade piece. I'd be looking hard right now while everyone else is chasing the hype train. BTW, asking teams to write you love letters does not scream, "I want the small market and quiet life." But I will say, he'd instantly be one of the biggest and most loved celebrities in Minnesota if he came here.
  2. Jham
    I was just going to say, it looks like the gophers are suddenly in the market for a qb!
  3. Jham
    Genetics (metabolism, hormones, etc) certainly play a role. For the record, the rumors I've heard about his work ethic have been more regarding his dedication to right field before 2016 season and his willingness to work on his game during batting practice more than working out. I've heard general concerns about his weight, rumors about his eating, and the one comment I related regarding loving to eat. Some of the questioning, I think, regarding the BP HR Derbies and the preparation for playing 9 seemed somewhat fair. Bottom line, whether he has an eating problem, a gland problem, or an elliptical aversion, the undiscriminating and sometimes cruel equalizer of Major League level competition will identify the weakness, highlight, and attack it. The end result, weight, may well be a limitation for Sano, whether in terms of productivity, longevity, or durability. I suggested that if some organizations still think he's the next Miggy Cabrera, Giancarlo, or Pujols, we should work a trade. Ultimately, I really like the kid, and I hope he does get to that level wherever he is. Especially if it's with us!!
  4. Jham
    Nick, I think we've all heard the allusions to weight. Weight is pretty universally related to activity and diet. He's a pro-athlete. Activity isn't the problem. He's also at an age where this shouldn't be a problem. If there is an issue, it will only get worse without change. Your asking for specific sources is fair, but the posters are just the messengers. You've read the numerous vague accounts same as everyone else. You can say there is reason for concern without having 100% proof. For instance, I remember distinctly reading an article on the team website a few years back where he started his interests are fishing and eating. It made me nervous. Don't know if it's an issue or not, but my concern is real, and it's based on my wanting to see him succeed. Not because I want to pile on or shame. Lastly, what if... our expectations were skewed from the beginning. His k's and contact never suggested Cab or Pujols. He's put up great power numbers but not elite. And his k's and contact are where you'd expect given his history. I think it's far more likely that a player will gain power with age than contact and average. This limits his potential and has been a limit from day 1. I'll still cheer for the guy. I still love the guy. He just makes me nervous!
  5. Jham
    That's my thought as well. You should be able to purchase a solid prospect for $4 mil plus a legitimate starting pitcher from the team you ultimately battled for a home wild card game. In retrospect, international signing pool money may have been better than the prospect if we were set on trading Garcia to the Yankees.
  6. Jham
    Shaw and Kintzler for me. I think Shaw's weight and build and Kintzler's K rate keep people away from these very effective and mentally tough arms.
  7. Jham
    I get what you're saying. I'm not even sure we disagree on anything except team expectations. We're in agreement that May shouldn't be inked in to the rotation. The plan should be to get him back in at some point if he's ready and we feel he can make a difference. Regarding the World Series, I'm not sure we are title contenders either. But we can win the division. That's a reasonable goal considering that this group will probably NEVER be good enough to be World Series favorites on par with last year's Indians, Astros, and Dodgers. You have to get incrementally better. The Astros weren't true contenders the last couple years, but they came close enough to see what more they had to do. The Yankees this year got that experience. A lot does have to go right for us to be World Series contenders this year. But if you break it down over the next few years, and take some steps each year, it's not so intimidating. We have to start putting the pieces together now including, most likely, a division title and/or playoff run in order to set us up for a WS run. We only have so many years of this core remaining. I'll say the same thing I said last year. If this core in its prime is not able to contend, then what's the point of building around this core? Trade Sano for a haul and point to 2021. They showed they're good enough, imo. Push now. If it doesn't work, and the core flops, they should still have enough trade value to start again.
  8. Jham
    See, you're depending on peripherals turning into results. That's my problem with depending on May as a starter. He had decent FIP but his xFIP wasn't as nice because he wasn't giving up HR despite lots of hard contact which could have driven the high BABIP. I'm fine with letting him compete. I'm saying I don't plan around him in a year we should contend.
  9. Jham
    It did make sense. Expecting him to produce for a season as a 3ish starter did not.
  10. Jham
    I thought it was foolish to depend on May last season. He's never shown sustained success as a starter. His peripherals were nice but rarely transferred to on field results. Similar to Mejia, his swing and miss stuff was offset by erratic control, inability to get deep into games and in May's case, some very hard contact mixed in. He also has a bad back. I like the guy. I think he's going to be successful in either the pen or starting rotation. But in a competitive year, his production should certainly not be relied upon.
  11. Jham
    I think your probably right. I think the issue Cheif and I have is that a bad day can really skew the metrics. I think Rosario had that this year. A few bad throws and drops negated a lot of solid play. If hee caught a few of the balls that he clamored after a long run, his metrics probably look much better. Sort of like a bad inning to a reliever.
  12. Jham
    Moreland and Santana had better numbers. Hosmer has the reputation. Defensive metrics are interesting in that even over a season, we're largely dealing with small sample sizes. It really doesn't make sense that Hos would be elite 1 year and not the next. That said, Mauer passed the eye test over the course of the season, but any single game, he rarely made spectacular plays. He was average chasing down foul pops. Often took safe routes on ground balls and took safe outs over double plays or getting the lead runner. I believe Mauer has gotten better across the board at first base with the exception of chasing down fly balls. But I don't consider it robbery that he wasn't a finalist.
  13. Jham
    Of course it is. But then how can you also be arguing that Dozier should have been used to get an ace or something that substantially improves a rotation that made the playoffs? Just for now, it certainly appears the twins made the right decision by holding dozier. That's not really debateable. In fact, regardless of the outcome, retaining him was at least, not a mistake.
  14. Jham
    I advocated for keeping Dozier last off season and trading one of Kepler, Sano, or Buxton for a true ace. I also advocated for trading Dozier at the deadline in order to galvanize the team. The shed Kintzler instead. I see both sides on this one. But I don't really see how anyone can argue we should habe done the deal on DeLeon alone. That was so far below our asking price. He wasn't even their top pitching prospect or the arm we wanted.
  15. Jham
    I was following the tigers forums pretty hard toward the waiver deadline, and their fans didn't even bring up the twins let alone twins prospect packages in their discussions. We were excited when the media speculated verlander could be had for free Alex Rios style on waiver claims. In reality the tigers demanded a premium prospect package. We were never close. There's risk either way. He could turn into a pumpkin, conversely we may end up am elite arm short and end up signing worse guys for more, or trading top prospects for less.
  16. Jham
    A couple things. First, we need to stop pretending that people are that calling out "warning signs" is a media-driven witch hunt. Concerns about Sano's work ethic stem from real evidence. First, his public struggle with weight leads people to questioning his conditioning and effort. His refusal to play winter ball after his rookie year begged the question. There was that weird spring training story where the twins reported he was taking extra fly balls to prepare for right field, but it turned out he want even back in the US yet. Right field was a stupid experiment in hindsight, but if he didn't prepare, it's partly on him. I think it's fair to question his work ethic based on facts alone. I don't think anyone has said he's lazy. But concern is prudent at this stage. As his k-rate and good to great, but not elite production and peripherals at each stage. My guess is that he'll want to be paid like an elite player, even if he's simply a star slugger. $100 mil minimum. Regarding NYC, his agency is a sports and entertainment agency owned by the owner of the Brooklyn Nets who raps that he makes a Yankees cap more famous than a Yankee can and gets Alicia Keyes to sing the virtues of the city that never sleeps. If we're going to extend, I'd weight the front end. Your budget isn't as ham-strung that way, Sano "needs"/ would appreciate more money earlier in his career and thus be more likely to agree to a discount, and his contract is more liquid as a trade asset vs. possibility of being completely immovable later (his contract, not his size).
  17. Jham
    I'm not 100% sure he's done. His velocity was starting to creep ball up, and might not have topped out. His feel was certainly off, but in general it seems like he was rushing back in case this season was his last shot. His role may be more loogy going forward, but I wouldn't be surprised if he succeeded in that capacity if he wanted to put in the work for 1 more reinvention. If this was it, the thing I always loved about perk was his willingness to pitch up in the zone and challenge hitters at a time when the twins philosophy was "keep the ball down and pitch to contact.
  18. Jham
    I think the difficulty is, as usual, the framing of the question. When we say "we wouldn't be here without..." That's true of pretty much everyone. When Jason Bartlett went to the Rays, he put up modest numbers but was team MVP because he knew what it took to win and convinced a young team that they were at least as good as the perennial playoff team he'd just left. Chris Giminez convinced the team to believe in themselves. As others have mentioned, James Rowsan's work with Mauer, Buxton, rosario, adrianza, and Dozier has been borderline unbelievable. And those players suggest that they didn't even trust him at first. Overall, if I have to pick one, it has to be Dozier. I suggested we trade him to shake things up. He shook things up himself. Well done Brian.
  19. Jham
    I've been impressed with Dillon Gee. I would like to see what he can do in higher leverage 1 inning stints. He's certainly been a fantastic long man. May have found something there.
  20. Jham
    Personally, I don't think that the fact that the team played up to its ability this year makes up for the fact that they played so far below it last season. The turnaround is impressive. But last year's collapse was just as unimpressive. Molitor is more of am assistant than a manager in my opinion. Really, we're at where we should be. Last year was the deviation. In fact last year may have set us back more than we've regained this season. Bye Molly.
  21. Jham
    Or, hear me out, have EA sports just run a season long simulation. Broadcast the simulations on FSN. Go to the game thread, and watch the posters argue balls and strikes on the automated strike zone with predetermined conclusions. Crown an e-champion.
  22. Jham
    I really do not like bunting when run does not win it. Even if it's for a lead, you better have a lockdown pen. When 1 run wins it, I think sacrificing is often a usable play. Compared to stealing? Got and run? My problem with the probabilities scale is that it is based on historical averages across all situations rather than like scenarios. The average net effect may show fewer runs and fewer wins, but that doesn't mean that it is never a good play. Doubling down with an ace 5 in black jack probably would have a negative won probability overall, but just like baseball, it can be great play depending on what your opponent is showing.
  23. Jham
    Angels lose. Twins with an opportunity to pull a haduken finishing move tonight.#bootonthroat
  24. Jham
    Agree, and add that you can't just ignore 2016. The turnaround is impressive. Even if it should have occurred last season. I also think adding vets with actual world series and playoff experience did wonders for this teams confidence and belief. I remember when Gimenez told us all that this is a good team after the Astros sweep put us minus 70+ in ruin differential. I'd also love to hear from the players on whether hunter cuddy and the hawk had any influence this year.
  25. Jham
    The unsettling silence is occasionally broken up by uncomfortable conversation. It's all around awkward to watch.
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