Jump to content
Twins Daily
  • Create Account

KGB

Verified Member
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    569

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Profiles

Minnesota Twins News, Rumors & Analysis

Minnesota Twins Videos

2026 Minnesota Twins Top Prospect Rankings

2022 Minnesota Twins Draft Picks & Signing Bonuses

Minnesota Twins Trade & Free Agent Rumors

Minnesota Twins Fan Guides & Resources

2023 Minnesota Twins Draft Picks & Signing Bonuses

The Minnesota Twins Players Project

2024 Minnesota Twins Draft Picks & Signing Bonuses

2025 Minnesota Twins Draft Picks & Signing Bonuses

2026 Minnesota Twins Draft Picks & Signing Bonuses

Forums

Blogs

Events

Store

Downloads

Gallery

Everything posted by KGB

  1. KGB
    With Sano as the 3rd base prospect, I bet they would have just passed on Bryant and still gone with pitching.
  2. KGB
    And I prefer to look for the truth, whatever that may be. I don't decide who is better and then cherry-pick stats. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong. In our discussion, you preferred not to value RE24 based on a few examples, but instead said that those who SAW the Twins play didn't think Mauer was better offensively. I just used my eyes and old time stats and said I saw something different. I showed how different people's eye tests might show different things for a variety of reasons. I posted earlier some of those reasons. Perception based on biases, for one. I like Dozier better than Mauer. I have no reason to look for reasons to say Mauer is better. The truth is what we are all looking for - here's also what I said - "One thing is certain about numbers, you can make a case for just about anything. They can be helpful tools but you still really need to evalute players play during a game." I don't dislike Mauer, but I don't think he was better than Dozier offensively last year. I just think stats can be as misleading as your eyes if used incorrectly.
  3. KGB
    This is my point of stats. We often use the stats that benefit our argument and ignore the same stat if it doesn't support our argument.
  4. KGB
    Do you believe Mauer had a better offensive year than Dozier? I believe the WAR stat would say Dozier and another stat will say Mauer. This isn't really about defending Mauer, it's about picking stats you believe in and find valuable. Stat's are conflicting, so you can't believe everyone. Some people find RBI's and Runs valuable and some people will value WAR and wRC+.
  5. KGB
  6. KGB
    There are just too many stats that really don't mean anything. One thing is certain about numbers, you can make a case for just about anything. They can be helpful tools but you still really need to evalute players play during a game. It's still about actually scoring runs and winning games. I would think most people who watched the Twins last year wouldn't agree with the results of the RE24 stats: Mauer > Dozier Willingham > Arcia Fuld > Vargas Correia > Hicks (okay that one might be right)
  7. KGB
    That is why some of the off-season moves seemed strange. You need roster space for your young players. They signed players as if they were just short of a playoff team.
  8. KGB
    I agree, but that is really a front office issue and not a Hunter problem. A player should want to play everyday and play as long as he can. As long as Hunter is productive and teams want to pay him, it's good he want to play. Players not wanting to go into the lineup everyday has been more of a problem in the Twins organization, so I think his attitude is good for the team.
  9. KGB
    He also has a non-trade clause, which he could waive but I don't think he is going anywhere. 12:04pm: Hunter’s contract contains a full no-trade clause, per Jon Heyman of CBS Sports (on Twitter).
  10. KGB
    I think we need to get over the Aaron Hicks comparison and fear of rushing a prospect. Danny Santana didn't have a overwhelming minor league career and looked great last year at 23. Hicks failure probably has more to do with his ability and not his age at the time he was brought up. Lot of players are able to contribute at the major league level at the age of 23 or younger. I don't expect Rosario to break camp with the Twins, but I hope he up soon. Having a great minor league system doesn't do you any good if you are afraid to test them at the major league level.
  11. KGB
    Agreed, plus putting the ball in play period, will lead to more runs. That's my biggest complaint with batter taking so many pitches. This approach has not increased the numbers of walks per 9 innings. From 1970 to 2010, the walks per game were about 3.2. Since 2010, it's been dropping and in 2014 it was 2.88 per nine innings. The only stat that is increasing is strike outs per game. Giving away strikes to pitchers doesn't seem to be a way to improve production. Moneyball was a fun book and movie, but I think having 3 Cy-Young type pitchers in Zito, Hudson and Mulder probably was as big of reason for Oakland's record - just would not make as good of a movie or movement.
  12. KGB
    Not me, give me a World Series ring once every 10 years and I don't care what you do the other 9 years. Also a long time Viking fan, so after 40 years I'd be willing to settle for a Super Bowl loss
  13. KGB
    This is also my concern, he seems to have all the physical gifts but I'm not sure he is ever going to pull them together. The Twins really need him to be a player given their lack of ready major league outfielder, but his mental approach reduces my hope for him.
  14. KGB
    Interesting thought, I remember this discussion after the draft when the Twins were in the playoffs. You can't regret the drafting of Mauer considering his career and the resulting AJ trade which worked out great. But 0-9 during Mauer playoff career, it does make you think- What if?
  15. KGB
    Your evaluation based on free agency price for all players overstates all players. In 2014, the total MLB salaries was about $3.2 billion. The method you are using pushes the MLB total to $5.5 billion. Calling my understand absurd don't change the numbers. And saying a number is good on an individual player is accurate and absurd when placing that same number in total to the team seems a little strange. But if you saw a $10 million dollar player in Joe Mauer last year - God Bless You
  16. KGB
    Yes, it is an evaluation of what it would cost to get WAR in a free agent market, so using it to evaluate the value of a player each year is absurd. Players have pre-arbitration value, arbitration value and then a free agency value. Free agency value is then determined by many factors. So using one number to value all players so absurd, which is my point.
  17. KGB
    And based on this analysis, the 2014 Twins team was worth 160 million for 90 losses. This valuation take a debatable WAR stat times the worst case salary rate of a free agent. It is a very overstated calculation.
  18. KGB
    Great reminder, the '69 Twins were the reason I fell in love with baseball. Had to be sick from school to watch the playoffs. Still remember my Mom having to break the news of the Twins firing Billy Martin. She got her sports mixed up and told me Joe Knapp was replacing him.
  19. KGB
    If he hits like everyone says he is able to, I think we'll find a place in the lineup for him.
  20. KGB
    I think he will be close to normal in 2015 and will be even better in 2016 after MLB addresses the called strike zone that has expanded over the last 5 years. Strikeouts are up all across baseball, not just him, and so we'll see how it goes when baseball addresses that. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2279903-what-can-mlb-do-to-solve-its-expanding-strike-zone-problem The strike zone is actually being called more accurately, so I think it's more an approach at the plate the Mauer needs to look at, you either change or your history. Strikes out have increased, but not close to what Mauer's increase has been over the last 2 years. Also the increase in strike outs as a league probably has a lot to do with the current batters approach. Taking more pitches has not lead to an increase in walk per 9 inning, but the strike out total has continued to increase. I hate MLB trying to change the rules, when it really looks like it's a problem developed by just a poor approach by batters.
  21. KGB
    I'll also fall in the hopeful buyer category. I really think he need to change his approach at the plate to reduce his strike outs and he should get back to .300+ average. In 2013, he was saved by his high BABIP or he would have been below .300 due to the high strike out rate. In 2014, he hit .342 BABIP and still finished at a .277 batting average, so unless the strike go down, the average will have a hard time going up.
  22. KGB
    My favorite job rejection letter is as GM for the Chattonooga Lookouts. I still have it framed - you might as well give it a shot.
  23. KGB
    http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_24962055/minnesota-twins-joe-mauer-feeling-good-taking-it I hope the story is correct this year.
  24. KGB
    But the more important part than the marketing angle and fan interest is that it puts a veteran in the locker room that shows players how to play the game right. That might sound cheesy but young players need strong role models even if those role models aren't great players anymore. I think Molitor thinks the leadership is important. He spent a year in the locker and this was the first sigining they went after. The marketing is important and you could tell at Twins Fest it was a good move. On a one year investment, it should pay off for the Twins.
  25. KGB
    I agree figuring out Mauer is difficult. He doesn’t drive in a lot of runs, but the other problem is he doesn’t score a lot of runs so making him a leadoff hitter seems a stretch. As discussed before, if you believe his value is ‘creating runs’ by not making out and moving other players into scoring position, you probably should leave him in the 3 spot as long as Santana and Dozier continue to score runs at a high rate . Also, I still have not stopped believing a player as talented as Mauer can’t drive in more runs. He is not going to get faster, so he is not going to create runs with speed. He does need to adjust his approach and hopefully he added strength this offseason, which should reduce his strike out which will put his average back over .300 and increase his RBI production.
×
×
  • Create New...