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DocBauer

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Everything posted by DocBauer

  1. DocBauer
    I really wanted to make some comments after the double header sweep but just didn't have opportunity. But after winning today, and sweeping the series, my points seem just as prevalent today. Winning, and being 12-7 at this point is the most important thing. (Just stinks it feels like we gave up 2-4 wins we should have had, but you can't win them all). Despite a few questions and concerns, this has the loom of a pretty good and competitive team. Don't want to speak for anyone else, but I'm having a lot of fun right now! A few thoughts/opinions: 1] Next to the Twins actually winning all 3 games, the biggest highlight was listening to Blyleven and Kaat in the booth for the weekend. Not only reminiscing and telling old stories, but their Basball knowledge and opinions about today's game, especially the changes in how pitchers are used prepared and developed was priceless. 2] This offense is just warming up and already looking dangerous. 3] As a team, the defense is much, much improved. 4] Can't we just admit Garver has improved behind the plate, may be one of the best offensive catchers around, and just admit he's the #1 guy back there at this point? 5] Can we also admit that the Cron signing was good? Yes, we can debate a power hitting 1B/DH type may be a dime a dozen. Guy is a decent hitter with power coming off his best season after a few adjustments and finally getting 500AB. He's starting to heat up now and is playing an excellent 1B. Without bringing in a certified All Star, could they really have done any better? 6] Don't worry about Gibson. His illness was as serious as it was unfortunate and untimely. He's been a little behind, has flashed his old self, has been building himself up still, and looked a lot more like his old self today. We have seen enough from Pineda, Perez and Odorizzi to at least be optimistic. We need to see more. But Gibson will not be a problem. 7] The pen has issues and is scary. But it's also been better than we feared. May settling in, Mejia adapting to his new role and settling in would go a long way to helping things. With luck, at least 1 of Magill and Reed will be back soon and improve things. FA, trade or successful promotion, we need at least one more good arm. But the pen has been better, thus far, than I think any of us expected.
  2. DocBauer
    Heard a quote late in the game he was feeling better but maybe not ready yet. Don't know if it's injury related or if he has the same bug plaguing Kepler. Perhaps someone can shed more light?
  3. DocBauer
    Damn you Falvey! You are as clever and sadistic as Khan! (I don't care if it's the wrong universe). But to add insult to injury, there is no way to shout out... "Faallveey!" and have the same effect! Damnit, I'm a Twins fan, not a miracle worker!
  4. DocBauer
    A very honest interview. Surprisingly honest. I think we can all agree concessions are just ridiculous at ballparks, even though we sort of accept it and deal with it. Beer prices here in Omaha at a AAA Stormchasers are around $7. Personally, I think slightly lower pricing, anywhere, would balance out with more purchases vs simply charging more. But to me, the biggest point is a better product on the field. I think we all know that. It also seems valid that when a team performs well and is in the hunt, it's the next season where attendance really bumps. Almost a delayed reaction and anticipation you may be missing out on something.
  5. DocBauer
    Seems Watson, who I felt disappointed in last season, is off to a good start. I know he is young and needs work and time, but I'm starting to really like Balazovic.
  6. DocBauer
    Not going to bang on Pineda. Some days your starter just doesn't have it. We've actually beat up a couple high profile pitchers this early season. It happens. Key is what happens his next start. This offense can be dangerous, and they've had very good games, but it feels like they are out of Sync a bit. The pen is tightrope walking. And I don't knkw if that's going to change anytime soon, unfortunately. May and Mejia settling down and just pitching to their capabilities would go a long way to making me feel better. We have blemishes, we have areas to improve on. Is it just me being an optimist, but I kinda like this team and just feel a little more consistency could go a long way. I absolutely feel we were the better team this whole series. Feels like we coulda/shoulda/woulda swept the whole thing...but we didn't. Sucks. Do the Jays have our number? It happens. There is always tomorrow. But it just feels like we really lost an opportunity this series.
  7. DocBauer
    Agreed! I still believe in May, despite a rough start. I like Mejia's arm, despite a hot/cold start to the season. I could go on and on but won't. Doesn't it just feel like we're a couple arms away from being a reaĺy good team?
  8. DocBauer
    This is the way it's supposed to work! It's the way the last 2 previous nights were supposed to go! Look, your lineup, your starter, your pen are all going to fail at times. It happens. But this team has the loom of being fun and interesting and being competitive. We have a winning record despite letting a few games slip away. As Jumbo stated above, it just feels like we are a couple savvy moves away from really realizing full potential.
  9. DocBauer
    Great write-up! And a lot of bard work involved. I liked the signing when it happened, and still like it. What I really like is his overall career numbers, when healthy. I like the way Rocco has used him thus far. Good health, I think he is a really nice 3rd SP who will get stronger as the season goes along, rebounding from his surgery.
  10. DocBauer
    Alcala's good start to the season has me hopeful his secondary stuff is coming along nicely.
  11. DocBauer
    This loss stunk, plain and simple. Very disappointing to blow a SP performance and lead like that. Too much I like to copy and paste so going to hit a few topics. 1] Mejia was, may yet be, a SP. He's used to facing batters from both sides of the plate. The LH arguement doesn't really work in this case. [Resting arms and using what is available]. 2] What I don't understand is a fresh Harper pitching well and not going out for the next inning. 3] The pen is short. Period. But Molitor would use his top arms down by 3 runs in hope of a comeback. In the great scheme that is a 162 game season, Rocco appears to be willing to take chances or give up a game here and there for the bigger picture. It stinks, but you simply can't win them all. 4] I am not sold on Perez even a bit at this point, good ST or not. But that was a NICE game he pitched! I like this rotation a whole lot better with another arm equal to Gibson or Pineda with Odorizzi or Perez as the 5th guy, but that was nice. 5] Not speaking to anyone/post in particular, but we can't "generally" praise Garver for defensive growth and helping Berrios work through a game where he didn't have his best stuff, and then blame Garver for Mejia not having his best stuff. Sometimes guys just have bad games and your team loses.
  12. DocBauer
    Personally, I don't think HHH is being bitter at all. I just think he's feel a bit lonely, even with his new coffee/beer drinking buddies. I have not reached retirement age yet, still many years away, assuming I, or anyone can truly "retire" in today's world, but I have witnessed enough retirees to knkw there is an adjustment period to your new life. Despite being a Minnesota native, he may simply not enjoy fishing, hunting, and the such. I think he's still in an adjustment phase of his retirement. There is nothing wrong with taking stock of your life's work and experiences and reflecting on them. Soon, he will reflect on all he did, and all he offered and experienced, and bask in incredible moments such as two WS and playoff experiences and record setting seasons, not to mention a plethora of special events. And he will bask over coffee and brews with his brethren, and recount happy days. I offer up a genuine THANK YOU, HHH, for all you did and provided. Now go out to pasture and recount your worth with honesty, and just the right amount of hyperbole, and bask. Just don't be afraid to offer a welcoming Teflon hand to your brethren when they join you and the others at the corner hangout.
  13. DocBauer
    Oh boy, where to start? 1) That game last night was not only frustrating but downright embarrassing! Did Rocco out think/manage himself? I absolutely think he did. But really, score was 2-1 or 3-1...its all a blur at this point...and we couldn't get ONE MORE OUT? At some point, it's on the pitchers. I'm concerned to be sure, and we all know we need better. But 10 games in? Im not getting out whips or pitchforks for anyone. 2] Barring a trade, the improvement must come from the IL and Romero. Reed deserves a shot, but do you feel good about anyone else there? I sure don't! Could a SP help? Yes, even though I'd rather keep them starting. But that brings up point 3: 3] Odorizzi is not a bad arm or a bad pitcher. What he is is a quality 5th SP who has flashed better at times, especially at the tail end of the past 2 seasons. But right now he's our 4th SP and that's the problem. (And my opinion as I believed before the season began a healthy Pineda would be our #3). While there is potential at Rochester, today, there is nobody ready to replace Perez, much less Odorizzi. He should be our #5 SP or in the pen, where his SO ability plays, and where he can pitch multiple innings if necessary. Just not going to happen anytime soon.
  14. DocBauer
    I don't mind him as my 5th SP. Being a #4 is stretching things. And I say this because he has shown he can usually get 5 solid IP, and sometimes more. (Finished each of the last 2 seasons strong). But I was saying all off season his best role is in the pen where you don't have to worry about a 3rd time through, and he's actually a pretty good SO pitcher until the wheels come off. #5 SP or in the pen. The problem now is, the Twins already are a SP short, so you can't exactly move Odorizzi to the pen now.
  15. DocBauer
    1] 6-3. Early, but we have faced 3 of the top 10ish SP in the AL, went on the road to play 2 of the top NL teams and won/been competitive and are 6-3. 2] Early pitching offerings are very good despite a few clunkers. Who hasn't had a few so early on? 3] The lineup hasn't even begun to hit on all cylinders yet and looks dangerous, even with Cruz sitting on the bench the past few games. 4] Don't dismiss Gibson not being able to escape the 5th inning his first 2 starts. He fought a huge health concern to be where he is now. Frankly, I'm surprised he began the season on the active roster. And while he hasn't exactly been great, he's been a bulldog to do what he has through 2 starts. 5] Going to ignore nit picking much less the 9th inning tonight. We won. Somebody else will be in the pen tomorrow. Hopefully someone who can help. 6] Its a long season. There's a ton of things that can go wrong. There's a ton of things that can go right. There are still some obvious needs for the BP, despite smoke and mirrors, and some hope for the 5th SP option when needed. But this a really, reaĺly nice start.
  16. DocBauer
    In Baseball America recently, their list of the top milb 100, they pumped up Graterol and commented he was the best of a deep crop of pitching talent on the way up. Nice to read that. And nice to see such outstanding early performances to the season.
  17. DocBauer
    Happy for him and hope he has finally found opportunity and a fit. Sometimes that's what it takes. Cave could be considered an example of that. To be fair and honest, it Austin does well, and so does Cron, I'm not going to shed tears. I just don't think there was a spot for Austin now, or moving forward.
  18. DocBauer
    Absolutely agree with Twodogs on the lineup and this team getting contributions from all over, and not relying on a single player, or two. This lineup has a chance to be deep and dangerous with a quality bench. Kepler and Rosario coming alive after such profound cold streaks, (sarcasm!) They won today and fought back Friday without Cruz. A clunker of a second start by Odorizzi after a great first one and the pen has been very effective thus far. Early? Yep. But I am encouraged. Let's just please not burn out Mejia before the break.
  19. DocBauer
    Considering his 2018 and his nice spring, I would have thought about Eades.
  20. DocBauer
    Despite this article focusing on Garver, I'd like to make a few points removed. 1] Cold weather be damned in regard to hitters, it also affects pitchers, and both teams. SUPER EARLY,but we have some solid early pitching. Just a couple better defensive plays, the pitching numbers might look even better. The Indians lineup stinks? Maybe. But we also faced 3 of the top 10-15 SP in the AL. 2] We made some bad plays in the Royals series. And we left way too many guys on base and blew opportunities. But we hung in tbere and overcame. 3] A small break and a little better defense, and Gibson escapes the 5th. Is that great? No. But it's also his first start and he's ramping up still. 4] This offense has blown several opportunities thus far. But we've seen flashes. And the potential is there 1-9. It's all still a work in progress at this point, as it is for all teams. So far, so good. I'd like to address Garver specifically, as the article went there. Whether you like Castro a little or a lot, you can't deny his veteran presence, in this case lack of, hurt the Twins in 2018. Garver was supposed to be broken in last season behind him. Please don't give me some generic "he shouldn't be there if he couldn't do the job" rhetoric. A Mauer or Rodriguez type are few and far between. Garver was a good bat, decent catcher, who would learn on the job. It didn't quite work out that way. Good or bad, right or wrong, Wilson became the #1 guy most days. A funny thing happened. Garver's defense improved, and his bat came alive. Astudillo got his shot, and his bat was lively, and his defense was solid. So now Castro is healthy, and Garver continues to work hard on improving his defense, as he and the coaching staff have commented on. Catching is a hard position to fully quantify. There are so many great catchers who can do everything. If it was easy, every team would have a Mauer, Rodriguez, Posey, etc. For the first time in years, the Twins are blessed and deep. They have a veteran catcher who knows what is going on and can hit a little with some power. And they have a young catcher growing defensively with a much better bat. And they have a solid 3rd catcher who seems quality, who can also play various positions, and can flat out hit and produce. With all due respect to his ability and what he brings, Castro will be traded to a team that needs help and Garver and Astudillo will be our backstop a month or so from now.
  21. DocBauer
    I have to say this again considering the nature of this article. Why isn't special assistant, or whatever his title is, Hunter working with Buxton? Not only is their talent and prospect and career status/arc similar in many ways, but couldn't the former All Star and Gold Glove winner speak to Buck about defense and self-preservation if nothing else? He can't be paid for a ST appearance and occasional radio broadcasts only, right? They could spend HOURS talking about hitting and approach and expectations. They could also talk about fielding, and preserving your body on plays to the wall. Come on aggressive FO, use all the tools you have on hand to make your players the best they can be!
  22. DocBauer
    Seth and I traded a couple posts about Blenkenhorn as well the past couple of days. Remember, this is position players, not a top 40 list. When you factor in pitching prospects, he is not #18, but somewhere in the 30 range probably. Color me disappointed in Blenkenhorn and even more so in Cabbage, both great athletes with vast potential who have yet to distinguish themselves. Just focusing on Blenkenhorn, if you look only at his numbers you would be disappointed for sure. If you look at numbers, read scouting reports, and follow the ebbs and flows of his career close enough, you would see peeks and valleys where he has hit very well with bursts of power and potential and production. You would see attributes of decent speed and smart play. You would see the ability to field at 2B, 3B, and OF. But no question the lack of consistency is disappointing. I am about ready to give up on Cabbage at this point. But still 22 until August, I remain hopeful for Blackenhorn. The tools are there. I will not say 2019 is a make or break season for him. But with all his talent, 3 1/2 years in, I feel it's his year to begin to find consistency and shine.
  23. DocBauer
    No expert, but a hunch on Raley that I think a lot of us seem to have I think we're talking about him a lot more this time next year, if not mid season. Understand the reasons given, and development that still needs to take place, but not sure I could keep Rortvedt off this list. Not trying to deliberately be a "cup runneth over" fan but there are quite a few guys not on this list that are still pretty decent prospects with potential.
  24. DocBauer
    Agree with Ash. He's both. Experience and maturity will hopefully help him decide better as to when to go all out, and when to reign it in a bit. He's just too valuable to not be in the field. Not sure if he got turned around or fooled, but that play just didn't look right. Sometimes, if in doubt, just pull up and play the ball off the way. Keeps him healthy and hopefully prevents something like an in the park HR. All games count, but really, risking injury the 4th game of the season? A few really bad swings here and there, but everyone has them. Very encouraged by what I've seen in ST and the first few games. All the more reason to do what is necessary to remain healthy and be part of the daily lineup.
  25. DocBauer
    Absolutely agree on getaway days. Let guys play! TK was great at keeping everyone fresh and everyone involved. As he used to say, paraphrasing somewhat, you can't have guys ride the bench and then throw them in a game and expect them to perform. Gardenhire was pretty good at it, at times. But why do you sit half your "regulars" on the last day? You want a "getaway" day to be a "giveaway" day? Only 5 games in, but I generally like everything I'm seeing from roster usage. The lineup has been a bit static but not inflexible. The primary players need to play, and they've mixed guys in. Hard for all three catchers to find consistency with the off days, but so far they are making it work, especially using the flexibility of Astudillo. Speaking of Astudillo, I think we're getting beyond the SSS aren't we? He flat out hits and produces. Doesn't mean he can't fail or slump, of course, but he needs to be in the lineup most days. He is a completely different player than Gonzalez, but he is also a "super utility" player IMO. Guy should hit 2nd behind Kepler/Polanco, or in the 5-6-7 spots behind Rosario and potentially Sano when back. (Or between Rosario and Sano?) He brings a unique skill set that needs to be out there most days.
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