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DocBauer

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Everything posted by DocBauer

  1. DocBauer
    Wow! Love mornings like this, when I get to read that all top 4 affiliates won! Add Desn to the growing list of LH's to audition for the Twins bullpen next season. Just can't be any doubt about Kepler coming up in September any longer can there? Polanco as well. Love to see him come up and get more, do more, than get a sip of coffee. How about a whole thermos full?
  2. DocBauer
    Interesting. Not much to argue with here, IF, you base the roster entirely on staying pat, as you did here. I just don't think that will happen, and sure you don't as well. I tend to agree with your infield, provided Polanco isn't traded. Should he be included in any deal, I would see Escobar start and Nunez back on the club as a utility. I am also of the belief that Hunter will NOT be on the Twins next season. He's showing his age now, and he's being phased out. Who replaces him? Again, like Polanco, if not traded, it could be Arcia. He could be a LH DH/PH who occasionally plays a corner OF spot. And let's face it, every once in a while, even on the best and most fortunate teams, there are some injuries and games missed. HOWEVER, I could very much see Arcia gone, and a veteran LH hitting version being signed as a bench bat. I have May in the rotation with Nolasco and Milone being the arguement for final starter. To not place May back in the rotation is just..well..just stupid. (as well as short-sighted) Berrios will begin the season in the minors. The Twins will sign a veteran RHRP to address the 8th inning. There is a very good chance they will sign a LHRP or failed LH starter to assume another role. With Perkins, Fien, Jepsen and these 2 FA's, you've got open auditions for the final 2 spots, and several candidates, included Duffey, Rogers and several others. Catcher is interesting. I almost feel another veteran to team with Suzuki for another year wouldn't be out of the question. Then look at '17 for a major trade, FA signing, or possible promotion or combination of said.
  3. DocBauer
    Oops.
  4. DocBauer
  5. DocBauer
    I understand milb success and numbers don't project exactly to future ML production. Nevertheless, if a player successfully transitions level by level until reaching and making the ML level successfully, he tends to be the player he has previously shown himself to be. Improvements and development can and do take place. Take Dozier as an example. His AVG dipped from what he showed previously but his power increased a great deal. Mauer is more of the status quo; high AVG and OB with gapper power and that's what he became/was. (With a little luck, he'll be something close yet again) If Walker could reach the majors and be a .240-.250 hitter with .310-.315 OB and stay a consistent 30/30-ish doubles and homers guy, he would be very valuable despite the lack of contact.
  6. DocBauer
    Ladies and Gentlemen...Twins fans of all ages...introducing your Twins primary starter in RF for 2016....Max Kepler!
  7. DocBauer
    Question on Tanner English; all reports have him excellent defensively, and it appears he can hit, make contact, and take walks. But for what appears to be a slight stature, he seems to have a little pop in his bat. 21 doubles 8 triples 5 homeruns as of my look up of him today. Is this pop sustainable? More to the point, allowing for at least a little additional physical maturity and growth, is it sustainable? Because if so, he sure seems to be a legit CF/top of the order prospect to keep an eye on.
  8. DocBauer
    Plouffe is a huge trade chip for us. IF we use it. He can continue to play 3B, 1B and DH and rotate with Sano and Mauer at these spots. I also hope the best for Vargas, and I have not given up on him. But he won't be up tomorrow. And I've come to believe his skipping AAA hurt him. As of now, I'd be targeting him for Rocheter to begin 2016. But no question his development as a switch hitting DH/backup 1B would be big for the lineup, and allow greater flexability to trade Plouffe. Interesting that all the top relievers we had such high hopes for this season...before imploding and getting demoted...seem to be turning their seasons around. Is this an indicator of 2016 level promotion and potential '16 ML call ups? I sure hope so as this was one of the few dim spots in an otherwise outstanding organization wide milb season to this point.,
  9. DocBauer
    Hate to sacrifice a 40 man spot for Berrios and bring him up in September for a casual look/single sip of coffee unless TR and the Twins in general are willing and ready to fully and legitimately consider him for a rotation spot next ST. Your primary question is an intriguing one that flips through my mind frequently. Barring a trade, which I believe is a strong possibility, (see; young ML catcher), the rotation should be Hughes, Gibson, Santana, May and Nolasco, Milone, Berrios, Duffey and Rogers. That's a lot of youth and potential mixing with a bunch of proven veteran status to work with. Berrios is the future there, even if they decide to be conservative with him. I believe Rogers for the port side and Duffey, especially with his reliever background, should also be considered bullpen candidates. Soooo much competition, depth and potential here Gang! Don't give up on Nolasco. Healthy, he really is a nice presence. Remember when we weren't even sure how to fill a 5 man rotation?
  10. DocBauer
    I get very excited when a rookie makes his debut, especially a SP. seems there are only two outcomes: 1) kid does great, owns the other team, who...BTW...probably has next to nothing for a scouting report...OR...2) kid is amped, tries/throws too hard and is gone in 4 or less. Guess we know what happened here. But I agree he was the logical and right choice at the time. Assuming you weren't going to do the right thing, the smart thing, and put May back in the rotation where he belongs. Not stretched out? Please. He belongs there, can be stretched out again in a couple starts, (probably) and you have an 8 MAN BULLPEN to come in when he hits his wall. Regardless, to me, the only real regret with the Duffy shot is that he isn't going to get another one right away to rebound. And that's a shame! I think he's proven he has the stuff/potential to have a future, as a quality reliever if nothing else.
  11. DocBauer
    I absolutely concur! While I love this team, am enjoying this season, and have absolutely NOT given up on this team or season by any means, I didn't feel it was the time to slide any major chips to the center of the table. I have said repeatedly, before the season began even, that I felt the 2015-2016 offseason would be the time to visit a move or two. By then, guys like Buxton, Sano and others would be healthy again, on their way up or arriving. Guys such as Dozier and Plouffe would have further established themselves, proven themselves, and overall, the Twins would have a more complete picture as to what they truly do and do not have in a ballclub moving forward. I think, even with the recent stuggles and a possible fade, his club has a better identity now. I think there are legitimate, full functioning and talented parts of a whole to work with. By early next season, if not the start, we very well could and should see Buxton, Kepler and Berrios all part of the equation. You find help a catcher, a quality bullpen arm or two to go along with that, and what is already there, and this could be a real, legitimate playoff team in 2016.
  12. DocBauer
    I also feel Plouffe could be excellent trade material, and all but a few teams are secure enough to not consider him a pretty good upgrade. But I'm not convinced he is traded, or needs to be traded. Bullpen: The Twins will make at least on major signing here. They need to. Someone with a track record, or just busting out, for $5-6M that they feel they can count on for the 8th. They have enough solid to good arms from the RH side to complete that portion of things, I think they finally move on from Duensing. They will also look for a LH reliever, though good ones are hard to find. A failed or failing LHSP for conversion perhaps? They have a successful history of doing so. Catcher: I'm not so sure Arcia and a couple prospects, possibly Polanco, don't get this accomplished. The Mets maybe who may still have a big need offensively?
  13. DocBauer
    Duffey="the Assassin"
  14. DocBauer
    Actually, with the DH, Kepler possibly playing some 1B, you COULD keep all 5 if you only keep one utility INF. I don't think that's practical, however, and more than likely one of these guys is gone in some sort of move. Still not 100% how good anyone will end up being, of course, but I'm betting Arcia is the odd man out in this mix. That leaves a potentially excellent and versatile OF with a balance of hitting, speed, power and defense as well as LF and RH hitting. Mauer, Sano and Plouffe for 1B/3B/DH, and this whole lineup starts to look tantalizing!
  15. DocBauer
    I think Hu was a great story and I'm sorry to see him go. Do I think we paid too much? Yes I do. I don't believe we were robbed, however. The jury is still very much out on Hu and how good he might potentially be. (Same as all milb prospects) There are several SP prospects in the system that would rate higher. Not the guy I wanted, but he's not just a rental. He will be re-united with a familiar coaching face in Allen. The 8th inning is now better. This could/should make the 7th inning now better. I'm not totally happy, but I'm not looking for a bridge because a nice A ball prospect is gone for ML help in the pen now and next year.
  16. DocBauer
    Agree with both Brock and Leviathan completely! There IS improvement to be made. And there ARE moves to be made. I appreciate Molitor believing in the talent and potential of Santana. And I also would not write him off. It would be foolish to do so considering his talent, and some off potential and flash we've seen. But he looks lost and overmatched...to be fair and honest...a lot of the time, not all the time. But now is not the time for continuing auditions from your starting SS. Escobar is flat out better at this time and needs to be in there. Pelfrey has been very solid for the club. He was a big boon once upon a time. But May is younger, more talented and more productive on several levels. (Numbers show it along with the eye) And to remove such a potentially strong piece out of your rotation for someone who is NOT a part of your future is ridiculous. The bullpen needs help. The Twins have options like Duffey who are viable to audition and help. But there are enough veteran arms out there, like Benoit, that they could undoubtedly acquire without mortgaging anything, that I'm in favor of such a move. Benoit to solidify the 8th, bump Fien to the 7th, (where I've said for a while he belongs), depends the pen with little sacrifice. We might even sign said veteran again this off season for '16. It would be an investment the Twins could afford, but also, sorry to say, Burdi, Jones and others aren't knocking on the door just yet. And I gotta be honest, I'd love a low cost shot at AJ teaming with Zuke behind the plate. Absolutely nothing special behind the plate, but they would undoubtedly provide confidence from the staff, could offer an OK-ish platoon or quasi-platoon offensively. And maybe, just maybe, if the right deal isn't there this next off season for a young option, the Twins might try to ride that duo for one more year.
  17. DocBauer
    Man, a guy could get whiplash at times when reading these boards. Promote the kids! Play the kids! No! Trade the kids away for veterans. The Twins millions of dollars, (not a,ways wisely I agree) on Pefrey, Nolasco, Santana and Hunter...while being tied to a few others...and have invested in their own roster with contracts for Perkins and Dozier. And they have not once said they refuse to make any additional moves because payroll is maxed out. But they are cheap and miserly because they don't want to invest in multi-million multi-year contracts of players on other teams? How dare the Twins not be willing to sacrifice 3 or 4 top prospects for 30yo veteran players who will be paid $20M + until they are 35-36 Ish. There is a difference in making moves to make moves, and making proper and responsible investments.
  18. DocBauer
    Exactly! One of Two things is going to happen with Arcia. First things first, however,the Twins absolutely and positively will look at a FA signing or two for the bullpen, and they will also be looking to sign or trade for a catcher. Now, it's possible any of these potential FA signings could include a player "rented" for the balance of this season and then re-signed if the market skews away from the Twins making a trade or different FA signing.. Now, concerning Arcia, someone is going to recognize the talent, potential and past streaks of production and be excited despite the struggles of this season, and be glad to include him in a deal. He is, after all, very talented and still quite young. OR, the Twins will trade prospects/sign FA to fill in a spot or two for the '16 club and Arcia will be a valuable component of said team, possibly beyond, as a LH part time corner OF and DH. Either is very possible, and IMO, the only two options. Which is all the more reason to get him back up to MINNESOTA for the stretch run of the season. And we all know there is roster room. Hate to state the obvious, but Kepler has a big, big bearing on this as well. All the more reason a healthy Kepler needs to get up to Rochester ASAP.
  19. DocBauer
    I get O'Day. Like former Twin Pat Neshak, you don't always have to thrown hard to get the job done. But still, I'd think a power arm, experienced, can still do the job like Benoit makes more sense.
  20. DocBauer
    Wieters as a possible FA signee, assuming his poor season keeps the cost down. The guy probably will bounce back nicely overall, but I hear rumors of 4 years and $60M for a guy, even a catcher, post surgery-bad year-limited games played, which just sounds way too big of a deal for me. I'm interested, and I know the market goes crazy at times, but WOW! But he does nothing for me at this point as a short term trade option. I'd much rather hold on until after the season, take stock of our team, our minors, let other teams do the same, and then look for a match for a younger catcher with upside. I know it's not as easy as that, of course, but there have been several options discussed right here on TD that could make real sense. Honestly, if I were to trade for a veteran catcher, potential FA right now it would probably by AJ. At least he's LH with a little pop. If Garver and Turner finish this season strong like they did last season, if I don't have an immediate trade partner available in the off season, I might consider AJ back for another year, take my shot with he and Suzuki and roll with them for another year.
  21. DocBauer
    I see this Kepler guy on just about every list there. He must be pretty good huh?
  22. DocBauer
    Ok...completely off the wall...as are many of the liners given up by the bullpen...but what about Pelfrey and Milone both moved to teams needing rotation depth for a couple of relievers, put May back in the rotation where he belongs and shouldn't have been removed from in the first place...and bring up Duffey for the 5th spot to see what he could do? Rogers on deck, so to speak.
  23. DocBauer
    He's not there yet. He may or may not ever get there. But at least he's on the right road now...heading in the right direction...and only needs to pack a lunch for the journey...not a Yogi-sized picnic basket.
  24. DocBauer
    Remember....nobody cares about the Twins outside of the 5 state area. Just ask ESPN if you don't believe me. They'll tell you the truth. Cough. Gasp. Choke.
  25. DocBauer
    Escobar needs to be the guy for now. He may not be great, but he's solid and consistent in the field and at the plate. I get Santana has more upside. I get he got first shot this season based on the greater overall athletic ability and potential and what he did last season. Maybe we'll see that player again. I really hope so because the tools are there. By all accounts the attitude is there. We've seen how exciting he can be. But right now, Santana just looks lost. I don't have an exact answer what to do with everyone as Polanco needs to play every day at Rochester, and then get some work up at the ML level. He's had a couple, all too brief, teasing cups of coffee at the ML level. He needs some real September time with the club to help prepare him for ST next year. There are people on this board who know an awful lot more about Polanco and his defense than I do. People who have actually watched him play. But no cannon arm and a few errors, or bunches/batches of errors at times doesn't concern me at this time. He's young. Hes a milb prospect. He's playing at different milb levels with other milb players on milb fields. Even the best ML infielders, if you reflect on their early ML career and their milb start, you will see a lot of errors. It takes time to learn. If being a great SS was just range and strong arm, Santana would already look like a star.
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