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DocBauer

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Everything posted by DocBauer

  1. DocBauer
    I expect anyone to come back from TJ surgery and perform at a normal level. Look at Sano for instance. But if Wieters arm wasn't bothering him, then why did he catch so little? Why no 2 days in a row? That just makes me really paranoid that his recovery hasn't been 100%.
  2. DocBauer
    Suzuki is only a must through 2016, so the $20M price tag for catcher would only be for a single season. For the right move, a move that really helps the club, I feel a whole lot better losing a 17th pick than a top 10. (which we can't really lose anyway) And while I hated not signing our 2nd round pick this past draft, we get a compensatory pick this year in place, so if we did lose our 1st rounder, we would have two 2nd's. So those aren't real issues for me. And despite being a catcher, there is nothing in particular to suggest Wieters will suddenly regress over the next 2 to 4 seasons to the point where he is a liability. Again, it's a defense first position, and you look for the best offense you can get. What does bother me is the arm. Did I hear correctly? Something about catching less than half his team's games the past 2 seasons and no games caught back to back last year? His agent, naturally, will spin it as precautionary, how he is now 110% and ready to roll every day with no issues. Could I get excited about this signing? Yes. But 4 years at $15-16M and reservations about his arm and longevity to stay behind the plate as a result...I just think I have to say no.
  3. DocBauer
    The Twins, and many teams, have a history of carrying 2 utility players, as opposed to just a single. Especially if one can fill in the OF or 1B, etc. There is room...and I say reason...for the Twins to keep both. Multiple roster constructions I put together sees room for both.
  4. DocBauer
    Two years with Mauer on the bench or taking a day off? Lineup construction could vary slightly, but yeah, Walker 8th due to Avg/contact issues that will persist to some degree. And an attempt to break up LH/RH through the lineup. 6-7-8 could move around.
  5. DocBauer
    Flight of fantasy? Or, impending reality? Buxton Gordon Kepler Sano Dozier Vargas Rosario Walker Garver/Turner
  6. DocBauer
    I almost started this post with a whole bunch of sarcastic, "he's an obvious bum, throw him to the wolves" horse hockey. Guess I am just in a mood. But seriously, age 22 at AA; .297/ .333/ .386/ .719 with 22Dbls/ 10 Tpls/ 2HR/ 30SB After that, he spent a whopping 27 games and 108 AB's in 2014 at AAA as a 23yo. He was placed in CF as the Twins primary option there, with occassional work at SS. In a season of extreme disappointment, he was an unexpected spark plug for the Twins. He hit and produced, kept on hitting and producing, got hurt, came back, and continued to hit and produce. I was so impressed, such a fan and believer, that I actually wasn't worried about him going in to this past season. I knew and expected some regression. But I also believed he'd improve in some areas even as he regressed in others. He had shown outstanding talent, resiliency and confidence previously. Not only should/could he build on experience, but he was going to now return to his natural position. I don't know if it was pressure to perform, pressure to do more, or what. But at the ripe old age of 24, with the talent he possesses, flashes he has already shown us, we should be EXCITED about his potential on the roster as a utility role player, tons of potential and bounce-back potential without the same pressure, instead of tearing him down as just another guy.
  7. DocBauer
    I guess I'm just going to echo a lot of the same things already said. He may not be the hitter he was in 2014, but he is also not the hitter he was in 2015. Too much talent, too much potential, too quick of hands, and a decent milb track record of hitting/offense indicates he should produce at least some. That little hitch in his swing looks just awful. Makes him look like he's swinging all arms and not using his hands at all. I've never understood the idea that a utility player has to be good field bad bat. Back in the day, Ron Washington, for example, wS an excellent utility player for the Twins. He played all across the diamond and was an OK defender with a solid bat. He "helped" the club by being able to fill in for guys or give them a day off and perform adequately with a decent bat. Santana has that ability, plus the ability to play the OF. I proposed months ago that Santana be turned in to a multi purpose utility player. And I believe that is exactly his role for NOW. With the Twins, or another club, he still has the youth and potential to settle in as a dynamic player at a couple of positions. But if he could be something close to Tony Phillips...previously mentioned...wow!
  8. DocBauer
    I know it's easy for us as fans to get wrapped up in reports, projections, rankings, hope, etc, and maybe become a little sun blind to the golden glare of prospects' various status and projectability. For those of us that have been reading various prospect lists for 10, 20, 30 years and can remember the likes of Banks, Gasser, Marte, Sontag and many others, we know how fickle a mistress fate and projectability can be. But as I look at this top 10 list, other than Stewart who I have some real questions about, the only real "flaw" or concern I have is contact from Walker. Even a little improvement, and I see he and the rest of the group as ALL making the majors and contributing, if not reaching regular/star status.
  9. DocBauer
    It seems to me the last draft was a bigger grab bag of unpredictability than normal, injuries, poor years, split opinions on potential, etc. And with the Twins not expected to be picking at the top of the draft for the near future, I argued it was the perfect year for the Twins to take a chance on the biggest upside they could find, preferably a SP since no catcher was viable. That being said...or re-stated...I really liked the Jay pick. Some would call it a safe pick, any maybe it was; proven college career, can/should be a quality reliever if starting falls through. And there is real value in that. But quality LHSP with real upside is one of the hardest things to find. Gordon has surprised me. I am no scout. I read and learn. But I just didn't see Gordon as a top 5 pick when I read scouting reports. It seemed like nobody was overly impressed with any specific skill, and his scale numbers all seemed to linger around 50, maybe one 60, and compared to other recent picks and signings, I just wasn't sure he was really a top pick/prospect. Clearly, I mis-read or the reports were just very conservative. He clearly looks like the real deal. But man...if he could add another 15lbs or so of man muscle over the next couple of years, we might actually witness the best overall SS in Twins history. Granted we're talking so back breaking limbo of a bar here, but still.....
  10. DocBauer
    Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Polanco in the last top 100? I'd think his season should warrant inclusion. What about Gonsalves? Is he just a little too young at this point to make the list? Or do you think he's got a shot?
  11. DocBauer
    I have maintained that one smart addition to the team would be a veteran LH hitter off the bench to help with PH duties who could also DH and play a spot on occasion. Unless there is sudden improvement, (hopefully), Mauer would be perfect for this role. But just not gonna happen. Morneau was mentioned as a possibility recently. He could be that player, even perhaps a full time/mostly full time DH if his head and body are OK. Would he take less and be OK with a bench/part time role at this stage? How he feels about that might be more important than how he feels.
  12. DocBauer
    I guess I'm really of the opinion of no opinion at this juncture. And I say that simply because the jury is still out on Meyer. At then end of 2014 everyone pretty much held the opinion that he was ready to come up and let loose, or that he was really close and would be up soon. I'm not going to downgrade the trade, or call the Twins losers after one poor season. Ideally, trades turn out about equal for both clubs. I understand an established player like Span, who I like a lot, for a prospect, even a top prospect, may seem a stretch at first, and initial win for Washington. But as good as Span is, Meyer as a top rotation starter...Twins win. Meyer becomes a really nice #2...Twins probably win. Now, Meyer becomes the next dominant Joe Nathan caliber closer...I don't know if I can say that's a loss. Granted to he didn't rise to original expectations, but an elite, all-star caliber closer for multiple and probably cost controlled years? Just not a loss in my mind. Sometimes, player for prospects, we just don't see the final results for a couple years. So I'm holding off judgment for now. And BTW, I think he goes back to the rotation for 2016.
  13. DocBauer
    Not in the HOF but a lifetime Twin? I'd say yes, retire his number. But spending as much time away from the Twins as he did, I just couldn't see retiring his number.
  14. DocBauer
    Because of his age and size, and he need to "muscle up" some more over the next couple of years, I think I would downgrade Vielma a few spots. But despite being younger than average for his level, he seems to have a hit tool and the ability to take a few walks. He has certainly shown speed and SB ability as well. If his defense is as good as advertised...well...he's someone you absolutely have to have at least a little excitement about! Now...a few extra protein shakes to get him to 180lbs.... I understand the idea that Javier is a huge signing, so you assume the Twins knew what they were getting, and therefor he ranks high based on young, raw athleticism and the such. But 16 and having never played...mmm...I think I'd knock him down a couple spots just for so many unknowns at this point. But I can't say either of these kids is ranked vastly out of place. ALL prospects are just that, prospects. Projectability is difficult to fully quantify. What's so interesting about this group of 5 is that there are legitimate questions, of differing sorts, for all of them; age, injury, no experience, bad 2015, etc. But all 5 of them have some really, really nice potential. As much as anyone in the entire Twins milb system.
  15. DocBauer
    Thorpe and Meyer. With Rosario, Sano, Buxton, May and even Duffey arriving...and the huge seasons by Berrios and Kepler, along with speculation about them...it might be easy to forget about Thorpe and Meyer. Meyer is former top 10, and still haas the big atmosphere and potential. A healthy Thorpe in 2015 would have him also in the top 10. These two are very intriguing, and maybe the top two guys to watch in 2016, story wise.
  16. DocBauer
    This is the perfect ending. I felt and stated I thought he had that one special season left in him. That "coming home" season to close out a career and show you can still do it. Now, bash him, his August, his OPS, he defense, whatever you want to say. But he brought an energy to the team along with 22HR and 80 RBI. And those are all things not be ignored. I've always had respect for Torii, even if I didn't always agree with his words or stance on things. The way he played the game, and the way he has tried to bring the game back to kids in the inner cities are the two things I probably respect him most for. I don't know if you remember or not, but about a year ago I wrote a half serious, half tongue-in-cheek article about how the loss of Torii Hunter lead to the eventual downfall of the Twins through a large affecting domino effect with his FA loss. (OK, it was probably 70-30 serious vs not) His coming home to help the Twins jump start their rebuild, especially with Rosario, Buxton and Hicks patrolling the OF with him is a full-circle, baseball gods kind of justice. I'd call this a happy ending. Thank you Torii.
  17. DocBauer
    Oh, and I get this! But if someone offers their AA or AAA catcher who hasn't reached the majors yet in any capacity and they want Berrios and Kepler....I'm thinking NO. So the deal...any deal...just has to make sense. And if it doesn't, you move on to the next option. Possibly the one after that. We don't have a Sano-Buxton-Rosario-Kepler quality catching prospect ready to graduate. At least, not right now. And I'd sure love one! But I also don't want to pay someone $100 for the privilege of having $50.
  18. DocBauer
    Oh the heck with it....once again...a trade for Lucroy would be great! A trade for a talented young catcher with some real potential would be as good in some ways, better in others, not as good in other ways. The problem with any trade...obviously... is what does it cost you? I like the idea of signing AJ as an alternative. He helps. He and Suzuki are better than Suzuki and Herrmann/Fryer. I would rather go this route than pay through the nose for a deal that doesn't make sense. Then next year...with another season to monitor the progress/development/potential of Turner and Garver...we can re-visit both the FA and trade market.
  19. DocBauer
    I really like this post! My one concern with moving Plouffe is the high potential but tenuous OF situation for 2016. Like Leviathan, I believe Buxton should be in CF. Great defense, tremendous tools and potential...he can learn a bit on the fly. (I believe his 2015 experience and talent will allow him to do so) Rosario is obviously in left. And until Kepler is ready, Hicks, or possibly Hicks/Arcia can man RF. I still wouldn't mind a veteran LH bat for a bench role, but that's a rather small piece vs a larger discussion here. But if the Twins are truly intent in their belief of placing Buxton in Rochester to begin the year, and Plouffe IS traded, then DH and RF becomes a whole lot more tenuous. A Davis signing provides another high quality hitter for the DH spot, improves and deepens the lineup, and you mow don't miss Plouffe. (Or Hunter's 22 HR for that matter) Add a reliever from both sides of the mound, and this team looks really good to me for 2016 with some very talented milb depth in the wings.
  20. DocBauer
    Except for Rogers past the 3rd inning, another very good week for our AFL prospects! On a downer note...I think losing out on Cody this past draft is going to come back to bite us in the posterior.
  21. DocBauer
    Nothing too surprising in all of this. Once again, I think Buxton builds on this past season and shouldn't be counted out of his spot with the Twins right out of camp so soon. Sano to the OF makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. It's totally counter productive and counter intuitive to his entire baseball career. Arcia would probably be a better option! And no pun intended, but he's out of options, and needs a spot, even as a role player to begin the season. Cotts? Meh. It could be a good signing. But I think there are a couple of better options out there. Santana really isn't much of an issue either. The Twins will keep 2 catcher, 4 or 5 OF's, 3 middle INF's, 2 or 3 corner INF's. In most any way you configure the 13 man player roster, there is room for a 13th player who could fill almost any role. In this case, Santana as an INF/OF utility type. I don't know...I didn't listen to the interview so I may be missing something...but I'd like to hear a little more imagination and a little more aggressiveness in the Twins thinking. I'm not say go hog wild and blow up the roster with major moves, but, it's not the time to just limit yourself either.
  22. DocBauer
    Hmmm....I see your point here but I am going to disagree. Big and strong with a big arm, it appears to me he's been promoted very aggressively despite being a little young for his level, and while his bat is behind, he hasn't been allowed to repeat a year, or part of a year, to let his bat catch up. (The same arguement could be made for Turner as well I think) Without getting a true fix on his hitting potential, I'd say speculation puts him pretty close to where he is.
  23. DocBauer
    Sooner or later, don't the Twins have to slow Navaretto down and let him spend a second year at a level to let his bat catch up a bit?1
  24. DocBauer
    This would be the FA I would target and persue IF I were to persue one. But in addition to getting Nolasco off the books, I now need to get Santana or Hughes off the books. Or, move Hughes to the bullpen as some have suggested. But I am not fully convinced he would be an upgrade over a healthy Hughes or Santana. Or enough of one to warrant the investments when I have Berrios, May and Duffey plus Gibson.
  25. DocBauer
    Palacios is almost scary. Forget the errors. They happen for young infielders and for lots of reasons. To hit that well this soon is scary. He could be scary good. Or we could be scared if he was a one season wonder.
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