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DocBauer

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Everything posted by DocBauer

  1. DocBauer
    I like this point made by Nick. I would like the Twins to have an Ace. I think they are downright awesome to have. But I would argue that having one does NOT guarantee you anything in the post season. To me, the primary benefit to said Ace pitcher is during the regular season, taking his turn in the rotation, giving your team a better than average chance to win the game. That better than average chance can be especially nice if it ends a losing streak, or comes near the end of the season with a big series on the line. This can be somewhat negated, however, by having a deep rotation. But in the post season, if everyone needs an Ace to get there, and be there, and win there, then you are pitting your Ace against the other team's Ace, thus negating any benefit or advantage in your favor. See the part about a deep rotation again.
  2. DocBauer
    There is no question Gray is an excellent young pitcher and would seem to have a bright future. "Ace-Dom"? Maybe. And yeah, I want the Twins to have an ace. I also want to be 5 deep in the rotation as 1 or 2 top starters and lack of depth doesn't do anything to guarantee success and victory either. It's easy to be flippant and just say "do it" and invest $200M for 6 years on a FA pitcher and speculate that he guarantees something, and that he won't get hurt, or lose his stuff early, or that he'll be worth at least a portion of his money the final year or two, or that his contract won't be an albatross. But the investment in years and dollars are real. And they can affect the structure of a team. Likewise, trading for someone like Gray carries the value of top prospects that could, potentially, outweighs the value of the one player you acquire. No guarantees either way. There is definite reason to believe a healthy Hughes will be close, or closer, to his 2014 self. And there is nothing to indicate Santana won't be ready to pitch as well as he ever has. (Debate whether that is as a 3 with 2 potential, or a 2 with occassional 1 moments) We still haven't seen the best of Gibson, and more to the point, May. And while I'm not going to say Berrios will develop in to an ace.....the possibility exists. I believe as a TEAM, the Twins are better off upgrading at catcher, adding a couple real quality arms in the pen, and maybe another bat, (whether as a primary or good bench option).
  3. DocBauer
    I don't know, I just can't get excited about Harrison. I want to be but just can't get there. I find Slegers very interesting. I find it rather odd that at his size he only sits in the low 90's. But the control is excellent, obviously. And I have to believe his length gives an illusion of greater velocity and helps hide his pitch a moment longer. I know he's no teenager, but I keep wondering if a few more ticks might be added to his FB as he builds up innings and arm strength.
  4. DocBauer
    I do not want to be all Dougie-Downer here or anything, and I know it is only a very, very SSS at this point, but I have to wonder if ABW2 is showing a much better eye...has made an adjustment to his stance that is letting him see better (longer)...or is he just not swinging right now in hopes of walks?
  5. DocBauer
    I've been on this bandwagon for a while now. While I have absolutely no objection whatsoever to going out and making an aggressive move for a young catcher, not being able to fully pinpoint exactly who that guy should be, much less the cost, I feel that for at least 1 season, though it might take and make sense for a 2 year deal, the signing of AJ is the smart move. As you state, his throwing and overall defense are still solid. He actually hit this season above his career norms. Even with regression, he would be a better than average hitter, with some power, and a perfect compliment to Suzuki. Further, his veteran presence as a backstop shouldn't be ignored. This provides a pair of veterans to help manage the staff. It improves the offense, and AJ even offers a decent PH option when not in the starting lineup. His signing allows tradeable assets to be used elsewhere, and allows at least one more season to see if the Twins actually have some viable young options in Turner and Garver in the system.
  6. DocBauer
    Personally, because he's a catcher, because of his big year last season and a much stronger second half this year vs his disappointing first half, I'd have Garver higher. I had almost forgot about Williams. He and/or Melotakis could provide a huge lift to the Twins bullpen. Hopefully soon. Speaking of...seems as though there was some very, very bad mojo going through the Twins system last season and it only targeted top RHRP. If fate reverses itself, the Twins could have 4 or 5 top RH arms pounding on the door before the year is done. Seth, If I'm not mistaken, when Bard was drafted, he was to be a SP yes? Is there any word as to a return to the rotation? Is his future now in the bullpen? Or is the pen simply the best place for him to continue his journey back for the time being?
  7. DocBauer
    I read lists like these and the first thought is, "Really? This guy is in the 30's (or 40's)?" And my second thought is always, "Man, despite graduation of some top guys, there is still a lot of potential talent in this system!"
  8. DocBauer
    Agreed. And really, it depends on what Ryan does. IMHO, he should bring in a LH arm, (unless he just brings Cotts back which isn't terrible) and a power RH arm to team with Jepsen, and probably one of May or Duffey. That leaves one spot between Tonkin and Pressly. I do believe, however, that Pressly has an option left?
  9. DocBauer
    Hicks is a given, and so is Arcia I'm sure, barring a trade. Not sure I agree on Tonkin and Pinto as automatics, (or close to). I can absolutely see scenarios where either or both make the club, but I don't think either is better than 50/50 at this point.
  10. DocBauer
    I agree on Wade showing promise with his tools and his early plate discipline. If he didn't have that, coming from college ball to rookie ball, I'd certainly have my doubts. He could be fun to watch this season. I wonder if he could end up being a mid-season promotion candidate to Ft Myers? Wheeler and Lee, like Rogers and a couple others, give this Twins a few different LH candidates that seem...at least initially...to lack that something to be a top SP prospect. Sure hope at least one of them can find a real niche in the bullpen at least. I am also a bit higher on Michael, though not as high as Thrylos. I don't feel he is a top prospect by any means, but speed, OB, decent hit tool and defense at a few different positions makes me feel he has a chance to be a solid ML utility player. Goodrum is a guy I've always been rooting for. I'm actually surprised to see he is still only 23 as it just seems he's been around for a long time. It seems the Twins have bounced him around a bit, position to position and the such, and I've always wondered if that has slowed his progress a bit. I hope he is a late bloomer, because with his athleticism, even if he's an age 26 ML'er as a utility type he could be very useful.
  11. DocBauer
    I agree with Seth here. There was an obvious attempt on the Twins part to separate these two in order that they could play daily. (And possibly not suffer from any direct, personal competition?) While Turner certainly hasn't set the world on fire with his bat thus far, I find it encouraging that despite the full level skip, that he has adapted, learned, and improved each second half of the past 2 seasons. And improved rather substantially from first to second half. I was disappointed in Garver's bat this season. But again, he did advance a level. And he did perform better in the second half of the season. So I choose to be an optimist in regard to '16. In fact, I think we've hear and read enough of these guys, since drafted, that a solid AFL from...hopefully... both, could make us all feel a lot better about the Twins catching future.
  12. DocBauer
    Sorry...my POS computer at work took Jake Reed and made James out of it. Literally, the system used is called POS. lol
  13. DocBauer
    While this particular AFL class may not have the glamour of last season, I think it's a very interesting group! Rogers could have a future, even in the pen, while Burdi and James are both very intriguing as bullpen options. Possibly by mid-season 2016 if they get their control back and keep it? Walker is a lightening rod for hopes as well as debate! As stated, even able to hit in the .240-.250 range at the ML level with his doubles and HR power could be great. Turner and Garver are no sure thing...but both have shown flashes...both hit better in the second half of their respective seasons, (second year in a row for Turner to do this), and both have quality defensive reputations. A long way to go with both of them, but this could provide a nice springboard to see what we really have here.
  14. DocBauer
    The problem or issue going in to 2016 is not a lack of talent available, regardless of ML experience, but rather, almost too many options and not enough certainty. Now, that's not a doom and gloom statement, just a reality. Sano can DH and play some 3B when Plouffe DH's or plays 1B or sits. Or, you can trade Plouffe and play Sano full time at 3B. This changes the DH situation for Arcia and possibly Vargas. But what if Arcia is needed for the OF because Hicks regresses or Buxton needs AAA time? There's just enough "If" factors that complicate things that would prevent me from trading Hicks at this time. And while I'm more flexible on Arcia, I tend to want to keep him...for now...for the same reason. I could see Hicks and Arcia in a quasi-platoon in RF with Hicks as the late game defensive replacement. I could see Hicks starting in CF with Arcia in RF...initially...with someone like Robinson off the bench as a defensive replacement. (*I just don't see Hunter taking a discount to come back as a part time OF/DH) Buxton may be the linchpin here. I say it's 60-40/70-30 he begins the season with the Twins. While I don't think he will necessarily come out of the gates playing to his full potential, I believe his defense, and a somewhat improved offense based on ability and this season's experiences, will allow him to be kept from day one while still performing some "on the job" training. Call it being overly optimistic if you will, but I prefer it to be a belief in Buxton.
  15. DocBauer
    Really nice work Seth. And we are all guilty in getting too wrapped up in pure speed. If velocity was that big of a determining factor, Boyer would have been a top set-up man the past few years in the pen, and we'd already be talking about what Meyer could do next year in a full ML season. And, HOF'er Greg Maddux would be 1st cousins with Bob Tewksbury instead of enshrined in Cooperstown.
  16. DocBauer
    Is it just me? Am I just too much of an optimist? But I have this feeling that Buxton will take all his experience and lessons from this season and apply them next spring and force his way on to the roster to begin the season. Not saying he will peak and reach his full potential from day one, but he will be markedly better and not need the AAA time that has been mentioned a lot.
  17. DocBauer
    Forgot May was a rookie still! I agree Sano is the obvious choice. It doesn't matter he didn't play much in the field. A lot of that was because the Twins already had a good guy playing there. And Sano's impact just can't be ignored, not only because of the pure production, but because even with his outstanding contributions, the Twins offensive numbers slipped the second half of the season. Imagine were he not there? Rosario is fun to watch. I love watching him play defense as well. (except for a couple head-scratchers) What he accomplished is pretty remarkable over all. I see more HR power in the future, and have stated so before. We know he can hit. I don't see him ever having an overly high OB%, but even a little more patience and experience will raise both the BA and OB. I can live with that considering all the other tools. Hard to pick between May and Duffey. Frankly, I think it's more about rookie position player and rookie pitcher when you look at the impact and quality of the Twins 2015 rookie class. Duffey was phenomenal! And while it was only for a couple of months, if you look at his numbers, and breaking a couple losing streaks, he pitched very much like a #1 for the Twins in that time frame. However, May had numbers to indicate he might have been the Twins best SP when he was moved to the pen, was pitching better and better, but never had the chance to finish the season out as a starter. Though his accomplishments in the pen can't be denied. I don't know...Sano is the obvious choice to me and a 3 way tie for second. How is that for fair?
  18. DocBauer
    NOT going to get in to another debate as to what truly qualifies as an "Ace" SP. The Twins won their WS in '87 with, what I would call, a pair of "aces". Their second, they had a single "ace" and a couple solid starters. During the Gardenhire era they clearly had an ace quality pitcher in Santana, one of the best in all of baseball, and at times, almost a second #1 SP in Radke. Certainly, he was a very nice #2. And yet, they did not win a title. It would be nice to have that Cy Young, #1, "Ace" SP, but there are plenty of teams in the past that have had one and not won the WS. It is still a complete team effort at the end of the day. With Hughes pitching like he did in 2014, and I believe a rebound to that is not only possible, but probable, and Santana pitching like Santana normally does, and did this year with the exception of a couple of games, and just a bit more improvement from Gibson again, we could be talking about a team with three #2 caliber SP's to lead the rotation. And the argument could be made that Hughes and Santana both pitch like a #1 at times. I feel pretty good about that depth, especially when you realize how strong out 4th and 5th spots could be.
  19. DocBauer
    What if the season had started 1 week later and the replacement/pod - people Twins hadn't given us a 1-6 start?
  20. DocBauer
    Please don't anyone take this the wrong way...but I almost don't care if the Twins win the wild card spot. Sports to me is as much the competition, the striving, the game in and of itself and at times, the final outcome doesn't matter as much as the journey there. And this journey has been pretty special to me. As Twins fans, we can whine all we want about no WS since the early 90's and four straight, poor losing seasons, but there are a lot of teams and fan bases that would be envious of our past 10 years or so. Even still, our Twins seemed to just fall off a cliff for four years. And suddenly, here we are, playing fun and winning baseball still in contention with only a few games left. The kids we have been dreaming and drooling over have begun to arrive, with more on the way. I don't know how this will end, but I just love this journey!
  21. DocBauer
    Wait.............Rosario walked?
  22. DocBauer
    Adding Jepsen earlier would have helped. I, like others, maintain they should have picked up a second arm. Benoit? Someone with an expiring contract wouldn't have cost much and would have provided much needed depth. If we lose out by a game or two, all I'll be thinking is...."why, oh why couldn't we just throw out that first week of the season?"
  23. DocBauer
    The Twins being down offensively this year is certainly disappointing. But what I do like about their lineup is the fact that it works, more or less, as a whole. The total equals a greater whole than the sum of the parts. But there is certainly the potential for more! Would be interesting to compare the Twins scoring and overall numbers to the rest of the league as it seems scoring and offense in general are down.
  24. DocBauer
    I feel the Santana/Escobar situation was handled correctly initially. Both coming off excellent seasons, though Santana played largely out of position. But with 2 guys for 1 spot, you have to make a decision at some point. Pure talent and potential, Santana projects better. It made sense to go with him. Where the whole situation was NOT handled correctly was Santana probably got a little too much rope. And when the Twins did make a move, they kept yo-yoing the spot between Escobar and Nunez and a suddenly recalled Santana instead of just sticking with Escobar and letting him play himself in or out of the spot on a permanent basis. Santana still has a lot of ability and potential, whether it be with the Twins or elsewhere. I think it would be best for him, and the Twins, if he were to get some quality AAA time, but also learn to play 2nd, and still see time in the OF. If he settles down defensively, and we can see the offensive potential come alive again, great! But if he just can't handle being an every day ML SS, then he might find a real niche as a multi-positional utility player.
  25. DocBauer
    Watch the Tigers debacle. Forget anything I may have said earlier. No. I hope my vote changes next season, if not this one.
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