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DocBauer

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Everything posted by DocBauer

  1. DocBauer
    Absolutely not. 1] There is no need. Despite Pablo having some hit and cold moments, same with Paddack coming back from TJ, Ober against KC, this rotation is GOOD. Think back on the past decade plus and the only 1-5 staff better than this season was last year. And all 5 are back for 2025. 2] While I suspect Varland is going to switch to the pen in 2025 full time, he's worth sticking with in the rotation for now. Festa is close. I still suspect Headrick will take off in the pen, but like Varland...when healthy again...is a rotation option. Festa is very close. Matthews might not be far behind. Morris wasn't mentioned in the OP, but he's only slightly behind Zebby. Lewis is healthy and throwing at AA again. Ohl is a shorter Ober clone who is getting hot again. Nowlin has some great stuff, might end up in the pen, but a step up in command/control, he could be a LH in the rotation within a year plus. And I'm not even really touching on Raya taking the next step. And ALL of these guys may be in AAA in 2025 if not a couple still making it there this season. 3] Jax's velocity will drop as a SP. It has to. You can't throw with that effort for 5-6 innings. And no matter how good his stuff is, facing a lineup 2 and 3 times is VERY different than trying to get 3-5 outs in his current role. Just...NO.
  2. DocBauer
    I can't believe Rocco didn't pull Ober after 5 IP. What was he thinking? (Snicker...guilty troll...snicker) Ober was fantastic! As long as he NEVER faces the Royals again he's a very, very good rotation arm. Ever notice that when he's doing good and "feeling it" he just takes one big step off the mound, his back turned to home plate, takes a couple more steps, and just has this "YES" attitude invisible tattooed all over his 6' 9" frame? I love it! This is what he can do. And he really helped the pen that was stretched the past few games. Feels like the offense...despite still leaving some guys on base...were kind of PO'd at themselves and wanted to make sure this game was a W. I think a few posters, myself included, might have to just admit that Margot might not be done yet. Believe me, I have been skeptical as can be. But he's been a MUCH better the past 30 days. Even his defense has been better, including a tremendous slide catch in the late innings today. I'm not totally buying in on him for the rest of the season...he and Martin are almost a redundancy...but he's actually performing now like the player he was supposed to be. Tune in a couple weeks from now and we'll see, but really good the past month. Can we finally start giving kudos to Miranda? Everyone loved his 2021 milb season where he seemed to put it together. Like most rookies, he had some ups and downs in 2022, but he looked like a building block kind of player. Then his 2023 was wiped out due to a shoulder injury. So suddenly he's a nothing? He's as good, or better, than his rookie season right now. He's never going to be great defensively anywhere, but he can be solid. And the bat seems to play. He's making contact, walking a little, hitting singles and doubles and some HR as well. Who cares if his HR are only 90mph? If they go over the fence, they still count? Personally, I believe a lot of young and young-ish players see an uptick in HR production due to experience and maturation. Miranda's game has ALWAYS been about CONTACT. Where he MATURED was realizing "contact" didn't mean bat to ball on a pitchers pitch for WEAK contact. I think Miranda deserves a little more love than he's been getting. Feels like the Julien, Wallner resets and issues with AK have distracted a lot of attention away from how good Miranda has been performing.
  3. DocBauer
    I wish I had an answer. He's walking way too many and is suddenly very hittable. BUT, he's still K-ing 10.5 per 9 and his velocity is still sitting in the 93-94 range and touching 95 once in a while. That's where he's been the past few years. That big, crazy curveball is still a nasty pitch. It looks like he just keeps missing his locations when I watch him. But I don't know if it's that simple. If it is, there is a way to fix it. So I don't know that you cut him today/tomorrow. However, whether it's Thielbar or someone else, they need a LH arm they can trust in the latter innings for the stretch run and the playoffs. And I don't know that that can be Okert, or Funderburk, at this point. You can't just make up an injury. The league tends to frown on that in a very harsh way. As they should. But I tend to agree that if there was some minor injury, some "tired arm" issue they could report, I'd be in favor of a week or rest or so, and then a rehab at AAA for some confidence and a mental reset. No disrespect to the coaches there, but if this really is mechanical in nature, I don't know that he gets any better at St Paul vs staying with the Twins.
  4. DocBauer
    The Twins don't dislike HS arms...they've drafted them high before...but I think they prefer college arms. Less washout potential, longer health track record, etc. But with 4 picks in the top 60/ish, and what seems to be a strong, top heavy HS group if arms, I've got a gut feeling they might take a pair of arms early this year. I could see a pair of HS arms, a HS SS, and a college bat. Very interested in both Shields and Whitney.
  5. DocBauer
    I'd definitely be interested in Kukuchi. He's rotation depth, and a LH arm in the postseason, all the more valuable if Thielbar's issue is mechanical and not father time. Toronto might be more interested in saving some $ in a down year and less in a prospect return. The Rays don't like to pay arbitration $, or at least not for long, so Cleavinger...with some control...could be of great interest if the return coat isn't too steep.
  6. DocBauer
    Down year for the Ray's, but they aren't a horrible team. They are always fundamentally solid. Not putting lipstick on a pig, just saying, we didn't lose to a really bad team. But it feels like we gave away 2 games, no matter how tightly played. I didn't see the Lewis play at 3B live. Looked like it took a perfect throw to get him though. Being aggressive is normally a good thing. And it looked like a perfect throw WAS made. STILL, I might have kept him from. running and trusted in the next 2 batters. I'm not one to ever blame a loss on a RP, unless it's just an obviously poor performance...crap happens. EXAMPLE: Alcala has been very good this season. He allowed the winning run the previous night. It happens. But honestly, I NEVER understood the Jackson promotion. He got a couple innings to SUDDENLY prove the slider was back, even with lost velocity. He's NOT back, which is the reason for the loss today, and a bad read/mistake by Falvey. The limited IP by Castillo were poor. Henriquez and Winder remain on the 40 man. So is Funderburk. If you want to add to the 40 man instead of Jackson, you would have done better giving someone like Blewett a shot vs a 36yo that has shown he doesn't have IT any longer. Thielbar, at LEAST has a track record and history with the Twins thats worthy of rope. I don't know that Henriquez, or anyone else, would have done better. Maybe they wouldn't have. But giving another chance to someone who generally HASN'T performed this season was a major misstep this past week. Today's loss is not on SWR, the lineup, or Okert for a run given up. IMO, today's loss is on the FO for Jackson. I'm sure he's a quality person, but he's just not part of a reliable pen. Good "shot in the dark" addition. But he's not part of tomorrow, or the future. Glad he's gone.
  7. DocBauer
    I'm not going to get in the $ numbers of a deal, but I can see an extension for Castro being a smart idea. He has a solid bat, switch hits, has some pop and some speed. He plays at least solid defense at 5 spots, though he has made appearances in RF and 1B, he's just usually not been needed there. I don't think he's a STAR player, but he's a very good one. And the fact that he's a "super utility" player doesn't mean he isn't an every day player. 13 position players on a roster, one of them always a 2nd catcher. That's 12 guys to fill 8 spots in the field and 1 at DH. Only 3 players remain to PH, PR, platoon, etc. Even in a theoretical world where you could set your roster and never have anyone hurt, guys will still need days off. Wallner, Buxton, Rodriguez, Martin, Larnach, Lewis, Correa, Lee, Julien, Miranda, Kirilloff, Jeffers, Vazquez or ?, looks really good, potentially, for 2025 and beyond. But don't tell me there's not room for Castro in the lineup and on the roster when we know guys DO get injured. I'd like him to stick around for a few more years.
  8. DocBauer
    MacLeod and Nowlin are both from the 2021 draft. MacLeod didn't pitch in 2022, recovering from TJ IIRC, so he's a little behind. Nowlin keeps getting left off lists like this, but he's got some electric stuff and has made steady progress. He's still a little too wild, but his stuff probably plays up big in the pen if the rotation doesn't work out. A little more command/control and he's a strong rotation possibility. Morris and Culpepper should have been included in the OP, IMO. And I've still got hope for Ohl. Sure wish Headrick hadn't gotten hurt. Haven't heard a word about him being back this year. Hoping we aren't just waiting for word on TJ.
  9. DocBauer
    It's been my belief that the FO has been willing to add some payroll at the deadline to help the club. Maybe not a ton, but they would be able to add. This comes from willingness to do so in the past, as well as the TV deal that came together late. I'm NOT begining another debate, just stating my belief. But at this point, are they going to see a single $1 from that deal? I disagree somewhat with the OP that the pen shouldn't be a priority. I think Okert is pretty solid. I love Funderburk's stuff and potential, but he's been a little wild still. Thielbar has been a real stalwart in the pen the past few years. If his current issues are mechanical and he can get right, awesome. If not, I'd like to have an experienced LH arm I could really trust in the pen. If Stewart is back and Varland can slide to the pen in September, I can see the Twins fine from the RH side. The FO seems to have done a lot better job making deals in the offseason vs mid year. Who's got a quality, young-ish controllable SP available to trade for that we want to grab in a deadline auction? I don't know that there's a rental bat for 2B or OF that I want to trade a bunch for just to have a rental. I DO believe on adding for the playoffs when you have need. But who are we going to get better than Lee or Julien at 2B that doesn't cost much? LF? Larnach's doing OK, Wallner might be ready to make a difference, Castro can play there, and we might even run with a RH/LH platoon that could include guys like Keirsey, Martin, and Margot. In theory at least. I'd be OK if they could add a big bat on the cheap. But how cheap? And when do we trust the younger talent we have? I guess we have about 30 days to figure it out.
  10. DocBauer
    Very disappointed here. If you draft someone high, and you give them chances, and they just never produce and wash out, you can call that a bad or wasted pick. An example is the recently releases Cavaco. Probably going to end up saying the same about Sabato, but since he's still playing and performing at SOME kind of productive level, it's fair to call him a disappointment or wait a little longer to say so. Doesn't matter to me either way. But Canterino HAS performed, and performed ar a high level since he's been drafted. Now that his TJ has been completed, and he's still on the 40 man, there's reasonable hope he will recover from this shoulder injury and find a role in the pen. Think Stewart as a comp. But he is NOT a bad, wasted, or "worst" pick when he flashes that much talent and potential and is still part of the organization and still has a chance to make it. Ditto for Prielipp, who everyone KNEW was coming off surgery and was a risk. He was also a top 10 talent and praise was generally heaped on the Twins for taking a shot on such a talented prospect. He's had a brace placed on his elbow and should be back in 2025, if not late this season, to try and get his career going. But not only has he not been a drafted player who's underperformed, he was a known high risk high reward when drafted. So before he even gets a chance to see what he might become he's already a bad, wasted, worst pick? This is like speculating the Twins 7th round pick in the upcoming draft, from Louisiana NW State, coming off surgery but was 1st team all conference and 2nd team All American is a bad, wasted, worst ever pick before he gets a chance to see if he can actually be good.
  11. DocBauer
    In regard to the OP as written, absolutely not. If Farmer is gone, that leaves Castro as the daily 2B with only Martin as any kind of backup, and he's been spending a lot more time in the OF lately. (Which he should). Wallner replacing Farmer doesn't really make sense from a roster construction point of view. It also takes Castro out if his super utility role. BTW, while he's nothing close to an offensive force, Farmer has been hitting in the .270's the last 30 days, with an OB% above .320. I don't know if it will last, but he's been playing much better. I believe Martin and Margot are redundant. One young, has a potential future, but isn't proven yet. The other is a veteran having the worst season of his career but has looked much better as of late, and has been helping. But from a roster construction situation, they are pretty much the same player. Martin can go down if we need to make a move, or if he looks bad. Of course, he actually needs to play so we can find out. And Margot can be DFA'd if his recent hot streak is an illusion and he goes back to worthless again. But one of these guys goes for Wallner, unless there's an injury. Lee or Julien replaces Farmer at some point, probably. Again, injuries can and do happen. I'm excited about Wallner getting right again. He can be a big part of the now, and the future. A couple more weeks of doing what he's doing at St Paul won't hurt as the Twins monitor the roster as is for now. More than a couple of things could change over the next couple of weeks. I do think, at some point, the Twins, as a whole, need to look at the roster for the remainder of this year as well as the future and make a hard decision or two. I mean, does a platoon 2B or 2nd RH utility OF move the needle over a couple younger players with more talent? But Wallner and Farmer really aren’t connected, and a couple weeks of wait and see is probably warranted at this time.
  12. DocBauer
    Guessing Martin won't get going just yet...or not be playes enough to allow him to...or Margot will suddenly turn back in to a pumpkin and Martin will be his "replacement" on the roster and Wallner will come up at that time. Castro is still used best, IMO, as a super utility player. I think it's better for the roster, and he seems to excel in the role. But how do they fit Lee/Julien in at 2B come mid July or 1st of August? Need 2B to be settled and I don't think Farmer is that guy. I also didn't like the Cavaco pick when it was made. I had hopes in the "helium" riser and his tools and he'd be a surprise. Unfortunately, the surprise was that he just was never a good prospect. Anyone paying attention to Severino? After just an awful start to the year he's been mashing since the calender flipped to June. Terrible April, better May, over 1.300 OPS and .400 AVG for June. There were comments made in ST about hie much he had slimmed down... presumedly to keep him affective at 3B/2B...and I wonder if that threw off some of his timing initially? Regardless, he's starting to look really good.
  13. DocBauer
    Just dawned on me this afternoon that Keaschall and Martin might be fighting for the same spot on the roster a year from now. I don't want to get ahead of things here, but we're talking about 2 guys who are RH hitters with contact and OB ability who are...some leanancy here as it's early...projected to play LF/CF/2B. Martin played 3B in college, but it's said his arm isn't great for 3B at the ML level. I'm not sure about Keaschall's arm strength, but I do know he spent a lot of time at DH to start this season while dealing with a minor shoulder issue. As I commented on previously, I have no clue if Keaschall's arm plays at 3B, healthy, or not. Martin is in the SHOW, and Keaschall is in AA, tearing it up, and 3 yrs younger. There is an obvious separation there. And Martin's advancement has been affected somewhat due to covid and being pushed perhaps too soon, etc. And it might not be fair to compare the two of them directly, but it's hard not to at this point. When the Twins received Martin in a trade in 2021, he was 22yo. Keaschall is just shy of being 22yo at AA, same for both. While I understand development is NOT linear, SO FAR, Keaschall trumps Martin in AVG by .60 points, OB% by .44 points, SLG% by a WHOPPING .151 points, and an OPS differential of .195 points. While Martin obviously has played more games and accrued more SB as a result, so far, he is about 6% better in success rate. NONE of this matters ultimately matters at the ML level. You either perform or you don't, with some expected speed bumps along the way. And I'm NOT banging on Martin as a viable and good piece of the Twins roster for the future. But it's really hard to NOT look at what Keaschall is doing at the same age and level and wonder what's to become.
  14. DocBauer
    I don't think you're wrong. I still have questions about Martin as a ML HITTER, as I'm worried there's just not enough POP in the bat for sustainability despite contact and a good eye. I love Wallner, but I think Martin gets at least a couple weeks run to see how ready he is. He was doing great at St Paul. I'm just hoping he gets to PLAY instead of being a PR. Wallner could be a key for the 2nd half, and the future. But I'm just guessing the Twins will stick with Martin through June and then re-examine Wallner and the roster.
  15. DocBauer
    Not going to happen. And not because Farmer has suddenly hit a little bit better. It's about roster construction as well as performance or need. No Farmer means Castro is "stuck" at 2B with only Martin as another option. If and when Farmer might be gone, it will be due to Julien, or Lee, brought up, or BOTH in certain scenarios. But Wallner won't replace Farmer.
  16. DocBauer
    I won't say the Twins won't or shouldn't draft a 2B. They probably will. And you do draft best player available. And there's a couple guys here that seem to fit the Twins draft profile the past couple of years. But there is a point where you do look not only at the board, but what's in your system. I just don't see a 2B for the Twins in the first 2-3 rounds. We'll share thoughts and opinions over the next couple of weeks as we get closer to the draft, of course. But honestly, the more I read, listen, and reflect, I'm really thinking that with the $ the Twins have to work with...and the state of the system right now...I'm starting to think the Twins might go HS heavy the first couple of rounds. I agree the draft is probably a circus after the first 10 picks or so. And there's always a surprise or two. But I'm honestly thinking a HS SS who they believe will stick, a HS arm, very possibly a 2nd HS arm since there seems to be a deep group there through the first couple of rounds, and a college BAT, probably OF. Just think it's the right time and place to grab 2-3 HS kids with the $ to play with to sign them and look at college arms later as they usually do.
  17. DocBauer
    Never understood some who were so down on Festa because of some control issues. Generally speaking, don't most all pitching prospects have some sort of control issues until they don't? That's why they're in the minors. It seems like the 10-15lbs of muscle he added in the offseason has really helped him as he seems to be maintaining velocity later in the games. I think he's close, but I'm still hoping he's not needed for a while, for obvious reasons. Not sure if I have him or Matthews as my personal #1 choice for top pitching prospect right now, but it's close. Really nice to have Morris, Lewis, and Culpepper not far behind those two though. Regarding Raya, I really do understand...mostly...how they're using him. He basically didn't throw for 2 years after he was drafted due to covid and then a shoulder issue. Everything I've ever heard or read says his pitches are dynamic, with the standard caveat he's a prospect still working on command. He's been allowed to throw up to 60 pitches this season so far, but apparently only gets 2 turns through a lineup. I get it. He's got an arm that might be special so they're being really, really careful with him. And I'd like to think they're a lot smarter than me, lol, so I can't say they're NOT taking the right approach. But in a prospect podcase I listened to recently here on TD, it was mentioned that Raya will be Rule 5 eligible following the 2025 season. That means, of course, adding him to the 40 man or not. So if they DON'T expand his usage here in 2024, they're going to have a single season in 2025 to evaluate and make a decision. That doesn't make a ton of sense to me. I'm still expecting 70+ pitches and a 3rd time through the order come the 2nd half of this season. As far as Keaschall in the OF, I believe @Dmanhas it correct. No reason he can't be a quality 2B, and still might end up there. But barring a surprise or two, that spot is going to be held down by Lee and Julien, who themselves can play other spots. And nothing says Keaschall can't continue to back up that spot. But his bat looks pretty special. And when you have a hitter this good....and he's got good wheels...you get him in the lineup and worry about best position later. Unfortunately, if rumors are true, his arm might not be strong enough for 3B, because I think he has the other skills that would allow him to fill in there. But if the instincts are there, and can be honed, I'd really love to see him as a CF/LF option who can STILL cover 2B to increase his flexibility to the lineup. And I think that's exactly what's going to happen. I don't want Jeffers or Vazquez to have any sort of injury this season. But somewhere, somehow, even if it's an end of the year September promotion, I'd really, really like to see Camargo get some ML time this year. I just really want to watch him behind the plate, working with the staff, and see what kind of approach he takes at the plate against ML pitchers. I want to know if we have a #3 catcher here, or a solid ML catcher who might be a good #2.
  18. DocBauer
    I'm a fan and believer in Wallner. He's produced at every level, and made adjustments at every level. He's got the ability to be a dangerous, productive hitter at the ML level. He's the type of hitter that's always going to have a 30% K rate. Not because he swings and misses at everything, but because he's the kind of hitter who works the pitcher/count to find something to hit, and is willing to take a BB. And he is that 3 outcome kind of hitter who's always walked quite a bit. Honestly, he and Julien are very much the same type of hitter, generally speaking, but that's a different subject and not relevant to this OP. Wallner, IMO, can hit anywhere from .235-.260 at the ML level with an OB% of about .320-.340. And he's got legitimate 30 Dbls and 30HR power. He actually runs pretty well for a large man, has improved his reads and route running in the OF, and of course, has that cannon for an arm. He can be a difference maker for the Twins this season, and future seasons, even if he's never a true STAR player. But just because he CAN be that player doesn't mean he's going to be. Somewhere along the line...again, similar to Julien...pitchers have made an adjustment and Wallner has lost a balance of when to be patient and when to be aggressive. (This is also very similar to what Larnach has had to adjust to). If you're going to get fewer and fewer fastballs, looking for a pitch is still the way to go. But that might mean a pitch you aren't in love with, but it's the best offering, and it's up to you to get the bat on the ball. It's not that easy, but it's not so much the wrong approach, as having to change the parameters of the approach in place due to different offerings from the pitcher. I hope that make sense. Wallner finds a better balance in regard to his patience, and when and what to swing at with fewer fastballs, he should be up. He's trending that way now. But it wouldn't hurt to see him do it for a few more weeks. Honestly, right now, 2b is a bigger hole, but again, different discussion.
  19. DocBauer
    I wish I had a clue what's up with Thielbar and whether or not he was going to rebound. I'm sure he and the Twins feel the same way. I've watched his curve look just as good as ever. And I've seen him throwing 94 just like he did last season. But SOMETHING is missing. Did missing all of ST just throw off his schedule and he's going to get ironed out for the 2nd half and be a quality and important part of the pen again? Or is this just the year where his stuff doesn't bite like it used to and everyone feels comfortable sitting back and waiting for a pitch? I'm sure hoping it's mechanical and he can turn it around. I've seen other LH pen arms pitch decently in to their late 30's. I generally like Okert. Unfortunately, he leaves a pitch up once in a while that gets crushed. Not sure that makes him different than most any other reliever though. I'd say he's pretty good 80% of the time? Mediocre about 10% of the time, and bad about 10%? I can take that. I love Funderburk's stuff and ability to get batters from both sides out. I don't like that he battles control about every other game and has to get two guys on base before settling down and looking nasty. I think Okert and Funderburk are solid, but the pen's even deeper if the veteran Thielbar still has life left. But it's why I think a pen arm might be a trade target this season.
  20. DocBauer
    Would really love to have another young, power arm like Miller to add to what we have. But you'll have to forgive me if I'm a little shy about trading for a power arm who's new to the pen after failing as a starter and having past injury issues. I just don't think I could spend big without a little longer track record and I don't think the Twins will either. But he's really tempting. Sears is interesting, especially being LH and having control. He had an "OK" but solid 2023 and is having a better season this year. I'm interested. But other than being LH, does he really offer any greater ability or potential than the guys we have in the rotation right now? I just don't know if I see someone who actually improves the roster. But maybe I'm wrong and there's some untapped potential better than what's on hand. I could be talked in to Erceg if the price is right. He's only in his 2nd season in the bigs, but his numbers are solid. It's also the best season of his pro career so far, MILB or MLB, so is he developing? Or has he just been lucky so far in a 1/3 of a season SSS? Love the 11.1 K's per 9 though. Hogan Harris in the pen could really interest me, if the Twins believe he can keep the BB down. Nobody else really interests me.
  21. DocBauer
    It's my understanding Varland was being asked to work on a sinker as RH batters were his biggest issue. As to his AAA numbers, or anyone else in his situation, we don't know what he's being asked to do inning to inning, game to game. He might be asked to throw 3 straight sinkers to a guy, regardless if he wins the battle or not, simply because they are attempting to work on the pitch. Headrick got off to maybe the best start of his career before getting hurt, and that's a major bummer for him, as well as the Twins. But that's even less depth to work with, and no offense to Boushley, but I'd rather see Varland get the next game as a call up over him. I believe Festa is really close as well. I agree that Varland either has the pitches to remain in the rotation long term...even if he's still working some on command...or he doesn't. But for now, he's needed for depth as we still have a lot of season left to go. I do see him in the pen come September. I'm not saying I wouldn't want to see him sooner, I just don't think we will due to depth. I think the kind of depth that's going to be at AAA next season offers a re-examination of Varland's permanent role going forward. And it's hard not to love Duran, Jax, Stewart. Alcala, and Varland as your top 5 RH pen arms, with some reasonable depth options behind them.
  22. DocBauer
    The approach that Wallner has...as does Julien...is sound; don't swing at crap, and wait for something you like...while tiring out the pitcher...and then hit the ball HARD when you see something you like. It works best when you have a good eye. Wallner has a good eye. The problem is if you are getting nothing but breaking pitches, you're going to have to change your selectivity process. The K's aren't just because he swings and misses, but BECAUSE he is a patient hitter. You're going to have some 3-2 type of counts and you aren't always going to win those with a hit or BB. But MAN, I love that swing! I feel like any time he gets any decent wood on a ball it's got a very good chance for a hit or more. I'm really hoping he finds the right balance of patience vs aggressiveness soon and gets back up to the Twins. Ditto Julien, of course. Helman is a very good and very well rounded and very versatile ballplayer. He's just never gotten his ML shot yet as he was a late bloomer and while having the best year of his career last season, he hit the IL 3 different times. And he STILL put up good numbers. I'm hoping he still gets a shot at some point, but I'm just thinking it might be time for him to move on to another organization for a better opportunity. But I bet the Twins would like to have him back.+ I don't expect Severino to get a call up this season, but his recent turn around is very encouraging. That HR Keaschall looked it went "plaid" it got out of the park in such a hurry! AA for the rest of the year and AAA to begin 2025 with a call up sometime in the 2nd half?
  23. DocBauer
    IMO, one of the biggest issues with these kinds of deals is you only have the player in question for a single season guaranteed, barring them performing poorly and opting to stick around. And while I don't want to generalize too much, it just seems every time a pitcher signs late he's behind everyone else and either has a bad season, or at least a bad start to the year. Payrolls have been steadily increasing and more than a handful of teams are over the tax threshold from what bean5302 states. A lot of teams have lost their big TV deals, or are about to. I think we're going to see a lot of craziness over the next few years! With all due respect to a 2 time Cy Young winner, I've never been a big Snell fan. He's just had too m any injuries and too many mediocre years mixed in with his 2 great ones that I just wasn't interested in a deal for him. I would have absolutely been in on Montgomery...for 1 year at least...had the payroll situation been different. I don't think he was worth what he was asking, but I liked what he ultimately ended up signing for, for this season. Good thing we didn't get him, I guess. No real fit for Chapman. Bellinger would have been nice. But man, I understand 2 just bad years due to injuries, but no way I would have done anything close to a 7 year deal for the $ based on a 1 year bounce back. But his 3 year deal is much more palatable, even at $27M per. Going to be interesting to see if he opts in with the fluctuation in the market I'm expecting this offseason. Even without a payroll cut, I don't think the Twins would have grabbed Bellinger for $27M per.
  24. DocBauer
    I still have faith in Lopez to get over the hump and be the pitcher we saw the second half of 2023. Ryan has been phenomenal, doesn't even have to get better, just stay healthy and keep it up. Take away 2 ridiculous games against the Royals, and Ober has been about as good as he's ever been. Paddack has had a somewhat similar season to Ober's, a couple real stinkers, but otherwise has been solid to really good. He's been a little up and down, but I don't think that's all that unusual for someone coming back from TJ. Actually, he's been better than I had expected, or dared hope for. I never saw Varland imploding like he did at the beginning of this year. I don't know if SWR saved the Twins rotation or not, but he sure kept the rotation off of life support. I offered encouragement after he was traded for and looked bad due to his rushed advancement and the whole Olympic trial and games situation. I was encouraged after a solid 2022. I was really disappointed after last season. I know he was better the second half, but the BB were still up, and K's were still low, and the velocity was still barely hitting 90. I read articles about how his "stuff plus" should offer up hope, but I didn't have a lot, in full confession. The guy we're seeing this season is a completely different pitcher. The velocity is up, some of his pitches just look NASTY at times, and I agree with the announcers in his last game that he's just looking more and more confident on the mound. A little more command, and the ability to finish guys off with 2 strikes a little better, and he might just be a #3 starter based on what I've seen so far. I've really liked the way the Twins have handled him so far. I still don't know if Varland is going to be consistent enough to stay in the rotation, or move to a leverage spot in the pen with his stuff. But for now, I'm pretty sure he's going to stick to the rotation. Hopefully his latest start is a sign of things to come. Festa is awfully close. Matthews, Morris, and Lewis are all at AA now and other than any additional promotions, they should all three finish out the year at Wichita and be ready for St Paul in 2025, at the worst. Ohl is starting to look good again, and Raya is going to probably end up stretched out the 2nd half. I mean, you have to or you're going to be asked to roster him or not based on a pretty small sample size in another year or so. At this moment, I don't see anyone getting replaced in the Twins rotation, including SWR. Everyone's healthy and under 30, or way under 30. But even if Varland does move to the pen, if St Paul isn't pretty much stocked in the rotation next season, I'll be very surprised.
  25. DocBauer
    “I was on Jeopardy!,” said the sportswriter. “Twice.” I'm not sure if I like this line best, or the stuff about Gleeman. Wonderfully funny!
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