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Taildragger8791

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Everything posted by Taildragger8791

  1. Taildragger8791
    I guess that's part of why we're on different pages. I'm hoping this team can build for a run of dominance instead of holding on for hopes of sneaking into a 2nd wildcard spot and then getting smashed in the playoffs like we did through the mid 2000's. Those division wins feel tarnished when you look at how weak the division was and how thoroughly outclassed they were in the posteason.
  2. Taildragger8791
    This is where I agree, if Dozier can't get the return we think he's worth then we have to keep him. And I also agree that this staff doesn't have many people's trust to develop the young pitchers we may get in return. But if they can get the right players then they should still pull the trigger and try. This team has a decent offense but their ceiling is severely limited by the rotation. I don't think expecting the existing guys to "just do better" is realistic. They've mostly proven who they are at this point and they're all mediocre MLB starters except for Santana and maybe Berrios (hopefully). If we go into next year with the same staff it's likely going to be another miserable season of up and down stretches, where the 'up' is limited to competent-but-not-great and the down is as low as blown-up-by-5th-inning. Few offenses can out-hit slumps that deep.
  3. Taildragger8791
    That's another mischaracterization of the situation. The implication wasn't that Dozier led to the 100+ loss season, it's that even as good as he is this is still a 100-loss team. That's how far from contention they are. They need multiple players who can contribute within a couple years and into the future. They ideally could trade Dozier to get those players, while freeing up that $15-$20 million to go out and reinforce an underperforming position where we don't have in-house solutions (SP, C, maybe SS/3B down the road).
  4. Taildragger8791
    I'm not sure why you phrased it that way, because that's not at all representative of the Twins situation. They didn't just "fall out of contention", they were never in the picture for contention (102-103 loss pace at the moment), they haven't been close to in the picture for 5 out of 6 seasons, and they won't be in the picture again next year if they don't get some serious improvement on the mound. Dozier is the best asset we have, and is a bit of a luxury as a slugging 2nd basemen who's going to be a free agent before this team turns around. We have other sluggers in the system, but we don't have a sure #1-#2 pitcher. How else do you propose to fill that gaping hole?
  5. Taildragger8791
    It seems tough to believe that you don't have to catch much to learn how to play catcher. You can practice and chat with coaches all you like but there's little replacement for live reps, and experiencing the game situations and pressures. Garver is going to finish the year with maybe 60 games above A ball at one of the toughest defensive positions, where he was already raw at to begin with. How is it that he's supposedly ready to handle the big league staff with so little advanced-level experience? Unless he made huge progress he's going to need another year just to accrue maybe a typical full season's worth of starts above A ball. I don't know what the reasons are for not getting him more starts, but it's hard to buy that he's going to be ready for the majors until he gets more game time behind the dish.
  6. Taildragger8791
    My bad. Misread your post. Was thrown off because you wrote Gonzalez instead of Gonsalves and got focused on the second part of your post. I don't have a problem with throwing out of the zone, but you have to have the right pitches to do it at a 35%-40% rate. Gibson can't fool hitters into chasing with his pitches so he has to live in the zone or walk guys, which is why he struggles sometimes. Hopefully Gonsalves has better stuff to keep getting swings and misses.
  7. Taildragger8791
    If undisciplined AA guys are swinging at junk out of the zone that shows up as a strike, not a ball, so it's possible he's closer to 55%-60% of pitches in the zone and is getting bailed out with hacks. The high walk rate suggests that as well, but it looks to be improving. As Berrios is finding out you won't survive trying to get MLB hitters to chase fringy stuff out of the zone, so it's better to work on that now. Thankfully he seems to be improving at a good pace. Edit: I just looked at last night's box score and I see 66 strikes out of 105 pitches, not 73/42. That's definitely on the low side of where you want him to be. 2nd Edit: Disregard first edit. Tired eyes, my bad.
  8. Taildragger8791
    I'm glad to see Gibson bounced back to have an efficient second half of the game, even if his WHIP is still up there. Now he just needs to finish strong and get that full 7 or 8 instead of petering out and making a sh-- show of it. Maybe he'll go Randy Johnson and take out the bird that jimbo was talking about!
  9. Taildragger8791
    What kind of beer?
  10. Taildragger8791
    Gah. Even a #5 pitcher needs to be able to control a game like this against the worst offense in baseball. Especially when you're handed an early lead and your offense is threatening to pile on for you. Just put up a relatively clean 7 innings and your bullpen and rest of the team relax for once.
  11. Taildragger8791
    I bet you didn't think it would be so soon.
  12. Taildragger8791
    Braves are the worst offense in baseball for a reason. They've still got Gibson already up to 33 pitches and 3 baserunners, right on pace with his usual 6 inning 1.50 WHIP type of start. Hopefully he settles in now.
  13. Taildragger8791
    ERA alone in the minors doesn't mean much. K's, BB's, efficiency, and in-person scouting tell a much better story. Lots of pitchers get by on fringy stuff that they know how to get minor leaguers out with, especially in A ball, but then it doesn't translate to the majors. To this point he's performed like a cross between Gibson and Blackburn and hasn't excelled at anything, but he hasn't failed or stagnated either. He's young, I just don't see how you can expect major growth at this point. And without major growth he doesn't elevate the rotation or becomes more than a fringe #5 guy. If I'm planning a rotation roadmap for the next two years I'm certainly not reserving a spot for him. If something changes then they can always work him in somewhere later.
  14. Taildragger8791
    Whether or not it's "putrid", a pitcher who gets shelled every other outing is still tough to live with. He struggles to get through 5-6 innings almost every start, even in those 0-3 run games. He puts piles of guys on base and puts his team on their heels the whole time, requiring them to get to every ground ball in order to limit the damage. He rarely has a clean game where you can count on him to eat innings and take pressure off the defense and offense. I'd still offer him arbitration because he won't be expensive and this rotation is going to be warmed over dog doo doo next year anyways. But that doesn't mean I'm content with his performance, and I'd still be looking to replace him ASAP. I also sure as heck wouldn't let him block a prospect that forces their way into the rotation next year. The offense and bullpen are slowly getting better and it's time to raise the bar for expectations from all 5 starters before we squander too many more seasons.
  15. Taildragger8791
    You don't see how I can draw the conclusion that the Thins have drafted terribly? I didn't think that was a secret. I understand once players are in the system they all go through the same development channels. All I said is the Twins have somehow done ok lately at identifying and signing international talent, which is in contrast to their performance in the draft. I don't know if they're bringing in different types of players that fare better in their system, or they just got lucky on one side and unlucky on the other. You really think it's an unfair standard to ask for an average of 1-2 quality major leaguers out of the draft every 2-3 years? Because right now it's more like every 4-5. The Twins can't outspend their poor drafting like the Yankees, so they have to be better than league average at it.
  16. Taildragger8791
    Sano and Kepler were international signees, not draft picks. For some reason the Twins seem to do okay at signing international talent and are abysmal at selecting and developing from the draft. I don't know what to draw from that but a team like the Twins will never compete without doing well at both.
  17. Taildragger8791
    A number of pitching prospects look promising for a change, but after the number of faceplants we've witnessed I can't put too much faith in even dominant MiLB results right now. Especially when the Twins have been so poor at drafting/developing starters for decades. Until it happens I won't assume anything more than #4/#5 production and I'd still be looking to add a frontline starter from outside the organization for next year, if possible. The offense and bullpen have an opportunity to be league average or better next year and I'd rather not squander another season with a trainwreck rotation that's waiting on talent or is forcing unproductive prospects into it. Make guys force their way into the rotation with excellence and let's go win some games. If they're as good as people say they'll make it and we'll have an embarrassment of riches for a change. I know that may be an unrealistic fan's perspective but I'm tired of failed expectations and can't be sold on promise anymore.
  18. Taildragger8791
    Once again, the puzzling disconnect between MiLB and MLB performance is on display. Why can't we just have nice things?
  19. Taildragger8791
    Is there someone that can elaborate on what aspect of his defense is so deficient? I guess I haven't seen enough of him out there to notice more than a couple bad plays. He's not the fastest but he doesn't look like he's pulling a sled either. Considerably better than Delmon Young looking like he's pinching a penny between his but cheeks as he waddles. Does he take bad routes or misjudge balls? He seems to catch what he gets to and the arm looks passable. It's confusing how he could be rated so poorly when he looks to have average athleticism and baseball smarts.
  20. Taildragger8791
    Not at all, it's probably much better. Against lefties in the minors this year he was .500/.545/.850. He's clearly HOF against southpaws. Don't mind that it was only 20 AB. I kid. No I don't, but I don't think it's terribly far off other than the power may be inflated. He does have a history of hitting well against lefties, especially looking at his minor league splits over the years. Why not ride it out and see if he can keep it up? He isn't blocking anyone this year. It wouldn't work out logistically, but he'd platoon well with Palka if they find themselves on a roster together. Palka does quite a bit better against righties over his career, especially in the power department.
  21. Taildragger8791
    If you have a player hitting .333/.422/.538 I don't think you give half a rip about their defense as long as it isn't a total horror show. We experienced many years of Willingham and Delmon for less than that.
  22. Taildragger8791
    Vanimal and Wade, sittin' in a tree...
  23. Taildragger8791
    I'd still rather prioritize the guy that can be league average all around over the guy that's elite defensively and a black hole offensively.
  24. Taildragger8791
    Turner's weakness is offense, not defense. If the goal is to develop everyone then it makes sense to prioritize Garver playing catcher while getting Turner as many at bats as you can. Neither one will make it if they don't progress on the weaker half of their games.
  25. Taildragger8791
    I don't think I'd list Trevor May as a success story yet. He's already fallen from starter to reliever, and while he has good stretches he still gets blown up at times. I wouldn't call him established. I want to see a full season ERA below 4.00 first. Kepler could turn out to be a feather in the cap, but it's still too early to call him a finished product. There are some back and forth adjustments with pitchers yet to come. I'm reserving judgment on the college relievers until they get to the majors. The Twins have had plenty of guys dominate in the minors, it's the translation to the big leagues where the wheels tend to come off. The next year or two will be pretty telling.
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