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HitInAPinch

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Everything posted by HitInAPinch

  1. HitInAPinch
    I'd like to see the Twins be a little more aggressive in promoting players, too. However, Stewart did have some shoulder issues last year and he has a whopping 107 total innings to date. Then again, I too would like to see him at AA sometime shortly after mid-season this year....
  2. HitInAPinch
    I've often wondered why MLB management didn't like pitchers using both a slider and curve: Rasmussen. “When they start bleeding into each other, which they usually do, you have to make a choice. Otherwise you end up having two crappy breaking balls that look the same. But if one is a slider and one is a curveball, which is the case with Kohl, then they’re OK.” Check!
  3. HitInAPinch
    I think it'll all depend on how he handles breaking balls, because he's gonna see a lot this year. I'll say .260 BA, 25+ HR's, and a butt-load of K's.
  4. HitInAPinch
    "and, of course, nobody would be at all surprised to see Aaron Hicks rejoin the big league club." I would be stunned to see Hicks with the Twins this year. I predict his hitting at AAA this year will match closely with his MLB stats to date and may get cut at the end of the year. I just don't see the fire in Hicks to succeed. And I really hope I'm wrong.
  5. HitInAPinch
    I think the Twins would be in a lot of trouble if Hunter gets 550 plate appearances, i.e. the MiLB OF's are not as good/ready as we think they are. If we were to get the statistical equivalent of Hunter's stats last year at a 300-350 AB level, I'd be OK with that.
  6. HitInAPinch
    IMHO: While what you said is true, re: his time with the team, he was a MLB coach under Gardenhire. Gardy's body language made it very clear he didn't want Molitor around. I don't believe he had very much say on the makeup of this years team while he was a coach. I liked the way he talked about the team this spring, especially his handling of Hicks. I'm guessing some of these players [ Arcia comes to mind ] may be on a short leash. And I believe he has more baseball savvy than to acquire middle of the road free agent's to prop-up a 4-time 90 lose team, and block minor leaguer's that seem ready for the majors.
  7. HitInAPinch
    I'm not questioning Ryan, either. What I am questioning: 1. When did this test take place and was he tested in Atlanta? Was it a random test? ESPN said there were suspicions back to his Angel days because of his wildly erratic year-to-year performances. I'm finding it hard to believe this was his first test. 2. Why Pelfry? I get the move, but he had just settled into the bullpen role. Are we saying it's better to jerk around Pelfry than May or Meyer? That I can kinda buy.
  8. HitInAPinch
    After reading a whole bunch of Len III articles from the last 2 days and some of the comments here, I'm beginning to see a pattern. Maybe, just maybe, a plan. On the team makeup, I see couple things: 1. This team was put together before Molitor became the new manager. And as a 1st year manager, he's not going to have that much of a say. However, after a full Spring Training evaluation of players, he will have a significantly higher say during the season. 2. Molitor did have a say on this roster in a "Tom Kelly" way. Josmil Pinto was sent down to get playing time, i.e. you don't leave a potential starter for the future sitting on the bench. Chris Herrmann was selected because he can play a lot of positions other than catcher. Eduardo Escobar played a lot of non-shortstop positions in spring training. Tom Kelly rotated players a lot to keep them fresh all year long and in time of injuries . That seems to be the direction Paul Molitor is heading. Almost forgot: Aaron Hicks. Molitor moved firmly past the hype and demoted him, basically saying it's sink or swim time for Hicks. Finally, that in-season review by Molitor could play heavy on the pitching staff as well. A GM tuning down opinions of a highly baseball savvy HOF'er like Paul Molitor? I don' think so.
  9. HitInAPinch
    With consistent playing time: .280 BA, 21 2B, 15 SB and doesn't suck in CF. Good enough to keep Hicks at AAA where he'll be released at the end of the year for not being able to hit. Again. Buxton may get a Sept. call-up.
  10. HitInAPinch
    I'm hopeful that he's leaning more from Brunansky. Huge jump in BA to .255 [leaning to hit lefties some of the time] 28 HR's, equal number of 2B's . Walk and chew gum in LF
  11. HitInAPinch
    The whole OF situation is mind-boggling to me.
  12. HitInAPinch
    I've had a long standing belief that because MLB pitchers throw more strikes consistently than MiLB pitchers, some call-ups are more successful hitters against MLB pitchers. Especially guys with quick wrists like Santana. 405 AB's are a pretty good sample size. I believe that with a year of maturity, Santana's hitting will be improved, if he can reduce his strikeout rate. I'm thinking .300+ BA, 35+ 2B's and 25+ SB.
  13. HitInAPinch
    Glad to hear Perkins is getting better, but the continuing health issues are a big concern. The Twins really need to consider moving Perkins around mid-season. A rebuilding team has no need for a closer and should not be riding him into retirement.
  14. HitInAPinch
    Duensing, just like Burton, have been worn out over that past couple years because there were no other remotely reliable relievers. You want right-handed relievers that can get lefties out? Easy. Have Neil Allen teach them the same pitch that lead Frank Viola and Johan Santana to Cy Young awards: The Circle Change. If it were me, I'd teach the OK change to every relief pitcher.
  15. HitInAPinch
    Any rose colored glasses should have been busted by the Strib articles by Reusse and LaVelle this morning. Brutal truth....
  16. HitInAPinch
    Seth, About a couple months ago, Mauer told CBS Sports that he had left knee problems over the past year. http://fantasynews.cbssports.com/fantasybaseball/update/24994322/twins-joe-mauer-says-his-legs-feel-strong-heading-into-2015 I've read one account that said over the past 2 years, but can't locate that one. That being said, I'm expecting a much better year (at 1st and at the plate) for Mauer. .300+ ave. 15+ HR's 45+ 2B's
  17. HitInAPinch
    Das macht nichts! [Only words I remember for HS German class :-) ] By the time the All-Star game rolls around, the Twins will be out of it and other Teams will be shopping for a catcher.
  18. HitInAPinch
    People shouldn't get to crazy over this "change-up" philosophy. It's a relatively easy pitch to throw, different grips cause different motion and [most importantly] it's easy on the arm. I believe the biggest benefactor could be Phil Hughes. I'm still concerned about Pinto. And the Twins leaving him out there to get hit in the head a 3rd time.
  19. HitInAPinch
    Great news on Nolasco and Pelfry. I just don't want to hear that same garbage from Nolasco about his arm being hurt after several really bad starts last year. Tell your position coach or manager about an injury BEFORE going out there an performing poorly. Pinto should be in MiLB until completely healthy.
  20. HitInAPinch
    LaTroy Hawkins anyone? Pelfrey is now on the exact same path.
  21. HitInAPinch
    The Twins WILL improve. 81W's 81L's could be a stretch. I view pitching as the issue. My thoughts: Upside: Mauer It has been reveled he had a bad left leg over the past 2 years. It's also been report that it is all better now. I expect .300+, 12 HR+ 40 2B+ next year. His defense is also been said to be significantly better in Spring Training Arcia Sounds like he may be on a short leash. I do not know if that is true. But, not surprising. But I believe he's more than capable of tuning back the all-or-nothing BP swing, under a firm hand by Tom Brunansky. .260 would be nice, 30HR's well within reach. D. Santana I'm the opposite of most TD'ers: I believe Santana will improve. Mostly because 405 AB's is a pretty good sample size. Good eye at the plate, plus quick wrists and instincts = BA stay in .300 range, K's and BB both go i opposite directlons, 2B up significantly. IF, and only if, the Twins finally give up on a Schaefer/Robinson rotation and IF Rosario can't handle CF in MiLB, Santana becomes a fulltime CF Which means...... Escobar is a starting SS. 433 AB's are another good sample size and his Spring Training has been good. Given enough AB's, I'd expect similar number compared to last year. I see more question marks in Hunter, Plouffe, Vargas, Suzuki, Hicks and the 2 CF'ers than I do in the 4 previously mentioned. I actually don't expect Hicks to be back in the MLB. Then there is the "wish and a prayer" known as the Twins Starting Pitcher. E. Santana, Rick Nolasco and Tom Milone do not inspire confidence in me. Phil Hughes and Kyle Gibson had good, not great, years. OK, good for Twins pitchers. Both were allowed to throw more innings in an already lost year than they should have and may face a downturn because of that. Bullpen? Bringing in more 30+ former starters doesn't seem like any kind of answer to me.
  22. HitInAPinch
    I'm thinking along the lines of: moot point. Hicks was sent down because he couldn't hit. Rosario is the lesser of the CF's in terms of fielding that position. If, as I expect, Hicks can't hit the advanced breaking balls at AAA, his career will/should be over with the Twins. On the other hand, Rosario should be playing full-time in CF, as he has more advanced hitting skills than Hicks and only needs to tuneup his skills in CF.
  23. HitInAPinch
    Maybe I have a concussion and am confused, but why [in Spring Training of all things] did the Twins leave Pinto in the can after getting cracked in the head a 2nd time by Adam Jones ??? Anyway... Pinto should remain at AAA to get fully recovered and get playing time. If the Twins are as bad as I think they're going to be this year, Suzuki will be a trade commodity shortly after the All Star break. THEN bring up Pinto.
  24. HitInAPinch
    After Molitor's comments about Hicks (“I think the bottom line was he didn’t perform particularly well.”), I believe Hicks was sent to AAA to see if there's any chase he can hit at a higher level. Recent history says, no. At the end of the year, I'm expecting Hicks will not only NOT get a Sept. call-up, I'm expecting him to be released. Having Schaefer and Robinson on your MLB roster as CF's is pretty damning evidence.
  25. HitInAPinch
    May missed time early in camp because of the flu and only got 10 innings of work. And the one thing to note on Milone from Paul Molitor "the staff was impressed by his ability to “minimize” damage.“ My gut feeling is sometime around mid-season, a couple teams with an injured starter or 2 will come a-call-in' for Milone and Pelfry. I have faith in Molitor.
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