Trov

It is true that if you play by the rules the sides laid out you can say who cares. I think for some fans it is a measure of it the team/FO are "good" guys or not. But, why do they need to be good for players? However, I see two issues with manipulating service time. One, it further pushes the teams and players apart leading to even longer strike/lockout which means no baseball to watch. Two, it helps divide the player and the team. Now, if you know you do not think you will sign them, then maybe one extra year of control is worth that. However, if you think you will hope to sign them when they are a FA, not doing something to get them upset with you early on may be a good route to go. At least for me, if a team manipulated my service time, when FA time came there is no way I would sign with them if I had more options. Unless their offer was extremely higher. That is just me, maybe Alex would not care.

I take little stock in what vet pitchers do in ST both good and bad. If you know you are going to make the team many players will just work on things and not care about results. Lets wait and see what the regular season brings before we are ready to release Happ. He is slotted as 4th starter too, not like we are hoping he would step in to be a top guy.

Fully agree. Dobnak is still young and room to grow. Dobnak had great stretch last year then fell off. I would love to see if his new slider can carry over into regular season and pile up some good numbers again. Without Dobnak first half last season we would not have won the central most likely. I am not saying you owe him anything for it, but if it was a true battle for 5th spot Dobnak won that battle.

I think the Twins have much more pitching depth than Sox do. I am not sold as Shoemaker being the 5th starter all year, or even breaking as 5th, but we have much better options when injuries happen as well. Sox top 3 can match up very well with us and many teams, but their last 2 are not proven and to my knowledge they do not have much depth. My guess they will be seeking to buy a starter mid-season.

I do not see how Twins can justify not starting Dobnak over Shoemaker. What in Shoemaker history says he just gets the 5th spot? If Dobnak does not get shot in rotation out the gate it means he never had a chance for one and the rotation was set before spring started. Dobnak will be first starter up when someone misses a start for injury if he is not in rotation. I also cannot get over the story Dobnak had. How many pitchers in his drafts signed, and failed in baseball? It just shows that not every guy can be found right away. Even if he is just an average pen pitcher the rest of his career I still see him spending many years in majors. To go from undrafted and seen on a youtube video to making majors just a couple years later, to even start post-season game. I will be rooting for him no matter where he ends up the rest of his career.

Agree, I am not that high on Smeltzer. He is a nice story, but has not run away with his chances yet. He may actually make it through waivers as well.

Law has been doing very well, but much as many have asked who gets off the 40 man to put him on it? That is another thing the FO will have to think about, who are they willing to lose to waivers when removing from 40 man. I wonder if any trades are being talked about to fix that issue? Not too often is that done. Normally teams will just have a ton of movement and hope their guy makes it through.

In response to the questions, I believe Thorpe will be sent cross river. I also think he will be one of first pitchers brought back should the need arise. We all know he will make it over at some point. Twins work through pitchers like crazy. As for substance on balls, that will be very hard to monitor. I get the intent of more balls in play generally, as that leads to more action. I do not think this is the path to go. It sounds like the league thinks this is being done in the dugouts before the balls get to the umps, as I understand they cycle through balls. This will be easy to stop by having independent person checking the balls that are out of play before it cycles back to the ump. One issue if pine tar is found on the ball will be that bats have that all over it, and on players batting gloves and they may get some on the ball, which could lead to claim it was the pitcher, or catcher who did it. If the substance can add spin rate, then to me, only significant difference in spin rate during a particular game would be evidence that the pitcher did anything. If it was just increased from a game to another that would not be enough for me. I think the league should also find how much a substance can affect pitcher in getting strikes, while balancing what lack of a substance may do with control of the ball. With guys throwing high 90's across the league, at least every team has 1 player with that velo now a days, I am wondering how much the substance may help with control. I know if I was a hitter, if the lack of a substance may lead to more wild pitches and the increased advantage is minimal, I would want the pitcher to be less wild. I have not seen the evidence that substances can really make that big of a difference, but I hope the league has and knows how much of a difference this will make. When you look the rule changes they are doing across minor leagues, the league clearly wants more action in the game, to try and get more fans it would seem.

I have said all along that until Twins showed clear intention of manipulating service time I would give benefit of doubt they would not. This move does not show a clear intent to manipulate service time. Kirilloff did not play well enough to force the Twins into that decision. Kirilloff did not put up huge numbers in AA or AAA over his career yet. Everything is about his hype, which I am on that train, but when you are expected to be a big bat and you hit below .200, sure in short sample, but others are competing and hitting well. What will be interesting is to see who breaks with team, and how long will team ride with them if they struggle before Alex takes a train ride from St. Paul to MPLS. We will not have number to compare, unless it is May time. I would ride with Rooker for most games to start. If he hits like he has shown he can then he may make it hard to let Alex get time. If Rooker struggles then you swap the two.

I do not see how people can claim the Kirilloff move is service time related. I said from beginning if Kirilloff played well in spring he would break with team. He has not hit well, and Rooker and Garlick have both hit better. Rooker has shown he should get a chance. I am afraid what his defense will be, but let his bat carry him. I see no issue sending Kirilloff to alternate site. Everyone thinks he should get shot, me included, but when you struggle in spring and the others do not it is hard to push him into lineup. If Rooker does not carry bat into season and struggles, you can bring Alex over, he is only across the river.

I think the biggest thing playing into this is the push back of AAA season to May. If I was running the show, I would start Kirilloff and see how he does when games matter. If he struggles early, you move him to alternate site. That being said, I would not be upset if Rooker gets the start and Kirilloff goes to alternate site. I do not put a lot of stock in ST numbers, but when there is a position battle, you have to use something. If Rooker was not hitting like he is I would go with Kirilloff no doubt, but if Rooker can hit well that can help get some wins early.

It is situational though. First, unless the person practices it, it will be unlikely the player will just do it. But, lets assume the player can do it whenever they want. You would not want them to do it with runner on second and two outs. Why you may ask? Well the run will not score and all you did is put the onus on someone else to get the hit to score the run. How about with 2 outs and down by 1 in 9th and it is a Jim Thome or Big Papi type? Of course you will not want them to bunt for a hit in that spot. You want them to swing for fence like they get paid for. If it is to lead off an inning I have no issue taking a base hit if you can get it. But teams will tend to play the 3b in some to take it away until there are 2 strikes. Now that is where I wish guys would practice bunt more. If you strike out a ton and fall behind say 0-2 or 1-2, why not bunt it. You just have to get past the pitcher and does not really need to be that close to foul line. Point is, pay attention to the situation and react to it, not just bunt for hit because you can.

I have no worries about offense. Spring numbers mean nothing. We have no clue what guys are working on. Even more so for guys that know they have a spot on team they may be working on identifying specific pitches, or trying to do certain things. I have seen many a player crush in spring then be off the team mid april because they strike out half the time and hit below 100.

The only manager in Twins history to win WS title had no "fire". He was about as passive as you can be as a manager. What does "fire" have to do with being a good manager? Gardy had all kinds of "fire", but I felt he was terrible manager based on his in game decisions. Sure, some guys may react well to being yelled at all the time a get a rush when their manager goes out and yells and screams making a scene. Twins right now have different approach, does not mean it is wrong.

Just about every team cut payroll this year. Twins are still in middle of league in spending. We are spending almost 70 mil more than Tampa, and Tampa is expected to be fighting for playoffs, just like us. Spending big does not mean you will win, you need to spend right. If you can find a good arm for cheaper why not do it?

Kirolloff has not played himself into the lineup, and if he starts it is because that was decided coming into spring and there never was a comp. I do not put much stock into spring numbers. I remember many Twins crushing in spring and make the team because of it only to fall flat on their face. If you only look at the numbers you may be missing many things. Like, their hits, what kind of pitches was it on? How were they being pitched too? What kind of defense was out there? So many more things to pay attention too. For example, if the person crushed fastballs over and over, but never could hit off-speed and swung at it over and over, how do you think they will fare in regular season? I am not saying Alex should get the start, I think it can easy be argued Rooker should get time out there to start season and Alex needs to force his way in, or Rooker plays his way out. Personally fine either way. Garlick is not likely. Much like Broxton, he is who he is. Garlick was brought in for injury depth and nothing more.

Relievers are always such a wildcard. Every year this are several that have great years that no one expected and others have terrible years. Only a few guys will year in and year out be able to be counted on. With current trends having strong pen across the board is important, where it used to be a couple of top guys was all you needed. That being said, I never am big on signing FA pen guys. Mainly because the difference between most FA and a guy that comes up from AAA or lower level signing normally is not enough to give up huge money on them. It is also hard to say they will always be better than what you have. Not just for Twins, but many teams will sign a guy only to have them fall out of favor when an unknown pitches better, and the cycle continues over and over.

Interesting that Topps has a card of a guy fielding when he will most likely be known for his bat.

The people that are upset about his statement are not fully listening to it. As stated, he said it bunting has its place at times. He did not say never bunt, he was pointing out the use of bunting more often than not is the issue. Of course, if a pitcher that hits sub .100 will be asked to bunt almost always when runners are on. Having a productive out is always better than a double play or strikeout. Also in late game situations where 1 run is needed there are times bunting to get a guy in scoring position and getting rid of double play can be helpful. However, with the lack of bunting ability of many players, you need to decide if asking them to bunt is worth it either. If they cannot bunt well, then you are just taking bat out of hand. As baseball has always been, everything is about situation. Bunting and base stealing, and hit and run plays have fallen way off lately because teams have decided giving away an out or risking the out is not worth the likely reward. If you knew every time you would get a run out of it, they would do it every time, but if the odds of getting the run is not increased, why do it?

If this pitch can be an out pitch for Dobnak he should get his chance as starter. He has produced for most part his whole career. His biggest issue was lack of an out pitch. Hitters hardly ever hit him hard, but they would foul off so many pitches he could not go deep into games. If he can mix this pitch in to get more swings and misses when he gets to 2 strikes he needs to get some time in rotation. I would not be surprised given that he has options that he starts at alternate site until a spot start is open, or they have him start in pen to do long relief or spot starts when open. Then I bet he shows what he can do again and gets a full time rotation spot. As long as the slider gets him outs. If Dobnak can be above average MLB pitcher, Falve needs to be mentioned as all time great pitching diamond in rough finder. I do not know how he does it, but so often he can find guys later in rounds, or independent leagues and be major league quality. I am sure he has had some swings and misses, but he seems to have a knack of finding guys no one was that high on. I wonder if he knows when to pass on guys everyone is high on and they are all wrong? That would be huge test of his ability to spot good pitching talent or not.

Throwing breaking pitches in the zone does not mean throwing hung breaking pitches in the zone. The old term, pitching backwards comes to mind. If you can throw a breaking pitch early in count for a strike hitter is more likely to take it. Then later in at bat you can throw fast ball for strike when ahead in the count, or breaking pitch out of zone for a hopeful chase. The reason sliders are in right now is they are about same speed as fastballs, but with movement. The hope is hitter cannot tell it is a slider, I know Buxton never can tell a slider away is a slider and always thinks it is a fastball. However, if you never can get them for strikes hitters will try to sit on fastballs all the time.

Rocco and front office has said for years they do not subscribe to "closer" role. Rodgers did kind of fall into that roll second half of 2019 and all of 2020, with a few exceptions of others getting spots. However, I do believe them when they say no "closer" because they know if a string of lefties are coming up in 7th or 8th that rodgers would be best to get out they would bring him in. They know to not let your best option sit on bench because it is too early in game. Of course, there will be one or two main late inning guys that will start to come in. It is not like they will go on a rotation of who pitches 9th inning, but it will be game specific each game I believe.

Puig's off field issues aside, which is likely to lead to long suspension, Puig has always been know to be a headache for managers. He may play hard, but he has been known for long time making decisions many managers are not happy with and does not take direction well. The fact that his numbers have been falling since his early years also adds to teams not willing to pick him up. He plays corner OF spot with slightly above average power, but has a ton of headaches on and off field. I can see why no teams are willing to take a waiver on right now.

I have high hopes too, but we have had a hitter with power and average the last 2 years. His name is Nelson Cruz. Yes, a few of our guys have been all power no average or higher average no power, but Cruz has been both the last 2 years. Your comment makes it seem like we have not had any high power and average guys at all.

The fact that Castillo has 3 years of control means the Reds have the leverage in any trade. They are not forced to make a deal or risk losing for draft pick, that will be the comp when he is FA. Either way they have at least this full year and next year until trade deadline to make a deal. The deal proposed here I would hate if I was a reds fan. Your best asset and you get back a SS that was shifted to 2b because of his lack of defense at SS, and a draft pick and low level prospect. I would not stomach that as a reds fan. I am not a follower of the reds farm system, and do not know when they think their window will be, but this deal offered would seem to move the needle for reds. The reds will sit and wait until this trade deadline and see which teams will pony up bigger prospects moving forward. Their only risk is Castillo injury or poor pitching.