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peterb18

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Everything posted by peterb18

  1. peterb18
    I couldn't agree more with this analysis. Good job!
  2. peterb18
    Leviathan, No they are not the same. If you ever pitched a lot of games you would know there is a big difference. However, only a few pitchers can pitch this way--a guy like Liriano can. Maybe the only way he can pitch. There is a big difference between throwing strikes and pitching to contact than just trying to bust the ball. With the later you can just try to get relaxed with your arm and rock back and just try to hit the plate and let natural movement take over. The type of movement is determined by your arm angle. Over the top is best for strikeouts. Like Bert always says," set them up with fastball and the strikeout pitch is the curve, or slider in the dirt". If you told Sandy Kofax to pitch to contact he would be in a lot of trouble. Now a guy like Radke, that is a different story.
  3. peterb18
    I agree with the above.The only way I see a competitve pitching staff for the next two years is to sign Liriano, Baker and hope that Gibson develops. From what I see there are no potential 1 or 2 starters in the farm system. Otherwise it is going to a rough next couple of years.
  4. peterb18
    I must add that I don't think he will want to come back to the Twins. Probably wants to get away from Anderson and the pitch to contact philosophy. A pitcher like him just needs to bust the ball in there and let the natural movement take place. He is at his best when he doesn't think too much and become overwhelmed. He is more of a natural.
  5. peterb18
    I think they should keep him. If they re-sign Liriano, sign Baker(who has a real live arm when healthy), hope that Gibson is ready, and then sign Grienke as your fourth starter. That would be 4 strong arms with good stuff. Then have Diamond as your other starter--that is a pretty good staff. A lot of big ifs! Also, I think most fans want a competitive team next year. Not a repeat of the last two seasons.
  6. peterb18
    I would keep Liriano on the basis of what he is doing now, or potential. However, somebody mentioned that he might not want to come back--that could be accurate. So he might need a change of scenery. But, if the Twins are looking for starting pitchers with good stuff, by keeping Liriano, and Gibson and Baker(Baker has a nice live arm) come back strong then we have three pitchers with solid ability. By adding Grienke we would have four quality arms. All big if's!
  7. peterb18
    Agree with the above statement-- Terry Ryan knows what needs to be done. It is a matter of the Pohlads being willing to step up to the plate and sign some Free Agents(pitchers)---they, the family, chose to cut payroll after a 93 win season two seasons ago. Their history doesn't indicate an eagerness to take the next step. They probably are not even embarrassed by this team. A friend of mine just said," They field a triple AAA team, but charge major league prices".
  8. peterb18
    Typo---buy a ticket
  9. peterb18
    Here is a comment I made last week about Blackburn: He just doesn't have enough quality to his pitches--not enough movement, not a real good fastball, terrible curveball, etc. Everything has to be perfect for him to be successful. If he is pitching I wouldn't but a ticket!
  10. peterb18
    Fantastic Jack----Great post--You hit it on the head! I've been saying this considerable times on various baseball sites for over the last few years. The only way to get out of this mess is for the Pohlads to "step up to the plate" and sign free agent pitchers. Actually, this could have been done already, but they chose not to. Oh, I disagree that Hendricks has good stuff. Dosen't have a good fastball, throws somewhat 3/4-- which kind of flattens out the ball. Has decent control. They want him to locate the fastball first and then the other pitchers. When you have underwhelming stuff, you then should pitch backwards--constantly. Hopefully, he could develop into a 5th starter. Hope I'm wrong on this!
  11. peterb18
    I have faith in Ryan. But, not in the Pohlads! They tried to sell the team, and contract the team. They are not baseball people interested in winning. If so, we would be in contention now. Two years ago they had 93 wins and instead of taking the next step they(ownership) decided to reduce payroll and rebuild. Not what championship teams do! We are a midmarket team--we should follow the Cardinals lead!
  12. peterb18
    This is about as good of an explanation of Blackburn's troubles that I have seen. He just doesn't have enough quality to his pitches--not enough movement, not a real good fastball, terrible curveball, etc. Everything has to be perfect for him to be successful. If he is pitching I wouldn't but a ticket!
  13. peterb18
    I do agree that we need starting pitching--as most on this board. But, Span is developing into one of the best centerfielders in the American League. No way Revere(no arm and a Punch and Judy hitter) should be playing over Spann.--even though he is playing well. However, you know that your team is improving if Revere is a utility player. Therefore, the fastest way to improve this team is for the core to remain and the Pohlads to sign some free agent pitchers. Remember, when you are having over 30,000 paying customers each ballgame-- management has to try and field a competitive team. You must do this until the young core of players arrive. We don't have a lot of trade material now. So we should follow the Cardinal model as we are mid-market team( like the Cards). Develop your base and sign a few key players each year. That is the most logical way to get to the top again. But, the Pohlads have to get salary base up again.
  14. peterb18
    You see it works this way. Teams in contention do not want to part with a player who helped them contend. They want to get stronger. In order to get stronger they trade for players like Span who provide better defense or that leadoff hitter they lack. They trade young players who are not helping the team win right now but players who may help a cellar dweller contend next year or the year after that... Or year after that. Riverbrian your quote from above is exactly right. I was listening to Baseball America on XM this spring and a caller asked about the Twins and Casey Stern gave an interesting quote. He said something like, "I can't understand the Twins-most teams when they have 93 wins(this refers to the 2010 season) will try to take the next step and try to strenghten the team. The Twins took the opposite approach and started to lower payroll and decimate the team." That is one of the reasons that I don't have any faith in the Pohlads to take the next step. The whole question of outfield depth really comes down to the development of Benson and HIcks--and Buxton.
  15. peterb18
    I have been as critical of Benson as most on this site. A very good athlete--but, is he a baseball player? However, he has big upside if it all comes together. Remember he was a full scholarship at Purdue in football, and it has always taken him a little longer to conquer a level than most high level players. As far as Hicks is concerned--(saw him play in Florida) and he has all the tools-size, strength, speed, etc to be a very good major leaguer-ala Tori Hunter. Both of these guys just need time-- it could all come together. Now Buxton is a different situation from the start. He is a baseball player(watch the videos) who just needs some seasoning. But, if all comes to fruition those three together will make a heck of an outfield. I think the Twins look at it that way!
  16. peterb18
    I do think that he is not the shortstop of the future. More of a 2nd baseman. However, Coomer has been talking a bit about him using the opposite field--maybe they are changing his swing--ala Hardy. This could cause lapses in the field. Just a theory!
  17. peterb18
    I saw Hicks play in a spring training game this year. I was impressed with his size and skills in the game. I also think that when he was drafted he was more of an athlete than a baseball player. If the Twins are patient the instincts will come. He plays at a slower pace than Benson already. Benson is the one I'm worried about.
  18. peterb18
    I think he could be a good 2nd, or 3rd starter. A number 2 can be a control pitcher as long as you have at least two power arms in the rotation. What makes Diamond effective, outside of changing speeds, is that he comes overhand and has a downward break on the ball. These type of pitchers are usually more effective. Whereas, 3/4 guys usually throw a flatter ball--much easier to follow the ball.
  19. peterb18
    You still have the Pohlads no matter what year. Winning is not a priority. They tried to contract, sell the team--so they don't have a deep held desire for championships. If they did we would be contending now!
  20. peterb18
    No, Congo Hammer that comment was meant specifically for the Michael pick. We are all aware that draft picks should be highly talented--power arms, strong hitters, elite athletes , etc. We all want that! But, every team needs Jamie Carroll type players--good baseball players to fill out a roster. Seth's comment is right on!!
  21. peterb18
    I have a little different take on the Michael draft. I'm certainly not happy with him as the #1pick. But, with all of the busts that many early draft picks are, if Michael can duplicate what Carroll has done in his career--3,000 games, .276 batting average, etc., I will be happy. Again, I know Carroll is not a #1 pick, but he is a heck of a player. He is an excellent defender, can bunt well, can hit behind the runner. And he is a complete team player.
  22. peterb18
    What a weak starting staff--probably in the bottom 2 or 3 in all of the major leagues. This draft is so important. Watching Anderson on the sidelines--he is under so much pressure with this staff. Only so much he can do. Like Keith Law stated(yesterday's tribune),"I think they focus too much on polish". Until they change focus nothing will change. Ever listen to TK and his philosophy on hitting the spots, etc. Power pitchers usually bust it in there and let the natural movement take over. This attitude is too pervasive(control pitching) in the minors. Not enough hard throwers--as we all know. People on this site have been talking about this for a long time.
  23. peterb18
    This is more of an ownership problem than one of management. After cutting payroll so much there isn't a lot management can do until a new crop of players come through, which could take 6 years. Terry Ryan, himself, a few years back said when you miss a few draft classes that you have to wait for a new cycle. The only way we can have a decent team in the next few years is to spend money on free agents until the youngsters arrive. Providing there is talent below. However, I do admit that the coaching and scouting, in particular, have not done a good job lately.
  24. peterb18
    This is a very tough decision for the Twins. I disagree with some in this discussion that Baker is a nibbler. Far from it. When healthy, besides Liriano, he is the only starter(starters beginning of spring training) with a live arm. He also has a nice downward break on the slider, or curve ball. So if he heals properly there is a big upside for Twins--which need starting pitching desperately. The guy that they should cut bait with is Blackburn--really a one pitch guy--no upside at all.
  25. peterb18
    Most people on this board are real baseball fans and like this type of discussion. However, if you are upper management, you still need to maintain a fan base. So you need a core of players to be competitive. Therefore, you need Morneau. I have been very critical of ownership in stripping this team of its core players the last few years. And if Morneau stays healthy(when traded) then you are really in trouble. When the state gave the team a new stadium the Pohlads should feel some responsibilty of fielding a competitive team. You would think!
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