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jimbo92107

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Everything posted by jimbo92107

  1. jimbo92107
    Buxton: He's already reached his floor. Fast as hell, yet just a so-so base stealer despite his speed. Hasn't learned to lay off the sucker curve off the outside corner, the same pitch that sent young Torii Hunter back to AAA. Yet when he connects with a baseball, it's usually a hard line drive. Defensively, seems like no fly ball is a sure hit, but he needs to stop running into walls and people. Haven't really seen him show off the arm yet. Can he learn how to steal bases? Can he learn to lay off the sucker curve? I'd bet on it. Kepler: Der Kid just keeps getting better at this odd American game. He has already passed his floor as a fourth outfielder. He's starter quality now, if he just gets a chance. No reason to think he won't continue to improve, he appears very coachable. I just wish he'd get rid of that thick Ohio accent. ;-) Gordon: Haven't seen him play, so I have no idea.
  2. jimbo92107
    Polanco makes the team as a utility infielder, then takes over if/when SS or 2B moves on or gets hurt. Right now I'd rather have Polanco's bat in the lineup than Santana's. He's also a better base runner than Santana.
  3. jimbo92107
    Now imagine trying not just to regain your high average, but to start picking pitches to pull and drive over the fence in right field. I remember discussions about the difficulty of Mauer announcing his intention to start pulling the ball more to increase his power numbers, and the inevitable reaction of MLB pitchers, which was of course to start working him low outside and low/high inside, but almost never anything he could pull. When you combine Mauer's concussion symptoms with an attempted mechanical modification, it's not too hard to see how Mauer's batting average would bottom out. So far we have every indication that Mauer is going to play this season, so then the question is, will Mauer continue trying to change into a pull power hitter, or will he go back to his career bread and butter approach of being an opposite field wizard? The latter approach seems more likely, at least early on. It won't take long to see if Mauer is still whiffing on pitches he used to flick into left field.
  4. jimbo92107
    Perkins has worn out in the second half of the last two seasons. At his age and with all the energy he puts into his pitches, I wouldn't bet on him having a healthy and productive year as the primary closer. On the other hand, if the Twins manage to split the closer duties between Perk and Jepsen, they might make it through the season with two closers.
  5. jimbo92107
    I agree that the Twins this year appear to have better options at pitcher no matter how they distribute them. I'm a bit more optimistic than you appear to be about Duffey, who I think could be a star. I'm actually less optimistic about Meyer, who is starting to look to me like a complete bust. He fell apart last season as soon as he had a base runner, and that doesn't bode well for a tall guy with control issues. Trevor May on the other hand is I think going to be an innings horse if they make him a starter. May is one of those guys that absorbs lessons and techniques from other guys he watches, and that's a great trait in a young pitcher. His poise on the mound has improved greatly, and that includes his delivery from the set, which is MUCH better than when I first saw him. Obviously Berrios has to prove himself at the major league level, but I have little doubt he can be effective. His status depends on how the veterans look in spring training. If Hughes and/or Nolasco looks bad or lacks velocity, a spot opens up for Berrios.
  6. jimbo92107
    I like Michael Tonkin, and I think he can be a solid middle reliever for some team, but I don't see how he will survive with so many other high quality arms around and behind him. Pressly, Graham, May, and then a guy like Burdi coming up with blowtorch heat and a wipe out slider... Unless Tonkin develops impeccable control, I don't see where he fits for long. For Arcia, this is make or break spring training. He's got to put it all together right now, or the Twins will cut bait and go with other guys. My excuse for him last year was that his early hip injury kept bothering him all season. No more excuses. No more room. Danny Santana should make this team as a super-U guy, unless Joe Benson starts hitting like a first round draft pick, which is unlikely at this point. Speaking of which, wasn't Santana supposed to learn how to hit by now? I hate to tell Molly, but teaching a guy your hitting style doesn't make him as talented as you.
  7. jimbo92107
    Watch out for Mister In-Between. Hughes, Nolasco and Milone could provide a back end of the rotation that never sees 94mph on a fastball. The underwhelming power of these guys could brighten the day of hitters looking to break out of slumps. Meanwhile the Twins relegate their second best horse (May) to the pen and their best ace prospect Berrios to AAA to beat up on some more hapless minor leaguers, which is like sending a NASCAR contender to driver's ed. And the guy with the best curve ball on the team to the bullpen. Is any of that supposed to help the team win?? What's especially galling is that when you invert that plan and put Hughes, Nolasco and Milone in the pen, you might actually get the first two to add a few precious mph to their heaters, while keeping them in reserve for spot starts. A starting ro of Santana, Gibson, May, Duffey, Berrios provides lots of chances to go 6 or more innings, plus hotter, more dependable middle relief (and Meyer's big heater) for later in games. All the advantages seem to come by putting your vets in the pen, where their heaters can see a minor resurgence, and you save their arms for later in the season, like a spot start from a daisy fresh Phil Hughes in a playoff game. Meanwhile, if one of the young guns falters, you've still got your veterans to fall back on.
  8. jimbo92107
    The sooner we get to Rosaro, Buxton, and Kepler, the better. Meanwhile, I have no objections to Buxton and Kepler starting in AAA, where they can get some finishing school on their hitting. While that's going on, I'd have Santana in CF, and platoon Arcia and everybody else around the outfield. If Arcia starts to hit, great. If not, out he goes around mid season. Not even sure what to do with Park. If he hits in spring training, is that real? If he's catching up to heaters, I'd be tempted to find a spot on the MLB roster. Otherwise a little while in AAA couldn't hurt, while he crams with an English phrase book. Rochester's liable to have a real lumber company in the outfield. Yay!
  9. jimbo92107
    You do realize you just said that Tommy Milone will beat out Jose Berrios for the fifth spot in the Twins rotation out of spring training. In other words, in the opinion of the Twins coaches, they will conclude Tommy Milone will be a better pitcher this season than Jose Berrios. Just making sure you realize you weren't just thinking that, you actually typed it. 8-O
  10. jimbo92107
    A lefty cutter could be a great pitch, but there's certain guys (like Brian Dozier) that you wouldn't want to throw it to. Guys that can clear their hands quickly could hammer a pitch like that. Of course, you can show a pitch like that down, then toss a change over the outside corner. I especially liked how Gonsalves talks about getting that attitude of beating the hitter. If he can learn to reload and attack with every pitch, he can be one of those bulldog pitchers that we all love.
  11. jimbo92107
    It all depends on Oswaldo Arcia. If he comes to spring training healthy and with sharpened skills in right field, then he probably gets one last full shot, which probably keeps Kepler in AAA. When Arcia was healthy, his power swing was hard to ignore. If he is finally ready to act like a pro, he could be pretty good.
  12. jimbo92107
    Who needs defense with the lumber company the Twins will have? Famous last words...
  13. jimbo92107
    Duffey will be fine because he's got one of the most mind-bending curveballs in the league. He will continue to use that pitch to get hitters out, and to set up his decent heater and change-up. He does need to get a little better at mixing up the change and his heater, but he spots that curve so well, he can always fall back on it.
  14. jimbo92107
    Eddie Rosario is one smart ballplayer, and he loves beating his opponents. If that takes more plate discipline, I expect Eddie will add that to his bag of tricks. If Bruno and Molitor put it in terms of upping the pressure on the pitcher, Eddie will be right there with 'em. Get the count in your favor, Eddie!
  15. jimbo92107
    So many uncertainties, it's impossible to say how it will shake out in spring. It seems silly to continue down the road with fading starters like Nolasco and Hughes, while Tommy Milone seems better suited to long relief and spot starts. I'd put them all in the pen to see if their numbers improve with fewer times through opponents' batting orders. Hughes especially could shine in late inning roles, possibly as a closer. That would leave the starting ro open for Santana, May, Gibson, Duffey and Berrios, any of whom could break out for 180 to 200 innings. Meanwhile, you put three good vets in the pen, you can forget about iffy middle relievers for a year or three. Add Burdy, Meyer to Perk and Jepsen, maybe Rogers for loogy, that's looking not bad. Position players is such a mess right now, not even worth guessing. Dozier at second.
  16. jimbo92107
    Bravo and thank you to Michael Cuddyer. He was an excellent player, a real team leader, and could become an excellent coach or manager. What an arm!
  17. jimbo92107
    Especially number 4. Aaron Hicks was improving from the left side of the plate, but his lefty stroke is VERY unlikely ever to be as good as Max Kepler's, and Max may turn out to be just as good as Hicks in the corner OF.
  18. jimbo92107
    Nolasco and Hughes to the bull pen, May to the starting rotation. Hughes could dominate for several years as a closer, while Nolasco would be a good middle inning guy.
  19. jimbo92107
    What I get from those clips is not just a failure to load up, but a failure to follow through with the rear hip. Compare any of those swings to Adrian Gonzalez, and you'll quickly see the most important difference - hip follow through. That's what allows the bat to square up and travel farther with power and reach through the hitting zone. It's what allows Gonzalez to drive the ball to the gaps and over the fence to all fields. Now look how all these examples feature either no hip follow through, or a slight hip follow through. This is a terrible way to hit. Not only do you get less bat travel through the zone, you also increase your chances of injuring your torso muscles as you put on the brakes early. The most natural reaction to that style would be to protect yourself by not swinging as hard as you should. Thus, the punchless Minnesota Twins, with both feet rooted in the batter's box.
  20. jimbo92107
    Not that I'd know, but that's about $10 million bucks less than I thought he'd get.
  21. jimbo92107
    Bingisimo. When it comes to Glen Perkins regaining his dominance, nature says no. There is no fundamental flaw in his throwing mechanics; he's just getting too old to throw baseballs that hard that often. Same is true for Phil Hughes. Both guys are past their fire-baller prime. Hughes, Perkins and Jepsen are in a good position to form a musical chairs rotation for closer and setup. Meanwhile, Trevor May has improved in every role the Twins have put him into, so he should go right back into a rotation of Santana, Berrios, Duffey, Gibson and May. Each of those five guys is young enough, talented enough and healthy enough to approach 200 innings at an ERA around 4. I'm assuming JR Graham will start the season in AAA as a starter. Got my doubts about Ryan O'Rourke making the squad with Taylor Rogers pushing for some kind of spot, maybe as LOOGY middle reliever with spot starts. Spring training will be huge this coming year. Nothing ever turns out perfect. Guys falter or get hurt, while a few guys flash apparent talent that later reveals to be an illusion. Mainly tho, this team looks to be seriously on the rise. Not yet ready to take on the Royals, but they could be a disruptive influence.
  22. jimbo92107
    Levi Michael wouldn't be able to crack the Twins lineup, but he might get some interest as a utility guy, then eventually work his way into a starter's job at 2nd base. Too many injuries, other guys passed him up.
  23. jimbo92107
    Sounds like about what the Twins must be thinking. Trading Hicks for Murphy eases a positional logjam at both ends of the deal, and opens up career opportunities for both players. I hate to see Hicks go because I like watching a guy figure things out, and it looked like he was getting there. Same thing may have been happening to Murphy in NY. Wedged between McCann and Sanchez, Murphy wasn't likely to emerge as the steady starter. Good luck to both guys. Not a steal on either side, but a good team move.
  24. jimbo92107
    Good topic to chew on, the Twins outfield in April 2016 may not include Buxton or Kepler, so who will be running around out there? My first guess is that Rosario is a given in LF, Danny Santana could be CF, with possibly Arcia in RF, platooning with somebody. Plouffe? Sano? Everybody?? This also brings up the lesser-known side of Miguel Sano, which is that the big kid is actually pretty fast, and his arm may well be as strong in the outfield as Hicks's. We see Sano's size and assume he's a lumbering giant like Kennys Vargas, but he's not. He's big, strong and athletic, a lot like a good NFL tight end. A guy like that can be a very good outfielder, and with that gun for an arm, some folks might regret going for second on him. If Sano conditions himself like a pro athlete, he should have less trouble with his Achilles. I'll admit I may never enjoy watching him dive for a fly ball, but Sano could be just fine in right field.
  25. jimbo92107
    When Hicks came up after his AAA demotion, he had changed two very important things. First, he had developed a better butt-turn and kick to load up his lower half. Second, he had developed a higher, more extreme bat twirl that I compared to the Cuban style. Those two changes allowed Hicks to unload with much more force through the hitting zone, plus they allowed him to check his swing better. Suddenly, he looked great. Unfortunately, Hicks started drifting away from those changes later in the season, so his bat cooled off. My fear is that he will quickly re-learn that kick and that bat twirl with the Yankees, then start hitting like freakin' Dave Winfield for the next ten years...for the freakin' Yankees. On the other hand, it looks like we got a decent backup catcher.
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