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MileHighTwinsFan

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Everything posted by MileHighTwinsFan

  1. MileHighTwinsFan
    This article got me thinking about the evolving skill set required of all infielders in an analytics driven world where an infielder might find himself at various positions on the field on any given pitch. Should we be developing infields with players that possess a different set of skills and deploy those skills in the manner that makes the most sense on any given pitch. Will we get to a point where the notion of a shortstop, third baseman and second baseman are irrelevant and we position infielders on pitches to play to their unique strengths. In the case of Polanco - having him on the left side of the infield against pull heavy left-handers makes sense because of the range he has over Arraez in terms of covering more territory while the other players overshift to the second base side. However, it may make more sense to put Arraez at third against pull heavy right handers so that he can use his arm from 3rd to make a play. Seems like the days of pigeon-holing players into a defined "position" makes no sense and instead we should focus on filling out infields with the requisite skill sets to defend against any given hitter.
  2. MileHighTwinsFan
    It will be a good night if Garver, Cruz or Sano hit bombas in one of their first couple at bats, all the better if it happens with Polanco on base. My money is on Garver, who seems to be able to get to high fastballs a bit better than Cruz and Sano. I expect Twins to be very aggressive and I would not be surprised to see Rosario surprise by jumping on a first pitch fastball. If Twins can get to the 5th inning with the lead - the bullpen can take it from there. Not expecting much from Kepler or Cave, but could see Gonzalez be a factor in a clutch situation. I expect a strong performance from Berrios, but I worry about our infield defense. A great performance can unravel quickly with an error. Give the Yankees any opening and they are sure to capitalize. I will be watching how they pitch Gardner. He is the one holdover from the previous set of ALDS debacles against the Yankees and I could see pesky at bats from him that will spark the offense. If they keep Gardner off the bases and keep Judge in the park, I expect a Twins win.
  3. MileHighTwinsFan
    His stuff was legit last night. His ability to locate pitches down in the zone and then bring heat up in the zone was impressive. I don't know any major league line up that is going to square him up if he is able to consistently execute that approach. His demeanor suggests that he can handle the biggest stage in the game, Yankee Stadium. I would love nothing better than to see him get a Game 2 start and watch the Bombers fizzle.
  4. MileHighTwinsFan
    I am sure there are a thousand reasons not to do this - but given the analysis in this piece, I would love to see the Twins mix up their lineup a bit and shift their gameplan to be a little more dynamic than get on base and hope for a Bomba. To me one of the reasons the offense has been stagnant is that our two best baserunners - Rosario and Buxton have been on the shelf. Given that the infield is the NYY weakness and the dominance of the bullpen - I would love to see them work to get runs on the board early by putting pressure on the infield and Sanchez. I know he is still questionable - but I would love to get Buxton more at bats early in the game. Why not put Polanco, Buxton and Rosario 1-3 in the lineup - and do what we can to try to use our legs to get an early run or two. Flail away.
  5. MileHighTwinsFan
    I just don't understand the trade Sano for Mad Bum talk or the notion that he will disrupt the clubhouse chemistry. 3B has the worst offensive production on the team and all the preseason talk was how Nelson Cruz would be a great mentor for Sano. If we didn't have Sano in the system, half of this post would have been looking at possible upgrades at 3B. I am in the camp that Sano will be a welcome addition to the club . What is most important is that he will not be expected to carry the team on his shoulders. He can be a complementary piece to the true offensive leaders on the team - Cruz, Polanco and Rosario. I for one can't wait to see Miguel back in a Twins uniform.
  6. MileHighTwinsFan
    I think Cave goes down and stays there until one of the starting three outfielders go down with an injury. I think Adrianza stays because of his glove as a late inning replacement for Sano at 3B and spot duty in the infield. If the starting rotation continues on this pace - I think they can survive with 12 pitchers. I think adding quality arms to the bullpen and another starter will be the priority. I believe Keuchel and Kimbrel are both real possibilities if the team has a healthy lead when the compensation picks drop off of the two of them in June. Falvine would much rather add payroll than trade prospects.
  7. MileHighTwinsFan
    As mentioned in a thread somewhere here on TD, Torii Hunter and Kirby Puckett ran in to many walls in their careers, and didn't end up in heap like a fragile broken down fawn. What's up with Buxton. Is he a drama queen? Kirby and Hunter played 81 games a year with a fence lovingly called a hefty bag. Pretty sure Buck would be just fine if that was what he contended with.
  8. MileHighTwinsFan
    Does Adam Rosales have a chance to make the club? With Sano out - it seems like he could add value through the first month at least. He has had a fantastic spring and it seems he deserves a look.
  9. MileHighTwinsFan
    . . . And that’s a good thing. We know how many plate appearances Escobar got as the super utility player. I really don’t think Twins compete for AL Central without a player with Gonzalez’s ability on the roster. Adrianza is a stop gap for an injured player at best. Gonzalez allows starters to get regular rest and the option to fill in when one of them gets hurt. The lineup is not downgraded when Marwin is in the lineup. Having a ring and the experience that goes along with it doesn’t hurt either.
  10. MileHighTwinsFan
    1.022 OPS at Target Field, ‘nuff said.
  11. MileHighTwinsFan
    Completely agree. If the Twins are going to make a championship run in the foreseeable future, it is going to be because Byron Buxton is owning centerfield and the basepaths. The alternative is mediocrity.
  12. MileHighTwinsFan
    While the game has changed and Mauer's brand of baseball seems to no longer align with the new analytics era, I still see a hitter who consistently takes quality at bats and a glove that is above average at first base. I have to believe that the Twins or another team would find value in what he still offers. The question is what does Joe still want to accomplish and what is he willing to sacrifice to make that happen. Whether it is moving to a championship caliber team or sticking with the Twins who may be still a couple years away, he probably needs to accept a diminished role. Is he OK with a backup role with only a couple starts a week and probably a PH appearance and/or being late inning defensive replacement most nights? If he is willing to accept that role, I am certain he will be playing Major League Baseball next year.
  13. MileHighTwinsFan
    My point is that hitters, over time, will master the strike zone and gain an advantage. To me it is inherent to the game that each umpire’s unique tendencies bring a different dynamic to the game. In some ways the fact that the strike zone is different every night is something that both hitters and pitchers need to consider. The art of pitching and hitting is to know each umpire and their tendencies. I don’t think the umpire calling balls and strikes is sacred, but I do think the game could compensate for this added dimension by widening the strike zone with the addition of the computerized zone. Widening and/or heightening the zone would level the playing field by giving pitchers an opportunity to place their pitches in locations that are a bit more difficult for the hitters.
  14. MileHighTwinsFan
    I am not against the electronic strike zone, but doesn’t that tilt the game more in favor of hitters? Hitters will grow very accustomed to the strike zone, never having to make adjustments. I would think a bigger strike zone would counter the electronic zone. Rewarding pitchers who can hit the outside corner with a plate that is 2” wider would seem to level the playing field. I am all for squeezing the juice from the ball to lower the number of homers, which would in turn increase the value of hitters who can hit to all fields, hit and run and steal bases.
  15. MileHighTwinsFan
    I actually think the Twins are negotiating from a position of strength on Dozier. A trade would allow the Twins to still compete with a pretty competitive infield of Sano, Polanco, Escobar and Mauer. I would look to deal him for a piece that could actually contribute this year - a catcher, right handed bat or a reliever under team control over a couple of years.
  16. MileHighTwinsFan
    With eight more games left in the division than Cleveland - I think it makes perfect sense for the team to make a big push up to the trade deadline. If they are six games or fewer out after the KC, BOS, TOR and CLE series in July - they should still be considered in contention. I expect that the addition of Santana alone will be a major add to the team. If Sano can find his way back to the big club - and resemble the Sano we know and love - then you have to believe the team has a shot. Even if they trade Dozier - they will still have a formidable lineup with Escobar, Polanco and Sano in the lineup.
  17. MileHighTwinsFan
    While I agree Sano has been a disappointment, we have to remember that he was coming off an injury and had the prospect of a suspension hanging over of his head. It stands to reason that consciously or unconsciously Sano and the team were fully prepared for a 50 game suspension with the silver lining that it would give him time to fully come back from his injury and give him the jolt he needed to get his head together. It almost seems like the franchise and Sano were caught flat footed by the dismissal of the allegations. What is happening with Sano now - is essentially what would have happened had he been suspended. So it is fair to say that his performance, while disappointing, was not unexpected. As a result, I am hopeful that we will still see him in August with a new attitude and more conditioned body. Buxton, on the other hand, is the major disappointment - for all the reasons described. Most troubling is the injury albatross around his neck. The guy can't seem to stay on the field for any extended amount of time. I have to believe that his health has complicated his struggles. I don't see him making any meaningful contribution this year - not until September at least.
  18. MileHighTwinsFan
    I really like that both Grossman and Granite are coming north. They complement each other well as late inning options. Grossman will be a solid PH and Granite's speed makes him a great PR option and defensive replacement.
  19. MileHighTwinsFan
    I think many thought he wild be the second coming of David Ortiz, but he has never done enough at AAA or the bigs to deserve any remote comparison to Papi. I think he gets waived and picked up by a team looking for a bench bat and backup first baseman. How about Texas, Milwaukee, Tampa or Colorado?
  20. MileHighTwinsFan
    Congrats Molly! Phil Miller has some 'splaining to do.
  21. MileHighTwinsFan
    It will be fascinating to see through their 40 man roster decisions how they see the current state of their pitching staff. I would suspect that these decisions will provide the greatest insights on how they intend to build a competitive staff from within. Will they hoard arms or will they make some distinct choices about the types of arms they believe will contribute and soon.
  22. MileHighTwinsFan
    If the Twins are at the point where they are not merely focused on making the playoffs, but on winning championships - there is no question that they need to have two to three elite bullpen arms. Starting at the closer spot down - you need shut down arms that pile up strikeouts and can go multiple innings. I fear the Yankees because they have Green, Robertson, Betances, Chapman, Kahnle. These guys are dominant and will likely be central to their title runs for the next several years. Ideally these arms will ultimately emerge from within the organization. However, if we are going to compete next year - we will need to find proven arms through free agency and trades. Kintzler is a start, but we need at least one more strong and proven arm, at some point, if we are going to be serious contenders.
  23. MileHighTwinsFan
    To me the issue is who is the right match for the talent they have on the roster. With a young, athletic team - you want a manager that fully leverages those assets. At face value, Molitor would fit the bill - he is not afraid to use a running game - both bunting and base stealing to force the action on the field. His calm demeanor creates a stable force in the clubhouse. His overall knowledge of the game allows him to convey his wisdom to young players. What is he lacking that keeps him from being viewed as one of the premiere managers in the game? What do Maddon and Francona have that Molitor doesn't? I would say experience and confidence. There have been times where I don't feel like Molitor is completely comfortable in his own skin. They show up in bungled double switches and attempts to remove a pitcher when there has already been a visit to the mound during an at bat. Those incidents are not deal breakers on their own, but they might signal that Molitor lacks a certain intuition about the game when he is managing. Girardi made the managerial move of the game when he pulled Severino. He acted confidently and decisively. Molitor might have waivered on making the same move with Santana. I think the question is whether Falvey and Levine want to give Molitor the time to continue to grow as a manager or if they need someone who they have confidence in on day one that they will be able to lead this team to the next level.
  24. MileHighTwinsFan
    Looks like he will have to be a loaded gun off the bench for WC. Still can't run. Looking like a Kirk Gibson moment in the making. Can't see him making the LDS roster unless his leg improves to the point that he could actually DH. I hate to say it, but Grossman may be more valuable as a DH in any event. He takes better at bats, lower strikeout % and ability to take a walk would be more valuable than a one-legged power hitter. I don't think the team can afford to give up a roster spot for LDS to a guy who will give you no more than one at bat per game. For the WC, I'll definitely take Sano - even as a decoy - to get inside the heads of Yankees pitchers and Girardi. After that, he may be relegated to being a spectator the rest of the way.
  25. MileHighTwinsFan
    Pinch runner
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