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MileHighTwinsFan

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Everything posted by MileHighTwinsFan

  1. 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.
  2. MileHighTwinsFan
    Don't see it - too much right handed power and too many strikeouts. I think Red Sox or Cubs are more likely - although the Red Sox may need to reinforce the Green Monster with lead. Stanton is likely to punch holes right through it.
  3. 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.
  4. MileHighTwinsFan
    Pinch runner
  5. MileHighTwinsFan
    I am less interested in the playoff rotation and more on how you beat the Yankees. To me we win this game with matchups: Neutralizing Judge and Sanchez's power at 2 and 3. Limiting the impact of the lefties from Gregorius at 4, Bird at 6, Ellsbury at 8 and then Gardner at 1. Here is what I see. Santana pitches one time through the order plus gets through Judge and Sanchez - 12 at bats. If we are within one run - keep him in for another run through the rotation until he gets in trouble. Then its matchups the rest of the way - to include starters Gibson and Mejia. Matchups Against Judge and Sanchez - Pressley, Busemitz, Hildenburger and Gibson Against the rest of the lineup - Hildenburger, Mejia, Duffy, Rogers, Moya and Boshers Belisle to close Colon and Berrios are not on the wild card roster. (Berrios starts game one of ALDS) 11 pitchers Twins bench - Vargas, Granite, Adrianza, Gimenez, Goodrum Lineup: Dozier Mauer Polanco Rosario Buxton Grossman Kepler Escobar Castro
  6. MileHighTwinsFan
    As I mentioned on another thread, baseball needs a utility player award. Eduardo checks all the boxes for that kind of recognition.
  7. MileHighTwinsFan
    I hate to say it, but the boys once again were overwhelmed by the New York spotlight. They took horrible at bats early in the game - way too over anxious - the adrenaline was clearly pumping. Just at the point when they started to settle in - the Yankees shut down bullpen took control. The only silver lining may be that they can get all of this out of their system in time for a possible Wild Card.
  8. MileHighTwinsFan
    Granite at the plate. Could this lifelong Yankee fan be the curse buster?
  9. MileHighTwinsFan
    Dick recites Escobar's season stats - 4 errors committed in 118 games playing three positions, 19 home runs, etc. Can a utility player be any more valuable to a team? Why don't they have a utility player of the year award? Basketball has 6th man and football honors special teams players. Baseball should honor those guys who get the spot starts, pinch hit in key situations and are the late inning defensive replacements that round out a high quality team. Escobar and players like him deserves some recognition for the contributions he has made to their teams.
  10. MileHighTwinsFan
    The rest of the team may be new, but Gardner and Ellsbury still have that "We can't lose to the Twins" attitude. I get the bad queasy feeling every time they come to the plate.
  11. MileHighTwinsFan
    Wear it, Joe!
  12. MileHighTwinsFan
    In search of 7 wins. If they can get one win each in New York and Cleveland, they can still get there by taking 5 of 7 from Detroit. If they can somehow take two of three from NY or CLE - then I think the Twins are in very strong position. So one win is necessary in New York, two would be gravy, three would be a second helping of gravy.
  13. MileHighTwinsFan
    Doesn't a standard strike zone create an advantage to the hitter? Knowing game in and game out what the strike zone is allows hitters to avoid the game by game adjustments based on umpires. Over time all hitters will become acutely aware of what the zone is and will be more likely to only swing at strikes. The only way to adjust for this advantage would be to make the zone larger and possibly make the plate wider- which means that pitchers who can hit the extremes of the strike zone will force hitters to adjust and swing at pitches that are less than ideal. How have the automated zones that have been tested been implemented. Have the zones gotten larger? Just catching up to this thread - so apologize if my skimming of the comments to date already made this point.
  14. MileHighTwinsFan
    So this is a rent-a-player with an expiring contract. Can't believe he would warrant much in return.
  15. MileHighTwinsFan
    I was at the dome the night when Carlton went 8.2 to beat Oakland in August, 1987. The place was packed and crazy. It was one of many magical moments that year. Hoping for a similar result tonight.
  16. MileHighTwinsFan
    To me the Ifs boil down to two: If the new pitching philosophy of Falvey shows results. If the core talented, yet unproven players (Buxton, Sano, Rosario, Kepler, Polanco, Vargas/Park) show improvement over last year.
  17. MileHighTwinsFan
    Quite a game last night as the DR goes down for the first time since 2009. If you needed to see a game that makes the case for why Yadier Molina is a first ballot Hall of Famer, last night might be it. Two hits, two RBI, a homer, throws Cruz out stealing (why was he stealing) in critical 8th inning and he owned the umpire all night getting called strikes that were nowhere near the strike zone. Great to see two Twins contribute for team Puerto Rico - Rosario with RBI double and Hector Santiago with two strong innings out of the pen.
  18. MileHighTwinsFan
    I feel like the 200 inning standard is a relic of another time. Today's hitters go deeper into counts - driving up pitch counts. While we hear the stories of old timers pitching 150 pitches a game, there were also plenty of games with players pitching no more than 100 pitches over 9 innings because hitters were less likely to go deep into counts. If durability is the measure we are looking at - shouldn't we also consider some kind of efficiency measure? Wouldn't a combination of number of starts, innings per start and average pitches per inning be a more nuanced measure of pitcher durability and effectiveness? A simple measure on number of innings pitched makes little sense.
  19. MileHighTwinsFan
    I agree that the situation at third base is as uncertain as ever. It completely relies on Sano getting into shape and doing the work to improve his fielding. We won't know the results until next spring, so there is some logic to tendering Plouffe or finding an affordable insurance policy. I personally think Sano is destined to be a career DH and would not have a problem with the team making new future plans at third base. I don't think Polanco is the answer long term. His arm is not strong enough and he doesn't profile as a third baseman offensively.
  20. MileHighTwinsFan
    Royals then. Trade their number one prospect for two pitchers who become key to their two World Series appearances.
  21. MileHighTwinsFan
    Look at the Cubs - sound core of young talent punctuated by mature veterans who are peaking or are still highly productive. Zobrist, Lackey, Arrieta, Fowler, Lester, etc. along with Rizzo, Bryant, Russell etc. is what is key to their success. I could argue that our losing ways could continue much longer with a complete youth movement because many of that young talent never realizes their potential.
  22. MileHighTwinsFan
    First, Dozier is hardly aging - he is in the prime of his career. Second, I don't quite understand the singular focus on a youth movement. I am pretty sure this is what got Ryan fired - his reluctance to deal prospects for proven major league talent. The whole youth movement perspective assumes that every asset the team has will pan out. I really like Polanco - but we have no idea if he will ever approach the productivity of Dozier. I would rather bank on a commodity that has proven he can succeed at the major league level - particularly one with such a favorable contract than hope that Polanco pans out. Sure you have to rely on youth and develop from within to a certain extent - but you also need to be willing to part with some of those assets to build a more well rounded and experienced team. This year has proven that you can't put all your eggs in the youth movement basket.
  23. MileHighTwinsFan
    It doesn't make sense. This team needs a veteran presence to compete and Dozier is the best they have. I really think the team needs to look to deal some of their long list of young talent to find more players to match with Dozier. I think Polanco's struggles at 3rd vs. the Royals is further evidence that he is and should be a second sacker. As a result, I put him at the top of the trade list. Packaging Polanco with another young player or two could yield a quality arm or another veteran position player.
  24. MileHighTwinsFan
    I like Grossman and think he is important to the team as it is currently constructed. A solid fourth outfielder who can get on base and hit with some power. Solid. However, if I am reading the tea leaves correctly big change is coming. The build from within punctuated with bargain bin players to fill gaps era is about to end. I fully expect that a new GM is going to diversify how he builds out the roster by trading away some valuable young assets to create a more veteran and balanced lineup. The days of putting all our eggs in the high potential, but unproven player basket are over. If my predictions come true, I expect Grossman will be on the outside looking in.
  25. MileHighTwinsFan
    Total buzz kill for the current winning ways.
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