Twins33

Smeltzer was optioned 4-5 days before AK.

I prefer Thorpe or Dobnak starting over Shoemaker. Obviously Thorpe isn’t happening now but Dobnak not happening either isn’t great. Hopefully my gut is wrong about Shoemaker.

I am actually worried about the bullpen and it’s my only worry. I don’t know if I really have a reason why but I’m worried. I trust the top three guys and maybe Alcala but not the rest. Just a gut feeling that I hope I am wrong about. I didn’t feel this way about the 2019 or 2020 BP so hopefully that’s not a sign. Having someone like Thorpe, Dobnak or Law (if he keeps this up) would certainly go a long way of easing my uneasy feeling.

I’ve been okay with Kepler leading off as he usually leads the team in BB% (or at least top 3) but the way he looks this spring isn’t great... if he doesn’t pick it up, I lean Polanco. I’m still a fan of Kep but I expected him to be better than he is based on BB and K percentages.

That was what was reported a few weeks ago but last week that changed. https://www.startribune.com/lewis-thorpe-good-enough-for-twins-to-keep-but-it-might-not-be-feasible/600031630/

My guess is the poster believes that it would mean the Twins would rather have Kirilloff with the Twins and getting real AB’s rather than stuck at an alternate site (still St Paul) not playing real games. I’m still team Rooker, though I really like both players.

These are my thoughts too and I’m glad I wasn’t the only one thinking it. Rooker has absolutely nothing to prove in the minors anymore. It is my belief that Kirilloff wouldn’t have been called up if Rooker never got injured. He needs to be with the Twins or traded because his bat is ready and he’s already 26. I really like Kirilloff, he’s my number one prospect but I think he could use more time in the minors. I don’t think he needs a whole year down there but half a year wouldn’t be too bad. He “struggled” a bit a few years ago because of a wrist injury and I’d like to see him go back to killing it. And this has nothing to do with service time for me. I would pick Rooker over Kirilloff right now service time or not. That extra year is just a bonus on top. Unless Rooker looks completely clueless in ST, he deserves the job. Kirilloff can be very close by in St Paul if injury strikes or someone is playing bad.

I did not want the Twins to draft Cavaco because of his weak hit tool. I wanted Stott who was drafted right after so if Cavaco ever turns out to be anything I’ll be glad but my expectations are practically zero. If I were making a top prospects list he’d make it to 15 at best..probably closer to 20. Obviously I hope I am very wrong.

I’m still very torn on this. I am of the belief that the Twins need another SP and 1-2 relievers. I love Cruz as well. I don’t believe they will sign 3 players if one is Cruz. It will likely be Cruz and a reliever if they go the Cruz route. if I think about it logically, Cruz would probably provide a bigger impact to the team than any SP they would sign so I guess I lean that way...

They would have a bigger sample size if they could actually win. in the 18 losses, SP ERA is 5.33 and the team has averaged 2.6 runs/game in that entire time Falvey/Levine time its been 4.70 SP ERA and averaged 2.17 runs/game Obviously, the SP pitcher ERA is terrible and needs to greatly improve, but you’ll never get far in the playoffs if the best you can do is 2 runs per game. The Twins SP will never allow 1 or fewer in every single playoff game.

The physical. Sometimes they are done right away and sometimes not. Happ’s was done the next day and announced as official two days after it was first reported. Other times the player isn’t available right away to do one. Another option is there was an issue with his physical but that doesn’t happen a lot.

I agree with the person above me. Unless the payroll is going to remain the same as it was which is 100 percent unlikely, it seems impossible to keep Cruz if you plan to make significant upgrades in the pitching department (SP and BP). I would prioritize pitching over everything even though the offense continues to disappoint in the playoffs. Rosario needs to be traded or let go. The only other external add that may be needed is the utility. They may need a vet for that and someone who can play SS. I think only Gordon is ready in the minors unless I’m forgetting someone. I wouldn’t hate giving it to Gordon but he lost a lot of time due to Covid so I’m unsure about him.

I’m on the fence. I’m leaning towards keep but I’m not all the way there. I really like him and loved the signing. In September and in the playoffs I remember some meatballs he would normally crush, being missed. Not sure if it was because of his knee, a decline in the bat or just a random slump. I guess that’s what they’ll have to weigh.

Wes Johnson, Levine, Falvey: Clearly the pitching has improved greatly from their pitch to contact days. Taking a gamble on Wes has so far paid off. I’ve liked the FO drafting bats over pitchers. That’s what I would do if I were running it (though not in every case, BPA matters). I wanted pitching in 2017 (Wright/Gore) and 2020 and in 2019 I wanted a different SS. As long as they trade for pitching or sign FA’s... That brings me to Maeda who I absolutely wanted especially for only Graterol. I’ve been thinking Graterol is a reliever only for several years and was going to continue that until he proved otherwise and it seems like he was never going to prove otherwise. I get having a good/great BP is important, but I would always ALWAYS trade a reliever for a number three or better starter. Good starters are way harder to find than relievers especially for the Twins. The fact that Maeda has been even better than I expected, and I had pretty high expectations, makes it even better. Cruz: I used to be in the camp of “don’t clog up a spot with a guy who can’t play defense, even the DH spot.” It made sense to me to give a good regular some rest but not a full day of rest to keep his bat in. Then when the Twins signed Cruz I saw a graphic (May have been MLB Network) that showed the Twins DH stats within the last so many years vs Cruz’s stats in the same time frame. The Twins DH production was absolutely pathetic. Yes, comparing it to Cruz was probably a little unfair as he’s been a stud for years but maaaaan it was bad. I will never think like that again. Always have a consistent great bat at DH even if it means he doesn’t play defense.

I’ve had the same thoughts. Garver used to do something similar (among other things) and would lose strikes for the pitchers and then they got him to mostly stop doing it. With Jeffers it seems to be the opposite

The Twins don’t have one, because I believe there are only 4-5 of them in all of baseball. Maeda is the Twins best starter and it’s not even close.

He did the same the season before. It’s more Eddie related than injury related.

Im with you on the stats. Also Lewis strained his oblique last spring training which always seems to take a long time to recover from even when it’s only “mild.” Not sure if it impacted his 2019 stats. Don’t think he ever complained about it during the season, which doesn’t mean it didn’t bother him. No way to know for sure.

I think his injury has been his shoulder, can’t say for sure though

AIl the t-shirts and jerseys they give out have that problem. I’ve had many small women in front of me question whether they should go medium or XL. I always say XL. About half have been able to fit in the XL and the other half not and these are small women who should have no problem fitting in a medium.

I wanted Wheeler bad and was extremely disappointed when it didn’t happen, but I like Maeda as a consolation prize (if it happens). Especially considering the price so far is only Graterol who I thought was just a reliever for two years now. I’d trade a reliever for a number three starter every time.

Twins typically do physicals at Twinsfest (maybe not all players). Wonder if they saw something too and thought they had to sell high.

I like the deal, but I’m lower on Graterol than most. If the Twins would have traded Balazovic or Duran instead, it would have been harder for me to take, though I would at least know what the Twins we’re trying for. I think those two have a better chance at staying starters. I just never saw that happening with Graterol. The comments saying this doesn’t move the needle...those I don’t understand. Do I want a stud ace? Absolutely and the Twins need one, but this to me also moves the needle. Not as much as a stud ace would, but moving is moving. He seems like another Odorizzi type and with this team’s inability to develop starters, I will take that. One could argue that Graterol could have developed into Maeda or better, but I don’t think it’s in the cards. He still needs a good third pitch. He’s been working on it, but it hasn’t happened yet. He still needs to stay healthy. I don’t think he’s going to be more than a reliever. And I would trade a reliever for a mid rotation starter every time, again, especially considering this teams issues with developing SP. I am much less worried about the opening rotation now than I was a few days ago. That first month was looking rough to me, but Berrios, Odorizzi, Maeda, Bailey and then one of Dobnak/Thorpe/Smeltzer is solid. It’s not earth shattering, but it’s solid. I certainly like the offseason 2020 rotation more than I did the offseason 2019 one. Perez surprised me, and all of us for a little bit, so it ended up better than I thought. Hopefully Bailey and/or one of the rookies will be good surprises too.

I’m not worried about the White Sox in terms of the division title. They will be improved but I think only to around .500. I don’t see them winning the 90 something games it should take to win the division. I’m more worried about the Twins rotation for the first month-ish and the Indians.

I’m definitely not taking the Indians lightly and I don’t think the Twins should either. I think it’ll be a closer race than last year, both teams winning 90 something games. Their pitching is still superior. Relying on both Dobnak and Thorpe (or whoever) for the first month worries me. I was worried last season too but Perez surprised in the beginning. Not sure it’s smart to hope for magic again, especially in two spots. The Twins offense is superior, but I think the ball will go back to a more normal ball. I think the Twins were a great offensive team last year and many players made legit sustainable improvements but I see them scoring fewer runs. should be a good fight the whole season.