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Darius

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Everything posted by Darius

  1. Darius
    Sano and Buxton hitting 8th and 9th tying the game....beautiful.
  2. Darius
    I don’t want a guy like Miguel Sano shortening up and chopping a grounder somewhere with 2 on and 0 outs. Try and bounce it off a speaker somewhere. Stay away from GIDP at all costs with this lineup as well (hit it far, or K trying).
  3. Darius
    I can easily see this team beating the Yanks/Astros in a playoff series, especially if they can hang on to home field. Not considering any trades, Berrios, Odorizzi, Gibson/Perez are capable of keeping teams in check. This offense can explode for a 4-5 run inning at any time against anyone. As we’ve seen, even when not playing great, it’s nearly impossible to take 2 or 3 in a row from this team. I’m not saying they will or should. I actually think it’s probably the Yankees’ year. They’re matching us stride for stride without Judge, Stanton, Gregorious, Hicks (for much of the season), Andujar, Betances, Severino....basically their entire team from recent years. They’ll all be back and fresh down the stretch. But, the Twins are now certainly capable of winning multiple series in the playoffs. Add two high quality bullpen arms to go with Rogers and I’d feel pretty good about playing anyone.
  4. Darius
    Man, must be tough to pull the trigger on sitting Kepler. He just broke out of a slump the day before with one of the best games at the plate in the MLB this year. Also, is something wrong with Sano, or just another maintenance day? Not having one of your biggest RH power threats in the lineup against a tough lefty isn’t ideal. Even so, this is a pretty mean looking lineup against LHP tonight.
  5. Darius
    I’m not mad at all about Kimbrel. Good riddance for a 3 year deal. I am not happy about the refusal to address the bullpen in the offseason. Despite them pitching out of their minds up until this point, its been clear to anyone that the bullpen is sub par. We saw similar themes in the ‘00s when they could never get out of the first round. I’m tired of this franchise always half-a@&ing it and all of the excuses made for it (the small market fan’s equivalent to virtue signaling).
  6. Darius
    As a financial professional (CPA, not a licensed financial advisor/manager, to be clear), it doesn’t make a lot of sense why someone wouldn’t take a contract of that amount. Unless you think you’re surely going in the first round in subsequent years, you’re getting more than any signing bonus after college in total signing bonus/salary (and then, factor time value of money with getting the cash sooner). You work with a professional team’s development staff, getting a head start on what they want to see to crack the big-leagues. You dont spend half the year hurt f with a metal bat. You potentially accelerate your path the majors (at least your first cup of coffee - which is more $$$). I think people get a little desensitized to these dollar amounts, and think, “only a million over the next 3-4 years, why not get your education.” (Just saw this excessively with the Amir Coffey situation). In reality, that’s likely what that person will make in total over the next 30 years....or entire career in other words (median personal income is roughly $31k). Going to college right away is overrated.
  7. Darius
    Which begs the age-old questions about the necessity of 10,000 rounds, the meaning of life, etc.
  8. Darius
    I’m wondering why a team would select a player that has a high probability of going to college. This isn’t a gripe, it’s a legitimate question, Is it a flier type situation? “Maybe we can convince home to sign, let’s take a shot?” Or, is it a way of using picks without having to use the dollar? Can a team use the dollars in that way, or is it only if a player signs under the slot can it be applied elsewhere? I have to think they know what they’re getting into in the late rounds wit’s high-schoolers with major college offers.
  9. Darius
    I like the strategy of going after high-upside hitters and then then going after pitching later (and in international/free agent situations). Hitting is a little more projectable, and there are fewer players out there with real high-end hit tools and command of the strike zone. There dare usually indications that a hitter is going to beak out. Things are more readily measured and applied. Pitching is harder to project. Guys add/subtract velocity for various reasons. Catastrophic injury is more likely (blown elbows are common these days). Development of pitches is unknowable (how do you know if a guy has a feel for throwing a change-up if he’s never thrown one before? Guys have developed knuckleballs and won the Cy Young, Martin Perez’s cutter out of nowhere, Johan Santana’s change, etc.). Bottom line, I think you can grab guys that throw hard outside of the early rounds and develop them (we’re seeing it in the Twins system with Balazovic). I think you’re much more likely to find a guy like that these days (technology, advanced stats, etc) than finding an elite hitter in some obscure place. Could be way off, just a feeling.
  10. Darius
    Really nice to see Larnach breaking out. He’s on a nice run. Just that that, the average is over .300 and the OPS is over .850
  11. Darius
    Really nice bounce-back win. Watching Sano’s possible 2 run HR bounce off a speaker into a dedender’s glove must have introduced a little doubt. Really impressive to bear down and manufacture some runs. 2.1 innings in 27 pitches from Rogers to lock things down is pretty phenomenal.
  12. Darius
    A lot of carriages turning into pumpkins right now.
  13. Darius
    It doesn’t take a body language expert to see it’s not really a friendly exchange on the surface. I’m sure it happens all the time behind the scenes. This just happened to be caught on camera. For all we know, it’s some joking around. Guys do things like that. It’s not necessarily a legit stare down. In the end, there is a talking point there. We come here to talk about the team. Some conflict in the clubhouse could have an impact on future performance (good or bad). I have no idea what the guy is looking at claiming that Sano is giving him a hug/pat on the back....and it doesn’t look like German to me (I’ve studied German in college and lived there....I could be wrong, but it just looks like English somehow - looks like “everyone’s gotta/gonna hate” - and it does look like Sano said something while approaching Kepler). All I know for sure is a clip like this is absolute gold to some psychology grad student somewhere writing a thesis on confirmation bias. Whether it’s been debunked with the latest airplane photo or not.
  14. Darius
    Looks like Pineda might be missing more than one start after Smeltzer deals 6 innings.
  15. Darius
    The 2006 Twins were 12.5 games back of the Tigers on May 27th. The 2012 As were 13 games back on June 30th. The 2014 Dodgers were 10 back on June 8th. The 2013 Dodgers were 9.5 back on June 22nd. The 1978 Yankees were 14 games back on July 20th. The 1995 Mariners were 13 back on August 3rd. These teams all won their division (and, no, the last two aren’t typos). This thing ain’t over, folks. As I type this Taylor Rodgers gives up a 2 run HR to spit up the lead against the Dodgers in the 8th....to Oswaldo Arcia’s brother.
  16. Darius
    A few things: 1). In today’s political age, a lot of people who live in this country like to complain about how terrible it is. In my opinion, it’s disgraceful. It shouldn’t take a holiday to remind us of reality, and number of great Americans who have sacrificed their lives to promote freedom of choice, and dethrone tyrants, despots, and sycophants of all kinds. The United States is the greatest country in the world, and it’s due to service men and women not here to eat grilled hot dogs and drink beer today. 2). On the baseball, the week ahead is going to be a lot of fun. A good litmus test with the Brewers and Rays. Get through the week above .500, and any remaining doubters will be silenced. 3). Vegas has the brewers favored today. I believe Vegas hard the Angels favored in every game of that series. Woe is me for not taking advantage. 4). ESPN has moved this squad up to #2 in the power rankings behind the Astros. That must have been extremely painful for those staff writers. Still not sure how they’re not #1 after already winning the season series. They rave about their offense....but we’re ahead in every single meaningful category. We’re +20 in run differential. We’re 3 games ahead in the standings. Everyone talks about the injuries of the Astros/Yankees....but nobody seems to notice Nelson Cruz, Mitch Garver, and Miguel Sano have all missed significant time with injuries already this year. Oh well, I’ll take the reluctant hat-tip from ESPN. Let’s go get a big win tonight and keep it going.
  17. Darius
    I don’t think calling the fans “front-runners” is really fair. The taxpayers funded a stadium under the pretenses of being able to compete for championships. The front office proceeded the slash payroll a year in and fielded arguably the worst team in baseball for nearly a decade. No fan base would continue to show up at the park. No fan base should. Putting that on the fans as “front-runners” isn’t really acknowledging the reality of the situation. It’s not like we were Yankees on a down year. From ‘92-‘18 this was one of the three worst clubs in Major League Baseball. Combine those factors with it costing upwards of $200 to take a family of four to sit in the cheap seats and watch a terrible product....
  18. Darius
    Another bad day from Lewis (on paper, maybe he sting the ball 3 times). Maybe Lewis getting an All-Star nod (somehow) will remind him he’s good at baseball and get him going.
  19. Darius
    Agree. Adrianza has superior position flexibility (could basically play anywhere but catcher/pitcher in a pinch). It was a hot take that I was all over for a few days, myself. The longer it marinades, the less sense it makes to keep Arraez up here if the team gets healthy. He’ll surely be up when rosters expand. But, there’s a pretty good chance we’ll see him before that. There will be another injury or two along the way.
  20. Darius
    Grain Belt beer tweeted out last week that Dan Barreiro and Lavelle Neal were discussing nicknames for the team on KFAN. One was the The Grain Belters. Coincidence?
  21. Darius
    This is just asinine. Mauer is an encyclopedia of baseball knowledge. He’s one of the best bat handlers to ever walk the planet. He plays a high-end first base. You can’t tell me having that on the 25 man would make it worse. That is some of the most ridiculous arm-chair GM’ing from people who don’t know a damn thing that I’ve seen. The team (whoever it may be) refusing to invest in a quality product has been the issue up until this year. They just happened to strike gold with Schoop, Cron, Cruz and Perez out of bargain bin, along with the drastic developmental jumps of Polanco, Buxton, Garver, etc. that not one single person on earth saw coming. Let’s not go totally insane here. Nobody in their right mind can legitimately think that Mauer leaving turned the worm, because he was mild mannered. I’ve seen some dumb takes in my day....but this takes the cake.
  22. Darius
    Maybe you just never hear about it happening in other organizations.....but doesn’t it seem like there are a ridiculous amount of position players in this system requiring Tommy John? It’s more than just some random filler guy here or there. Off the top of my head: Miguel Sano, Alex Kirillof, Akil Baddoo. Top prospects. Seems strange.
  23. Darius
    Concur. When the guy we spent a number 1 overall on is striking out at this rate in A ball, it’s concerning. There can’t really be any other conclusion (certainly not encouraging). I’m not even sure you can claim small sample size anymore. It’s 200 ABs of sub .650 OPS, .230 BA, 44Ks to 19 walks, 1 home run, 5 CS to 9 SB, and various other alarming statistics. I can’t speak much for his defense, but i’ve gathered he’s not exactly elite there either. You can make the young argument, I suppose. But, he’s been a pro a couple years now. He’s roughly the same age as guys like Guerrero Jr., Juan Soto, Tatis Jr., who are showing high-level success in the MLB. I know, different career paths, etc.....but my point is the age isn’t really a factor when you’re touted as a phenom. I’m not sure the people claiming they aren’t concerned are being totally genuine about that. I’m not saying he’s in trouble yet, but if you’re not raising an eyebrow at the anointed future face of the franchise getting blown away for 200 ABs in A-ball, I don’t know what could possibly concern you.
  24. Darius
    There is no doubt in my mind that this bullpen is going to cost this team at some point. There will come a time, whether regular or postseason, that we’ll need to win a game 2-1, 3-2, etc. I don’t feel good if anyone in the pen, aside from Rogers, coming into a late-inning tight score situation against the Astros or healthy Yankee squad. Not one guy outside of Rogers. This team needs to address the bullpen yesterday, IMO. What are they waiting for?
  25. Darius
    What a game from Sano. 3 runs. 2 walks. 1 HR. Playing a more than adequate 3rd base. What an addition to this lineup if he’s healthy, in-shape, and performing to even 3/4 of his potential. I think people have forgotten how good this guys can be.
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