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ToddlerHarmon

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Everything posted by ToddlerHarmon

  1. ToddlerHarmon
    Ride this as long as you can. I would even like to see Polanco near the top of the lineup more often, as he can steal bases. Having multiple shortstops in the minors gives flexibility as Sano, Dozier, and Mauer all have moving positions or moving on in their near futures
  2. ToddlerHarmon
    Buxton's struggles make me wonder something about spring pitching: we all know velocity doesn't max out until after spring training, but what about sharpness of breaking pitches? Is this the first time this year Buxton is seeing pitches like this? If the answer is yes, we have to wonder whether he is permanently overmatched.
  3. ToddlerHarmon
    By definition, the difference between FIP and ERA is fielding. That is sustainable, unless you believe that our rangeless infield will be tested more. I don't know whether there are teams in our division that don't subscribe to the current "elevate" hitting approach, so we might be able to sustain some of this with our great outfield defense. But in general, I agree that we will come back to the pack.
  4. ToddlerHarmon
    That 6-run inning was a good example of the pressure a great start puts on the other team. If the Royals have a 3 run lead, they go ahead and take their chances against the top of the lineup. Very nice to see patience at the plate and let the opposing bullpen implode.
  5. ToddlerHarmon
    That last month his IsoP was over 350. I don't see it dropping below .200 again. .270/.330/.520 with more time in the lineup and therefore center field. Yes, a 7-WAR beast.
  6. ToddlerHarmon
    I would like to say I called it http://twinsdaily.com/topic/24839-article-additions-by-subtractions/?view=findpost&p=580719 but I was chicken. Seriously they clearly refused to base any decisions on Spring Training. I guess we find out in June what the plan is. Sigh.
  7. ToddlerHarmon
    Go to the conclusions: - pine tar (coefficient of friction) doesn't help - wrist rotation at point of impact doesn't help - backspin is absolutely necessary for distance (what they mean by drag crisis occurs), but they find it generated by where on the ball the bat strikes (1 inch low is optimal), not by swing angle (i.e. not by chopping wood) - speaking of swing angle, slight uppercut is optimal, but matters less than striking below the center of the ball Not sure whether the 2011 study someone else referenced contradicts any of this.
  8. ToddlerHarmon
    I agree with your ranking of the ideas being tried out by MLB. I've always thought the best way to implement #3 is to reduce the roster by a player or 2, thus reducing bullpen flexibility. The players association would never allow it, though. Unless you combined it with expansion and left them with more net MLB players. In line with your #2, I could see a limit to the number of mid-inning pitching changes being helpful. I'm not sure what would be a good limit. Maybe 2 plus 1 per 3 extra innings?
  9. ToddlerHarmon
    Another possibility that is pure speculation is that Falvine are preparing for a 13-man pitching staff, in which case Park is doubly redundant, since the bench must include a catcher, a shortstop, and a center fielder. A 13-man staff would be putting the Twins in front of the developing trend to end starts early and change pitchers freely. It also fits with the Twins preserving young arms, and having mediocre starters that struggle the third time through the lineup. I'm not sure I really think that's happening, but it is now a possibility. Thoughts?
  10. ToddlerHarmon
    Making Grossman the everyday DH may be better than platooning him with Rosario or Kepler. Rosario hasn't shown a huge platoon split in the majors so far, and Kepler just needs to stay on the field. I know this probably means you would need Granite or Palka on the bench instead of Park, and that Vargas would get fewer at bats, and I'm OK with that.
  11. ToddlerHarmon
    Headed in the right direction, with the right people being pushed to stay on the roster by the almost-readies mentioned. Love the idea of being aggressive with Vielma. Quibbles would be not mentioning that May should get a chance to start, and that Park and ORourke will have to perform in order to stick. Also, I would not demand too much for Santana/Santiago. Having opportunities for the young starters is worth a lot in itself.
  12. ToddlerHarmon
    Thrylos hit the nail on the head IMO. Anyone over 27 who you might want in a rotation is trade bait, because they won't be around when the rebuilding is done. Does anyone really believe Gibson or Santiago will be sorely missed if you're putting together a playoff rotation for the Twins in 2019?
  13. ToddlerHarmon
    This article makes it pretty hopeless, and unfortunately that's the truth. Potential defensive improvements, all of which hurt the offense: Buxton in center, Rosario back to left, Polanco to second, Escobar at short, Murphy at catcher. Still leaves Sano at third and Kepler in right, and Escobar is only average defensively. Brutal choices left for the new guy in charge
  14. ToddlerHarmon
    Don't forget Nick Gordon
  15. ToddlerHarmon
    You forgot the biggest one, IMO. Jim Pohlad put most of the blame on the players, and took accountability away from the front office. Thus, the mistakes (DFAing Arcia, playing time for veteran mediocrities, poor player development, etc) continued, and will continue into the foreseeable future. Murphy's Law is about preparing well for the worst, and the Twins are terrible at it.
  16. ToddlerHarmon
    Until #5 results in front office changes, the rest of these benefits are worthless. I hear nothing that sounds like ownership understands how bad this situation is
  17. ToddlerHarmon
    The return the twins should focus on for Nolasco, Plouffe, Jepsen, Dozier, Hughes, Suzuki, and Perkins is the empty roster spots. I'd be happy with that.
  18. ToddlerHarmon
    A major culprit is that Terry Ryan doesn't treat major league roster spots as the precious commodity they are. He gums up those spots with long contracts for one-year successes, tryouts for has-beens and never-will-bes, and lifetime achievement awards for mediocre starters that passed their undeserved tryouts. All of these make it impossible for high-ceiling prospects to get any run, even on terrible teams.
  19. ToddlerHarmon
    The lineup is young and inconsistent. The rotation coming out of spring training was old and mediocre.
  20. ToddlerHarmon
    Love this. But I don't really call for more free agent signings or trades. I call for letting the young guys play, and making decisions on who can be a difference maker in the postseason. Pitchers who can face the best lineups in MLB and thrive. Who fits that description on the Twins? Santana, Perkins, and who? But Berrios lingers. Grrr
  21. ToddlerHarmon
    Love this. But I don't really call for more free agent signings or trades. I call for letting the young guys play, and making decisions on who can be a difference maker in the postseason. Pitchers who can face the best lineups in MLB and thrive. Who fits that description on the Twins? Santana, Perkins, and who? But Berrios lingers. Grrr
  22. ToddlerHarmon
    Terry Ryan doesn't seem willing to risk winnable division titles to win World Series. By that, I mean he will not mess with a roster of good-enough players to bring in higher-upside players. Thus Nolasco can block Berrios, for example. OTOH, Bill Smith did seem willing to take that risk, and look where that got us. Winning a championship with the current leadership is going to take some dumb luck, like finding a Tyler Duffey who is better against the majors than the minors (assuming that lasts)
  23. ToddlerHarmon
    Good writeup, this looks like the deal, except they may squeeze Pressly in and give up on Tonkin. Interesting team outlook. You forgot Rosario as someone to watch. When he hits .300 that should raise his OBP
  24. ToddlerHarmon
    I'm afraid Boom Boom is right, we will see more Ricky starts. Love the Ft Myers staff, though
  25. ToddlerHarmon
    That's a hell of a set of rookies. Next year's likely starting outfield debuted this year. And they could go for a decade out there when Kepler is in right and Sano moves to the infield
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