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ToddlerHarmon

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Everything posted by ToddlerHarmon

  1. ToddlerHarmon
    Agreed, but what Oakland did last year and this, and what the White Sox are doing, is a step beyond that. They're not even trying to be profitable, they're just keeping the lights on hoping to move or sell. I know this has been done before (1982 Twins), but the level of futility of these teams, in the context of the tap running dry on TV rights and public approval of stadiums, should scare the league. This is not good for the future of the sport.
  2. ToddlerHarmon
    So much this. And we are now entering the second year of some franchises putting only token teams on the field. This should be setting the commissioner's hair on fire, but instead, crickets.
  3. ToddlerHarmon
    Thank you for the clarifying information. A hopeful outlook considering the possibilities
  4. ToddlerHarmon
    My casual glances at box scores tell me Duarte has looked good this spring. Can anyone confirm? If they go for a 1-inning guy, does he have a shot?
  5. ToddlerHarmon
    Roger that
  6. ToddlerHarmon
    I strongly endorse this idea. It combines late-season rest for the regulars, postseason prep in case Camargo is needed, and lets us consider whether a Vazquez trade is survivable.
  7. ToddlerHarmon
    Whatever the catcher rotation ends up being (60 Jeffers/40 Vazquez is my guess), I hope that they give Jeffers DH days whenever he has a day off catching and they face a lefty. It would only be 15-25 more games, but we could use all the help we can get.
  8. ToddlerHarmon
    It's also possible Santana's performance doesn't keep his roster spot all year. Last year, he may not have missed time, but he didn't have great stats for a 1B/DH as he starts to show his age
  9. ToddlerHarmon
    That wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, especially since they would often be platoon partners at 1B or DH. I'd love a couple guys that have good contact and discipline, and just enough power to make pitchers nibble. With the exit velocity concerns, now we have something to watch for to see if a callup is warranted.
  10. ToddlerHarmon
    I'll take 3 WAR or even less, if he can start every playoff game in center and with enough expected production to bat above 7th. For those wanting season stats, I recommend judging Buxton's offense by wRC+ rather than OPS+, as it considers steals, and, IMO, values overall offensive game more accurately.
  11. ToddlerHarmon
    I agree that I don't see that anyone is blocked. I'd go even further and say that the current situation gives us a great chance to evaluate Julien and Kirilloff on defense, and Lee's offense in AAA, which so far hasn't made it clear that he is an MLB starter. And given that Santana will wither if he gets 500 AB, I don't think there's much of an issue even if everyone is healthy at the end of the season.
  12. ToddlerHarmon
    “Byron Buxton was there..., but he didn’t even get stitches.” ^ My suspension of disbelief was pierced right here
  13. ToddlerHarmon
    The Twins off-season moves reflect that starters and relievers are on opposite ends of the bang-for-the-buck spectrum: they can't afford* any starters except hopeful injury recoveries, but can gather enough relievers with MLB experience for 2 bullpens, with minimal cost in trades or salaries. So the natural course is to cling to any hope of being a cheap starter for as long as possible. Varland is a long way from taxing anyone's patience on that front. One wonders if the Twins secretly regret converting Duran, despite his relief dominance. *What the Twins can "afford" is decided by Joe Pohlad, alas.
  14. ToddlerHarmon
    Echo the thoughts on the quality of this article. As for Cuba, is it the case that they do not allow players to be signed before 18? I'm fuzzy on the details, but that might be a key piece of this puzzle. I know that players acquired at later ages have less time before Rule 5 kicks in, but isn't 18 the cutoff for that? As in, a 17-year-old signee will be one year younger (and thus less certain in his development) when he becomes Rule 5 eligible?
  15. ToddlerHarmon
    I agree with all of the trade-skeptical comments here, especially on selling low, but assuming the Twins have to trade someone from their lefty corner guys, the perceived value vs actual value of Kirilloff might make him the odd man out. However, given that I doubt the Twins are ready to move on yet, Kepler is in his final contract year, and Larnach is in doubt, by the time we know whether Kirilloff is tradeable, the corner lefty logjam might be gone.
  16. ToddlerHarmon
    I didn't say it was a good plan, just that it might be the plan
  17. ToddlerHarmon
    If the need is a right-handed DH, then the Twins might sit on that need until the trade deadline. They would be hoping that we have enough margin for error to take our chances with Varland or Sclafani in the rotation, and Miranda or Gordon or Martin getting at bats versus lefties. If that works well enough to be near first place in July, then they can deal prospects and take another swing at the playoffs. This sounds more like the 2022 plan than the 2023 plan, with maybe a deeper bullpen and younger guys that could go off.
  18. ToddlerHarmon
    Forget stats, or even the eye test. Nishi failed the nose test - he stunk
  19. ToddlerHarmon
    Of note for potential 26th man: Miranda and Stevenson project as viable, Larnach and Martin not so much. Time to find out whether the 2021-2022 numbers for Jeffers, Wallner, Kirilloff, and Julien were learning curve, or the means to which they regress after breaking out in 2023. Love the comps for Lewis and Lopez!
  20. ToddlerHarmon
    I am a converted fan of the strategy last off-season: crowd the roster. If we know that we want a righty with big offensive numbers in this spot, put a few guys on the roster who have a chance. Start with Miranda, but do we bring back Solano, add Severino, sign a free agent? Or do we create a crowd at second by bringing up Lee and re-signing Polanco, and push Julien to first? One great part of the crowded-roster strategy is it gives an easy fan's answer to posts like this: try everything. (Except Gallo lol)
  21. ToddlerHarmon
    I'm not sure how to make this element of things happen, but it would be fun to see what I'd have to call "lore" on the site. Everything from my own not-riveting account of everyone on the home run porch knowing full well that the Gladden triple play hit plexiglass first (shhh), to links or excerpts of already published tidbits about the goofy things that make up our collective understanding of a player, like Gardenhire saying we "hate [AJ] a little less", or even the best blog silliness that captured the moment and deserves some posterity (Lil Nicky Punto and Lego replays). I don't necessarily propose spending a lot of effort digging up past anecdotes, but definitely collecting these things as they come up, just quick links on the player page.
  22. ToddlerHarmon
    I could go either way. If I heard from the Twins that something about Ryan's stuff or approach looked unsustainable, I'd be more convinced that this was the right move. Even so, if Joe Ryan had pitched a six innings and given up 3 runs, that would have been about the best we could have expected going in. So it's hard to call this a mistake. There's a nagging thought in my head that some of these playoff moves were about the future more than this year. This move, along with playing Jeffers every game, and limiting Ober as well, could be seen as attempts to maximize confidence and health for key young players. If true, I'm not sure that is a right-headed approach
  23. ToddlerHarmon
    I think those worried about the offense need to recognize how much it improved in the second half. We can break it down to improved Kepler, returned and productive Polanco and Kirilloff, more time from Jeffers, and the arrival of Lewis, Julien, and Wallner (and actually improvements from each of them over the course of the year). That's almost the whole lineup, and speaks to good coaching. The other part of the improvement was less time from Gallo, Buxton, Taylor, and Vazquez. So for those looking for the offensive cure, we say goodbye to Gallo and Taylor, hope for healthy Buxton and Correa, and keep Vazquez in a half-time-at-best role. And pick up the options on Kepler and Polanco With all that, there is still probably a need for more at first and in center. Re-sign Solano? Hope for more from a healthy Miranda? Bring up Martin? Any of these options is happily a high-contact hitter, to help balance the free swingers. Based on this year, where crowding the roster worked wonderfully, I'd say the answer is yes to all of them. In any case, the second half, and the playoff run, should earn some trust in the coaches and front office to keep this thing going
  24. ToddlerHarmon
    I'd rather they keep Funderburk on the roster and drop Paddack. Houston has dangerous lefties and we are more likely to need a second lefty than another multi-inning reliever with Maeda and Varland both available. I'd also like to see Ober get the call for Game 1 in Houston.
  25. ToddlerHarmon
    Another way to phrase a short rotation and disappearing offense is that we have lacked enough elite talent to compete against the league's best teams. With Correa and Buxton not at their elite best, and Gray and Maeda being the pitchers with playoff bona fides, it will be interesting to see who has the chops to compete at this level. I am confident Lewis does, if healthy. Lopez and Duran should. Julien, Wallner, Kirilloff, Jeffers, Ryan, and Ober? Time to find out.
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