yarnivek1972

I guess if I am Derek Falvey, I put all my chips on the table for 2019. That means banking on big turnarounds (and health) from Sano AND Buxton. That means keeping (and extending or QOing) Escobar and Dozier. If they still leave, so be it.But, I definitely QO both. Probably not going to get a much better prospect for either in return anyway. Keep Reed and Gibson. Possibly look at extending Gibson. At least feel him out. That doesn't leave much in terms of tradeable assets, I know. Rodney, Duke, Odorizzi and Lynn is about it. None of whom will fetch much, certainly nothing likely to be useful in 2019. Get the guys that need to be evaluated as possible contributors in 2019 up here and in games. Obviously, that becomes complicated if the Twins don't trade Escobar or Dozier, but I don't think so. There is still a DH spot for someone. I don't think Dozier would accept the QO, Escobar probably will. Meaning there is still an infield opening. Maybe that's Sano. Maybe it is some combination of Gordon, Adrianza and Austudillo. I think Mauer retires. I just don't see him being able to play everyday and in this era of 13 man pitching staffs there is no way a team can carry two guys that essentially only play first base. So, what does "my" August 30th roster look like? sp Berrios sp Romero (depending on IP) sp Gibson sp Mejia sp Santana? sp ALT1 Slegers sp ALT2 Littell cl Reed rp Pressly rp Rogers rp Hildenberger rp Moya rp Busenitz rp May rp Curtiss rp ALT1 Bard rp ALT2 Littell rp ALT3 Duffey c Garver c Austudillo 1b Mauer 2b Dozier 3b Escobar ss Polanco lf Rosario cf Buxton rf Kepler dh Sano if/of Adrianza of Cave I don't suspect Mauer or Dozier will play much in September. Maybe 3 starts a week. As for Erv, if he does somehow manage to make it back this year, I think it would be a nice gesture for the Twins to allow him to take his turn every 5th day to showcase himself for his next contract. September call ups: Gonsalves Gordon whoever is next in line as a catcher to allow Austudillo to play a super sub role in September. Of course, the success of this all banks on Sano and Buxton. If they don't come through next year, the Twins basically will be starting at square one around Berrios, Romero, Gordon, Rooker and maybe Rosario.

I guess I don't understand how Buxton's injured toe affected his ability to not swing at pitches out of the strike zone that he had no chance of hitting. Sure, it would affect how hard he hit a ball, but I'm pretty sure WHICH PITCHES to swing at would be unaffected. That has been the biggest impediment to his offensive development since the day he was drafted. The guy has been in the organization for 6 years now. I wholeheartedly agree with ewen: that this is STILL his biggest problem should be a giant red flag that the player development personnel for this organization aren't getting the job done.

I don’t think anyone considers Garver a “mainstay”. Maybe as a back up. His defense is well below average. His offense isn’t good enough to make up for it to justify an everyday role. Nor is it good enough to justify taking others out of the lineup (well, THIS year it would be) to play him at 1b or dh or elsewhere. A multi-year controllable catcher should definitely be a primary target when trades are made. I have no illusions of coming away with a star catcher with the pieces the Twins will likely try to move. That’s not really what my ideal candidate would be. I want a good, not necesarily great, defensive catcher that can positively contribute offensively. Basically, the 2017 version of Jason Castro.

Slegers out after 72 pitches. Apparently, MOY doesn’t believe in not needlessly overusing the bullpen.

Yes. Hitting him between the two coldest hitters perhaps in MLB renders any positives from his at bats moot.

I looked at this too awhile back. OPS and wRC aren’t the only ways to measure development. A key component your analysis lacks is BB and K rates. Hicks was FAR better than Buxton in his years as a Twin.

I don’t.

200-300 PA with a sub .270 BABIP could be bad luck. 1300 PA with a sub .270 BABIP is not bad luck. It simply is what it is. I think there is a correction or an adjustment that can be made. What that is I do not know. But, as I said it is more concerning to me that the coaches don’t seem to either.

Buxton’s “domination” at the MLB level has been pretty exclusively in September. In other words, playing against a lot of September call ups. You are also cherry picking and SSS numbers to fit your narrative. Big picture: In well over 1000 PA at the MLB level Buxton has a .285 OBP, .672 OPS and an OPS+ of 80. Not good by any definition. Anyone can look good in a 15 game stretch.

Who has determined that one WAR is worth $8 mil? The Twins last year had a total WAR of about 36. Payroll wasn’t $280 mil. The Yankees, by way of comparison had a total WAR of 52. I’m pretty sure their payroll wasn’t $400 mil. $8 mil per 1 WAR sounds like something made up by an agent to me.

That the coaching staff doesn’t seem to have an explanation- evidenced by the lack of an attempted correction- is most concerning IMO.

To say 2017 was not an abberation is correct. The Twins were definitely the 6th best team in the American League. The problem is that at least 4 of the 5 better teams last year were light years better, and still are. Also, the other 9 teams in the American League last year were very bad. So, depending on your point of view, the Twins were either the best of the worst or the worst of the best. Either way, it was not a team that was going to make noise in October.

Aren’t there some TD contributors who hold press credentials?

The second base umpire is completely blind.

8 errors in half a season is about 5 too many from second base.

The Twins are only carrying 9 relievers.

Rogers replaced by Duke even though the pitcher’s spot didn’t bat? A move only the MOY ® could get away with.

As long as he is the de facto back up infielder, there is little chance he starts a game behind the plate.

How is Austudillo not a reject of other teams?

Raining. Interesting development.

Not necesarily. He’s only at 73. That’s pathetic considering he was at 50 after 2. Although, given the conditions, probably done after this.

Baez should have picked that grounder. It was likely an easy play. Grossman isn’t exactly fast.

See, Lynn should have pinch hit yesterday. He’s got game.

Captain CAVE maaaaaan!

There have been a few cold weather postponements in MLB. And certainly because of rain or snow. I don’t think those conditions are any less dangerous than what the players faced yesterday. And you don’t always feel it right away. Indeed, here in Minnesota it’s much cooler and less humid than Friday or Saturday. Yet, I more or less fainted at work today. I think (and doctor agrees) that it was because of working the last two (I am kitchen manager at a Perkins) in the heat and going from hot kitchen to cooler/freezer and back again.