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rdehring

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Everything posted by rdehring

  1. rdehring
    Although I normally don't speculate, Doc, my first choices would be Gonzalez and then Lowrie in part becasue both can play third. As the season progresses, we should have a couple internal options for second (Arraez and Gordon) should the need arise for a Gonzalez/Lowrie move to third base.
  2. rdehring
    I am all for increased salaries for minor league players. But I believe your estimate of $8 million for all of baseball is not accurate. The Twins have almost 200 minor league players throughout their organization...with at least 180 not on the 40-man roster. About a hundred of these are in the lower levels (DSL, GCL, and Appy League) where I expect they earn $15,000 or less per year. To bring all of those to $100,000 would cost at least $8,500,000 (100*$85,000) for the Twins only. And that doesn't include all of their four full season teams, which would add several more million. I understand all the arguments saying this is like an apprenticeship and the cost of making it to the big leagues. Still doesn't mean these kids should be under the poverty line, however. Would be fantastic if these kids in the rookie leagues got at least $25,000 with reasonable raises for all the full-season teams with perhaps a $50,000 minimum. That would probably cost the Twins a couple million dollars a year and I for one think it is something the Twins and baseball should consider.
  3. rdehring
    Almost always enjoy what you write, Ted. And this is no exception. Have said it about fifty times since mid-season, extend Berrios, Gibson and Rosario, and that seems to agree with your wishes.
  4. rdehring
    What I found most interesting from this exercise, Seth, is the prediction that Grossman would get within a million bucks of what Rosario will. Not saying the projections are wrong, but that just isn't fair, in my opinion. As for what bell tolls for Grossman tomorrow, my guess is that he will be tendered. I see him as having some value. And if the Twins need a 40-man roster spot, gotta believe that Granite gets waived before they will let Grossman go for nothing. The good news is that we will know in another day.
  5. rdehring
    And I have a feeling Kiriloff is going to be as good or better than Royce. So I would have two untouchables.
  6. rdehring
    Like the comment above, all we are doing is guessing. My best guess, however, is that the payroll will be close to $100mm. That doesn't include additional dollars to any of the three, Gibson, Rosario, Berrios, I hope get extensions this winter. If they do all three with a couple/three extra million to each in 2019 I could see $110mm. I also will cast my vote that Kepler won't and shouldn't play an inning at first base in 2019 or the near future. He was our best defensive outfielder in 2018 and is one of the best right fielders in the league, especially playing the Target Field wall, why would anyone take him away from his strength.
  7. rdehring
    I suspect the Twins were a bit surprised Cron became available. When a deal wasn't struck with any team, they threw in a waiver claim and were probably surprised when he became an early Christmas present. Like many above, I will be surprised if Cron and Austin are both on the roster come opening day. If they are, they both will have had decent/good springs and will fill out the roster at first base and most games at DH. I also don't understand all the love for Cruz. He is what, 38-39 years old? I understand his production last year dipped, although was still good. Whereas others see him hitting at that level again in 2019, I see 2018 as being year one of his drop off due to age. That means 2019 will be year 2 of his downward spiral. How bad will it get this year? We will know come September. But if it is the same drop off as 2017-2018, his production may not be better than what we could expect from Austin (.225/.300/.780). I for one believe his decline will be signifianct and would have zero interest. I also expect they are done at the DH/1B position. Now, if they can focus the dollars available on a good middle infielder, two bullpen arms and signing Berrios, Rosario and Gibson to extensions, it will have been a good winter. And come spring, we will have a real chance of competing for the playoffs which to a large extent will again depend on what we get from Mr. Buxton and Mr. Sano.
  8. rdehring
    It looks like he has been around for five years. Does that mean he has only one more year before being a free agent? Or was there some minor league time in the first couple years and he isn't a free agent for two or three years? Biggest question I have is why he was waived and how he will fit with the current pair of big RH bats. As a power guy, does he also strike out a lot?
  9. rdehring
    Considering the damage the Hurricane did nearby, great to hear that the ballpark came thru it without damage. Looking at Google Maps, has to be one of greatest views in all of baseball. Now to figure out a way to see a few games some year.
  10. rdehring
    Didn't realize that, Steve. Hadn't checked the log to see what happened in the extra innings.
  11. rdehring
    Thanks a lot for keeping us up to date on the AFL, Steve. Expect Tommy Watkins may be second guessing his decision to not use Bray in the 10th inning of the championship game. Had he, they may still be playing. And yes I will say it again, I hate that bloody extra inning rule of putting a guy on second base. Must disagree a bit about your comments on Jax, namely that you end with a so-so judgement of his time in the AFL. He hasn't pitched at a level higher than Hi-A and all the players in the league were at that level or higher. Add to that the limited professional innings he has pitched together with the vastly greater experience of everyone in the league and I believe he did very well. I continue to see a track in which we see Jax being a solid middle of the rotation starter for the Twins for many years, perhaps as soon as late 2020.
  12. rdehring
    This is the type of move a lot of us have thought should be made every year. Don't have a clue what type of prospect Schales is, but getting someone unlikely to be lost in the draft makes sense. Expect they thought there was a better than 50/50 chance Anderson was gone.
  13. rdehring
    Or Arraez will hit .350 the first month at AA, then .350 at Rochester for a couple months before moving up to the Twins where he will do the same. Yes that comment is unlikely. Or is it? This kid has hit well over .300 at every stop he has been at. As for all the pitchers that weren't added, the Twins must feel that none of them are better than the 10 prospects they already had on the roster...now 9 with Busenitz gone.
  14. rdehring
    I don't know what to think of Jay, Seth. My thoughts are that if they don't protect him, he will probably be selected and then turn it around. Kind of thinking no matter what they do it will probably end up wrong. And as for Curtiss, don't disagree he was great at Rochester. What is disappointing was that neither he, or any of these young guys, have come up and gotten it done for the Twins. When will one of these guys in the organization come up and be lights out from day 1. Will agree that most haven't been given much of an opportunity.
  15. rdehring
    I don't know what to think about all the kind of good relief pitchers. After the recent disappointment from players like Curtiss and Busenitz, I am more skeptical of all these guys. Tyler Jay's draft status will probably get him selected if not protected. Is this the year he turns the corner and becomes the pitcher we all hoped for/expected? Probably, but still don't see why he would be put on the 40-man. Agree with Seth that Arraez is on the bubble. Really believe in this kid, but do understand his limitations. I wouldn't have added Wade without removing Granite or Reed. Expect one of them to be gone before the end of the Winter meetings. Don't know if they are gonna add anyone today, guess we best wait and see.
  16. rdehring
    I have been looking at the current 40-man before thinking about who gets added. Right now it is at 36 with 22 pitchers and 14 position players. They have only 4 infielders, thus, either 3 or all 4 of the open spots will eventually be infielders. Should they add Gordon and Arraez, the remaining 2 spots will eventually go to the 2 infielders they need to add to next year's 25-man roster. I say eventually, because they may fill the roster now with the intent of releasing/assigning/trading either an outfielder or pitcher at a later date when they sign/trade for those two guys. With 7 outfielders on the roster, I see the addition of Wade as a trade off with either Granite or the guy they just picked up a few weeks ago. If he is added, one of those two is gone. As for adding pitchers, I see a pitcher being removed for each addition. With that said, I don't see all that many players added. Maybe four or five at the most. There are 10 pitchers who remain prospects. If pitchers are added, some of those will be gone. Your guess is as good as mine which it will be.
  17. rdehring
    Salt River lost a nailbiter, 3-2, in Saturday's championship game. Tommy Watkins opted to keep all the Twins players on the pines for the game. A bit surprised that none of them got into the game.
  18. rdehring
    Looked at the Twins website. They have all these new guys listed, but still show Guardado as the bullpen coach. I know it has been reported that he is gone. But why hasn't he been removed like the others? Could it be that Hefner is in fact an assistant pitching coach and Guardado has been retained as the bullpen guy? Confusing!
  19. rdehring
    Only negative I see with Donaldson is that he is a right handed hitter, correct? With Sano and Austin also right handed, a leftie would be nice. Granted, with Rosario, Kepler, Castro and Polanco all being able to hit from the left side, the overall balance is ok. Just means you can't platoon him with Sano/Austin. Of this group, he is the only one that gets me a little excited. Problem I see with Cruz is that you not only can't discount last year being down, you can count on it being the start of his downward spiral. For that reason, he would be a no-no for me.
  20. rdehring
    Agree with what you have Seth. But none of us will know how the bullpen will be structured until we see what they are doing late in spring training. Who knows, they may stack 8 starters with 2 pitching every fourth game. Add a long reliever and 3 short guys and you have a bullpen of 4. Yes, I know that doesn't make any sense, or does it? But we are living in a new world!
  21. rdehring
    Let me think about this a moment. Is Kyle Gibson the most senior player on the roster? And is Rosario most senior of every day players? Or is it Grossman? Best get those two signed up so they are around for awhile. As for these two hires, will tell you in July what I think.
  22. rdehring
    I think you are right on, John, about their philosophy this winter. After reading the post by Bollinger the other day on the Twins website, it appears the Twins remain convinced their young core will bring championship baseball to Minneapolis in the future and are going to be patient. Makes sense to me. So I agree that we should see a two infielders and at least one bullpen guy. I can live with that.
  23. rdehring
    Saw Duran pitch a game on Mediacom's Iowa sports channel (why we get that in Wayzata, I don't understand). His fastball is a legit heater and his breaking ball was immense. Kid has some great stuff. Didn't see enough of him to talk about consistency. Still wouldn't put him ahead of Thorpe who had an unbelievable year, all the way up to and including AAA.
  24. rdehring
    Jax just may be one of those finds that come along every once in awhile. I see a mature young man who is putting that AFA education/training to work on the diamond. If you have been trained to lead young men in combat, I suspect he will do fine facing off against hitters once he makes it to Minnesota. So very happy with the success this young man is achieving now that he is playing baseball full time.
  25. rdehring
    Doc again said it better than I could, when speaking about Thorpe. Expect those of us who are believers will get our wishes when we see him on the mound at Target Field late next summer.
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