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rdehring

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Everything posted by rdehring

  1. rdehring
    Not an exciting group demanding to be added. Kind of goes hand and hand with the strength of the organization in the lower levels from Fort Myers and down. I wouldn't have Wade as a given, Seth. Like Gordon, he sure didn't hit well at AAA. Whereas, I would add Arraez who has been amongst the leaders (batting average) at every level. I mentioned in another article the other day that there were a dozen pitchers on the 40-man who I considered marginal. That didn't include Santana and Belisle, who I assume will both be gone in a few days. Remain hopeful that at least half of that dozen are either released, outrighted to Rochester, or traded to open spots for the Rule 5 adds and a few free agent signings.
  2. rdehring
    After a nice 9-2 win last night, Salt River has a 1.0 game lead in first place in their division. The trio of Twins relief prospects pitched again last night, Lujan, Smeltzer and Bray. Smeltzer and Bray are doing very well with ERA's of 1.50 and 1.29 after both throwing scoreless innings last night.
  3. rdehring
    Yes, was talking about the 40-man throughout the comment.
  4. rdehring
    I agree that Vasquez may have more potential than many on that list. But is he ready for opening day? I don't know because he spent such a short time at AA and AAA, then was given very little opportunity to pitch when called up to the Twins. What was it, 4-5 innings? Or at least it seemed like it. I think the best for the team and him is that he starts at Rochester for the first month or two of the season.
  5. rdehring
    You asked, now what? The answer to that has nothing to do with Baldelli, rather the Front Office. Take a look at the 40 man roster. There currently are 25 pitchers on that roster (a total of 43 players). Of those 25, I maintain that nearly half (12) fall into the category of marginal prospects/talent. Somehow, this number needs to be reduced with some of these players replaced by players you can count on to perform at the major league level in 2019. The dozen I consider marginal include Busenitz, Curtiss, De Jong, Drake, Duffey, Gonsalves, Littell, Magill, Moya, Slegers, Stewart, and Vasquez. I expect many of you will disagree and still consider a few of these good prospects who may help the club next year. But really, is there one player in that group you can write into the opening day roster in ink? I think not, thus, the problem. This year's roster was too heavy with pitchers with as few as 14 or 15 position players at a few points last summer. Assuming the team shouldn't have more than 22-23 pitchers on the 40-man on opening day, they can't have a dozen who not only aren't worthy of an opening day spot but also aren't top prospects. And this dozen didn't include Belisle or Santana, who both should be gone next week, or Hildenberger or Reed who struggled during the last part of the year. So what's next? I maintain the most important task for the FO will be to re-structure the pitchers on their roster this winter.
  6. rdehring
    I don't know what the future holds for Buxton and have no interest in speculating. With that said, I sincerely hope he is doing what he can this winter to give him the best chance possible to get back to being that player he was the last couple months of 2017. I think you hit it on the head, Nick, that Baldelli could be a boost in Buxton's efforts to recover from whatever has been ailing him. The one positive from last season was that none of his physical ailments were caused by his seemingly reckless method of playing in the outfield. Hopefully, he will report to spring training healthy and remain so throughout the spring and 2019 season.
  7. rdehring
    Must disagree on Thorpe as he seems to me to be a lot better than backend type starter. I can see this kid going to the front of the rotation, however, understand there is no guarantee it is going to happen.
  8. rdehring
    Can I assume, Nick, that it was 2005 that he missed with a knee/TJ injury, not 2015? Seems like a good choice, if in fact he is their choice. If so, will be interesting how the coaching staff shakes out. See he had some time in Tampa with Shelton, don't know whether that means Shelton will stay..or not. Was expecting they wouldn't hire someone until the Series is over. Expect that means they were blown away by him and wanted to act before he was hired by someone else.
  9. rdehring
    Always liked Norsetter, whom I believe was the chief International Scout at the end of his run with the Twins. Were several reasons, including the fact he seemed to own Australia with so many good signings over the years. He also had many interesting signings from Taiwan, as well as several European signings including those mentioned above. If I recall, he was a Madison West High School grad. That's the same school my wife attended, although she would have been there well before Howie. Doubt age had anything to do with his departure as the new group was in the process of a complete makeover of the organization. Doesn't mean he can't use age as a reason to get a few, or more, bucks from the Twins. I can't imagine what his life had to be like...being in Perth, Australia one day looking at Luke Hughes, then off to Germany a few days later before jetting off to Taiwan to look at some 15 year old pitcher. Sure doesn't give one time for a family back home...where ever that was. So I guess if he can recoup a few bucks from the Twins, probably reasonable to say he has earned it!
  10. rdehring
    Very interesting, and sure is a lot to like. Personally, I would flip Lewis and Gonsalves. A bit surprising that he still has Javier that high after missing most of two of the last three years. Also a pleasant surprise to see De Jong at #11, as was with Larnach at #4. Expect we all are going to like Balazovic next year and wouldn't be surprised to see him in the Top 10 a year from now. After an ugly year for the Twins, seems like the minor league organization has taken a big step forward.
  11. rdehring
    Yup, wasn't thinking about that and certainly know it to be true. Still a noticeable savings for the half that is in AZ versus MN. Haven't looked at how MO, ILL, MI, OHIO and TEX compare with the CA teams. I know TEX didn't have a state income tax back when.
  12. rdehring
    Booooooooooo! And if I only knew how to add one of those whatever things showing tears. EE was my favorite current Twin, well maybe second after Rosario. And lets be realistic, none of us knows what the Twins offered him, if anything, either last winter or at the deadline. As for Escobar, gotta be happy for him to now have true financial security. Let's also not forget when comparing the Twins to Diamondbacks, the Arizona state income tax is about 5% less than Minnesota. So $21 million from them nets about a million more in his pocket than if signing the same deal with the Twins. And he ain't getting a FED deduction for it like they used to.
  13. rdehring
    Expect he will be working hard during the off season to eliminate that stretch later in the year when he is average. Do that and everyone can start using the term ACE when speaking about him.
  14. rdehring
    Salt River had a nice 2-1 win in extra innings last night. Tied 0-0 after nine, Salt River came to bat with a runner on second down 1-0. Jaylin Davis drove in the tying run with a ground out. Travis Blankenhorn was at the plate when the winning run scored on a balk. Davis and Blankenhorn both had one hit on the night.
  15. rdehring
    20 home runs, 30 doubles, great K and BB rates, and the Twins just gave him the award as the best defensive player on the team...in center and right field. Lets remember where he came from and the caliber of play he had before moving to Fort Myers when he was 17 years old. Am I somewhat disappointed that his average wasn't better this year? Like everyone, yes. And I expect Max was more than disappointed. Last year his winter marching orders were to focus on hitting lefties...done that. Lets sit back and see what he does next year after this winter's work. I for one still see him as a fixture in the middle of future Twins lineups.
  16. rdehring
    I liked most of what DocBauer was saying. And after reading it thought, maybe the Twins should fire their Manager. I am taking a different approach to this winter. Don't have a clue what the FO should do, just know they should do something. Maybe even a lot! Although with Mauer it sure looked like the end, but after a month off will he decide to re-up for another year? The FO is actually kind of hog tied until he makes that decision...at least as far as first base is concerned.
  17. rdehring
    Thanks, Steve. Now that the first week is behind the guys and they are settled in, time to see what they can do over the next month. Really like the starts Raley, Davis and Smeltzer are off to. Hopefully, Rooker will join the action soon.
  18. rdehring
    Should your core five be six, Mike? Rosario, Berrios, Garver, May, Rogers, Romero? Not certain if all those are core players, but certainly are six the Twins should be counting on in 2019 if they are to compete. Personally, I would add Polanco to that. I believe everyone is being too critical of what is probably an extra error a month. Especially considering that the kid can hit.
  19. rdehring
    Is Mejia part of their core? Or will he even be part of the team come opening day? Will be interesting spring for him as I see him in a 7 man battle for the #5 starting spot. In a way, the Twins are screwed. How do you plan for 2019 when you have two players, Sano and Buxton, who could be anywhere from busts to all-stars? Gotta pencil them in as starters, can't trade'em, gotta build in a plan should either or both not play due to injury or failure. Not a clue how the FO is going to handle this. Add me to the list of those who believe that 2019 will be Kepler's break-out year. If not, Kiriloff will replace him in right by 2020 with Kepler moving on or into a backup role. Sign Rosario and Berrios to extensions. Everyone else can wait another year.
  20. rdehring
    There were several players signing well under slot, including Larnach, Jeffers and Williams, the #8 pick. That money was then used to go over slot for the three high school kids and others, including Keirsey, Sands and Helman.
  21. rdehring
    Great story, Seth. Correct me if I am wrong, but his .355 average at Cedar Rapids was his lowest batting average since high school? And those numbers at Hutch are just plain sick! Could also be Davis, but this kid has to be considered the most pleasant surprise from this year's draft. Will he begin next year back in Iowa? Or do you think he could begin with the Miracle?
  22. rdehring
    Great story, Tom, thanks. And I for one am looking forward to Astudillo being part of this team in 2019 and beyond. There is so much about him that reminds me of Kirby Puckett, fireplug body type, excitement, outgoing personality, and results. And he can do an acceptable job at three positions, in addition to catcher. Gotta love him. I have been a big fan of Rosario since he and Sano battled for the HR championship back in Elizabethton...a battle Rosario won. Have continued to like and support him while many here and elsewhere were, to say it kindly, more than down on him. So I look forward to him signing that big extension this winter so God willing, I can continue to watch him for the next four or five years.
  23. rdehring
    Everyone has known since last spring that the Twins would need at least one player in the middle infield this off season. No one in the minors has shown he is ready to step up and fill that need. So yes, they need to bring in someone. Who, where and how he gets here is the question. The front office gets paid big bucks to make those decisions. I for one plan to sit back and see what they do. And yes, I will be elated should that player's initials be EE.
  24. rdehring
    Some of those dollars will be used in extensions, hopefully, at least three to Berrios, Gibson and Rosario. I also don't expect them to be at, or near, last year's total. If any of Sano, Kepler, Buxton, and Polanco do take that next step, the Twins will be looking at big increases in 2020. Would be prudent to keep some of their powder dry for those extensions.
  25. rdehring
    Salt River was a walk-off winner, 7-6, in 11 innings on Thursday. And yes, the winning run was the player who began the bottom of the 11th on second base...hate that rule. Luke Raley was 0-4, however, did walk twice including once in the 11th. Jaylin Davis had another 2 hit game (2-5). Hector Lujan had a blown save, giving up 3 runs (2 ER) in 0.2 innings. Adam Bray got the win, pitching the last 2.0 shutout innings with 2 K's and 2 BB's.
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