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rdehring

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Everything posted by rdehring

  1. Love this deal, for the Twins. Should the Twins be so fortunate to win a couple playoff series and make the World Series there is a good chance they will face the Dodgers. Would love seeing Bauer on the hill against the Twins in game 1 or 2 of the Series. With Max Kepler hitting in the middle of the Twins lineup its a guaranteed early shower for Bauer followed by a Twins W.
  2. Thanks for the information, Nick. Had been wondering what his previous walk rates were after seeing last year's numbers.
  3. Great seeing this FO actually get something for a player who would need to be taken off the 40-man at some point this year. Is Anderson the next Joe Nathan? Unlikely, but who knows. But it is great getting a pitcher with MLB experience for the bullpen or a future spot in the rotation. Love how they are adding competent depth to the pitching staff. Saw the walks in only a few innings last year. Does anyone know if walks were a problem in 2019 when he was starting? Expected the FO to exchange a fringe player from our 40-man for another piece to the 2021 puzzle. Will there be more?
  4. Thanks for another good read, Nick. Count me among the group that believes they are done, other than signing a couple of veteran/AAAA types to minor league contracts to come in and compete for the #5 spot in the rotation, a spot in the pen or an infield utility guy. The biggest reason is that the 40-man is full and there aren't a lot of good options to create an opening. Sure is different than a few years ago when any of us could look at the 40-man and come up with several players who stood a great chance of clearing waivers. Considering the 40-man is full, another route they might take is trading someone on the roster together with a prospect for a good starting pitching prospect who is closer to being big league ready. Or maybe they are happy with Thorpe and Smeltzer as their competition for Dobnak in the #5 spot? Could they be so fortunate to have the Thorpe from 2019 show up after last year's disappointing season that began with his leaving spring training for a few weeks?
  5. True, but the best way to get all those solo home runs the Twins hit to be more effective is to have someone on base. If I recall, he spent a lot of last year hitting in the lower part of the order. The Twins lineup in 2020 didn't have all the production from the bottom three as it did the year before.
  6. Because it is a lot easier to score runs when someone is on base. And Arreaz gets on base more than anybody else in this lineup, a lot more than most.
  7. I was among those who was ok with Cruz not coming back. Reason is that DH is no longer an option for players needing a day off or for Arraez, who must be in the lineup nearly every day. I suppose there will be enough injuries to keep Luis' bat in the lineup. Will this also have an effect on the dollars available for another starter and reliever? Expect we may now be looking at them getting one solid reliever, but the starter may be someone who will compete with Dobber for #5 rather than say, Odorrizi, who would have been in their starting 5 with Dobber pushed to the pen/backup starter. Two weeks left until they report, assuming health departments will let them.
  8. Could the Twins second utility position be filled by Astudillo? Doesn't play shortstop, but can play second, third, the corner outfield and catch. Isn't great at any of them, but also not the worst in the league. Assuming there is a 26 man roster again, is there?, might be the best choice for that 13th slot on the bench. I thought the MLB proposal was reasonable. Disappointed that it got rejected outright. Unless they can get vaccinations for all teams/personnel by early March, there will be cancelled games. And heck, will Arizona even allow the teams to enter their spring training sites next week? Hopefully, they will get back together this week.
  9. I think many of us are looking at his 2019 numbers at AA without considering his situation. The Twins started him in AA, if memory serves, even though he injured his wrist in spring training. He played the entire year without that injury ever healing and was it one or two trips to the IL? Can't imagine, but suspect, that type of injury had a big effect on his results. And unlike any of us, the Twins have first hand knowledge of who he is based on an entire summer at the alternate site last year. They obviously were thrilled with what he accomplished, or they wouldn't have called him up to start a playoff game. Yes, he may begin the season in AAA to save a year of service time. However, I suspect the FO is expecting changes to that in the next CBA and won't screw around with him. I expect him to be the starting left fielder on opening day (unless they start Arraez so he isn't sitting for the opener) and will contend for AL ROY.
  10. Interesting that you had three BUY, BUY, BUY's and no SELL, SELL, SELL. I think Rogers problems were somewhat related to the COVID crisis. As the Twins Player Rep, he was dealing with behind the scenes negotiations much of the summer. Expect that took some of his focus off his game and could have been the reason he wasn't sitting some of those guys down who eventually worked the count for a hit or walk. I keep wondering if someone has the data for Dobnak beginning in I believe the 4th inning of that game at St. Louis. I recall two regular ground balls hit against the shift in an inning that seemed to never end. After that his ball was moving more than I recall and way out of the zone. Don't know if he was over throwing to get out of that jam, but something was different. Beginning with that game, his control just wasn't the same. Of the three mentioned, I believe he should be the #1 BUY because he can be very effective. Donaldson just needs to stay healthy. So I would BUY all three and SELL Gamestop.
  11. Thanks, Seth. Exciting addition that makes the Twins much better in 2021. Now, let's hope we get a full 154-game season in. With a start around May 1, expect all teams should be able to get vaccinations prior to opening day, probably the Johnson & Johnson vaccine which requires only 1 shot. That should help the COVID cases and schedule disruptions.
  12. I'll agree with those above who indicate the biggest need the Twins have is one more dominant arm in the bullpen. Add another option for the 5th starter spot and a veteran middle infielder on a minor league contract available for callup from St. Paul. I don't see the need to sign Cruz, who I believe isn't likely to perform as he did in 2019 or 2020...maybe more like the last part of 2020. If they don't sign him, I believe the Twins DH's (Rooker and committee) will put up equal or better numbers than Cruz will in 2021. Use those dollars to fill out the bullpen.
  13. Eddie was one of my favorite's since he was at Elizabethton. Happy that he got a reasonable contract. Biggest concern is that with their pitching, he just could be the difference that will keep them in the hunt for the Central crown. Would love to be able to see him play against the Twins, but it doesn't look like that is going to be possible...thanks to Sinclair Broadcasting, FSN and Hulu. Eddie, Eddie, Eddie!
  14. Agree with everything you said, Nick. You may be right and this increases the likelihood of a trade, but that is what I do not want to see. Hitters like Arraez come along so infrequently, this team better keep him long term. Expect he will need to see a couple hundred at bats at DH, which is why signing Cruz is becoming less likely.
  15. Don't know what to think about Cavaco. He didn't have much of a high school track record other than a few months before his draft. Could he be a late bloomer that with work develops into a star? Certainly. He could also be the player others had previously seen and we saw his first time in the GCL. Considering he remains a big unknown, I wouldn't have included him in my Top 10, maybe 20 or maybe not even there. I always cringe a bit when I see comments like you made about Canterino being a mid-rotation starter. Considering what he has accomplished, how quickly the Twins moved him up and the reported progress he made during the last non-season, he may end up being much better than that. Or maybe not. But pigeon holing him this early always strikes me as a mistake. Yes, he may end up being a mid-rotation starter. But he also may win a Cy Young or never pitch in the bigs. Somewhat like Cavaco, don't know what to think about Sabato. Can certainly understand why you have him where you do. I don't see him as a safe pick, however. Rather someone who could be great or a bust, while providing nothing defensively or on the bases.
  16. Rooker surprised me last fall, although I understand it was only a few at bats and the league may adjust. Doubt he will begin the season in St. Paul, more likely he will be with the Twins as their DH about fifty percent of the time.
  17. Really doubt that any of the infielders need to play in the outfield. Polanco and Arraez will share second, while also backing up short and third. Considering injuries and rest, they should be in the field most games. Although no one has mentioned it, I believe this reduces the likelihood Cruz returns. They absolutely need to keep both Polanco and Arraez bats in the lineup nearly every day. Some of that is gonna have to be at DH, which can't happen with a DH like Cruz on the team.
  18. Lewis could become special. But so could Kirilloff, although mostly because of his bat. Although Lewis' ceiling is higher and his defense certainly better, there is a much higher probability that Kirilloff reaches his ceiling than Lewis. So its AK for me.
  19. Very disappointed in Miranda two years ago. With the three young kids included, have to believe you are going to omit several worthy selections. Personally, would like to see at least a year of play from these kids before including them in the Twins Top 20.
  20. I assume you were referring to Arraez when mentioning Adrianza several times. How much shoveling did you have? Saw that Omaha got hit hard last night/today.
  21. Count me among those who do not want to see Marwin returning. When they do something in the infield, it has to be someone who is at least average defensively at shortstop. That means either an Adrianza type of utility guy or a starting shortstop with Polanco moved to super utility. As for final payroll, I see them getting over $100M, but like you expect it to be much lower than many were projecting much of the winter.
  22. Thanks for another great article, Nick. I have a feeling that the lineup you posted above is close to what it will be on opening day. I suspect they will continue to try to get Cruz, maybe more money but a one year deal. They may also improve their infield by doing something on a utility player to replace Blankenhorn. But I think that's going to be it. Like you, I can't see them going into the season without one more experienced starting pitcher. Whether that's a free agent or trade, don't have a clue. My personal choice would be the same as three months ago...Odorizzi. Also believe they need at least one more experienced reliever and wouldn't be adverse to bringing back Clippard.
  23. I also read that in the Strib this morning, Mike. My question, who are the 2.2% of writers who didn't vote for him? Still remember seeing him cruise around County Stadium back in the late 50's. What a team...Aaron, Matthews, Spahn and others.
  24. I like this signing. If he pitches as well as he has the past couple years he could battle Pineda and a yet to be signed/acquired starter for the #3 spot in the rotation...my hope is they bring Odorizzi back. If age starts to take its toll and he slips a bit, he then battles Dobnak and others for the #5 spot. Should he be in the hunt for #3, then Dobber and the other kids provide much needed depth after Odor or someone else is brought in. As for blocking the young starters, our only concern would be for Balazovic or Duran and neither of those will be ready until mid-season, at the earliest.
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