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rdehring

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Everything posted by rdehring

  1. rdehring
    I recall a spring training game maybe five +/- years ago. Not 100% certain, but I think our catcher was Ramos. I believe we were playing Baltimore and the catcher was hit in the head by bats three times. Again not 100% certain, but I think Machado was the culprit two or all three times. Perhaps that infraction, assuming the catcher is in the area he is supposed to be, should be handled a bit like hockey. Rather than a 2-minute penalty, the batter is ejected from the game. After a second occurrence, he is ejected and must sit out the next game. Three times and it becomes two games, etc. Add that he doesn't get paid for those next games and they would be adding some real teeth to something that is a problem and no one talks about. Now the argument would be where do those dollars go? And I would go so far as to give the teams losing the player the right for a free callup from the minors for those games, kind of like the 26th player for double headers.
  2. rdehring
    Excellent article, Nick. And one which doesn't have an answer and won't, until spring training. We will then learn whether Garver remains a catcher. If he does, expect he can be their starter. If he isn't, I see either he or Austin making the 25-man roster. All is subject to change should there be additional moves over the winter at catcher or first base.
  3. rdehring
    Went thru most of last year with no infielders on the 40-man down at Rochester, until adding Pettit and another guy late in the year. With Gordon and Arraez on the 40-man, but not really ready to be with the Twins, this gives them added depth. Also provides competition for Adrianza. Smart move. Expect they will carry more than 21 pitchers, thus, at least one position player will be departing. My best guess is Granite will be first. Additional pitcher signings will be tied to removing a pitcher from the 40-man, whether by trade or waiving player X.
  4. rdehring
    Count me among those of you who do not want to trade Kepler. Would I, yes. But to pry him away I would want a top return, a return that includes one very good young player who will fill one of the needs for the Twins in 2019. I have always expected that it would take a bit longer because of his background coming out of Germany. I still believe that he has the ability to be one of the best, if not the best, of this young group...Kepler, Rosario, Buxton, Polanco and Sano. I expect him to take another step forward this year and can be a critical part of the 2019 Central Division championship Twins.
  5. rdehring
    Interesting, Tom. Twins best deal would include taking on ALL the salary. Would also have to include either Cron or Austin for roster purposes. What else would Seattle demand....who knows. Would be fine if it were a prospect from the high single digits to mid teens...say #7 to #16. Looking at the MLB prospect list, that would begin with Rooker and end with Diaz. Of that group, I would not include Thorpe or Javier. Normally, I don't like to speculate. But is taking on all the cash, Cron/or/Austin and Rooker too much for Santana? Personally, I wouldn't do it, although Austin vs. Cron is easier to stomach. But some of the others in that 7-16 group would be doable.
  6. rdehring
    Great analysis of a player who does add value to the Twins, plus versatility in the field and at the plate.
  7. rdehring
    Everyone is wondering where the Twins OBP will come from in 2019. Take a look at what Astudillo is doing down in Venezuela this winter. In 160 at bats, he has a .391 OBP. OK, his batting average is .356, but he continues to get on base more than anyone would expect. He also is learning how to take walks, with 7 so far this winter. And that's compared to one strikeout, yes, 1. Almost hard to believe!
  8. rdehring
    No question, Nick, the Twins need to get more guys on base. Don't have a clue how they plan to accomplish that. Expect we won't know until we get past opening day. Hopefully, most of the starters work to do that more frequently in 2019.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. rdehring
    And I have a feeling Kiriloff is going to be as good or better than Royce. So I would have two untouchables.
  12. 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.
  13. 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?
  14. 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.
  15. rdehring
    Didn't realize that, Steve. Hadn't checked the log to see what happened in the extra innings.
  16. 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.
  17. 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.
  18. 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.
  19. 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.
  20. 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.
  21. 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!
  22. 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.
  23. 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.
  24. 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.
  25. 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.
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