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Game Thread: Twins @ Blue Jays 9/18/2021 - 2:07 PM CST

TwerkTwonkTwins

By TwerkTwonkTwins
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TwerkTwonkTwins First Round Pick

TwerkTwonkTwins

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You're not supposed to spoil the underdogs... 

I'm torn today, because I want Toronto to get in the Wild Card Game. They are an exciting and young club, with an MVP AND Triple Crown candidate in Vlad Jr., along with our old friend José Berríos. It would be even sweeter to see one of Boston or New York to be booted from the postseason. By winning against the Blue Jays yesterday, the Twins knocked Toronto to a half game below the Yankees for the second Wild Card spot. 

Now, I love watching Bailey Ober. But I hate the Yankees A LOT, and I'm almost positive you do too. Maybe Ober can have a great start, and Colomé can do his best April impression and make Blue Jays fans happy in the 9th inning. This feels weird to type out on a Twins forum, but this season is so lackluster that it's time to be petty about other teams. Cleveland is going to have to help Toronto as well, if they are going to leap frog the Yankees today. 

Rob Refsnyder Goes On IL, Drew Maggi Gets The Call

The Twins continue their roster merry-go-round, by placing Rob Refsnyder on the injured list with a right elbow impingement. Taylor Rogers was moved to the 60-day to clear 40-man space. They are calling up Drew Maggi, who is 32 years-old and getting his first taste of the majors. 

Great story here, as Maggi has been with the organization for three years (including the 2020 season without minor league ball). Maggi was originally drafted by Pittsburgh in the 2010 draft (Round 15), and has moved between five total minor league systems. All together, he owns a .709 OPS across 11 seasons in the minors, while playing SS, 3B, and 2B.

It hasn't been an inspiring minor league career, but 2021 has been Maggi's best season to date at the ripe age of 32. He currently has a .850 OPS in 332 plate appearances, showing much more pop with a career-high 16 home runs. I've personally seen one of these 16 in Saint Paul, and the power looked legit -- not that I'm a scout or anything. Overall, this is a classy move by the Twins to reward a career minor league journeyman. I'm getting shades of Tommy Watkins, Doug Bernier, etc. 

As for Rob Refsnyder, I get the feeling he might have injured himself diving for that ball and coming up empty in the second inning yesterday. It's been a tale of two seasons for Refsnyder. Tom Froemming pointed out that Refsnyder had a .321/.371/.500 slash prior to his hamstring strain in June. In his last 33 games, he has struggled with a .193/.295/.229 line. Overall, Refsnyder now has a 86 wRC+ and a flat 0.0 fWAR. I think his status on the 40-man is very much up in the air going forward. 

Sanó Is At The Correct Position Today - DH

Miguel Sanó is an engima, and a lightning rod for criticism. I won't get into ALL of his shortcomings, but one thing that has been clear is that he has been very bad defensively at 1B in 2021.

FanGraphs has Sanó as the 12th least valuable player across all MLB teams in terms of fWAR (among qualified hitters) at 0.4 fWAR. That low WAR total is factoring in his above average offensive contributions, as he has a 111 wRC+. However, his defense has been so bad it negates any offensive output - and we know his bat can go missing at any moment for weeks. His defensive ratings ranked across 1B are below: 

  • Defensive Runs Saved: -3 (16/19 among FanGraphs' qualified 1B in MLB)
  • UZR/150: -48.3 (19/19 among FanGraphs' qualified 1B in MLB)
  • Outs Above Average: -3 (31/35 among Statcast's qualified 1B in MLB)

I'd like to see Kirilloff get the majority of playing time at 1B in 2022. 

Anyway, the Lineups!

Your Minnesota Twins (65-83)

1. Byron Buxton - CF

2. Jorge Polanco - 2B

3. Josh Donaldson - 3B

4. Miguel Sanó - DH

5. Brent Rooker - LF

6. Max Kepler - RF

7. Ryan Jeffers - C

8. Willians Astudillo - 1B

9. Nick Gordon - SS

Baily Ober - RHP SP (2-2, 4.12 ERA)

Toronto Blue Jays (82-65)

1. George Springer - DH

2. Marcus Semien - 2B

3. Vladdy Guerrero Jr. - 1B

4. Bo Bichette - SS

5. Teoscar Hernández - RF

6. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. - LF

7. Breyvic Valera - 3B

8. Randal Grichuk - CF

9. Reese McGuire - C

Steven Matz - LHP SP (12-7, 3.87 ERA)

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Squirrel GOAT

Squirrel

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Donaldson ... what can I say ... I wanted him back when he was with Oakland and was so mad the Twins didn't trade for him when he went to the Blue Jays. All this 'trade him' talk is nonsense, imo. He is not the one to trade.

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South Dakota Tom College Ball

South Dakota Tom

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4 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

Donaldson ... what can I say ... I wanted him back when he was with Oakland and was so mad the Twins didn't trade for him when he went to the Blue Jays. All this 'trade him' talk is nonsense, imo. He is not the one to trade.

Unless you are trying to make room for Miranda.

 

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Squirrel GOAT

Squirrel

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12 minutes ago, South Dakota Tom said:

Unless you are trying to make room for Miranda.

 

I don't think Miranda will start the year with the Twins ... he has had no time in the majors yet, and as we all know, no matter how great a minor leaguer seems to us, that transition doesn't always work. I'd rather have Donaldson as our starter at 3rd ... and bring up Miranda when needed ... or he's up as the backup. If he's doing well in the majors, yes, then I see them transition over ... but not to start the season. The person to trade is Arraez ... and maybe Kepler. I also think everyone is way overestimating what they think we will get for Donaldson if we traded him

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South Dakota Tom College Ball

South Dakota Tom

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Just now, Squirrel said:

I don't think Miranda will start the year with the Twins ... he has had no time in the majors yet, and as we all know, no matter how great a minor leaguer seems to us, that transition doesn't always work. I'd rather have Donaldson as our starter at 3rd ... and bring up Miranda when needed ... or he's up as the backup. If he's doing well in the majors, yes, then I see them transition over ... but not to start the season. The person to trade is Arraez ... and maybe Kepler.

Not disagreeing with that - thinking "at some point in the next year" as Miranda seems pretty locked in at 3b as a pathway.

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Squirrel GOAT

Squirrel

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Just now, South Dakota Tom said:

Not disagreeing with that - thinking "at some point in the next year" as Miranda seems pretty locked in at 3b as a pathway.

At some point I think is more realistic ... but ... if he is up next year and doesn't work? Then what? I see Donaldson still on our team next year, starting at 3rd, and then we'll see

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Squirrel GOAT

Squirrel

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1 minute ago, Squirrel said:

At some point I think is more realistic ... but ... if he is up next year and doesn't work? Then what? I see Donaldson still on our team next year, starting at 3rd, and then we'll see

But however it works, getting time for Miranda at 3rd I think means Arraez is traded

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