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  1. tarheeltwinsfan

    tarheeltwinsfan

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  2. Doctor Gast

    Doctor Gast

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  3. Dman

    Dman

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  4. Riverbrian

    Riverbrian

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Popular Content

Showing content with the highest reputation on 01/04/2023 in all areas

  1. Riverbrian
    The Twins asked him to play SS for 4 years. The Twins made the playoffs in 3 of the 4 years that he played SS. This is not failure. That is a player that helped his team win at SS. I understand that they want him to play 2B now. Fine.. I understand that there may be better fielding SS's to choose from. Fine. However... he wasn't a failure.
    9 points
  2. D.C Twins
    Another outfielder is the least of the Twin's worries. Now why did they sign another left-handed hitting corner outfielder that is a strike out machine? That would be a fair but irrelevant question because it is a done deal.
    7 points
  3. se7799
    You would feel much differently if you watched him play and practice in person. His game stands out even against older competition. The league is also notoriously known as being not very hitter friendly.
    7 points
  4. TwinsDr2021
    Richardson pitched 107.3 innings last year at age 21 in AA and AAA with a 2.77 ERA and 115 K's. Varland pitched 126.3 innings in AA and AAA with a 3.06 ERA and 146 K's, Plus the 26 innings in 5 starts with the twins. Not sure it is the players fault they weren't given a chance to pitch in the majors last year and Archers was? Varland did enough last year to deserve the 5/6 starting pitcher as long as he doesn't pee down his leg in spring training. SWR did enough last year to be next guy up if/when an injury happens to a starter. The Twins absolutely need to establish at least another young starter this year (Assuming Ryan, Ober still are deserving) Plus they need to start figuring out what they have with all those prospects they have on the 40. This can be done without rebuilding and trying to compete.
    7 points
  5. Vanimal46
    We just haven’t hit the point of no return with the team yet ? I love baseball, but I must say I am growing more apathetic about the Twins. Winning will help, but I think it’s a bit deeper than that. The constant turnover on roster and style of baseball the Twins have played the last couple of years isn’t entertaining. I don’t know what they’re trying to do right now. They’re not building a great offense, nor a great pitching staff.
    7 points
  6. Ben Reimler
    With snow falling precipitously, and the hangover of the holiday season settling in, it’s impossible not to wishfully envision the return of Major League Baseball this spring. But it will be 52 days until the Minnesota Twins take the field against the Tampa Bay Rays for their first spring training match-up of the year. In the meantime, I’m left to reflect on a disappointing season for our ball club and pose to myself the annual question: “why can’t I quit the Minnesota Twins?” Typically, this question is rhetorical. Yet, with the few offseason moves having already either been celebrated or panned, I thought I’d spend time in the doldrums of winter answering this question. In 2005, the Minnesota Twins and third-year skipper, Ron Gardenhire, entered the season off a first-place finish in the AL Central the year before. While the club would finish above .500, they wouldn’t repeat as AL Central champions, falling to third in the division. This disappointing finish mattered less to me than a weeknight game in late August. On Tuesday, August 23, 2005, the Minnesota Twins entered play against the division-leading Chicago White Sox 9.5 games back. Though dim, hope remained of a playoff push, and with Johan Santana patrolling the mound, 33,572 ventured to the Metrodome to cheer on the Minnesota Twins. Just as Santana went to battle against the White Sox sluggers, my family and I undertook our own battle: a fraught relationship with time management. My family and I had tickets to this game, but with a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Wisconsin, a delayed start from our home, and Twin Cities traffic, we wouldn’t arrive until the game’s pivotal moment. I sulked in the car, knowing we would miss most of the game. Undeterred, however, my Mom and Dad hustled me through the billowing winds of the Metrodome’s entrance. We darted through the concourse, until the field came into view. The bottom of the eighth inning was just underway – did I mention we have a tenuous relationship with time management? – and the “thwack” of the bat snapped me out of my disappointment. Jacque Jones’ home run soared over the center field wall and ended Freddy Garcia’s no-hit bid. Joe Nathan would then enter in the ninth inning to clinch the Twins’ 1-0 victory. I don’t remember whether I had time to enjoy a Kramarczuk's brat that night– I suspect not – but I do know I wouldn’t trade this early Twins memory for anything (well, maybe for Zac Gallen). Baseball is unpredictable. A team can lose 88 games, finish in last place, and the following season, parade a World Series trophy down I-35. Similarly, without a clock to dictate the game’s finish, a family can arrive long after the first pitch is thrown, but still witness the game’s decisive swing. All that’s promised is that in 89 days, each team will begin with the same record; the unpredictable unfolding 162 times over. That’s why I can’t quit the Minnesota Twins.
    6 points
  7. Dman
    Yeah I agree he always had trouble as a starter making it through a season even in the minors. If they wreck his arm as a starter and he needs TJ he could be out for two years. He made it through a full season in the pen at the MLB level with minimal issues and is an elite arm in that role. Do you want to risk losing your elite shutdown arm for a chance for him to do something he never really proved he could do in the minors? If it were me and I admit to being risk averse but I would keep him where he is. The other issue is he never really did develop that solid third pitch he needed to be a starter so he might not have the same level of success he has had as a reliever. And finally how many guys are there in MLB that can throw 100MPH fairly consistently as a starter (maybe Greene)? I guess I am not aware of any so again I think reliever is the right role for Duran.
    6 points
  8. rv78
    Not sure why the remark was made that Nick Gordon is the type of player you dont want to play everyday. He only hit .272 in 2022 which was 4th best among all of the Twins to get significant at bats. His 50 RBI's was only 1 behind the great Byron Buxton who can't stay on the field. I'm just guessing here but I suspect outfielders like Joey Gallo and his .160 BA and Max Kepler and his .227 BA will get precedent over Nick Gordon. It's the Twins way. (This organization will continue to bleed mediocrity as long as they keep placing value on washed up veterans ahead of the players that actually produce). For Polanco, I'm sure if it was "his decision" he would remain healthy. And if that happens I suspect he'll return to his very productive self. The real question is.... will he get his 550 PA or will he get babied and miss out due to Rocco's no questions, no excuses, no way I'm changing it, because I don't know how, schedule of rest days?
    6 points
  9. Bigfork Twins Guy
    I have to apologize Ted but I am not understanding what "decision" Polanco needs to make here. You said that he needs 550 plate appearances for the next phase of his contract to trigger. How is that a decision? He either makes that threshold and it triggers or he does not and it does not trigger. Now, here is where my novice thinking comes in. If he does NOT trigger the next phase, what happens? Is he a FA? Does he automatically get released? Wouldn't the Twins still have control of the decision to keep him or not? Please help clarify for me. Thanks.
    6 points
  10. Nine of twelve
    In my case it's a congenital condition. I was born with the susceptibility to be a Twins fan and once my parents exposed me it became a lifelong affliction. Two of my three sisters inherited the same thing. However, my other sister... frankly, we don't like to talk about it much but she is now a Red Sox fan. We tried an intervention but it was not successful.
    6 points
  11. Mike Sixel
    Who suggested trading him for a lottery ticket or A ball player? Sometimes I wonder where people come up with these arguments that don't exist. He's a very good player. If he were made available, the Twins could get plenty. But they aren't dealing him unless they are out of it at the deadline and Martin or Julien or Gordon is ready. I don't get the Gordon comment..... All he's done is improve the last two years, which has come with health and opportunity.
    5 points
  12. Fire Dan Gladden
    Sorry guys... Gallo is not penciled in at RF. At the moment he is penciled in at LF. Kepler is still your RF. He will be until he is no longer here. Still waiting to hear anything other than conjecture he is on the trading block...
    5 points
  13. tarheeltwinsfan
    What do you call an elephant who doesn't make a difference? An irrelephant.
    5 points
  14. MMMordabito
    Making the Major League Baseball All-Star Game as a starter at shortstop is a failure at shortstop? Tough game.
    5 points
  15. m-i-e-n-t-k-i-e-w-i-c-z
    The Twins on the radio with Herb Carneal pulled me in as a child. Now I compusively listen to broadcasts, regardless of the Twins' success, even when I'm at the best ballpark in the world.
    5 points
  16. Twodogs
    With those vesting options and guys like Julien, Martin, and Lee knocking at the door. Seems like Polanco should be considered trade bait towards the deadline. I mean seems kinda similar to the corner OF situation with 2B?
    5 points
  17. CRF
    I'll never quit the Twins, but I'd SURE love to quit snow blowing the driveway!
    5 points
  18. farmerguychris
    I'll never quit the team because a bad day at the ballpark is better than a good day most anyplace else. The sounds, the smells, the atmosphere all is something I look forward to even as a 50 year old regardless of if we are in first, or last place.
    5 points
  19. se7799
    One of my favorite reads every year Nick..thankyou! I really like Emma. He's a really outstanding person and in my opinion will be atop our prospect ratings soon. No knock on the other guys but as I've stated before he has superstar written all over him.
    5 points
  20. Nick Nelson
    More information about "The Top 20 Minnesota Twins Assets of 2023: Part 3 (6-10)"
    If you like, you can quickly catch up on the ground rules for this exercise in the first installment. The short version is this that we're attempting to rank Twins players and prospects through a big-picture lens in asking: Which current players in the organization are most indispensable to fulfilling the vision of building a champion? Here in this third installment, breaking down my picks for #6 through #10, we find a couple of great hitters with defensive fit question marks, two top prospects with sky-high potential, and an elite reliever who made his mark as a rookie in 2022. First, a recap of the list as it stands, from Part 1 and Part 2 of the series: 20. Matt Wallner, OF 19. Louie Varland, RHP 18. Sonny Gray, RHP 17. Jorge Lopez, RHP 16. Alex Kirilloff, OF/1B 15. Ryan Jeffers, C 14. Trevor Larnach, OF 13. Austin Martin, SS/OF 12. Connor Prielipp, LHP 11. Simeon Woods Richardson, RHP Top 20 Twins Assets of 2023: 6 through 10 10. Luis Arraez, 1B 2022 Ranking: 11 Part of the challenge in these rankings is removing emotion and personal bias from the equation. The idea is to attempt an objective evaluation of players as assets, and that means taking factors like popularity and likability – which of course work strongly in Arraez's favor – largely off the table. What are we left with? A great hitter, to be sure. Arraez had a career year in 2022, earning an All-Star nod, batting title, and Silver Slugger award. He's a premium bat and a rare breed in today's MLB. But it also seems telling that such a core fixture wasn't even in Minnesota's Opening Day lineup. Arraez is an odd fit. The team never seemed comfortable with his defense at second or third – certainly not the outfield – and now he's basically become a 1B/DH type with no power. His offense still stands out at those positions, just not to the same degree. Descending so far on the defensive spectrum, and already experiencing recurring leg issues, by the age of 25 portends a tough aging curve for Arraez, who has three years of team control remaining. The impact of his bat and elite OBP skills cannot be downplayed, and his presence on the team is electric, but the lack of power, speed or defensive impact limit has value as an asset. 9. Jose Miranda, 1B/3B 2022 Ranking: 15 In terms of player profile, Miranda is not too dissimilar from Arraez: a bat-first corner infielder in his mid-20s, probably better suited for first than third. The difference is that he's younger, cheaper, and could offer more impact both offensively and defensively. Coming off a breakthrough campaign in the minors, Miranda verified his hitting excellence with an impressive major-league debut. In 125 games he slashed .268/.325/.426 for a 116 OPS+ as a rookie. With outstanding strike zone coverage and ability to drive to all fields, the 24-year-old was never an easy assignment for even the most experienced big-league pitchers. He's not quite the overall hitter Arraez is yet, but thanks to his budding power, Miranda has the potential to be a better one, and a much more prototypical corner slugger. He also has three extra years of team control. 8. Emmanuel Rodriguez, OF 2022 Ranking: NR This ranking might be considered a leap of faith: a 19-year-old who hasn't played above A-ball, coming off a major knee injury, ranked ahead of an All-Star in Arraez and stud rookie in Miranda? Maybe it is, but I'm that much of a believer in Rodriguez, the system's breakout star of 2022. Prior to suffering a meniscus tear in July that ended his season, the center fielder was spectacular in Fort Myers, slashing .272/.493/.552 in 47 games. Signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2019 for $2.5 million, Rodriguez showed in his first turn at full-season ball that he's the full package: great defense, power, discipline, speed. Among players to make at least 100 plate appearances in the Florida State League, Rodriguez's 1.024 OPS ranked second only to Jacob Gonzalez, a 24-year-old 1B/DH. Nobody else was within 80 points of the transcendent E-Rod, who generated huge buzz inside and outside the organization and will surely appear prominently on preseason global top prospect lists when they start to roll out soon. He's got a ways to go, and the knee injury slowed his ascent, but Rodriguez is one of the crown jewels in this system and undoubtedly one of their most coveted, valuable trade chips. 7. Jhoan Duran, RHP 2022 Ranking: 14 We knew at this time last year that Duran had an amazing arm. The big question marks suppressing his perceived value: could we count on that arm to stay healthy, and did he have any chance of sticking as a starter? It turns out, no, he wasn't going to stay in a starting role. Instead he transitioned to the back of the big-league bullpen and immediately put forth one of the most dominant, impressive, impactful seasons ever for a Twins reliever. Duran lit up the radar gun, blew away opposing hitters, thrived in the highest of leverage, and set new franchise and major-league records with his jaw-dropping velocity. Perhaps most importantly, Duran remained healthy and strong all year long, with nigh a peep heard regarding elbow or forearm soreness. This inspires hope he can hold up physically in the new role, and so long as he does, it's hard to envision him being anything other than one of the most overpowering late-inning forces in baseball. 6. Bailey Ober, RHP 2022 Ranking: 6 It's no secret that controllable, established major-league pitching is in short supply for the Twins, and also desperately needed in order to fulfill their vision of sustaining contention while completely eschewing the free agent starter market. That's essentially why Ober ranked so highly on the list last year, and why he remains in the same spot this year. True, he struggled with a vexing groin injury that limited him to 11 starts and 56 innings, pitching very little while accruing a full year of major-league service. But on the flip side, he took a real step forward performance-wise, building on his strengths (pinpoint control, efficiency, consistent bat-missing ability) while improving on his weaknesses (allowing hits and home runs) to produce legitimate frontline numbers in the small sample: 3.21 ERA, 2.95 FIP, 1.05 WHIP, 4.64 K/BB ratio. Working in the mid-to-low 90s with his fastball and lacking standout secondary stuff, Ober is no ace, but he's got a sustainable recipe for mid-rotation success with his extension, command, and unique release point. Under control for five seasons, and very cheaply for the next several, the 6-foot-9 righty is a critical and underrated asset for the Twins.
    5 points
  21. USAFChief
    "Hi, everybody!" There is nothing like a ball game on the radio. Years ago, when I was stationed overseas and there wasn't a thing called the internet, and AFRTS was quite different, my mother-in-law--bless her heart-- used to record a couple three radio Twins games on cassettes and mail them to me. That was the only option. I'd listen to that game 2 or 3 times a week until the next one came, then save the old one with the others, to be pulled from hibernation and put back in the rotation when I needed a change. The voice of Herb put me back somewhere in Minnesota every time. Herb Carneal. The best
    4 points
  22. Johnny Ringo
    McCutchen is one of my favorite players of recent years and by all accounts a great guy, but the sun is setting on his terrific career. Doesn't if make sense to trade one of our seemingly endless supply of left-handed hitting corner outfielders for a young counterpart who is right-handed? However, if that trade capital is needed to get a quality shortstop, I would prioritize that. I am sure San Diego would part with Park at the right price. I wish people would let go of the "Lewis will be ready to go by June" mantra. The truth is we have no idea if Royce is a major leaguer let alone a long-term solution at shortstop. If he becomes the man than we have a high-class problem. But quality shortstops can always be flipped if Park becomes superfluous.
    4 points
  23. Doctor Gast
    Polanco's ankles are a non issue as long as he's kept away from SS. Polanco isn't a machine but management treats him that way because of his great switch hitting capability. He gets hurt like anyone else but they don't give him his needed rest. Last year he hurt his knee sliding but they never gave him anytime off & played him to the ground. Until couldn't take the field anymore & he had to miss the rest of the season. No matter how crucial he is to the team, he needs appropriate time to heal from any injury. The time missed isn't a reflection of his personal health but neglect from management. Hopefully Paparesta can right the the ship. He should play the amount of time to be healthy w/o any manipulations of time. Any team would love to have Polanco on their team but right now we can't trade him. Right now we have 0 quality INF depth. Arraez & Gordon are not MLB caliber 2B. There's some doubt if Julien will be able to man 2B. When Lewis comes back, Farmer can sub some 3B but how good could he really be at 2B? No we shouldn't even ponder to trade Polanco but we should ponder on how to increase our devastating lack of quality INF quality depth. Lee, Martin & maybe Julien can help out at 2B but that time is far from now.
    4 points
  24. cHawk
    Falvine need to fully commit to either winning now (in 2023) or rebuilding for the future. Signing Wacha would be pointless in regard to the former, and inhibitory in regard to the latter. Wacha is nothing more than an average pitcher on the wrong side of 30. He will not improve the rotation in any way.
    4 points
  25. Nick Nelson
    Why do we care about the batting average of a guy who got on base literally half the time?? As for Arraez, I can say with some confidence that at least one other team has been lukewarm on him as an asset in trade talks this offseason for some of the same reasons I mentioned...
    4 points
  26. Dman
    I don't know if you have been following Aaron Judge much but he is a career .284 hitter who K's about 28% of the time and just signed a contract to be the highest paid position player in baseball. I think that should tell you what teams value and it isn't batting average, it is OPS. I like Arraez a lot. Love his plate approach, his enthusiasm, and his work ethic. However, I would take Judge over Arraez any day of the week because with his power he can impact the game in ways Arraez just can't. Rodriquez is only in A ball but if he essentially maintains that profile all the way up he has a more valuable skillset than Arreaz at least the way baseball is played today. Granted Arraez can help the MLB team right now. Rodriguez could be years away yet hard to say.
    4 points
  27. USAFChief
    Yes?
    4 points
  28. theBOMisthebomb
    Yes, that's it. In the moment at Target Field and the game starts it doesn't matter that they haven't really competed for a title except for maybe once in the last 30 years. It's the Twins, outdoor baseball, let's go. God has blessed us to enjoy watching the greatest players in the world at the game we love. What more can we ask?
    4 points
  29. Doctor Gast
    Great job Nick! You gave great reasons on how you ranked them & I agree with your rankings. It's tough to separate emotions from reality but you able to do it. It's tough to rank Ober ahead of Duran but I understand your reasoning, that SP is a more important position than RP & it's position of need. But yet if I were asked to pick which I'd choose to give up in trade, I'd give up Ober over Duran any day. But that could be my emotional tie to Duran.
    4 points
  30. nicksaviking
    Oh yeah, I’ve really been singing the front office’s praises. That post was full of them and not completely the opposite. Have you seen Wacha’s stats prior to last year? Who’d trust this guy? Velocity, pitch selection, spin rate, nothing changed for the better with him, last year was a total fluke. If Wacha reverts back to his pre 2022 self, which is THE most likely scenario, this team is once again going to be pushing out another Bundy/Archer for 20-25 games this year. Terrible move. We can put your Ervin Santana and Michael Pineda against my Nolasco, Prelfrey, Perez, Bailey, Happ, Schoemacher, Bundy and Archer. We can even call Phil Hughes a draw. These kinds of pitchers are almost always a sucker bet. Run away.
    4 points
  31. HerbieFan
    I'm going to play devils advocate here. Why is no one talking about the possibility that Gallo plays LF and Keper stays in RF? Kiriloff and Larnach are going to have to prove they're healthy. Gordon is a utility guy. Kiriloff will play plenty of 1B if healthy. I've also heard the FO thinks Gallo can be very good 1B. I'm not sold that Kepler has one foot out the door.
    4 points
  32. Oldgoat_MN
    In 2022 Wacha had a career high of 80.3% left on base and a career low .260 BABIP. All the luck fell his way. I would be shocked if 2023 was nearly as good as 2022 for him. My vote is a hard pass.
    4 points
  33. tarheeltwinsfan
    That is a risky decision. Moving Duran to a starting pitcher is like what Woody Hayes said about a throwing a forward pass. "One of three things can happen, and two of them are bad."
    3 points
  34. tarheeltwinsfan
    Now that is an entrance.
    3 points
  35. Doctor Gast
    Duran always had good stuff, the problem has always been that his arm wasn't able to hold up. If they had any inkling of him starting they'd have to start him out at long relief/ spot starting & go from there. But FO won't take that chance.
    3 points
  36. Fatbat
    There is no way ERod should ever be mentioned in a possible trade. You never trade 19yo centerfielders. I would bet that he is playing AAAA in 2024 as a 21 yr old.
    3 points
  37. USAFChief
    Avian flu > Wacha > Archer > Bundy
    3 points
  38. Squirrel
    Hmm ... was it nature or nurture, or both?
    3 points
  39. Bigfork Twins Guy
    I got hooked back in 1967 when our family was camping in Northern Minnesota. It was late at night and all were asleep except me and my Mom as we were listening to the Twins in extra innings on her little transistor radio on low volume. Then it happened, Harmon (Killer) Killebrew hit a walkoff home run and both my Mom and myself screeched with joy. I think we may have awoken my brother and Dad but we didn't care. There have been lots of games where they just petered out and lost and I'd quietly go to sleep. But it's those games where they excite us that keeps all of us hooked.
    3 points
  40. Ted Schwerzler
    More information about "Jorge Polanco Has a Looming Decision"
    Although the Twins may decide to deal Max Kepler this offseason rather than roster him alongside Joey Gallo, there seems to be less of an inclination that slugging second baseman Jorge Polanco is going anywhere. Although he is a failed shortstop, and has dealt with multiple ankle injuries in recent seasons, it’s clear Polanco is still a key piece of what Rocco Baldelli and the Twins want to do. 2023 is a very important juncture for Polanco with the Twins, and while the decision in front of him is not his, the level of health he can display will trigger an option for an extended payday. When Minnesota inked Polanco to his five-year deal back in 2019, it actually provided an opportunity for the Twins to get seven years out of their former star prospect. The contract includes a vesting option that triggers a $10.5 million salary for 2024 should he reach 550 plate appearances this year, and that would also allow for a $12 million team option to be triggered for 2025 if Minnesota wants to keep him at age-31. Given a full season of play, 550 plate appearances is something any regular should be able to blitz by. In fact, Polanco has done so in two of the past three full seasons (not including the truncated pandemic year), and he nearly accomplished that feat despite playing in just 133 games during 2017. Why this becomes a discussion is because Polanco missed substantial time in 2022, and the 2018 season suggests it may not be a fluke. The Twins truly employ one of the best offensive second baseman in baseball when Polanco is healthy. From 2019-2021 Polanco missed just 24 games. He was horrendous offensively during the Covid season, but still managed a 117 OPS+ combined over that stretch. Blasting a career best 33 homers in 2021 made him nothing short of a lineup pillar, even with team expectations having drastically fallen short. Minnesota may find themselves struggling to quantify Polanco’s production last season given the offensive downturn across the league as a whole. We know again that Rob Manfred and Major League Baseball used multiple different gameballs, and the league saw a substantial drop in OPS across the board. While his slugging percentage fell, Polanco’s .346 OBP checked in as his second-best mark, ranking only behind the .356 he put up in 2019. From a production standpoint, his presence in the lineup remained constant. The problem for Polanco, and the Twins, was the amount of time he was unavailable. Missing more than 35% of the games, Baldelli’s lineups were constantly without their starting second basemen, and fill-in Luis Arraez was already being asked to pull double-duty at first base. If Polanco’s injury history, namely his ankle, winds up being a nagging issue, the Twins could be in for a world of hurt. Despite being a batting champion and dearly beloved by Twins fans, it’s more than clear Arraez’s knees aren’t meant for every day action. Nick Gordon has shown to be a solid utility defender, but isn’t someone you want playing every day. Maybe Polanco gives way to a prospect like Brooks Lee, Austin Martin, or Edouard Julien if he misses time, but it’s safe to assume that both the team and the starter would like to see 2024 vest. We have seen Polanco remain healthy over extended periods of time previously, and he’ll need to play in something like 135 games to trigger the next phase of his contract. Getting him there should be something new athletic trainer Nick Paparesta is focused on through his offseason program, and the Twins would have no problem paying a guy posting 3 or 4 fWAR upwards of $10 million an offseason from now.
    3 points
  41. Squirrel
    Nice piece of writing, @Ben Reimler ... thank you!
    3 points
  42. Dave The Dastardly
    We're all masochists. Nothing like a little anguish and a lot of carryover disappointment to heat up cold winters. It's like burning tongue and mouth with peppers so hot you could brand a cow with 'em. You just bend over, pucker up and take it in the..., uh, hip. Anybody seen my Twins cap?
    3 points
  43. Mark G
    Is it just me, or did we have this conversation just a few years ago? When we had Kepler, Buxton, and Rosario and Cave as the 4th, with plenty of prospects like Kirilloff, Larnach, Garlick, and Celestino chomping at the bit waiting for a chance. Wasn't that the reason we felt we could let Rosario walk away for nothing? We had more than enough prospective replacements? And how many of those guys have taken the job and ran with it, establishing themselves as an integral part of the OF? Now we have a new crop of great prospects coming up? Do we really? If so, why would we possibly need a Gallo to supplement the roster? Or is this 2020/2021 all over again with the glut of outfielders and what do we do with them? Just asking...........?
    3 points
  44. GKuehl
    Nick, I’ve really enjoyed your lists and agreed with most of your rankings so far, but your belief in Ober seems too optimistic. I would rather have Arraez, Miranda, Duran, and Rodriguez over Ober in a heartbeat. If any of those 4 players played for another team and we were offered one of them for Ober in a trade, I would instantaneously accept.
    3 points
  45. Richie the Rally Goat
    That’s a low bar
    3 points
  46. jorgenswest
    The reality is the data from the previous season does not provide a good projection for the next season. It is much more reliable to use multiple years particularly for a player at Wacha’s age and experience. Some don’t trust projections but anyone using last season’s data to support acquiring (or not) a player is projecting last season on the next. If you are going to project using more data (seasons) will give a better projection. Steamer projects Wacha for a 4.43 ERA next season. Gray, Maeda, Ryan, Mahle, Ober and even Varland are projected for better ERAs. The Twins certainly have their own projection which they trust more but should we trust it. Have they found success with these short term back of the rotation signings? I am all for adding a starter but acquire someone that slots in by Gray rather than between Varland and Woods-Richardson. Chris Sale would move everyone down a slot. They can pay the salary. Go after a pitcher like Sale.
    3 points
  47. Beast

    Believe in Buxton for 2023

    D.C Twins and 2 others reacted to Beast for a topic

    The guy has accumulated over 20 WAR in 585 games. That’s .035 per game. Joe Mauer was at .030 for his career. Aaron Judge and Mike Trout are around .05 per game. Bryce Harper is around .031. Saying he a bust and he can’t put together a good full season is absurd. He’s responsible for more wins in half a season than almost everybody else is in a full one. Alex Bergman had 4.5 WAR in 2022. Rafael Devers 4.4. Luis Arraez 4.4. George Springer 4.0. Clad Guerrero 4.0. Byron Buxton 4.0. He had .5 higher WAR than Matt Chapman in 2022. 1.2 higher than Acuna, Yelich, Wander Franco. 1.5 more than Bryce Harper. Thats significant value added. It’s just a fact that if he plays a full season (the way he’s played historically), that he would be near the top of the MLB in WAR. You’re flawed perception doesn’t change that.
    3 points
  48. Beast

    Believe in Buxton for 2023

    D.C Twins and 2 others reacted to Beast for a topic

    I’m optimistic, but very cautiously. Im a huge fan of his. The deal they signed is still a great deal, even with the injuries - those complaining about that will hopefully stop after seeing this years free agent market. He’ll miss some time. I no longer hold out hope in that regard. I just hope it’s not excessive and not in September/October. We’ll see.
    3 points
  49. farmerguychris
    I, for one, do not want to give up on Martin yet. He has been highly touted most of his career as someone who can be an impact player. While yes, he has not yet met those high expectations - he also is still young. Sounds a lot like Gordon who we were pretty happy to have last year.
    3 points
  50. Dman
    While Kirilloff and and Larnach have more value they also haven't been much worse or better than Kepler at the plate and they have a lot more years of control left. The Twins thing to do would be to move the higher salaried player IMO. Also Keplers ceiling appears to be known while Kirilloff, Larnach and Wallner are somewhat unknowns at this point. Certainly they could trade anyone of those players for the right deal I just think Kepler makes the most sense.
    3 points
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