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jkcarew

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Everything posted by jkcarew

  1. jkcarew
    otoh...Kimbrel's 4 blown saves came in 37 opportunities; Rodney's 6 in 31. So, that's actually pretty significant difference...and Kimbrel is no longer great. I know nobody wants to look at BS anymore...but the guys that blow them at a healthy clip never have the impressive underlying numbers either, as is/was the case with Rodney.
  2. jkcarew
    I'm also skeptical of the 'bad luck' theory in the case of Kepler. The data that drivelikejehu and JLease cite is just as real (and relevant) as the data called out in the article. Additionally, Max's hard-hit balls are distributed very predictably on the pull side. He's easy to defend. Having said that, he's improved on some aspects, and shows every sign of being the type of player that will continue to put in the work to continue to improve. That simple fact along with him still only in his age 25 season suggests that there will be plenty value there before it's all said and done.
  3. jkcarew
    Last night's home run was Rooker's first in about the last 9-10 games. But the things he needs to improve upon, keep improving. Encouraging. His on-base/walks continue to improve, and the K% continues to trend in the right direction. I agree, let's get him to AAA.
  4. jkcarew
    Good point. I never thought of it this way. We probably have 'certain long-tenured player' on a step-count.
  5. jkcarew
    I could not care less whether we win or lose these games. The W/L's at this point are less relevant than those of the minor league teams. I'm interested in seeing the individual performances of those that are likely to be in 2019 plans. To that end, I thought a few things were noteworthy. May looked encouraging. So did Sano. Two things happened in the 9th inning Sano at-bat that almost never happen with Sano. He was both looking for the breaking ball away ahead in the count...usually only looking FB in that situation...AND he seemed to consciously try to hit it to the right side of center. To me, he needs to take advantage of the low leverage games/at-bats remaining and keep working on this stuff and not worry about the HR totals, etc....almost as if he's still in the minors. Also, Garver was awful behind the plate again. I don't care (for now)...needs to play more.
  6. jkcarew
    (channeling my inner Chief).... Yes. Good questions. My absolute guess would be that they will leave Lewis at SS...almost no matter what...in the minors. My speculative theory being that the cream of the athletic crop, such as Lewis, can almost immediately transition from SS to CF...but not the other way around. And that when the bat is deemed ready, if SS is not an issue with the major league club, but CF is an issue...that they would not hesitate to make that move. Said a different way....keep the development focused on SS. Then when the bat is ready,...and or you get desperate because everyone else is hurt or failing...you (theoretically) would have both defensive options open. All we're asking is that Lewis be like Robin Yount.
  7. jkcarew
    I know, nobody knows, Where it comes and where it goes. I know, it's everybody's sin You got to lose to know how to win. - Steven Tyler (Boston prospect of the very early 70's; went on to a HOF career) Little know fact: the original lyric included the phrase "development is not linear"...but he couldn't get that lyric to work with the riff. I'd say Lewis's arrival will depend, in part, on how his development as SS goes...as it's possible his bat is ready before his glove is, in which case the CF/OF situation comes into play. Nevertheless, my guess is June 2020.
  8. jkcarew
    But the question is “greatest impact on the franchise”...not greatest player. Puckett is the only one even remotely in Killebrew’s category in that regard.
  9. jkcarew
    Imagine a city, metropolitan area, state, entire region, that never experienced a major league sport. (Let's pretend that the NBA was not a major-league sport in the 50's....since it really wasn't.) Also, imagine a time when MLB and MLB stars were infinitely more prominent/important in the culture than the NFL or NBA. Then imagine being handed one of the best players in MLB, the player that would have more home runs in the franchise's first decade than anyone else...yes, more than Willie Mays, and more than Hank Aaron...and would lead the team to a WS and win an MVP in those formative years. I'll accept Kirby Puckett as the answer. But, I really don't think even he had more of an impact than Killebrew on the franchise.
  10. jkcarew
    The overriding question for 2019 will be the same as it was while the Twins were sinking out of contention in 2018...where will the offense come from? So, in that regard, everything dwarfs in comparison to Sano. If you have a 'good' Sano in the middle of the line-up, it moves the needle more than anything else will. Along those same line, if Garver can catch, the incremental offense out of the catchers spot in the lineup moves the needle. I think Kepler can have marginally better results...not needle-moving IMO. Meanwhile, it's crazy to plan on Buxton contribute whatsoever offensively going forward. It can be a happy surprise if it happens, but at this point, the FO would be negligent to assume that will happen when they construct the 2019-2020 roster.
  11. jkcarew
    Agreed. We're not going to see Rortvedt on these lists much. And he doesn't get talked about a ton as we all assume he's still years away. But, he's having the type of year you would want a 20-year-old defense-first catcher to be having. OPS over 700 at CR, and since the promotion to Ft Myers, the OBP is actually up and K% down in early results.
  12. jkcarew
    They are marginally/arguably in a race to win a very bad division. It is open to much subjectivity to equate that with “being in a pennant race”. The Twins FO seems to interpret it the same way I would.
  13. jkcarew
    Don’t get the hand-wringing. Once this season had arrived, Dozier had decided he was going to see what the market would bear....a reasonable position. Meanwhile, the Twins decided they were not going to go the QO route...a reasonable position. At that point, you’re doing a professional disservice to your club AND to Dozier if you don’t simply trade him to a contender for whatever you can get and move on. This is the result when two parties both want to move on. The opportunity for a materially different outcome had long since past.
  14. jkcarew
    Than someone currently hitting 17 home runs at the AA level? Probably not...and definitely not if you are looking for players with a chance to help in the next 1-3 years. (Plus a second lottery pick was included.)
  15. jkcarew
    Good luck to Brian Dozier. I'd like to see him have a chance at a run in the playoffs, so in that regard, I now have a reason to pull for the Dodgers.
  16. jkcarew
    I would hope the org is OK with this. (And realize you’re not saying they shouldn’t be.) The concessions to development of putting Buxton in a AAA lineup...and as a lead off hitter no less...already having been made, Skinner decided to use Buxton’s fourth at-bat to try to win the game. If the organization doesn’t want even that type of move/decision to occur with Buxton, it would be much fairer to Rochester players and manager...and better for Buxton as well...if the Twins moved him to a level where his bat making solid contact with the ball is more than a random accident.
  17. jkcarew
    I think the point with Austin is that he can hit left-handed pitching, and for power. Look at the numbers against lefties, not the overall numbers. That...particularly if/when Dozier is gone and Sano has yet to find his way...makes him a potentially better fit than LoMo. Based on the scarcity of 25-man spots available to position players, Austin would have to improve at least some against righties to have a shot....but I’m sure that’s the thought in accepting him in the deal.
  18. jkcarew
    Dabbled in other religions such as Olympic Games. We should have been more wary of him!
  19. jkcarew
    This is a primary reason why, when God created baseball, (person pronoun of your choice here) put the trade deadline so much before the point of mathematical elimination for even finge contenders.... It creates communion among the followers.
  20. jkcarew
    I guess if winning a Division title is an important goal, we can’t know which side of this argument is ‘correct’ until we see where Cleveland ends up. Depending on whether...or how badly, Cleveland sputters in Aug/Sept, it could end up that the Twins would have had a realistic shot...or not. For my money, I’m glad the Twins are not behaving as though an unlikely...or even a ‘decent’...shot at a Central Division title in 2018 is a goal worthy of any act or omission of act...no matter how small that act may seem today...that doesn’t help the club’s chances to realistically compete for a pennant some day. I see this as what many fans would have hoped for with a new management team... a front office that is not going to be concerned with ‘pressure’ to follow the path of least resistance...one that is not interested in the strategy of celebrating mediocrity....or that has experienced futility for so long, that they confuse mediocrity with actual goodness. Now, IMO, they need to follow through with the theme before the deadline hits.
  21. jkcarew
    If the Twins catch Cleveland, they are still massively inferior to at least 2 (and probably all 3) other teams in the AL playoffs. The AL in 2018 is the opposite of a year to bet on a long shot. But, more to the point, IMO, is that you have to make decisions based on the team you have, not the team you hope you have. If the team finished 10 games below 500...which is exactly what their performance over nearly 100 games points to...and you didn’t sell when you had the chance...especially the assets not under control in 2019...then the FO would be, and should be, open to massive criticism.
  22. jkcarew
    Twins were going to get nothing for him. Not challenging for anything meaningful in 2019...a theoretical division crowns with 83 or 84 wins does nothing for me...as unlikely as it is. This was the right move. Could they have done better is the only question I would have, but this seems reasonable...and infinitely better than nothing. One of my favorite guys on team. Still, the right move, IMO.
  23. jkcarew
    Expanding rosters a disaster...unless it comes with big restrictions (enforceable) on pitching changes.
  24. jkcarew
    Lewis Diaz is on 7-day DL with fractured right thumb. (Sounds like it would end up being more than 7 days.)
  25. jkcarew
    I think Garver can be as good offensively, and his arm is better than Harper’s. Harper’s receiving skills, though, were good...Garver, yikes! We’ll see, I hope. Need to play him (basically) every day behind the plate and see how much better it can get. Nobody was giving Harper much of a chance. His first year with the Twins was his first shot at being an every-day catcher...at age 28. Garver is 27.
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