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tony&rodney

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Everything posted by tony&rodney

  1. tony&rodney
    Great article. The Twins need to offer Cole $245/7yrs. Done. If that doesn't work, sign Bumgarner for $90/4yrs and Teheran for $16/2 yrs and Wood for $16/2yrs. The paradigm of rational thought takes a break this winter because starting pitching is dear right now. A Cole (or the other scenario) signing finishes the front office' job for now. The Twins can rotate Garver, Gonzalez, and others through 1B. This is their one shot - the core gets supplemented and the young pups get a year to develop.
  2. tony&rodney
    True, without a Cole or Strasburg the Twins do not match up in a Game 1 and I am still hopeful of a C/S signing, but Bumgarner plus a few other additions would really strengthen the team in a 5 or 7 game series. Win the division first while going all out to sign whomever is interested in pitching in Target Field from the home dugout in 2020. A Bumgarner, Berrios, Odorizzi, Pineda, and Wood/Teheran plus young guns would play. Go hard at the big three: Cole, Strasburg, Bumgarner - they can only say No. The budget should around $140+ for 2020.
  3. tony&rodney
    The Twins still have options if they are committed to adding free agents to their core. Both Ryu and Bumgarner are available and the money is too. For that matter, so too is Cole - he is available. Re: trades - Wow, does anyone really think the Reds would trade Castillo? I love watching Rosario and am hoping Kirilloff is a masher, but I do the trade noted above (with Sands) if I am the Twins.
  4. tony&rodney
    Never lost the love. Baseball is a drug. I bought a subscription to BA (a guy named Simpson, not Homer was editor I think) in 1983 and remember finding Twins' fans writing about 15 years ago (was either SethSpeaks or Gleeman - was click #11 on their counter) on the internet and have loved the coverage ever since. I never missed a pitch selling beer in the Dome for 3 years and have always found something positive to hold onto, even in really depressing seasons. Last season was pretty exciting and like everyone else I am hopeful for more.
  5. tony&rodney
    I do not think there is a "next" scenario right now. Jow Mauer was an exceptional talent. Jaffe (@Fangraphs) has him at # 7 all time among catchers. Catchy and supportable; he was an amazing player. Who can envision a crazy trade? The cold weather catches us dreaming up nonsense ideas. Would a Buxton, Berrios, plus lower mler for Paddock, Gore, and Patina be crazy enough? How valuable is Garver or Sano to other teams? I can remember Liriano reducing Oakland's best hitters to dust in an April 2006 outing and Nathan's snorting like a horse was the prelude to exciting Twins' victories. Trades are difficult to pull off and I'm not sure there have been as many players in the 21st century as predictable for success as Joe Mauer.
  6. tony&rodney
    Polanco is not a championship SS? Hmmm? Derek Jeter, he is not. However, Jorge Polanco is a player. He takes great at bats and makes most of the plays. Sure he misses Mauer at 1B, but he is young and improving in all facets of his game. Polanco is probably the least concern of Twin's management. I would prefer Greg Gagne at shortstop but he is retired. I'll take Polanco for my team any time.
  7. tony&rodney
    Pineda should not be a priority until Spring Training, so agree with the above post. Even though the cost and potential risk may be high, the Twins need to work hard to sign two pitchers worth signing. Wheeler for 5/100 and Bumgarner for 4/80 are my choices. This gives the Twins some time to develop pitchers like Duran and Balazovic or others. The cost might be high but with their need for starting pitching the team needs to buy time for the future while settling the present.
  8. tony&rodney
    It's always interesting to read these thoughts to predict/arrange the Twins 2020 roster. This post, like others, makes some suggestions that seem possible and concentrates on keeping the team largely intact from last year. Everyone agrees that pitching is needed. This post suggests a Pomeranz signing and poof, that's gone. I appreciate the writer's post. I hope the Twins act on their needs soon. There is room to sign two good free agent pitchers and hold onto Rosario and Duran. I would not have Cron back for more than $5.0 million. I'm afraid that Castro will get more money but Alex Avila might be available. Thanks for sharing your ideas.
  9. tony&rodney
    "Don't want his bad habits ..." Wow! Harsh. To the post ... spring training will sort out Raley, Rooker, Cave, and Wade. This does depend on trades, although each of the above are filler (albeit useful) at this point. My guess is Rooker based on time spent at AAA and readiness, despite the Ks. Whatever, the Twins need pitching.
  10. tony&rodney
    Wheeler is available for a draft choice as are a few other decent pitchers this winter. The Twins are likely to see some regression from a couple players ( ? Garver, Cruz), but I think we can see a repeat for others ( ? Rosario, Kepler, Polanco) and improvements from Buxton and Gonzalez ( ? Cron ? ). This is a winter of decision. Trades sound good but it is hard to see why a team would give up on a controlled good starting pitcher. San Diego needs a CF. Would either team trade key combinations of players, such as Buxton-Paddock? Atlanta needs a 3B and C. Would Garver or Sano - Fried plus more work? Cincinnati needs a C and something for the farm. Would they part with Castillo for Garver? Do the Twins want to be moving so many chairs around? This is where it gets really complicated and why Wheeler (and others) are particularly attractive this winter. The Twins have the money this year.
  11. tony&rodney
    re: "Nelson Cruz says hi. Jorge Polanco says hi. Mitch Garver says hi." Oh, I wholeheartedly agree about how good Cruz, Polanco, and Garver were last summer. I would even add Kepler, Arraez, and the apparently increasingly unpopular Rosario to the list. I try to never miss an at bat by Buxton because he could do just about anything. Agree that a healthy lineup would yield different results. I especially felt bad for how banged up Kepler appeared. I only meant to advance the idea that Sano could conceivably put together a spectacular year in 2020 if he keeps working on his flexibility and improves in his concentration. He is a big dude in the mold of Frank Howard, Frank Thomas, or Aaron Judge to mention a few non-Twins.
  12. tony&rodney
    The post season was humbling for the Twins, including Sano. Baseball is about moving beyond failure and striving to improve. Sano got a taste again, the taste he had when he first arrived before the troubles. He is the only Twin I would not want to pitch to when he is focused and I have to believe that sentiment is felt across MLB. Sconnie brings up a critical point. A year removed from the stress of pushing himself just to get fully healed is past. This winter Sano will be taking care of himself and increasing his strength and mobility while looking to improve on his focus from one at bat to another. I want to see him stay at 3B and get a little quicker with his feet and his glove, but he doesn't need to be above average to be a huge asset. It's easy to catch yourself leaning forward when Sano comes to bat and that says plenty.
  13. tony&rodney
    Arraez was an exciting player for the Twins last summer. Can he get better? There are institutes, trainers and coaches who assess and advise the players on strategies for improvement: running, fielding, strength, swing and so on. I have no real idea what Arraez is like intellectually or otherwise, but he is on a minimum salary and we can believe that his motivation to succeed received a major boost of confidence with his results in 2019. Confidence and motivation with specific attention to details intended towards future improvement and further success are certainly a daily focus of Arraez in this off season as he looks to 2020. He strikes me as determined.
  14. tony&rodney
    Thing is, Syndergaard is not available per Mets GM. As far as i am concerned Wheeler can be a #4. Bumgarner, Berrios, Odorizzi, Wheeler, and Graterol/Dobnak. As far as trades go, I cannot see teams trading Luis Castillo, Chris Paddock, Max Fried or other top controllable pitchers. Does anyone think San Diego gives up Paddock for Buxton? Do we want to trade Buxton? Sign a couple of pitchers, the money is there.
  15. tony&rodney
    If the Twins can sign Wheeler today for 5/89, they should definitely do it. Yes he could only be a number three, but with Bumgarner available at 4/80, that's fine. In three years someone like Graterol or Duran or Balazovic or someone else could rise up or better yet all three. If the Twins don't act this winter they will be looking back regretfully.
  16. tony&rodney
    The consensus seems to be to trade money for pitching. There should be around $40-45 million available - so some combination of Cole plus a cheap alternative (J. Teheran) or two of Wheeler/Bumgarner/Ryu. There's your trade.
  17. tony&rodney
    Perhaps a major thought in deciding how high to go for Wheeler, Bumgarner, or another pitcher is to focus on the current core of the Twins and what is a reasonable budget. If the Twins want to keep the core together and just add a few pieces then there needs to be room in the Budget for $130-$140. If we are restricted to less, then the Twins need to complete some very creative trades. For simplicity, adding Wheeler for 5/100 and Bumgarner for 4/80 works. This expenditure would bring the team to the mid 130s. Personally, I wonder if $140 is in play.
  18. tony&rodney
    The big man was huge for the Twins in 2019. Awesome vids and memories. He can be even better too: defensively and in plate discipline. Sano seems to have the skills but his body requires enormous work ethic. I think he is up for it and 2020 could be a treat for Twins' fans.
  19. tony&rodney
    Love the idea of signing Grandal and Wheeler and it would be sweet if we could get Alcantara in a trade. There are enough at bats for Garver and Grandal. The question remains whether the Twins will go to $140 million. Meanwhile the Braves have signed Martin for 2/14.
  20. tony&rodney
    I like the addition of Martin.
  21. tony&rodney
    Both of these players were very exciting in 2019. I did cringe at some of those names. There is reason to be optimistic about improvement from both; they are young, work hard and appear to really enjoy themselves. Additionally, it really seems like these two focus in key spots. Baseball is a game where one must confront failure often and I have enjoyed watching how Sano and Polanco go about their business. Finally, I have wondered about how much we took Joe Mauer for granted at first base. No, I'm not picking on Cron.
  22. tony&rodney
    Would anyone think a trade of Miguel Sano and 2 prospects from #6 on to Atlanta for Christian Pache and Kyle Wright or Ian Anderson works? Fun to watch Sano though. I'm finding it hard to be serious about trades without knowing how other teams value our players. At this point it is all ideas, and prospects don't really compare well with players that have performed and are part of the core team. I also considered a trade of Garver and Gonzalez plus 2 prospects from #6 on to Cincy for Luis Castillo. This also seems unlikely for them. They do need a catcher that hits and could really use a player like Marwin. Just ideas ..
  23. tony&rodney
    What would Garver bring back? Grandal, Avila, and others could be signed. Of course we love a contract controlled slugger like Garver, but what would other teams offer? Atlanta? Cincy? San Diego? If not FA signings the Twins must explore all trade ideas.
  24. tony&rodney
    Agree, I am not a fan of trading Kepler for all those reasons mentioned. Still, management needs to look around and listen to every scenario. A previous poster mentioned a trade for Luis Castillo (with a WHIP of 1.14 and a .202 ba vs him). The Reds have a third baseman but need a catcher and are low on outfield prospects. Now I don't know why Cincy would consider trading Castillo, but perhaps Garver, Larnach, and maybe something like Thorpe might gain their interest. Garver was fantastic and there isn't much to complain about him, yet Castillo is a top starting pitcher. If the budget allows $140- $150 million, then signing two FA is more appealing. I hope the front office can turn over all the stones and patch together a pitching staff. A trade seems likely and Rosario is just one option.
  25. tony&rodney
    Refreshing change of thinking. Yes, if trades are to be made, all players need to be evaluated for their return. Too much focus on Rosario when Garver, Sano or others might bring the plus needed for the Twins. I am not advocating a trade of any specific player but an open approach to the evaluations. I am hopeful that the budget is open to a $130-145 million.
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