Nick Hanzlik

After a hiatus from writing ✍️, this was a nice little nugget to come back to lol. Though, you may have to send that bobblehead to Rocco. He commissioned the article.

Not quite getting the clickbait comments. I see the articles on this site to be more conversation starters. I don't think they are meant to be gospel being preached. I think this article does that for Miranda, a guy who will probably never be a good defensive player. So the conversation becomes, where do you put him and what kind of physicality do you want him to have? I think it is an interesting topic, and there is no right answer. It gets complicated with Miranda as well since we have a few young players and Farmer that can play 3rd, but you 100 percent want Miranda's bat in that lineup everyday. So DH then? But you gotta figure Buxton will spend a lot of time there... so it gets tricky. Good conversation piece. Curious to see how the Twins handle it as the season unfolds. Go Twins.

Sometimes I wish Target Field smelt more of piss and peanuts. Maybe that’s the key to winning titles. I attended this game with the author and can confirm those back row seats provided a wild angle on a baseball game.

I guess that depends on perspective. At the end of the day it’s a fun conversation piece.

I hope so too my friend. I have always liked Kepler. If they decided to let him start in RF to begin the season, maybe just do it from the 9 hole though lol...

WE HAVE TO TRADE KEPLER! lol, no in reality I am very ok holding onto him. part of it is personal bias as I just really enjoy Kepler. He was a guy I always rooted for and thought would be a legit allstar caliber player. At this point, I think that time has passed, though I would love to put my foot in my mouth at the end of the year. I think this article nailed it with his usage. Maybe a platoon with him and Taylor for RHP vs LHP? Then maybe package Larnach with Polanco or something for another big arm. IDK just spitballing. I think the Twins make one more big move before the season starts

I am not overly concerned about injury, I am just terrified to mess with him in any way, shape or form. He is bananas in his current role. I worry if he gets moved and gets demolished that he won't return to form when moved back to the pen. No numbers or anything to back this up. Just a gut worry he'll get the yips

yes

What if…. That’ll keep you up at night. As hard as it may be to do, I think we thank our lucky stars we have a closer as lights out as duran and move on with our lives.

Jhoan Duran is not only the best reliever the Twins have had since Joe Nathan; he is the most talented pitcher they have had since Johan Santana/2006 Francisco Liriano. There have certainly been talented players throughout that timespan, even an all-star or two, but no one has had the absolute shutdown stuff this guy possesses. If he is remotely near the zone, opposing hitters have little to zero chance of doing anything. So why not try him in the rotation? Twins fans have been begging for an ace since Santana's departure following the 2007 season. The closest we have come was probably Ervin Santana or Jose Berrios. Instead, we have been treated to the likes of Scott Baker, Carl Pavano, Kyle Gibson, Lance Lynn, and Jake Odorizzi. They were not bad pitchers, but they were not aces. Don't get me started on the likes of Samuel Deduno, Ricky Nolasco, Scott Diamond, or Hector Santiago. Feel free to add some more of your favorite lukewarm bowls of mashed potatoes to this list. I'm sure I left off some true gems. So again, why not try Duran in the rotation? The whispers have already begun. He has starting experience (though with a bit of injury history). He's 6'5", 230lbs, and his body can take the innings. He has four pitches (4SFB, splinker, curveball, slider/cutter), a trait uncommon for relievers but usually necessary for starters. All the signs point to him being rotation capable, especially if he were to add a change-up. It wouldn't even have to be that good, and he would have an insane makeup as a starter. The temptation is palpable, and I have had these thoughts in the back of my head since the first time I watched this guy unleash the nastiest repertoire I have ever seen. It's not just the velocity and the movement, but the command. It is unique from others that possess stuff approaching the filth he brings. All this being said, the answer is to resist the temptation. As tantalizing a notion as it would be, knowing every fifth day you get to watch this magnificent beast bring triple digits and then make hitters look foolish as they flail over the top of a mid-upper 80s hammer, we must resist. Look at his numbers, folks. It's upsetting how good he was, especially in the second half when he really found his mojo. He was a man who was never rattled, never deterred. He knew he was better than anyone stepping into that box, and yes, I mean ANYONE, and it showed. Confidence and mental state are crucial to all aspects of baseball, but especially to pitching. To a certain degree, to be a true stud on the mound, you have to have the mindset that you are the biggest and baddest motherf----- in the land. No one can beat you. That mindset comes from confidence, which comes from success. Putting Duran in the rotation risks that success. Duran just turned 25 this month; messing with a young player who has already achieved that mindset is dangerous. You risk getting the yips after a few bad starts and then not being able to return to form in the pen. The yips are real and can happen. Anyone who has pitched knows this to be a harsh reality. It is just not worth it. Yes, we may never know if we have a true ace amongst us here and now, but we have the baddest mofo we could ever ask for, and that needs to be enough.

no worries. we are all passionate about the Twins and get fired up sometimes lol

I firmly believe that the only way the Twins overcome their plague of injuries is to stop walking on egg shells with worry when the next injury will occur and just play the game, all out, with fierce abandon. When I saw your "headline" with Rolls "Royce" in it, I thought it was an article about Royce Lewis. I feel the same way about this talented young kid as I do Buxton. Just play him. SS, LF, 3B, CF, 2B, RF? I don't care. Thinking one position is more risky than another is just adopting a mindset that something "bad" is going to happen. Just. Let. The. Play. And let them play all-out, with no restrictions or caution. lol the author has suggested Trea Turner as a sleeper MVP because of this (maybe not even a sleeper...). In Buck's case however, he may not hit enough singles or walk enough to even attempt 40-50 lol. Dude is an extra base monster.

"However he is not broken he can play centerfield full time again" Really? You have access to his medicals? You're basing this knowledge on what exactly? A gut feeling? "the human body is built to last" Tell that to numerous top athletes in baseball and other sports whose bodies broke down early. Not all bodies are built the same. Some players play 150 + games season after season, other players have chronic injuries. At the end of it all I very much agree: I hope his body holds up and he can get consistent playing time! Easy there friend... I don't think the claim was "I know everything because I have had similar injuries," I think it was more a suggestion that since he has dealt with similar issues that he has a bit of insight into how he might be feeling and allows him to speculate a bit more than the average Joe.

(And some of those comments originate in my own home.) Regarding Buxton in particular, Twins insiders know way more than we fans do about his health. I have every confidence that their strategy has always been to have him in games, especially in CF, as much as possible. And I don't agree with those who say he should be given days off only in road games. Of course I want to see him on the field when I am at Target Field--who doesn't?--but what I want more is to have him (and for that matter all players) contributing optimally. If what works best is to give him a day off for a home game then I support that. Yeah it gets old. I think that they do rely on analytics, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. You just need the personal to apply that strategy (like having a deep bullpen if you're pulling starters before the 3rd trip). Everything is about context. Even if folks think they rely too much on analytics, I agree that doesn't mean they don't know baseball. I very much think they know what they are doing. The moves they are making going into this season are very interesting. I personally am very excited to see what happens in 2023. Just waiting for the "big one", like a package of Larnach, Kepler, and a top prospect for a true Ace...

Very good point. Rocco is still early in his career, and the FO is putting some really interesting pieces in place right no IMO. Also, a bit off the topic of this comment, but another point I think I failed to mention is that great managers don't just grow on trees. What would be our options at the moment if we fired Rocco? I don't think the FO is done making moves this offseason... I am very curious to watch this year, probably more so than the last few.