Richie the Rally Goat

https://www.si.com/fannation/bringmethesports/twins/after-disappointing-season-twins-president-disappointed-fans-are-disappointed?src=rss CRF shared the link earlier this year. DSP laid it out nicely, the fans should just be happy to have a team at all. fascinating way to act, I can’t imagine any business being successful with that attitude

Ahem…..

Agreed, (my auto correct got me) Fielding metrics are pretty soft and squishy. I guess, my feeling is if we’re placing a value metric, no matter how squishy of a metric it is, value should be weighted by importance. Like WPA weights outcomes in pitching, or hitting based on timing and value to winning the game. fielding value like OAA or def WAR should also weight the position and impact to the game.

Defensive portion of WAR weights the same for RF as SS correct? Should it? I think so

How do you fit the cup over a pair of boxers without the bunching in your uniform. That would definitely inhibit my reaction time while I’m continually adjusting my kit.

And I thought pitching with one arm was tough

I’m thinking SS and Catcher are not the reason the lineup was awful in ‘22. I’m looking square at the outfield, DH and Gio at 3rd that firmly underperformed in bat first positions. As evidenced by the record, 4-5 hitters can’t be compensated for by one SS. Especially with the shift being mitigated, quality fielding SS is a must. I’d love to see Correa re-signed, I don’t see that as likely. I really like Ahmed as a trade target.

Only slightly used

twenty-first-and-a-half Century!

Over budget?! Is that allowed?

TBH, I wouldn’t sign Hicks to be a backup for Buxton either, but I’d druther Hicks in CF than Wallner

Really good read. While I don’t aspire to become a major leaguer, as a middle manager in my 40s, my career crest is on the horizon. Am I going to reach the career goals I set in my early 20s? Probably not. lots to learn from that article for all of us, including the importance of dreams and goals. How to stay hungry and realistic.

Rick Aguilera

He missed the vesting option because he was traded, right?

Pitchers are limited to 13 roster spots. I like the idea of a 6 man rotation, but Winder can’t be in the utility spot. good job showing your work on a fairly realistic trade.

@Brock Beauchamp FYI

5 players short of a full roster

Names or it didn’t happen also Jeffers in there twice

Isn’t the catcher Willson Contreras?

What did you give up for Jansen and Roberts?

Absolutely!

2022 was Swanson’s final arbitration year. By outs above average Swanson is the best fielding SS by a VAST margin. 20 outs above average puts him in the 100th percentile of all fielders across the MLB. with a 115 OPS+. Going into his age 29 season Swanson will get PAID! Backup the Brinks Truck! At least 7 years $200M

The point here, take out the label “starting” let your pitchers go as long as they are effective. All of your pitchers should pitch to the extent of their effectiveness, not adhere to some arbitrary label. it is common sense, if all of your pitchers, pitch to the extent of their capability, games go faster, fewer pitching changes, and better pitchers pitching more innings means more wins and fewer innings pitched by bad pitchers. Maybe even carrying fewer pitchers to give the lineup more flexibility? those analytics are ignored because the vast majority of MLB teams adhere to the labels and the expectations that come with them (and the pay incentives).

For those upset that coaches heads didn’t roll this fall, I have one suggestion. It’s a big ask, not everyone can afford it, but if you can, I can guarantee you won’t regret it. Go to spring training in March 2023 I conspicuously notice the people that I see at spring training, most years, aren’t upset that these coaches didn’t get fired. I’ve watched Tommy Watkins work with these players, fairly up close and personal for a few instances, a couple days per year. I’ve missed a couple spring trainings over the last decade, but generally I go. It great! I learn more about baseball in those brief moments, than I ever learned anywhere else, including when I played highschool ball. They do coach fundamentals. Really well! this is two things, one: a pitch to go to spring training, becausd it’s my favorite three or four days of the year. two: it’s an empathy/reality check. Players for the MN Twins get coached by Baldelli and team for a few years, but have been coached by dozens, maybe hundreds of coaches over a decade or more, before they get to the bigs. The Selig ball, where giving it a sharp and discerning stare could knock it out of the park, drove coaching decisions since McGuire, Sosa and Bonds captured the greatest stage in 1998. Baldelli and team can’t undo a decade in one or two spring trainings. we’ve been reading about the minor league affiliates putting more base running tactics into games. While my sample size is small and only my (fairly ignorant) perception, I think the coaching staff is doing the right things. I’m not sure about the FO, but the coaches I feel good about.

Royce had his second ACL surgery in 2 years in June, 2022. He will likely start the season on the 60. not sure what the plan for Larnach is