VandyTwinsFan

Made the site more mobile friendly meant adding more ads that load on mobile. The pop-up videos are annoying as can be. I really appreciate the content on this site but the increase in pop-ups is frustrating.

Mlb.tv and a vpn. If you have a somewhat tech savvy (or experienced in google fu) friend that lives outside the region they can set up openvpn on their router and give you the client files. You can also just buy vpn service and choose a server outside the region and then mlb.tv won't block you.

2019 preseason rankings had the following: 10. Baddoo 9. Enlow 8. Thorpe 7. Duran 6. Rooker The 2019 version of these players had a lot of question marks just like this year's 6-10. Some answered, some faltered. I think I felt better about last year's group, but I like 2020 Jeffers the most.

https://twitter.com/ParkerHageman/status/1021943107879936002 The link. So beautiful.

Had to look up Michael Davis because his named seemed to keep popping up. Someone quoted this previously after the draft but I don't know where it's from. ---Senior shortstop Michael Davis could be a potential snag in this year’s MLB Draft. The Lubbock local is a versatile baseball player who, over the years, has played multiple positions in addition to shortstop, including second and third-base. Davis has a cannon for an arm and unbelievable range making him a good draft prospect. His batting average could be better, but he has the power to knock it out of the park and can be clutch in big game situations. Davis has the experience – he’s played in the 2016 CWS, helped Texas Tech win back-to-back Big 12 conference titles and appeared in more than 200 games for the Red Raiders. So far this season, Davis has a .290 batting average, 11 home runs and 50 RBIs; however, he has 63 strikeouts which needs to be improved. His fielding percentage is .946 and he has 14 errors on the year. Davis has a chance to increase these numbers this week in the Super Regional. Davis isn’t listed on Baseball America’s top prospect list, but don’t be surprised if he’s picked up in the later rounds of the draft. --- Safe to say the batting average is doing pretty well so far. A little old for low A but he's doing what he should.

I'd like to see a gif of one of Hildy's strikeouts last night. Got a guy to swing at change up while also trying to move his feet so he didn't get hit by the pitch. I literally laughed out loud at that swing. Anyone else catch that?

If anyone is a glutton for punishment and wants to get worked up...go back later and watch the top of the 6th. Holy moly this is bad. Sorry Trevor May, you got hosed this outing.

I distinctly remember him getting to a full count before striking out a batter for out #2 in his first inning. I went back and watched the archive just to see his wildness. I think you might be using the gameday play-by-play as a reference for your pitch results. In spring training, it won't give correct pitch results. If it's a walk, it calls all the pitches balls. If it's a strikeout, all the pitches were strikes. Just off of memory, I think his first walk was 4-0, then 4-1, then 3-3 K, then I forget.

I quickly forgot it in the excitement of reading the article, but well done on the title.

* Probably, yes. ** Absolutely health was #1. Lower pitch limits were set. I would think they would want him to be efficient with those fewer pitches. I'm pretty sure they've always had issues with his control and want him to walk fewer people. **(a) Honest question, do you have any reports saying his control issues were related to that new 3 finger changeup he introduced last April? The reports early on last year were that he was really liking it. I was hoping it would be the "breakthrough" they were calling it. *** Personal opinion at this point. I think you may weight their ceilings higher than I. But, they are extremely close in my eyes too. I'm pretty excited to see how things work out this year (who isn't?).

Oddly enough, I'm more excited for Meyer. I can understand, argue, and perhaps agree that Berrios is the better prospect...but Meyer's stuff is downright fun to watch. Granted, I haven't seen more of Berrios than his futures game performance.

I don't think it's fair to compare Meyer to Randy Johnson, Mr. Statistical Anomaly, HOF pitcher and master of all things involving throwing a baseball including bird destruction. If Alex Meyer becomes a HOF pitcher winning multiple Cy Youngs after age 30 then I'll eat the crow he blows up with a baseball (and love every bite if he does it in a Twins uniform). When the team basically tells you to stop walking guys and you'll move up and you continue to walk guys, have high pitch counts, and in general fail to do everything they ask you to do involving control...your command sucks. Berrios is simply a more complete package at a younger age. Meyer has some better qualities but he also has issues, issues that make Berrios the slightly better prospect...in some people's eyes.

IMHO, I would have to say its probably his control at such an early age. There have been several reports and quotes saying that he has outstanding control of all his pitches. Combining that with his "stuff" and work ethic makes him such a good prospect. We've seen in the big leagues that throwing 100mph doesn't play if you can't put it over the plate, which appears to be Meyer's issue. Some state that all Meyer has to do is become like Randy Johnson and learn how to control his massive frame in his late 20's. That'd be great! However, it's unlikely. Berrios doesn't have some magical physical gift to learn. His talent is already there. He needs to learn how to pitch to big league hitters and work on the movement of his pitches, the type of things coaches excel at and coaches love hard workers. I guess what I'm saying is that Berrios has everything you could want in a frontline starter...minus 5-7 inches of height. Works VERY hard, good personality, good velocity, good control, a mix of pitches, reasonable health history, and he's ambitious. All these things work towards making him a #3 prospect. Don't get me wrong, I love some Alex Meyer pitching, but his control sucks and pro hitters will wait for that mistake pitch and crush it. Also, let me reference a bleacher report article that emphasizes command as what differentiates an Ace from a #1 starter. "The bottom line is this: If you have either a deep repertoire or a nasty signature pitch and very good command, you have a shot to become a No. 1-caliber pitcher."

My MVP would be Suzuki. Dozier may be more exciting with the HR and steals and the flashy diving plays, but Suzuki has been the glue that has made this team work. He plays hurt, dinged up, leg falling off. If Pinto weren't up to start the season, he'd play every game. Defensively, he keeps the ball in front of the plate. It seems like the pitchers trust him and like working with him. Offensively, 25 K's in 311 plate attempts. Crazy low for this team. Highest OBP and average. 3rd in RBI after hitting up and down the lineup and in only 79 games while splitting with Pinto. Clutch hits, doubles, walks. The guy is having a career year and has made this team what it is so far.

The Tigers are about to play the White Sox, Twins, Royals, and then Cleveland. By June 22nd we should have a pretty good idea of who the better AL Central teams are by comparing them to the current leader. Here's to hoping that a healthy lineup of dozier, mauer, willingham, arcia, morales, and plouffe great the Tigers with some bombs!

- "I've got a fever and the only prescription is less Kubel" What about more cowbell?

I just wanted to post here to try and bring this thread to the front a little more. It is interesting to see the questions of the previous season, how the fans feel about it, how it's turned out (so far), and how we feel it about it now. Personally, I don't feel too bad about resigning him. I'm looking forward to seeing how he pitches in ST. The guy seems like a Glue Guy in the dugout and a very hard worker. One can only hope that his work ethic motivates some other players and it translates to the field for the enjoyment of the fans. Plus, he wants to be here. He's proud to be here. Maybe he fosters some team spirit.

I did not expect the jams to be as bad as they were. I've been to A, AA, and AAA games across the country and Hammond Stadium had the worst traffic jams before and after games. I found out early that I should just go in a couple hours ahead of time and watch some B games (drink a few morning beers) instead of developing serious road rage. I think the lack of roads entering and exiting the stadium general area exacerbates the problem. As a side note, I went to Sanibel Island and the water was pretty cold still. Plus, there were large populations of sting rays/manta rays (some kind of ray) traveling up the shoreline and I was told by some locals to not go swimming at that time, or really enter the water very far. They were visible from the shore. It was a seasonal thing. Awesome shell beaches made for some nice scenic views and sure revitalized the girlfriend though.

Agreed. Since 2007 there hasn't been a single recipient capable of sustained MLB success. No wonder the twins pitching has been the worst in baseball lately. These are our best/most successful minor league pitchers, and 5 of the last 6 are no longer with the team and brought zero return upon departure. Awesome.

Nice find! I like looking at team statistics. While not the same thing as clutch, I watched our team last year in regards to productive outs made. It's a pretty sad sight. Guys with more than 25 opportunities: Florimon 42% Dozier 39% Plouffe 32% League Ave 31% Hicks 30% Arcia 27% Parmelee 27% Mauer 26% Morneau 25% Doumit 20% Willingham 17% Thomas 16% Colabello* 6% *only 18 opportunities. Close to my cutoff, but it was so low I added it. If you look at percentage of times our guys scored someone from 3rd with less than 2 outs, Morneau jumps over the average along with Florimon and Dozier. That's it. Arcia, Mauer, Pinto, and Doumit were close to average. Plouffe takes a nose dive and sucks as bad as Willingham (both at 32%, league average was 51%). I hated it when Willing-strikeout-ham stepped to the plate looking to score Dozier from 3rd after Mauer singled him over. Just walk to the dugout guys because Willingham is going to either K or pop up to the infield and then Plouffe will hit a fly ball just too short to be worth anything. This all just goes to show, if we had Brian Dozier playing every position then the team would've been THE GREATEST TEAM EVER!!! AAAGH!!!

He has to hit at AAA in order to make it to the bigs, first. Wise decision for the team to make it a minor league deal. I used to be a big fan of Kubie Snacks, but now he's merely depth at the lower levels while the kids come up. However, if he regains his old form that would make this a nifty pickup. All in all, I like it.

I had the initial excitement of getting someone new to roam the outfield, but I'm at the same point. Arcia and Hicks just made it up and have some learning to do, so they need playing time. Parmelee (who I used to be excited about) is pretty much done. Presley played well for us I thought. Who else batted above .280 for over a month? I hoped last year at ST that Mastro was the everyday CF so that Hicks could get more seasoning. Hopefully, he comes back healthy. Let Presley and Mastro work on CF. Hicks can play AAA for a few months and then replace the less valuable one. Bringing Buxton up this year is a tad aggressive if you ask me. I think Parmelee or Collabello is expendable. Parm plays a better outfield, but we have a plethora of guys like him to throw out there. I still think Collabello deserves an offseason to adjust to pitching.

I agree with beckmt. I'm indifferent in regards to Gardy as a manager (I do love his hat kicking rants, though), but I feel that if the club is going to be bringing in new/young guys and they're trying to instill a new attitude...then a new manager is a good way to do just that. It's not that I don't think Gardy could do a decent job. It's a necessary statement to the team, the staff, and the fans that things are going to change. And if he stays...the roster just becomes another one of Gardy's teams. Bring on a new era of Twins baseball.