DocBauer

I had forgotten about his re-signing! Not there is anything wrong with him or bringing him back but I did find that curious. Pensacola whenever baseball resumes? Or a shot at Rochester?

In reference to the good and bad of positional analysis posts, I offer the following: BAD: This stinks! Most of us have lived through various flu "pandemics" or severe warnings before. Thankfully, when all is said and done, we have all come through mostly unscathed. The loss of March Madness, the college baseball season, the CWS, spring football, spring games, and the start of baseball is devastating to all of us as sports fans. Not to mention the loss of income to travel destination cities and places that would host special events. (Like the CWS here in Omaha). And I feel especially bad for ushers, vendors and the such who may struggle at this time. I don't know if it's prudent or over-reaction, but the runs on simple household cleaners, paper products and packaged food is just nuts. One would almost think the end of days is near. And I find it ABHORANT that some people have used this time to horde product to make a profit off their neighbors. (Glad to see various companies and authorities have taken steps to quell this, shut down operations of such people, and hope prosecution or fines follow). GOOD: While all of this stinks, it is better to be proactive and safe rather than be sorry. And we will all weather this storm collectively as good people, Twins fans or not. We can all assist within our own communities, as well as right here as a special support group as TD family. And when this settles, I hope everyone just smiles a bit more, laughs a bit more, and appreciates a bit more having sports and regular life back again. I work for a telecommunications company that is taking steps to change hours, while taking care of their employees and their subscribers. My hours have changed as of today. And the one thing I really hope most/all of us can do in this down time is not only help, where we can, but spend any extra time with friends and family. We kind of joke about things like Netflix binges. But what about doing that with friends and family? Or play games together? I hope most of us can just take time that we may have to release stress by realizing all we have, and spending what time we have available with loved ones. (Not to mention yard work, house work, or honey-do lists, lol) We WILL all get through this. SIDE NOTE: Matthew Taylor made a reference the other day in a front page OP about 3 ways to consume baseball. It would be really awesome as a distraction, if someone would just set their computer or game system up for auto-play and post some results for us to just mess with. That's it. Nothing funny to say. Just God Bless everyone and hang in tbere.

So the best way to play him seems to be for the infielders to play way back, and the OF to play way in. No problem! You can't stop Arraez, you can only hope to contain him! Lol But seriously, I firmly believe theee is such a thing as "hit tool" which is often glossed over when we talk about things like power and speed and OB, combined with SO numbers and launch angle. (Less and less we talk about speed, which I think is sad). While it is absolutely hyperbole to speak of a young player like Arraez in comparison to Gwynn, or Boggs, or whoever, it's just really hard to look at his milb track record, and what he did last season, and his approach at the plate, and NOT compare him! Again, hyperbole...perhaps...but as Jimbo and Torv mentioned above you could absolutely watch Arraez at the plate scanning the defense and just deciding where he wanted to place the ball. And he did so at an amazing clip, while also maintaining plate discipline. He is just so much fun to watch.

I think it's safe to say RF is set and in very good hands for the next few years. We have no idea if everyone will turn out, or if everyone is actually kept, but Kirilloff, Larnach and Rooker will be looking at LF/1B/DH/4th OF for the time being. And that's a very nice problem to have. What I just can't understand, or wrap my head around, is how Kepler can have such a njce swing, make good contact, hit the ball hard, perform well against LHP, and still suffer continuously from such a low BABIP. It just doesn't make sense to me. Has he just been that unlucky? Does his swing just carry too many balls to the same location so defenses just play him better? Even a slight correction to the norm would seem to make him a STAR player.

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but aren't his final fWAR numbers skewed slightly downward due to his time spent in CF filling in for Buxton?

Personally, I think few believe Stroman is anything but an ACE. A nice pitcher, but not an ACE. There was a time, not so long ago, when pitching low in the zone, or having "heavy" stuff was considered a positive. "Pitching to contact", in regard to the "old" Twins mantra never meant let the other team get hits, but rather, throw strikes, mkve your pitches around, and let the hitter get themselves out. In the sudden new age of high barrel rates and launch angles, we are talking about velocity and pitching high so batters get themselves out. But at the end of the day, outs are outs. If Dobnak is more old school in his process, who cares. If he relies more on weak contact and grounders I'm all in.

A great post and a different way to look at the issue. While I absolutely do not want to play devil's advocate and compare suspensions, or the gravity of offenses and the such, the Yankees could have an argument as well. Please understand everyone, I am not speaking of "early parole", if you will, nor advocating anything. I am simply posing a debatable question for the Twins and other franchises simply because we are in somewhat uncharted territory here. I advocate nothing. It's simply an exercise amongst the various situations being present with a shortened/interrupted season. We could just as easily discuss how to balance a "fair" schedule for an abbreviated season. We could equally discuss how a 60 day IL affects a player and team. I'm just tossing out things to consider.

I'm sorry, don't get the confusion here. His penalty IS based on a 162 game season. The penalty for an abuse of any sort is a rounded off 80 games. Which is half a season. Not sure why MLB doesn't do 81G, maybe they just like a round number. And agree nobody should have to pay the monetary price twice, so we may agree on that. I just propose Pineda's penalty of games missed, without pay of course, should be based on the carryover to the second season, which will be abbreviated I'm sure. Again, I think we're saying the same thing monetarily. And if the season, hopefully, is only 20 games short, any reduction in Pineda's penalty is but a few games. I just think it's something to examine, but the idea may already be running its course at this time.

And I get that. But those days of suspension, as I just re-stated again above, lol, were based on days of a regular season or over 2 regular seasons in this case. We are not going to have a regular season in 2020.

And that's all I'm saying. NEVER said Pineda should get paid while being punished. Never said Pineda shouldn't be punished. Never said he should be credited for days all players are going to miss by a late start to the season, whether it be 20 days, 30 days, 40 days, etc. I am simply stating the Twins may have an arguement to have his remaining suspension days whittled down to reflect a shorter season, and thus an equivalent percentage of games missed as if the season were a full 162 games. His penalty, originally 80 games but reduced to mitigating factors, was based on a 162G season and spread out over 2019 and 2020. Fair. But once the dust settles and things eventually get going again, 2020 will not be a 162G season. The arguement is, therefore, his suspension should be reduced an equivalent amount of games to reflect the same % of games missed had both seasons been the traditional 162G length. Just seems fair and logical to me. Especially considering it could be as little as a week worth of action.

The change in velocity is also taking place at the milb level and has been for some time, IMO. Even going back to the last year or two of the TR regime SO numbers were increasing in the system. I'm not real savvy when it comes to including links and the such, but I'd reference anyone to look at my post in the MINORS section from a week or so ago. I found the 2019 Twins milb results to be very interesting.

No, Pineda does not receive credit for games missed that everyone else does. I'm stating there is precedent in regard to suspensions and how they are calculated. In the above reference, a ballplayer was suspended but couldn't have played anyway as he was injured. However, MLB didn't force him to become healthy and THEN begin his suspension. All this to mean there is, again, precedent in regard to the intent of the punishment. But to be more clear, Pineda is supposed to be suspended roughly 30 more games. (I'm rounding) Over a 162 game season, that would mean he is to miss approximately 18% of the Twins season. Now, the 2020 season is reduced by 1 month, approximately 20 games, and Pineda is still suspended for the same 30 days, that means he now must 21% of a now 142 game season. Which means he is arguably receiving additional punishment over and above the intended verdict. How is that fair? Especially when we've seen an example of a player being allowed to "serve time" while on the IR? Having Pineda's suspension reduced would seemingly be a small number of games unless the season is virtually halved. But then again, more time available to contribute is more time to contribute.

It's long been stated that ladies love outlaws and country boys. So that being said, Dobnak should be near the top of the list. Looks like he should be on the PBR circuit and not the mound.

We heard a lot of glowing things about Lewis, but I thought it was great how he wasn't the least bit intimidated by anything and didn't get down after a slow start and then suddenly started to hit/flash.

No, what I am saying is he was suspended a number of games. That number is also based on a 162 game format. Meaning his suspension also equals ascertain number of days, weeks, etc, or percentile of the season. When and if the season is shortened, technically, he is missing more games in the season, or a higher percentile of the season missed than the original punishment was intended for. Therefore, it could be argued he is technically being punished more than was originally decreed. There is a form of reference...I forget who now...where a player was suspended a couple years ago but was also injured. His time on the IR counted towards his suspension days. Coincidental sure, but it does fly somewhat in the face of the intended punishment design. It's a complicated issue, but I think the Twins would have a very valid arguement on a reduction to coincide with the length of the season and an appropriate percentage of games missed adjustment.

Interesting thought process here. The good get even better by getting even healthier. I think it's a valid point in the case of Buxton. I tend to disagree on Hill, however. He is outstanding when healthy. Unfortunately, a big chunk of his career, certainly the past few seasons, he's only ever healthy for about half the season. With that in mind, and recovering from surgery, I always felt like a safer, more practical return for Hill was about July. He basically becomes a quality mid-year trade acquisition equivalent. What could take place, however, is a shortened season providing a longer frame of impact from him. **Interesting idea in another thread was a shortened season should mean a shortening of the Pineda suspension. That would make sense to me, adjusting the percentage of games/time missed, otherwise he would actually be further penalized by missing a greater portion of the season than was initially laid down/intended in his punishment.

IMO Lewis is a SS, will remain a SS, and will be the SS of the future with Polanco and Arraez moving around in some combination that works best and makes the most sense. However, if Polanco via additional work and experience and his new throwing motion continues to improve defensively i could see Lewis slide over to 3B where I think he would be just fine. Why am I talking about Lewis in an OP about Buxton? Because he is mentioned above and because the two of them often seem to get mentioned in the same breath. With Lewis showing nothing to dismiss him from the infield, the focus should be on Celestino as a replacement/backup option sometime over the next year or so. In the meantime, there is Kepler, Cave and Wade to help fill in. There is also no reason Lewis can't first come up as a multi-position capable player who COULD do a nice job in CF. But again, IMO, there is just no need to focus on Lewis anywhere but the infield on a daily basis. I'd like to think playing deeper may have helped Buxton stay healthy lady year simply because he did make it to August. Thought I heard/read he had been working with Hunter some this off-season. I hope that is finally true and something I've been clamoring for the past couple of years. While we all want Buxton healthy for at least 140G, he will miss some time here and there, as does everyone. As I feel Celestino is a year away, I would be ecstatic if either Cave or Wade could rise up and prove themselves at least ML average in CF so Kepler could just stay in RF most days.

Outstanding Parker! I even followed this detailed report. While Chalmers increasing velocity would be exciting, you had me at less strain on the arm for better health and better control. Better control and a better 3rd offering and this guy could be a monster a year+ from now.

And I virally attacking a couple Coronas as I type. My personal statement.

Sure this will change, but saw on TV that the start of the season is now delayed 2 weeks.

A concert I was attending with my daughter this evening got cancelled here in Omaha this afternoon. Sports are being cancelled and delayed. It stinks, but is understandable and the right thing to do. I think I may go viral on some Corona tonight to ease my frustrstions.

Buxton simply returned to what felt natural. With all due blessings from Rocco and Rowson and everyone else, from what I understand. Oh sure, there were probably suggestions and tweaks, but in keeping with the new and fresh approach of individual development, they pretty much let him just get comfortable. And look at what happened? Lewis fought off some injury bugs and didn't have the season we hoped for. He then raked in the AFL, which is very competitive. Even earned MVP. Sorry, forget who we were playing the other day but it was the opposing team's broadcasters, and they were talking about Lewis's leg kick. They referenced it as a timing mechanism and how quick he got the leg down. As long as Lewis can continue to do that, I don't see a real issue here. Timing is everything for a hitter. And even the best hitters slump, lose timing or mechanics once in a while. As long as his timing is not consistently slow or thrown off, I don't see an issue. This kid has MAD skills and potential! SSS or not, we've glimpsed in ST what he can become. When I watch that crazy deep in the hole fielding play, I'm wondering who thinks he can't stick at SS.

Wish Kaat was doing more than 10 games. Is there any posting as to which 10 games? I'd really like to tune in to those. Like him or not, sort of feels like Bert is being a bit un-ceremoniously dropped. Not sure that is fair. Seems they are really struggling to find a consistent 2nd voice in the booth. Seems strange to me since they have a lot of options. Is 2020 an audition season? No matter who, or how many games, I state again that I really enjoy the 3 man booth on a semi-regular basis. Find it insightful and entertaining.

I agree and disagree. You are absolutely correct about opportunity. In any normal lineup, hitting 3-5 should give you more opportunity. But you also have to produce when given said opportunity. Eddie did, though he was clearly better the first half than after injury. That being said, while it may be a blow to the ego, if Kepler doesn't hit at the top of the order, I think I'd slot him a couple spots ahead of Rosario, with a RH bat between them, just because I think he's the better pure hitter.

I expect a little regression overall for just about everyone as I think the ball may be different. But that would affect everyone, not just the Twins. The counter arguement, however, is that despite some career years, the guys who had them are still so young overall "progression" is still very viable. Maybe less bombas but more doubles, better BA and OB, for example. I expect Garver to be nearly as effective/productive, but with more PA. So while there may be some regression, the overall numbers/production will be there. I know I should worry about Arraez, but I just can't bring myself to. At 23 he's going to naturally develop at least a little more pop. His eye and approach aren't going to change. If anything, they should get better with experience. We often talk about power, speed and athleticism. But that natural "hit" ability is also a tool/talent. And he has that in spades. Even with some regression, he is going to be valuable.