theJemmer

I just hope the new arm angle doesn't eventually lead to arm problems. Remembering Kyle Gibson working on the revised arm motion....

This is elite analysis here :^ )

If he's gonna slide headfirst into second, I'd prefer he never steal. Shoulder, wrists, ... just not worth the injury risk.

100% agree Ted. Many people were ready to declare Jeffers the #1 and trade Garver in the early offseason. I predict he will have a great year and the more likely candidate for regression is Jeffers. Hope it doesn't happen, but not uncommon in the 2nd year in the league.

First - it's unforgiveable that MLB still hasn't stated definitively whether the DH will exist in both leagues this year. Second - if it goes as expected, DH only in the AL, it doesn't seem like there are other serious suitors for Cruz. I'd like to see the Twins have the 2nd year as a team option. Yes he's been great - but there were plenty of times last year where it looked like guys were starting to throw fastballs by him. And then sign him as hitting coach when his playing days are behind him.

The knuckle-alignment thing reminds me of teaching 8 year old girls how to grip the bat in fastpitch - gets the handle more in the fingers than the palm - which is more like a golf grip as well. As far as the hand movement goes I've always advocated for quiet hands prior to the swing. Get your hands where you want the swing to start from - and then relax until you launch. Pretty much the opposite of Gary Sheffield - there's always exceptions!

I don't understand the concept of the hands moving while the pitcher is in the windup. Hitting is hard enough. Get your hands in the ready position at the load point when the pitcher starts - then have quiet hands and just explode through the ball. Gary Sheffield be damned!!!

Looks like Scott Erickson if you don't look too close

If he throws 5mph faster than Gonsalves, then he is is on a significantly different path.

I'd love to read that Max reworked his swing during the off-season to elevate more.

If only Duffy had Hilgenberger's change...

Speaking of arm slot, when I watch Chagois I see a shorter Tonkin. Hope he is better.

Jesse Crain-wreck was like that early in his time with the Twins - they changed him to pitch backwards, lead with breaking stuff and finish off with fastballs, and he blossomed

"What if Joe Mauer didn't shred up his knee meniscus in his second major-league game" What if the cheap builders of the dome had installed a dirt track around the field instead of rubber. RUBBER!!! Name another ballpark that ever had this as part of the playing surface (pitching mound excluded). So when Joe ran to the backstop to get the wild pitch, instead of tearing up his knee when reflexively going down to get the ball, his shin guards slide across the dirt. No injury.

I'm very happy that Joe had a great year. It was nice to see him return to the .300 club. Many years ago I sat in a packed, humid gym for a taping of an ESPN special focusing on Joe - just as contract negotiations were heating up. He had just won the MVP, his second consecutive gold glove, and became the first catcher to lead the league in average, obp, and slugging. When I looked up the details of his contract I noticed that there are bonuses of $25k for each Gold Glove or All-Star Selection. So perhaps his twins will after all get new shoes for Christmas. Anyhoo, I recently ran across a Letterman-style top ten list I created in 2009 for his demands in the big contract. Enjoy: Top Ten Joe Mauer Contract Requirements 10. Any written mention of “M&m boys” must consist of one lower case “m” to denote justin morneau 9. At every home game, must be met at his car by Jerry Bell, Howard Fox, Bill Smith and Dave St. Peter and carried in a Cleopatra-like palanquin into Target Field 8. Opposing fielders must say “one mvp, two mvp, three mvp” prior to moving in any direction in an attempt to field a ball put into play by Mr. Mauer 7. Ten bucks added to bi-weekly payroll every time Gardy says “…and we’ll go from there” 6. Umpires must inquire of Mr. Mauer regarding his opinion as to whether the immediately preceding pitch did indeed cross into the strike zone prior to signaling strike or ball. Said requirement is optional during play in which Mr. Mauer is neither catcher nor batter nor a game in which the Minnesota Baseball Club (nor any future Yankee Baseball Clubs for which Mr. Mauer may play) is not participating. 5. Searchlight added to top of hitting and catching helmets that projects letters “MVP” onto clouds on overcast nights 4. Bud Selig must, at his own expense, fly in and host weekly gala luncheon for all mlb catchers that have won batting titles (no descendants, please) 3. In any situation likely requiring him to slide, Nick Punto must belly-slide immediately under Mr. Mauer to reduce possibility of injury 2. Opposing players stealing second must run laterally so as never to show their back to Mr. Mauer and repeatedly bow during their attempt 1. Two words: Sideburn insurance

Be aggressive. Play with joy.

If our hitters react to the pressure and jump out, swinging at everything, we'll have a battle. If we can be patient we'll have a chance. All the expectations are on them. Someone tell Sano to expect a breaking pitch, every time....

In response to my impatient nephew during the dark days a few years ago, I simply said "2016". I was off by a year.

Mariners lost!!

I would like to see the AA names mentioned given a chance asap in order to start the process of getting the big league jitters out. Remember the debuts of Berrios, May, etc? It's a win-win. Either they get some 3rd deck experience which will help in the future-or hallelujah if they can actually help.

This game is why I don't bet on sports.

The Twins will have the leverage this time. He's comfortable playing at home and won't want to leave the wife and kids. We've got talent behind him. They won't make an embarrassing offer, but wouldn't be surprised to see a hometown discount.

What does Wheeler have to do to get a sniff?

Read somewhere that his velocity was in the 92-93 range recently. Assuming this is to get ahead and he still has some in the tank to finish guys off.