Trov

I have no worries about offense. Spring numbers mean nothing. We have no clue what guys are working on. Even more so for guys that know they have a spot on team they may be working on identifying specific pitches, or trying to do certain things. I have seen many a player crush in spring then be off the team mid april because they strike out half the time and hit below 100.

The only manager in Twins history to win WS title had no "fire". He was about as passive as you can be as a manager. What does "fire" have to do with being a good manager? Gardy had all kinds of "fire", but I felt he was terrible manager based on his in game decisions. Sure, some guys may react well to being yelled at all the time a get a rush when their manager goes out and yells and screams making a scene. Twins right now have different approach, does not mean it is wrong.

Just about every team cut payroll this year. Twins are still in middle of league in spending. We are spending almost 70 mil more than Tampa, and Tampa is expected to be fighting for playoffs, just like us. Spending big does not mean you will win, you need to spend right. If you can find a good arm for cheaper why not do it?

Kirolloff has not played himself into the lineup, and if he starts it is because that was decided coming into spring and there never was a comp. I do not put much stock into spring numbers. I remember many Twins crushing in spring and make the team because of it only to fall flat on their face. If you only look at the numbers you may be missing many things. Like, their hits, what kind of pitches was it on? How were they being pitched too? What kind of defense was out there? So many more things to pay attention too. For example, if the person crushed fastballs over and over, but never could hit off-speed and swung at it over and over, how do you think they will fare in regular season? I am not saying Alex should get the start, I think it can easy be argued Rooker should get time out there to start season and Alex needs to force his way in, or Rooker plays his way out. Personally fine either way. Garlick is not likely. Much like Broxton, he is who he is. Garlick was brought in for injury depth and nothing more.

Relievers are always such a wildcard. Every year this are several that have great years that no one expected and others have terrible years. Only a few guys will year in and year out be able to be counted on. With current trends having strong pen across the board is important, where it used to be a couple of top guys was all you needed. That being said, I never am big on signing FA pen guys. Mainly because the difference between most FA and a guy that comes up from AAA or lower level signing normally is not enough to give up huge money on them. It is also hard to say they will always be better than what you have. Not just for Twins, but many teams will sign a guy only to have them fall out of favor when an unknown pitches better, and the cycle continues over and over.

Interesting that Topps has a card of a guy fielding when he will most likely be known for his bat.

The people that are upset about his statement are not fully listening to it. As stated, he said it bunting has its place at times. He did not say never bunt, he was pointing out the use of bunting more often than not is the issue. Of course, if a pitcher that hits sub .100 will be asked to bunt almost always when runners are on. Having a productive out is always better than a double play or strikeout. Also in late game situations where 1 run is needed there are times bunting to get a guy in scoring position and getting rid of double play can be helpful. However, with the lack of bunting ability of many players, you need to decide if asking them to bunt is worth it either. If they cannot bunt well, then you are just taking bat out of hand. As baseball has always been, everything is about situation. Bunting and base stealing, and hit and run plays have fallen way off lately because teams have decided giving away an out or risking the out is not worth the likely reward. If you knew every time you would get a run out of it, they would do it every time, but if the odds of getting the run is not increased, why do it?

If this pitch can be an out pitch for Dobnak he should get his chance as starter. He has produced for most part his whole career. His biggest issue was lack of an out pitch. Hitters hardly ever hit him hard, but they would foul off so many pitches he could not go deep into games. If he can mix this pitch in to get more swings and misses when he gets to 2 strikes he needs to get some time in rotation. I would not be surprised given that he has options that he starts at alternate site until a spot start is open, or they have him start in pen to do long relief or spot starts when open. Then I bet he shows what he can do again and gets a full time rotation spot. As long as the slider gets him outs. If Dobnak can be above average MLB pitcher, Falve needs to be mentioned as all time great pitching diamond in rough finder. I do not know how he does it, but so often he can find guys later in rounds, or independent leagues and be major league quality. I am sure he has had some swings and misses, but he seems to have a knack of finding guys no one was that high on. I wonder if he knows when to pass on guys everyone is high on and they are all wrong? That would be huge test of his ability to spot good pitching talent or not.

Throwing breaking pitches in the zone does not mean throwing hung breaking pitches in the zone. The old term, pitching backwards comes to mind. If you can throw a breaking pitch early in count for a strike hitter is more likely to take it. Then later in at bat you can throw fast ball for strike when ahead in the count, or breaking pitch out of zone for a hopeful chase. The reason sliders are in right now is they are about same speed as fastballs, but with movement. The hope is hitter cannot tell it is a slider, I know Buxton never can tell a slider away is a slider and always thinks it is a fastball. However, if you never can get them for strikes hitters will try to sit on fastballs all the time.

Rocco and front office has said for years they do not subscribe to "closer" role. Rodgers did kind of fall into that roll second half of 2019 and all of 2020, with a few exceptions of others getting spots. However, I do believe them when they say no "closer" because they know if a string of lefties are coming up in 7th or 8th that rodgers would be best to get out they would bring him in. They know to not let your best option sit on bench because it is too early in game. Of course, there will be one or two main late inning guys that will start to come in. It is not like they will go on a rotation of who pitches 9th inning, but it will be game specific each game I believe.

Puig's off field issues aside, which is likely to lead to long suspension, Puig has always been know to be a headache for managers. He may play hard, but he has been known for long time making decisions many managers are not happy with and does not take direction well. The fact that his numbers have been falling since his early years also adds to teams not willing to pick him up. He plays corner OF spot with slightly above average power, but has a ton of headaches on and off field. I can see why no teams are willing to take a waiver on right now.

I have high hopes too, but we have had a hitter with power and average the last 2 years. His name is Nelson Cruz. Yes, a few of our guys have been all power no average or higher average no power, but Cruz has been both the last 2 years. Your comment makes it seem like we have not had any high power and average guys at all.

The fact that Castillo has 3 years of control means the Reds have the leverage in any trade. They are not forced to make a deal or risk losing for draft pick, that will be the comp when he is FA. Either way they have at least this full year and next year until trade deadline to make a deal. The deal proposed here I would hate if I was a reds fan. Your best asset and you get back a SS that was shifted to 2b because of his lack of defense at SS, and a draft pick and low level prospect. I would not stomach that as a reds fan. I am not a follower of the reds farm system, and do not know when they think their window will be, but this deal offered would seem to move the needle for reds. The reds will sit and wait until this trade deadline and see which teams will pony up bigger prospects moving forward. Their only risk is Castillo injury or poor pitching.

Twins talked in news story other day they are contacting season tickholders first to see if they want to get tickets, and they will get first picks. I assume the higher ticket plans will get first options, and as people opt in or out, they will move on down the list. Many season ticket holders will not get their normal seats to start for social distancing requirements. What I am wondering is the 25% based on how social distance seating needs to work, or based on risk level of having 10K people all in one place? Meaning, as season moves on will it go to 30%, 40%, and so on, or will it just go to full open? My guess it will be slow increase and as long as numbers in the state stay stead or decrease more fans will be allowed. Really in the past couple weeks we have made huge strides to getting back to some level of normal, only 1 year later.

Agree with comments on Lewis, how are guys that are barely in top 20 Twins prospect list above someone who is top 2 on every list? I get it is specific to hit tool, but how can you be top 2 on a team, 17th overall by MLB top 100 not even in top 5? Where did you find these projections? I see MLB list has Lewis at a 60 hit tool, which is tied with Kirilloff and ahead of the rest.

Kiriloff swing looks so nice. I have high hopes for him. When I read the Buxton story to my wife her response was, "keep him in a bubble" I mean the man misses time for so many reasons. He cannot even eat food without risk of missing games. I hope it is only injury he has this year, but sadly I do not think it will be.

I get LF and RF are different positions, but at Target Field, RF is harder to play I think than left. It has much harder angles and harder surfaces to allow ball to bounce differently. I do not know if Kirilloff lacks range and that is why been in RF, or because his arm was better suited for RF. Either way I would not expect there will be much fall off defense wise with him in LF over RF.

Personally, I do not think Broxton breaks with team. He is hitting hot, but he has 5 years of mostly backup. I would not put much stock in him doing a whole lot over a regular season.

I sure am looking forward to Big Mike pitching a full year. I believe we have one of the best 3 man rotations of anyone, when healthy and pitching to full potential. Anyone of of Berrios, Maeda, and Pineda can shut down a line up. Berrios has always been the most polarizing, Maeda has not had the chance until last year, and Pineda has never been all the healthy. If we can win division I would be very happy if all three are healthy ready to go. We just need them to pitch more than 5 innings and not have our offense fall asleep like last year.

Velo is not everything. It can help, but hitting spots and movement will always be best way to get guys out. Mixing up locations and pitches. MLB hitters can hit 99 or 100 if it is always straight. I cannot that is for sure, but MLB level guys can.

Personally I like Arraez at leadoff, but understand why Twins have gone the non-traditional approach. What I like about Arraez at leadoff is he normally gives you good long at-bats without giving away anything. He gets on base at high clip. He does lack speed, but we never steal anyways. The Kepler option gives you good chance for extra base hit, but he also loves to attack first pitches, which is not traditionally what one wants for leadoff guys. However, times are a changing and the Twins love to buck the traditional roles with this FO and manager.

I think Simmons is low risk pickup. If needed Polonco and slide back, or put in Gordon. He helps add depth and if he is shell of former self we are not tied to him for years. If he has bounce back year we could look to extend or move on as well.

I personally was not surprised by Odo deal and taking so long. I agree with fact that market thinned out which should have helped. However, with teams still wondering about COVID revenue and CBA for a guy like Odo is a risk. Odo has put up decent numbers over his career and at stretches was a top guy. However, he also will never be a top guy in a rotation. He throws too many pitches to go much more than 5 innings most games. Meaning even if he makes 32 to 33 starts he will still only pitch about 165 innings. He has been healthy most of his career, but he is turning 31 this year, and really that is the time that pitchers need to make changes in their game. Will he stay healthy, and will he make the changes needed to adjust for change in velocity that will happen as he ages? I hope he can pitch well, but combo of his lack of innings and age are a big reason in my mind he did not get to cash in. I think teams have decided spending top free agent money for non-top guys simply because market is thin is not good way to spend. Next year will have a lot of top free agent guys next year, and many teams would not want to spend big on a middle rotation guy.

I would not say any need to be traded this year. If the right deal comes along they would be dealing from a position of depth, but just because you have depth does not mean you need to sell it for less than you deserve. I do agree we have too many top prospects all playing similar role. Power bats with limited defense. Specifically Rooker, Sabato, and Wallner. Kirolloff and Larnach are not know for defense but I have not read they are terrible either. I am big on defense and unless you are super elite on offense to make up for lack of defense I find it hurts teams even more. OF defense is so hard to judge by the eye, but doing much better with systems gaging OF defense.

How does having a 6 man rotation help Happ get ready? It makes little sense to me. So he pitches every 6th day, but that does not get him ready any faster. Not sure if they can have him start at alternate site getting pitches in to stretch out. If not, then stick with 5 man and be ready for a long pen game when he pitches first time or two. I mean if he can only throw 50 to 60 pitches his first time out, how does having a 6th starter help?