Twodogs

I wonder if his spin rate has anything to do with pine tar like Bauer was saying?? Hope not, because I'm sure everyone will be under a ton of scrutiny this year.

IDK, Dozier didn't do that bad realistically. So he hit 20 homeruns last year. But he only got 400 AB's. With the Twins he regularly got 600 AB's because he hit leadoff. So translate last year into 600 AB's and he hits 30 HRs which sounds like a great season? So it just comes down to PT, the more of it you get, often the better your season looks. Hope he does well where ever he ends up.

Or somehow he has to figure out how to take glancing blows off the walls instead of direct hits? I mean Jackie Bradley and Kevin Kiermeier seem to run into the walls a lot but they seem to stay healthy?? So maybe they hit the walls differently than Byron?? IDK, I guess I'm grasping for something because the high flying defense is definitely a part of his game, so how to accomplish that and still stay healthy is the objective I would think?

He was producing at a pretty high level last year before injuries de-railed him. So yeah, I think health is the main issue. Stay healthy he gives himself a chance to be really productive.

Let's go Twins!

True, however, for Boston to basically agree in principle to the deal and then all of the sudden realize, "oh dang, he has had some arm issues?" Then all of the sudden say oh he is damaged goods and then want more pieces on top of Brusdar, (so they still wanted him), just shows how incompetent their new front office is. You and I both already knew about Brusdar's injury history and we aren't making a living doing this. How the hell did they not know?? I call BS

I don't know about changing the playoffs, but I do like adding two more teams to make it 32. I mean when you look back in time, not that far ago and teams didnt have Hal of their rosters from foreign countries. Now I have no problem with this, but I do think that because of it there is a glut of talent out there. I mean imagine how many good football players would be sitting around not able to play if 30 to 40 percent of the football players out there were from foreign countries?? I think Montreal really really wants a team back and I think Vegas would be another great fit?? I mean they have the NFL and the NHL now why not take advantage and move in while it's hot??

Thanks

Hey guys I just have a dumb question. I have never been to Twins Spring Training, but this year I am taking my family out there for 5 days. My question is; can fans go and watch practice? Like on days when the Twins don't play or are on the road, etc.... I know, and it was a while ago, probably like 15 years ago or more, but my parents lived in Arizona during the winter and I'd come over from Cali to visit. While doing so I could go and watch the Cubs during Spring training and watch practice and stuff. So I was just wondering if I could do the same with the Twins during Spring Training? Thanks, I'm sure some of you guys have been there before that is why I am asking. again thanks

Well he wont be throwing them next year for the Twins because the Twins have Hill only signed through this year. So I am guessing that the Twins are banking on Hill throwing some innings for them this year?

I was hoping that Minnesota would be forced to keep Grateral, I had imagined him as a bullpen piece this year that they could have used as an opener for about 5 times maybe in July when guys like Hill were getting close to coming off the disabled list, maybe he could throw 2 or 3 innings just to get used to going out and starting all while building up those innings with the big club. Then by next year he could have maybe started and went 5 innings about 10 times while the rest of the time he was in the bullpen and by 2022 he'd probably have been our #2 working on his way to becoming our #1. By then probably throwing 97 - 99 instead of 101, but probably much more consistent by then. However, now the Twins have a guy who will probably start 25 games this year and finish up in September and October and a very decent Bullpen option during the playoffs. And more than likely Maeda won't break down as he has shown the ability to pitch all season for awhile now. So Maeda will have immediate benefits, whereas I was hoping Grateral would be a future stud.

So who's going to end up in the bullpen when both Pineda and Hill are back? I realize that won't probably be until late July or early August with Hill, but I mean it's probably going to happen at some point in time this year?

Has the trade been finalized yet?

Grateral helps the Twins future and Maeda helps the Twins now. So I see why the move has been made. I'm not happy, but I think it will work out for the Twins.

Bartolo Colon CC Sabathia

I have a theory about some of the old guys and how they pitched. Even remember Brad Radke, remember if a team was going to get to him they'd usually have to do it early in the game because once he settled in he became very tough. My thought process on this is that many of those top pitcher of all time were often tougher late in the game as opposed to early. I think many of them pitched straight forward for the first couple of innings, meaning they wouldn't show all of their stuff. Once they got into the 6 - 7 inning then their nasty off speed and sliders etc... Would show up. So I think many of them would just bring it for the first inning or two and then they would bring on their junk later. Now it seems like these guys are Max effort from the get go and they use all of their pitches so the 2nd time through the hitter have seen everything they have?? JMO

I think Odo gets pulled most of the time because he has thrown like a 100 pitches already before he gets out of the 5th inning. I don't think he'd get pulled as my if it took him 7 innings to get to 100 pitches?

I'm pretty sure every single twins player knew about the Astros sign stealing. I'm sure Marwin told everyone about it from the get go. I mean they play Houston. "Yeah Verlander likes to go off-speed in this count; oh and by the way, when I was in Houston they used to bang a trash can when the off speed was coming also.". I mean these players wouldnt hide any secrets if it helped his new team, beat his old team that decided not to re-sign him!!! Come on just because we found out now, doesn't mean that the players across the league just found out.

Especially considering the fact that Hill, Bailey and Odorizzi are all potentially gone at the end of this season, and the twins will not know anymore of whether Grateral will be able to start since they will be using him in the Bullpen this year. I'd say it would be a great find to get Walker in here and then mid summer sign him to a reasonable 2 year extension? That will not only bring depth to the rotation this year, but potentially lock down a spot for the following year.

However, even if you don't bunt much or steal bases, Arraez still had an on base of almost .400? So he gets on 40% of the time, then 40% of the time the starting pitcher now has to move to the stretch, a little bigger hole opens up on the 1B side, or the opposing team has to play a severe shift, now the pitcher is trying to be more careful to the next hitter up, etc.... As long as Arraez keeps getting on base at a high clip keep him in the lead off spot. Arraez high on base Donaldson power high on base Polanco switch hitter good onbase Cruz power, hit .300 Kepler decent power on on base Sano mashes clears the bases Rosario well rounded impatient Garver huge power #'s, only like 110 - 120 games or so Buxton best # 9 hitter in the league.

I really like the possibility of a Walker bonce back! I think anyway the Twins could get him would be good for the depth of the team.

But the Mets did use Ryan in the bullpen. He pitched 130, 90, 130, and 150 innings with the Mets. He didn't exclusively become a starter until he ended up in California with the Angels his first year he threw like 280 innings. So yeah the Mets long term plan for Ryan was probably as a starter, but they broke him in slow.

I agree, many have written Romero off, but there are an awful lot of pitchers out there that have had struggles and then all of the sudden figure it out. It would be nice to have a dude who throws 97 figure it out. I don't like the idea of automatically putting Grateral in the bullpen, my hope is that the long term plan is to have him remain a starter. But it could be the long term plan, I know they started with Johan in the bullpen and worked him into the rotation eventually. Here's to hoping Grateral becomes the next Johan Santana.

Without Astrudillo, Everytime Avila catches Garver will have to ride the pine. Can't really DH your only backup catcher. I'm pretty sure Cave is the best option for the 25th man and Astrudillo should be the 26th man by about May. I'd say early in the year to go with the 26th man in the BP. Then as the starting pitching gets more reps, to drop the extra bullpen arm and bring in Astrudillo.

Now that they should have a grip on the sign stealing, a lot of pitchers "could" look a lot different come playoff time??