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Darius

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Everything posted by Darius

  1. Darius
    I get that preaching patience seems like the “enlightened” opinion to have, but the Twins don’t have the luxury of being patient, IMO. We’ve already basically given away the division (I don’t think there’s much of a shot to outlast Cleveland unless we take 4-5 of the 6 remaining games). Tampa is right on our heals (2 games) and Oakland isn’t that far behind Tampa. There is a real possibility that this team misses the playoffs. You still want to put yourself in the best position. This is no time to be patient. We’ve already seen where patience can get you. This team needs to be concerned with one thing, winning every single game possible from here until year-end. If you think Cron provides the team the best chance to win every game, more power to you. I do not, especially when Cruz comes back. I’d take Sano at 3B, Garver at 1B, Castro at C every time. People are bringing up defense? Doesn’t Cron lead the MLB in dropped balls at first base? Last point, unless you are just looking for a cheap contract to keep payroll down (which I’m sure the Twins are), Cron isn’t coming back next year anyway. There is no upside to keeping him in the lineup if he’s not producing today.
  2. Darius
    This team could really use an extended hot streak by Marwin. He’s seems to be dialed in right now.
  3. Darius
    It’s reassuring in a way to see that Polanco had only 4 fielding errors, which is manageable. I feel like a throwing issue is more likely to be corrected than an issue fielding the ball. The coordination it takes, aka “hands,” seems like something closer to inherent than learned.
  4. Darius
    My only issue is that I would never hit Castro anywhere but 7th-9th, matter who is on the mound. But, this is just a personal preference thing. I think lineup construction as a concept is overrated in terms of its importance. I think you should just get your best hitters the most ABs. My go-to lineups would be: RHP: Arraez (2B), Polanco (SS), Kepler (CF), Garver (DH), Rosario (LF), Sano (1B), Gonzalez (RF), Castro ©, Adrianza (3B) LHP: Arraez (3B), Garver ©, Sano (DH), Gonzalez (RF), Kepler (CF), Polanco (SS), Rosario (LF), Cron (1B), Schoop (2B). I would transition Sano to a full time 1B/DH and not bring back Cron next year. Cron has been awful, so just start the transition. Sano should be in a prominent lineup position against LHP. Maybe even every game (he’s arguably been the team’s best hitter for some time now - not counting Cruz). Arraez should be at the top of lineup. Adrianza is OPSing .930 vs LHP. He needs to player against every single LHP. Schoop only gets ABs against LHP because Buxton and Cruz are out. If even one was back Arraez would at 2B full time, Sano back to to 3B/DH/Marwin to 3B. Cruz to DH/Buxton to CF.
  5. Darius
    Very frustrated at this point. People can come up with whatever excuse they want. The bottom line is that awful decisions by front office/management personnel are going to cost this team dearly. They may even miss the playoffs because of it. Falvine has shown their evaluation skills aren’t as great as everyone seems to think. They misjudged their own team coming into the year. If they couldn’t see what they had and supplement it appropriately, that’s on them. That’s the ine thing they were hired to do....and there is two of them doing the job one does in many organizations. Inexcusable. The coaching staff in management is clueless. That’s becoming apparent. Baldelli’s in game moves are baffling at times. You can point to several decisions he’s made in recent weeks that were very costly. His refusal to hold anyone accountable (at least openly) is ridiculous. Why is so hard for anyone in the organization to admit Diaz made a boneheaded move by sending Adrianza? Do they think they’re fooling anyone? You don’t have to tar and feather anyone, but show some modicum of honesty and respect for the intelligence of your fanbase. This is not on the players. They are what they are. The rotation and bullpen even overachieved during the first half. The facts are that many of the players keeping this team afloat were already developed by the previous regime (exception is Cruz). Cron and Schoop at now killing this team. Their major bullpen acquisitions at the deadline have blown 3+ games since being acquired. This goes back to Morrison, Lynn, etc. It’s becomming more and more clear everyday that these guys don’t know what they’re doing. They hide behind their Excel spreadsheets, but don’t know what they’re looking at in real time. It’s getting to the point where I’d they miss the playoffs this year, I’d strongly consider a change. This has been one of the biggest botch-jobs by a front office that I can ever remember. Effectively, the incompetence stole a very special season away from this fan base, who has funded the stadium, filled the stadium, and shown a massive outpouring of support. It long running incompetence/small market self-fulfilling prophecy ingrained in the DNA of this organization has gone too far.
  6. Darius
    Not really concerned about whether or not Gratrol is up in September or not. It’s looking like we may be the second wildcard by that point. As a fan, I’m a little miffed about it. This Graterol “plan” is just insulting. It’ll just be pointed to in the press conferences after the season as evidence of going all-in. They should’ve made some real moves while they had the chance (namely, during the off-season). Additionally, the way the Twins entire pitching staff is going/has gone down in flames, do we really want our top pitching prospect in that atmosphere working with those coaches? Is here anyone left who thinks the major league staff is highly competent (relative to other playoff clubs)?
  7. Darius
    Huge win. Still not overly encouraged about this team going forward. But, I’ll take it. This pitching staff is just awful. Even after a win I should be happy about, it’s hard to be optimistic knowing the state we’re in pitching-wise. It feels like a dead team walking right now.
  8. Darius
    If it were me, I’d give to Yordan Alvarez right now. Lowe has been good as well. Due to volume, I’m sure he’s get the nod over Arraez. I think Arraez has been the more impressive player offensively, but the national perception around Lowe is probably favorable. Vlad Jr. shouldn’t have a shot, be he does (see doesn’t make sense above). Conclusion: I think Arraez is currently sitting behind 3 guys. Unless he continues to hit .350, and all others in the list slump big time, I don’t think he has a shot. Alvarez will, and should, run away with it.
  9. Darius
    This is what’s so frustrating with being a fan of a cheapskate small-market club (and, yes, they could spend much, much more and be just fine financially). The wait and see approach with the roster every year. Instead of locking down solid bullpen/rostation peices, they threw things at the wall. The front office should never live down that they basically flushed a legit World Series contender this year with poor planning and inaction. When we get to end of the year, and we’re 3-4 out of the division, there will be dozens of losses you can point to. This isn’t hindsight. I’m sure there is a record of me trumpeting this back in May. This thing is over. Baledelli saying “the fight is still there,” says it all. The fact that he has to even say that gives away his confidence level.
  10. Darius
    I just don’t the enfatuation with Baldelli anymore. The guy just isn’t a very good manager. What happened to his coaching staff? Where is the Wes Johnson we were getting ready to build a statue for outside of Target field? Nobody is throwing the ball effectively on this team. His 3B coach has one job to do, and he apparently can’t do it. It’s time for Baldelli to stop getting the “yeah, but” from everyone and start taking some criticism. His gross mishandling of numerous situations in recent weeks has cost the Twins big time. I’m not far off from calling to give me Molitor back. Monitor wasn’t a great bullpen handler either, but at lest he displayed a modicum of aptitude for situational baseball from time to time. Baldelli, literally, botches nearly every decision in tight games. He looked like a genius when we were winning 12-3 every night, as anybody should. That call to send the Adrianza from third in that game, in that situation, is fireable. It wasn’t even close. We’re always logging player WPA. What was the difference there between making that absolute bone-headed decision and taking 2nd and 3rd with 1 out and a reeling Brad Hand. The division is over. We stand no chance against the Tribe the rest of the way. I could care less about a damn wildcard spot. This team can’t take care of business when it needs to, management can’t make the appropriate moves in game when it needs to, the FO can’t apparently can’t adequately assess a situation and get even respectable pitching to complement an all-world offense. We can’t even catch a break when we need one (two best players are injure during the biggest stretch of the season - cast-off Aaron Hicks stealing games st Target Field, seemingly every jettisoned relived in the last 5 years is lights out while we hung onto the garbage). Just another year of being a Twins fan. Another gut punch. I honestly can’t decide, would I rather have a season like this one go down in flames in epic fashion, or have an average team from the jump without the buildup? Well, I can tell you I would’ve invested much less time and money, so I’m leaning with the matter at this point. I’m sickened by this team right now. On to the Vikings to go through the same thing in a few months.
  11. Darius
    Agreed. It was a gutsy performance when we desperately needed a good start. But, I read somewhere that he left a runner in scoring position in every inning he pitched. The results were there tonight, but it definitely doesn’t inspire a sense of security going forward.
  12. Darius
    That might be the biggest win of the year. Splitting this series today would be incredible. I feel like we’re due for one of those classic 5 bomba/11 run games.
  13. Darius
    I can see him coming handy as a long-man in the playoffs. If a starter gets pounded early, he could come in for a few and bridge the gap the Duffey/May-Romo-Rogers. That Atlanta series was a great example. This team will score eventually. You’re not out of a game being down 4-5 runs. But, too often those game are punted and the starter is thrown to the wolves, guys get pulled, moves that should happen don’t (pinch hitting Arraez for Schoop with runners on 2nd and 3rd). Throw a guy like Graterol at them for 3-4 innings and you may just get back into the game.
  14. Darius
    The pitching is very concerning right now. The offense scored more than enough to win or even sweep that series. Really discouraging considering the offenses we’ll potentially face in the playoffs. The up coming Cleveland series could be disasterous. If we continue to pitch like this we’ll be 2 games back at the end of this series.
  15. Darius
    I don’t think is bizarre at all. First reason: Adrianza isn’t a first baseman. He shouldn’t be there. If Cave booted a ball at third base people wouldn’t care as much (they’d more wonder why he was there - similar to my reaction to Adrianza playing first so much). When an outfielder, who has always been an outfielder, is misplaying balls - it’s a bigger issue than a shortstop botching a scoop at first. It’s a matter of expectation/proficiency at your normal position. Second reason: This isn’t the first time Cave has botched a play in a massive situation within a massive game. He botched a play against the Yankees that was a major factor in losing the 8-2 game and the series. It’s not that people don’t like Cave and like Adrianza (only can speak for myself), it’s that he’s having a much larger detrimental impact on the club than Adrianza. Adrianza has contributed all year. He’s produced offensively, he’s played multiple positions, he’s pinch ran, etc. Cave hasn’t produced in any facet of the game. He’s just not helping. It goes beyond looking at each play in a vacuum.
  16. Darius
    Still a lot of back/handed complements regarding Sano (“better than watching him strike out”....etc.) I’m not sure when people are going to realize his changes are for real. His emergence is arguably the key reason the Twins are still ahead of Indians right now. That’s his second monster clutch home run that I recall this year (the should be winner against the Yankees the other). I feel great when he comes up in situations like that. It’s a shame that more fans aren’t appreciating he good of a player he actually is. That win last night was massive.
  17. Darius
    I’m not saying that I’m saying no to Kirilloff or Larnach. The front office will certainly say no to Kirilloff or Larnach (especially as a regular player until Buxton gets back). I’d bet anything I own on that. They’d not only be rushing them along (Kirilloff certainly isn’t ready), but they’d have to jettison someone like Poppen, Thorpe, Diplan, Eades, Gonsalves, Romero from the 40-man and put Kirilloff or Larnach on, which I don’t see happening (not a big deal with De Aza who they can just designate if need be).
  18. Darius
    I vehemently disagree with this take. I hate all of this reactionary stuff going around the media right now. You do not tell Byron Buxton to quit playing hard. Once he starts thinking out there, things go wrong (see Cave, Jake). Also, his defense is what makes him great. Take away those great catches and what are you left with? An average outfielder? How many of his injuries have actually happened as a result of contact with the wall (everyone seems to focus on that)? He’s fouled a ball of his foot and gotten hit by a pitch, should we tell him to stand at the outside edge of the batters box and stop swinging the bat? How many Twins players have hit the IL this year? CJ Cron stands at first base and hit the IL. Nelson Cruz doesn’t play defense at all and hit the IL. Eddie Rosario for rolling his ankle. Mitch Garver for getting ran into at home plate. Injuries happen for a number of reasons. Some players are injury prone - wall or no wall. It’s an instinctual thing that you can’t control....and there should be no attempt to control it. Let him play baseball the way he currently plays, that’s what makes him great. Nearly all of his injuries have been flukes that have nothing to do with crashing into a wall. Part of me wants to see him cut back for a few games. I don’t think he should, I just want to see the same reactionary people crying “stop trying so hard,” start flipping out in the other direction. There will be the time when he lets a ball land on the warning track or in front of him that costs the Twins a game. I highly doubt the same media and fan board folks will say, “good, I didn’t want him to get hurt, who cares about that game.” Especially if we lose the division by a game or it costs a game at Yankee Stadium in the playoffs.
  19. Darius
    Let’s be realistic here. Larnach and/or Kirilloff aren’t coming to play for the Twins this year. Probably not even in September. That said, there has to be another option. Cave is killing this team when he’s forced into action. He arguably cost the Twins the Yankees series with shoddy defense. The guy can’t hit major league pitching right now. It appears to be a confidence/mental issue, we’ve seen him perform in the past, and he rakes at AAA. But, it’s a big issue right now. So, what are the options? IMO, I would look to Alejandro De Aza and his 1.000+ OPS at AAA right now. He has a substantial MLB track record. Can Brent Rooker or Zander Wiel adequately play RF? It would be great to Rooker some ABs and have him ready to be a bench bat come September/October. These are really the only options at this time with Raley and Wade injured. But, I would definitely give those guys a shot until Cave can get his head straight. You just can’t continue to let him flail around out there in the hopes he’ll figure it out when we’re battling for the division/home-field.
  20. Darius
    Agreed. No chance Pineda is coming out of the rotation. As we speak they’re resting him for the playoffs (He’s not really unable to pitch due to some injury). He’s our best pitcher behind Berrios. Perez should definitely be relegated to the pen. Performance aside, we could use the extra lefty. But, let’s let it play out. We’ve seen this repeatedly. A guy comes up and looks great for 3, 4, 5 starts until he’s figured out. Just watching Smeltzer pitch, I get the feeling that it’s coming (could be wrong).
  21. Darius
    IMO, there isn’t a better baseball uniform out there than the one in the picture. The baby blue Twins throwbacks are tough to beat, but there isn’t a comparable to those Braves throw-backs.
  22. Darius
    Cruz is absolutely hammering the ball right now. He probably should’ve had another 3 HR night last night. He almost certainly does in a lot of ballparks. Find me a hitter that’s more fun to watch than Nelson Cruz at his best. There aren’t many walking the planet that can hit lasers like that (his teammates Sano and Rosario when at their best could be in that conversation, actually). He’s putting together one of the best individual offensive seasons in team history right now. He’s not far off of the best single season OPS, OPS+, etc in Twins history.
  23. Darius
    Big missed opportunity last night with Cleveland losing. Also, could’ve picked up 1/2 on the Yankees. Bummer.
  24. Darius
    Are you just talking the metro areas? Because the Twins draw fans from 3 other states (the dakotas and Iowa). The Astros have another MLB team down the road in the same state. I don’t think the size of the market has anything to do with it. They’ve just been a much better team and have marketable players (Verlander, Cole, Springer, Altuve, Correa, etc).
  25. Darius
    I would’ve like to see another decent middle reliever, but I’m thrilled with this move. I think it puts the Twins bullpen in a decent spot without losing a high-end prospect (although Teng could be). I think if anyone a week ago would’ve said we’d get Dyson and Romo without losing a single top 10 prospect (hardly even a top 20), people would’ve been thrilled.
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