Thursday, May 19, 2011
Bullpen shaping up
After a tortuous start to the season, the bullpen might finally be taking appropriate shape. I still think two additions are necessary (Chuck James and Carlos Gutierrez/Anthony Slama), but I like how things look with Slowey, Perkins, Capps, and yes, Nathan.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
On the Farm: Beloit
BATTING:
My number 21 prospect, Danny Ortiz, is having a great start to the season. He alone could make Aaron Hicks expendable.
He is 38-107, with 7 HR, 22 RBI, 7 BB, 16K, 2-5 SB-SBA, and a .355/.397/.673 line. He has played significant time at all three outfield positions. He's 21.4 years old. Fort Myers is just over the horizon this year.
No. 10 Oswaldo Arcia was just recently placed on the disabled list. His numbers are even better than Ortiz's. He is 25-71 with 5 HR, 18 RBI, 9 BB, 16 K, 2-4 SBA, and a .352/.420/.704 line. He has merely picked up where he left off in ELZ last year. Hopefully he will be back at it soon. He just turned 20 on May 9th.
His replacement out of extended spring training is no. 27 Nate Roberts. And . . . he's 12-34 with a .353/.511/.412. Less power, but more discipline. He's 22.2 and has mostly played left field. This is an impressive OF in Beloit. I see no reason for *all* of these three to not be up at Fort Myers in the middle of the season.
Another player to watch: Jamaal Hawkins. Hitting ok, but is 7-7 in stolen base attempts. .811 OPS . SS. 22.5 years old.
PITCHING:
Adrian Salcedo is no. 12 on my list and he has not disappointed this year. 31-7 K-BB ratio in 36 innings. 2.50 ERA. Just turned 20 April 24th.
Soliman (16) Hermsen (18), Garcia (37), Lobanov (43), Tonkin (47), and Darnell (48) all have some work to do.
Two more pitchers to watch: Blayne Weller and Matthew Hauser.
My number 21 prospect, Danny Ortiz, is having a great start to the season. He alone could make Aaron Hicks expendable.
He is 38-107, with 7 HR, 22 RBI, 7 BB, 16K, 2-5 SB-SBA, and a .355/.397/.673 line. He has played significant time at all three outfield positions. He's 21.4 years old. Fort Myers is just over the horizon this year.
No. 10 Oswaldo Arcia was just recently placed on the disabled list. His numbers are even better than Ortiz's. He is 25-71 with 5 HR, 18 RBI, 9 BB, 16 K, 2-4 SBA, and a .352/.420/.704 line. He has merely picked up where he left off in ELZ last year. Hopefully he will be back at it soon. He just turned 20 on May 9th.
His replacement out of extended spring training is no. 27 Nate Roberts. And . . . he's 12-34 with a .353/.511/.412. Less power, but more discipline. He's 22.2 and has mostly played left field. This is an impressive OF in Beloit. I see no reason for *all* of these three to not be up at Fort Myers in the middle of the season.
Another player to watch: Jamaal Hawkins. Hitting ok, but is 7-7 in stolen base attempts. .811 OPS . SS. 22.5 years old.
PITCHING:
Adrian Salcedo is no. 12 on my list and he has not disappointed this year. 31-7 K-BB ratio in 36 innings. 2.50 ERA. Just turned 20 April 24th.
Soliman (16) Hermsen (18), Garcia (37), Lobanov (43), Tonkin (47), and Darnell (48) all have some work to do.
Two more pitchers to watch: Blayne Weller and Matthew Hauser.
The Twins are terrible
And the health issue is still going to be a major problem for the next few weeks as only Young and Thome will be back before June (Repko doesn't count--Jason Repko is terrible).
I usually don't panic, but I do think it is time to work a trade to bring in somebody. Far and away the most obvious player is Jose Reyes. The Mets need starting pitching and outfield depth. Maybe they need some middle relievers. The Twins are deep in those areas, especially the OF. If the Twins could get away with keeping Hicks and Gibson out of this, I would endorse trading almost any combination of players for Reyes. I would imagine that this would mean some combination of Duensing/Perkins, Revere/Tosoni, Slowey/Baker or, if the Mets were willing to wait a few years, Morales/Arcia and Wimmers/Salcedo.
I usually don't panic, but I do think it is time to work a trade to bring in somebody. Far and away the most obvious player is Jose Reyes. The Mets need starting pitching and outfield depth. Maybe they need some middle relievers. The Twins are deep in those areas, especially the OF. If the Twins could get away with keeping Hicks and Gibson out of this, I would endorse trading almost any combination of players for Reyes. I would imagine that this would mean some combination of Duensing/Perkins, Revere/Tosoni, Slowey/Baker or, if the Mets were willing to wait a few years, Morales/Arcia and Wimmers/Salcedo.
Ron Gardenhire's managerial numbskullery
On base percentage is an important statistic in baseball. One's batting order should--all things being equal--be constructed so that you stack those players who get on base the most at the top of your lineup and work down. There is a very, extremely, wildly, blatantly clear reason for this--the higher in the batting order one is, the more plate appearances one sees.
Ron Gardenhire has always been incapable of realizing this very simple fact, but he has taken it to new proportions this year. Matt Tolbert started and batted second in the lineup AGAIN last night. If I owned the Twins, I would make sure that someone chewed Gardenhire out for this kind of garbage managing. Jason Kubel should be batting second, or if one wants a little bit more a traditional feel to it, Danny Valencia could be inserted there. It doesn't really matter to me as long at that player has a .300+ OBP. That's desperate . . . but Matt Tolbert's OBP is at .183. That works out to getting on base once per 11-12 innings (when batting second).
Joe Mauer should have been the guy batting second for the past five seasons. He is the prototypical 2-man.
A few years from now, Aaron Hicks should be in that role. Hopefully Gardenhire won't be around to mess that up then.
Ron Gardenhire has always been incapable of realizing this very simple fact, but he has taken it to new proportions this year. Matt Tolbert started and batted second in the lineup AGAIN last night. If I owned the Twins, I would make sure that someone chewed Gardenhire out for this kind of garbage managing. Jason Kubel should be batting second, or if one wants a little bit more a traditional feel to it, Danny Valencia could be inserted there. It doesn't really matter to me as long at that player has a .300+ OBP. That's desperate . . . but Matt Tolbert's OBP is at .183. That works out to getting on base once per 11-12 innings (when batting second).
Joe Mauer should have been the guy batting second for the past five seasons. He is the prototypical 2-man.
A few years from now, Aaron Hicks should be in that role. Hopefully Gardenhire won't be around to mess that up then.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
In the 8th inning
Bottom of the 8th, White Sox just narrowed the lead to 3-2.
Nick Blackburn gave the Twins a good start today as the starting pitching seems to be coming around. Pavano needs to grow the mustache, or something.
Capps cleans up a slight mess from Perkins.
Ben Revere was called up from Rochester. Maybe one of these games before Young comes back we will see a Revere-Span-Tosoni outfield. It could be a preview for opening day 2012.
Nick Blackburn gave the Twins a good start today as the starting pitching seems to be coming around. Pavano needs to grow the mustache, or something.
Capps cleans up a slight mess from Perkins.
Ben Revere was called up from Rochester. Maybe one of these games before Young comes back we will see a Revere-Span-Tosoni outfield. It could be a preview for opening day 2012.
The Turning Point
Francisco Liriano's no-hitter last night will be the turning point for the Twins this season. I do not mean this as a mere dramatic claim to overhype the meaning of the performance--I really see this as the jumpstart the Twins (and Liriano himself) need to finally play like a major league baseball team.
Jim Thome was placed on the disabled list (don't be surprised if he doesn't get no. 600 this year) and Trevor Plouffe was recalled from Rochester. Plouffe has hit 6 homers and driven in 13 runs so far this year. The addition provides infield depth that is very needed.
Apparently, Jason Repko is also likely to head to the DL. Repko is not a major leaguer and it is ridiculous to use a roster spot on him. Ben Revere could be called up. After starting the season poorly, he has gone on a tear the last 6 games, going 14 for 25 with 3 steals). I would like to see Revere and Tosoni on the Twins next season (if neither one could be involved in a trade for a Jose Reyes or a 1-2 pitcher).
Hopefully Mauer returns soon . . .
Jim Thome was placed on the disabled list (don't be surprised if he doesn't get no. 600 this year) and Trevor Plouffe was recalled from Rochester. Plouffe has hit 6 homers and driven in 13 runs so far this year. The addition provides infield depth that is very needed.
Apparently, Jason Repko is also likely to head to the DL. Repko is not a major leaguer and it is ridiculous to use a roster spot on him. Ben Revere could be called up. After starting the season poorly, he has gone on a tear the last 6 games, going 14 for 25 with 3 steals). I would like to see Revere and Tosoni on the Twins next season (if neither one could be involved in a trade for a Jose Reyes or a 1-2 pitcher).
Hopefully Mauer returns soon . . .
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