Twins 2023 Thread

mahtofire14 wrote:

Twins fans are cracking me up right now. I get that Arraez was a fan favorite and played the game the way it should be played (he was my favorite player too), but we have been begging for starting pitching for 15 years. We actually have a very respectable rotation with Lopez heading it and fans just can’t stop complaining about this trade.

I love Arraez but the guy had nowhere to play. If his average ever dips, he’s a below average player. If you put him at first, he takes a spot away from a guy that can provide more of an impact. Same story at second base and third base and he can’t stay healthy enough to play every day. This trade (while not bringing an ace back, which you would never get for Arraez) brought back a legit number two rotation piece and a very promising prospect.

I understand that in order to get something you have to give something up. So don’t necessarily hate the trade.

However for the guys that love the trade I hope their are not complaints about how they need to play small ball, beat a shift, lay down a bunt, be down by 2 in the ninth and three straight batters try and hit a solo bomb on 9 straight pitches etc etc.
His replacement had 56 total hits in 128 games and batted .160
Curious who this first baseman/DH is that will have a bigger impact. Is it the guy with a career .190 Batting average or the guy that has wrist problems for 2 years and may never play again.

Again dont necessarily hate the trade, but they did give up there most professional hitter that had a bigger impact to a lineup that really couldn’t hit all that well in the first place. So let’s not try an downgrade the player sent away like he wasn’t any good or was overrated. Let’s hope Lopez is successful for the 5 innings he will pitch every fifth day.

And no this is not directed at you Mahto just using your quote as a response.

Greenhorn wrote:

I’m not a fan of the trade at this point. People are saying there’s no where to put Arraez, but why couldn’t he have gone to 2nd? Polanco hasn’t been good at the plate for a while and his fielding, although improved from his days at SS, still leaves much to be desired. Arraez at least provided entertainment since he could actually get on base – everyone else is too strikeout prone.

Subpar defense, no mobility, and his legs cannot hold up playing a full time position.

Ripjiggen wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>mahtofire14 wrote:</div>
Twins fans are cracking me up right now. I get that Arraez was a fan favorite and played the game the way it should be played (he was my favorite player too), but we have been begging for starting pitching for 15 years. We actually have a very respectable rotation with Lopez heading it and fans just can’t stop complaining about this trade.

I love Arraez but the guy had nowhere to play. If his average ever dips, he’s a below average player. If you put him at first, he takes a spot away from a guy that can provide more of an impact. Same story at second base and third base and he can’t stay healthy enough to play every day. This trade (while not bringing an ace back, which you would never get for Arraez) brought back a legit number two rotation piece and a very promising prospect.

I understand that in order to get something you have to give something up. So don’t necessarily hate the trade.

However for the guys that love the trade I hope their are not complaints about how they need to play small ball, beat a shift, lay down a bunt, be down by 2 in the ninth and three straight batters try and hit a solo bomb on 9 straight pitches etc etc.
His replacement had 56 total hits in 128 games and batted .160
Curious who this first baseman/DH is that will have a bigger impact. Is it the guy with a career .190 Batting average or the guy that has wrist problems for 2 years and may never play again.

Again dont necessarily hate the trade, but they did give up there most professional hitter that had a bigger impact to a lineup that really couldn’t hit all that well in the first place. So let’s not try an downgrade the player sent away like he wasn’t any good or was overrated. Let’s hope Lopez is successful for the 5 innings he will pitch every fifth day.

And no this is not directed at you Mahto just using your quote as a response.

Kirilloff is currently healthy. I’m guessing he will be starting at 1B. Also, he is swing 100% pain free as of now at full power, after his procedure to correct his wrist over the offseason. Now, that being said, it may still come back. Who knows. But if he stays healthy he can be more valuable than Arraez because he can hit for average and hit more than just singles. When he was healthy last season for two months he hit over .275 and was the Twins best hitter. As for Gallo, he will hit better than he did last season. I have no doubt about that. Might not be what his career numbers are but it won’t be .190.

I’m not totally sold on it yet, but you cannot have a guy that drives in 40 runs a season and hits 3 HRs wasting a spot at first base or DH. If he could actually play second base every day he would probably still be here and Polanco would be gone. I love Arraez and have said the Twins are going to struggle to get guys on base 13 times since this trade, BUT you have to have an impact player at 1B or DH. Arraez was a one trick pony and his one trick sadly isn’t the most impactful.

Well he hit .160 last year and is a career .199 so not sure he is going to hit much better than .190 I mean he hasn’t hit above .200 since 2019. He is just a slightly less fat kid than the fat kid as Dutch would say.

I hope Kiriloff wrist is 100 percent. I am just not sure it ever will be. Hope I’m wrong.
I mean the Twins training staff isn’t exactly the gold standard in the MLB.

Like I said I don’t hate the trade but it’s not as if this team is loaded with solid MLB hitters either that they can afford to trade them away either.

Can we get a list of their 40 man roster, and how many of them have the “if he stays healthy” asterisk after their name?

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/teams/MIN/minnesota-twins/roster/

Take a peak. There are a lot with a hospital symbol or note next to there name.

BigWerm wrote:

Can we get a list of their 40 man roster, and how many of them have the “if he stays healthy” asterisk after their name?

I’d guess 84%

My bad, I was way off on Gallo. All I’ve heard from the writers was he’s only two years removed from a huge year. Didn’t realize that “huge” year literally was only 38 HR’s and nothing else. Good lord I had no idea he was THAT awful.

AND!!!! The training staff is totally new so we don’t know that they are terrible yet! HA

mahtofire14 wrote:

My bad, I was way off on Gallo. All I’ve heard from the writers was he’s only two years removed from a huge year. Didn’t realize that “huge” year literally was only 38 HR’s and nothing else. Good lord I had no idea he was THAT awful.

AND!!!! The training staff is totally new so we don’t know that they are terrible yet! HA

True!!

Yeah Gallo would be a sweet beer league softball player.

Ripjiggen wrote:

True!!

Yeah Gallo would be a sweet beer league softball player.

For sure!

Fairly insignificant move (kind of) but we now know who will play CF when Buxton gets hurt.

Traded for Michael Taylor for a couple minor league arms.

Average hitter not much power, great speed, great defense (Gold Glove winner in 21). Good backup option. Now they can really get rid of Kepler.

mahtofire14 wrote:

Fairly insignificant move (kind of) but we now know who will play CF when Buxton gets hurt.

Traded for Michael Taylor for a couple minor league arms.

Average hitter not much power, great speed, great defense (Gold Glove winner in 21). Good backup option. Now they can really get rid of Kepler.

Agree I like the deal. Wish he had more than 1 year left on his deal but we needed someone to backup Buxton. And yes maybe gives us a chance to trade Kepler but what would we even get in return? Would be good if we could get a reliver or two in return

Can try and get two propects you just traded away back and maybe hope they are an upgrade. Sisk one of the guys they traded away had a pretty good year last year. 1.57 ERA.

Ripjiggen wrote:

Can try and get two propects you just traded away back and maybe hope they are an upgrade. Sisk one of the guys they traded away had a pretty good year last year. 1.57 ERA.

Gleeman had Sisk ranked just outside his top 40 prospect list for this season and the other guy was #40. Both relievers. Also just read a post from Gleeman saying that a month ago the Royals told the Twins they wanted Josh Winder for Taylor. This is WAY less of a pricetag.

Good trade in my book. Taylor will provide much more than two minor league relievers especially with who we have starting in CF.

Oh don’t disagree. No idea who they really were was just saying one had a pretty good year last year.
And more so Kepler most likely doesn’t get you much as far as MLB caliber arms.

Ripjiggen wrote:

Oh don’t disagree. No idea who they really were was just saying one had a pretty good year last year.
And more so Kepler most likely doesn’t get you much as far as MLB caliber arms.

Most likely, but someone with a solid bullpen and a need for an everyday OF with a great glove might be willing to move a good bullpen arm.

Star Trib said he had a 1.97 era last year not 1.57. Still good either way.

I trust baseball reference over ST.

No doubt he was good last year. He’s pretty wild is about the only downfall I’ve seen listed for him. One of the last glaring needs this team had was a legit backup for when Buxton inevitably get’s hurt for a month or two or god forbid the season. I’m ok with losing a AAA pen arm for a guy with a Gold Glove that will probably play over 80 games this season.

Nelson Cruz last three years. $12 million, $13 million and $15 million. This year $1 million. Twins should have signed him for that. Would probably be better then who ever else we run out there for DH.

Pitchers and Catchers report Wednesday for Spring Training. Spring is almost here.

Now, let’s have some fun. Choose the date that the first starting pitcher to go down with an injury?

I’ll say March 3rd.

One year and 5 injuries after being the top arm in the Twins system, Jordan Balazovic was hoping to get off to a good start this spring. Well, that’s not going to happen now.

He got into a verbal altercation outside of the complex (a bar I’d assume) and left with a broken jaw that needed to be wired shut. Going to miss some time now. From the quotes from the front office and Boredelli they aren’t too thrilled with him!

Let the dumpster fire continue!

Yeah saw that. Must have lipped off to the wrong dude.

Ripjiggen wrote:

Yeah saw that. Must have lipped off to the wrong dude.

Yeah. One punch and out I’d imagine. What an idiot.

Now wishing I’d headed to Fort Myers to visit Twins training camp. Would beat being here this week.

mahtofire14 wrote:

Now, let’s have some fun. Choose the date that the first starting pitcher to go down with an injury———-Im gonna guess Meadas arm falls off 1 inning before Correas ankle does in the first game they play together.

Jeremy you really like punishment! LOL

Maeda is going to be fine. He’s probably the healthiest one out of the guys that were out with injuries last season. I think he’s going to have a solid year.

Mahle’s the one I’m worried about. They never found an answer to his shoulder fatigue last year. No reason it won’t happen again this year.

Agree on Mahle; I’ll be surprised if he’s not on the DL by June. Really wonder if we’ll see any meaningful amount of Paddack either.

I don’t think Paddock is supposed to be back before August so I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets the same treatment as Maeda last year. Maeda could’ve come back for the last month out of the pen but they kept him shut down, which I think was the right move.

Time to start the MVP run for Gallo. Hit an oppo bomb today during live BP off Maeda…..