Comments on: The bullpen, the offense and you http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/sinker/2009/07/01/the-bullpen-the-offense-and-you/ An expert fan's perspective on what's happening on and off the field Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:39:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Shaun http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/sinker/2009/07/01/the-bullpen-the-offense-and-you/#comment-34624 Shaun Sat, 11 Jul 2009 21:25:24 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/sinker/2009/07/01/the-bullpen-the-offense-and-you/#comment-34624 M&M boys: http://www.jocklife.com/sites/default/files/images/mm_ad.jpg M&M boys:

http://www.jocklife.com/sites/default/files/images/mm_ad.jpg

]]> By: Bryz http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/sinker/2009/07/01/the-bullpen-the-offense-and-you/#comment-34369 Bryz Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:43:00 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/sinker/2009/07/01/the-bullpen-the-offense-and-you/#comment-34369 A walk to Brian Buscher is not inexplicable. The guy is leading the Twins in pitches seen per AB, AND he did hit .296 last year. Thrylos, if I was a GM, I'd have to feel that whoever Billy Beane would request in return for Kennedy would have to have his value reconsidered. After all, reports said that they had been coveting Breslow for a while, they finally get him, and he starts pitching well, and everyone knows that the A's have thrived on players that were undervalued by other teams. But if the Twins are able to only give up some low minor leaguers that don't project to significantly help the team in the next few years, then I would be willing for them to go for Kennedy. A walk to Brian Buscher is not inexplicable. The guy is leading the Twins in pitches seen per AB, AND he did hit .296 last year.

Thrylos, if I was a GM, I’d have to feel that whoever Billy Beane would request in return for Kennedy would have to have his value reconsidered. After all, reports said that they had been coveting Breslow for a while, they finally get him, and he starts pitching well, and everyone knows that the A’s have thrived on players that were undervalued by other teams. But if the Twins are able to only give up some low minor leaguers that don’t project to significantly help the team in the next few years, then I would be willing for them to go for Kennedy.

]]> By: Candelaria http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/sinker/2009/07/01/the-bullpen-the-offense-and-you/#comment-34302 Candelaria Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:54:37 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/sinker/2009/07/01/the-bullpen-the-offense-and-you/#comment-34302 Howard's Cuddy/Kuby flip-flop suggestion seems spot-on. Brendan Harris is to Punto as Roy Smalley is to Houston Jimenez (or maybe Alvaro Espinoza). I think if Harris got 600 PA he'd hit 15-18 homers, bat .270 to .290 and end up in the mid to high .700s for OPS. Roy Smalley had 87 errors at SS in 3 peak years (77-78-79). I don't think Roy was a liability. Harris would be fine as every day SS. Howard’s Cuddy/Kuby flip-flop suggestion seems spot-on.

Brendan Harris is to Punto as Roy Smalley is to Houston Jimenez (or maybe Alvaro Espinoza). I think if Harris got 600 PA he’d hit 15-18 homers, bat .270 to .290 and end up in the mid to high .700s for OPS. Roy Smalley had 87 errors at SS in 3 peak years (77-78-79). I don’t think Roy was a liability. Harris would be fine as every day SS.

]]> By: oldguy http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/sinker/2009/07/01/the-bullpen-the-offense-and-you/#comment-34298 oldguy Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:12:13 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/sinker/2009/07/01/the-bullpen-the-offense-and-you/#comment-34298 Des, good point about Casilla and Gardy's take on both him and LNP. And how does Gardy's attitude toward others on the team also affect the whole ballclub? Therein lies the rub as a somewhat famous playwright once said. I'd still like to see them get Sanchez but this is the Pohlads and it won't happen. It doesn't have to as they still will do great at the gate and that is the modus operandi for the organization anyway with a pennant being a distant second goal. And let's not get too excited about Keppel either, nice numbers so far but look at the track record plus the small sample size. Same scenario as the 2B situation, they'd rather fill the seats than contend, that is just the way of ownership by the Pohlads. So don't look for them to bring in another good relief pitcher. Hope I'm wrong on both of these points but I don't think I am, what do some of you other posters think? Des, good point about Casilla and Gardy’s take on both him and LNP. And how does Gardy’s attitude toward others on the team also affect the whole ballclub? Therein lies the rub as a somewhat famous playwright once said.

I’d still like to see them get Sanchez but this is the Pohlads and it won’t happen. It doesn’t have to as they still will do great at the gate and that is the modus operandi for the organization anyway with a pennant being a distant second goal.

And let’s not get too excited about Keppel either, nice numbers so far but look at the track record plus the small sample size. Same scenario as the 2B situation, they’d rather fill the seats than contend, that is just the way of ownership by the Pohlads. So don’t look for them to bring in another good relief pitcher.

Hope I’m wrong on both of these points but I don’t think I am, what do some of you other posters think?

]]> By: Des http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/sinker/2009/07/01/the-bullpen-the-offense-and-you/#comment-34297 Des Thu, 02 Jul 2009 05:04:53 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/sinker/2009/07/01/the-bullpen-the-offense-and-you/#comment-34297 I would not give up on Casilla. His numbers in the minors are looking very good and he is most likely to give the Twins a spark. Some guys need a wakeup call and others need a few of them. He has had some very nice stretches of good baseball both with the Twins major and minor league and winter ball. I would still rather have him than LNP. Gardy looks at Punto's stupid plays and ignores it. He looks at Casilla's and says he just doesn't get it. Play them each a full season and you would see Casilla dwarf Punto's numbers. I would not give up on Casilla. His numbers in the minors are looking very good and he is most likely to give the Twins a spark. Some guys need a wakeup call and others need a few of them. He has had some very nice stretches of good baseball both with the Twins major and minor league and winter ball. I would still rather have him than LNP. Gardy looks at Punto’s stupid plays and ignores it. He looks at Casilla’s and says he just doesn’t get it. Play them each a full season and you would see Casilla dwarf Punto’s numbers.

]]> By: Beisbol-a-GO-GO http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/sinker/2009/07/01/the-bullpen-the-offense-and-you/#comment-34296 Beisbol-a-GO-GO Thu, 02 Jul 2009 04:57:04 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/sinker/2009/07/01/the-bullpen-the-offense-and-you/#comment-34296 Ojeda?? No thanks! The real (former) DBack that BS SHOULD have gone after was ODog. What an addition he would have been to the Twins lineup. There are many games that I just wonder how ARE we going to win this one with the dropoff in hitting after the lefties, Cuddyer and sometimes Crede. Of course my wonder is matched only by the totally inexplicable walks issued by opposing pitchers to Tolbert, Punto, Gomez and even Buscher and Young. As for the Santana meltdown at Miller Park, it was as though there is some sort of black hole vortex in that place for Twins or former Twins. That fiasco looked like a complete rewind of the Blackburn game lost by that wonderful sequence of tosses LF-cutoff-catcher/pitcher-back to LF. Just substitute Santana and assorted Mets for the corresponding Twins players. Ojeda?? No thanks!

The real (former) DBack that BS SHOULD have gone after was ODog. What an addition he would have been to the Twins lineup. There are many games that I just wonder how ARE we going to win this one with the dropoff in hitting after the lefties, Cuddyer and sometimes Crede. Of course my wonder is matched only by the totally inexplicable walks issued by opposing pitchers to Tolbert, Punto, Gomez and even Buscher and Young.

As for the Santana meltdown at Miller Park, it was as though there is some sort of black hole vortex in that place for Twins or former Twins. That fiasco looked like a complete rewind of the Blackburn game lost by that wonderful sequence of tosses LF-cutoff-catcher/pitcher-back to LF. Just substitute Santana and assorted Mets for the corresponding Twins players.

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