The Twins have turned the power corner.
In 2007, the Twins had four players who hit more than 10 HRs: Morneau, 31; Hunter, 28, Cuddyer 16 and Kubel, 13.
Hunter flew to the Angels, leaving three. Then the Twins signed Monroe (12), traded for Young (13), Harris (12) and Pridie (10 in 63 games in AAA) and signed Lamb (11) and Everett (2 in an injury-shortened 2007, but 11 in 2005).
The point is NOT that the Twins are going to be a gonster-macher power threat. They aren't the Yankees or the Red Sox.
The point is, they will be a more rounded power-hitting team - with more players capable of yanking the ball out on occasion. That threat is worth a lot on this team.
Morneau, Cuddyer, Kubel, Monroe, Young, Harris and Lamb gives them seven players - potentially daily in the lineup - with that power threat. I'll take that over four any day.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Twins have improved
I think the Twins have improved dramatically for 2008.
Some have criticized Cuddyer in RF, saying he's mediocre, suggesting Kubel take over there.
Personally, I like Kubel at DH and Cuddyer in RF. His arm makes him more valuable as a RF than the average. If either Pridie shows he's got great range in CF, or the Twins pick up another very good CF, Cuddyer's slightly shorter range won't be much of an issue.
I think last year's downturn for Cuddyer was twofold: the injury, and decline in the entire team's BA. When you've got guys like White, Jones, Punto, Rodriguez, Casilla, Ford and Buscher all hitting in more than 30 games last year and all batting below .250, you're going to have problems. (The vast majority of those players won't be in Twins uniforms this spring.) Pitchers then pitch around the Cuddyers and Morneaus of the world.
The Twins also had a big hole in DH - which I believe they have addressed this offseason. Jeff Cirillo played in 50 games last year, mostly as DH or PH. He hit .261 with 2 homers. That doesn't strike much fear into the hearts of opposing pitchers.
With new acquisitions Young, Monroe, Lamb, Harris and even Everett, we will be a better team. Of those only Everett failed to hit double-digits in HRs, and Everett and Monroe failed to hit .250.
Yes, we traded away Bartlett and lost Hunter. But Young, Harris and Lamb should more than make up for the loss. And I believe Pridie is ready for the big show in CF. He batted .318 with 10 HRs for AAA Durham in 2007 (63 games, 245 AB).
Sign Santana, Morneau and Nathan to LT contracts, and let's get to spring training!
Some have criticized Cuddyer in RF, saying he's mediocre, suggesting Kubel take over there.
Personally, I like Kubel at DH and Cuddyer in RF. His arm makes him more valuable as a RF than the average. If either Pridie shows he's got great range in CF, or the Twins pick up another very good CF, Cuddyer's slightly shorter range won't be much of an issue.
I think last year's downturn for Cuddyer was twofold: the injury, and decline in the entire team's BA. When you've got guys like White, Jones, Punto, Rodriguez, Casilla, Ford and Buscher all hitting in more than 30 games last year and all batting below .250, you're going to have problems. (The vast majority of those players won't be in Twins uniforms this spring.) Pitchers then pitch around the Cuddyers and Morneaus of the world.
The Twins also had a big hole in DH - which I believe they have addressed this offseason. Jeff Cirillo played in 50 games last year, mostly as DH or PH. He hit .261 with 2 homers. That doesn't strike much fear into the hearts of opposing pitchers.
With new acquisitions Young, Monroe, Lamb, Harris and even Everett, we will be a better team. Of those only Everett failed to hit double-digits in HRs, and Everett and Monroe failed to hit .250.
Yes, we traded away Bartlett and lost Hunter. But Young, Harris and Lamb should more than make up for the loss. And I believe Pridie is ready for the big show in CF. He batted .318 with 10 HRs for AAA Durham in 2007 (63 games, 245 AB).
Sign Santana, Morneau and Nathan to LT contracts, and let's get to spring training!
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Santana to stay
Prediction: Santana is the opening day starter for the Minnesota Twins.
Reason: None of the published offers for Santana, from the Mets, Yankees or Red Sox include any kind of established pitcher. The Twins need an established starting pitcher to help their young staff develop. None of the Twins' starters have even two full years of experience - except for Santana.
If they trade Santana, they would need to find a good established starting pitcher via trade or free agency. Many of the best ones are already taken. That provides a problem.
If they trade Santana without getting an established starter - a leader in the clubhouse and on the bench - those young starters will be in trouble.
Reason: None of the published offers for Santana, from the Mets, Yankees or Red Sox include any kind of established pitcher. The Twins need an established starting pitcher to help their young staff develop. None of the Twins' starters have even two full years of experience - except for Santana.
If they trade Santana, they would need to find a good established starting pitcher via trade or free agency. Many of the best ones are already taken. That provides a problem.
If they trade Santana without getting an established starter - a leader in the clubhouse and on the bench - those young starters will be in trouble.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Pitchers perform
Really, most of the Twins pitchers have done well. But who would have thought that Ramon Ortiz and Carlos Silva would lead the team's starters in ERA (2.05 and 2.00), and that Ortiz would be 3-0 after three starts?
Ortiz has been the pleasant surprise this season. Some bloggers have suggested that he has usually had a big lead to work with. While the Twins have scored runs for him, he hasn't always pitched with a big lead; in fact, against the Yankees, the game was 1-1 when he pitched in the eighth inning, before Minnesota scored 4 more.
Johan Santana has also pitched well, but just not vintage Santana. (2-1, 3.6 ERA) going into today's game. He'll come around.
Boof Bonser (0-1, 6.89 ERA) and Sidney Ponson (1-1, 8.18 ERA) have had some rough spots. Ponson gave up 8 earned runs against New York, but only 2 against Tampa Bay. We need another three or so starts from each to get a better picture of their abilities.
The Twins shouldn't wait too long though. People need to keep in mind that the Twins' minor league teams have suffered from a lot of bad weather, and have not played many games. Thus, we need to make sure our starters' arms are ready before they get called up.
Among the relievers, Pat Neshek and Matt Guerrier lead the team in ERA, with no earned runs allowed, as of April 18.
Joe Nathan has shown he's human lately, allowing one loss and nearly blowing another save. He's 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA. He's given up three earned runs so far.
Dennys Reyes – who was so sharp last year, with an ERA under 1.00 on the year – has allowed 5 earned runs in 5 innings for a 9.00 ERA.
Juan Rincon and Jesse Crain, the Twins' two set-up men, have pitched well so far, with 2 and 1 earned runs, so far.
Glenn Perkins is the only Twins pitcher with a double-digit ERA – at 10.12, 3 runs in 2.2 innings, in two outings. He'll get better.
Overall, the Twins' pitching has been pretty good, with some pleasant surprises, and a couple not-so-pleasant ones. They will get a little better, and will make use of some arms at Rochester.
Certainly the Twins are off to a better start than last year. We cannot expect the huge surge they made last year, but even starting out 9-5 is a good start.
Ortiz has been the pleasant surprise this season. Some bloggers have suggested that he has usually had a big lead to work with. While the Twins have scored runs for him, he hasn't always pitched with a big lead; in fact, against the Yankees, the game was 1-1 when he pitched in the eighth inning, before Minnesota scored 4 more.
Johan Santana has also pitched well, but just not vintage Santana. (2-1, 3.6 ERA) going into today's game. He'll come around.
Boof Bonser (0-1, 6.89 ERA) and Sidney Ponson (1-1, 8.18 ERA) have had some rough spots. Ponson gave up 8 earned runs against New York, but only 2 against Tampa Bay. We need another three or so starts from each to get a better picture of their abilities.
The Twins shouldn't wait too long though. People need to keep in mind that the Twins' minor league teams have suffered from a lot of bad weather, and have not played many games. Thus, we need to make sure our starters' arms are ready before they get called up.
Among the relievers, Pat Neshek and Matt Guerrier lead the team in ERA, with no earned runs allowed, as of April 18.
Joe Nathan has shown he's human lately, allowing one loss and nearly blowing another save. He's 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA. He's given up three earned runs so far.
Dennys Reyes – who was so sharp last year, with an ERA under 1.00 on the year – has allowed 5 earned runs in 5 innings for a 9.00 ERA.
Juan Rincon and Jesse Crain, the Twins' two set-up men, have pitched well so far, with 2 and 1 earned runs, so far.
Glenn Perkins is the only Twins pitcher with a double-digit ERA – at 10.12, 3 runs in 2.2 innings, in two outings. He'll get better.
Overall, the Twins' pitching has been pretty good, with some pleasant surprises, and a couple not-so-pleasant ones. They will get a little better, and will make use of some arms at Rochester.
Certainly the Twins are off to a better start than last year. We cannot expect the huge surge they made last year, but even starting out 9-5 is a good start.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Pitchers
The four pitchers on the Twins' staff this spring which have received a lot of discussion are Garza, Silva, Ponson and Ortiz.
I tracked down some interesting stats on these four, all from 2006.
Of the four, Ponson actually has the the best winning percentage (.444, 4-5) for the Cardinals and the Yankees and the worst ERA - 6.25.
Silva, for the Twins, had a 5.94 ERA (second highest among the four) and the second-best winning percentage at .423 (11-15).
Ortiz (Washington) had the lowest ERA of the four, at 5.57, and the second-worst winning percentage at .407 (11-16).
Garza, whom many bloggers wanted to replace Silva in the starting rotation, had the worst winning percentage (.333, 3-6), and the second-lowest ERA at 5.76.
How's that for a comparison? Granted three of these four are in the starting rotation, and one's at Rochester, but perhaps the Twins braintrust hasn't got a brain-block after all. None of these pitchers are Cy Young material, but I'm still expecting Ortiz to pitch well this season (he was the top pitcher for a bad Washington squad last year). He'll have a better defense, offense, coaching staff and catcher helping him out. So while Silva's and Ortiz's records are very similar last year, they played for two very different teams.
Ortiz has pitched well this spring, as has Garza.
Ponson pitched well enough to make the team, and Silva – at last – pitched well in his final game Thursday night, going five innings and giving up zero runs.
Maybe the Twins are getting back on track.
I tracked down some interesting stats on these four, all from 2006.
Of the four, Ponson actually has the the best winning percentage (.444, 4-5) for the Cardinals and the Yankees and the worst ERA - 6.25.
Silva, for the Twins, had a 5.94 ERA (second highest among the four) and the second-best winning percentage at .423 (11-15).
Ortiz (Washington) had the lowest ERA of the four, at 5.57, and the second-worst winning percentage at .407 (11-16).
Garza, whom many bloggers wanted to replace Silva in the starting rotation, had the worst winning percentage (.333, 3-6), and the second-lowest ERA at 5.76.
How's that for a comparison? Granted three of these four are in the starting rotation, and one's at Rochester, but perhaps the Twins braintrust hasn't got a brain-block after all. None of these pitchers are Cy Young material, but I'm still expecting Ortiz to pitch well this season (he was the top pitcher for a bad Washington squad last year). He'll have a better defense, offense, coaching staff and catcher helping him out. So while Silva's and Ortiz's records are very similar last year, they played for two very different teams.
Ortiz has pitched well this spring, as has Garza.
Ponson pitched well enough to make the team, and Silva – at last – pitched well in his final game Thursday night, going five innings and giving up zero runs.
Maybe the Twins are getting back on track.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Does your name start with a 'C' Maybe you can play infield for the Twins!
The Minnesota Twins have had a lot of very good infielders throughout the years, but some of the best have – strangely enough – had their names begin with a 'C' Having an 'A' and/or an 'O' in the name seems commonplace, too.
Take for example, one of the best from the past. Rod Carew. Great hitter, very good fielder, one of the best in baseball ever to play the game, in my opinion. He won the batting title in 1977 with a .388 batting average. He's in Cooperstown. (Another C-name)
A few other C-Men have also played at one or more of the infield spots for the Twins. Mike Cubbage comes to mind. For some though, the 'C' was in the first name, like Cesar Tovar, Corey Koskie and Cristian Guzman.
One of my favorite C-men was John Castino, who played some shortstop and third base. Injuries, unfortunately shortened his career.
Lately, though, there have been a lot of C-Men. Juan Castro may have started this resurgence in the last couple of years, before he was traded. Luis Castillo certainly fits the C-bill, along with 2007 newcomer Jeff Cirillo.
And the trend may yet continue, with up-and-coming infielder Alexi Casilla.
Kind of makes you wonder where a Nick Punto and Justin Morneau fit in, doesn't it?
Take for example, one of the best from the past. Rod Carew. Great hitter, very good fielder, one of the best in baseball ever to play the game, in my opinion. He won the batting title in 1977 with a .388 batting average. He's in Cooperstown. (Another C-name)
A few other C-Men have also played at one or more of the infield spots for the Twins. Mike Cubbage comes to mind. For some though, the 'C' was in the first name, like Cesar Tovar, Corey Koskie and Cristian Guzman.
One of my favorite C-men was John Castino, who played some shortstop and third base. Injuries, unfortunately shortened his career.
Lately, though, there have been a lot of C-Men. Juan Castro may have started this resurgence in the last couple of years, before he was traded. Luis Castillo certainly fits the C-bill, along with 2007 newcomer Jeff Cirillo.
And the trend may yet continue, with up-and-coming infielder Alexi Casilla.
Kind of makes you wonder where a Nick Punto and Justin Morneau fit in, doesn't it?
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Lineup
My projected Twins 25-man roster for 2007 is:
12 pitchers: SP: Santana, Ortiz, Bonser, Silva and Ponson
RP: Nathan, Crain, Rincon, Neshek, Reyes, Guerrer, Durbin
13 hitters/fielders:
CA: Mauer
1B: Morneau
2B: Castillo,
SS: Bartlett
3B: Punto
LF: White
CF: Hunter
RF: Cuddyer
DH: Kubel
Reserves; Redmond (CA), Casilla (2B, SS), Cirillo (1B, 3B, 2B, SS), Tyner (OF)
Ford begins the year on the disabled list.
The starting lineup: Castillo, Punto, Mauer. Cuddyer, Morneau, Hunter, Kubel, White, Bartlett
This gives the Twins an exceedingly balanced lineup, with four batting right, three batting left, and two switch hitters.
Predictions: 1) Within 1 month, Gardenhire 'tweaks' the lineup, putting Bartlett 2nd and Punto 9th.
2) Within 1 month, Ford is brought up and Tyner is sent down. (Tyner bats well, but nevertheless is sent down). By the end of the season, Ford is traded or released, and Tyner is back up.
3) Within six weeks, Silva is sent to the bullpen, or is traded or released. Slowey is brought up.
4) Garza and Perkins pitch well at AAA, and are brought up before the All-Star break, due to injuries or demotions. Ponson is finally demoted or released.
5) By July 1, Kubel is playing regularly in left field, White is backup OF, and Cirillo and Redmond are sharing DH duties.
6) The Twins vie with Detroit all season long for the AL Central title. The Twins wind up with the AL Wild Card spot, and make it to the World Series.
How's that?
12 pitchers: SP: Santana, Ortiz, Bonser, Silva and Ponson
RP: Nathan, Crain, Rincon, Neshek, Reyes, Guerrer, Durbin
13 hitters/fielders:
CA: Mauer
1B: Morneau
2B: Castillo,
SS: Bartlett
3B: Punto
LF: White
CF: Hunter
RF: Cuddyer
DH: Kubel
Reserves; Redmond (CA), Casilla (2B, SS), Cirillo (1B, 3B, 2B, SS), Tyner (OF)
Ford begins the year on the disabled list.
The starting lineup: Castillo, Punto, Mauer. Cuddyer, Morneau, Hunter, Kubel, White, Bartlett
This gives the Twins an exceedingly balanced lineup, with four batting right, three batting left, and two switch hitters.
Predictions: 1) Within 1 month, Gardenhire 'tweaks' the lineup, putting Bartlett 2nd and Punto 9th.
2) Within 1 month, Ford is brought up and Tyner is sent down. (Tyner bats well, but nevertheless is sent down). By the end of the season, Ford is traded or released, and Tyner is back up.
3) Within six weeks, Silva is sent to the bullpen, or is traded or released. Slowey is brought up.
4) Garza and Perkins pitch well at AAA, and are brought up before the All-Star break, due to injuries or demotions. Ponson is finally demoted or released.
5) By July 1, Kubel is playing regularly in left field, White is backup OF, and Cirillo and Redmond are sharing DH duties.
6) The Twins vie with Detroit all season long for the AL Central title. The Twins wind up with the AL Wild Card spot, and make it to the World Series.
How's that?
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