AL Central Discussion

[Shanemansj13]

Alex Kiriloff has 10 homers in 26 games in AAA with a .396 average and a .762 slugging %.

The Minnesota Twins are the only organization in baseball that would have him in the minors right now.

You could literally put him on this team for any player not named Buxton/Correa/Arraez and it would be a good move.

We are currently playing many games with 2 catchers one of them being rancid ass Jeffers. Kiriloff cant be our DH?? He cant play 1B instead of -0.7 WAR Miranda? Replace Nick Gordon the worst utility player ive ever seen?? Shit even Larnach is hitting .135 his last 15 games(and was brutal last year when Kiriloff wasnt). Kepler has been the same .400 slugging player for 7 years aside from 2019.

For the record. I like both Miranda and Larnach. But this is asinine.

He was awful in the short stint this year but gotta give him another chance

 

[mr.hockey4242]

He was awful in the short stint this year but gotta give him another chance

His short stint was a 1/17 start thats the equivalent to basically a bad week of baseball. He went on the IL immediately after. Came back and went 4/12 then was sent down for reasons known to no one. So his 5/29(which is already a small sample) is even more obnoxiously misguided when broken down.

Its even more insane considering Buxton had an 0/30(obviously Buxton isnt goign to be punished), shit ass Jeffers had a 0/30 stretch, Miranda started the year a whoping FIVE FOR FIFTY FOUR. Yes 5/54. Larnach is currently hitting like .130 over his last 15 games.

Kiriloff last year wasnt special in his AB's with a OPS of .722. But its far better than anything Gordon has done in two years. Better than Mirandas this year. Was far better than Larnach last year. And hes always been the best of the bunch in the minors

Its just really weird, to hold your clear best hitting prospect to a different standard than everyone else. Its like reverse logic, usually the raw talent gets the longer leash not shortest. Im worried hes gonna be traded for a pitcher like Montas or Castillo(who we really need) and its gonna backfire. Wrong trade chip folks.

 

[mr.hockey4242]

Where is Alex Kirilloff?!?!

3 runs in 36 innings. Disgusting.

 

[VikingFan2k2]

Luis Arraez is an absolute star! He has to have been working with or at least getting tips from Rod Carew, because he's hitting like Carew right now.

I'm happy with the way this road trip has started. Obviously I don't like how yesterday's game went, but a series win is important on the road against a team that was beatable.

Alex Kirilloff needs to have been called up yesterday and Max Kepler needs to be traded for relief help tomorrow.

I had high hopes for Kep coming up, but he hasn't been the same since that collarbone injury. Sure, he'll get hot and run into a couple that he puts in the stands, but frankly he is just in the way now.

 

[mr.hockey4242]

Luis Arraez is an absolute star! He has to have been working with or at least getting tips from Rod Carew, because he's hitting like Carew right now.

I'm happy with the way this road trip has started. Obviously I don't like how yesterday's game went, but a series win is important on the road against a team that was beatable.

Alex Kirilloff needs to have been called up yesterday and Max Kepler needs to be traded for relief help tomorrow.

I had high hopes for Kep coming up, but he hasn't been the same since that collarbone injury. Sure, he'll get hot and run into a couple that he puts in the stands, but frankly he is just in the way now.

Seems like Arraez offseason work with Cruz really helped. He is still putrid against lefties. Would be nice if he can get that average closer to like .250/.260 and sprinkle in the occaisional double. But if hes gonna hit nearly .400 vs righties all year hard to complain.

Think we missed the boat on a Kepler trade. Would be nice to find something but may have waited to long. 2019 no with standing he simply is what he is. Considering hes a lefty like Larnach and Kirilloff there isnt much he offers over them. Hes just older and plateaued. At least the other two we can still dream of consistent 25+ homer campaigns and averages above .250.

We need Gray to stay healthy bad. Him and Ryan might be the most valuable players on the team simply because of the options beyond them. Next step is getting Ober and Winder back. Hope Smeltzer stays serviceable. Anything but Dylan fucking Bundy.

 

[Voltaire26]

How about 2 less stolen bases than the Tigers team ... or a stat I like 17 Ks as opposed to 34 BBs

 

[catman]

He was awful in the short stint this year but gotta give him another chance

His wrist wasn't right early. He will likely take over at 1B, but then what do you do with Arraez?

 

[mr.hockey4242]

His wrist wasn't right early. He will likely take over at 1B, but then what do you do with Arraez?

The key to this twins team is versatility.

Kirilloff, Buxton, Larnach, Kepler can share OF and DH duties.

AK can also play 1B to spell Arraez.

Who can also play 2B and 3B to spell Polanco and Urshela.

Miranda if also on the team can spell 1B and 3B.

We got a lot of guys. Basically getting AK up here stops us doing the asinine of having both Sanchez and Jeffers play. Today not withstanding, Jeffers completely sucks. And Sanchez is fine but not worth being a regular DH. Having those two both play is mental. Especially against a right hander.

 

[VikingFan2k2]

His wrist wasn't right early. He will likely take over at 1B, but then what do you do with Arraez?

Polanco to the DL, so that fixes that. We may have to have Arraez move around, 2nd, 3rd, LF (although he is not great at the latter two) when Polanco gets back. Because we can't not have his bat in the lineup.

 

[mr.hockey4242]

Polanco to the DL, so that fixes that. We may have to have Arraez move around, 2nd, 3rd, LF (although he is not great at the latter two) when Polanco gets back. Because we can't not have his bat in the lineup.

Arraez will not be playing any outfield.

Hes got 1B and DH. Can spell 2B when needed and maybe some 3B if Miranda is the one who loses the roster spot.

 

[WiggyRuss]

How about 2 less stolen bases than the Tigers team ... or a stat I like 17 Ks as opposed to 34 BBs

Jose is a star. Not many guys I would rather have. The only luck with Lindor turning down a pretty massive deal the Tribe offered him- was that money was left for Jose.

Guardians are the youngest team in baseball by a fair margin. Its fun watching them rebuild on the fly and still play some pretty decent baseball. I wish Kwan and Miller had not gone so cold--- hopefully both start playing a little better again.

Clase and Morgan at the back end of the pen have been awesome.

They really could use one or two more hitters though. I gotta say- Gimenez has been huge though. .304 avg., .344 obp, 7 homers. He has been a nice addition.

hitting is so down over the entire league though. I think the league batting average is under .250 right now. Pitching is too dominant. I would outlaw- or at least restrict- the shift.

 

[catman]

Arraez will not be playing any outfield.

Hes got 1B and DH. Can spell 2B when needed and maybe some 3B if Miranda is the one who loses the roster spot.

Kirilloff can play a competent left field, if needed.

 

[PnkPanther]

Twins front office needs to be aggressive and get some pitching. We can possibly win AL Central without adding but if we don't upgrade our pitching playoff losing streak continues if we make it

 

[catman]

Agreed. There is a great deal of talent in the minors that could be used to bring in some big arms.

 

[mr.hockey4242]

Team isn't that good. Gotta try and just enjoy it as long as possible.

Weve played a mostly soft schedule to this point. Really had one hot stretch. Team has played sub .500 ball for like a month.

Having Archer leave after 60 pitches every start is grounds for someone to lose their job. Either stop starting him, or have someone with brains make decisions.

Thielbar sucks.

What we are doing with Buxton is criminal. Even when he is producing. We have basically turned a 5 tool player into a all or nothing Power hitter who sits twice a week and randomly bats high in the order. There is no logic behind it.

He doesnt hit for average and rarely hits singles. When he does get on 1st he has no stolen bases. We DH him like 3 times a week so his defense is negated.

So if we are gonna try to keep him healthy and go this route 2 things need to happen.

1. Stop sitting him when the team had a day off and he DH'd the two days prior. Seriously, if he cant play then he should retire.

2. Bat him in the middle of the order, so he hit bombs with more than 1 guy on base.

 

[navamind]

Moncada's career has been a rollercoaster.

2017: .231/.338/.412, 103 OPS+
2018: .235/.315/.400, 96 OPS+
2019: .315/.367/.548, 140 OPS+
2020: .225/.320/.385, 94 OPS+
2021: .263/.375/.412, 116 OPS+
2022: .179/.230/.292, 50 OPS+

2019 looks like a pretty clear outlier, buoyed by a .406 BABIP. He might be a high BABIP player, but there's been very few .400+ BABIP seasons. his walk rate has been all over the place too. add it all up and he's been a 12+ WAR player. He's been a good enough regular that I wouldn't call him a bust, but still kinda disappointing. I also thought he's have a much bigger impact on the basepaths than he has.

 

[VikingFan2k2]

@Shanemansj13

This should be a fun couple of weeks!

 

[Shanemansj13]

@Shanemansj13

This should be a fun couple of weeks!

Maybe or maybe not LOL

8 games in the next two weeks

 

[Nosferatu]

Eight games the next 10 days, i'll be happy with 5 - 3

 

[Nosferatu]

Anything but Dylan fucking Bundy

Come on man, longest outing for a starter this year in his last start. Guys that lob in there at 70 MPH often do good for long stretches!