#AskBW (2.8.22): Gardy II, Podcasts, Newsradio & Much More
#AskBW (2.8.22): Gardy II, Podcasts, Newsradio & Much More
Welcome back to a weekly edition of Q&A at Access Twins called “#AskBW.”
If you’d like to be involved, there are a few ways you can do so:
Tweet @brandon_warne or @accesstwins with the hashtag #askBW
if Twitter isn’t your thing, send an email to brandon.r.warne@gmail.com with the subject “Monday Mailbag/Friday Files”
Watch for sporadic Facebook posts asking for questions
Should be pretty easy, right? Let’s talk to it:
Wow, coming out of the gates with a tough one right away. I’m taking Kent Hrbek because I think he’ll hit a little more and a good defensive first baseman has some value in softball. I know Matthew LeCroy could play over there too, but I just trust Hrbek more.
With that said, Hrbek is 61 and LeCroy is 46. Man, I don’t know!
Can we talk about how LeCroy is approaching his final form as the new Ron Gardenhire?
Man, this is a hard decision. Hrbek has looked pretty good the last few times I’ve seen him in person in terms of health-wise, so I think I’m still going to take him but just barely.
Let’s say it’s Opening Day and the Twins are facing a righty. I’ll do you one better and give you my starting lineup:
1. Luis Arraez 2B
2. Byron Buxton CF
3. Josh Donaldson 3B
4. Jorge Polanco SS
5. Max Kepler RF
6. Mitch Garver C
7. Alex Kirilloff 1B
8. Miguel Sano DH
9. Trevor Larnach LF
So full disclosure — I’ve never watched it! I’m going to start today. I’ll say this, though, that based on the cast list I’m going to guess my favorite characters, in order, will be Bill McNeal. I freaking love Phil Hartman.
I’ve been duped. Uhh, how about Woody Harrelson?
Small Town Murder, followed by 83 Weeks, followed by Crime in Sports. Highly recommend all three.
I’ve never been to a Saints game since they moved to CHS Field, but I think I’d pick that. Everything I’ve heard is the stadium is incredible and Triple-A baseball is pretty good to watch, honestly.
Now, am I commuting from my house to CHS Field five times in this scenario? Paying for parking and tickets five times? Covering the game(s) as a media member? All of these might change my answer but for now I’m taking the Saints.
I think for me it’s infielder Spencer Steer. He reached Double-A last season for 65 games and hit .241/.304/.470 after not getting to play at all in 2020. His time in Cedar Rapids before going to Wichita was incredible — .274/.409/.506 — and he has the look of a guy who can play all over and provide some pretty good thump. Maybe he could be a Ty Wigginton type? Wigginton was a pretty solid player at his peak (and I caught one of his 24 home runs in 2006).
Ordinarily, I’d be a little more worried about a guy with a .304 on-base percentage, but through under just 800 plate appearances in the minors, he’s carried a .264/.362 average/on-base split. He’ll take his walks.
I feel like even if the Twins are active upon the lockout being lifted, they’re going to have to lean pretty heavily on guys like Jordan Balazovic, Jhoan Duran, Josh Winder and maybe even Matt Canterino. Don’t sleep on Simeon Woods Richardson, either.
In short, and I’ve said this before, but the minor-league season being canceled in 2020 pushed everything back maybe even more than a year pitching-wise for the Twins’ farm system. I think we’ll finally see the fruits of a concerted effort to add pitching over the last half-decade finally come to roost this season.
Rob Manfred is Joe Rogan, confirmed.
Yes. I truly believe there will be. Sorry for the short answer, but since I don’t have any added insight, all I’m saying is yes because I just don’t think the game can afford for there to not be baseball. Losing games at the start of the season when the NBA and NHL are heading into their playoffs — both of which are amazing — is just not good at all.
I think it’s Anthony Edwards, followed by Pat Bev. Followed by Jarred Vanderbilt.
I have grown to have an appreciation for non-superstars on the Timberwolves for quite a while now, though. I really liked Rodney Carney (who?). I thought Eddie Griffin (RIP) was going to continue to keep growing as a player.
Now with that said, Pat Bev isn’t that kind of player. He’s just not one of the first four or five players I think a casual would mention if you asked them to name Timberwolves.
And what he’s ignited this team with can’t be overstated. I really do hope they find a way to keep him beyond this season.
Thought this said Joe Rogan for a second.
Ideally, I’d say the Nos. 4-5 starters but I could see it being Ryan-Bundy-Ober this year and maybe Ryan peaks at No. 2 as soon as next year.
With that said, I still think they need to add three starters when the lockout lifts if they have any chance of competing this season (and I think they should believe that).
Cory has been trying to get me into curling for about five years now, and I just haven’t been able to take the plunge. It’s probably behind golf on my list of sports to get into, but I’m more than happy to try. It looks like a lot of fun, even if I don’t understand it one bit.
I honestly don’t have much to add to this brilliant series of tweets. I don’t really see players doing so, at least not for another few weeks. But I really think the players are standing strong and really don’t see any reason to invite any sort of mediation in.
I would start Miranda at St. Paul, honestly. As good as he was last season, it was still quite a pop-up season and he’s still just 23.
And if we’re completely honest, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to see him find time at third base depending on Donaldson’s health. If Donaldson needs to spend time on the shelf or at DH, there’s your guy at third base, mixing and matching with Arraez.
It’s a good problem to have, but it’s not one I’m worrying about quite yet.
Me.