On the Jan. 24, 2023 episode of Minnesota Foul Play-by-play, we discuss the Minnesota Twins’ trade for Gold Glove center fielder Michael A. Taylor, the Vikings’ search for a new defensive coordinator, the upcoming AEW Dynamite show, and Brad provides some more Twins trivia.
Twins Trade Two Relief Pitching Prospects for Gold Glove OF Michael A. Taylor
- Is this the greatest defensive outfield ever assembled? Probably.
- Defensive Runs Saved since 2020: 1) Michael A. Taylor (36), 2) Joey Gallo (32), T-3) Byron Buxton (29)
- Max Kepler (24), but if you remove his innings in center field, he has 30
- Kepler likely to play first base, as Twins haven’t been blown away by offers (and they shouldn’t be): https://twinsdaily.com/forums/topic/60423-what-will-we-get-back-from-the-likely-impending-trade-of-kepler/
- Pros
- Upgraded defensive outfield depth in center field behind Buxton
- Pretty novel way of taking away extra-base hits, especially with Target Field being so vast
- Brad’s Target Field Trivia…most homers by a Twin in Target Field, first homer by a Twin in Target Field, and most homers by an opponent in Target Field
- Kepler becomes even more expendable or allows for a more productive platoon
- Adds speed to a team that struggles running the bases: https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/michael-a-taylor-572191?stats=statcast-r-running-mlb (need to get his stolen base stats back to 2018 (24), he only swiped 4 bags last year.)
- Cons
- Lost a pretty good relief pitching prospect in Evan Sisk
- 76 Ks in 63 IP with a 1.016 WHIP in AA and AAA last season
- But he’s seemingly only a relief prospect, unless the Royals can reign in his control issues
- Lost a less impressive relief pitching prospect in Steven Cruz
- Lost a pretty good relief pitching prospect in Evan Sisk
Scott Rolen Makes the Joke of a Hall of “Fame”
- He had a higher OPS and OPS+ than Adrian Beltre, but that’s about it: https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rolensc01.shtml
- Let the steroid users in (and the Black Sox and Pete Rose)!
- Give them their own section; make it like the Mob Museum in Las Vegas
Vikings Interview Seattle’s Sean Desai; Request Interview with Brian Flores
- Anthony’s back in on the Vikings if Flores is the new DC
- Only thing better would be Colin Kaepernick as backup/simultaneous quarterback
Preview of AEW Dynamite
- Toni Storm v. Ruby Soho v. Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D.
- AEW Women’s Championship eliminator match as far as I’m concerned
- The Acclaimed and the Gunns in Family Therapy
- Should be hilarious
- Junglehook v. Ethan Page and Matt Hardy
- Will Matt Hardy finally double-cross Ethan Page?
- Ring of Honor Six-man Champion Brian Cage v. Bryan Danielson
- Another match Danielson must win to challenge MJF for the AEW Heavyweight Championship
- Chris Jericho/Sammy Guevara v. Ricky Starks/Action Andretti
- Will Starks and Andretti shut up the JAS for good? I doubt it.
- Main Event: Darby Allin v. Buddy Matthews
- This should be as violent as any Darby Allin match, which is extraordinarily violent
