Forum Friday: Stark Relief

[Otto von Ballpark]

After a challenging week, the Twins and Twins fans alike are seeking relief. Hopefully they can find some in the TD forums.

Bullpen questions and suggestions are hot topics, of course, but some hitters are still rolling and trade season is starting to heat up too, so there is plenty to discuss.

Using players we already have, @RaoulDuke tries to put together an admittedly premature Playoff bullpen. Unless a couple of guys step up their game, and soon, the internal outlook isn't great.

So we could probably use some help from outside the organization. With the calendar turning to July and the trade deadline appearing on the horizon, @cHawk is looking for your Twins Trade Deadline Targets: Relief Pitchers. Who's at the top of your list?

Looking to avenge the loss of the Captain (America) of our bullpen, Steve Taylor Rogers? @Steve71 has more Padres Trade Ideas that will hopefully fare better.

Of course, not all Twins news is negative. Luis Arraez still leads the AL in average and OBP, and @Trov reports he is attracting some nationwide attention: HOF hitters think Arraez is a good hitter, and Arraez is making base hits cool again. Would be great to see that reflected in the all-star game soon!

@PopRiveter examines a so-far effective starter in Chris Archer, Iron Man? Tony Stark would probably pitch deeper than 4 innings, and Archer's four consecutive walks Thursday had Twins fans singing, "Can he see or is he blind?" but overall he's been effective. But a question lingers: with Winder in the wings, could Archer's limited innings be more valuable to the Twins at the end of games, rather than the beginning?

Finally, despite the glaring obvious needs in the bullpen, @RedneckRay offers an idea truly out of left field: to acquire a player who can't play the field at all. Can the Twins (realistically) make a trade for Nelson Cruz? Maybe a great hitter can become a great pitching coach? Do our current relievers need a better nap schedule?

Whatever the topic, you can always relieve yourself of share your best Twins takes in the forums.

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