Starting to look like standing pat at the deadline was the right strategy

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

1 hour ago, USAFChief said:

Heh.

"Well, yeah, I guess, but other than that, what did you think of the play, Mrs Lincoln?"

I could easily say,  why did we put Donnie Barrels in instead of Kiriloff,  why did Julien not swing and cause there to be 2 outs, why did Kuechel give up 4 runs in 4 innings.  There is always a ton of woulda shoulda coulda and arm chair quarterbacks.  5 innings of 1 run ball from the RP wasn't the primary issue today.   

[Nine of twelve]

5 hours ago, KirbyDome89 said:

Or it proves the calculations are flawed, or at minimum lacking context. 

I can PM the details to you if you want. It’s pretty conclusive.

[Battle ur tail off]

On 9/13/2023 at 8:09 AM, Trov said:

Who has been available during that time that you would have signed or traded for?  If you cannot point to a clear signing that was missed on, or an easy trade that was not made it is hard to say they failed. When you look at the top WAR relief guys from last year, most are no where near what they were.  Signing pen guys are a crap shoot.  One of our best relief guys was Brock Stewart, prior to his injury.  No one would have ever thought that because he has never been good.  Relief guys are so hard to predict overall from year to year, or even month to month or week to week.  Just look at Jax, he has been elite for weeks, then a train wreck for weeks.  Taylor Rogers last year first half he was amazing, since he has been not very good.  Hader for Padres last year was terrible after he was traded, this year back to elite. 

Edwin Díaz (29 years old, 5.0 WAR) -- Signed 5-year deal with NYM (Nov. 9)
Craig Kimbrel (34, 3.0) -- Signed 1-year deal with PHI (Jan. 4)
Kenley Jansen (35, 2.9) -- Signed 2-year deal with BOS (Dec. 13)
Taylor Rogers (32, 2.5) -- Signed 3-year deal with SF (Dec. 28)
Andrew Chafin (32, 2.3) -- Signed 1-year deal with AZ (Feb. 15)
Michael Fulmer (30, 2.2) -- Signed 1-year deal with CHC (Feb. 20)
Chris Martin (37, 2.1) -- Signed 2-year deal with BOS (Dec. 8)
Chad Green (32, 1.9) -- Signed 2-year deal with TOR (Jan. 31)
Rafael Montero (31, 1.9) -- Signed 3-year deal with HOU (Nov. 15)
Jesse Chavez (39, 1.7) -- Signed MiLB deal with ATL (Nov. 12)
Danny Duffy (33, 1.6) -- Signed MiLB deal with TEX (Jan. 27)
Adam Ottavino (37, 1.6) -- Signed 1-year deal with NYM (Dec. 27)
Brad Boxberger (35, 1.5) -- Signed 1-year deal with CHC (Dec. 15)
Garrett Richards (35, 1.3)
Matt Wisler (30, 1.3) -- Signed MiLB deal with DET (Feb. 15)
Pierce Johnson (31, 1.2) -- Signed 1-year deal with COL (Dec. 13)
David Phelps (35, 1.1) -- Retired
Matt Moore (33, 1.1) -- Signed 1-year deal with LAA (Feb. 16)
Luke Weaver (29, 1.1) -- Signed 1-year deal with CIN (Jan. 13)
Joely Rodríguez (31, 1.0) -- Signed 1-year deal with BOS (Nov. 23)
Carlos Estévez (30, 1.0) -- Signed 2-year deal with LAA (Dec. 5)
Jake McGee (36, 1.0) -- Retired
Jimmy Nelson (33, 1.0) -- Signed 1-year deal with LAD (Feb. 16)
Dominic Leone (30, 0.9) -- Signed MiLB deal with TEX (Feb. 24)
David Robertson (38, 0.8) -- Signed 1-year deal with NYM (Dec. 9)
David Price (36, 0.8) -- Does not plan to pitch in 2023
Robert Suarez (32, 0.7) -- Signed 5-year deal with SD (Nov. 17)
Sean Doolittle (35, 0.7) -- Signed MiLB deal with WSH (Nov. 6)
Seth Lugo (33, 0.6) -- Signed 1-year deal with SD (Dec. 22)
José Álvarez (33, 0.6)
Luke Jackson (30, 0.6) -- Signed 2-year deal with SF (Jan. 9)
Corey Knebel (30, 0.6)
Wily Peralta (34, 0.6) -- Signed MiLB deal with WSH (Feb. 3)
Steve Cishek (37, 0.6) -- Retired
Trevor May (33, 0.6) -- Signed 1-year deal with OAK (Dec. 16)
Cody Stashak (29, 0.6)
Archie Bradley (30, 0.5)
Nick Martinez (32, 0.5) -- Signed 3-year deal with SD (Nov. 22)
Hunter Strickland (33, 0.4) -- Signed MiLB deal with CIN (Feb. 18)
Craig Stammen (38, 0.4) -- Signed MiLB deal with SD (Jan. 10)
Erasmo Ramírez (33, 0.4) -- Signed 1-year deal with WSH (Dec. 20)
Matt Strahm (30, 0.4) -- Signed 2-year deal with PHI (Dec. 9)
Jeff Hoffman (30, 0.4) -- Signed MiLB deal with MIN (March 5)
Jackson Stephens (29, 0.4) -- Signed 1-year deal with ATL (Dec. 26)
Art Warren (30, 0.3) -- Signed MiLB deal with NYY (Dec. 13)
Derek Holland (35, 0.3)
Aroldis Chapman (35, 0.3) -- Signed 1-year deal with KC (Jan. 27)
Will Smith (33, 0.3) -- Signed 1-year deal with TEX (March 4)
Tyler Duffey (32, 0.3) -- Signed MiLB deal with CHC (Jan. 30)
Blake Parker (37, 0.3)
Mychal Givens (33, 0.3) -- Signed 1-year deal with BAL (Dec. 21)
Manny Bañuelos (32, 0.3) -- Signed with NPB team (Dec. 8)
Jarlín García (30, 0.3) -- Signed 1-year deal with PIT (Dec. 28)
Brad Hand (32, 0.2) -- Signed 1-year deal with COL (March 4)
Alex Reyes (28, 0.2) -- Signed 1-year deal with LAD (Feb. 16)
Miguel Castro (27, 0.1) -- Signed 1-year deal with AZ (Dec. 2)
Jay Jackson (35, 0.1) -- Signed MiLB deal with TOR (Jan. 13)
Evan Marshall (32, 0.1) -- Signed MiLB deal with LAA (March 16)
Vince Velasquez (30, 0.1) -- Signed 1-year deal with PIT (Dec. 13)
Reyes Moronta (30, 0.1) -- Signed MiLB deal with TEX (Jan. 27)
Tommy Kahnle (33, 0.0) -- Signed 2-year deal with NYY (Dec. 21)
Sean Reid-Foley (27, 0.0) -- Signed MiLB deal with NYM (Dec. 5)
Alex Colomé (34, 0.0) -- Signed MiLB deal with WSH (Feb. 4)
Will Harris (37, 0.0) -- Retired
Ken Giles (32, 0.0)
Darren O'Day (40, 0.0) -- Retired
Grant Dayton (34, 0.0)
Junior Guerra (37, 0.0)
Pedro Báez (35, 0.0)
Shelby Miller (32, 0.0) -- Signed 1-year deal with LAD (Dec. 2)
Justin Wilson (34, 0.0) -- Signed 1-year deal with MIL (Feb. 18)
Jhoulys Chacín (34, 0.0)
Josh James (30, 0.0)
Miguel Díaz (28, 0.0) -- Signed MiLB deal with DET (Nov. 29)
Anthony Gose (32, 0.0) -- Signed MiLB deal with CLE (Dec. 1)
Trevor Gott (30, -0.1) -- Signed 1-year deal with SEA (Nov. 30)
Jandel Gustave (30, -0.1) -- Signed MiLB deal with AZ (Feb. 3)
Keone Kela (29, -0.1) -- Signed with NPB team (Dec. 21)
T.J. McFarland (34, -0.1) -- Signed MiLB deal with NYM (Dec. 20)
Nick Anderson (32, -0.2) -- Signed 1-year deal with ATL (Nov. 11)
Touki Toussaint (27, -0.2) -- Signed MiLB deal with CLE (Jan. 3)
Luis Perdomo (30, -0.2) -- Signed with NPB team (Jan. 20)
Hirokazu Sawamura (35, -0.2) -- Signed with NPB team (Jan. 28)
Nick Wittgren (31, -0.2) -- Signed MiLB deal with KC (Dec. 23)
Tyler Clippard (38, -0.2)
Jeurys Familia (33, -0.3) -- Signed MiLB deal with AZ (Feb. 3)
Jimmy Yacabonis (31, -0.3) -- Signed MiLB deal with NYM (Dec. 1)
Chasen Shreve (32, -0.4) -- Signed MiLB deal with DET (Jan. 20)
Heath Hembree (34, -0.4) -- Signed MiLB deal with TB (Jan. 19)
Zack Britton (34, -0.5)
Bryan Shaw (35, -0.5) Signed MiLB deal with CWS (Feb. 22)
Joe Smith (38, -0.5)
Greg Holland (37, -0.5)
Daniel Norris (30, -0.5) -- Signed MiLB deal with CIN (Feb. 15)
Alex Young (29, -0.6) -- Signed MiLB deal with CIN (Jan. 17)
Hansel Robles (31, -0.6)
Caleb Smith (31, -0.8) -- Signed MiLB deal with PIT (Feb. 12)
Ian Kennedy (37, -0.9) -- Signed MiLB deal with TEX (Jan. 27)
Scott Oberg (31, N/A) -- Retired

[Minny505]

On 9/12/2023 at 8:25 AM, Trov said:

There is a reason to trade for a solid middle inning arm(or two) at the deadline.  One, you do not know if they would have been any better than what we had, look at some of the moves we have made over the years for guys that either get injured right away (Sam Dyson) or regress right away (Lopez). Sure, it is worth trying sometimes, but our farm system was already considered getting thin, and it would have cost more prospects.  Prospects like Cano who has turned out better than the guy we traded for.  It would could lead to DFA some guys that turn out to be better than who we bring in.  

We do not know what teams were asking for some of the guys.  I did a forum the other day pointing out the guys moved and how only a couple have been that much better than the player they would have stepped in for. I agree the pen is not the best, and doing worse as the season moves on.  But to continue to buy rental pen arms at trade deadline will come back to haunt down the road.  I mean, what if the asking price for one of those arms was Lee, would you do it because we needed the pen arm?  

Trading away our 17th best prospect for a good RP is not, in any way, going to deplete the prospect pipeline.

Why do so many people believe it takes a top 10, or even 5, prospect to get a good RP at the deadline?

[Jeff K]

On 9/11/2023 at 7:49 PM, RaoulDuke said:

I am ok with them not adding anything big at the deadline, but not adding a reliever still looks suspect to me.

Duran is awesome, Theilbar is great vs lefties and decent vs righties, Pagan has had a good year but I still have ptsd from him, Jax has been streaky.  They are putting a lot of weight on Maeda being good, Varland transitioning well quickly, and Stewart getting healthy and right in time.

I don't trust Pagan or Jax.  I don't think we should forget about Ober and Paddock as well as Stewart (whom you mentioned).  Those 3 guys COULD have a significant impact on the bullpen.

[Battle ur tail off]

35 minutes ago, Jeff K said:

I don't trust Pagan or Jax.  I don't think we should forget about Ober and Paddock as well as Stewart (whom you mentioned).  Those 3 guys COULD have a significant impact on the bullpen.

For me right now arms I would trust this postseason coming out of the pen: Maeda, Varland, Theilbar, Pagan, Duran, Jax(meh)

After them it would have to come from the list of guys you are looking at there, Stewart, Funderburk(he will because he's a lefty)etc. Those 6 I named off though 100% need to be on the playoff roster and sitting in the bullpen.

[KirbyDome89]

18 hours ago, Nine of twelve said:

I can PM the details to you if you want. It’s pretty conclusive.

Sure, I'm down to look at it if you don't mind. 

I'll say upfront if it's extrapolating on their current record vs. West opponents I'm less inclined to be swayed. 

[KirbyDome89]

21 hours ago, Hawkeye Bean Counter said:

In my opinion the Twins should have sold last year rather than bought,  or do a buy and sell strategy similar to what Guardians did this year.  How exactly is the bullpen spiraling.  The bullpen has 2-3 blowups in the 2nd half that has bloated their ERA.  Today 5 innings 1 run.  They did their job,  just not in crunch time.  

The Guardians sold. That's not even debatable. 

What you're arguing is spiraling.

[Trov]

2 hours ago, Battle ur tail off said:

Edwin Díaz (29 years old, 5.0 WAR) -- Signed 5-year deal with NYM (Nov. 9)
Craig Kimbrel (34, 3.0) -- Signed 1-year deal with PHI (Jan. 4)
Kenley Jansen (35, 2.9) -- Signed 2-year deal with BOS (Dec. 13)
Taylor Rogers (32, 2.5) -- Signed 3-year deal with SF (Dec. 28)
Andrew Chafin (32, 2.3) -- Signed 1-year deal with AZ (Feb. 15)
Michael Fulmer (30, 2.2) -- Signed 1-year deal with CHC (Feb. 20)
Chris Martin (37, 2.1) -- Signed 2-year deal with BOS (Dec. 8)
Chad Green (32, 1.9) -- Signed 2-year deal with TOR (Jan. 31)
Rafael Montero (31, 1.9) -- Signed 3-year deal with HOU (Nov. 15)
Jesse Chavez (39, 1.7) -- Signed MiLB deal with ATL (Nov. 12)
Danny Duffy (33, 1.6) -- Signed MiLB deal with TEX (Jan. 27)
Adam Ottavino (37, 1.6) -- Signed 1-year deal with NYM (Dec. 27)
Brad Boxberger (35, 1.5) -- Signed 1-year deal with CHC (Dec. 15)
Garrett Richards (35, 1.3)
Matt Wisler (30, 1.3) -- Signed MiLB deal with DET (Feb. 15)
Pierce Johnson (31, 1.2) -- Signed 1-year deal with COL (Dec. 13)
David Phelps (35, 1.1) -- Retired
Matt Moore (33, 1.1) -- Signed 1-year deal with LAA (Feb. 16)
Luke Weaver (29, 1.1) -- Signed 1-year deal with CIN (Jan. 13)
Joely Rodríguez (31, 1.0) -- Signed 1-year deal with BOS (Nov. 23)
Carlos Estévez (30, 1.0) -- Signed 2-year deal with LAA (Dec. 5)
Jake McGee (36, 1.0) -- Retired
Jimmy Nelson (33, 1.0) -- Signed 1-year deal with LAD (Feb. 16)
Dominic Leone (30, 0.9) -- Signed MiLB deal with TEX (Feb. 24)
David Robertson (38, 0.8) -- Signed 1-year deal with NYM (Dec. 9)
David Price (36, 0.8) -- Does not plan to pitch in 2023
Robert Suarez (32, 0.7) -- Signed 5-year deal with SD (Nov. 17)
Sean Doolittle (35, 0.7) -- Signed MiLB deal with WSH (Nov. 6)
Seth Lugo (33, 0.6) -- Signed 1-year deal with SD (Dec. 22)
José Álvarez (33, 0.6)
Luke Jackson (30, 0.6) -- Signed 2-year deal with SF (Jan. 9)
Corey Knebel (30, 0.6)
Wily Peralta (34, 0.6) -- Signed MiLB deal with WSH (Feb. 3)
Steve Cishek (37, 0.6) -- Retired
Trevor May (33, 0.6) -- Signed 1-year deal with OAK (Dec. 16)
Cody Stashak (29, 0.6)
Archie Bradley (30, 0.5)
Nick Martinez (32, 0.5) -- Signed 3-year deal with SD (Nov. 22)
Hunter Strickland (33, 0.4) -- Signed MiLB deal with CIN (Feb. 18)
Craig Stammen (38, 0.4) -- Signed MiLB deal with SD (Jan. 10)
Erasmo Ramírez (33, 0.4) -- Signed 1-year deal with WSH (Dec. 20)
Matt Strahm (30, 0.4) -- Signed 2-year deal with PHI (Dec. 9)
Jeff Hoffman (30, 0.4) -- Signed MiLB deal with MIN (March 5)
Jackson Stephens (29, 0.4) -- Signed 1-year deal with ATL (Dec. 26)
Art Warren (30, 0.3) -- Signed MiLB deal with NYY (Dec. 13)
Derek Holland (35, 0.3)
Aroldis Chapman (35, 0.3) -- Signed 1-year deal with KC (Jan. 27)
Will Smith (33, 0.3) -- Signed 1-year deal with TEX (March 4)
Tyler Duffey (32, 0.3) -- Signed MiLB deal with CHC (Jan. 30)
Blake Parker (37, 0.3)
Mychal Givens (33, 0.3) -- Signed 1-year deal with BAL (Dec. 21)
Manny Bañuelos (32, 0.3) -- Signed with NPB team (Dec. 8)
Jarlín García (30, 0.3) -- Signed 1-year deal with PIT (Dec. 28)
Brad Hand (32, 0.2) -- Signed 1-year deal with COL (March 4)
Alex Reyes (28, 0.2) -- Signed 1-year deal with LAD (Feb. 16)
Miguel Castro (27, 0.1) -- Signed 1-year deal with AZ (Dec. 2)
Jay Jackson (35, 0.1) -- Signed MiLB deal with TOR (Jan. 13)
Evan Marshall (32, 0.1) -- Signed MiLB deal with LAA (March 16)
Vince Velasquez (30, 0.1) -- Signed 1-year deal with PIT (Dec. 13)
Reyes Moronta (30, 0.1) -- Signed MiLB deal with TEX (Jan. 27)
Tommy Kahnle (33, 0.0) -- Signed 2-year deal with NYY (Dec. 21)
Sean Reid-Foley (27, 0.0) -- Signed MiLB deal with NYM (Dec. 5)
Alex Colomé (34, 0.0) -- Signed MiLB deal with WSH (Feb. 4)
Will Harris (37, 0.0) -- Retired
Ken Giles (32, 0.0)
Darren O'Day (40, 0.0) -- Retired
Grant Dayton (34, 0.0)
Junior Guerra (37, 0.0)
Pedro Báez (35, 0.0)
Shelby Miller (32, 0.0) -- Signed 1-year deal with LAD (Dec. 2)
Justin Wilson (34, 0.0) -- Signed 1-year deal with MIL (Feb. 18)
Jhoulys Chacín (34, 0.0)
Josh James (30, 0.0)
Miguel Díaz (28, 0.0) -- Signed MiLB deal with DET (Nov. 29)
Anthony Gose (32, 0.0) -- Signed MiLB deal with CLE (Dec. 1)
Trevor Gott (30, -0.1) -- Signed 1-year deal with SEA (Nov. 30)
Jandel Gustave (30, -0.1) -- Signed MiLB deal with AZ (Feb. 3)
Keone Kela (29, -0.1) -- Signed with NPB team (Dec. 21)
T.J. McFarland (34, -0.1) -- Signed MiLB deal with NYM (Dec. 20)
Nick Anderson (32, -0.2) -- Signed 1-year deal with ATL (Nov. 11)
Touki Toussaint (27, -0.2) -- Signed MiLB deal with CLE (Jan. 3)
Luis Perdomo (30, -0.2) -- Signed with NPB team (Jan. 20)
Hirokazu Sawamura (35, -0.2) -- Signed with NPB team (Jan. 28)
Nick Wittgren (31, -0.2) -- Signed MiLB deal with KC (Dec. 23)
Tyler Clippard (38, -0.2)
Jeurys Familia (33, -0.3) -- Signed MiLB deal with AZ (Feb. 3)
Jimmy Yacabonis (31, -0.3) -- Signed MiLB deal with NYM (Dec. 1)
Chasen Shreve (32, -0.4) -- Signed MiLB deal with DET (Jan. 20)
Heath Hembree (34, -0.4) -- Signed MiLB deal with TB (Jan. 19)
Zack Britton (34, -0.5)
Bryan Shaw (35, -0.5) Signed MiLB deal with CWS (Feb. 22)
Joe Smith (38, -0.5)
Greg Holland (37, -0.5)
Daniel Norris (30, -0.5) -- Signed MiLB deal with CIN (Feb. 15)
Alex Young (29, -0.6) -- Signed MiLB deal with CIN (Jan. 17)
Hansel Robles (31, -0.6)
Caleb Smith (31, -0.8) -- Signed MiLB deal with PIT (Feb. 12)
Ian Kennedy (37, -0.9) -- Signed MiLB deal with TEX (Jan. 27)
Scott Oberg (31, N/A) -- Retired

I am aware of the list, but my question who on it would you have went after?  Can you point to some old post during offseason where you say, I hope they sign x player and you were right in that signing that they would have been better?  It is easy to say we should have upgraded, but harder to point to who was the upgrade at the time?  I remember in 2018, people were big on the Addison Reed signing, because he was coming off a few good seasons with Mets, still only 29 at the time.  He turned out to be a terrible signing for us, and despite he had a 2 year deal we dropped him and he never pitched in majors again.  Pen guys are volatile and hard to predict, even when you think have good ones they turn very quickly, and sometimes turn back very quickly. Mainly because they get very few chances to show being good. 

[Battle ur tail off]

I would have sprung for the highest priced very best arm out there. But I am not the one with the money for it. 😂

I get what you are saying about bullpen guys. They are hard to predict and flaky from year to year. All I know is that our bullpen for most of the last 2 years has been pretty bad and neither year did they try to do much about it before the season started. 

 

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

48 minutes ago, KirbyDome89 said:

The Guardians sold. That's not even debatable. 

What you're arguing is spiraling.

1.  They picked up players at the deadline (Thor)  

2. They picked up players on the waiver wire (lopez, Giolito, and Moore)

At no point have they waived the white flag and tanked the remainder of the season .  They tried to sell and re fill those holes. I might not agree with the strategy 

[Minny505]

46 minutes ago, Battle ur tail off said:

I would have sprung for the highest priced very best arm out there. But I am not the one with the money for it. 😂

I get what you are saying about bullpen guys. They are hard to predict and flaky from year to year. All I know is that our bullpen for most of the last 2 years has been pretty bad and neither year did they try to do much about it before the season started. 

 

Every fanbase thinks their bullpen is some form of bad. I guess I would compare the Twins to the other 29 teams are rate it on that.

By that measure, the Twins BP is 16th in MLB in ERA and 20th in FIP. They have essentially an average-ish BP. At wort a tick below. Far from bad.

Compared to other playoff teams though, they are one of the worst. Of the 12 teams in a playoff spot today, they rank 10th in ERA. 

But it's okay. We held onto Matt Canterino for next year rather than trade him away to get a good RP on an expiring contract. I hear trading him away would have been devestating to the team's future.

[KirbyDome89]

18 minutes ago, Hawkeye Bean Counter said:

1.  They picked up players at the deadline (Thor)  

2. They picked up players on the waiver wire (lopez, Giolito, and Moore)

At no point have they waived the white flag and tanked the remainder of the season .  They tried to sell and re fill those holes. I might not agree with the strategy 

They traded their best SP for a prospect.

They moved their 1B/DH for salary relief.

The waiver claims fell into their lap. If you want to tell me they planned on that happening you're insane.

100% they were comfortable ceding the division to MN. Is their record post deadline an accident? And we're now completely off the rails....

 

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

14 minutes ago, KirbyDome89 said:

They traded their best SP for a prospect.

They moved their 1B/DH for salary relief.

The waiver claims fell into their lap. If you want to tell me they planned on that happening you're insane.

100% they were comfortable ceding the division to MN. Is their record post deadline an accident? And we're now completely off the rails....

 

Eh  you just seem to be someone who wants to argue. I said they were buyers and sellers- its obvious they sold but they didn't tank.   It appears they thought they could get something out of Thor.  Yes the waiver claims fell in their laps,  but that means 16 other teams refused to pick them up . . . why?   Because the Guardians continued to want to add players and to their roster while the others wanted to tank. (the definition of being a buyer - even if it didn't cost them anything but money on the waiver wire).   By adding the players they are showing they were not ceding the division to the Twins.  It didn't work out,  just like the Twins trades last year didn't work out and their performance plummeted.  

So are you saying even a team that may add players - it may not improve their performance . . .  really 😄.  Kinda like the Twins are proving the front offices position to stand pat.   LOL.  I am done discussing this with you.  We will never see eye to eye.  

[Otaknam]

This isn’t exactly a shutdown bullpen. Too many holes. As forLopez, he has at times pitched like a frontline starter, but he is really a number 2 in my opinion. Sherzer, Verlander, and Kershaw spent long stretches of their careers as number ones. Lopez hasn’t approached that level yet. Hopefully he does.

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

Well I am not saying anyone needs to eat crow yet,  but things right now look pretty good.  As I stated in this thread the AL is wide open.  Part of the reason I was optimistic as I was about the Twins potentially making a run is there is no team like Atlanta in the AL.  You have a bunch of above average teams.  I twice looked at the odds for the Twins,  I think the one I saw was 2500 back in late August or Sept. If I was a betting man I would have definitely considered putting some money down.  Right now the Twins have the 2nd best shot in the AL to win the WS and the 5th best shot overall at 10%.  

The bullpen is really starting to round into shape.  You have a solid 4 in Theilbar, Stewart, Jax,  Duran.   The next group, Pagan, Varland, Funderburk and Maeda and Paddack,   gives you some length possibilities and a big upgrade over the bullpen iteration of most of this year.  The rookie bats have been a massive infusion to this team.    Correa also delivered in the first 2 games.   

They won their division and they won their first playoff series.  At the vary least the front office was given a much longer runway due to the players performances.  The plan has worked out well, and they have created a chip and chair situation.  Best of Luck go Twins and don't worry,  I am more than willing to keep bumping this thread  😉.