Twins Clinch Division Title, Now What Should the Postseason Roster Look Like for Round 1?

[IndianaTwin]

10 minutes ago, pierre75275 said:

I would rather Ryan start game 3 with Kenta and Ober in the bullpen at the expense of Paddock.

I doubt Buxton plays in the 3 game series, I would go with Larnoch over both him and Gallo

I am hoping that the Twins get the second seed. They are only 3.5 games back and I really hope that the lineups the rest of the game don't resemble spring training game lineups or get away day lineups 

I was thinking of that. An advantage of the 28-man roster is that they CAN'T rest all the starters at the same time. 😃

[python85]

3 hours ago, KnoblauchWasFramed said:

. either that was the most disgusting lack of commitment and drive I've ever seen out of someone who is supposed to be the face of this team

Rehabbing players don't play every day and Buxton started his rehab on Thursday. He was going to get an off day Friday regardless of the Twins situation. That's not a Buxton thing that's a rehab thing. The Twins did the same thing with Gordon, Kirilloff, Polanco, etc, when they were coming back from injury. The Saints are also at home so he didn't even need to get on a flight to be with the Twins yesterday. It won't delay his rehab at all.

[jorgenswest]

Roster breakdown of the eight wild card roster from 2022.

• Six teams carried 12 pitchers. Two carried 13. 
• All teams had a starting pitcher they held back.
• Five teams carried 3 catchers.

I assume teams are concerned about the pitching staff on game 3 if the first two have heavy pitcher usage due to a close high scoring game or extra innings. I would expect the Twins to carry 12 pitchers.

[arby58]

4 hours ago, Seth Stohs said:

I have no problem with Funderburk as a second lefty. I'm not certain the value of the second lefty now that there is the three-batter requirement though. 

Well, it's three batters or the end of an inning. I can see a situational need for two left-handed relief pitchers, particularly since Thielbar has frequently been used for less than an inning. Of his 33 appearances, 5 were for 1/3rd of an inning and4 were for 2/3rds. the most he's  pitched were 1 1/3 innings on three occasions, but none since early August.

[Brandon]

I think Meada starts game 3.  Ryan starts game 1 of next round.  
Funderburk makes the roster.  
I think Buxton should be off the roster but I think the Twins will hope he can channel his inner Kirk Gibson in the series.  If he can’t play the OF he can’t run well.  He shouldn’t be out there.  
Ober will be the 12th pitcher since Ryan will start game one of the next round and Ober can go 3 innings if need be in a 15 inning marathon.  
To me the great debate is PH vs Pinch Runner Luplow vs Stevenson.  This is a coin toss of who should make the roster.  And I guess neither if they keep Buxton.  The position players are much easier to figure out then pitching.

 

But for now the Twins need to focus on getting to 90 wins.  To do that they need to win their last 8 regular season games.  
 

[DJL44]

9 hours ago, DocBauer said:

1] Maeda vs Ryan as the #3 starter. Might depend on who we're facing.

Yes. Play the matchup. Ryan has a great fastball that can shut down certain lineups but not others.

[DocBauer]

Also wanted to take a moment for a hopeful shout out for Alcala. There's just no way, IMO, he's part of any playoff roster. He's missed way too much time. But I am hopeful for his future seeing his velocity back to where it was previously. It gives me hope for him as part of 2024. 

Just wanted to add that thought.

[wabene]

14 hours ago, Seth Stohs said:

I'm still baffled by the idea of playing Julien at 2B ahead of Polanco. Julien has come a long way, and that last play last night was really, really impressive, but Polanco is very good defensively at 2B. Julien is adequate.

The poster suggested this because of concern about Polanco's frequent injuries. Not sure about that myself, I just want both bats in the lineup.

I trust Maeda more than Ryan right now for a game 3 start. I think we have plenty of live pen arms for this 3 game series. 

[Rosterman]

It is going to be fun to see roster construction vs. makeup of opponent teams. You need 3 starters for the first series and a 4th to start the first game when you advance to the next round.

Besides Cody and Caleb, do you give any chips to Keuchel or Headrick to be an additional lefty? Depends on the team.

Construction of the team on the field that will be making runs? That will be choice. Who sits out a series (Gallo).

The first 3-game series will show us how the Twins will play the post-season (or not).,

[Connor Gould]

I'd start Maeda over Ryan, he has a 3.39 ERA and 3.86 FIP in 85 innings since coming off the IL in June. I get that Maeda has done postseason bullpen work before, but SP should take priority on the roster hierarchy and he's the guy.

I'd also take Gallo over Stevenson. We likely won't have both of Castro and Taylor in the lineup, so one of them can pinch run and I don't see the need for a 2nd pinch runner. And Gallo has won 2 gold gloves in the corners so Stevenson is only a marginal upgrade at best defensively and I'd rather take the mediocre power bat than the non-existent bat. Whoever it is probably loses their spot to Ober in round 2 anyways.

[Doctor Wu]

What is the status of Stevenson for the post-season? I was under the impression that he was called up after August 1 and would NOT be eligible for the playoffs? Or am I mistaken!

[Doctor Wu]

As far as who is on the playoff roster, it still seems like we have too many question marks with this plethora of rehabbing players, and the possibility of other players ending up on the IL. What does the medical staff say?

[DJL44]

9 hours ago, Rosterman said:

Besides Cody and Caleb, do you give any chips to Keuchel or Headrick to be an additional lefty? Depends on the team.

No, they're both below average players who won't help a team win in the playoffs.

[Coach Wheels]

On 9/23/2023 at 10:27 AM, Seth Stohs said:

What?? Why?? 

I like Polanco's bat and switch-hitting gives us flexibility with a good hitter.