Make It Official! Twins 9, Reds 2: Flipping the Script

[Fire Dan Gladden]

2 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

I don't think you can get much out of Sims either, it seems all our rookie SPs are running on fumes. But why blame ownership? Did they trade for worthless Desclavani & his salary? Did they tell FO not to make any meaningful trades for SPs? Were they involved in their management? I don't think so.

I am not sure if this is troll or truth.  If you are speaking the truth, then I firmly believe you have not been paying attention to anything Twins related this year.  Everything you are referencing is 100% payroll related, so yeah ownership basically was responsible for this.

The FO was not allowed to spend money, not allowed to go get difference makers in the rotation.  That is why our young SP continued to get thrown out there even though they shouldn't be.  Varland, Festa, Matthews should be starting for the White Sox or Marlins (learning on a bad team).  Not constantly getting bashed in a playoff race. 

[Jeff K]

15 hours ago, JD-TWINS said:

4,5 games up on Red Sox with a 3 game series this week - up 2-1 in season series. 2 end in Cleveland and 2 in Boston would really lift us up!!!!

Tigers & Mariners only 2.5 games back…….3 back in loss column - Twins own tiebreaker with both. Tigers headed to K.C. for 3 games. Mariners host Yankees for 3 games.

Tigers vs. KC.  I suspect the Twins would be best served if KC takes that series.  Would like to see the Twins win 2 of 4 in Cleveland and then 2 of 3 in Boston.

[Blyleven2011]

3 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

I don't think you can get much out of Sims either, it seems all our rookie SPs are running on fumes. But why blame ownership? Did they trade for worthless Desclavani & his salary? Did they tell FO not to make any meaningful trades for SPs? Were they involved in their management? I don't think so.

It's been a total system failure  , ownership  and FO  for not adding depth  in 2024 , after the disaster season of injuries in 2022 they went out in the off season and added depth for 2023 and we managed to win division and break the losing streak in the playoffs ...

Cutting payroll for 2024 was not a recipe for success  , it was back to the dumpster diving  with a prayer that they could contend  , they again went the wrong direction with acquiring injury prone players ( desclafini again and relying on stewart and paddock that are injury prone ) ...

With all that and a coaching staff that can't seem to win with implementing small ball and fundamentals into the game along with the analytics  is also a total system failure ...

I've watched almost all the games and other teams  beat us with the small ball and analytics  , why Rocco why can't you play small ball  ...

It game starts with coaching and the players reflect it ...

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

1 hour ago, Doctor Gast said:

Again ownership shouldn't be blamed for the lack of ability from the FO for not doing so under their limitations.

Agreed. The Pohlads signed off on record payrolls in 2022 to 2023. There was a 25% increase from 2021 to 2022. 

[stringer bell]

1 hour ago, Doctor Gast said:

It's foolhardy to expect to sign a big-name SP FA even if we had money to spend on them, but still people dream if only we had the money to sign them. They won't come to MN unless you throw ridiculous money at them or have a Lance Lynn situation where we lose either way. 

I highlighted the "they won't come to MN" section of the quote. Why would Minnesota be undesirable for a starting pitcher? I have to think that a pitcher wants a chance to thrive and a competitive salary and I think both of those things can be had from the Twins.

[LambchoP]

It's pretty sad that both Buxton and Correa needed the day off after only playing 4 innings on Saturday. If they are going to take up a roster spot then they need to be out there. Aside from Lopez and Ober, our starters have to find a way to go deeper than three innings. Having 3 of our SP basically throwing like openers completely wiped out our bullpen for the rest of the series. I really hope we put Paddack in the bullpen and sign a SP for next year. That puts Festa in AAA as first man up. Zebby needs more time in the minors clearly. He started the year in A ball. These guys were forced the the show because of ownerships lack of moves in both the off-season and deadline. Very important week, get hot and get into the playoffs where anything can happen. Don't just roll over and blow it!

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

The Saturday and Sunday games are what we could expect to see from the third and fourth starter, when that starter pitches in a Game 3 wild card or in a five game series. Young guys running on fumes removed in the 4th or 5th inning.

Guys like Sands or even yes Varland will be heavily relied on the bridge those middle to late innings to get to Jax and Duran. 

[JD-TWINS]

1 hour ago, Hosken Bombo Disco said:

Agreed. The Pohlads signed off on record payrolls in 2022 to 2023. There was a 25% increase from 2021 to 2022. 

‘24 though - back to ‘21 $$ total……..complete reversal. To have the same payroll as you did 3 seasons prior is embarrassing ……..particularly with the quantity of minimum salary guys on this current roster.

[chpettit19]

18 hours ago, JD-TWINS said:

Lee seems like the choice at 2B along with Castro and maybe Farmer in October…….Julien would be out - non rostered. All of this group are marginal offensively but the Top 3 guys can all back up Correa at SS. Just can’t have a similar offensive guy that makes everyone anxious when he’s on defense, like Julien.

Castro may not start in playoffs with Most Starts and AB’s on Team for the ‘24 season.

Lewis - CC - Lee - Santana

Miranda - Farmer - 2 Catchers

Larnach - Castro - Buxton - Kepler - Wallner

Frankly, SWR concerns me now more than Festa…….Festa is inexperienced but SWR seems gassed……..Seems Lopez - Matthews - Ober are all 3 lined up to pitch 3 more times……all 3 in last series v. Baltimore. We need 3 wins in the 7 games started between Matthews - SWR - Festa…..hope they can hold it together!!!

Starting Lee over Castro in a playoff game would be quite the decision. I'd be incredibly surprised if that's your roster and they started Lee with Castro on the bench. I'd bet they also carry 1 more position player. Especially in the wild card round. If they need 13 arms to get through a 3 game series they're not coming out on the winning end of that series. The question would be Julien or Keirsey for the last spot. Keirsey as the defensive replacement and stolen base threat or Julien who wouldn't have many opportunities to get on the field. This all assumes Kepler is healthy by then.

[Doctor Gast]

6 hours ago, stringer bell said:

I highlighted the "they won't come to MN" section of the quote. Why would Minnesota be undesirable for a starting pitcher? I have to think that a pitcher wants a chance to thrive and a competitive salary and I think both of those things can be had from the Twins.

I think once they get to know MN, they'd like it. But the cold, & small amount of marketing compared to NY & LA is my guess. If someone else has more to share, IDK.