Twins (Woods Richardson) vs Marlins (Junk): 7/2/25, 5:40pm

[Brock Beauchamp]

How many more games of this nonsense until we're 100% certain the Twins need to be sellers? If they're not going to make a move TODAY to fix their obvious flaws, well, then they're likely destined to sell.

[Dave Borton]

Never thought I would see a pitcher with a FB avg of 95 actually immortalized with the appellation "Junk'"

[Parfigliano]

TC should be in sell mode now.  Today.  40-45 record and 4 games back for a wild card spot.  Pitching is regressing.  Hitting is damn near non-existent.  Defense is shaky at best.  Base running comical.

[Vanimal46]

26 minutes ago, Parfigliano said:

TC should be in sell mode now.  Today.  40-45 record and 4 games back for a wild card spot.  Pitching is regressing.  Hitting is damn near non-existent.  Defense is shaky at best.  Base running comical.

4 games back with 4 teams ahead of them for the last wildcard spot. And that’s the biggest hurdle to overcome. Sure, the Twins might get hot for a week. So can Texas, Boston, LAA, or Cleveland to stay ahead of them in the race. 

[Vanimal46]

2 hours ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

How many more games of this nonsense until we're 100% certain the Twins need to be sellers?

I’m already there. Division is way out of reach, and 7 total teams in a better position for the 3 wild card spots over the Twins. 

2006 was one of my favorite seasons ever because of their incredible 2nd half run to a division title. But we don’t have the 2025 equivalent of Johan Santana, Mauer, Morneau, or rookie sensation Liriano on this team. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

22 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

I’m already there. Division is way out of reach, and 7 total teams in a better position for the 3 wild card spots over the Twins. 

I'm there as well, but it would be foolish to sell right now. A team in the Twins' position (a handful of games out of the final WC spot) shouldn't sell until July 20th at the very earliest.

Give your team a chance to make a run. If you sell now, the team wins seven in a row and you're back in a wild card spot, you look pretty dumb.

[USAFChief]

1 hour ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

I'm there as well, but it would be foolish to sell right now. A team in the Twins' position (a handful of games out of the final WC spot) shouldn't sell until July 20th at the very earliest.

Give your team a chance to make a run. If you sell now, the team wins seven in a row and you're back in a wild card spot, you look pretty dumb.

Nonconcur.

Start the process of selling immediately. 

A seven game winning streak wouldn't change anything about this team's chances.

I think they look pretty dumb pretending otherwise. 

 

[Patzky]

3 hours ago, Dave Borton said:

Never thought I would see a pitcher with a FB avg of 95 actually immortalized with the appellation "Junk'"

I refuse.

[Patzky]

1 hour ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

I'm there as well, but it would be foolish to sell right now. A team in the Twins' position (a handful of games out of the final WC spot) shouldn't sell until July 20th at the very earliest.

Give your team a chance to make a run. If you sell now, the team wins seven in a row and you're back in a wild card spot, you look pretty dumb.

Or you're the 2024 Tigers.

[Brock Beauchamp]

19 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Nonconcur.

Start the process of selling immediately. 

A seven game winning streak wouldn't change anything about this team's chances.

I think they look pretty dumb pretending otherwise. 

If you have a shot at the playoffs, you take it. Especially in a very mediocre American League.

And basically nothing is to be gained by selling right now; there's a reason why no one has started, not even the Marlins or the Rockies.

[Brock Beauchamp]

15 minutes ago, Patzky said:

Or you're the 2024 Tigers.

Who looked pretty dumb for selling, but at least they were pretty far out of it when they did. I just checked and they were five games under .500 and 14 back in the division on deadline day.

[Patzky]

43 minutes ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

Who looked pretty dumb for selling, but at least they were pretty far out of it when they did. I just checked and they were five games under .500 and 14 back in the division on deadline day.

Sometimes you catch lightning in a bottle.

[MMMordabito]

 

[hitterscount]

Not that I care (I  guess I do or I wouldn’t be posting) but my hope is that they don’t do anything and the new owners, GM and a real manager can make the necessary decisions.
 

I still contend this team should be better than their record and that’s on the manager. Last night is just another example of really good pitching gone to waste. In Rocco’s defense they are constructed so poorly on offense, zero team speed,  terrible plate approaches and a refusal to play small ball when warranted… then throw in terrible defense and just like that you play uninspired crap baseball. Their body language says it all.

So with that just hold tight and let someone else get the players to construct a competitive team.

[The Great Hambino]

1 hour ago, USAFChief said:

Nonconcur.

Start the process of selling immediately. 

A seven game winning streak wouldn't change anything about this team's chances.

I think they look pretty dumb pretending otherwise. 

 

To me, it's not just about the Twins' chances of working their way back into contention (which, yeah, ain't happening).

Most teams are in a holding pattern waiting to see if they're going to be buyers, sellers, or standing-pat-ers as well.  As we get closer to the deadline, more teams will identify as buyers.  More buyers is a good thing for sellers.  And with the third wild card giving more front offices a realistic chance of a playoff berth (which front offices can sell to their owners/fans as contention whether or not it's real), teams are more likely to move into the buyer category than the seller category.

There are reasons most in-season trades (for meaningful pieces, not Alcala-esque swaps of pocket change) happen near the deadline.  Make inquiries and do some due diligence now, sure. But they should start actually selling now only if they view it as an absolute steal

[thelanges5]

Per Gleeman:

Resolutions to two topics discussed/predictions made on today's podcast:

Bailey Ober (hip) was placed on the injured list, meaning the Twins will need someone else to start Friday.

Jonah Bride cleared waivers and will stay in the organization at Triple-A.

[karcherd]

This organization is so frustrating, this hip issue is not a new injury with Ober.  He pitched four days ago, they need to be more decisive.  Now they took one potential replacement off the board by pitching Adams yesterday, if they considered him an option.  They do this with free agency, the trade deadline, injuries, they are not decisive and it feels like every time they then are forced into a decision that is not always the best one.

And my other rant, if Lewis is up here, play him.  I get giving him a day off every two or three days but one day.  That sure isn't a recipe for him to find his swing and get comfortable.  And yes I know most are down on Lewis, but I am still a believer and want to see him succeed.

 

[mnfireman]

6 minutes ago, karcherd said:

And my other rant, if Lewis is up here, play him.  I get giving him a day off every two or three days but one day.  That sure isn't a recipe for him to find his swing and get comfortable.  And yes I know most are down on Lewis, but I am still a believer and want to see him succeed.

 

Lewis didn't look real healthy running the bases yesterday, not really a surprise he's got today off.

[KirbyDome89]

27 minutes ago, thelanges5 said:

Jonah Bride cleared waivers and will stay in the organization at Triple-A.

Thank god they can hang onto some of that uber valuable depth.

[KirbyDome89]

4 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

4 games back with 4 teams ahead of them for the last wildcard spot. And that’s the biggest hurdle to overcome. Sure, the Twins might get hot for a week. So can Texas, Boston, LAA, or Cleveland to stay ahead of them in the race. 

I don't think it's much of a hurdle. The Twins aren't good, like at all, but neither are any of the teams they're chasing for the last WC spot. I don't see any of those clubs living too far north of .500 and more likely than not a few crash out a la our beloved Twins. 

The Twins aren't going anywhere even if they happen to back into the postseason in a super watered down AL so I'm not opposed to selling. I have zero trust in the FO that's pulling the trigger, which gives me pause. 

[S Bart]

So....they DL Ober for 15 days and they bring back Funderbunk who has a 7.50 ERA. Why in the world do they not raise Adams who has an ERA that is almost half that number? Funderbunk must be getting an UBER discount between Minneapolis and St Paul.

[S Bart]

I listened in agreement to Plouffe yesterday during the Twins Score North Podcast. He made one very important point about "aggressiveness." It is not in the Twins' and Rocco's vocabulary. EXAMPLES:  Buxton is one of the fastest runners in baseball. He has never stolen third base. The Tigers and other teams steal third. It was just mindboggling to see Castro bunt last week considering the team never takes that approach. There is much more to the game than just going up to the plate and swinging away.  Some people state that they get tired of the Rocco bashing....well, he deserves it considering the 0's that are being put up after 9 innings. The ship is sinking, and it is time to make some changes!!!

[Irishman]

Let’s see if Twins have 2 hits and 0 runs tonight.   

[Road trip]

43 minutes ago, KirbyDome89 said:

Thank god they can hang onto some of that uber valuable depth.

Well, they say you can never have too much pitching... and Bride had a better ERA in his time with the Twins than Joey Wentz.  😁

[LakesPibble]

Once again, how are we favored at all, and especially on the road, and especially with SWR pitching?

I understand being favored with Ryan pitching but SWR is no Joe Ryan.

[karcherd]

46 minutes ago, mnfireman said:

Lewis didn't look real healthy running the bases yesterday, not really a surprise he's got today off.

If he can't play more than one day in a row then he needs to be on the IL.  IMO, I think his running is more mental.  His instincts are to run full bore like any athlete, they are telling him to not do that and be careful running.  He has to figure out how to do that and make that his natural movements.

[Chris Hove]

Funderburk is back. He's been good at St. Paul, but needs to keep his control in check. He won't be a high-leverage guy, so not a lot of risk here.

[Vanimal46]

37 minutes ago, Chris Hove said:

Funderburk is back. He's been good at St. Paul, but needs to keep his control in check. He won't be a high-leverage guy, so not a lot of risk here.

At least for a couple days until we need a starter on Friday. Either way I think we’re gonna see a lot more bullpen games for the next month and change 

[IndyTwinsFan]

1 hour ago, Irishman said:

Let’s see if Twins have 2 hits and 0 runs tonight.   

I sure hope for better than that on both parts, but wouldn't be overly surprised if it happened, either. 

[Parfigliano]

3 hours ago, MMMordabito said:

 

Lewis?  Lewis?