Guardians 3, Twins 2 (10 Innings): The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same

[bunsen82]

9 hours ago, USAFChief said:

Seriously?

Go be a **** somewhere else. 

It appears you are still in the 7 stages of grief and still in the anger mode. 
 

Go read my posts, even up through trade deadline I said this team not only had a chance to go on a run but to do something special. You needed the bats to get hot. You had a strong bullpen and 3 really good starters when healthy. After the deadline there is no hope for a run. Yesterday’s lineup was more of AAAA audition line. Gasper, Martin, Julien, Roden, Clemens, Wallner. That is not a winning lineup- neither is the bullpen. You know what they didn’t give up. They played hard. They gave themselves a shot. I’ve been watching Martin and thought he was really turning it around. 
 

We have all been Twins fans, so we all . know what rough times are like.  I always try to understand what the true goal is. Right now it’s to tank for draft capital. That is clear as day. My question still is this just a tank for the rest of 2025 and we rebuild the bullpen, or is this sell off just the beginning?  I don’t see how we compete in 2026 either. The nail in that coffin was Varland and Jax. You needed those 2 with sands plus 2-3 more pieces. So my guess is Ryan, Ober and Lopez will be traded soon. Maybe you keep 1 veteran for stability purposes. 
 

the 2026 and 2027 drafts look strong. The minors have some really good pieces and we still have Buxton. I still have hope, but my timeline has moved. So fight hard play well, but they are going to lose a lot and we will see what comes from the draft picks. 

[bunsen82]

1 hour ago, Peter said:

Ugly gut wrenching loss!!! Just livid losing 🤬😡😤👎😭You must must must bunt in extras!!! We would’ve scored on sac fly and won. Why is gasper/funderburk on team??? Ill still watch and support our twins but It’s going to be long 2 months and 3 year rebuild!!! Still in shock with massive fire sale!!! 

To give any positive thought, the new rules against tanking does not give incentive past 2026 for losing unless we are in a 1990’s stretch. I think we a start turning the corner late 2026 start seeing some hope and 2027 the new management starts supporting the team. 

[Whitey333]

Does anyone really believe Falvey and Baldelli should be kept in charge of the mess they created,?  They have already proven they should not have anything g to do with this team moving forward.  Listening  to Falvey on tv broadcast shows he cares little about the Twins.  I get upset everytime I see him and that stiff Baldelli knowing their roll in ruining our franchise.  They both must go

[bunsen82]

10 hours ago, Western SD Fan said:

"Joe Ryan appeared disinterested initially." -  This makes sense for a player who is likely confused why he is still in Minnesota when everyone else of any intrinsic value to another organization was traded off in the last 48 hours.

For Joe and the fans, we need Joe to do well down the stretch. More than anyone else he holds the most value of any other player that could give us the pieces for another run. 

[bunsen82]

6 minutes ago, Whitey333 said:

Does anyone really believe Falvey and Baldelli should be kept in charge of the mess they created,?  They have already proven they should not have anything g to do with this team moving forward.  Listening  to Falvey on tv broadcast shows he cares little about the Twins.  I get upset everytime I see him and that stiff Baldelli knowing their roll in ruining our franchise.  They both must go

Most of it is Pohlads. Baldellis time is coming to end is my guess. Falvey, I like the draft system he has set up. Even if he goes I hope we keep a lot of he ideas. Falvey followed the boss orders for the last 2 years. My bigger concern is why couldn’t our players hit. This is the question that has to be answered. 

[Western SD Fan]

39 minutes ago, William K Johnson said:

- Falvey's interview was an insult to all Twin fans.  However, my hats off to Corey Povus for asking the same questions I would have asked.   Falvey spun away from all of them but appreciate the attempt.

Cory Provus does a weekly chat with Dom Izzo on WDAY in Fargo.  When Izzo asks for Cory's reaction, you can hear in Cory's voice that he is just as stunned and surprised as we all were.  Although I believe that Cory is a consummate professional, it sounds like he really does get to know the players and even a little bit of a fan himself on wondering what the hell just happened.

 

 

[David Maro]

They say bunting is wasting an out,then what is striking out. Different day same crap.

Don't believe anyone had any interest in what Falvey had to say. The only thing that might have made fans feel better would have been he and Rocco are resigning.

[Maybe Next Year]

6 hours ago, Nshore said:

The announcer defended Gasper not bunting by saying he "hadn't done it all year" or some such nonsense - like he was being asked to split the atom.  Gasper plays baseball for a living, but apparently doesn't know how to bunt.  The Twins have to find players who know how to play baseball.

They also need to find a manager who knows how to manage! The fact that 10 players on the 26 man roster were traded tells you that yes, indeed, we did have some talent. The problem is that we have a manager who is incompetent and has no clue how to use players properly. 

[Doctor Gast]

Yeah, Julien was bad at 2B, not a great glove, slow reactions, not smooth at the DP & SO a lot, Gasper & Roden are AAAA players, they are Falvey's babies & will be showcased & given every opportunity for a miracle to happen. Fubberburk isn't good. Baldelli missed not putting someone in to bunt. Which CLE did correctly? So what's new? Why wasn't Eeles given a chance? He's more than deserves it, even though he doesn't fit their profile.

With all the bad, it's easy to overlook the good, which most everybody did. Ryan pitched a good game, as did most of the BP. More so, Martin almost single-handedly won the game for the Twins. He did a good job at leadoff (which I've always advocated), and he appeared to have driven in the 1st run. He always makes things happen; his swinging bunt single ignited our only 2 runs. If they executed that bunt, Martin's fly ball would have been a sacrifice. The ball was really dead last night. Did Martin's fly ball have a chance to go out under different conditions? I don't know, I didn't see it & it wasn't shown in the highlights. IMO, if Baldelli did & had a little better player selection, If Kwan didn't play that ball perfectly & a little better execution on Lee going home. Martin would have been the hero.

Like the author insinuated, Twins changed a lot in what was good. But what should have been changed remained the same. Baldelli's bad managing.

[USAFChief]

1 hour ago, bunsen82 said:

For Joe and the fans, we need Joe to do well down the stretch. More than anyone else he holds the most value of any other player that could give us the pieces for another run. 

To sum up:

Yeah! The Twins lost! 

Do well Joe Ryan! You know...so we can say adios in November. (Just so we're clear, Joe, when I say "do well" that doesn't mean well enough to get a W.)

Draft capital! (I learned this term listening to Paul Allen!)

[joefish]

7 hours ago, Nshore said:

The announcer defended Gasper not bunting by saying he "hadn't done it all year" or some such nonsense - like he was being asked to split the atom.  Gasper plays baseball for a living, but apparently doesn't know how to bunt.  The Twins have to find players who know how to play baseball.

Can we blame Gardenhire yet?

[The Great Hambino]

Tanking for draft capital makes no sense in baseball's setup.  The odds are too smoothed over from position to position, there are limitations on a long-term tank, and prospects even at the top have too much variance for it to be worthwhile.

If Falvey truly gave away four years of Varland for whatever marginal one-time uptick in draft odds that would provide for 2026, then not only should he be fired, he should be imprisoned

[Riverbrian]

Big Change from the last series but our Minnesota Twins have jumped dramatically to 17 Pre-Arb Players. Players with less than 3 years experience to be exact. Royce Lewis is under 3 years service but not pre-arb but I'm going to continue to count him because it takes less research. I'm not sure how this massive jump happened. Maybe someone could shed some light on it. 

Cleveland for comparison sake as of today have 20 Pre-Arb players on their current roster. 

The Twins took the all at once approach. Cleveland has built and maintained their approach. 

The Twins as of today are 51-58 while Cleveland is 55-54. 

[DJL44]

20 minutes ago, The Great Hambino said:

If Falvey truly gave away four years of Varland for whatever marginal one-time uptick in draft odds that would provide for 2026, then not only should he be fired, he should be imprisoned

Falvey traded Varland for a player he thinks can replace Larnach and a starting pitcher prospect.

The trades weren't for tanking. The roster they've chosen after the trades means they're tanking.

[bunsen82]

1 hour ago, Doctor Gast said:

Yeah, Julien was bad at 2B, not a great glove, slow reactions, not smooth at the DP & SO a lot, Gasper & Rondon are AAAA players, they are Falvey's babies & will be showcased & given every opportunity for a miracle to happen. Fubberburk isn't good. Baldelli missed not putting someone in to bunt. Which CLE did correctly? So what's new? Why wasn't Eeles given a chance? He's more than deserves it, even though he doesn't fit their profile.

With all the bad, it's easy to overlook the good, which most everybody did. Ryan pitched a good game, as did most of the BP. More so, Martin almost single-handedly won the game for the Twins. He did a good job at leadoff (which I've always advocated), and he appeared to have driven in the 1st run. He always makes things happen; his swinging bunt single ignited our only 2 runs. If they executed that bunt, Martin's fly ball would have been a sacrifice. The ball was really dead last night. Did Martin's fly ball have a chance to go out under different conditions? I don't know, I didn't see it & it wasn't shown in the highlights. IMO, if Baldelli did & had a little better player selection, If Kwan didn't play that ball perfectly & a little better execution on Lee going home. Martin would have been the hero.

Like the author insinuated, Twins changed a lot that was good. But what should have been changed remained the same. Baldelli's bad managing.

If the ball is flying better we don’t get to the 10th. Cleveland had 2 fly balls at the fence. 

[bunsen82]

Just now, DJL44 said:

Falvey traded Varland for a player he thinks can replace Larnach and a starting pitcher prospect.

The trades weren't for tanking. The roster they've chosen after the trades means they're tanking.

They are tanking for 2 months. This is for the draft. After that we still have questions. Can they build a good enough bullpen in 1 offseason? That’s a difficult task. 
 

I’m willing to give the Toronto outfielder the rest of the season before I declare him AAAA. 

[bunsen82]

25 minutes ago, The Great Hambino said:

Tanking for draft capital makes no sense in baseball's setup.  The odds are too smoothed over from position to position, there are limitations on a long-term tank, and prospects even at the top have too much variance for it to be worthwhile.

If Falvey truly gave away four years of Varland for whatever marginal one-time uptick in draft odds that would provide for 2026, then not only should he be fired, he should be imprisoned

That Toronto trade actually looks really good, better if the outfielder pans out. As to the draft There is a massive difference between picking 1-5 than 10-15. The 2026 draft looks very good. This is a mandate likely from the new owners.  Pohlads are the ones that did this say what you will. 
 

My guess is we have a bottom 3 record once everything is said and done for draft purposes. 4 teams can’t draft in the top 9. 

[USAFChief]

28 minutes ago, The Great Hambino said:

Tanking for draft capital makes no sense in baseball's setup.  The odds are too smoothed over from position to position, there are limitations on a long-term tank, and prospects even at the top have too much variance for it to be worthwhile.

If Falvey truly gave away four years of Varland for whatever marginal one-time uptick in draft odds that would provide for 2026, then not only should he be fired, he should be imprisoned

Spot on. 

(And can we never ever hear the term "draft capital" again? Pretty please??)

[Doctor Gast]

14 minutes ago, bunsen82 said:

If the ball is flying better we don’t get to the 10th. Cleveland had 2 fly balls at the fence. 

Thank you, I knew that.

[bunsen82]

7 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Spot on. 

(And can we never ever hear the term "draft capital" again? Pretty please??)

Deal with it. 

[Parfigliano]

2 hours ago, bunsen82 said:

Most of it is Pohlads. Baldellis time is coming to end is my guess. Falvey, I like the draft system he has set up. Even if he goes I hope we keep a lot of he ideas. Falvey followed the boss orders for the last 2 years. My bigger concern is why couldn’t our players hit. This is the question that has to be answered. 

Can't bunt either

[Parfigliano]

35 minutes ago, bunsen82 said:

If the ball is flying better we don’t get to the 10th. Cleveland had 2 fly balls at the fence. 

That was Tonkin toying with them.

[joefish]

9 hours ago, Nshore said:

The announcer defended Gasper not bunting by saying he "hadn't done it all year" or some such nonsense - like he was being asked to split the atom.  Gasper plays baseball for a living, but apparently doesn't know how to bunt.  The Twins have to find players who know how to play baseball.

Can we blame Gardenhire yet?

[joefish]

Reading this article is less entertaining than reading the obituaries. 

[Nshore]

4 minutes ago, joefish said:

Can we blame Gardenhire yet?

I wish Baldelli would emulate Tom Kelly.  If I remember correctly, Kelly used to make every player lay down a few bunts at the end of every batting practice session.  If a guy like Gasper wasn't ready to bunt at any time, Kelly would have been hospitalized for a conniption.

[chinmusic]

Matt, I did double check,  but I knew exactly what you were alluding to with the Honky Chateau 3rd track. It was a good album. Sigh....

[sweetmusicviola16]

4 hours ago, bunsen82 said:

For Joe and the fans, we need Joe to do well down the stretch. More than anyone else he holds the most value of any other player that could give us the pieces for another run. 

I couldn't agree more. At this point Ryan should be traded next winter. He doesn't fit in the next competitive window at all. But the pieces he brings in return will. Pablo should be traded as well. I believe Jeffers should be too. If this is a rebuild do it right. Forget about short-term mediocrity.

 

Keep Ryan happy, winning and loving Minnesota. Trade him for a haul and if and when you have new owners show him how much you value him after 2027 and resign him as an FA. 

[Jeff K]

16 hours ago, KirbyDome89 said:

Disinterested or not, Ryan gets out of the 1st unharmed as well if Julien doesn't botch that double play ball.

Ironglove Julien strikes again.