Twins 4, Royals 3: Eighth-Inning Rally Snaps Twins' Four-Game Skid

[DJL44]

3 minutes ago, HarmonK03 said:

How about we raise the floor and have a 13th player that can contribute something.  Like KC does with Tolbert.

Jackson has been contributing. He might be their best defensive catcher. He can pinch run, has some defensive utility beyond catcher (1B and corner OF). Over the last two seasons and 170 PA he has hit .255/.308/.446.

I know prospects are sexy, but a veteran bench player who doesn’t need everyday reps is ideal for the 13th player. There are only 9 spots in the lineup.

[bean5302]

2 hours ago, DJL44 said:

Talking contract extension this offseason? Arbitration is not going to be kind to him with his overall stats.

With a new CBA coming, I don't think there's any way Arbitration goes down. I think there's a good chance arbitration extends the market value adjustment so there aren't gigantic jumps like Skubal had. 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% or something like that.

Also, given Royce Lewis' history. Does he want to keep getting pushed around the field? Does he think the Twins have wronged him? I'd be shocked if he viewed himself as a utility guy or a 1B. It wouldn't surprise me if he pushed for a trade.

[DJL44]

3 minutes ago, HarmonK03 said:

That is not true, you can get 4 outfielders regular AB's very easily, managers do it all the time.  And Bell doesn't need to play every day, there are AB's available at DH as well.  And when you have 4 quality outfielders, one may be available to pinch hit later in the game, an actual quality batter, rather than just a platoon move for the sake of it.

What you want is to bench Josh Bell, play Larnach at DH and put Jenkins in the lineup. For that to pay off, Jenkins has to immediately hit better than Josh Bell. I think that is an unreasonable expectation for any rookie.

I mostly don’t understand the impatience. What is the huge rush to get the rookies up this weekend instead of waiting a week or two? Why are people pushing the panic button on a team that can barely play .500 baseball? Why waste Jenkins’ incredibly valuable service time on a desperate attempt to turn an 80 win team into an 82 win team?

[TL]

25 minutes ago, HarmonK03 said:

That is not true, you can get 4 outfielders regular AB's very easily, managers do it all the time.  And Bell doesn't need to play every day, there are AB's available at DH as well.  And when you have 4 quality outfielders, one may be available to pinch hit later in the game, an actual quality batter, rather than just a platoon move for the sake of it.

Exactly. And Jenkins will save us some runs. Larnach makes the occasional diving play, and doesn’t get to a lot, that a good LF makes standing up. Jenkins can play every day and let Larnach DH and play the field occasionally. If they insist on having Bell/Larnach in the lineup most days then Keaschall becomes the 4th guy (just for remainder of this year) who plays against lefties, comes in to pinch hit against lefty relievers, and gets in vs righties when Buxton needs a day off. 

I love Jackson as a backup, but not as a 3rd catcher during a pennant chase. 

[TL]

9 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Why waste Jenkins’ incredibly valuable service time on a desperate attempt to turn an 80 win team into an 82 win team?

Promoting now would not impact his free agency (under current CBA); it only impacts “rookie” status and whether he could net us a draft pick by winning rookie of the year. That’s not nothing, but not worth the delay IMO.

[90stwinskid]

Post-deadline record: 1-2

Overall: 57-59

Thrilled for Culpepper. Go Twins.

[DJL44]

8 minutes ago, TL said:

Promoting now would not impact his free agency (under current CBA); it only impacts “rookie” status and whether he could net us a draft pick by winning rookie of the year. That’s not nothing, but not worth the delay IMO.

I want the Twins to negotiate a long term contract with Jenkins before they promote him.

[HarmonK03]

57 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

What you want is to bench Josh Bell, play Larnach at DH and put Jenkins in the lineup. For that to pay off, Jenkins has to immediately hit better than Josh Bell. I think that is an unreasonable expectation for any rookie.

I mostly don’t understand the impatience. What is the huge rush to get the rookies up this weekend instead of waiting a week or two? Why are people pushing the panic button on a team that can barely play .500 baseball? Why waste Jenkins’ incredibly valuable service time on a desperate attempt to turn an 80 win team into an 82 win team?

The rush would be if they are going to act as contenders than you make these moves instead of keeping Gray, Roden or Jackson on the roster.  Now I know Culpepper just called up so that is a good start.

[Jeff K]

8 hours ago, howeda7 said:

Nice win. Now PLEASE call up Culpepper and Jenkins. The offense is still brutal. 

Culpepper called up today.

[saviking]

Can't wait to watch Culpepper play SS .. But big test ahead at Milwaukee. Need to win at least 1 of the 3 to stay relevant 

[USAFChief]

3 hours ago, Major League Ready said:

One reason is that he would lose Rookie status for next year.  Wait a week and he would maintain Rookie status for next year.  It makes no sense to forfeit Rookie status for next year for one week on the roster this year.

This is a contender for least insightful post in TD history.

Good lord I hope to heck this never crossed anyone in Twins management's mind.

[howeda7]

4 hours ago, Jeff K said:

Culpepper called up today.

Zoll reads Twin Daily...

[howeda7]

7 hours ago, HarmonK03 said:

What has he done this year in his 66 AB's.  He will be 31 next year and has a career ave of .174 and OPS of .557.  He has contributed when called upon, but there are always journeyman catchers available in the offseason.  He is the easiest option to replace in the offseason.  Why do we play short this year just so we can have a backup catcher for next year.  This to me is one of many examples of why Zoll needs to go.

While I agree that losing Jackson is not the end of the world, you can also just tell Caratini his knee hurts (I think it still does) and IL him until 9/1. 

[HarmonK03]

4 minutes ago, howeda7 said:

While I agree that losing Jackson is not the end of the world, you can also just tell Caratini his knee hurts (I think it still does) and IL him until 9/1. 

And the union will go along with that if he isn't really hurt.  I know he looked he was favoring his knee, but you can't just tell someone to go on the IL unless they are really hurt.  And you still have to rip the bandaid at some point with Jackson if they are still in the race which I do doubt but if they are, it is mismanagement to carry three catchers.  And Jackson just isn't worth roster gymnastics they are going thru to keep him here.  

And on 9/1 you are only adding one position player when the rosters expand.

[howeda7]

3 minutes ago, HarmonK03 said:

And the union will go along with that if he isn't really hurt.  I know he looked he was favoring his knee, but you can't just tell someone to go on the IL unless they are really hurt.  And you still have to rip the bandaid at some point with Jackson if they are still in the race which I do doubt but if they are, it is mismanagement to carry three catchers.  And Jackson just isn't worth roster gymnastics they are going thru to keep him here.  

And on 9/1 you are only adding one position player when the rosters expand.

This happens way more than we know. Even the Twins have done it. Joey Gallo wasn't really hurt when they disappeared him in 2024. Besides, Caratini is clearly not right. He's like 0 for his last 20 ever since he hurt his knee and he can't run (even for him). It's not even a conspiracy, he needs to sit for a couple weeks. 

[HarmonK03]

2 minutes ago, howeda7 said:

This happens way more than we know. Even the Twins have done it. Joey Gallo wasn't really hurt when they disappeared him in 2024. Besides, Caratini is clearly not right. He's like 0 for his last 20 ever since he hurt his knee and he can't run (even for him). It's not even a conspiracy, he needs to sit for a couple weeks. 

When did he hurt his knee, I missed that to be honest.  He may be 0 for 20 because he is not that good of a hitter.  He had a career month in June, he is more the May and July version as a hitter.  I am not going to give him an excuse for not hitting.  

For someone hurt, they sure seem to be running him out a lot trying to fit him into the lineup.

[howeda7]

3 minutes ago, HarmonK03 said:

When did he hurt his knee, I missed that to be honest.  He may be 0 for 20 because he is not that good of a hitter.  He had a career month in June, he is more the May and July version as a hitter.  I am not going to give him an excuse for not hitting.  

For someone hurt, they sure seem to be running him out a lot trying to fit him into the lineup.

He fouled a ball off it against KC last week. I honestly thought he might have broken his leg at first. He left the game but played the next day. Props to him for being tough, but it's not helping anyone.

[HarmonK03]

15 minutes ago, howeda7 said:

He fouled a ball off it against KC last week. I honestly thought he might have broken his leg at first. He left the game but played the next day. Props to him for being tough, but it's not helping anyone.

I remember that now, but none of us know to what extent he is hurt or injured.  Again they keep trying to force him into the lineup like tonight and he has not earned regular playing time like they are giving him.

[ashbury]

1 hour ago, howeda7 said:

Zoll reads Twin Daily...

Well then he only started reading yesterday....  😄