Tigers 7, Twins 2: This One Was Ugly From the Start

[DJL44]

55 minutes ago, HarmonK03 said:

Give Ross a run at 2B to see if he has the potential to be the backup middle infielder next year.  Clemens should not be a starter, he needs to be a utility type moving around the field and hitting 6th or 7th in the lineup, so he doesn't need to start every game.

Send Ross back to the minors and bring up Rodriguez like they should have done a week ago.

[HarmonK03]

Just now, DJL44 said:

Send Ross back to the minors and bring up Rodriguez like they should have done a week ago.

You can send Gonzalez or Jackson down, give Ross a run to see if there something potentially there.   Maybe we could avoid bringing in more AAAA types for middle infield next year.

[Saxophone Joe]

Well, looks like we’ll be 4.5 back of Cleveland on Friday. Too many teams in front of us-BUT: the Orioles and Toronto play each other this weekend. And Texas is at Arizona.

There is still a path. Don’t shoot the messenger! 🤣

[D.C Twins]

We are in range for 4th place in the draft lottery if we can get below Detroit as well as firmly get below the batch of teams that currently have about the same record (S.F is not eligible).

Our goal at this time should be a top 5 draft pick next year (if lucky, top three).... Maybe we can continue our streak of getting within the top apron of elite draft picks.

As such, we should be playing all the players under 25 the rest of the way for experience and to improve our chances of adding another future star to join them. 

LFG!!!!!!

[D.C Twins]

7 minutes ago, Saxophone Joe said:

Well, looks like we’ll be 4.5 back of Cleveland on Friday. Too many teams in front of us-BUT: the Orioles and Toronto play each other this weekend. And Texas is at Arizona.

There is still a path. Don’t shoot the messenger! 🤣

                                                                                                                                    As instructed:  "Remember to put on your own mask before helping others!"

[Saxophone Joe]

1 minute ago, D.C Twins said:

We are in range for 4th place in the draft lottery if we can get below Detroit as well as firmly get below the batch of teams that currently have about the same record (S.F is not eligible).

Our goal at this time should be a top 5 draft pick next year (if lucky, top three).... Maybe we can continue our streak of getting within the top apron of elite draft picks.

As such, we should be playing all the players under 25 the rest of the way for experience and to improve our chances of adding another future star to join them.

LFG!!!!!!

Seems our goals for the final 16 have diverged 🤣 yours are surely more likely than mine. 

[Saxophone Joe]

Just now, D.C Twins said:

                                                                                                      As instructed "Remember to put on your own mask before helping others!"

[DJL44]

1 hour ago, HarmonK03 said:

You can send Gonzalez or Jackson down, give Ross a run to see if there something potentially there.   Maybe we could avoid bringing in more AAAA types for middle infield next year.

I expect Gonzalez to go down for Martin in a few days. They have carried Jackson this long, doubt they cut him now. 

Larnach has one option remaining and I think he is still less than 5 years service time. They might as well burn it while it still exists.

The other player on his last option year is Kreidler. I would be fine sending him to AAA.

[PuckettPond]

Kody Clemens is on the team for only 1 reason, the father - son game. Roger needs to be more involved with the team on field and front office. Maybe that will help him enter Cooperstown. 

[Mike Sixel]

23 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

I expect Gonzalez to go down for Martin in a few days. They have carried Jackson this long, doubt they cut him now. 

Larnach has one option remaining and I think he is still less than 5 years service time. They might as well burn it while it still exists.

The other player on his last option year is Kreidler. I would be fine sending him to AAA.

That would be awful. GG should be playing. 

[DJL44]

8 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

That would be awful. GG should be playing. 

Gonzalez has had an awful season in AAA. I don’t know why he was promoted. He needs reps and he’s not ready to face major league pitching.

[Mike Sixel]

16 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Gonzalez has had an awful season in AAA. I don’t know why he was promoted. He needs reps and he’s not ready to face major league pitching.

I don't care if I ever see Martin again. If not GG, Manny works for me. 

Btw, Rodriguez was introduced as Manny the other day..... Not Emma...

[Blyleven2011]

2 hours ago, Parfigliano said:

I don't see this FO doing that.

I don’t ever see the FO doing the right thing …

falvey and Rocco didn’t care how the fans felt , why should it be any different …

[LastOnePicked]

Sure, it was ugly. But just imagine how bad it would be if they weren't trying so hard to win. It's inspiring, really.

C'mon, gang, let's finally shelve all the talk about this team's "effort" or "attitude" or "vibes." That meant nothing a month ago and it means even less now. Roster talent, player performance and the W/L columns are the only things that matter when it comes to a major league ballclub.

I'm not worried one bit about Jenkins. I'm pleased with Culpepper's and Keaschall's bats. I'm pleased with Lee's improvement. I think Yoendrys Gómez is a great find. Otherwise, literally every other spot on the '27 team would be considered a question mark on a serious team.

Time for ownership and the FO to get serious if they actually want to see butts in Target Field seats after the lockout. I'm not coming back for "vibes" or empty promises. Neither is the general audience of Minnesotans who still have no reason whatsoever to waste good money on the Twins.

[DJL44]

5 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

I don't care if I ever see Martin again. If not GG, Manny works for me. 

Btw, Rodriguez was introduced as Manny the other day..... Not Emma...

Martin is very likely to make next season’s roster. He is still making minimum wage.

[Danchat]

Rodriguez needs to be up in the majors ASAP to see where he's at facing major league pitching. Play him every day over Larnach, easy decision there.

As for Gonzalez, he was bad for most the year at AAA and while still young, he doesn't seem close to ready to face MLB pitching. I'd still play him over Larnach... but I dunno, even Mendez probably deserves a shot over him.

Not sure about Martin's future. He was the team's best hitter for the first 50 or so games and was hot at the end of last year, are we sure his cool-off over this summer should end his Twins career? I'm not convinced and I think a rebound could absolutely happen, but there's also just not that much upside there. Even with his play falling off he was getting on base at a .350 clip... better than Larnach who's having a career year even with his last 30 games being bad.

I also don't see any reason to play Bell any more, we know what he is. A league average DH who is very streaky... the next couple weeks shouldn't determine whether his option is exercised. Play the kids.

 

[DJL44]

3 minutes ago, Danchat said:

 

I also don't see any reason to play Bell any more, we know what he is. A league average DH who is very streaky... the next couple weeks shouldn't determine whether his option is exercised. Play the kids.

I don’t see any reason NOT to play Bell. He’s performing and he’s not blocking any kids.

[Blyleven2011]

As most fans knew at the deadline we were not in a position to pretend to be consistent contenders ,,,

we should have bought and sold for the future , we got half right …

the added because they wanted to show the disgruntled fans that they’re trying …

 

TODAYS GAME ;

Offense sucked with 5 hits ( 2 solo homeruns )  , Mathew’s not sharp , bullpen not sharp , inherited runners scored  , WE LOST , we might as well sit some unproductive players and see what we have in the prospects ( benching players and not playing them doesn’t make sense ) …

[Mike Sixel]

3 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

I don’t see any reason NOT to play Bell. He’s performing and he’s not blocking any kids.

Mendez. Rodriguez. Gonzalez. Ross. 

I'm done with veterans that won't be here next year. 

 

[DJL44]

2 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Mendez. Rodriguez. Gonzalez. Ross. 

I'm done with veterans that won't be here next year. 

You want Ben Ross to DH? I suppose they could decide to tank to improve draft position. Maybe they can sit Taj Bradley and bring up Aaron Rozek. Bring up Marco Raya to play instead of Gomez.

[HarmonK03]

16 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

I don’t see any reason NOT to play Bell. He’s performing and he’s not blocking any kids.

If someone that has a potential future with the Twins is sitting on the bench, then Bell should not be in the lineup.  If there are spots for all the younger players in the lineup then put Bell in the lineup.

[Mike Sixel]

4 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

You want Ben Ross to DH? I suppose they could decide to tank to improve draft position. Maybe they can sit Taj Bradley and bring up Aaron Rozek. Bring up Marco Raya to play instead of Gomez.

It's almost like you aren't reading what I wrote. Don't play veterans that won't be here. 

[DJL44]

Just now, HarmonK03 said:

If someone that has a potential future with the Twins is sitting on the bench, then Bell should not be in the lineup.  If there are spots for all the younger players in the lineup then put Bell in the lineup.

The bench is Gonzalez, Ross, Jackson, Caratini, and Kreidler. Play Josh Bell. The players tend to get cranky when management tries to throw games.

[DJL44]

1 minute ago, Mike Sixel said:

It's almost like you aren't reading what I wrote. Don't play veterans that won't be here. 

So sit Minter? 

[HarmonK03]

2 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

The bench is Gonzalez, Ross, Jackson, Caratini, and Kreidler. Play Josh Bell. The players tend to get cranky when management tries to throw games.

They are not throwing games, they are looking at the younger players which happens every September.  And the bench is what they choose it to be, very weak.

[Mike Sixel]

Just now, DJL44 said:

So sit Minter? 

I'm out. You aren't even trying to engage. Have a good night. 

[DJL44]

2 minutes ago, HarmonK03 said:

They are not throwing games, they are looking at the younger players which happens every September.  And the bench is what they choose it to be, very weak.

So scholarships for players who haven’t earned playing time?

[HarmonK03]

Just now, DJL44 said:

So scholarships for players who haven’t earned playing time?

This isn't new in the major leagues, you play the younger guys in September to find out where they are at in their development.  Did you see who Detroit was sitting today, Torkelson, Baez and Torres, this is nothing new and has nothing to do with scholarship.  It is about trying to build a team going forward.

[DJL44]

13 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

I'm out. You aren't even trying to engage. Have a good night. 

Ryan Jeffers is a veteran with no future with the team. Should they sit him for the rest of the season and play Alex Jackson?

[MeleMouth]

Right now the Twins are on track for the 10th or 11th draft pick and actually don't have much in the minors that could contribute at the beginning of next year, except Raya in the bullpen, ERod if they let him and clear room in the outfield, and Rojas if they clear room in the rotation. Both ERod and Rojas would be swaps who are unlikely to be much better than the current player in the spot.

That's about the worst outcome possible when a team is trying to compete: finishing way out of the playoffs, but too high for a premium draft pick; and using up most of your prospects while not gaining additional assets for the future.

Of course, improvement from Culpepper and Jenkins should be expected in 2027, and perhaps also from Bradley and Abel. But they are also going to lose their catcher, perhaps the most valuable player in 2026, without an equal replacement, and who knows about their centerfielder, who was an MVP candidate in the first half, but has been delaying major surgery for two months since then in the hope that he could hobble around for five innings in the playoffs.

Note: all three teams that traded major league players to the Twins at the deadline in exchange for prospects have won more games since the trades than the Twins have. That isn't a slam on the players, but is a bad mark against management, which misread the situation and then executed their plans poorly.

Also, in case anyone is wondering: Ryan Sprock, the catching prospect who was traded for the not awful but nearly needless Nance, who has had only had one clean full inning since joining the Twins, hit .307/.410 OBP/.553 SLG in A+ for Toronto, for a .963 OPS and 150 wRC+.