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

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.

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! 🤣

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!!!!!!

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!"

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. 

Just now, D.C Twins said:

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

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. 

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 …

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 ) …

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.

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.

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.

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+.

23 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

So sit Minter? 

Nothing against Minter, but the only reasons to pitch him now would be either if you want to try to get to 78 wins instead of 74 or you don't want to overuse anyone else.