twinfan

We traded away many of our best players at last year's deadline. So are we now a better team? That is what trading is all about. If we trade Ryan or Jeffers, will we be a better team? I doubt it because I only see us getting prospects who are more like suspects in the long run. Do we give up on Lewis, Wallner and/or Lee (who is going decently for now)? I don't know what the answer is. Right now I see a team that has had more at bats with the bases loaded yet can't score many runs in that situation, a team where batters don't move runners along like they should and a team whose bullpen is shaky at best. Something needs to be done. Yes the average MLB player bats .245 these days but we don't have many (including Buxton) who can do that. Yuck!

My biggest concern going into the season was the bullpen or lack of it. Yes, the closer by committee is working right now but history is not on it's side. Actually, almost everything is working right now which is fun to watch. However, the relievers are walking too many, giving up runs though fortunately we have been hitting, and are not striking out enough. It's bound to catch up to them but let's hope not until next Spring.

The entire team is in a bad slump led by Buxton who is supposed to be our best hitter. There have been a couple of surprises but not enough to win games. And when we finally did score, the pitching fell apart. I'm more concerned that we don't move runners from 2nd to 3rd with no outs, we have no bullpen to speak of and we strike out an awful lot. Hopefully the offense will start to wake up (except for vs Skubal-not expected) and we get some relief pitching. It's too early to fully give up on some players but we can't wait too long.

It's not surprising to see a low rating here. But a couple of winning seasons can change that. However, right now it is difficult to vision this team even getting above .500 much less competing for a playoff spot. We have some decent players, a couple of good starting pitchers but no bullpen, no big name (except for Buxton) and no depth. Add to that the loss of Lopez and optimism fades. I figured we would be around 20% but teams like the White Sox and Angels and even A's seem to have good young players who can excite the fans so they get more votes.

It's normal that RH batters hit better against LH pitchers but I am much more worried about the Twins (lack of a) bullpen right now. The relief pitchers we have are awful and won't get any better. Can anyone throw heaters? Does anyone have lock down stuff? Other teams have no-names who come up and shut teams down. We don't. And we passed on veterans like Luke Weaver and Tommie Kahnle who can do just that. So it won't matter if we score 2 or 3 or 8 runs in a game. We won't win. And so far I am not impressed with Josh Bell. He is a free swinger at best who probably won't do much except keep a prospect down on the farm. Maybe someone will want him at the deadline or sooner but it's doubtful. It looks like my prediction of the Twins winning 76 games (in the USA's 250th year) will (sadly) probably come true.

I think Lewis is ok. As far as Bell being a leader, we'll see. But maybe he should get off the field and become a coach. That's where the leadership may need to come from. Yes, the players need players they can talk to but to teach someone may need to come from the coaching staff. And yes, leaders need followers as the Cruz-Sano relationship proved. Cruz tried to teach but Sano couldn't follow (or maybe didn't have the skills to follow).

Hopefully they will agree before arbitration. However, the Twins are mainly a cheaply run organization which could run a player like Ryan out of town. We seem to have a good core of starters right now and need bullpen help. I hope that even going to arbitration doesn't kill the relationship.

Ok. Compare Arraez to Tony Gwynn who was one of the greatest hitters of our time. Gwynn topped 88 runs scored only 4 times in his career- mostly at the beginning. Would you not sign him because of that? I just can't agree with the thinking that nobody (especially the Twins) is signing the best pure hitter (or close to it) of our time. Of course defenses know how to play him so his average may drop but, like Gwynn, he is slower than normal and, unlike Gwynn, his defense isn't the greatest though you don't have to play defense as a DH (if needed there).

How many first basemen does it take to change a lightbulb? I don't see this guy helping us at all. He'll only take playing time away from someone we may need later on. Yuck! And why is everybody trading Larnach? That would be a big mistake unless we can get 2 quality relievers for him.

I didn't read others comments but, if you look at this season, Arraez got off to a slow start- batting around .220 for the first 3+ weeks or so. After that, he hit around .330 for the rest of the season. So your story is full of holes as far as average goes. If .240 hitters are making 15-20 million and Arraez is only worth 10 mil, then teams are just plain stupid for not signing him. Too much emphasis is on barrel rate and other dumb stats and, to me, Arraez' swing looks plenty quick to be able to hit almost everything thrown at him.

I think the Twins are missing the boat on good relievers. They could have had the former Yankee who has a proven record. Kanhle and Colombe are decent but not strikeout pitchers. Loasiga has done well. Sewald also has decent experience. The rest don't impress me though Junis could be a starter.

Twins must get some relievers to compete. Keaschall can be a star. Lee seems to be improving and Lewis can be a stud if healthy.

I would add Lewis, Ober and Woods-Richardson to that list. I don't think we need outfield help but the bullpen must be a priority. With the way baseball is played today, you cannot win without a very strong bullpen. I think there is potential for this team to get back near the top of the division with good health and an improved bullpen. Let's see what happens going forward.

With the Twins being a small market team with a limited budget, I don't see the need to sign Goldy. He had a great start with the Yankees but didn't do much in the second half of the season. He has been on a winner and brings that tangible asset but we'd be better off spending our money elsewhere. And Cody Clemens may not be the answer for first base either.

Too bad free agents aren't free.