jkcarew

This. My work tried to ram Twitter down our throats a few years back. My experience was similar...some interesting possibilities...but, in the end, too much like having a spoon full of food (of which you can never be 100% sure of the origins) waved in front of your face constantly. Foods good, but I’ll eat when I’m hungry thanks, and when I can asses how the foods been prepared. My college+ kids don’t use it anymore either.

Making us THINK...I like it! Well, if we count the Bob Allison 1959 ROY as the first, you were born in 1964 (Oliva). But, the Twins weren’t the Twins in ‘59...so you were born in 1967 (Carew). A very young grandfather. Good for you!

Now Cody....you had all 5 on this list ranked below Lewin Diaz, right? I don’t think it’s too late to go with simple denial.

I’d rather not have false hope get in the way of my desire to get a longer look at some of the prospects and any...any at all...return on the FA’s. But that’s just me. Unlikely to catch up, and no chance to be relevant in the playoffs even in the event Cleveland spits the bit. I’m against hope. Someone has to play the villain in every thread. Or this doesn’t work.

No. You are citing data that is real. Where we are disagreeing is in what the data means and how (or if) it would materially impact Dozier's trade value in a 2-3 month rental scenario. So, the things we are disagreeing on are subjective and a matter of opinion.

Oh, damn! I want to change my underappreciated to Gagne.

Let me try to elaborate. I looked at you link. You can see the numbers vary wildly from year to year. I do not at all believe that Dozier has a reputation as a "choker" among decision-makers in the industry, REGARDLESS of the numbers you cite. "Close and Late" numbers are compiled against the best relievers in the game (to a significant degree) and numbers moderately below overall numbers are not uncommon at all....it's not abnormal. If you disagree, and think Dozier's value is materially tainted by performance in 'clutch' situations, that's your prerogative. I very much doubt that is the case.

Again, how he fared in 2018 in these scenarios will have no bearing on his trade value.

For those that love to talk about Dozier's RISP struggles. This is a number that varies widely from year to year for most all batters. Dozier's BA RiSP is down this year. For his career his BA RiSP is almost identical to his overall career BA (as it is for most players). His 2018 BA RiSP will have absolutely nothing to do with his perceived value among potential trade partners.

I love Dozier as a player, but even I don't want to watch him play for 2 more months just because his replacement will probably make the team weaker. When you pull the plug on a season, you pull the plug. So, if he's not going to be here in 2019, at the very least you can assess 'how far away' Gordon is, etc...or further assess whether you want Adrianza in 2019...or what Escobar looks like at 2nd...anything that has any relevance at all for 2019 plans. I think the return will be limited under current circumstances, but I see that as almost irrelevant. You're not going to give him a QO. Under these circumstances, I'm almost more interested in seeing where he goes, than what we get. The work and improvement he made to transform himself into what he's become warrants a real opportunity in the playoffs...and hopefully a decent payday in the off season.

Wow. Two song references and two home runs. I don't know what you were doing right around 1976. But clearly, you were paying attention!

1.) Where are you from? Grew up in northern MN, then to college and early adult life in Chicago, then back to MN in the Twin Cites, been here for 30 years now 2.) Age Range? 57 3.) What brought you to Twins Daily? Recent empty nester with WAY more time on my hands than I'm used to...think I just stumbled across it a couple years ago surfing for news on Twins prospects 4.) Highest level of baseball/softball played? High School...technically, played for two years in college (defensive sub, pinch runner mostly), but it was just a way to get out of spring football practice 5.) Favorite Twins Player, and favorite underappreciated Twins player, and if you want, favorite current Twins player? Killebrew, Puckett, or Carew (going out on a limb, no?); underappreciated Bob Allison, Roy Smalley, Dan Gladden; current...easy to pull for Eduardo Escobar (even though I acknowledge he may need to be traded...we'll see.) 6.) Favorite non-Twins Daily site/authors? The usual suspects regarding the Twins. Mike/other posters have gotten me into Fangraphs. Otherwise, I'm usually onto news/current events sites. 7.) Favorite Twitter follows? Yeah....no. 8.) Other interests outside of baseball. Bike a lot, read a lot. Youngest is playing college football, so I spend a lot of time late Aug into December traveling around following him. Last year. Will definitely need to be finding more hobbies. 9.) Favorite part of Twins Daily Articles/blogs...especially the responses. Learning about how serious fans, including those with different perspectives than mine view the game and the players, etc.; appreciate the effort to moderate/monitor the tone of discussions 10.) Tell us what we can do better. 11.) Have you been to any of the Twins Daily "events?" No.

In the 60's and into the 70's, they used to have 'campers weekend' at the Met, and our family of five would come down from northern MN and pitch a tent in the parking lot on Friday (this stuff actually happened) and stay until after the game on Sunday. One year there was a double-header on Saturday, and between games, some guys (can't remember who...I think Oliva was one of them) were hitting fungos along the right field foul line...trying to see who could hit them the furthest/highest, etc. One was mis-hit and floated right back near me. There were probably a dozen people crowded along the railing at the time watching them. One of them, a full grown adult, literally tore my hand from the ball as I grabbed it while it was rolling under the seats. He took the ball and I had scratch marks on the back of my hand. I ran back to wherever my Dad was at the time and told him about it and showed him my hand. I was upset. Thought I was going to see my dad punch someone that day, but thankfully, he couldn't find the guy. Years later, when the Metrodome was new and I didn't have my own kids yet, I caught a foul ball (can't remember who hit it...Randy Bush comes to mind). I gave it to a little kid in the row behind me. The look on his dad's face was almost as good as the look on the kid's.

Blankenhorn higher than I’d have him. “...keeps his strikeouts in check”. Actually, he’s creeping toward danger, at over 26% this year at the A+ level. That Doesn’t usually go down from here. He’s got to hit the ball over the fence with his profile. It’s hard to judge him too harshly playing in the offensive wasteland that is the FSL, and only 21...but, I’d be higher on him if he could project to an every-day second baseman defensively.

Luda? Probably just trying to get him to Roll Out.

Bauer had thrown 111 pitches through 8. Two relievers threw 41 to get through the 9th.

My assumption as well.

Are you saying that Reusse chooses to be pawn on behalf of the Pohlads/FO?....or, simply that something was deliberately leaked to him that he, in this case, happens to agree with. I'd buy the latter, but I'm not buying Reusse as pawn to any owners or front offices in this town. He's not Sid, and especially not at this stage of his career. (I'm not taking his side in the argument at hand.)

Exactly. BTW...Cleveland's record in their last three series against Chicago, Detroit, and KC? 9-0. Twins record in last 3 series against those opponents? 3-6 (a 2nd series against Chicago within that time-frame would make it 5-8). Hopefully, the Twins can go 14-0 in our 10 remaining games against Cleveland. It's worth a try, right?

This is the best and only argument for not selling. Until the last paragraph. I would hope the Twins have at least one player (or at least think they do) that would require a sell based on the last paragraph. Personally, I like next-to-nothing better than nothing for the expiring contracts, as nothing about this team justifies passing on anything, IMO.

Tough decision, made tougher by the Buxton/Sano situations. Doubtful this team can challenge in the AL in the next couple of years, even with Realmuto, if Buxton and Sano aren't the good versions we've glimpsed. And, if they ARE the good versions, do you really need Realmuto? Probably not (although, you'd still need more than we're currently getting at the position). Aside from the strategic considerations, if I think Lewis is going to stick at SS and be average+ defensively...I don't know if this is the current read, or not...but if it is, I'm not trading Lewis for 2 years of anyone not named Mike Trout.

I concede. Two of his base runners scoring in his last inning with him in the clubhouse. It was a strong start.

The 2006 team had 9 players with a 2.5 WAR or better. This team is on pace to have 4...with an outside chance at 6. They don't compare whatsoever...especially if we consider how the current Twins 25-man roster is constructed. True, they don't have to be that good if Cleveland is really bad in the second half. I'm fine with the optimism. Anything's possible. But sell the free agents (doesn't matter that you will only get 'small' returns). And play the young guys.

Forget about 2006...that was a borderline great team littered with all-stars and they won 96 games. The 2009 team only had to win 87...even that would require this Twins team to finish 47-27....and you have to believe Cleveland only plays 500 ball from here on out, even though they have a ton of games remaining against Detroit, KC, Chicago. Sell free agents and play the young guys.

Yes, it was decent for sure...strikeouts a bit pedestrian for a power arm...a few more pitches. But only his second game at this level...and I suppose a starter will never see the 7th inning by the time Graterol is in his prime.