jkcarew

Asterisk: against Kyle Gibson.

Only one out, 4 runs, and a different opponent from a quality start.

Haven’t seen anyone labor like this since my 10 lb 12oz son was born.

He’s like a vacuum out there! A Roomba.

Take that, Oakland!!

I know what you’re thinking…. January news conference that we’ve resigned Gallo.

That’s it!! Give Buxton a 42” bat! Why didn’t anyone think of this earlier!?

Two heavyweights headed to the final rounds! Like watching Gerry Cooney fight Randall Cobb.

I’m sure everyone’s blood pressure was up a notch after the pitch to Correa. Gallo takes the fall…better him than Correa.

If the AL West offers the AL Central Oakland for KC at the deadline, I say we take it.

Gotta realize…on average Oakland almost wins one game of every 3-game series…about three quarters of one game to be exact. This could be that three quarters.

Most guys swing and miss on that pitch.

The barrel of Buxton’s bat is providing a very small target for the pitchers this year.

I assume 2-3 starts to justify the signing…him being bad…and released. He’s the 2023 version of 1987 Steve Carlton. Could those innings Carlton ate (and losses he contributed to)…have been the true key to the WS run???

I want prospects (if more than lottery). One hitter doesn’t guarantee anything. And the core needs to be turned over.

But team-wise doesn’t 0 - 18 suggest to you that teams that are clearly weaker than the playoff opponent almost never win one series…let alone two? Never once were the Twins on par with the opponent going in…way weaker…not really close, including 2019 where the substandard ALC allowed them to win 100+ games, while still somehow being 5 games under 500 against winning teams. You don’t have to be dominant, you don’t even have to be as good…but you better be within shouting distance. This club can win the division, with or without help, IMO. But, I don’t see them being within shouting distance…even with a rental or two…of any of the prospective opponents.

I fear there’s an implied assumption here that may not hold up for all of ‘us’. On behalf of THAT ‘us’, I’d like to say that we sincerely apologize. We didn’t realize the harmful impact we could have on the AL postseason (and…um…loved ones, or whatever). And if not for it being way too late to matter, we would do whatever we could to make it right.

I see a lot of “but the 87 Twins” or “but the 91 Braves”….not just in this thread, but everywhere. But, anything before the format change really isn’t analogous. Aside from the fact that you had to win one of only two divisions (more likely that you have at least one legit team to outpace)…but more importantly, you only had to win one series to get to the WS. It’s now basically twice as hard to get to the WS…and that’s if you’re NOT the underdog. For the 2023 Twins, that’d be beating two teams back-to-back that are around 10 games better than you…actually probably more adjusted for strength of schedule. (The schedules are still unbalanced, just not as much as in past). More recently, the Phillies won ‘only’ 87 games. But they played in a great division…38 games against 100-win teams in their own division. 87 was a strong number. 87 in the 2023 ALC, isn’t at all similar. Agree that the 2015 Mets are probably as good an analogy as any. A once-in-a-decade occurrence, that relied on a lot of luck in term of match-ups. But they were 43-30 in the second half…even in a relatively week division, decent momentum. So…I’d trade Gray, depending upon the get…it wouldn’t necessarily cost us this division. There’s about a zero chance that’s going to happen. So, I’ll live with keeping him and doing the QO (if he stays good/healthy). Just please don’t go nuts on rentals with anything more than lottery tickets. This is not the year. Twins should be focusing on the happy opportunity to compete for a division while simultaneously moving to a new core…or at least not further delaying that move.

“Still, based on track record, you can have some hope that Byron Buxton, Carlos Correa, and Jorge Polanco will gravitate to that 120 OPS+ level,” Polanco has a 111 career OPS+. Buxton 106. They’re 29 and apparently not fully healthy. The Mets got to 90 wins and played a team with 92 wins in the first round…and played the 3rd place team in the NLC for the pennant (the Cubs when they were still the Cubs). Could a bunch of veterans suddenly over perform? Could a bunch of rookies suddenly get it? Could the Twins do a once-in-a-decade tap dance through the AL playoffs? Yes to all. Highly unlikely…and not something you should spend a legit prospect on. Meanwhile, winning the division doesn’t require anything beyond marginal improvement.

Really like this pick. Does anyone have a take on signability issues?

Yeah. But I still don’t think he ranks high on the list of issues (at least longer-term) with this club. Admittedly, that’s based on a belief that the hitting will come back close to career norms, which is no guarantee. Fwiw, BABiP is way below career norms…and it matches the eye test, IMO.

For how long? Forever isn’t acceptable, IMO.

The play at first really doesn’t have anything to do with what position he’s playing…and in high school and the minors, he’s spent his entire career moving around and displaying aptitude in various high-leverage defensive positions…way more often at SS or CF than 3rd. That’s WHY he was a number 1 pick. Still, I mostly agree with you if this is temporary. That would seem reasonable. If not, it definitely will NOT be in the best interest of the club.

Even that doesn’t make that much sense to me. It MAY mean he has a longer career. But he will be worth less money DURING the career if he’s stuck at 3rd…or doesn’t play SS or CF…and he clearly seem capable…especially of the latter. Maybe the point is simply increasing likelihood he at least makes it to free agency once. Sacrifice some upside to protect the bottom for career earnings. Bottom line, it’s definitely not good for the team. Hopefully, it’s short term.

Same.