rv78

Too many bad decisions are being made by the FO and Rocco to take this team seriously. I don't know about you but I'm sure glad Kepler has replaced Wallner in the lineup. 2 games back and he's 0 fer 9 with 4 K's. Impressive! But he'll play no matter how good Wallner was or is. Buxton has proven he's not good in the DH role but they won't move him back to CF because a healthy non-productive Buxton is better than one that is injured. How does that make sense? Is next to nothing really all that much better than nothing? They are taking a probable superstar and making him a one dimensional average to below average player. Good move there wiseguys. As for the hitters getting better due to coming back to the norm, the pitchers will do the same, as we are starting to see. Ownership needs to realize and remember the FO has assembled this lineup that strikeouts out at an impressive rate, quite possible of setting a MLB record this year. Oh well, the Twins have the HR record, they might as well have the K record too. Every year they tout how much better the team is going to be verses last year, feeding the hype to the fans. 2023 looks to be another repeat of disappointment and failure. The young guys need to play. Kepler, Gallo, Buxton, Correa, Taylor, Vazquez aren't getting it done but they are the veterans getting the big bucks so that's who we get regardless, When the ship sinks again this year, remember who didn't throw out the dead weight. 

Too many bad decisions are being made by the FO and Rocco to take this team seriously. I don't know about you but I'm sure glad Kepler has replaced Wallner in the lineup. 2 games back and he's 0 fer 9 with 4 K's. Impressive! But he'll play no matter how good Wallner was or is. Buxton has proven he's not good in the DH role but they won't move him back to CF because a healthy non-productive Buxton is better than one that is injured. How does that make sense? Is next to nothing really all that much better than nothing? They are taking a probable superstar and making him a one dimensional average to below average player. Good move there wiseguys. As for the hitters getting better due to coming back to the norm, the pitchers will do the same, as we are starting to see. Ownership needs to realize and remember the FO has assembled this lineup that strikeouts out at an impressive rate, quite possible of setting a MLB record this year. Oh well, the Twins have the HR record, they might as well have the K record too. Every year they tout how much better the team is going to be verses last year, feeding the hype to the fans. 2023 looks to be another repeat of disappointment and failure. The young guys need to play. Kepler, Gallo, Buxton, Correa, Taylor, Vazquez aren't getting it done but they are the veterans getting the big bucks so that's who we get regardless, When the ship sinks again this year, remember who didn't throw out the dead weight. 

Can we talk about the giant hole in the middle of the lineup, someone whose initials are BB? He hasn't driven in a run in three weeks. Neither has Joey Gallo. Whff, whiff, whiff. Neither is on a pace to drive in 70! Right now you'd rather have Willi Castro at the plate than either of them. Everthing comes to a thudding standstill when they come to bat. You can't win much that way. Give me Wallner.

We should be impressed with mediocracy?  We are 10 - 6 in our division which features a KC team that is kept off the MLB bottom by the A's  We are 6 - 1 versus the Royals.  Remove that and we are 22 - 25 in the weakest division in the AL.  We lead the league in Ks - that is our offense - we strikeout more than any other team.  Our BA leader is Buxton at 221. We are 24th in team BA - 234 and 19th in team OPS.  Nice try Matt, but this is not the time to be impressed.  I am impressed by the SP, but it ends there. 

It's funny that Buxton is considered the teams offensive MVP. He surely can't be consider for it defensively. And his .230 batting average is one of the teams best. Let's take a quick look at most of the hitters the FO has bet on this season to be difference makers. The Twins getting paid big money and their respective BA this year. Correa (($33.3M) .215, Buxton ($15.1M) .230, Gallo ($11M) .203, Vazquez ($10M) .227, Kepler ($8.5M) .212, Polanco ($7.5M) .284, Farmer ($5.6M) .275, Taylor ($4.5M) .212. Is it any wonder why this team struggles to score runs when they don't hit HR's. Outside of Polanco and Farmer, who have been hurt, the rest of them can't hit.

August and September could be fun. Via the trade deadline or DFA, we get rid of the one year players and our expensive vets - specifically, Gallo, Kepler, Taylor, Solano, Castro, and possibly Polanco.  We actually INVEST in our young players by giving them the ABs and innings to become solid major leaguers. Kiriloff, Larnach, Lewis, Lee, Julien and Wallner should play every day. We then see what we have and build the core for the next several years. And it will be way more fun to watch as well.
Now, if we could just find a manager and coaching staff with a track record of developing young major leaguers……
Btw, Ober should have given up zero runs today - he’s outperforming Lopez and is now our #3.  Varland is a warrior and is a strong #5.  I wonder how long we would have stayed with Maeda and Mahle when Ober and Varland are clearly better?  It took injuries, not strong decision making by our the FO/Manager regime. We will now do the same thing with Wallner and Kepler…..

It's funny that Buxton is considered the teams offensive MVP. He surely can't be consider for it defensively. And his .230 batting average is one of the teams best. Let's take a quick look at most of the hitters the FO has bet on this season to be difference makers. The Twins getting paid big money and their respective BA this year. Correa (($33.3M) .215, Buxton ($15.1M) .230, Gallo ($11M) .203, Vazquez ($10M) .227, Kepler ($8.5M) .212, Polanco ($7.5M) .284, Farmer ($5.6M) .275, Taylor ($4.5M) .212. Is it any wonder why this team struggles to score runs when they don't hit HR's. Outside of Polanco and Farmer, who have been hurt, the rest of them can't hit.

Another season of uninspired Rocco baseball. This team must be performing at an expected or better than expected level if they give him an extension. Gee, what were we thinking? That this team was going to be terrible and Rocco is keeping them at the top of their game? It looks like the FO has lower expectations than the fans if they are going to reward a Manager that can't get his team to play much better than .500 ball. Maybe someday they can bring in some hitters that will actually do more than hit an occasional HR and strikeout the rest of the time. The all or nothing approach has inspired fans to start skipping the games. I can hear St. Peter already wondering why Twins fans didn't come out and support this team. Maybe it's time they look in the mirror and admit what they have isn't even close to what they are trying to sell to us.

Another season of uninspired Rocco baseball. This team must be performing at an expected or better than expected level if they give him an extension. Gee, what were we thinking? That this team was going to be terrible and Rocco is keeping them at the top of their game? It looks like the FO has lower expectations than the fans if they are going to reward a Manager that can't get his team to play much better than .500 ball. Maybe someday they can bring in some hitters that will actually do more than hit an occasional HR and strikeout the rest of the time. The all or nothing approach has inspired fans to start skipping the games. I can hear St. Peter already wondering why Twins fans didn't come out and support this team. Maybe it's time they look in the mirror and admit what they have isn't even close to what they are trying to sell to us.

And this is why this team will continue to lose ballgames that matter. Performance means little. If it did mean something Kepler would have got his walking papers before the season even started. As for Wallner, I said when they acquired Gallo that Wallner would have been a better option and they could have used the $11M they spent on Mr .199 and the $4.5M they spent on Taylor, tied that money together at $15.5M for 1 player that could actually hit.

Another season of uninspired Rocco baseball. This team must be performing at an expected or better than expected level if they give him an extension. Gee, what were we thinking? That this team was going to be terrible and Rocco is keeping them at the top of their game? It looks like the FO has lower expectations than the fans if they are going to reward a Manager that can't get his team to play much better than .500 ball. Maybe someday they can bring in some hitters that will actually do more than hit an occasional HR and strikeout the rest of the time. The all or nothing approach has inspired fans to start skipping the games. I can hear St. Peter already wondering why Twins fans didn't come out and support this team. Maybe it's time they look in the mirror and admit what they have isn't even close to what they are trying to sell to us.

Another season of uninspired Rocco baseball. This team must be performing at an expected or better than expected level if they give him an extension. Gee, what were we thinking? That this team was going to be terrible and Rocco is keeping them at the top of their game? It looks like the FO has lower expectations than the fans if they are going to reward a Manager that can't get his team to play much better than .500 ball. Maybe someday they can bring in some hitters that will actually do more than hit an occasional HR and strikeout the rest of the time. The all or nothing approach has inspired fans to start skipping the games. I can hear St. Peter already wondering why Twins fans didn't come out and support this team. Maybe it's time they look in the mirror and admit what they have isn't even close to what they are trying to sell to us.

And this is why this team will continue to lose ballgames that matter. Performance means little. If it did mean something Kepler would have got his walking papers before the season even started. As for Wallner, I said when they acquired Gallo that Wallner would have been a better option and they could have used the $11M they spent on Mr .199 and the $4.5M they spent on Taylor, tied that money together at $15.5M for 1 player that could actually hit.

9 walks and 5 hits and Rocco couldn't find an opportunity to manufacture a couple runs. Laughable.

9 walks and 5 hits and Rocco couldn't find an opportunity to manufacture a couple runs. Laughable.

9 walks and 5 hits and Rocco couldn't find an opportunity to manufacture a couple runs. Laughable.

9 walks and 5 hits and Rocco couldn't find an opportunity to manufacture a couple runs. Laughable.

When do you want to take possession  of the farm  ...
It's top of  the ninth  and Duran is in to cover Ryan's back as twins lead 7-1 currently  ... 
Haha , glad they are managing a win ....

Let's see - it is a blow out so lets use Duran????????

Day off tomorrow  and he needed the work  because  somebody forgot he was a reliable reliever for the other games ....

This team is starting to show it's true colors. I said it before the season started that they would be lucky to be a .500 team. Most of the nay sayers to my beliefs shot me down. Where are they now? We've lost 2 starting pitchers (Mahle and Maeda) and 2 more (Gray and PLopez) are starting to look very average. The bullpen is questionable outside of Duran. JLopez has 1/2 a season of good baseball in his career and the FO thought he was the answer... wrong. Thielbar has been an unexpected surprise but he's 36 years old and his days are numbered. Jax has always been hit or miss and for some reason they think he should always be good while they ignore all of the times he's been bad. Who else are they relying on? Moran? Pagan? Sands? Now Stewart, a new addition to the pen is used before Duran. Sorry, but anyway you look at it, you use your best pitcher when the game is on the line and Rocco bird-brained it again. Why is Duran being used the least of any bullpen pitcher when he's your best? I'll tell you why... poor managing. Saving a guy for a situation that never comes is... poor managing. Is anyone missing Arraez and his .371 BA and .424 OBP ??? With the ever absent Polanco this year Mr. Batting Champ would sure look good playing 2nd base and hitting anywhere in Rocco's ever changing lineup. Is having Kirilloff play in RF and Gallo at 1B really better than the other way around or is Rocco just trying to show he can play anyone anywhere anytime? I truely think he believes moving players to different spots on the field and in the lineup is "Good" managing when instead it creates inconsistancy, confusion and poor play. I can't envision Puckett, Hrbek, Gaetti and the gang of WS Champs coming to the ball park and not knowing if they WOULD be playing, WHERE they'd be playing and WHEN they would be batting, but this new way of baseball is sooooo much better now having players able to play multiple positions, you know, in case of injuries and guys struggling to make contact. Rocco loves the cut and paste, drop and drag feature on his lineup setting laptop. LOL!

This team is starting to show it's true colors. I said it before the season started that they would be lucky to be a .500 team. Most of the nay sayers to my beliefs shot me down. Where are they now? We've lost 2 starting pitchers (Mahle and Maeda) and 2 more (Gray and PLopez) are starting to look very average. The bullpen is questionable outside of Duran. JLopez has 1/2 a season of good baseball in his career and the FO thought he was the answer... wrong. Thielbar has been an unexpected surprise but he's 36 years old and his days are numbered. Jax has always been hit or miss and for some reason they think he should always be good while they ignore all of the times he's been bad. Who else are they relying on? Moran? Pagan? Sands? Now Stewart, a new addition to the pen is used before Duran. Sorry, but anyway you look at it, you use your best pitcher when the game is on the line and Rocco bird-brained it again. Why is Duran being used the least of any bullpen pitcher when he's your best? I'll tell you why... poor managing. Saving a guy for a situation that never comes is... poor managing. Is anyone missing Arraez and his .371 BA and .424 OBP ??? With the ever absent Polanco this year Mr. Batting Champ would sure look good playing 2nd base and hitting anywhere in Rocco's ever changing lineup. Is having Kirilloff play in RF and Gallo at 1B really better than the other way around or is Rocco just trying to show he can play anyone anywhere anytime? I truely think he believes moving players to different spots on the field and in the lineup is "Good" managing when instead it creates inconsistancy, confusion and poor play. I can't envision Puckett, Hrbek, Gaetti and the gang of WS Champs coming to the ball park and not knowing if they WOULD be playing, WHERE they'd be playing and WHEN they would be batting, but this new way of baseball is sooooo much better now having players able to play multiple positions, you know, in case of injuries and guys struggling to make contact. Rocco loves the cut and paste, drop and drag feature on his lineup setting laptop. LOL!

It's amusing that one of these AL Central teams is going to get home field advantage in a playoff series.

That was sarcasm, Squirrel.

Buxton is hurt? And it didn't happen in CF? Who would have seen that coming?