Number3

The pre series analysis is fine but I am simply glad that it is being played. And what about those great crowds at Target for the wild card round? Now the Twins have a real home field advantage. Only the Phillies crowds matched the Twins' and by the way the Rays were a total embarrassment. Worst playoff attendance since 1919. Twins have now developed a real winning attitude and have to like their chances. Hope the weather cooperates at Target; maybe a little cooler than the 'stros are used to.

I hope the weather cooperates when the Twins host either the Astros or Rangers in the wid card round or possibly even the Jays. The first game in that series will be the biggest game they have played in a long time.

The comeback against the Reds kept it interesting but main thing is to keep playing the way they have been. Right now they are a team that no one in the AL would be thrilled to go up against.

Now 5 games behind with 12 games to play. Probably have to win 10 of the 12 to do it but, like they say in golf, just post a score. I still don't mind the 3 game wild card at home (hopefully 2) to get their feet wet. They now haven't played really meaningful games in a long time but do seem to have an "expect to win" mentality and are enjoying the game.

Thanks to the Texas collapse at least there is a possibility but short answer is no. Best scenario is to win 2 straight at home in the wildcard round so that the pitching staff is as rested as possible for the divisional round. Ironic that the nemesis in recent playoff appearances has been those wascally (see Elmer Fudd) Yankees and they are no where to be found. That in itself is a good omen.

This is like asking if the sun should be made to rise in the west tomorrow. The insane deal that the Twins have given a slightly better than average player makes a trade impossible unless the Twins agreed to continue to pay the bulk of his contract. Correa has the Twins by their private parts and they have no say in the matter. Why even have a discussion about this? The other 29 GMs aren't dumb enough.

I believe they have lost the last 2 Berrios starts due to no faullt of his. If the Twins don't win today and win this White Sox series at home the season is over. I do believe that Baldelli's constant line up tinkering, over use of the bull pen and over reliance on all of the....metrics junk should have him on a very short leash.

There will always be players out there in the world of baseball that would be nice to have and the existing roster will always be less than perfect. Play ball.

Here is another rhetorical question. What team would not like to add another QUALITY, PROVEN starting pitcher? Just asking.

No

"......How about Paul Goldschmidt, or how to pitch to him? That’ll impress the hell out of me, because I sure don’t.”...... At least Gardenhire is consistent. I'll never forget his "I know nothing about pitching" comment when asked about why one of his Twins pitchers pitched to a hitter in whatever way it was, quickly deflecting blame to his pitching coach. By the way, I thought baseball was a game and plenty of baseball games are on at night so those are night time game shows. At least the Tigers picked a perfect manager.

He has to actually do it for a whole season but Miguel and Byron both need to step up this year. If they do all the talk about what was not done in the off season will be forgotten. Football is almost done and baseball is just around the corner again. We will soon find out about the 2020 version.

Except Suzuki just finished a nice year for the World Series champs, had some huge hits for them and evidently wasn't too shabby behind the plate. The amazing thing about the Castro signing was that that was their big move for that off season and somehow he was supposed to turn pitchers like Gibson into Cy Young award winners because of his "framing" ability. Castro is a good solid Major League catcher and that is enough but he is not going to transform anybody. It was the Twins who got "framed".

All of the negativity is a result of 3 games against the Yankees after winning 101 games. What if the Twins had at least won that home playoff game after dropping the 2 in NY? What if they had gone on to win the second home game and forced a game 5? What if they had won that game and played Houston for the ALCS? Would that have made the "doomsdayer" sign every free agent on the market folks any happier? My guess is no. Are Houston fans happy? My guess is no. Signing Bailey and Hill is perfect. At least wait until its time to count wins and losses again in just a few months before being critical. Then there may be no reason to.

The window has been open since 1991 or 28 years going on 29. This year's Nationals are a classic example of why you simply play every game as hard as you can until it is "over". 30 teams, 162 games plus playoffs if you get there. Objective is to be good enough to contend and don't beat yourself. 2020 Yankees should be a lock to win it all but they still have to do it.