Crackedfungo

Yep. Overshot for savings. Boras client and the two high schoolers may have necessitated it. I think Johnson was clearly an option forestalled by co$t to keep him from LSU - but I REALLY wanted him too.

BPA. No to Wilson and Gonzalez, and He77 NO to Teel. You don't force a pick of need with a talent pool of 5 deep studs. IF they go with any of Wilson, Gonzalez, or Teel, I would pink slip Falvine that afternoon.

what about Prielipp? Have not heard anything since his first start!??

I hope that was sarcasm, as Montas is out the whole year with injury, and was never 'right' from the jump. Risks abound with these arms.....On the other hand (given unexpected injury to high stress pitching), perhaps we just shouldn't 'chase' pitchers at all with high mileage and just develop our own (if we were good at it)...

The 'sign or trade for an Ace' narrative is REALLY tired. Robbie Ray was proposed (fail), the Ryu/Toronto was another (fail), Bumgarner (fail), DeGrom (fail 2022 and TBD). In the past, it was Darvish (fail for several years), and there have been others. In short, you need to grow your own (draft) or be very lucky in terms of foresight in a simple trade. Your odds are better in drafting your own Ace if you take chance with more high draft picks to try (which they Twins rarely do at present). I would try this year with the #5 - they have many young hitting prospects, and there should be 1 of the 3 best college pitchers, or the best HS pitcher available at that spot; rinse and repeat until you have one. Otherwise, spend whatever it takes on scouting and pitcher development. Any other route generally fails (barring 1-2 years of success), and is VERY expensive - assuming a premier Ace will even sign in MN.

What this means (if serious injuries are avoided) is some trades and a NEED to focus on one of the Top 2 pitchers in the Draft this year, and going forward. This wish for signing an ACE is NOT going to happen. We are not a destination, and the best WILL NOT come here. We need to grow our own by any means necessary.

I S H.....No thanks to any and all. We aren't a rest home for the washed up and "never were's"

That's why you don't wait until they have burned many bullets in the minors and growing gray whiskers before bringing them up (as was the case in the past)?

Duran looks like he is playing 'catch' because he is. He barely grunts when dealing; straight at 102, or filthy at 96. He is a STAR in the making.

DURAN looks like he is THE Closer we have looked for over the last several years. Home Grown, and virtually unhittable (when he is ON). Just filthy stuff. His health is my only concern., He is an ALPHA on the mound, with the stuff to match

I know Jr Babe Ruth players that wouldn't butcher two plays like Araez and Garlick (just DFA him already) did. Trashed what would have been a solid inning for Duran, whose stuff is just FILTHY in every inning, and is worth a ticket just to watch.

Liriano rookie year type STUFF (and throws harder). Can he put together a year like Liriano and avoid injury......This will be the KEY

IMHO; it is NOT time to add a bunch of additional pitchers. Too many P are pushing the 40 man. Either sign/trade for someone who can be a marginal #1, or go young with what you have. I would also trade Donaldson, Garver, and Kepler (you won't get much for Arraez). These 3 are not going to be a meaningful part of the next wave (Donaldson), are blocking someone (Donaldson, and Kepler), and you don't have enough room for 3 catchers (Garver, Jeffers, Rortvedt - who won't hit in the majors) that need to play more than the current split allows (and it crowds the DH and 1B opportunities for other players). Baldelli also needs to quit running a 'rest home' every week, as well - we have had just as many injuries as everyone else - it ain't working, and those Sunday lineups with players playing out of position and Tortuga across the diamond are just embarrassing and a give-up of too many games.

The Experience lives on. About as hot as you can get. 11th straight game with a hit. 2-3 now with 3 run HR. Twins made a mistake here.

Rosario now 2-3 tonight with a 3 run HR. How hot is hot?!?