Channing1964

Just get prepared watch the tape and dont let Harper be the one to beat you.

I can see Cruz in right field for a few innings in each of these interleague games. All I've heard from his spring training experiences were good reviews. He's a pro. He wants to win. He will be ready.

Whats not to like about a 4-1 start and 4-1 in the division!!!

man!!! i am writing this after Wednesday's get away day victory. Way to go boys....lets roll into Philly with a head of steam and the lead in the division! This is the Heart that i always talk about that can't always be measures by WAR, UZR BAPIB, XYX, PITCHER IS TIRED IN 4TH LETS CALL HIM AN OPENER.

These are the kinds of games we would have found a way to lose last year.

if we tie that game i bet the fangraphs win probability went up to like 89.92%. Their closer was already on the mound and we were at home. I would have gone all out for a tie, and I would have bet my farm we were gonna win. I hope we don't have to play a 163rd game because of this.

i didnt get to see that game but this is exactly the situation when i say you have to manage with your heart and not your folder full of analytics mumbo jumbo. Who in there right mind wouldn't have pinch hit for Kepler in that situation? A bunch of information showing you how excellent Astidillo is at handling the bat doesnt tell you he should be up in that situation? And this decision came from a "forward thinking analytics friendly" manager? Wow! IMO this kind of thing contradicts everything this FO has tried to force feed us. Let me see, man on second, down by one at home, nobody out.(AND, the runner is Buxton) Hmmmm what should I do....OMG....HMMMM....Why wont Derek answer my calls ...OMG....im running out of time...LET HIM HIT....I know...he has no chance in hell...the analytics tell me.... Now old school thinking in order of the first thoughts in my head. Pinch hit Astudillo for Kepler(or maybe even Austin), have Kepler bunt him over because in extra innings i dont wanna lose Kepler's defense out there, or three, try to steal third. Not once does having him swing away enter my mind in that situation. Molitor would have won that game. (i know....but I'm just sayin...lol)

Carrasco, Bauer, and Kluber have never stayed healthy for one entire season either. Unless they plan on being the 1981 Oakland A's they are in trouble. Their bullpen is more suspect than ours. It makes me furious to hear every so called baseball "expert" say they have no competition in the division.

even with Lindor, Kipnis, and Ramirez healthy they may not even finish above the Royals.

I have been annoyed with them for longer than I care to admit. Nothing would make me happier than to knock them off their smug perch and watch them pout all winter.

I just wanted to find a way to keep the guys that were out of options. Its too bad we lost Reed but at least he got moved to a National League team where he can't hurt us unless....., well you know. Also with the pitching depth we do have those guys on the I.L. can come back 100%. If Perez does seize a high leverage bullpen role(and he might!) whats wrong with giving Mejia a shot at the #5 starter. It's gonna be fun to watch!

i am SOO EXCITED to see these turn it loose!! GO TWINS!!!

I didnt wanna get too excited at the time, but i have been living on Phoenix since 2005. Seeing Perez live on a bunch of occasions, I always thought he had a live arm. (the Rangers train in Surprise, Az.) This guy can get people out if he has a game plan. The last couple years were duds but lets see what he can do when he's healthy and following the program.

im not sure what the reasoning behind it is except for maybe sparing us having to watch 3-4 pitching changes per inning. The leaders of the teams will adapt to it....or not. The ones that cannot will fail.

th this may sound dumb but what fun it must be for the manager to tinker with all these awesome weapons every day. i am super excited for this!! ....LETS DO THIS!!!

I absolutely agree that not every team in the AL uses their Dh to the best advantage but it always amazes me how in interleague play the NL teams seem to never use it as a weapon when they can. Batting their Dh in the 9 spot so as not to disrupt their precious lineup. Imagine thats why they can't seem to win the World Series lately. You cant win the title if you dont plan on stealing one on the road. IMO.

I was soo mad last year when we gave up Escobar. Lance Lynn we maybe should have kept. But now I am DOWN. This team will contend. I am super excited with this group. GO TWINS!!

well come on now...Zack is prolly gonna be a major leaguer somewhere. But here? Look around! As critical as we are,..NOBODY has a better defensive outfield than we do. Believe Dat!!

there's nothing bad to say about Z.Granite or this deal. There was no way he was gonna crack into this roster at this time. This is one I have to give Falvine credit for. I have been very critical of them about last year. I'm not afraid to give them credit when it is due. He now has enough time to maybe get a chance with the Rangers.

that sounds just fine by me....the option thing means a lot more than people wanna admit. Someone has to really fall on their face if they are out of options. The mysterious shoulder problem that Adrianza has makes the decisions even easier barring a superstar performance by someone like Duda. It means the position player battles more clearly defined. The bullpen is a way different story.

Whenever i look at the team assembled i was so scared of the situation at 3b. I sooo cheer for Sano and hope he will finally get it this year. IMO having Cruz and to some extent Schoop around will help him immensely. I did not know about Adrianza's injured shoulder. It does seem a little odd that it requires 6-8 months for recovery but it is what it is. This actually makes the Gonzalez signing make even more sense. I have been screaming for the team to acquire an insurance policy at 3b all winter. I felt there would be no chance at Gonzalez so i focused on players like Moustakas. To get Marwin makes us better in so many ways that cant be seen on paper anal-lytically. The one i am thinking of first is that 2017 World Series ring and the experience he gained being a part if it. Now things just changed for Everyone. Jake Cave prolly start the year in Rochester. Adrianza will go on the 60 day I.L. Tyler Austin, you better make sure you pay attention in outfield drills and prove you can at least once in a while hit rh pitching. CJ Cron is on thin ice because your job is up for grabs big time. Mitch Garver you are not safe either. If Austidillo straight up beats you out you are a Red Wing. Rocco, making out this line-up is gonna be an amazing and fun challenge. At the end of the day we dont wanna lose any of these players and we will do whatever we can to keep them all. Sorry Austidillo and Cave fans, but those guys go to AAA mainly because they are the only ones with options. I doubt there will be any eye popping surprises. Now the bullpen....Thats a vastly different story.

I am so ECSTATIC I dont know where to start!!! First lets all recognize it as a double edge sword...Not only did we get him...we kept him away from the team that needed him the most...The Indians. IMO we just became the obvious favorites to win the AL Central. As sad as i was to see Escobar get traded I am equally elated to welcome Marwin. It is the absolute best move made by this regime and I have to go on record as saying Thank you Mr Falvey and Mr Levine. I am an Old School fan(since 1970) and what excites me more than the versatility, attitude and offensive skills is the presence in the Clubhouse of a World Series Champion. When these young guys learn how Champions conduct their daily business the results could be AMAZING. I get the focus on Analytics is merited. Team Chemistry still cannot be overlooked. (see 2018 Red Sox) Marwin didn't come join us to watch the World Series, He came to show us how to win another one!

yeah you're right. my bad. sorry.

Besides the PED thang....I would argue to anyone watching that Jorge is better than Sano or Buxton. Rosario better watch out too. I cant wait till Nelson Cruz takes Polanco under his wing!.

I feel that Hildenberger is just another example of a young dude with a live arm who would have benefitted from the experience of having someone like Rodney around. The feeling is that he has closer stuff. Having a veteran closer around him would be so clutch same as it would for Rodgers, Moya, Magill, and even Reed. Its too bad the genius Falvine's dropped the ball AGAIN.