arby58

They had two consecutive days off - pitching today shouldn't overly tax the bullpen tomorrow. My guess is that Duran, Coulombe, Sands, and Topa are all plenty available - none of them threw more than 11 pitches in a pretty stress free inning of work today. Agree that it's probably time to drop SWR in favor of Festa (still think he's ahead of Matthews in the pecking order).

I appreciated the humor, but the mindset that the Twins are a team that strikes out more than other teams is so 2023. Last year, the Twins had the 9th fewest Ks of the 30 MLB teams. This year, they are tied for 11th fewest.

Agree, although expecting much of anything in return (other than players similarly in need of 'a change in scenery') is Quixotic.

If the season ended today, the AL Central would have 3 teams in the play-offs - versus one from the east and two from the west. Detroit, Cleveland, and KC are not 'weak enough' in comparison to the rest of the AL.

Their starting/relief pitching will get them there - it's whether they can generate consistent offense to keep them there. Can't do it with just Buxton above .800 OPS.

Bader has been really good, and France has been acceptable - lots of people on this board who thought differently a few months ago. I know, it's a long season, but Bader also brings super defense to go along with good offense. Given the Twins credit for that pick-up.

Andrew Wiggins is not 'bad at basketball.' He's been in the NBA for 10 years and has a player efficiency rating of 14.7, where 15.0 is average. That's not great, but it's not bad, either. Granted, he hasn't performed like the first pick in the NBA draft, but he has been an All Star and has been a starter on multiple play-off teams. A better comparison would be, say, Delmon Young. Young had one very good year with the Twins, where he generated a 1.9 WAR. He had a negative WAR in 5 of the next 6 years, and his career WAR, over 10 years, was 3.2.

Welcome to the 2020s baseball, not just the Twins. Batting average isn't all that telling. Julien's .263 BA is far less important than his .381 OBP, .839 OPS (helped by his 16 HRs in 408 PAs) and 130 OPS+. Those are far more telling stats about a strong 2023 for Julien.

Fair enough, and he was good in his last start against Cleveland. I will concede this one. In that case, I don't think we will be seeing Zebby, unless one of the 5 current SPs ends up on the IL (in other words, probably sooner than we would hope).

Right, like everything, it depends. So, for example, if a player only puts up average numbers against older pitchers but suddenly puts up great numbers against players his own age, it may be that it took him time to 'catch up' which may be a good thing. Then you could have a player who puts up below average numbers against players his own age and then puts up strong numbers against players younger than him. That might tell you something. Yes, players get slotted at levels that isn't necessarily age dependent, but the slots can have significant variation in ability and where the player is in development. Thus, a younger player who ends up in, say, AA can be quite different in terms of readiness for one who took longer to advance through A+ and is now in his second year of AA. In those instances, it may well make a difference. Not always, but some of the time.

He hit 21 HRs his last year in college, so he must have some pop. The Twins didn't try to change Arraez into a power hitter, my guess is adding loft to his swing is not outside his comfort zone. Keaschall is a good example - he hit 15 HRs combined in the minors in 2024 after just 3 in 2023.

Lopez 'wasn't good' and 'had a rough season' based on what? He was 15-10, 4.08 ERA, 3.65 FIP, 1.192 WHIP, and a 2.5 WAR. If this is 'not good' give me 5 of them.

Paddock is 0-3, Twins are 0-5 in his 5 starts. 6.45 ERA, 5.93 FIP. 13 BB in 22.1 innings pitched. If this is fine, I shudder to think what 'not fine' looks like. 5 starts does not make a season, but with these results, he's never going to make it up on volume. I'd guess he gets another 5 to at least begin to turn it around. I'll take the under.

When I see these comparisons of Festa and SWR, small sample size is the phrase that comes to mind. Festa is still figuring it out. Three starts, regardless of the stats, should not give the Twins the comfort in him that they should have after SWR's 2024 and 2025 performance to date.

Which 'strong performing and widely acclaimed prospects' has he 'ruined' (which was your word)?

I highly doubt they are bringing up a top prospect who has only sniffed AAA to be a late inning pinch hitter/runner.

"Top prospects" are a dime a dozen. Nearly every team has several each year that make at least one of the top 100 prospects lists - they can't all possibly become MLB regulars, let alone stars. My guess is more of them 'ruin themselves' because they just don't have the innate ability or willingness to adjust to make it at the MLB level than have ruination foisted upon them. Honestly, the abuse heaped upon Rocco and his coaching staff baffles me sometimes. He has a lifetime winning record, he did something the Twins hadn't done since 2002 (win a play-off series), and he's done it with a below average payroll. He's not the best manager in MLB (although he did win AL manager of the year back in 2019), but he's gotten about as much in results out of the talent that surrounds him as could be expected.

I think it a little harsh/myopic to declare the season over at this point. Last year, on April 18, 2024, the Texas Rangers were leading the AL West and the Astros were in last place with a 6-14 record. That completely flipped by the end of the year. In fact two of the six teams to make the play-offs in both leagues would not have been in the play-offs at this point in time last year. Baseball is unlike any of the other major sports, just based on the number of games played in the regular season. My suspicion is the Twins would have gladly cut the last 19 games off of last year's schedule. A lot can change when you play 162 games.

Just a minor note: it was 2024, not 2023 where Morris pitched 33 2/3 innings at St. Paul. Likewise, he opened 2025 (not 2024) at St. Paul. Minor stuff, but it confused me when I first read it. Otherwise, thanks!

All the Rocco hate seems a little unfair to me. It's not as if he has had a roster full of high-salaried players, yet his win loss record is far from the bottom in Twins baseball history: Manager Wins Losses Percentage Billy Martin 97 65 .599 Sam Mele 522 431 .548 Bill Rigney 208 184 .531 Cal Ermer 145 129 .529 Rocco Baldelli 288 258 .527 Ron Gardenhire 1,068 1,039 .507 Frank Quilici 280 287 .494 Gene Mauch 378 394 .490 Tom Kelly 1,140 1,244 .478 Johnny Goryl 34 38 .472 Paul Molitor 305 343 .471 Ray Miller 109 130 .456 Billy Gardner 268 353 .432 Gene Mauch was considered an 'old school' good manager - and had a losing record with the Twins. TK is beloved (and won two World Series) but also had some really rough years. Billy Martin had the best win percentage (in one year), but punching out one of your players in the alley behind a Detroit bar wasn't exactly endearing.

Fair enough - Ober was sick and nobody is suggesting he doesn't have a role (right?).

Bader seems to be hitting.

I get the general strategy, but 'Dobnak looked ok this spring' is glossing over his 'bleah' record in the MLB games that actually count. 135 IP, 9-12 W-L record, 4.99 ERA, -0.2 WAR, 84 Ks, 1.397 WHIP. I doubt you will find many MLB pitchers on 26 man rosters with that kind of a career stat line.

Where's the statistical 'evidence' for this? What are the 'better, slightly higher-volatility players' that Rocco has passed over?

If he has an April like Gallo's in 2023, the Twins will be very pleased.