Lasorda_This_Out

Let me toss this briquet into the inferno. Even prior to this scandal, I began to feel that something is amiss...something is....not healthy? about the visual optics of MLB telecasts. Probably since the mid 60's, the use of the center field TV camera angle employing an ginormous telephoto lens to frame the pitcher and batters box at the start of EVERY pitch is simply taken for granted and what we comfortably expect to see as we watch a game? OK...when introduced and full disclosure, I'm old enough to remember, that TV shot was AMAZING! Finally, we could actually SEE movement on the pitch and where it crossed the plate! Umpires...we SEE your missed call! Now we have a chyron box that shows the STRIKE ZONE!. Bad call! All fine and good...up to a point. Throughout the entire history of baseball, centerfield seats were the butt joke of suckers who were cheap and never forked over the $$ for infield seats. Nobody wanted to watch a MLB in centerfield..who does now unless you carry a portable Hubble Telescope? VIP's and "beautiful" people sat directly behind home plate...the Ultimate ticket! Or behind the dugouts....woo hoo, close to the action! Cut to the chase... Could MLB Media/ESPN/Regional Fox Sports Networks etc, experiment ( emphasis on experiment) with broadcasting select games using multiple cameras from many angles as seen by the fans in attendance of a game....no center field "live" shot unless it factors into a play significantly. Show the game as the FANS in attendance see? From behind the plate...along the lines...from the 3rd deck? I'm certain the reaction would be hugely negative but thats to be expected after 50+ years addicted to the same center field camera view? Time for MLB to present this most glorious game from a new, fresh (jarring?) perspective? Bonus...no cameras always showing catcher signs....hmmmm???? Change is never easy or comfortable..but with the sad events of the last week, maybe the time is now to take a bold, new, 2020 look at how MLB is presented electronically?

Great...thanks for the replies!!

Has either the Minnesota Twins or Josh Donaldson's camp officially confirmed the signing? Will there be a Team media introduction with Josh? Thanks...

Maybe we're missing something? With an Off-Season that screamed ImpactStartingPitching as the highest priority, nothing really has happened (so far?). Now Donaldson? Is there a next move before "Catchers and Pitchers Report"? Probably? So maybe Falvine know more than we do? My thinking...lets step back...enjoy the fantastic Josh Donaldson Epic signing and chill out and watch for some more Falvine magic? Go Twins 2020!!!!

"With this as the backdrop, it wouldn't surprise me if Falvey waited to make another rotation move until he can zero in on a stress-related opportunity, either yet this off-season (Boston?) or next trade deadline". Boston at the moment is very vulnerable. Likely multiple 1st and 2nd Round draft picks will be forfeited and a really weak farm system. Falvine should apply maximum pressure NOW to get Chris Sale in a trade where it's the Red Sox who have the biggest grimace/angst after the deal goes down? "When your competition is drowning, stick a hose down his throat.." Ray Kroc - Founder of McDonald's

Awesome signing!! MLB.tv had Boston Red Sox reporter comment that the Alex Cora/ sign stealing debacle really hurts the Red Sox with the expected loss of future 1st Round Draft picks and that the Red Sox farm system is very weak. Seems that this should give Falvine considerable trade leverage for Chris Sale that they didn't have a just a week ago?

Because we're Fargo ( um Minnesota) and they are New York....

And remember guys and gals, no matter what the Minnesota Twins do in off Season moves, we will never do enough to defeat the New York Yankees in a Playoff series. We need fate and other MLB teams to remove NY from our path to the WS?

Falvine have on many occasions used the word "sustainable" to describe what they hope to structure the Twins for success. It's pretty apparent that they view the FA market route differently from most other MLB teams..and includes not just the big market teams but those similar to the Twins. So you have to ask yourself, why? Setting aside the perpetual "the Pohlads are cheap" explanation, some thoughts: 1. Being analytics guys, does their analysis go beyond the individual ballplayer to a AI finding that big contract FA signings does not produce "sustainable" success, across ALL of baseball historically? Signing a Cole or a Strasburg might contribute to an occasional World Series appearance but equally as likely to miss the Playoffs the next year? Case in point, Boston Red Sox. World Series winners in 2018...missed the Playoffs in 2019. And the Red Sox are always ready to throw open the checkbook to acquire top FA's (if nothing more that to keep them out of arch-enemy NY?). So not "sustainable". 2. Does Falvine's concept of "sustainable" success extend beyond consistently winning year in and year out the Central Division only? Do they view a deep Playoff run as only icing on the cake if the team is structured to win 100 +/- 5 games most years? 3. Having said that, I do want to think that Falvine truly wish to add World Series titles to their resumes but also for Twins fans. But a WS title followed by years of missing the playoffs because of a series of poor/un-lucky FA signings guides their "process" 4. And finally this. Is it possible that Falvine et. al are analytically light years ahead of the other MLB teams in 2020? Do they see a path to that "sustainable" success and deep Playoff runs with multiple WS victories bypassing big FA signings? I didn't see a 101 win season coming last March...who did? But what do I know about running a MLB team..? ;-) Thank you...

Convince FA's that "Fargo" is NOT in Minnesota? Hollywood flick that has forever cemented the perception of the "Land of Sky Blue Waters.." Potential FA thought process.... "Do I want to sign with LAX, SAN, SFO, SEA, LGA, DCA, ATL, MIA, DFW or FAR?" ;-( ;-( ;-(

Dobnak...Smeltzer...Clippard... The Bespectacled Amigos !!!! \O-O/

Nice move...now: 1. Josh Donaldson 2. Blockbuster " blow your socks off" trade for a starter. Bring on 2020!

Randy has an unbelievable future! 5th starter in 2020 rotation for Twins? Now for that Fu-Manchu mustache thingy...? 1. Shave it off...1970's NYC porno look ( and we hate the Yankees!!)...and it's really creepy?? 2. Wasting 80% of awesome beard follicles... 3. Grow a full gnarly beard....scary! NHL dudes would kill for? 4. Beard plus Oakley glasses!! Woot! 5. Slider and that 4-seamer!!!

Not yet feeling warm and fuzzy with the idea of robo-umpires coming to MLB but agree with PDX Twin...enough about "framing"!! What Avila brings vs Castro are two skills that will always be analyzed for catcher talent if we do go with robo-umpires: 1. A "gun" for an arm.. 2. Skill at blocking errant pitches in the dirt.. IMHO, way more important skill sets than silly framing.... Great signing by the FO!

Question: Does the suspension preclude Pineda from attending 2020 Spring Training Camp and participating in pre-season games? Thanks!

Berrios...Odorizzi...Pineda...Dobnak.. Littel... Rotation complete One more bullpen arm and the pitching staff is set for 2020. Now middle infield....

Competent MLB batting Coach. Did a nice job during his time with the Twins (vs the disastrous Brunansky). I assume his contract had expired with the Twins? If so, it's telling that FalVine did not fight to keep him? In any event, Good luck, Mr Rowson!

Personally, what I liked the most about Sano in 2019 vs prior years is his new seriousness in the dugout. In prior years he was the dugout jokester, throwing sunflower seeds at team players being interviewed, mugging for the camera, etc. Not that doing stuff to keep things loose is wrong but there is a time and place for that on occasion. The 2019 Miguel Sano had a "game face" during the games I watched (most) that looked like a serious guy trying to be a true MLB professional. Excellent! It's been commented widely in many venues but Miguel's demeanor change in 2019 starts and continues(?) with the fantastic presence of Nelson Cruz as a role model. IMHO...thanks!

Mitch?

Whoever that Twins player is in David Berdings' USA Today photo looks like a dork..at least in my day? Wear your hat like a MLB professional? Be a man?

Playing "If I were the VP of Baseball Operations/GM"... Sign Wheeler...trade for Boyd...sign Odorizzi...sign Pineda. Wheeler...Berrios...Boyd...Odorizzi (Odorizzi...Boyd?)...Pineda... Bring it on 2020!

Listen up you Peons... Twins won 101 games in 2019..... Not likely to be equaled in the next 30 years....? Path to a World Series? Central Division Title but even better..? Wild Card position every year?! Why, you ask, with a confused Dumb Ass look? One game to stay alive? Then, 3 out of 5? Get it? HELLO? I mean HELLO?

Well known in MLB circles that Shildt is sorta, unconventional? Manages at the edge shall we say?....No thank you! ;-) Rocco Baldelli 110%

Full Disclosure...watched zero nanoseconds of all three games. And I was at the 2-0 win at Target Field on Opening Day-28Mar2019 when Marwin's 2-RBI double off Kluber won game one of the 101 wins. Somehow knew any series (single game or a 3 of 5) against the most IMPORTANT CITY ON PLANET EARTH would not end well? Analysis: True The MLB experts who rarely EVER highlighted the Twins during the Regular Season and blatantly dismissed their chances in Post-season were correct...we don't belong to the anointed Elite yet, ie NY, Bos, Hou, LA....and not even Tier Two's, CLE, SEA,DCA,OAK and Mets? We're "Fargo"? Get it? Laughable. Now FalVine have to make bold off-season moves...even it means trading current favorites on the 25 man roster (looking at Rosario and Buxton as a start?) and high prospects ( except Lewis and Kiriloff). Now or never?

Exciting and intriguing pick! Totally trust Falvine/Scouting staff...overlooked by major media and it seems most other MLB teams. Cool! Question on pronunciation? Cavako or Cahvahco? Go Twins 2019!!!!!