AlLagoon

Go with it - one series with the damn billionaire Dodgers aside, they've won series against St. Louis, Rangers, D'Backs, Rockies, and Astros over the last weeks. This is a club that is one reliable relief pitcher away from shocking the world. Most runs scored ain't nothing.

I'd like to see Jenkins, Culpepper and E-Rod as a cohort. Call em up in September to get their feet wet. Think Hrbek, Gaetti, Brunansky.: I forgot how long those guys were their first full season: 22 ,23 ,21 . Viola also debuted in 82 as a 22 year old. Next year, there should be roster spots open. for all of them.

Got to watch Houston for a couple games earlier this month. He looks fantastic in the field, at the plate, and on the bases. Very athletic. Saw him hit a couple dingers in one of the games, and steal at least 1 base. His movement at shortstop is graceful and fluid. Very excited about his future. Winokur also has some of the same game.

A Jenkins equal to the hype could make the Twins a contender. They've been scraping. Add a Number 1 overall worthy Rolls Royce Lewis to the mix, who seems regenerated, this might get fun yet. Hell, Buck deserves it.

I was there Thursday 6/4 thru Saturday 6/6. • Marek Houston is very good. His fielding is fluid and easy. He takes a good at bat. He didn't play Thursday, but went 5 for 8 the next 2 nights, including a 2 dinger game. He has that natural athleticism. • Eduardo Tait is amazing as a 19 year old. Also had a 2 dinger game. Caught a couple guys stealing, although a few more got through. He is entusiastic. • Brandon Winokor: big 3 run dinger to ultimately win the game Saturday. He takes walks. Good looking player. Oh, and Houston and Winokur can run, stealing their 15th and 14th bases respectively. Other guys who looked good were Jay Thomasson and Quinn McDaniel, holding down the lower middle of the order. The pitcher who impressed me was Riley Quick. He pitched 4 shutout innings, 2 hits, 1 run, 0BB, 6K. All in all, the top prospects impressed. If you have never been down to Cedar Rapids to watch the Kernels, I couldn't recommend the experience higher. They've gone through 2 major disasters, the devastating 2008 flood, and the 2020 derecho. They've done a great job of rebounding, and folks are as nice as can be down there.

I'd be very happy if the Twins stopped being bottom feeders and paid their stars what they are worth. Wasn''t that the promise made when we paid for Target Field? Extend him a juicy 3 year 30 million deal. He can have his cake and eat it too, cashing in at 32. Attendance at Target Field isn't going to get better if Pohlads don't give fans a reason to go. Joe Ryan is a reason. Hell, if you can't keep your best players, why bother?

SWR has been a decent bottom of the rotation starter the last 2 seasons: over 100 IP, more IP than hits allowed, nearly a strikeout an inning, ERAs in the low 4s, WHIP around 1.2. That's 2024 and 2025. Something is clearly wrong this year, but he's been a reliable 4-5 starter. Please don't make him out to be garbage. He's about the same age as Prielipp and Bradley, younger than Festa or Matthews. Apart from Bradley, he's done more than all of them in MLB.

Hope Tait stays in Cedar Rapids at least through June, as I have my tickets booked for a visit down there.

Bradley collecting Cy Young scalps: Skukil, now Scherzer.

Oriole fans gotta be puzzled by that.

Was just gonna create a post, "Is Royce Lewis a bust?" and saw this. He is just 26, it might yet happen. Hunter Greene was my hopeful pick, mainly because he seemed to have outstanding character on top of a two way game. Water under the bridge. Royce is 10th in WAR for his draft class, at 4.0. But 4th in WAR for that draft class: Brent Rooker, at 8.8. His 46 HRs are 5th in his draft class, well behind Rooker's 1st place 108. I think we punted the wrong guy. Probably not Ortiz vs. LeCroy stupid, but still. As I recall, Lewis was one of those helium prospects that caught everybody's eye late, much like fellow SS Keoni Cavaco. Dangerous practice. Dubious about this guys future. Wasn't a red-hot draft class, but still, missing on a #1 overall? That's not how it's supposed to work.

23. That ain't young by baseball standards. Why roll out a AAAA veteran in his place? If this is what new Pohlad and Shelton are about, barf!

They don't really say at the Twins website.

I don't know if I'd classify a guy who led the National league in hits last season and still had more walks than strikeouts, like Arraez did, as in steep decline. His brand of ball might be out of style, but at 28, he might have a batting title or two left in the tank.

So my thread about extending him and buying a year or two of free-agency, I did have those years well below market value I am realizing. Still, better to start low and meet in the middle than do what the Wild did with Kaprizov, start with richest contract ever and have them refuse after owner states again and again he'll open the wallet no matter what. KK's agent played Leopold for the fool he is. Sadly, this Twins ownership is starting to remind me of Calvin Griffith's Twins, where you knew your best players would be leaving once they became too expensive: Carew, Hisle, Bostock, etc. So much for Target Field and all its revenue streams fixing that.