Riverbrian

Calimar-key Gravy?

Don't fix something that isn't broken.

Every Thanksgiving I wish that we could cross an octopus with a Turkey. Everyone gets a drumstick that way.

Rare to be seen at baseball game. Normally seen at hockey games in Detroit.

Hindsight is 2020 and that year sucked

I'm glad I kept my two cents in my pocket

Kepler to all of us

KEPLER!!!

Do it like this LEWIS!!!

It was the original topic but like most topics... they stretch in different directions. I make the moves you suggest if we are out of it. If we don't get the offense going... we will be out of it. If we get the offense going... we will be in it and if the offense is actually going... well than it looks different than it does now and than we have an offense that is doing something... so we can add to it and hopefully make it stronger... so therefore add. The question in this article is premature in my mind. We got a month of July to see what happens. To give us a better chance... We are best swapping out a couple of players and see if other players help our offense get better.

Kepler has 8 more RBI's than Kirilloff. If that is the stat you want to use it should be pointed out that Larnach has 10 more RBI's than Kepler does. Buxton has 47 More AB's than Gallo but I haven't been very excited with Buxton since last night. Kepler also has 7 more hits than Julien in 61 more AB's. Julien would have to hit .114 in those 61 AB's to drop to Kepler's level. There are people on this website who are beyond RBI's and K's. Kepler and Gallo have not been good.

They don't have to be super stars. Remember that old joke. Two people are in the woods and they run into a bear. The first person (Max Kepler) gets on his knees and starts to pray. The 2nd Person (Matt Wallner) laces up his sneakers. The Vet Kepler says what are you doing... you can't out run a bear. The Rookie Wallner says I don't have to... I just have to out run you.

I was watching right with ya... I remember back into the 70's and I won't argue with your assessment. The Twins didn't do a great job bringing up rookies and they still need some work on the development side of things... However... it's just different today. The Reds are killing it right now with the youngest team in baseball... The D-Backs are also relying on youth to lead the AL West right now over the Big Money Dodgers and Padres. The Marlins are out playing the Mets. The biggest hurdle young players have to get over besides major league competition is the fact that they can be sent down and held for depth meaning no matter what he does. Julien can OPS in the .800 range and he goes down to the minors because he can be sent down and Kepler the vet keeps his job because he can't be sent down. It's almost impossible to keep a major league job when you hit and get sent to the minors in favor of the guy who doesn't hit who can't be sent down to the minors. There is nothing the minor league players can do but wait for injury for a cup of coffee. But, this discussion isn't about youth as much as it is about Kepler and Gallo. Kepler and Gallo are at the very bottom of the offensive problem that is hurting our Twins. Kepler and Gallo haven't produced decently in 3 years. They won't be back next year. There are probably 6 or 7 players in St. Paul right now who can produce what they are producing and they probably would produce better. As bad as Miranda was... he was better than Kepler. Larnach certainly didn't light the world on fire but he was better than Kepler. Julien looks like a real good hitter but that won't keep in a Twins uniform because he has options. This is about Kepler and Gallo... They are hurting us... It's raffle drum time.

I'm not afraid of youth like you are... What I am afraid of is vets who are failing and keeping their jobs. Somewhere in the baseball universe there are 400 players who can produce more than Kepler has the past 3 years. It's time to start looking at those 400 other players.

Yes they can improve at the deadline and Yes they can make it worse. There are no guarantees in baseball. Right now is when Kepler and Gallo should go away to create opportunity for others. With Kepler and Gallo out of the way, we can get a good month of Wallner or Larnach or Miranda or Julien to see if or how much help we need at the deadline. After a month of someone else besides Kepler and Gallo... you will have more information for those trade deadline decisions. Right now... the only thing we know is this: Kepler and Gallo have been the same players they have been for the past 3 years and the players that they have been for the past 3 years can be replaced by ALMOST ANYONE. Running Kepler and Gallo right up to the deadline only provides information that we already know. It's time to find out what you have so you can find out what you need.

Finn, Outfielders will Come, Finn They'll come to left field for reasons that they can't even fathom. They'll turn up in right field, not knowing for sure why they are doing it, they'll arrive as innocent as children, longing for the opportunity to be better than Kepler and Gallo. Of course, you won't mind if the occasional ball lands on the grass, you'll say it's only .750 OPS per person. They will out hit Kepler and Gallo without even thinking about it. For it's offense that they have and opportunity they lack. Ohhhhh, Outfielders will come Finn, they most definitely will come.

2B is the only place that Julien can play? That is a very particular set of skills. skills acquired over a short career. skills that will make him a defensive nightmare for fans like us. If you let him play 1B and Kirilloff OF now... that'll be the end of it, we won't look for Polanco injury just to get his bat into the lineup. If you don't let him play 1B and Kirilloff OF now... Kepler will bat, Gallo will bat and they will kill us.

That's why I found the video and posted so others can make their own mind up. It's subjective. You are right... It would have been a very difficult catch and the RF line in Fenway is truly an adventure. Might have even taken him into the 2nd row with the momentum necessary. However... that was the ball game right there. That catch as hard as it may be... as oddly shaped as the Pesky Pole area is... slowing up is letting it land. Letting it land... if fair... is a loss.

He laid up on this one in my opinion. I remember thinking to myself it would have been a very difficult catch but that he doesn't hit well enough to lay up. https://www.mlb.com/video/jovani-moran-in-play-no-out-to-alex-verdugo-4unxgo

If Wallner was good enough for the majors... whose spot would he take?

We have too much Myers type production. We need to shed our existing Myers type production. The Reds let him go because of his Myers type production. Which is exactly what teams should do with Myers type production.

Buxton should be your next assistance.

You are right... we can't dismiss the possibility of a 5th hit before Independence day. In all seriousness though. I shouldn't focus on Gallo this morning when I just want to enjoy the win last night and hope for another one this afternoon.

It's a good point. Where we are certainly isn't the fault of the youth.

Kepler has indeed had a couple of nice games back to back since getting 3 AB's in the previous 5 games. Gallo on the other hand. His last home run was over a month ago on May 20. To be fair... he's had a DL stretch in the past month but that's all the fairness I can muster. Gallo in his last 4 games: 14 AB's 10 K's 0 BB's