Riverbrian

With the activation of Buxton and the demotion of Gray. The Twins 26 man roster is now composed of 7 Right Handed Bats - 3 Switch Hitters and 3 Left Handed Bats. I track these roster moves when they happen along with daily starting lineup composition for utilization purposes. I track utilization to use in conjunction with season record vs and season average runs scored. I've posted a few times the reason why I track these things. I believe it is fact: That starting lineups are primarily set based on what hand the starting pitcher throws with. I also believe that it is fact that starting lineups do the overwhelming bulk of the work. They get the majority of plate appearances... they do the baserunning and they are the ones who make the overwhelming majority of the defensive plays that occur during a game. In other words... The starting lineup gets the playing time that contributes to wins and losses in all facets of the game. The starting lineup is primarily influenced by the hand of the starter. I'm tracking Wins and Losses to see the result of this method of lineup determination. I have posted multiple times in this thread. I understand that this basic research. I purposely don't want additional metrics crammed into this. Win and Losses... the reason for everything is what I want. I understand that there are many factors that go into an end result. Joe Ryan giving up 6 home runs in 4 innings of work is a major factor and I understand this. What I am seeing thus far. We have the platoon advantage against left handed pitchers because we are able to stuff 8 batters even 9 batters in the right handed batters box against left handed pitchers. Against right handers... we have had 4 left handed hitters and are now down to 3. With 3 switch hitters we can send 6 batters in the left handed batters box against right handed hitters. This team does better against right handed starters despite having less of a platoon advantage.

Last Game Right Handed Starter July 20 - Tanner Bibee - Loss - 4 Runs Scored Lineup Composition: 3 RH 3 Switch 3 LH Season Record vs RH Starters: 37-34 Season Average Runs Scored vs RH Starters: 4.94 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Season Accumulated Stats vs Left Handed Starters Season Record vs LH Starters: 12-18 Season Average Runs Scored vs LH Starters: 4.37

Gonna be tight on the dirt.

At the all-star break... The Twins have 17 players with less than 3 years experience. That is tied with the Brewers and Pirates for 7th most. Of those top 9 youth led teams... the Marlins, Cards, Nats, A's Guardians, White Sox, Brewers, Pirates and Twins. Only the A's are clearly out of contention so experience doesn't seem to be an issue with other squads. Of the 17 players currently on the Twins roster. 10 are pitchers - 7 are hitters. Of the 7 hitters. Clemens, Kriedler, Gray are 3 of them. 2 of them... Martin and Roden are being strip mined for parts and will not be developed comprehensively. The other two Keaschall and Lee are being allowed to have a future. Hope they work out. I don't believe we have built anything. Opening Day Nats: 20 - Payroll 97 - All Star Break: 19 -- 48-49 Opening Day Cards: 19 - Payroll 99 - All Star Break: 20 -- 50-45 Opening Day White Sox: 18 - Payroll 87 - All Star Break: 19 -- 50-45 Opening Day Marlins: 18 - Payroll 73 - All Star Break: 23 -- 52-45 Opening Day Guardians: 18 - Payroll 84 - All Star Break: 19 -- 51-46 Opening Day Rockies: 16 - Payroll 122 - All Star Break: 15 -- 39-50 Opening Day A's: 16 - Payroll 95 - All Star Break: 20 -- 41-55 Opening Day Giants: 15 - Payroll 204 - All Star Break: 15 -- 41-55 Opening Day Twins: 14 - Payroll 107 - All Star Break: 17 -- 48-49 Opening Day Brewers: 14 - Payroll 129 - All Star Break: 17 -- 59-37 Opening Day Rays: 14 - Payroll 88 - All Star Break: 14 -- 56-38 Opening Day Pirates: 14 - Payroll 105 - All Star Break: 17 -- 50-47 Opening Day Astros: 12 - Payroll 237 - All Star Break: 10 -- 47-51 Opening Day Dodgers: 12 - Payroll 397 - All Star Break: 13 -- 61-36 Opening Day Red Sox: 12 - Payroll 196 - All Star Break: 16 -- 46-48 Opening Day Orioles: 11 - Payroll 166 - All Star Break: 11 -- 46-51 Opening Day Jays: 11 - Payroll 289 - All Star Break: 12 -- 45-51 Opening Day Mariners: 11 - Payroll 162 - All Star Break: 14 -- 48-49 Opening Day Reds: 11 - Payroll 126 - All Star Break: 10 -- 43-52 Opening Day Padres: 10 - Payroll 208 - All Star Break: 11 -- 48-48 Opening Day Angels: 10 - Payroll 183 - All Star Break: 15 -- 38-59 Opening Day Tigers: 9 - Payroll 217 - All Star Break: 12 -- 44-52 Opening Day Cubs: 9 - Payroll 233 - All Star Break: 10 -- 54-42 Opening Day Royals: 8 - Payroll 149 - All Star Break: 10 -- 38-59 Opening Day Mets: 8 - Payroll 366 - All Star Break: 12 -- 40-57 Opening Day Rangers: 8 - Payroll 186 - All Star Break: 13 -- 49-57 Opening Day Yankees: 8 - Payroll 319 - All Star Break: 7 -- 54-42: Opening Day D-Backs: 6 - Payroll 196 - All Star Break: 11 -- 49-47 Opening Day Phillies: 6 - Payroll 285 - All Star Break 7 -- 54-43 Opening Day Braves; 5 - Payroll 250 - All Star Break 11 -- 55-40

Last Game Left Handed Starter July 19 - Shota Imanaga - Loss - 1 Run Scored Lineup Composition: 5 RH 3 Switch 1 LH Season Record vs LH Starters: 12-18 Season Average Runs Scored vs LH Starters: 4.37 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Season Accumulated Stats vs Right Handed Starters Season Record vs RH Starters: 37-33 Season Average Runs Scored vs RH Starters: 4.96

No doubt that there would have been a contingent of TD faithful screaming to trade Spencer Steer. I wouldn't have been one of them. 4 straight years of 20 homers. His average performance years in 2024 and 2025 would have been better than multiple Twins players in those years. Wouldn't have needed France with Steer. Possible wouldn't have needed Margot. Not knocking the trade... If you want a starter... they come with a price tag.

July 17 - Right Handed Starter - Colin Rea - Won - 5 Runs Scored Lineup Composition: 3 RH 2 Switch 4 LH Season Record vs RH Starters: 37-33 Season Average Runs Scored vs RH Starters: 4.96 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- July 18 - Left Handed Starters - Matthew Boyd - Loss - 2 Runs Scored Lineup Composition: 4 RH 3 Switch 2 LH Season Record vs LH Starters: 12-16 Season Average Runs Scored vs LH Starters: 4.48

Before the season started I marked the total of players with under 3 years experience on every roster. Along with payroll. Here at the all star break... I'm going to update the number of players with under 3 years experience and the current record of every team. Since there hasn't been a lot of trades to explain the number changes... it is safe to assume that injuries that increases and decreases in the total number of players under 3 years of experience are primarily explained by injuries. I ask you to draw your own conclusions. I've already drawn mine by tracking this for a couple of years now. There isn't a one sized fits all explanation for the number of players making the minimum, payroll and 2026 record. High numbers of players under 3 years experience doesn't mean wins and it doesn't mean losses and low number of players under 3 years experience doesn't mean losses and it doesn't mean wins. Talent and performance. My conclusion drawn has always been: There is enough youth on rosters that perform as well or better... or worse than the veteran player making more than the minimum eating away at budgets. Typically players under 3 years experience make the minimum. A higher number of players making the minimum means less spots to fill and more money to fill them with making youth critical to almost all organizations. The fact that there is no one size fits all shows that there is no reason to be afraid of youth. But again... draw your own conclusions. 2026 looks a lot like 2025 and a lot like 2024. I wasn't really looking at it in 2023 or earlier years. Is youth a problem on rosters? It doesn't seem to be a problem. Opening Day Nats: 20 - Payroll 97 - All Star Break: 19 -- 48-49 Opening Day Cards: 19 - Payroll 99 - All Star Break: 20 -- 50-45 Opening Day White Sox: 18 - Payroll 87 - All Star Break: 19 -- 50-45 Opening Day Marlins: 18 - Payroll 73 - All Star Break: 23 -- 52-45 Opening Day Guardians: 18 - Payroll 84 - All Star Break: 19 -- 51-46 Opening Day Rockies: 16 - Payroll 122 - All Star Break: 15 -- 39-50 Opening Day A's: 16 - Payroll 95 - All Star Break: 20 -- 41-55 Opening Day Giants: 15 - Payroll 204 - All Star Break: 15 -- 41-55 Opening Day Twins: 14 - Payroll 107 - All Star Break: 17 -- 48-49 Opening Day Brewers: 14 - Payroll 129 - All Star Break: 17 -- 59-37 Opening Day Rays: 14 - Payroll 88 - All Star Break: 14 -- 56-38 Opening Day Pirates: 14 - Payroll 105 - All Star Break: 17 -- 50-47 Opening Day Astros: 12 - Payroll 237 - All Star Break: 10 -- 47-51 Opening Day Dodgers: 12 - Payroll 397 - All Star Break: 13 -- 61-36 Opening Day Red Sox: 12 - Payroll 196 - All Star Break: 16 -- 46-48 Opening Day Orioles: 11 - Payroll 166 - All Star Break: 11 -- 46-51 Opening Day Jays: 11 - Payroll 289 - All Star Break: 12 -- 45-51 Opening Day Mariners: 11 - Payroll 162 - All Star Break: 14 -- 48-49 Opening Day Reds: 11 - Payroll 126 - All Star Break: 10 -- 43-52 Opening Day Padres: 10 - Payroll 208 - All Star Break: 11 -- 48-48 Opening Day Angels: 10 - Payroll 183 - All Star Break: 15 -- 38-59 Opening Day Tigers: 9 - Payroll 217 - All Star Break: 12 -- 44-52 Opening Day Cubs: 9 - Payroll 233 - All Star Break: 10 -- 54-42 Opening Day Royals: 8 - Payroll 149 - All Star Break: 10 -- 38-59 Opening Day Mets: 8 - Payroll 366 - All Star Break: 12 -- 40-57 Opening Day Rangers: 8 - Payroll 186 - All Star Break: 13 -- 49-57 Opening Day Yankees: 8 - Payroll 319 - All Star Break: 7 -- 54-42: Opening Day D-Backs: 6 - Payroll 196 - All Star Break: 11 -- 49-47 Opening Day Phillies: 6 - Payroll 285 - All Star Break 7 -- 54-43 Opening Day Braves; 5 - Payroll 250 - All Star Break 11 -- 55-40

I could be wrong but I don't see increased or even peak value. Jeffers will be available to the acquiring team for two months. I'm sure the Yankees would love to acquire him but his value logically would be much higher if the acquiring team had him for a full year instead of two months. No doubt that Jeffers has been hitting fantastically and he may fetch a decent prospect but Jeffers has always been an upper level hitting catcher. A full year vs two months. I don't see increased or peak value. The closest comp I can find for a catcher rental was our old friend Christian Vazquez back when he actually hit the ball... when he was traded from the Red Sox to the Astros as a two month rental. The Red Sox did great in that trade because of the performance of Wilyer Abreu but that wasn't predicted by anyone because Wilyer and Enmanual Valdez were the 30th and 29th ranked prospects in the Astros system. I hope no one is expecting a major league ready reliever in return. The teams that need Jeffers is also going to need their relievers. It's a prospect deal most likely and the Twins are currently buyers not sellers. Caratini is actually statistically worse than he has been the past two seasons. Lower BA... Lower Slug but he does have time to make that up. However... the Twins already out bid all of the other teams for his services. Unless we throw in money... I don't see peak value with Caratini. Besides... the Twins will need catchers next year. Caratini is signed... the Twins shouldn't move him. I'll concede that Jackson may be peak value. They are obviously reluctant to try and get him through waivers but... I'm not sure that Jackson at peak value provides a return. I think in the end... Jeffers needs to be traded for prospects to replace the prospects that we will be trading for relievers.

None of our catchers are peaking in regards to trade value. Jeffers is now a rental. Caratini has a contract with a higher dollar amount than the other 29 teams were willing to pay. Jackson will certainly not exceed the value of Jeffers or Caratini.

Maybe... I have no idea how the market will pay out. Competition for his services should drive the price up but I'm under the impression that major league front offices are pretty disciplined. I agree that he will most likely be the top catcher in the free agent market. To my knowledge... only two catchers have been offered a QO since 2018 and both declined. Grandal was offered a 17.9 QO. Turned it down and he signed for 18.7 One Year. Realmuto was offered a 18.9. Turned it down and he signed for 5 years/123 million. Realmuto was coming off three years of .825, .820, .840 OPS which is something Jeffers achieved once in 2023. I'm not knocking Jeffers but the QO should be around 23 million and we don't have a lot of precedence set at the catcher position.

You are correct. It doesn't tell the whole story. However... I wasn't clear about why I chose Cal Raleigh in the first place. He was chosen because the he is the current owner of the highest AAV for a catcher in baseball. The most important point is this. No catcher is paid anywhere near the expected QO. Cal Raleigh is pretty special.

There are currently no catchers making 20 million a year. Cal Raleigh has an AAV of 17.5 If a QO is offered. Jeffers will take it.

July 10 - Right Handed Starter - Grayson Rodriguez - Loss - 3 Runs Scored Lineup Composition: 3 RH - 2 Switch - 4 LH Season Record vs RH Starters: 34-33 Season Average Runs Scored vs RH Starters: 4.97 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- July 11 - Right Handed Starter - Ryan Johnson - Won - 5 Runs Scored Lineup Composition: 2 RH - 3 Switch - 4 LH Season Record vs RH Starters: 35-33 Season Average Runs Scored vs RH Starters: 4.97 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- July 12 - Right Handed Starter - Jose Soriano - Won - 4 Runs Scored Lineup Composition: 4 RH - 2 Switch - 3 LH Season Record vs RH Starters: 35 - 33 Season Average Runs Scored vs RH Starters: 4.96 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Season Accumulated Stats vs Left Handed Starters Season Record vs LH Starters: 12-16 Season Average Runs Scored vs LH Starters: 4.57

Taj without a doubt.

Last Game Right Handed Starter July 9 - Gavin Williams - Loss - 2 Runs Scored Lineup Composition: 3 RH - 2 Switch - 4 LH Season Record vs RH Starters: 34-32 Season Average Runs Scored vs RH Starters: 5.00 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Season Accumulated Stats vs Left Handed Starters Season Record vs LH Starters: 12-16 Season Average Runs Scored vs LH Starters: 4.57

The front offices don't know. They know better than you and I but they don't know. The Twins acquired Kody Clemens on April 26 when Keaschall got hurt. Baldelli sat on Clemens until May 14. He was given the Fedko treatment until Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton collided with each other and suddenly Baldelli had no choice but to give this stranger a shot. Baldelli didn't know. If he knew... he would have inserted Clemens into the lineup on April 27. If Clemens struggles just a little when they have nobody else to turn to... he isn't here today. Kody went 11 for 22 once he got opportunity.,, that gave him more opportunity. If he was right handed... he would have been platooned off the radar. His survival took multiple injuries including a collision of super stars... it took exact hot streak timing... it took having no one else to turn to. It took being left handed and not right handed to survive the platoon killing floor. Yeah... absolutely... the Twins got lucky... they didn't know. The Twins got lucky and they had to be incredibly unlucky just to get this incredibly lucky.

I wasn't happy with his original signing because I wasn't happy with the lack of internal options that made his signing necessary. That had nothing to do with Clemens himself. I'm glad he got opportunity to show what he was capable of. Using qualified hitters only. BY OPS... he is currently the 42nd best hitter in baseball in 2026. We hope that our prospects develop into that. We should be thankful for the free addition of Kody Clemens. For those who can't warm to him after what he has done this season while making the minimum... I'm not sure what to say. What would it take for them to get behind him? Perhaps nothing because he's been pretty damn good and there are way too many people who are not behind him.

Nice debut from Mr. Roden.

Agreed... You can't have everyone. You have to get as many as you can. The experimenting can find something which leads to implementation which leads to copy catting which eventually leads to another adjustment. Baseball has made some nice progress picking up younger viewers and female viewers. They need it and they need more. Overall though... we have some graphic changes to the traditional broadcast but the format of a PBP and a color analyst has remained since the 70's. We have fridges with blue tooth speakers now, fridges that send pictures of the contents to your phone when you are at the supermarket. Everything changes. We vote for what remains by being consumers.

Baseball has miles and miles of space to fill. That space is an opportunity to entertain. The thousands of sports shows and podcasts don't have a baseball game running with it. I don't recommend taking my "morning show" comment literally. It's a reference point. There is nuance.

I don't guarantee success with anything I'm saying but I've got some experience in the area and you target the biggest piece of the pie. I don't believe that the game has to be secondary to the commentary... I believe that it should work together with it. It's just entertainment... filling the spaces with entertainment. Are these 4 guys the correct choice? Most likely not... the odds of nailing the 4 guys right out of the box are low but they did a decent job as a test balloon. Like I said... there are improvements that need to be made.

We vote every day! We decide if we want Burger King by buying a whopper. If we don't... Burger King goes away. The numbers will win every time. If we don't like the bias of Fox or we don't like the bias of MSNBC... stop watching it and they will become what they need to survive. We want our news biased and we vote to keep it biased by supporting it. Baseball needs bigger numbers. Growing additional older white males won't help it in the future and it will be hard to do because they are already watching. It needs increases from the demographics where growth is possible and sustainable into the future. Younger viewers growth is possible, female viewers growth is possible, ethnic demographics... growth is possible. Baseball needs that growth where possible. Will this format provide the growth. I don't know but if it increases entertainment... you got a shot at it.

Yep Entertainment increased. Education increased. The more you understand something, the more you pay attention to it. Have fun! Handing 20 bucks was fun. Could have been done better but it was in the spirit of fun. Interact with the fans... can they eat a hot dog in one bite. Millions of ideas. Some good Some Bad but millions of ideas. You don't have to bean the viewer with a fastball if the viewer wants to have fun celebrating a home run.

It can be argued that the traditional baseball broadcast is also repetitive hence the need for change. Local radio morning shows are mostly gone now as well as radio has adjusted to the new world. Traditionalists are moaning over that loss as well. I wouldn't take the radio morning show example literally. It's a reference point on what could be done to increase the entertainment value of the broadcasts.