Riverbrian

That's the key question. How can a team that needs to win baseball games show patience? Should they at all? If they do... how much patience is required? And all of this needs to be done on a roller coaster because players go up and they go down. Managers hold meetings with staff and go over lineups for optimizing the order, the shifts just to give their team the best chance to win and the manager on the other side is doing the same thing. If the manager doesn't win... he'll be fired... if the GM doesn't win... the GM will be fired. It's pressure that you can't be casual about. I get it. However... there is one very important point. It's takes time to stabilize stats. The difference between Jeffers and his .878 OPS and Tristan Gray's .591 took over 240 and 188 AB's respectively and all the way into August to accumulate. Tristan Gray had a .500 Slug during his first 48 AB's this year. Ryan Jeffers had a .290 Slug over his first 34 AB's. Then he went for 3 for 3 against the Blue Jays and his slug was suddenly .441 and then a couple games later he went 3 for 3 against the Red Sox and his slug was suddenly .512. From April 5 to April 13 over 17 AB's... Jeffers OPS rose from .571 to .952. 55 AB's is nothing and his last 3 AB's. He went 3 for 3 and those 3 AB's took his OPS from .490 to .610. Let him increase his sample. A little hot streak will change the numbers and opinions fast but many have already lost patience. Back to the most important point. It takes time to accumulate statistical differences and they happen on a roller coaster. But... If you do the math... how much of a difference is it in an individual AB or individual game. I don't believe that Roden or Kriedler in a lineup kills us in an individual game. Byron Buxton has probably accumulated 400 O'fers during the course of his career.

There is no doubt that money is a significant advantage and I don't think that can be denied but I agree with the premise of the article. It's really simple for me. The Twins have never spent significant money and I don't expect that they ever will and the Twins need to operate with this REALITY in mind until the a new CBA removes the inherent disparity. Yes... we can spend more money but how much is enough when the distance is 300 million a year or 100 million just to reach the top ten. It can't compete in the current free agent arena. It can compete in the development arena because development is going to be within everyone's budget. A major league roster has 26 roster spots to fill. The more players making the minimum and playing decently... the less roster spots you have to fill with players that cost money and the more money you have to spend on those less roster spots. Having 60 million to spend on 3 players is better than having 60 million to spend on 10 players. Develop or die... make that the state motto... put in on the state flag. Money is no doubt a huge advantage but it didn't save the Mets or Giants. Not having money is a huge disadvantage but it didn't stop the Brewers or Rays. The Twins could become the Brewers or Rays with more money to spend. That's how you create an advantage for yourself. That's what we need to become. Yes Spend more... and yes spend wisely if you can but you are going to need that youth to cover when the money thing doesn't work. We make it harder trying to win the free agent game renting players that the big boys passed over. Create players, teach players, coach players that the big boys will want to buy from you and keep them coming. That's how you win the game... At least until a new CBA that levels the playing field.

Congrats on getting both Hawkeye and Harmon to give a thumbs up to your post. I would have bet against that specific combination. 😁 Here's the deal. I'm not going to get into a subjective individual conversation where I have to become a Roden or Kreidler fan in order to defend them from others. I'm not going to spend a ton of time worrying about past stats which end up being small sample upon small sample. Kody Clemens had some pretty rough stats in his first go around and he's slumping pretty bad right now but you'll never convince me that Clemens hasn't been extremely important to this 2026 club regardless of either the rough small sample start to his career or the current slump. I'm not going to get into an argument that Kreidler hasn't been important to this 2026 club with Lee shifting to 3B and I'm not going to react to his current hitting woes. It isn't worth the argument... Sending Kreidler down makes no sense with our infield depth. I worry that Kreidler gets hurt. Thats' the more sensible discussion. What do we do if Kreidler gets hurt? We don't have the infield depth... that's why Kreidler is here in the first place and he has performed better than all of us expected. Now Culpepper is up and Culpepper will get the majority of his playing time. Roden... I don't know how he is going to do. I don't know what he will become. Nobody on this website does. The front office gave him a roster spot and the manager put him in the lineup against right handed pitchers. Let him build a decent sample. We have to develop... top quality, good quality and average quality. Development requires investment. You either believe in the guy or you don't. Show some patience... In the meantime he won't kill you and the 26 man pressure will force decisions. Buxton will come off the IL tonight and somebody will have to go down. It's either Roden or it's Jackson. It won't be Kriedler.

To be fair... you should give them as long as you give other veteran bourbons. However... due to a 26 barrel limitation in the clubhouse... we both know that decision times will be forced when a smooth scotch like Buxton comes off the IL. So you choose the best you can when time and space forces a decision. To answer your question more specifically. I'd say... long enough to increase the sample so a 3 for 3 day doesn't raise his OPS 124 points.

Last Game Right Handed Starter August 12 - Shane Baz - Won - 7 Runs Scored Lineup Composition: 3 RH 3 Switch 3 LH Season Record vs RH Starters: 44-40 Season Average Runs Scored vs RH Starters: 4.79 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Season Record vs LH Starters: 16-22 Season Average Runs Scored vs LH Starters: 4.45

They'll have to make a decision at some point. Maybe soon. There are only 26 roster spots. Who knows what he will be... However... plenty of players have taken some time to find their feet.

A third catcher is not important in regards to the every day roster... it's almost superflous and I say almost because Jeffers and Caratini will get some DH work where an injury can occur. However... if they feel he would get claimed they will wait as long as they can before they attempt to get him through because they could try to get him through... get claimed and then Jeffers or Caratini gets hurt. A decision will have to be made when Buxton is off the IL. Could it be Jackson? Maybe. As for the subjects of this this topic... Roden and Kriedler. Patience is required with players just getting their feet wet. Can we show just a little bit of patience with Roden. Who knows what he will become but if you are going to toss him after 55 AB's. We know what he will become. Kriedler has been better than expected. He's slumping a bit but his playing time is going to reduce due to the presence of Culpepper... and Culpepper will also require a little patience. In the meantime... Roden had a great game today. Congrats Alan... Enjoy yourself.

There has been a lot of talk about Jenkins on this website and I get it but there is a chronological pecking order that needs a certain adherence to avoid spillage. Yes... we need to produce young superstars like Jenkins is supposed to eventually be. We also need to produce average young talent like we hope Roden can become. And we need to produce young talent in between average and superstar like Erod is suppose to become. Erod's clock is ticking, the buzzer goes off at age 24, if he isn't ready, when he is thrown to the wolves next year. Jenkins leapfrogging Erod could cost us Erod.

If you just want to get drunk RIGHT NOW! Moonshine will do the trick. If you'd like a certain smoothness to your whiskey... it'll need to sit in an oak barrel awhile. This article seems to be missing the required dose of patience.

Last Game Right Handed Starter August 12 - Brandon Young - Loss - 2 Runs Scored Lineup Composition: 4 RH 2 Switch 3 LH Season Record vs RH Starters: 43-40 Season Average Runs Scored vs RH Starters: 4.76 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Season Record vs LH Starters: 16-22 Season Average Runs Scored vs LH Starters: 4.45

He seems to be taking responsibility. He doesn't appear to be hiding. He's telling us that he cares and he says that they have to win us back and they do. This isn't going to be immediate and I don't expect immediate. He's been the most public face of any previous Pohlad and I appreciate that. I wouldn't have taken the current course but they are solidly competing and I'm under the impression that he's actively in charge.

Last night was the 4th time in 2026 that the Twins had no left handed hitters in the starting lineup against a left handed starter. All 3 of our left handed hitters Clemens, Larnach and Roden were benched. That's a total of 4 games out of 38 that we went to the max. It worked well last night with 9 runs scored. We have scored 18 runs total in those 4 games for 4.50 average. 15 runs in our two wins and 3 runs in our two losses. The Twins are now 2-2 in those 4 games. June 10 vs Framber Valdez June 23 vs Justin Wrobleski July 24 vs Jacob Lopez August 10 vs Trevor Rogers

Last Game Left Handed Starter August 10 - Trevor Rogers - Won - 9 Runs Scored Lineup Composition: 6 RH 3 Switch 0 LH Season Record vs LH Starters: 16-22 Season Average Runs Scored vs LH Starters: 4.45 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Season Record vs RH Starters: 43-39 Season Average Runs Scored vs RH Starters: 4.79

Exactly His salary will double and his years of control will go from 2 to 1. This will lower trade value and it really isn't up for debate. The teams that will want that last year of control are teams that consider themselves contenders. The Twins consider themselves contenders.

I don't understand why this discussion involves tearing down Neto or tearing down Jenkins. I'd have to believe that both Neto and Jenkins are expensive to acquire. I'd would have loved to have added Neto to the team... However... there is no way I'd trade Jenkins for him. I think highly of both players.

Are you saying that there is some Gray area? Or are you saying that he has proven this year... that it is not true that Gray Matters? No matter what our brains say about it.

With Kaelen Culpepper called up and Tristan Gray sent down. The roster composition has changed to 7 Right Handed hitters - 3 Left Handed hitters and 3 Switch Hitters.

August 6 - Right Handed Starter - Michael Wacha - Won - 4 Runs Scored Lineup Composition: 2 RH - 3 Switch - 4 LH Season Record vs RH Starters: 43-38 Season Average Runs Scored vs RH Starters: 4.81 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- August 7 - Left Handed Starter - Shane Drohan - Won - 8 Runs Scored Lineup Composition: 6 RH - 2 Switch - 1 LH Season Record vs LH Starters: 15-21 Season Average Runs Scored vs LH Starters: 4.36 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- August 8 - Left Handed Starter - Robert Gasser - Loss - 3 Runs Scored Lineup Composition: 6 RH - 2 Switch - 1 LH Season Record vs LH Starters: 15-22 Season Average Runs Scored vs LH Starters: 4.32 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- August 9 - Right Handed Starter - Jacob Misiorowski - Loss - 3 Runs Scored Lineup Composition: 3 RH 3 Switch 3 LH Season Record vs RH Starters: 43-39 Season Average Runs Scored vs RH Starters: 4.79

Love the Cromulent hairdo.

Gray might be and that's why the infield scares me the most. Our infield was thin before Keaschall moves to the OF. Only the emergence of Kriedler into an average player has kept us afloat. Culpepper OK but If we don't rush Culpepper we probably shouldn't rush Houston either this year. But after that? Ross? That leaves Gray as the best option and we are one injury away from him being the only option. We are two injuries away from?

I agree with one addition. They still need to decide who their best 9 are and yes play them as often as possible when they do. We are not there yet. Competition is still required.

I don't think we are far off. I agree... I get tired of seeing the pileup on the 40 man roster with limited 26 man opportunity to relieve it. Something isn't right with our development because other teams are spitting out at least average players more frequently and we are filling the same holes over and over again. I'll never call a situation a log jam. I'd like to see a log jam... that would be wonderful. I'd love to be able to trade actual superfluous talent. That isn't happening...therefore any log jam is inaccurate and more than likely self created. I simply contend and will always contend that you can roster 13 players and let them compete for playing time and some of us will be surprised by the results. I struggle with letting a vet on a one year deal be average when there should be someone near ready in the farm system who can do at least the same making the minimum who can take what they learned and apply it to future years. And this is what I believe is the core issue with our development. The players you list. Fedko - I don't know if he has a shot or not. I know he won't have any chance at all if he is limited to 16 AB's playing once a week versus left handed pitchers. You can throw him away right now if that's what he is being strip mined for. Gonzalez... If you call him up. Let him play... Let him learn. His AAA numbers don't support a call up but he's been called up once and he played a game and then watched the action. That is making no progress. Martin ,,, I think he is a good player but you can toss him right now. A short side platoon specialist on a team that needs to develop is practically worthless. The Twins have stopped fully developing Martin and have strip mined him. Mendez... May not be his time yet but hopefully that time comes. If he gets placed on the 26 man roster. Play him. Roden... He is here now and he is being strip mined for parts. His ceiling is Larnach. Rodriguez... His time is now. Get Healthy Wallner... His time is also now. Fix him and lets see if he is fixed. Bottom Line: I believe with all my heart that you can find enough playing time for the players who are earning playing time. I believe that you should use all 26 man spots for identifying talent. I hate that we are basically utilizing 10 position player spots with Jackson and Gray barely playing and Martin short siding. We have absolutely no margin for error or any margin for injury. An injury in our infield would be a problem. A player going into the tank on the infield would be a problem. I'd rather see Lewis get serious competition for playing time then giving him oodles of playing time while his OPS is in the low .600's.

I had to look up what Cromulent meant.

I'm not betting my house on it either but I'm perfectly happy letting them surprise me. I've been surprised too many times to write off the possibility.

It's not a requirement... it's current team context. I know that many are done with Wallner... I'm not done with Wallner. I don't believe he is a hopeless case and even if all we get is two more decent years out of him at age 29 and 30. There is value in those decent years. We need young players beyond Jenkins. I'd like to avoid unnecessary spillage of other players who are also necessary even if they become simply average players. We have talent on the 40 man roster that need opportunity with clocks already ticking as opposed to clocks that we purposely start the ticking on. In my mind that matters. Now in regards to feeling better if Jenkins was out performing Wallner. It's not a requirement but Yes I would feel better about it. it would provide more justification for the leapfrog. Prepping Jenkins for 2027 in 2026 doesn't fix 2027 by itself. It's one guy when we will need multiple guys. Yes we need the quality of one player but we also need the quantity of average young players as well. There has to be time related pecking order... because all of our prospects are time sensitive.