Riverbrian

It's still depth unless someone declares that... (Insert player here) will never play... Let's say 3B again. The Twins would never do that because it makes no sense. That would be like taking a career catcher and moving him to 1B and saying he will never play catcher again. The Twins just wouldn't do that.

There is no reason to trade Trevor Plouffe. Unless you get something back that improves the Twins in 2016. Trading Plouffe for prospects only weakens the Twins in 2016. The Twins need to think about strengthening in 2016 at the major league level. I see the logjam... We all see the logjam but logjam is just a fancy word for depth. (French I think). Thinking in terms of starter only is short sighted... It's a long year... 162 games (hopefully more). Someone is going to struggle... Someone is going to get hurt. Having Plouffe and Sano and Park and Mauer is a good problem to have. I'm glad Terry Ryan isn't thinking... "3B...1B... DH... Thats 3 spots and 4 players. Well... Someone has to go". Because that would exhibit the creativity of a turnip. A good manager will figure out how to get people at bats. I'm hopeful and quite sure that Molitor isn't saying to Terry Ryan. "Gosh... This is too hard... I've got 4 players for 3 spots... I didn't sign up for this... Nowhere in my contract does it say I'd have to make tough decisions every single day. Do not trade Plouffe for prospects.

Rod Carew was my first Twins Hero Reports today that he needs a heart transplant. My prayers to my hero.

i like the idea of 25 guys who can all play. I like the idea of insurance if a youngster goes all sophomore slumpie on us. I like the idea of options and I like the idea of playing the hot hand even if it means Mauer sits for a few games in a row so Plouffe Sano and Park can all be in the lineup. I think saying so and so is the starter therefore so and so should go is a mistake. I think having the proverbial good problem to have is indeed... A good problem to have. I believe Plouffe has value to the 2016 Twins and he should not be moved unless we get value for 2016 in return. Do not trade him for prospects!!! Moving Plouffe simply because Sano is there is not a reason to move him for prospects. It just weakens us at a time when it's time to strengthen. If you can't get someone who can help us right now. Don't do it.

I get it Kab... I just think Hicks has lots of upside with all those tools. Does he reach the lofty heights? Who knows. However... In all honesty. I was encouraged by Hicks this past season. Yet... He still hasn't shown me that spark of all out play like Rosario did.

Murphy won't be asked to close games either and they spell and pronounce their names totally different and they probably have different tastes in music. However... In terms of upside?

On the surface the trade makes sense. Quite simple actually... Trade from a position of depth to acquire a position of need. However... That is exactly how you end up with a Ramos for Capps type deal. I'm willing to give "ran calling wildfire" Murphy a chance so I'm not upset with the deal but it has a Ramos for Capps feeling for me right now.

I really don't understand. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder I guess. You thought 85 Minimum and the Twins won 83 Minimum with 85 still possible. You believe that Molitor's managing has cost the Twins games and I believe that to... But I also Believe that Hinch has cost the Astros games and I believe Maddon cost the Cubs games as well. I also believe that Molitor, Hinch and Maddon have won games with their moves. I firmly believe that's the way it works over 162 games. Right Calls and Wrong Calls happen and they become a blur and sometimes a right call looks like a wrong call and vice versa. Meanwhile VodkaDave is thinking how he's going to spend his over/under money because the Twins beat other's/most expectation but it didn't clear the bar he set. And Speaking of this roster... I've been looking... I can't find any evidence of this roster being an obvious playoff caliber roster. Team Stats... The Twins are currently ranked 7th in wins in the American League. Pitching: The Twins were 15th in K's and 14th in BB's... Team ERA 10th... 14th in BAA and 10th in QS. For Balance here is where they are ranked above 7th on the pitching side: Saves they were 5th. Shutouts 4th with a total of 12. On Offense: Runs scored 7th... Hits 14th.. HR 10th... TB 12th... RBI 8th... AVG 14th... OBP 14th... Slugging 11th... OBS 12th.... 10th in Stolen Bases... 12th in walks and 10th in K's. There are no offensive Categories where we rank higher than 7th. Now... in fairness I didn't bother going further into the expanded stats to find examples of this being a roster that should have won 85 games so I suppose BABIP or something can prove someone's case but all in all... I have found no examples of this being a roster that should have won 85 games minimum. How About Superstars? Do we have any of those? C--Suzuki? I'm not going to label Suzuki a get on my back... I'll carry you guys guy. 1B- Mauer? He's paid like one but he's owned by 37% of ESPN Fantasy leagues. .267 BA with 10 Dingers and this is the guy who holds down the 3 spot. 2B- Dozier? OK maybe... I think he's an above average player... 28 dingers is pretty impressive but it's going be 28 dingers with a .236 average. If you take out his defense... Offensively he's on par with Evan Gattis. 3B - Plouffe? I'm saying average offensive production with a .744 OPS... Others may feel differently. I know Halsey Likes him. SS- Escobar? I'm not going to knock him... I love him but... We are talking about game changing superstars. I can't put him in the Donaldson... or even Machado grouping. OF - Rosario... Hicks and Hunter and everyone else... Nope... I love Rosario... But he didn't put up superstar stats. Hicks and Hunter were not terrible but again nope. That leaves the DH Sano and yes Sano put up elite stats and we got Sano for a total of 273 at bats. How Bout Pitching: Kyle Gibson had a 3.84 ERA and that led the Starters. Santana has been great lately but he finished the year at 4.00 and we only had that for half a year. Duffey is going to blow them all away and I love Duffey but we only had him for 58 innings. I really don't see a Kershaw or even a Jose Quintana in the bunch of them. How Bout the Bullpen: Perkins was a rock star in the 1st half... Something happened and now we are upset with Molitor because he used him last night. After Perkins and the trade deadline acquisition of Jepsen. Blaine Boyer was the leader and superstar. I just typed a lot of stuff here but it's my long way of saying. I don't understand how this can be viewed as a roster that should have won 85 games minimum. Now to bring it this back on topic. I think Molitor deserves strong consideration for Manager of the year but my vote will be for Jeff Banister. I think the Rangers overcame a lot of question marks and they made it.

To me he looks like Super Dave Marty Funkhouser

KIDS? Give them to me... Those little buggers just don't have enough money to afford a beer and a dog.

The superfluous "U' in honor means that Canada takes a little bit long to write or type the word. This has led to a decline in Canadian productivity.

Corporate owned and they have failed to make a decent enough sale to spiff the client.

The Strike Zone has been huge so far.

I think North keeps track of that

Being a free country and all I suppose but they won't.

I think he's the best defensive 2B in the game unless I can think of someone better.

I'd Ick or Ish that but I don't which one to use... So I'll have to wait for ChiTown or JB to make a declaration.

Toss Him

Starting with defense is a good way to start

Me 2 Founders IPA

All Right Gang I've got my eye black on

Most I'd say. Even if they come hard out of the gate... MLB pitching eventually figures it out. Very Few players hit on day one and keep hitting. That's why I'm not worried about Buxton or Vargas for that matter. It's also why I worry about Rosario and Sano because that stretch hasn't happened to them yet.

The Rangers can't rest because they are playing a possible playoff team. They won't rest players... If they do.. they will get roasted by the baseball community. The other owners... the other GM's... the other managers and probably the Commissioner will nail them if they suspect for a second that they sandbagged at any point. Unfortunately for the Rangers... Rest will not be allowed. They'd like to bury the Angels tonight so they can maybe take Sunday Off. As for the D-Backs... They can beat the Astro's. Things like that happen all the time. They've been running a 6 man rotation but will move Ray ahead of Godley to do what they are supposed to do. Try to beat the Astros. The Royals won't be giving us any breaks either. The Marlins and Phillies can play anybody they want.

This will be my shortest Game Thread Opener Ever. It's game 160. At this point... The coaches are not going to change Brian Dozier's swing. There simply isn't enough time to make these adjustments. The Twins are what they are and what they are gonna be and what they are is good enough to be in contention for a playoff spot going into the final weekend. I can go over the records and all the possibilities but you know them all. The Angels have the Rangers and the Astros have the D-Backs and the Twins have the Royals... We all know that. There is no need for 5 thoughts today. There is just one thought and one thought only. So... Here is something to think about: This will be my shortest Game Thread Opener Ever. It's game 160. At this point... The coaches are not going to change Brian Dozier's swing. There simply isn't enough time to make these adjustments. The Twins are what they are and what they are gonna be and what they are is good enough to be in contention for a playoff spot going into the final weekend. I can go over the records and all the possibilities but you know them all. The Angels have the Rangers and the Astros have the D-Backs and the Twins have the Royals... We all know that. There is no need for 5 thoughts today. There is just one thought and one thought only. So... Here is something to think about: We're Gonna WIN TWINS... We're gonna Score!!! -------------------- Game-time forecast: 55 deg F, clear, 0% chance of rain or snow, winds from the E at 7mph. Lineups: ROYALS Escobar SS Zobrist DH Hosmer 1B Moustakas 3B Gordon LF Rios RF Colon 2B Butera C Dyson CF Young P TWINS Dozier 2B Mauer 1B Sano DH Plouffe 3B Rosario LF Hunter RF Hicks CF Suzuki C Escobar SS Santana P Go Twins! Play ball!!!! View full article